Newsletter
Vol.2, #12—March 19, 2006
Matthew 8 9For
I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,'
and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,'
and he does it."
10When
Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him,
"Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found
such faith.
Whitewashed Tombs
Matt Nevins, Bowling Green ky
In the days of Jesus, there were
sects within the Jewish religion. We frequently read of the scribes and
Pharisees questioning Jesus. In Matthew 23, Jesus exposes the flaws that were
prevalent within these sects, Among the flaws exposed, their hypocrisy is
compared to whitewashed tombs (Matt.23:27-28). Though the Pharisees outwardly
seemed to be religious and righteous God knew their hearts were truly unreligious
and unrighteous. Their appearance and what was truth were two different
things, thus being hypocritical. Hypocrisy is not a problem of the first
century; but is a problem still prevalent today.
Hypocrisy is showing a facade that
hides the truth of a person's personality. In viewing Jesus' analogy, white
washing a tomb would make the tomb pleasant to the eyes on the outside, but
inside it is still a repulsive tomb that conceals the dead. Christians today can
create a false facade by claiming to be righteous while still clinging to
worldly acts. We are white-washing ourselves when we create this false facade.
Hypocrisy can be very subtle, but very destructive. Christians need to be
watchful and ever testing to prevent hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is evident when a person
says one thing and does another. Jesus notes this as being a problem in
connection with the Pharisees' hypocrisy (Matt.23:1-3). The Pharisees had
assumed a position of authority by placing themselves on Moses' seat. Jesus did
not take away from the teaching that the Pharisees had done, but warned the
people not to follow their example. The Pharisees were talking the talk, but did
not walk the walk they preached.
We can be hypocritical like the
Pharisees by saying, “do not lie, cheat, steal,” and many other things, yet go
ahead and commit these deeds when it is convenient.
A notorious time for lying and
cheating is tax season each year in this country. As soon as January rolls
around, Americans begin to make preparations for the tax filing that will be
required to have been mailed by April 15. As Christians we ought to be honest
about our wages and what we truly claim as tax deductions. Are we white-washed
tombs when it is convenient?
Another area of hypocrisy that the
Pharisees had was prejudices and biases against certain groups of people. The
Pharisees had strong biases against tax collectors and sinners (Matt.9:9-13).
Christians can have the same problem, professing we are all one in Christ, but
refuse to associate with people with a different background. Christ came to
save sinners of all races and economical background (1 Tim.1:15). By professing
to be Christians, yet clinging to racial or economical biases, we become
hypocrites in this whitewashing. Refusing to have fellowship with other
Christians based upon carnal things is sin. James corrected Christians who
exalted the rich and dishonored the poor man (James 2:1-13). Paul said we are
all one in Christ (Gal. 3:28), We are of equality in value since each
person possesses one soul. To treat others otherwise is hypocritical, and we
become white-washed tombs.
Hypocrisy is spread through
teaching. People teach by both verbal instruction and example, therefore we
need to beware of teaching hypocrisy. It can work like leaven or cancer, where
it starts small but spreads like wildfire among brethren. Jesus warned his
disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt.16:5-12). If the
teacher cannot follow the instructions presented, then how can he his students
to follow? The Pharisees taught hypocrisy by their example. Let us not be like
white-washed tombs, but an ivory palace where the Lord dwells.
Standing Firm,
bulletin, Beaver Dam ky edited by
J.F.Dancer, Jr.
Slightly
edited by me –Larry A. Bunch
Did God Give Us A Standard?
J. F. Dancer, Jr.
Have you ever stopped to think what it would be
like if there were no standards in the business world? Each merchant
would decide how many inches in a yard. The seller of produce would decide how
many ounces to put in a pound. And, each seller of gas would determine the size
of his "gallon" of gas. All sorts of problems and confusion would arise.
During
the administration of President John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) the U. S. Congress
was convinced of the need of standards and established the Bureau of
Standards of Weights and Measures. Since that time yards, pounds and
gallons, etc. have been the same in the United States. One who is found to have
a different measurement is a criminal and subject to prosecution, conviction
and imprisonment or fines. Scales in stores are checked by government agents to
assure their correctness. The pumps at gas stations are checked to assure proper
quantity. This we have come to expect and appreciate.
However, religion is a different story. Most
people see no reason to have a standard in religion. We seem to feel that
each person has the right to decide on (or, set up) his own standard to measure
the acceptability of religion. But in our desire for and appreciation of the
freedom of religion in America we have failed to see that religion is directed
toward God and He has the right to determine if He will accept our service or
not.
Our government has give us a standard by which
all acceptable weights and measures are to be measured. In the same way God has
given a standard by which all acceptable religion is to be measured. This
standard is the scripture in the Bible. Please note the following:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
affirms the scriptures are given by God
and are to guide the man of God to every good work.
2 Peter 1:3
affirms that God has given to us all
things that pertain to life and godliness.
Galatians 1:6-9
points out that when one preaches (or,
accepts) a different message from that which Paul preached he will be accursed
by God.
2 John 9-10
points out that one who goes beyond the teaching
of Jesus does not have God.
So, even though we live in a land that gives us
freedom of religion we have to understand that God does not allow us that
freedom. He has set the standard by which He expects us to live. Let us each
determine to search the scriptures and see that our lives are regulated by them
in all that we do. It is by them that one day we will be judged (John
12:48). And it is certain that we will stand before that seat of
judgment (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Will you be ready?
Taking Heed Lest We Fall
by Bobby Graham
"Wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
In these few words the apostle says that
the child of God can fall from God's grace; and that there is the need to be
careful to avoid falling; and that the person who especially needs to take heed
is the one thinking that he is secure. In all areas of endeavor -- physical
labor, mental effort, athletic competition, prevention and control of disease,
there is the need for those who think themselves to be strong and immune from
opposition to exercise vigilance. So it is in the realm of the spirit.
The question from the practical side poses
itself: How can I take heed? Here the Word of the Lord supplies the answer that
is designed by the Lord to serve not just as an answer to the question, but also
as the solution to the problem of falling.
1. Buffeting of the Body: While the word here
rendered buffet in 1 Corinthians 9:27 means to bruise, the Lord is not urging us
to actually abuse our bodies. His emphasis is upon what the latter part of the
verse refers to as "bringing it into subjection, lest we become castaways." It
is extremely necessary for God's people to learn self-denial, even as our Lord
said in
Matthew 16:24: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow me." One must learn
to consider the body from the standpoint of its being useful for God's purpose
rather than from the standpoint of physical gratification and satisfaction that
is opposed the standard of righteousness.
2. Using the Whole Armor of God:
Ephesians 6:14-18 discusses the armor
needed for successful combat in the spiritual realm:
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always
with all prayer and supplication..." A
use of only a part of the complete armor constitutes a weakened effort in the
battle against sin and a lack of appreciation for the Divine provision. Using
the complete armor and a standing in the strength provided are to be done in
conjunction with prayer and supplication. Is it any wonder that God's people so
often fail? They fail to take heed in this matter, which is so urgent in our
effort to remain faithful.
3. Resisting the Devil: Active opposition is the
idea of resisting, not passive drowsiness. God's children can best prepare
themselves for the attacks of Satan and ultimately discourage their continuation
by open resistance to the Devil. The promise of inspiration is that the Devil
flees from such resistance.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you" (James 4:7). The case of Jesus
proves what the promise of James means. After Jesus steadfastly resisted the
Devil, "then
the Devil leaveth him, and angels came and ministered to him" (Matthew 4:11).
In taking these measures, we take heed to
ourselves, to God and His provisions, and to the attacks of the Devil. In doing
so, we take heed lest we fall. --
Via Gospel Guide, Volume 33, No. 3