November 29, 2023

Is It Possible to End Poverty?

Homeless

Many people – both Christians and non-Christians – are concerned about the poor. Individuals and families provide money and resources to help those who are in need. Charitable organizations have been established to provide assistance to the less fortunate. Many government programs are funded supposedly for the purpose of ending poverty. Yet poverty still exists.

Some hold to the idealistic notion that poverty can be eliminated. Yet, it is not possible to do this in the fallen world in which we live. Jesus said, “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:8). In other words, there will always be people in poverty. Why is that? To answer that question, let us first consider a few reasons why people are poor.Continue Reading

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November 15, 2023

What Will Destroy a Congregation

Abandoned Church Building

If we were to think of potential threats to our local churches, a number of things could be added to the list. Paul made a list like this near the end of his second letter to the church in Corinth. Notice what the apostle wrote:

“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 12:20-21).

When Paul wrote his first letter to these brethren, there were many problems he needed to address. When we read through the second letter, it is clear that they had made significant improvements. Even so, there were still issues that threatened the health of that congregation.

In the passage above, Paul described some things that would destroy a congregation. It would be helpful for all of us to consider these, even if we are not currently experiencing these problems in our church. If these problems ever do arise, we want to identify them and address them as quickly as possible.

As Paul described the things that would destroy a congregation, we can break them down into three main categories – destroying unity, destroying purity, and refusing help. Let us consider each of these.Continue Reading

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November 1, 2023

Sowing and Reaping

Sowing

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

God created this world, which operates according to the rules He has established. This was part of the foundation of His promise to Noah after the flood: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Each of these represented a natural cycle that God established in His creation. Yet one of these cycles – “seedtime and harvest” – referred to more than just a period of time. Harvest indeed follows seedtime or sowing. Yet the outcome of the harvest would depend – at least in part – on what was planted, when it was done, and how it was conducted.

This idea is universally familiar to us. Even if we do not engage in the work of farming, we understand this principle. So this illustration of sowing and reaping is used throughout the Bible to discuss more than just agriculture. We will notice a few passages that teach us about sowing and reaping to see what we are to do, what we are to avoid, and what the consequences are of our choices.Continue Reading

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October 18, 2023

The Christian and the “Victim Mentality”

Man with his head in his hands

A phrase that has become regularly used in our modern culture is “victim mentality.” When we hear this phrase, what does it refer to? Consider the following definition:

“Victim mentality is an acquired personality trait in which a person tends to recognize or consider themselves a victim of the negative actions of others, and to behave as if this were the case in the face of contrary evidence of such circumstances. Victim mentality depends on clear thought processes and attribution. In some cases, those with a victim mentality have in fact been the victim of wrongdoing by others or have otherwise suffered misfortune through no fault of their own. However, such misfortune does not necessarily imply that one will respond by developing a pervasive and universal victim mentality where one frequently or constantly perceives oneself to be a victim.

“The term is also used in reference to the tendency for blaming one’s misfortunes on somebody else’s misdeeds, which is also referred to as victimism.” (Wikipedia)

In other words, simply being a victim of something does not automatically mean one has a “victim mentality.” According to this definition, a person is exhibiting a “victim mentality” if they behave as if they were a victim despite evidence that their victimhood is imagined or exaggerated. Being a victim refers to a specific event or set of circumstances, whereas the “victim mentality” means one is constantly blaming others for their troubles and taking no personal responsibility for their actions, choices, or conditions in life.

This article will consider the popular notion of the “victim mentality.” Many people today constantly blame others for their circumstances, believe they are trapped in a miserable condition, and think they are powerless to do anything about it. Is this type of mindset compatible with the life of a Christian? Let us consider a few points.Continue Reading

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October 4, 2023

Withdrawing from Those Who Have Departed

Man walking away

When it comes to our responsibilities within the local church, exercising church discipline is often one of the more difficult commands to obey. This could be because we do not want to break ties with our erring brethren. It might be because we do not want to be accused of being judgmental or unloving. Perhaps we are not sure when or how to exercise discipline. All of these factors contribute to the fact that discipline is often neglected when it is needed.

However, what often happens (at least in my limited experience) is that those brethren who are unfaithful and need to repent have already stopped assembling with the congregation. They have, in essence, withdrawn themselves from the local church. What is our responsibility in that situation? Is it true, as some have said, that you cannot withdraw from those who have already withdrawn themselves?

Before answering that question, let us be reminded of a few passages that discuss church discipline.Continue Reading

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September 6, 2023

“I Am a Nobody”

Man Standing by Bench

“I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:11-12).

In this context, Paul was defending his apostleship while trying not to sound arrogant. Some in Corinth were attempting to discredit Paul and turn the brethren away from him. He was trying to combat this by defending his message without elevating himself. There are some important lessons we can learn from Paul in this.

He warned the saints in Rome not to think too highly of themselves, and this warning is just as necessary for us. He wrote, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). We are not to overestimate our significance, just as Paul was to “keep…from exalting” himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). At the same time, we are not to underestimate our importance as the Lord and the angels in heaven earnestly desire to see our salvation (Luke 15:7).

It is often easy to think of ourselves the way Paul described – as a “nobody” – yet forget that we are “in no respect…inferior” to others in the sight of the Lord. How can we have a proper view of self and not have an attitude of arrogance or feelings of inferiority? Let us consider what Paul’s example can teach us about this.Continue Reading

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August 30, 2023

Following Paul’s Example

Paul preaching

“Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

In the passage above, Paul wrote to Timothy about how the young evangelist had followed the apostle’s example in various ways. It is important that we follow examples, in particular, the ones who are worthy of emulation. Paul told the brethren in Philippi, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17). When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he was mindful of the fact that he needed to set an example for them. He wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

What about us? Are we setting the example that we need to set before others? This was not just something for an apostle like Paul to do. Timothy was told to follow Paul’s example, yet he was also to “show [himself] an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). He learned from Paul, and he was to conduct himself in such a way that others could learn from him as well. The same is true for us. We need to set a good example for others, which includes following the example that Paul set for Timothy.

When Paul wrote to Timothy about following his example, he mentioned nine ways in which he set an example. Let us notice each of these to see what we can learn from Paul and how we might be able to follow his lead and show the same type of example to those around us.Continue Reading

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