Updated 8/28/02
A New Blessing Three Rules One Out of Ten No Answer? A Question for an Answer Blessings Inability to Save Myself Come and See Religion and Politics The Best Gift What is the Motive? Resolutions
January
Blessings come in all sorts of packages.
Our family received a special one this past month in the form of a new baby daughter.
Raye Marie Richards was born during the holidays. Melba and I (and also big brother Reid) have adopted her into our family. She weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces and was 20 ¼ inches long. She is a picture of health. Other than a few restless nights, our family is doing well.
“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and, he addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22.
I feel the Lord has richly blessed me with my family, and he has now added to it with this special blessing. As I have, hope of my adoption through Jesus, I hope to receive guidance and wisdom from the Lord in the adoption of a new baby daughter.
It is pretty easy for me to spot the faults and weaknesses in others. The problem I many times have is in spotting the faults of the person I see in the mirror each morning.
It is important, though, that we see and recognize the faults in both ourselves and others.
It is clear that we should not be just concerned with ourselves, but that we should also recognize the problems of our fellow workers; family and friends.
“ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phil 2:4.
And when we look at others to be concerned with their welfare, we should be sympathetic to their problems. The old saying that “but for the grace of God, there I go...” is pretty true in most of these types of circumstances. It also is grounded in gospel teachings: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1. Look upon your friends with sympathy when they experience problems, lest you also are at some point tempted with the same fault.
Not only are we to be sympathetic to our brother’s burdens, we should help him to relieve himself of the burden “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden” Gal 62-5
To be sympathetic to the problems of others, as we are taught here by the Apostle Paul, we must first recognize that we are not beyond having those types of burdens of ourselves. Once we start thinking we are beyond having the same type of problem as our friends then we have absolutely no sympathy for someone with that burden.
Recognizing the problems, cares and burdens of others makes us retain an attitude of humiliation and thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessings we have, and to retain a sober estimate of ourselves We should be joyful to ourselves and thankful to the Lord that we do not have the problems that some of our friends or neighbors have. However, that joy should stay within us. We should not obtain joy by openly comparing our good fortune to the others who are not as fortunate.
February
Peace of mind. Spiritually content. Secure.
Many of us seek these things, in a business sense, yet we struggle trying to achieved them in our personal life. We work hard, attempt to build up credits for ourselves, and struggle daily to achieve a mental goal of security for both our business but not personal mental security. We may reach our business material goals, yet fall in our personal level of content ness. Our problem in this world is that we many times get exactly what: we go for, but fail in what we personally really need. For example, in a strictly business world built on material goals, we would attempt to follow three good business rules:
These rules make good business sense. They are good to follow if you are attempting to build or maintain a profitable business. Most professionals would recommend them for your business.
But if you are seeking peace of mind, spiritual, content ness and security in your personal lives, the rules taught to us by the Lord are considerably different, in fact, opposite. Our human-contrived and world-devised rules do not translate directly with the rules given to us for the blessings that the Lord has promised us for following his teachings.
His three rules would be what different:
If we can follow these rules in our personal approach to living in this world, we are promised the blessings of the Lord for our actions.
Let’s explore these three simple rules more closely:
1. Give of yourself and cheerfully.
This is not necessarily speaking of money, but money is certainly included. To those who need, we should give of our self and our resources cheerfully and willingly, not grudgingly or of requirement.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2Cor.9:7.
We can achieve a tremendous amount of internal gratification with our church or by finding or seeing someone in need and giving of ourselves or our resources in a cheerful and free manner. - It really is better to give, than to receive.
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of “his bread to the poor.” Prov.22:9.
2. Always attempt to give anonymously, secretly.
This rule is tough. We all want to be appreciated for our generosity. We all want a “thank-you” for our time and money; and the ego in us all wants the recipient of our generosity to know who provided the gift. But that is not what Jesus taught us to do in the greatest sermon ever delivered; the Sermon on the Mount:
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you. They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6:1-4.
We are warned not to be charitable givers for the sole purpose of gaining human recognition of ourselves. If we give out by faith, with a cheerful heart, the Lord will see that we get rewarded far better than the publicity we seek in public giving.
Applying the first two rules, we are to give to the church or to find someone in need or help provide freely and cheerfully, without seeking the personal recognition for our charity.
3. We should give without seeking, or expecting, repayment.
This also is a hard rule to follow, we usually like to give to those we know will someday return the favor when we need it, or perhaps pay us back with a little interest. In fact, most usually restrict giving and sharing to acquaintances, because they are the most likely to return the favor at a later date. But giving and expecting payment is not the appropriate rule.
“When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor they brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And: thou shalt be blessed: for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14.
If we expect payment, then we lose the blessing that Jesus is teaching us about. We should give without seeking or expecting repayment. Our mind should be such that, before we give, we are not expecting publicity or repayment. This is the reason Jesus teaches us through this parable of not just giving to our friends and neighbors, who can reasonably be expected to return the favor. We are to give to those whom we know will be unable to repay. At least we should never give with any thought of repayment.
If you find someone with a need, give freely and cheerfully. Do not give seeking publicity and do not seek or expect repayment.
In doing so we are told we will receive the blessings, not of or from the world, but openly from a wise, knowing and gracious Lord.
March
There is an interesting lesson presented in the Gospel of St. Luke, which is not told in the other three gospels of the story of Christ; the healing of the ten lepers. The account, like numerous others in the Bible, is almost two thousand years old, yet continues to carry a message so true today.
In the 17th chapter of St. Luke, verses 12-19, we are given the account of Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers. It occurred as Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem as He was going through Samaria and Galilee. As Jesus entered a small village, ten lepers standing away from Him called to Him and sought His mercy. The scripture indicates the lepers were humble, knowing of their dreaded condition, and sought help from the person they acknowledged as their Master.
Leprosy was truly a dreaded disease during the time of Christ. Lepers were banished to live together and forbidden by law from coming too near others without the disease. In other words, if you were a leper, you had to “know your place” in life. Your station in life made you humble, seeking the mercy of your master.
We are no different today as we are spiritual lepers, and we acknowledge such in our approach to Christ through prayer. As impure people, we should respect the purity of the one from whom we seek mercy.
Generally, it is when we feel the most impure, the most unclean, and the most humble that we devote the most attention to Christ through prayer. It is almost amazing how humble I can be when I need the help the very most. It is when I realize the true “spiritual” leper that I am that I stand afar and seek the mercy that I feel I need.
In St. Luke’s account of the ten lepers, we are told that Christ then sent the lepers to the priests to be inspected of their disease. While the lepers followed the instructions, as they traveled to see the priests, they were healed and cleansed of leprosy during this trip.
Christ did not heal the lepers upon the spot, but instructed them to follow His directions, and they were healed as they did so. We can take a lesson from that also. We can be healed and cleansed during our natural lives by following Christ’s instructions; by following our duties and ordinances, by praying and reading the scriptures, and following the teachings given to us in the Gospels and epistles.
The final lesson of the account is in the last few verses of Luke 17:12-19 after the lepers observed they have been healed of their disease. One of the ten returned to give thanks to Christ, and that one was a Samaritan. The least likely in our eyes of the ten to acknowledge the grace of Jesus was the only one who did.
The one in ten which turned back to praise Jesus for his healing did so with apparently as much humility (probably more so) then when he had asked Jesus for mercy before his healing.
Ingratitude is a very common sin. Ten were healed of leprosy, yet the least likely of the bunch returned to humbly praise and thank the Master.
We have no problems being humble when we need help the most. We should not be so quick to lose that humility when our prayers are answered and the “leprosy” is gone. Our thanks should be immediate, affectionate, and with the same humility as we sought a cure.
All the lepers received the grace of Christ through the healing of their disease. Yet only one of the ten “was made whole” through his faith in returning to give the thanks which was so justified by the answering of prayer.
We are helped through prayer and in following Christ’s instructions as we go through this world, yet we are not “whole” until we return the acknowledgment with regard to the provider of our grace. It’s easy to pray when we need help. Much of that help is provided through our following daily the instructions of Christ. And it is important that we immediately follow up with prayer of thanksgiving.
April
I have prayed a number of times for the Lord to help me with this problem I have..
So far I have not gotten an answer.
It must be that the Lord has not heard my prayers. Or maybe He is too busy with others’ problems.
Sometimes the burdens I think I have can seem to get overbearing. The frustrations of being unable to find the answers I need to solve my problems really weigh me with worry and doubt.
Have you ever had problems which there seems to be no good answer? Ever prayed about it, but no solution was quickly forthcoming?
Ever experienced personal problems with yourself, your family or friends which kept you awake at night, woke you early in the morning or occupied your mind all day? Have you had problems with a son or daughter; drug or alcohol problems among your family or friends; financial concern because your paycheck runs out before the month or the bills, run out; physical problems involving a nagging or unhealed health matter?
Have you ever prayed for an answer to these problems, yet no fast answer was given to you?
You can identify with the Apostle Paul. He apparently had the same problems which he related in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 12.
Most of us generally know the lesson of the Apostle Paul and of his “thorn in the flesh”, but it is important we turn to it again to review during any times of personal problems for which we can find no quick solution.
Paul spoke of the “thorn in the flesh” he had in the 7th verse of 2 Cor. 12. We can be reminded of our own experiences through Paul’s revelation of his problems in this chapter. Paul indicated he asked the Lord three times to remove this thorn, but it was apparently left in him and was a source of constant pain.
We are not exactly clear on the nature of Paul’s “thorn.” It has been speculated that it may have been some constant temptation; or enemy attack; a physical or mental health problem; some intense actual bodily pain; or there is suggestion it was as acute as eye or seeing problems. Whatever it was, Paul was going through the same type of problems that we can experience today in our daily lives. He had a recurring physical or mental worry which, despite prayer, remained a source of pain or embarrassment or shame to him.
We learn through the lesson that, even though the Lord hears our prayers, we sometimes will not receive the desired immediate answer we impatiently yearn for, in fact, the Lord may indeed leave our “thorn” intact as part of His answer to our prayers.
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” the Lord tells Paul in 2 Cor 12:9.
The Lord gives us the answer we truly need for our problems: His grace.
But is that grace enough to handle our problems? The Lord tells Paul that His grace is sufficient for him, as it should be for us also.
One major point of Paul’s lesson involving the thorn is that prayer is a major part for us with all our problems. When we are afflicted with thorns in the flesh, we put ourselves into the Lord’s hands through our constant prayers. We also must learn that afflictions may involve a lesson for our benefit, and that we should also pray for the good that can come of an affliction that can be borne with God’s grace.
While we can pray once or twice for an answer, we should keep praying and hold on until we receive our answer.
Not only is the 12th Chapter of Paul’s writing in 2 Corinthians good reading for us with our afflictions, the 37th Psalm will help us through our troubles, be they physical, financial or mental.
“Trust in the Lord....”
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him...”..
“Wait upon the Lord...” because He is strength “in the time of trouble.”
May
Have you ever asked someone a question for an answer got another question in return?
That has always been pretty irritating to me, although I must confess that I too have responded to questions with a question instead of an answer. Answering a question with a question can be an extremely effective form of teaching because it forces us to think, put things into proper prospective and many times enables us to answer our own original question.
I marvel at the use of questions to teach in the Bible of Job. The book has more questions stated in it than any other book of the Bible. The questions, though, fit well into the format of the teachings of the Book of Job and the problems Job faced and how he dealt with those problems.
Have you ever questioned the Lord? Have you ever asked Him “why me?” Have you ever asked when would it finally be “my turn” for prosperity?
All these questions and more like them are asked in the Book of Job. This Bible story is a teaching course in questions, and the response to many of those questions are more questions.
Most people are generally familiar with the story of Job. It is a story I encourage you to read, or reread, just go through and think about the questions asked. There are supposedly more than 300 questions asked, most without a responding “clear” answer. Many times the answer is with another question. By reading Job, however; you should have no trouble determining the answer to the to the lesson begin taught.
We know the background of Job. In the first few verses of the book we learn Job is wise, rich, upright and God-fearing. Satan approaches God and is allowed to destroy Job’s material riches and family, and then secondly is allowed to inflict serious bodily harm on Job in the form of physical diseases. Satan insists that in doing so he can turn Job against the Lord.
Have you ever felt like Satan has been turned loose on you, to suffer financially or physically? Most of us have felt this way at various times of our lives.
In the face of adversity, Job maintains his trust in the Lord. Job 13:15-16. Job’s friends come to visit him and a number of chapters of the book are devoted to their attempts to get Job to question the Lord. The banter back and forth between Job and his friends details the use of question to establish their positions.
While Job early on states that God could ask man a thousand questions that man could not answer (9:2-3), Job does eventually question God’s intent for Job, seeks pity, and questions the apparent prosperity of the wicked. Yet, he stays strong in his overall faith in the Lord.
Beginning at Chapter 38, God appears to Job and, through a series of questions to Job, proves the point of the lesson. Job cannot answer a single question God puts to him. Job and the other persons detailed in the previous verses had asked literally hundreds of questions, to which God does not directly answer, but simply provides more questions that none can answer.
The point of Job to me is that we must let God be God. He is sovereign and answers to no one. No me, and not you.
I encourage you to read the last five chapters of Job if you cannot read the entire book. Chapters 38 to 41 emphasize the marvel of God’s power and creations.
Job gets the point God has made. We should learn from it also. Job humbles himself and unquestionably places himself into God’s hands with no more questions. Job has only praise and trust for the Lord and total submission. Job admits to his limited perspective of God’s divine will and announces his acceptance of God’s design for him.
The last few verses of Chapter 42 detail God’s restoration of Job’s life, health and material possessions. The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning...”
Like Job, we need to make sure we do not simply put questions to the Lord and question his motives or intent with us. We simply should pray to the Lord’ seeking His guidance and praising Him for His blessings, in whatever form He chooses to provide them.
June
I was recently in attendance at a wedding in which a good message was conveyed by the minister regarding the blessings of Jesus. It is a very interesting picture of the nature of a blessing of Jesus.
The lesson comes from the Gospel of John and involves the first recorded miracle performed by Jesus. The story is told in the first 12 verses of the 2nd Chapter of John and involves the wedding feast to which Jesus and His disciples had been invited. At the wedding the mother of Jesus approached Him to tell him that the wedding party had no wine. Jesus then quietly instructed the servants to bring to him six waterpots filled with water. He then instructs the servants to serve the wedding guests from the waterpots.
The head of the wedding party tasted what had been poured from him (not knowing that it had been water), and complained to the servants. His comments were unusual, especially since he did not know that Jesus had performed a miracle. He complained that the quality of the wine he had just drunk from the waterpots was of extremely good quality. Usually, he said, we serve a little good wine at the first, then when people get drunk, we serve them the bad wine.
But he noted: “thou hast kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10.
This description of Jesus’ first miracle presents a beautiful picture of the nature of Jesus’ blessings. A blessing from Jesus does not come with great fanfare. There is not a lot of “ballyhoo” no press releases or fireworks in the sky. Jesus’ blessings come most of the time in common ways which might be easy for us to overlook or take for granted.
More importantly, a blessing from Jesus comes abundantly and quality rich. Jesus turned six waterpots into wine in abundant portions for the wedding guests. Also, he provides quality blessings, just as he provided quality wine out of plain water.
We should not expect a blessing from the Lord in the nature of a million-dollar win from the lottery, which will purchase us a lot of material goods. Miracles come in the day-to-day form of peace of mind, quality fellowship with out friends and neighbors, and the richly warm feelings of the spirit of the kingdom of God. Those are things the lottery’s winnings cannot buy, but yet are worth so much more.
When the Lord graciously blesses us, the blessing comes abundantly, and full of quality. Examine your life and list those things, which truly are blessings to you. How much did you pay for them? The real blessings are not purchased, but are given to us according to the graciousness of God.
July
We have all seen the programs on television or heard them on the radio: either save ourselves by “getting some faith” or be lost for all eternity. “God is ready to help” if we will just let him -- by “accepting” Him.
I am unable to “save myself.” If I believe what they tell me, then I am miserable.
It seems I have happened in on several TV programs lately or happened to turn on the radio at the “wrong” time so that I have gotten my fill lately of people telling me how I must save myself, and then help save others.
I believe in a sovereign God. He does not need anyone’s help in order to save one of His people. He does not need my poor efforts and ego in an attempt to save me or have me get in the way, or try to take the credit for “saving” one of my family or friends.
This doctrine is very basic to Primitive Baptists, but it is 180 degrees opposite for most of the world. I am glad I do not believe that it will take some “good work” on my part to gain eternal life - I would never make it. I have difficulty in determining how I could help “save” someone else when I know I can never reach the level of good works required for my own salvation. However, Primitive Baptists are probably well in the minority in this opinion, even though the answer seems pretty clear through the instruction in the Bible. The doctrine of salvation has many facets, from the sovereign position of God, to the price of salvation, how it is conveyed to us, the duration of it, and our inability (and unwillingness) to save ourselves.
I find myself in thought talking back to the TV and radio when I am told to “save” myself. My answer is that I am unable to do so, even if I had the actual willingness to do so. We are corrupt by nature, and we strive daily to reach a level of good works just to show appreciation for the salvation freely given to us by the grace of God.
If we are in the flesh, we simply cannot please God. Rom. 8:8. We are saved and called “with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Jesus Christ before the world began. 2 Tim. 1:9.
We are saved not by our own righteousness through good works we have done, “but according to his mercy”. Titus 3:5...
Salvation is not of works, lest any of us boast that .we have saved ourselves or another. Eph. 2:8-9. Salvation is a “gift” of God, having predestinated us “according to the good pleasure of his will.” Eph. 2:8,1:5.
I am told that I need to go out and. “get faith.” I believe I am unable to do that. I can study the Scriptures and pray and my faith should be strengthened in the process. The “faith” or “spirit” is not placed or attained by us, but also is the gift of a gracious God.
“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.” Ecc. 8:8.
“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Holy Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” 1 Cor. 12:3.
I believe in a sovereign God. I am unable to help him, even to save myself, and certainly not to save others. That is His job, he reserved it for himself, and I am glad, I depend upon Him and not myself, or others.
August
It is common for me to want to help the Lord do His job. From what I glean from the numerous television and radio evangelists, I am not alone in that thinking.
It just seems that something that should happen, just may not unless the Lord gets my personal help. In most cases, all that is really needed is for me to offer some minor encouragement, at most, and then just get out of the Lord’s way.
Have you ever gotten a question from someone asking about the church or your beliefs? Ever had someone ask you “What is the Primitive Baptist Church and what good comes out of attending?”
My problem is that I am afraid I may spend my time and efforts poorly in explaining, or worse, arguing gospel or doctrine, not really grasping whether the individual is sincere. Many times I feel inadequate in my explanations and unclear in my oral response. Have you ever found yourself in this same situation?
What do you say when someone asks you about your religious belief, or why you hold such beliefs Have you prepared yourself with a ready answer, or constantly find yourself stumbling with “negative” responses such as “Well, I don’t believe this” or “Our church never does” something else. Instead of a negative answer we know we should be responding in the positive. As we are told in I Peter 3:15, we should “be ready always to give an answer to every man, that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”
We each should develop some “positive” responses so that we are always ready to respond regarding the “hope” that is in us: “I believe in a sovereign God, and that God’s children are eternally saved by the Lord’s free, sovereign grace. Primitive Baptists conduct a simple worship service in which the entire focus should be on praising and glorifying God. The church believes that a pastor should be the pastor’ of the entire congregation, and as such, should minister to the young and old worshipping together jointly and not subdivided into splinter groups; it is important for the elderly to hear messages to the young, and for the young to hear messages to the old.
This is but a sample of the positive responses that we should be giving when asked and not negative responses which are otherwise so quick and easy to use. However, many times I know I would be best without engaging in a drawnout explanation that I would probably mess up anyway, at least with improper emphasis.
We are given an excellent example in the Gospel of John with a response which proves most, adequate.... it is not a response which engages in a doctrinal debate or emphasizes the wrong thing.
At John 1:45-51 we can observe what Philip did when he was confronted with such a question Philip had told Nathaniel that the savior of which Moses spoke had been found, being Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathaniel asked Philip: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
That is as open a question for debate as I have ever seen. Philip could have engaged in a lengthy response, as I probably would have attempted. But Philip gave a simple response: “Come and see.”
We could take a lesson from Philip. Some times our best response to questions could be just as simple “Come and see.”
We could ask people to come and see for themselves who the Primitive Baptists are, and what they believe, and then to review the Scriptures themselves to determine if the church is proper in its worship and belief.
The Lord does not need my help to accomplish His mission. I should be ready to respond as to the hope that is in me, but I also should be ready with a simple encouragement and just stay out of the way.
Come and see.
September
Two subjects that are not supposed to be mixed, or generally discussed together, are religion and politics. I am about to violate that very basic rule.
I am violating that rule because I agree that the two should not be mixed.
I have been subjected to the influence of my father, who edited the Banner for more than five decades. He was always active and involved in politics, both local and national. As a child, I followed him to too many political events, political rallies, and election night vote counts. He served as local campaign chairman in a number of statewide and national elections.
As most of you know, he was also very active in his church. I accompanied him across the country to numerous meetings, funerals and associations. He was very active both politically and religiously. Yet he tried never to mix the two, because they should not be mixed.
The Banner of Love was started in the early 1930's by my grandfather. His stated goal was to provide to the Primitive Baptist people a newspaper of good news and solid articles from good writers of doctrine and experience. We have tried to follow that goal throughout the sixty years of the history of this newspaper. It is based on the good writings of our readers, based on solid doctrine and experience, with all attempts to stay non-political and non-adversary. You will not see endorsements of political candidates or political causes. But, as in keeping with our philosophy, you will see articles with background and personal encouragement for the following of basic moral principles as taught by the inspired word of the Bible. If we are doing as we state in our goals, we should over a period of time, provide our readers a general cross section of articles involving a variety of subjects, some of which may be “hot” on the present political scene. There is no intent to “endorse” any particular political candidate, but only to provide moral guidance and instruction for each individual reader.
Like my father, I am an active student of politics. Many of you know I have attempted political office myself and remain active in local, state and national politics. If I am accomplishing my goal, my writings should not indicate which candidate or cause I am supporting or opposing in my political activity. I strongly encourage Banner readers to hold me accountable to this goal.
We see numerous examples where people do attempt to exert political influence directly related to their religion. We witness fanatical religious zealots in our country, especially in the Middle East, and around the world, attempt to force major political change based directly on their interpretation of the word of God. Their entire actions are rationalized by themselves as the inspired work of God, regardless of its violent nature or inconsistencies.
There is no question that my religious beliefs affects my approach to politics. I pray over politics, how i should vote, and whether I should support some specific cause. I pray God gives me guidance and wisdom to act politically in a manner which He would approve.
Several issues ago, we published an article by Elder Clifford Gowens about the moral and doctrinal importance of “burying the dead” in the ground and not disposing of the body by other somewhat popular means of cremation, etc. That is an extremely important personal message for each of us, yet it may not affect our political approach to supporting laws which allow other than in-the-ground burials. I strongly believe in the doctrine of the Primitive Baptist Church, yet I support the basic political principle of our country of freedom of religion, or freedom to choose not to worship. I have seen politicians I strongly admire vote to allow various forms of games of chance, even though I know they personally oppose such based on their own moral standards. I know of certain political candidates who are “pro-choice” politically, but anti-abortion personally. I strongly believe in freedom of individual message to me, and clearly influences me in my personal political approach to addressing the political issues involved in the welfare programs.
We published a series of articles by Elder Mike Ivey of California regarding each of our moral obligations to raise and teach our children in proper ways. Regardless of political compromises or positions regarding care of children, we should personally let our light shine by raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That guide will put us far ahead of any government or political standards, and keep us out of trouble while raising our children properly for our sake and the children’s.
Politics is a strange science. We need to be careful that we do not attempt to publicly mix it with our religion. We have seen some of our country’s, and world’s, best political leaders who, in my opinion, have relatively low moral values. And I have seen some of our leaders who, in my opinion, had very high moral values, but were pitiful in their political ability to lead a country.
Yet we all know individuals who condemn others in a religious context, based on a political position.
I recently was informed of a gentleman’s position that he felt individuals were putting at stake their hope of eternal life if their conscious vote was a particular way. Of course, I have very strong religious differences with that viewpoint.
The problems we see in mixing religion and politics, is that politics is the art of compromise. I know of a number of close friends, family and church members who have very close moral values, but greatly varying political views. I have close friends, whose morals and judgment I respect, but who support different political causes, for their own individual reasons.
Back to the origin of our subject today, we hope to provide our readers with doctrinal, moral articles, from burying, drinking, drugs and abortion, to alms giving, welfare, and lawsuits. Reread the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-6-7 of Matthew. Many of these things are directly addressed therein. I wished I passed all the tests stated there. That is our moral guidelines. That should also influence our political involvement by us letting, individually, our light so shine in such a manner that others can see our good works and glorify God. If each of us were better individual examples of good moral value, our collective political positions would also be correct.
If you follow the basic moral principles spelled out throughout the Bible, no one should question your political judgment.
When you support a political cause or candidate, you should be guided by your moral and religious beliefs. You should support candidates for the appropriate political reasons and criteria, which clearly should include their moral values, integrity, and other factors by which you pray for wisdom.
Even if we make a “political mistake” and elect the wrong person, or support the wrong cause, God has a way of answering our prayers to provide the appropriate wisdom in the political environment.
October
I always enter the holiday season not really knowing what to get my children in the way of presents and gifts. Our society has developed traditions of gifts to the children, especially in the annual holiday season.
Should we buy them toys, clothes, etc.? Do we need to increase the expense of our gifts to make up for the lost time during the past year. Maybe we have been too busy and a bigger gift is necessary?
Rather than a child of our own, it may be a grandchild for whom we need to purchase a gift. Or, perhaps, it is a neighbor child or a dose friend’s children. The question is always the same - what do we give to them, how much do we spend, and how many gifts do we buy?
With that worry firmly established, the next step is to worry how do we come up with the money to make our purchases? This has not been the best year for family economics. The economy has not been kind to a lot of people and the money simply is not there, even if we found the “right” presents to buy. We simply may not be able to afford all those modern toys that we see advertised on television, or on display in the store window.
As we examine this thought, we should review our own history of our own lives. What is it that you remember most about your parents? Or that you remember about your grandparents, or a close wide or friend. I am sure my parents purchased me a number of toys and gifts during the holidays, a few of which I remember, most of which I have long forgotten. What I remember most, and most fondly, are the memories of the “time” my parents spent with me. I wish there had been more times just like the times I remember.
The very best present you have for the children is yourself, and your time. How many grandfathers know how to do little things, such as whittle, but you never have taught it to your grandson. How many mothers remember spending time with their own mothers “learning” those little things that you have never taken time to pass along to your own children.
My mother taught me how to bake cookies; my father taught me how to ride a bicycle and hit a baseball. My grandfather taught me how to cut up an apple and feed it to an elephant. The best “gift” I received from them was their time and love. It is the best gift we can give today.
There is much talk today of the problems associated with our country because of the breakdown in “family values”. I agree, but I think it can be solved only by the family unit. We should be spending time with our children and grandchildren, raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If you spend your “time” with your child or young friend, you gain their confidence and trust. It provides you the opportunity to teach them the way they should go through life; and as they grow older, they “will not depart from it.” Prob. 22:6.
This Christmas make a part of your gift your time. It may be spending quality time teaching the child some trade or hobby you learned yourself as a child; but in doing so you are provided with the opportunity to help develop that child’s mind. If you grow close to the child, the child will grow close to you. That is a basic foundation which will prove critical some time later as that child faces the problems of the world that politicians speak about regarding family values.
Have you taught your child to pray at the dinner table. Have you told them the stories of the Bible, which are as exciting and dramatic as any adventure novel. Have you gone over with them the simple guidelines of life detailed so beautifully in the book of Proverbs.
You have the ability to give a child the best gift of all this Christmas and each day thereafter. Give them your time and your love. It is the gift they will remember forever, long after the toys are broken or discarded.
November
It many times is too easy for me to get my motives mixed up.
I go through the formal motions of some activity, but my sincerity is not in it. I can find myself performing rituals for the sake of it and out of habit, without thought as to the actual motive, or what the motive should be.
I have had the opportunity to visit on some occasions at churches of various denominations and during the services the Lord’s Prayer is a regular part of the service.
I am a real fan of the Lord’s Prayer, taken from Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount from the 6th chapter of Matthew. I memorized it a number of years ago, as I am sure numerous other people have.
Because I know the Lord’s Prayer, can say it forward or backward, or while standing on my head, what have I accomplished? Have I stopped to take the time to really examine the lesson in the Lord’s Prayer, and to follow it with sincerity, or have I simply formed a ritualistic practice that I can now brag about or think I have prayed an “effectual fervent prayer” (James 5:16).
Our motives are important to what we do. Do we repeat the Lord’s Prayer and suddenly we have “prayed”. I think not.
Do we go to church on Sunday morning for the sake of being seen at church or to tell others we went to church without the desire to hear the Gospel? We should not.
We can examine the lesson taught in the 7th Chapter of the Old Testament book of Zechariah. In the first few verses of the chapter we are given an example of “insincere” fasting and the question asked regarding it.
“Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?” Zech. 7:4-5.
The people are asked their motive behind their “religious” activities. Were they doing what they did for the Lord, and in His praise and honor, or were they doing it for some other inappropriate reason.
Another example is given to us by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Again, Jesus address the practice of fasting, and the motives behind it.
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6:16-18.
Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides to us similar examples of what our motive should be with our works. With our gifts to charity and the poor, we are to give in secret and anonymously. We are not to give “before men, to be seen of them.”
And when we pray, are we to offer a beautifully worded prayer intended to impress all those whom we know are listening to be “heard of men”. Jesus describes the hypocrites who “love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men... They have their reward.” Jesus tells us to pray by entering into the closet, closing the door behind us and praying in secret, for which we will be openly rewarded by the Lord.
And should we simply memorize the Lord’s Prayer so that we can recite it in endless repetition upon demand?
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matt. 6:1-7.
It is important for us to remember the proper motive in the activities we do. Do we fast to be seen of men? Do we pray to be heard of men? Do we give to be praised of men?
When we do good works, do we do them so that we will get the praise?
We should pray, we should give, we should fast. But we should do these things to honor the Lord. In doing so He will provide to us a reward far greater than man. We should let our “light so shine” in such a manner that others seeing our good works will not hour us, but “glorify your Father which is in heaven.
It is a lesson I am still trying to learn.
December
From Thanksgiving through Jan. 1 is the traditional period we refer to as the “holidays.” It is generally thought of as a time for fun, reunion, good eating, laughter, thanksgiving, sharing and rejoicing--as it should be. We all have much to be thankful for, to be proud of, and to rejoice in. it is a time for remembering those of our family and friends who we enjoyed past holidays with, but who are no longer with us. It is a time for a little relaxation and catch-up before we begin anew with a new year. Some of us even try to catch a little time in front of the television for the onslaught of football games that fill the airwaves during the holidays.
Somehow, though, during this time period for fun and relaxation and rejoicing, we many times find ourselves suffering with deep depression and worry, and maybe a little fear. The experts tell us what we already know from our daily experiences— that the holiday period is also a “high” time for family and domestic disturbances and such problems as child abuse, homicide and suicide.
I know the thoughts I have, especially following the holidays as I reflect upon the past year and think about an approach to the upcoming year. I worry that I have not properly provided for my family and friends’ Christmas, as I should have; or, in a vain attempt to do so I have over extended myself and. now must find a way to “double up” and catch up early in the next year.
I believe that it is these pressures that started society into making new year’s resolutions. Commitments to ourselves to do better in the upcoming year than we have done in the past. Attempts to “prop” ourselves up and approach the new year with a more positive attitude.
A good suggestion for a new year’s resolution is just a few minutes reading from a simple and time-tested source. It is hard to find better resolutions than what you will see in the Book of Psalms. Especially if you find yourself, as I do, with instances of the holiday blues or depression.
There is a good lesson for us all in David’s poems as we go through the holidays and begin the new year. The 37th Psalm is one of the best resolution lists you will ever be able to find. Make the 37th Psalm your resolution and you will have a positive attitude entering the new year: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3.
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in anywise to do evil.” 37:7-8.
The entire 37th Psalm is worthy of your time as I am skipping over large portions of it here.
It is difficult to pick out one psalm over the others for recommended reading over the holidays. It is easy to see from reading them that David had the same thoughts and prayers that effect the Lord’s people today during the depression and fear that hits so many at year’s end.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalms 51:10-12.
If you near the year’s end worried about tomorrow, or yourself, or your family, or those year-end bills you know will arrive, or are just afraid of growing another year older as the world grows bigger with its sin and corruption—turn to the words of the prophet Isaiah and read his description of the incomparableness of God to the world and all its problems. Read the 40th chapter of Isaiah.
“Hast thou not known? Has thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faileth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
“Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and. not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31.
Finish your readings for the new year with Romans 8:31 wherein the Apostle Paul tells us all we really need to know by asking a simple question: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”