Tag Archives: Church

Doing God’s Will Is Crucial

August 30, 2021Church, DoctrineChurch, worksjbevans

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21

It is common to ignore clear Bible teaching on the subject of works. Indeed, works do not save us, and no person can cause God’s indebtedness to mankind. But, works are important in the Christian life.

There is no verse more clear than Matthew 7:21. Jesus speaks these words himself. They are a portion of the Sermon on the Mount. There is no textual issue regarding the verse.

The passage arises in the context of false teachers who creep in among true disciples. Our Lord says that words are not enough. We all know people who talk big but do nothing. Jesus’ words target these people. Calling Jesus “Lord” is good, but it is not enough. Jesus says the only one entering the kingdom of heaven is a doer of God’s will. “Do” is an action word, a verb, which points to labor. The Christian is a worker; else, he is lost. Jesus says in verse 23, And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Those who talk big while doing nothing are “workers of lawlessness” and will be eternally lost.

The Sermon on the Mount was not the only time Jesus talked about workers. In Matthew 12:46 – 50, Jesus’ mother and brothers were trying to talk to him. Jesus replied, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). So again, the one who does God’s will is accepted.

Doing God’s Will is Taught by Jesus’ Followers

Doing God’s will is also a theme in James. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The one who listens, but does not do, is deceived. He has convinced himself that all is good when he is lost. In the same paragraph, James tells his readers what a genuine Christian is. He is a doer. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).

You cannot discount the Lord’s words about working as a Christian. It is the purpose of our existence. Paul writes, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus said those good works reflect the worldly man’s vision heavenward, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Doing God’s Will is a Habit of Jesus’ Followers

We should add that doing good works will never place God in debt to you or anyone else. We are saved by grace, and without it, we would be lost. Thousands of prayers, untold hours of good works, and service are meaningless without the grace of God. It is impossible to overstate the necessity of God’s grace. But let no one be mistaken: Our sovereign Lord requires works of those who belong to him. Apathy and a lackadaisical attitude toward serving God is spiritually deadly!

May we be known for our good works of service!

Kingdom of God 5

July 29, 2020Church, Church Bulletin, GovernmentChurchjbevans

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Hebrews 11:13-16

We’ve previously explored the nature of human governments. Human authority exists, by God’s decree, alongside God’s kingdom. The common and the divine work side by side to provide for our needs. Divine ordinances do not regulate speed limits; instead, they point to the earthly and command obedience. Most governments of men do not reciprocate. They do not point heavenward and command obedience to God. And that causes friction.

The Christian lives in two worlds. That works well as long as rulers respect the superiority of the kingdom of God. The second-century Christian Justin Martyr wrote to Emperor Antonius Pius, demanding that the government fairly treat Christians. He penned: “Reason directs those who are truly pious and philosophical to honour and love only what is true, declining to follow traditional opinions, if these be worthless.” (Justin Martyr, 1^st apology, Chapter 1). He is calling for the civil authorities to respect truth and reject falsehoods as the government investigates Christianity. Justin wrote a second Apology addressed to the Roman Senate, begging for a truthful investigation of the church. His pleas fell upon hardened hearts. He and several followers were scourged and beheaded because they refused to bow to Roman pagan gods. Government had overstepped her bounds.

There is no inherent conflict between the divine and the common. Earthly governments can co-exist with the church, provided the all acknowledge the superiority of the church. Jesus said as much in Matthew 22:21, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” His apostles affirmed the primacy of the kingdom of God in Acts 5:29. The apostles were under arrest for preaching the Gospel. “We must obey God rather than men,” was the reply of Peter and the apostles. Service to the Lord comes before obedience to human government.

The incredibly difficult question today is when a Christian may disobey the laws of men. The Bible offers plenty of examples. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a false god (Daniel 3). Daniel was commanded not to pray but did anyway (Daniel 6). We observe that all of the apostles, except wicked Judas, were persecuted and mostly died because they would not stop teaching of Jesus. John was on the prison isle of Patmos “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).

There are accounts where God’s people did not revolt but only paused. Kings commanded Ezra cease working on the rebuilding of the Temple, a task commanded by God. The people did not disobey the king! Instead, they paused and pursued successful challenges to the order to cease work (Ezra 4,5,6).

The question of when a Christian may reject the laws of man is thorny. Next week, we will offer principles for making such a decision.

The Kingdom of God – Part 5

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

Hebrews 11:13-16

The question of when a Christian may reject the laws of man is thorny. Next week, we will offer principles for making such a decision.

Kingdom of God 4

July 27, 2020Church, Church Bulletin, GovernmentChurchjbevans

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13,14

Two kingdoms ruled over God’s people many times in history. Although they were Jews and subject to the kingdom of Judah, the people were also subjugated by Babylon. Rome ruled during Jesus’ lifetime while Herod remained the Jewish authority. This dual citizenship foreshadows our current condition. For Christians in the United States, there is one physical government, but a second spiritual government rules over us also. There is frequently tension between the earthly and the spiritual, but the Christian knows who he must honor first.

Our Government is not Rome

Before we examine the relationship between modern Christians and the American government, we note that there are major differences between the ancient rulers and today’s leaders.

Citizens of Rome, though very privileged compared to non-citizens, had little impact upon government. There were no campaigns for the vote of the common man. No one ran for emperor. Criticism of the powerful in Rome had dire consequences. There were no newspapers or media outlets to rage against the throne. Few competing voices discussed the policies of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, or any other ruler. Roman senators served because of wealth, power, and influence, not through the popular vote.

Authoritarian rule is present in many nations today. In the United States, a person may practice his faith, speak his mind, and seek redress from the government, all of which are protected by our bedrock, founding documents.

Because we are blessed with the ability to impact our government, we are also laden with new responsibilities. Remember Jesus’ words, which call us to be salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16). Where we can influence for good, we must. The original Christians had no such ability to influence Rome.

Our Government is not God’s

It is anathema to suggest that our government is not God’s. To say that capitalism is not divine is heresy to some. So let me explain.

The need for government is without question. Men have organized themselves into governable bodies almost from the beginning. The Lord acknowledges the need for government by giving government to his people. He also commands that we obey. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1,2). Those words are inspired and strong. We must obey. However, God never defines the form of government to which we must be subject. The closest is probably in the next verse, Romans 13:3: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Inspiration assumes a government that upholds and encourages “good conduct.”

When a government supports ungodly and evil behaviors, it surely cannot be said to be of God. Still, we are to obey. Bloodthirsty, pagan, Nero begins his reign of terror just about the time Paul wrote the Romans 13 passage. We may conclude that subjection to government may be very uncomfortable. Still, we are commanded to respect our leaders.

The Cheerful Giver

December 23, 2019Bible GeneralChurch, giving, moneyjbevans

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

Giving is a part of the Christian life. It is the subject of many jokes and internet memes, but it is expected of the faithful Christian. The Bible abounds with teaching and examples of the giver. What can we learn?

Giving Is Without Force.

The righteous man gives because he loves. He gives because there is a need that he can help to meet. This is his chance to improve another’s life. He is filled with joy as he offers his resources to the Lord.

Our passage above is clear: Giving must be free, without compulsion, and with joy. Compelled giving is little different from compelled taxation. That is, we may give, but we do not want to. It is not from the heart. It does not arise from love. We have all heard horror stories of the collector who travels among church members to make sure they give as they should. Others may browbeat members into giving more or manipulate them into generosity. It may support the preacher, but it does little to support God’s intentions.

Giving is Intentional

The Bible teaches us to decide in our hearts what we will give (2 Corinthians 9:7). When God called upon the former slaves of Egypt to give for the establishment of the Tabernacle, he told them to give as a man’s “heart moves him” (Exodus 25:2).

Each of us determines what he will give. His deliberations are personal and private. No one knows what he can give better than himself. Let us give thought and plan our giving.

Giving is Cheerful

“God loves a cheerful giver.” The one who gives must do so gladly, cheerfully, or graciously. This perfectly contrasts with the idea of avoiding reluctance or compulsion. As the Hebrews gave for the building of the Tabernacle, they rejoiced that they were privileged to be involved.

Inasmuch as the Christian is to be a servant, he joys in his role as a giver, for that is another way to serve. If as Christian groans as he gives, he ought put his money back in his pocket.

Let us be people who are free and generous with our gifts, for God has been free and generous with us!

Fighting Hypocrisy

September 19, 2019Bible GeneralChurch, hypocrisy, Jesusjbevans

The solution to financial troubles is very simple. You must increase the money coming in, or you must decrease your expenses. It’s a simple equation but terribly hard to implement. Hypocrisy is similar. Either stop the sin or stop pretending. Again, it is easy to say, but very hard to accomplish.

Stop Pretending

If you’re struggling with hypocrisy, the easiest thing to do is to stop pretending you are something you are not. People do it all the time. The reasoning goes something like this; I’m not good enough to be a Christian, so I’m going to stop. That way, I at least will not be harming the body of Christ. This is not necessarily a bad idea. Hypocrisy hurts the body of Christ. It makes it harder for faithful Christians to show God’s power when there’s a cloud over other brethren.

The idea that we should cease waving the banner of Christ because we’re not good enough is a mistake. Here’s a little secret: none of us are good enough! The psalmist says no one is righteous and Paul echoes his words (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Romans 3:10). John even says that those people who are walking in the light still sin (1 John 1:7). So, the idea that we are sinless in this life is false. Whatever righteousness we have comes only through Christ and is never of our own doing. [bctt tweet=”The idea that we should cease waving the banner of Christ because we’re not good enough is a mistake.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

As we said above, hypocrisy is bad. It must stop. But any withdrawal from the public square must be temporary and must be marked with a desire to return to service.

Stop the Sin

Here’s the hard part. Whatever sin is dragging you down must be eliminated. There simply are no options. Hypocrisy is not just about others; it is about you. Sin in your life is doing more harm to you than it is to the people around you. It’s much like secondhand smoke, the smoker is the one with the greater risk, but those around him are affected too. [bctt tweet=”Hypocrisy is not just about others; it is about you.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

So many people say: I’ll come back to the Lord as soon as I get my life straight. That’s upside down. You will never make your life right by yourself. There is no right life without Christ. There are three essential components for removing sin in your life. [bctt tweet=”You will never make your life right by yourself. There is no right life without Christ.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

Get in the word – slow, deliberate, reading of God’s word is essential for spiritual growth. Just as it is important to eat healthy when you are physically sick, it is vital to consume spiritual food when your soul is ill.
Kneel in prayer – to commune with God is one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed on anyone. The idea of kneeling in prayer suggests humility before the Creator. Sometimes, the words just won’t come, but silence before God is rich in blessings too.
Lean on your brothers and sisters – there’s a reason Jesus gave us the church. There is no way we can defeat Satan alone. Often, God will work on you through other Christians. Don’t resist their offers for help.

It is truly wonderful that you have identified hypocrisy in your life and are trying to purge it. But there is no need for self-sacrifice in your battle with hypocrisy. You can defeat the monster and rise to walk with Christ again.

5 Better Ways to Think About Church

May 20, 2019Bible GeneralChurchjbevans

There is nothing like the true church of the Bible anywhere. It is unique. The church is the ark of the New Testament, where saved people are held apart from the wrath of God. There are no saved persons today outside of the church for God places those whom he saves into it (Acts 2:41, 47; Colossians 1:13, 14).

Jesus bought it with his blood (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:12). It is precious to Jesus and therefore, precious to his people, Christians.

But as we move on to a more mature place in our faith, we must understand and teach correctly about the church.

1. Convert People to Jesus; Not the Church

How many times have you heard or said something like this: “I want to teach someone and baptize them into the church.” Or, “We need to talk with him and convert him to the church.” Maybe you have said, “He became a member of the church.” I think I know what you mean, but others might not.

Jesus died for you, the church did not. It is the righteousness of Christ that covers your sins. It is Christ alone.

“…there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Lord will place a man into the church after his conversion to Jesus. Jesus is first.

[bctt tweet=”The Lord will place a man into the #church after his conversion to #Jesus. Jesus is first.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

2. Teach Jesus Before You Teach Church

Those who know me personally know that I highly value the church. But all things must be in their place and in the proper order. The original church began on Pentecost in Acts 2. A careful review of Peter’s sermon reveals that he preached Jesus first.

People must respond to Jesus before they respond to the church.

When Paul visited Athens, where there was no church, he proclaimed the Creator and his Son (Acts 17:22-34). The church came later. In 1 Corinthians, Paul declared the primacy of the Gospel; that is, the message of salvation in Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:2). They learned of the church, but only after they learned of Jesus.

Jesus always comes first in all ways (Colossians 1:18).

3. The Church Is Not Optional

It’s hard to escape the screeching of the crowds today. People long for silence. Time alone is highly valued. So, it is understandable that some try to opt out of church assemblies in favor of a faith of quiet solitude.

Cary Nieuwhof, a community church leader, writes:

“…rarely does decreased church attendance produce increased devotion…have a conversation with many people who used to go to church that don’t anymore, and you’ll meet a lot of people whose faith hasn’t grown.”

He is right. He’s really right. Separating from church assemblies, worship, and activities is deadly to the spirit.

[bctt tweet=”Jesus thought enough of the #church to die for it. Shouldn’t we think enough of it to attend?” username=”Preachers_Study”]

4. Church is Much More Than Fellowship

I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’d rather be with them than anyone else. The common fellowship of the church is one reason I am thankful for the church. But there is something bigger.

The church first exists to glorify God.

Paul proclaims God’s glory in the church (Ephesians 3:21). The church, not to be flippant, is a spiritual trophy case of the saved. Herein are found those plucked from Satan’s grasp and moved into Christ’s kingdom.

The church reflects God’s brilliant glory because it reveals his wisdom and devotion to salvaging a world stained by sin.

Many organizations have fellowship. None have the saved except the church.

[bctt tweet=”Many organizations have #fellowship. None have the saved except the #church.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

5. It’s Not My Church. It is Christ’s Church.

This is big. We think of the church we attend as being “my church.” We say, “Joe and Mary go to my church.” That’s not a malevolent statement. It is a common way of expressing a relationship. But often there is an unspoken, even unthought of consequence. It’s not my church. It doesn’t belong to me. I don’t decide what is right, good, required, bad, or prohibited. That’s Jesus’ job.

When the people in Corinth turned communion to chaos, Paul replied this way: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you…” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Note that the corrective teaching did not originate in Corinth, nor did it begin with Paul. Instead, it was Jesus’ word that was given to correct their errors.

In church matters, let us always ask, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Respecting the Lordship of Jesus over his people draws us closer to him and closer to one another.

Like Josiah and Hilkiah of ancient Judah, let us rejoice in searching God’s word and apply what we find in it (2 Kings 22:8ff).

The church is an incredible gift from God. Let us view it through his eyes and always remember that Jesus comes first!

5 Reasons Children Leave

December 5, 2018Church, Family Issueschildren, Churchjbevans

Children are leaving Jesus. Young adults are leaving Jesus. They say they are leaving the church or organized religion but the hard truth is that they are leaving Jesus. The church belongs to Jesus:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” – Matthew 16:18

He said, “I will build my church” (emphasis mine – jbe). When someone leaves the church they leave what Jesus built. But they also leave the very thing Jesus loved so much that he died for it:

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” – Ephesians 5:25

We understand that the church is not brick and mortar but flesh and blood. It is an assembly of people who come together for Jesus’ work. When you leave the church you leave people. To be honest, some assemblies make life hard for young people and they fail profoundly in their mission. Some are self-centered and seek to be entertained by professional and semi-professional people. Others are as dead as firewood in January, Jesus warned that some assemblies would be cast out of his presence for their faithlessness and apathy (Revelation chapters 2 & 3). Churches have problems that must be fixed. But that is another article.

For now, let’s think about the ones who quit.

Children Leave the Church Because of Parents

This may be the hardest truth of all. We (parents) are part of the problem.

Children are a precious gift from God. It is a powerful attestation to God’s faith in his creation that he entrusts us with the most vulnerable creature to be molded and crafted into a faithful servant of his. Children are described as “heritage” and a “reward” (Psalm 127:3), a “blessing (Psalm 37:26). They are described as “olive shoots” by the psalmist in Psalm 128:3, that is, as a great blessing from the much-desired tree. Even our Lord entered the world as a child. A man with many children is like one who has a quiver full of arrows (Psalm 127:3-5). Children are an amazing gift from on high. But for all their splendor a child cannot raise himself.

You might think otherwise.

For too many children, once they can reach the bread and the peanut butter jar they are put on autopilot. They make their decisions largely independent of any parental oversight or guidance. Friends, associates, and activities are chosen by the child and at least benignly supported by mom and dad. Even so-called helicopter parents fail to guide their children into paths of righteousness. Instead, they make sure children are at little league games, band practices, and choir concerts while ignoring many opportunities to grow in Christ. It is not that these things are bad – they are not – but there is something better which parents often fail to support.

There are precious few children who can be deprived of strong parental guidance and still prosper in Christ. It is possible but uncommon. A major part of raising a child comes through the example set by parents. Few children will, at least in their early adult lives, exceed the spirituality of the parents. Let that sink in for a moment.

Children Leave the Church Because of Shallow Teaching

For those children who are blessed with parents seeking opportunities for spiritual growth, there remains another challenge: Bible teaching that lacks depth and substance. The local church must aide parents by providing sound teaching for children through the Sunday School programs and similar educational activities. Sadly, that teaching does not progress far beyond songs about Zachheus the wee little man, and good ol’ Noah. I really hate to write these words because many wonderful Bible class teachers do their best in the classroom, but they need help. Bible class is not an afterthought. It is a critical part of the spiritual development of a child. Congregations must support the teachers and the work they do.

Teaching should track what students are exposed to in the public schools. When curriculum is taught that rejects Creation, the Flood and the idea of miracles, students should be taught the truth as God has revealed it. Schools are often the enemies of truth. Repeated studies among those who leave the church point to the inability to accept Bible teachings that conflict with science. Deeper studies will demonstrate that belief in God and the supernatural nature of his work through history is rational and truthful. But if the churches are not teaching it and if the parents are silent, from whence will children learn truth? We leave them at the mercy of studies that uphold science as supreme and the Bible as myth!

Children Leave the Church Because of Demonic Deception

Satan is busy. He does not jump out of bushes and steal the souls of our youth. Instead, he works through influence and peer pressure to deliver those souls to eternal death. We see his activity in many places. Terrorism, brutal repression, famine caused by war, abortion, pedophilia, child abuse and more. It’s pretty obvious he is there causing the disturbance. But he also works quietly, so sly when tempting our youth. He is patient and able to groom our children into lost souls. We’d better take him seriously.

Paul describes a spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 with real weapons used against real fortifications. They are spiritual, not physical, but still very real. Your children are on the frontline. They will be taken captive if we do not support them. During the Gulf War, the military was rightfully rebuked for failing to provide our soldiers with adequate gear to protect them. Body armor was not adequate and vehicles had less than required hardening against explosives. It was a horrible thought that we would put our soldiers in harm’s way without supplying them with the very best equipment. We must prepare our children for the assaults coming from Satan. We are not ignorant of his tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11), we know what his plans and schemes are. We must prepare them.

Satan will never tap your child on the shoulder and say, “come with me.” But one of his followers, in the personage of your child’s best friend, will. Like the Israelites under Samuel, they will seek the world and its empty promises (1 Samuel 8:5) if they do not know better.

Satan is liar (John 8:44). The first time we meet him in Genesis 3 he is lying and he has not stopped yet. He will lie to your children!

Children Leave the Church Because They Were Never In the Church

Wow. This is a mouthful! I expect some emails about this. “Who are you to decide who is in our out of the church?” they will ask. “Don’t judge!” they will warn. The hard truth is that not all who claim t be of Jesus really are. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Did you catch what Jesus said? Some will claim faithfulness but are not. Some of our children may be in that crowd. Of course, hope remains. The time to act is now. Let us teach, re-teach, and teach some more. Model the faith of Christ before them. Let them see that being a Christian is worthy of their thought and time.

Children Leave the Church Because The World Became More Important Than Jesus

When youth enter college they are bombarded with serious choices. These decisions will follow them for the rest of their life. Everything they do is focused on their future. Sometimes, the demands of the world are so intense that the things of God are crowded out. Slowly, the young person begins to pursue career at the expense of spirit.

Let me be clear, planning and preparing for the future is Biblical. But let’s keep our priorities in order.

Jesus spoke of the error of confusing the earthly and the spiritual.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Paul reminds us:

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:8-10).

We must guard our children from the shady narrative of the world. Train them up as God would have us and surround them with prayer. Let us stem the tide of failing children.

5 Ways to Guarantee Hypocrisy Will Thrive

December 2, 2018Daily living, SinChurch, hypocrisyjbevans

hypocrite

“Hypocrite” is a nasty word. It’s a slap in the face to be called a hypocrite. Jesus used it for his loudest critics (Matthew 23). He used it of those who were judgemental while ignoring their own faults (Matthew 7:5; 15:7). It is not a nice label. Nobody likes a hypocrite.

Yet, hypocrisy is everywhere. Why? If it is so bad, why does it keep cropping up?

Hypocrisy remains among us because we feed it, nurture it, and grow it to maturity. Here’s how to guarantee that hypocrisy will grow.

Use Hypocrisy as an Excuse for Hypocrisy

Someone makes a hypocritical statement, and they are called on it. Their response is that their opponent did the same so why complain? It’s common in the news. Memes are floating around the internet quote the leader of one party making a statement in the past that is vehemently opposed today by that same party. Then, the tables are turned, and the hypocrisy flows in the other direction.

In this way of thinking hypocrisy is still just an excuse. It is a weakness of character that allows the horrible practice to spread and expand. Hypocrisy becomes fertilizer for more hypocrisy.

Allow Hypocrisy to be Expected and Accepted

Hypocrisy is so common that we have to come to accept that hypocrisy is a part of everyday life. When was the last time you were shocked, at someone’s hypocritical behavior? Have you ever heard a brother sing sweet hymns to our Lord in the assembly and scream and yell like a banshee when he’s cut off in traffic? How about a sister who modestly sits among the saints Sunday and dresses in attire worthy of a brothel on Monday?

This is the nature of sin. “Everybody is doing it” cries Satan. It must be ok! Can we rediscover a sense of holiness that refuses to accept hypocrisy or any other sin, as normal? Accepting hypocrisy feeds the flock and grows more.

Tolerate Hypocrisy

The government just recalled all romaine lettuce because it was contaminated by bacteria. The contamination was tiny. You couldn’t see it, and it couldn’t even be washed away. This minuscule impurity was enough to sicken and kill people. Its presence in the food chain could not be tolerated.

Tolerate hypocrisy, and it will grow just like a bacterial infestation will grow in your physical body. We seek a consistent but growing holiness among brethren. Gentle, or even strong rebukes, may prevent hypocrisy from becoming habitual. Tolerance of duplicity is the water of a crop of hypocrisy.

Confuse Repentance with Hypocrisy

Our Lord calls for repentance (Luke 13:3). Entrance into the body of Christ requires repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19). One who has repented talks, thinks, and walks differently than before. On the surface, they may suddenly appear to be a hypocrite, but they are not; they are changed.

When we question the validity of repentance, when we assume hypocrisy instead of struggle, we will drive that person back into the arms of sin and make our prophecy of their hypocrisy self-fulfilling.

We must encourage repentance for no man can come unto Jesus without being changed. But understand that change is often slow. It is hard. Sometimes we slip. That is not hypocrisy. To confuse repentance and pretense is sure to grow a bumper crop of hypocrisy.

Spout Vague Teachings to Mask Hypocrisy

At its core, hypocrisy is about hiding conduct in a way that masks hypocrisy. No one wants to be labeled a hypocrite, so he is careful with his words and speaks in broad generalities avoiding specifics.

Our pulpits have become fountains of weak words and weasel statements. As a result, brethren have begun to use the same language. Our claim that sin is a problem or a disease masks the reality of its true, heinous nature. Jesus was never vague. He spoke truth. Speak elusive words and hypocrisy will soon bloom.

Root out hypocrisy and a beautiful lawn will grow in place of the weeds.

Empty Pews Sing!

June 5, 2017Web sitesChurchjbevans

Michael Summers, who preaches for the church in Leavenworth, Kansas, has a thoughtful poem about empty church pews. Visit his site and see what you think.

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Finding a Church

January 27, 2017ChurchChurch, Jesus, truthjbevans

You have made an important decision. You want to find a church and improve your spiritual life. That is a commendable goal but it could be more difficult than you think. Finding a church that will help you learn and grow is not easy. More and more groups call themselves a church but in reality are little more than entertainment venues. If you are not careful you will hurt your spirituality instead of helping it. Here are five tips to help when finding a church.

1. Understand “Church”

The word church is thrown around so much today that its real meaning is lost. The word comes over from a Greek word which referred to an assembly of people who come together for some purpose. In fact, it could mean an assembly with no religious purpose at all. Even in the Bible, that underlying Greek word was sometimes used to describe a community meeting (Acts 19.32, 39, 41). However, by studying the New Testament we learn that when that word is used it typically means people who come together to serve and worship.

Today, we could say that a PTA meeting or even a football game is a form of church; it would be an assembly with a purpose. Obviously, that is not the kind of church we think of today, or least I hope not.

When you say you are looking for a church, you are looking for a group of people assembled together for the purpose of serving and worshiping God. The original Christians served one another (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 6:1-7; James 1:27). They did not expect to be served but rather to be busy about caring for others. The work of the church was outside the walls of the meeting place and their service took place daily (Acts 2:46).

Worship was directed toward the Lord only. While Christians are surely encouraged, edified and uplifted by worship the primary goal was to glorify and praise God. This is what the Father desires (John 4:23). The pattern of worship from the Old Testament forward was always God-centered; it was never directed toward mankind.

So you see, understanding what church really means is the first step toward finding one.

2. Resist Entertainment Churches

An entertainment church is a group that expends much time and money to bring productions to the stage every week. God’s name is heard and people speak of Jesus and the Holy Spirit but the real center of the worship is the individual. Sometimes you can attend and never once participate in worship. Instead, you are being entertained. The glory is given to the performers. How sad.

After the music ends and the lights come up you may feel excited but without any purpose, without any change and without any increase in knowledge or understanding. If you visit a church and feel like you have been to a concert; mark it off your list. Did you know that among the original Christians there was never such a church to be found? What does that suggest to you?

3. Find Truth

Jesus declared that God’s word was truth (John 17:17). As you seek a church make sure that the truth is the foundation of everything taught, preached and practiced. Truth is hard. Some churches have softened the truth to make people feel at ease in their assemblies. These churches sometimes have large crowds because people are not discomforted when they attend. Of course, they are also unchanged by the preaching – at least they are not being transformed in a Biblical way (Romans 12:2). Paul warned of such preaching:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

If you find a church that does not preach truth and truth only, you should run screaming from their building. At the least you are wasting time and at the worst damning your own soul. Remember, the Father seeks those who “worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23).

4. Compare Churches to the Original

As you visit about, and you should, simply observe the worship. How does the modern worship compare to what you read of in Scripture? During the days of the New Testament, Jesus’ apostles were directly involved in the various churches that were forming. These holy men, empowered by the Holy Spirit, were able to guide the churches into the truth. When problems arose with teaching or worship, and they did, the apostles could correct those errors and ensure that worship was according to God’s plan. So we may conclude that the worship practices of the original churches in the New Testament are true else they are corrected. We may pattern our worship after what we read in the New Testament because we know it is correct and acceptable.

Changes have occurred slowly. Some have altered true worship more than others. For example, the Roman Catholic church bears almost no resemblance to the original church of the New Testament. Truth is everything. As Solomon said, “Buy truth and sell it not…” (Proverbs 23:23).

5. Avoid the Perfect Church

There are no perfect churches. Actually, the church is perfect since it came from Christ and he remains the one head of the church. But the people who make up the church are not perfect. The finest Christian among is flawed and struggles everyday to reflect the glory of Christ. All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). We are far from perfect. When finding a church be suspicious of anyone or any group that claims perfection. Any honest Christian will surely acknowledge their weaknesses. David struggled (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51), Peter fell (Luke 22:54-62); Paul had his issues (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). Everyone stumbles.

The problem with a supposedly perfect church, aside from dishonesty, is that you will feel alone in your battles. It will seem that everyone else has it together while you drag alone in despair. We are all in this together.

There are many other things that are helpful when finding a church What about the youth programs? Are there areas of service? is there a program for seniors? These are important but secondary to the things I have mentioned. What good is a great youth program that teaches pop culture and not life-changing words from Jesus? Use these tips to begin your search. Find a true church and jump in!

What do you think? Share your thoughts and comments with our readers.