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A Safe Church

Posted on by Bob Mathews

In John 9, the Lord gave sight to a man born blind. A staggering feat! Changed the guy’s life in more ways than one. But the miracle was worked on a Sabbath. As in John 5, the Jewish leaders used that to condemn Jesus for His work of healing mercy. Back to John 9: the same bunch called the now-sighted man into the principal’s office and raked him over the coals. Later, they confronted his parents with the situation. Mom and dad were so afraid of the Pharisees that they refused to come to their own son’s defense. Why were people so afraid of the Jewish leaders? The answer is that those guys were not safe to be around. (This is the background for Jesus’ analogy in John 10 of shepherds, hired hands, and sheep. Notice the stark contrast between Jesus and the religious hierarchy of those times. Why did the lost and broken and bleeding turn to him and not to them? Why did they come to Him with their issues and questions and children? It was because He proved Himself to be a safe place for them. He did not exploit or hurt them. Is not Matthew 11:28-30 about that?)

In the Acts 10 account of Cornelius and Peter, we see that Peter was not safe for a pagan to be around. Notwithstanding the fruitfulness of his preaching in Jerusalem (Acts 2), his Jewishness bled over into how he handled the gospel. It took the direct intervention of God to persuade the apostle, for the gospel’s sake,  to look at some things differently. Don’t be too hard on Peter. He was just being true to his roots and conditioning. Thanks to the gracious intervention of the Lord, Peter ultimately was God’s instrument for bringing an entire family to Christ.

In a safe church, relationships are more important than “being right”.

Some people are not safe to be around. In their presence, people are made worse not better, weaker not stronger. They hurt people more than help them. That is true of life. Sadly, it also can be true of a church congregation. Say what? Yes, it is so. Some churches just are not safe places for either members or guests. On the other hand, there are those in which people are blessed and built up and equipped and empowered to joyfully serve both God and man. (And, yes, I know we have hammered the need to be a “scriptural church,” a point not to be argued. But, in our zeal to be “scriptural” have we ceased to be safe? Have we made it okay to hurt or hammer people in the name of “truth?”) That aside, what would you consider to be marks of a safe church? Here is what I have on it at this time:

Relationships. In a safe church, relationships are more important than “being right” – Romans 14:19. (Indeed, Ephesians 4:4-6 itemizes some essential truths which bring us together in Christ. But 4:1-3 gives us what will keep us together!) The church in Rome was becoming unsafe due to infighting and spats about nonessential matters. Know this: if we insist upon making every conviction or practice a test of fidelity to Christ, then unity in Christ will continue to elude us. The apostle lifts up the cross as the great peacekeeper in the great house of God. In the cross there is peace and safety in the presence of both God and man. The church should be a “no fire zone” in which brethren feel safe to work through their ideas without fear of being labeled and branded. My brother is my brother because we both belong to the same Christ. That relationship ought to be honored in all circumstances.  Matter of fact, how can I really be right if I am treating my brother wrongly? What matters most to me: the positions I hold or the people I behold? In a safe church, relationships are more important than “being right.”

Abortion is WRONG (psychologically) – 2

Posted on by Bob Mathews

We previously noted that abortion is wrong because of the painful and long-term PSYCHOLOGICAL effect it can have upon the woman involved.  With that in mind, consider the issue of GUILT. Guilt has a normal and healthy function within the human heart. (We are speaking of actual guilt, in contrast to false guilt feelings – another very important thing to understand, but not here.) A rightly functioning conscience will blow the whistle when violated. Sometimes conscience will prevent one from aborting.
But too often, that is not the case.

Consider the person who made such a drastic choice, and continues to live with guilt and remorse because of it. There may have been no guilt during the actual event, but now there has been time to think, regret, grieve. The pain and permanence of that decision hover overhead like a dark cloud.  Nobody mentioned the emotional overload that can follow. What can be said or done about that?

The most important thing to know is that one can be FORGIVEN. The apostle Paul assures that all transgressions (sins) are forgiven in Christ – Colossians 2:13. It has been said that, if Jesus’ death on the cross did not cleanse all sin, then it did not cleanse one sin. Think on that. And that includes the “unforgivable.” The need for forgiveness is very real in every human heart. The certainty of forgiveness is equally real. Nothing addresses guilt and self-hate as does the amazing grace of God in Christ. If I turn my wrong turns over to Him, He will forgive me and help me to forgive myself.

Being forgiven is not the same as being healed…I won’t FEEL forgiven but I still AM forgiven.

That brings up the second aspect of psychological abortion-recovery. Being forgiven is not the same as being healed. I may have trouble forgiving myself!  Sin has consequences. King David of the Bible committed grievous sinS, and thought the whole episode to be a done deal. But the harvest he reaped was very bitter for a very long time. He buried four sons because of those sinful choices! The 32nd Psalm reveals David’s anguish of heart and loss of health during the time he refused to come to terms with his wrongfulness. Post-abortion emotional suffering can have the same effects or worse.

The good news is that the king came to terms with his wrongness toward both God and man – Psalms 32 & 51. And, the even better news is that the Lord fully forgave David and later used him mightily in His kingdom plans. After dying 1,o00 times because of his short-sighted decisions, David found life again in the God of beginning-again!

Where the wandering and painful path of my grieving intersects the Interstate of God’s forgiveness, healing begins. And it does so from the outside in! That is, emotional healing starts with knowing the eternal forgiving love of God for me – I John 4:10. As I lay claim to (believe) that, emotional healing begins on the inside of me.  Now, it may take time. Relapses into doubt and regret may occur. I won’t FEEL forgiven but I still AM forgiven. The feeling will follow the fact, as railroad cars follow the engine.

These words are no bandaid. The post-abortion bleeding heart needs a tourniquet. In all this about one of the heart’s most wearisome burdens, I thought it critical to spotlight a very present hope for those who hurt over the past. If this is you or someone you can perhaps help, memorize the truth of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

robert

Abortion is WRONG – #1

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Following Sunday’s talk about unborn life, a couple of you inquired about my skipping the slide enumerating the many aspects of abortion’s wrongness.  Keep in mind that  we are talking about the legalized extermination of 60,000,000+ unborn lives!  People!  Think about the myriad of ways that kind of destruction can affect a participant, or, for that matter, an entire culture.  (By comparison, we are rightly horrified and nauseated by the slaughter of 4-6 million innocent Jews by Nazi Germany.  Now, you and I are discussing 60 million+ abortions to this point in the U.S., and the slaughter of 46 million EVERY YEAR throughout the world!)

Under the following heading, I outline some of the ways in which abortion on demand is so very wrong. (Of course, that, labeling a thing as “wrong” is automatically a red flag in our times.)  Well, Jesus warned us to expect that and more – John 3:19,20.  See what you think.

Abortion on demand is WRONG:

Theologically  –  because it militates against the very power and purpose of God Who is the Creator and Giver of every life.  It is wrong in how it treats the God Who is doing the making and shaping work of Psalm 139.  Abortion is theologically wrong.

We are talking about the legalized extermination of 60,000,000+ unborn lives!

Morally –  because it jettisons both Scripture and good conscience in exchange for a quick fix.  “Moral” relates to “right and wrong.”  But we increasingly don’t care about that – Isaiah 5:20.  We just want a quick fix for our temporary problem.  Its all about ME:  my situation, dilemma, family embarrassment, financial circumstance, ambitions, MY LIFE, on and on.  Situation ethics always makes it about how I FEEL, not what is right and wrong.   Hey, have I ever wondered how abortion FEELS to that little unborn one?  The very fact of life-taking is enough for God to judge us.  Add to that the suffering and pain inflicted upon the defenseless.  How can we THINK of it, much less go through with it?  Google “fetal pain,” and, along with that, view the results of various abortion procedures.  Do that for yourself.  Quick fix, my eye!  Why, we give more dignity and protection to sea turtle eggs!  Abortion is morally wrong.

Psychologically  –  because it can trigger immense emotional trauma within the lives of those who have made the choice.  Abortion is not just a physical thing, such as sneezing.  There is an EMOTIONAL side to it.  In the nation of Finland, suicide occurs three times as often among women who have aborted.  What do you make of that?  And, look into post-abortion depression.  With that, look at post traumatic stress syndrome and notice the similarity in effects.  Did you know that those who have had abortions are more likely to be under psychiatric treatment, experience adverse personality changes, admit to usage of alcohol or tranquilizers, and have greater social isolation?  And does it not break your heart when a woman still sobs every year when the “birthday” of her aborted child rolls around?  This is a side effect which Planned Parenthood and abortionists (and most public school “family life” curricula) dare not mention.  Why not?  Abortion is psychologically wrong.

There is more to all this.

robert

 

 

 

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

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“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me; bless His holy name…and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2

This time of the year reminds us of a word – thanksgiving, or the giving of thanks. What a wonderful word, idea, and thing to do. We have been so blessed, been given so much; more than we deserve and actually, for many of us, more than we need.

How blessed we are to live in a place where we fret more about our choices than we do with our wants.

There will probably be a lot of leftovers this next week. But how blessed we are to live in a place where we fret more about our choices than we do with our wants.

However; more importantly, are those blessings that are not physical, but are spiritual in nature. One of the great Psalms is 103. Notice the words that David uses to describe His blessings and benefits. “He pardons, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, renews, removes, and performs. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, merciful, and understands.” WOW!!!!

No wonder David starts out and finishes by saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” So, what is it that you were fretting about? In another scripture, David said, “Fretting, only leads to evildoing.”

O Lord, please remind me how blessed I am.

Are you religious or are you converted?

Posted on by Bob Mathews

In spite of its frantic pursuit of religion, America has never been less spiritual. Jesus came into a world that was very religious, if not Jewish, then pagan. Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to convert the world, because while they were religious, they were not saved.

Religion is from within, redemption (conversion) is from above. Religion brings one to worship, conversion brings one to God. Religion is a response to the void within man, conversion is a response to the voice of God. Religion can restructure your life, conversion can restart your life. Religion may get you thru life, conversion will get you to heaven. While religion might affect your diet, conversion will affect your destiny.

Oh be careful little tongue what you say

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Jesus, said, “every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for in the day of Judgment.” (Matthew 11:36 NASB). Paul said “let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth”.

An innocent word spoken maybe in fun to the speaker, can become a wound to the hearer. According to James the tongue is a very small part of the body but can be tamed by no one and can cause enormous damage. I know that you don’t have to be evil or have an ugly heart to say words that are not beneficial but are damaging. Peter said that he would not deny the Lord, yet later he would deny him with cursings, yet Jesus knew his heart and would allow him to have the keys to the kingdom.

It behooves each of us to try to make the words that we speak like “apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11), that they are “words of grace as seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) The only words that we should speak are words “good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

My prayer is that God will help me to always make the words of my mouth not only be acceptable to Him, but also to those who hear.

Let Your Difference Make a Difference

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Thinking and acting differently than the world will make a world of difference. That’s what the church is all about. Paul and other Christians were brought before the city officials and accused of “upsetting the world” with their teaching. (Acts 17) Why? Because they were different in their thinking and acting. They were not into the idea of “What’s in it for me?” but how can I bless those around me. That is what the church is about. We are the called-out from the world.

We are to be in the world, but not of the world. The world will not like us and actually hate us as it did Jesus and those who followed Him. We will offend those who differ from us, not by being rude, but by following the teachings of Jesus, by going the second mile, by turning the cheek, by being good to all, regardless of their status in life.

Let your difference make a difference in the world.

God reigns!

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We have seen, heard, and even experienced the idea of change. Politicians have used that word and have we ever seen the change that has happened in our country. We who have been blessed to get past being young and now are getting to be “old” have seen and experienced the changes that have taken place in our lives.

With all this change going on, we wonder what is going to happen next, what will be changed in the morning when I wake up to a new day? Most of us don’t handle change very well. We don’t like big changes in our lives. We don’t like to get out of our comfort zone. So we say, leave it alone, “If it is not broke, don’t fix it.” I know I feel that way a lot of times. However, from the above passage, let’s focus on two things when changes occur.

God…even the One who sits enthroned from of old—with whom there is no change.
                    Psalm 55:19

First of all it says that God is “enthroned.” When the children of Israel wanted a king like everyone around them, Samuel was disappointed, but God was even more so; but there is one thing that we can be sure of, God is on the throne! He is still in charge! He is still sovereign over all things. It is still true that we “live and move and have our very being in Him.”

One of the first things you notice about the book of Revelation is that John is allowed to see the throne room to see God on the throne. A lot of Christians thought God had left them alone, but He had not, so John sees and tells about God on the throne, ruling everything. When life gets tough, tedious and it looks like God doesn’t care, just remember, He is still ruling this world!

The second thing is that God doesn’t change. Oh, there are things about Him that change. His laws, for example, have changed. We don’t have to build an ark. We don’t have to offer up animal sacrifices. We don’t have to go to Jerusalem. But His nature does not change. He still desires the sacrifices of a broken and contrite heart over our sins. He is still looking for a demonstration of faith in our lives. He is still full of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever!

So, stop wringing your hands and trying to figure out what God is doing. He is still ruling like He always has done and He is not going to change, even if the whole world does. Rejoice and be happy, for He is so good, gracious, and faithful.