BY NEAL POLLARD
“To ensure people listen to you, insult their race, politics, and intelligence. Be sarcastic. Be close-minded. Don’t attempt to hear what they have to say. Do not gently reason and certainly do not be patient and thoughtful. Courtesy should be thrown to the wind, along with assuming the best and thinking before speaking. Inflammatory statements are sure to win the hearts of people on the fence or on the other side of the issue from you. When they disagree or offer a dissenting view, really let them have it. Call them names, make baseless assumptions and accusations, and angrily dismiss them. Persuade them with harsh, rude, coarse, crude words and phrases, and even resort to cursing to strengthen your point.”
I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen anyone give the advice above, but an incredibly large number of people seem to have adopted those very tactics through social media to promote their own points of view and to attack those of others. Beyond the right and wrong of specific issues, there is the attitude and demeanor the Christian is to maintain. The late Wendell Winkler would often tell us “preacher boys” that “you can be right and still be wrong.” How sad to lose the moral high ground of an issue because we yield to the fleshly tendency to rip, tear, and insult “the other side.”
Scripture counsels this approach instead: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other” (Eph. 4:32); “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim. 2:24-25a); “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12: 21); “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:6); “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1).
Oh, sure. People will rationalize their ugly, insulting speech through distorting the words and actions of Jesus, Paul, and others. People often rationalize their sin and disobedience. How many have done the same thing in the face of Scripture commanding baptism and teaching the singular nature of the church? But, make no mistake about it! Venomous, hateful, insulting speech is not the way of the faithful Christian. The source of that is from a distinctly different direction!
Be convicted and courageous, but cloak it in Christ like kindness! In addition to being right, it will be far more successful. May our goal be to win hearts and souls and not just arguments!
Chino Elders Comments:
We live in angry times. Those of us who attempt to live by Biblical Principles are often yelled at, belittled and sometimes threatened. Our motives are misrepresented and vilified. The ever present temptation is to strike back in kind. But friends that is not how Jesus Christ would have us behave. Yes, we can have an interesting debate on when anger is appropriate. Yes, Jesus and such Holy Spirit inspired men as Paul were at times angry. But the overwhelming example and teaching of Jesus, Peter, and Paul is one of gentleness toward all humanity, including those who attack us first.
We are here to live well and do good, to be bold and zealous, to search for and follow the truth, to be kind and love, and to draw near to God in our everyday lives.
IT IS EASIER TO HAVE A MEAN-SPIRITED ARGUMENT ABOUT PRINCIPLES
THAN TO LIVE THEM.
WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
By Kevin Cauley
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Sin takes a toll on our thinking, and we must pay the price of ignorance by confessing that we don’t understand many things. It is fortunate for us that God, in His mercy and love, understands this, and gives us clear commandments to follow in His word. There are some things that I simply do not need to understand to obey God’s commandments. The only question that I need to answer is whether I am going to obey. This is the greatest struggle that we face as God’s people; will it be our own will or God’s will that we follow? We must obey God’s commandments. If we love God, we will obey (1 John 5:2-3). Failure to obey is simply a lack of love for God in our life.
Sometimes, however, there are those who use God’s commandments to elevate self. The Pharisees had this problem. They did not look at God’s commandments as a way to improve their relationship with God, but rather, as a way to elevate themselves over their fellow man. This notion of “obedience” is deceptive, because it isn’t really obedience, it is haughtiness. The problem is the same problem as those who refuse to obey—they love self more than they love God.
We learn that we must empty self if we are to obey God in the way God wants to be obeyed (Philippians 2:5-8).
Love God enough to study His word, learn His commands, and obey them, and be free of self. God bless you, and I love you.
By Neal Pollard
We sing a new song (Ps. 40:3; Isa. 42:10; Rev 5:9).
We gain new strength (Isa. 40:31).
We have a new name (Isa. 62:2; Rev. 2:17).
We have a new covenant (Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8-9).
We have God’s compassions which are new every morning (Lam. 3:23).
We have a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek. 36:26).
We observe a new commandment with each other (John 13:34).
We walk a new life (Rom. 6:4).
We are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17).
We are part of that new man, united with all children of God (Eph. 2:15).
We have put on the new self (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10)
We have been given a new and living way (Heb. 10:20).
We are looking for new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:13).
We anticipate the day when Christ makes all things new (Rev. 21:5).
Even though these promises were made thousands of years ago, they are as fresh and bright today as they have ever been.
Some help us overcome the guilt of our past. Others give us strength for the present. All of them give us hope for the future.
We don’t need “new truth,” but so many of the truths of Scripture deserve our renewed dedication and attention. As a New Year descends, try and put your arms around all the daily renewal our great God makes available to us on January 1st and every other day of the year!
”Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).
A little late, but still good. GAR
By Jon Mitchell
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…
Acts 3:19-20a
What does it mean to repent? The word is translated from the Greek word metanoeo, which literally means “to change one’s mind.” To illustrate, if you and I get in a car to head to McDonald’s, and on the way we see Taco Bell and decide we’d rather have a taco than a Big Mac, and so we pull into Taco Bell instead of going to McDonald’s. Guess what we’ve just done? We’ve repented of McDonald’s…that is, we changed our minds about McDonald’s. Not only that, but our actions also changed as a direct, unavoidable result of changing our minds. We decided to go to Taco Bell instead of McDonald’s, and our actions followed suit.
God wants us to repent of sins. He wants us to change our minds about our sin. He wants us to stop glorying in our sin and letting it reign in our lives (Rom. 6:17-18). He wants us to start having the same sorrow over our sins that he has, which in turn will lead to our repentance, and thus to our salvation (2 Cor. 7:9-10). That’s why we are told to repent before being baptized in order that our sins will be forgiven (Acts 2:38). In baptism we die to our old selves, are buried with Christ, and rise to a new life (Rom. 6:3-5). How can any of that happen without repentance first?
Repentance is so much more than simply acknowledging that we’ve sinned, although that certainly is part of it (1 John 1:7-9). The Bible speaks of “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matt. 3:8; Acts 26:20). We show that we’ve truly changed our minds about our sin through our actions, and the Bible talks about what actions show a mind changed from the carnal to the spiritual. Actions which manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) rather than the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) show whether repentance has truly taken place, and it is our actions which show the true condition of our heart (Mark 7:20-22).
Repentance…without it none of us will be forgiven.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal 5:19-24
Eddie Parish
Rosenberg, TX
If you are a Christian, you must…
…always let your speech be with grace
(Col. 4:6).
…always rejoice in the Lord
(Phil. 4:4).
…always obey
(Phil. 2:12).
…always be ready to give answer
to those who ask
(1 Pet. 3:15).
…always be confident
(2 Cor. 5:6).
…always be zealous
(Gal. 4:18).
…always pray
(Eph. 6:18).
…always pursue what is good,
both for yourself and others
(1 Thess. 5:15).
…always abound in the work of the Lord
(1 Cor.15:58).
May we never forget
that we are not Christians
only on Sunday mornings,
but always.
Used with permission from the Durango Church of Christ Bulletin
By Neal Pollard
The early church grew (Acts 2:41; 5:14; 6:1, 7; 9:31; 11:24). As we read of this growth explosion, we see the key role member involvement played. Christians were spreading the word (8:4), involved in each other’s lives and in the lives of the lost around them. This is such a simple concept, but churches not practicing it are not growing. What is involved in involvement?
I–“I” am the heart of involvement. I must resolve to be involved. I must do my part, for I will give an account for my level or lack of involvement (1 Cor. 3:8).
N–“Negativity” is the enemy of involvement. “I can’t help.” “It won’t do any good.” “I don’t like working with that person.” Listen closely. Involved Christians rather say “I can do” (Phil. 4:13) and “we are well able” (Num. 13:30).
V– “Visitation” is a part of involvement. Matthew 25:34-46 confirms it. Non-Christian visitors, sick, imprisoned, and needy folks need it. Those who do it are richly rewarded, and those who are recipients of it profoundly appreciate it.
O– “Obedience” is the cause of involvement. Faithful Christians believe the commands to make disciples (Mat. 28:19), build up brethren (Rom. 14:19), and meet needs (James. 1:27).
L– “Love” is the motive of involvement. Paul says good deeds, without love, are profitless (1 Cor. 13:1-3). The counsel of Scripture is “by love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).
V– “Victory” is the goal of involvement. By being involved, we help others win the victory (James 5:19-20), we help the cause of Christ advance, and we aid our own walk in the light that leads to eternal reward (1 Jn. 1:7).
E– “Everybody” is the scope of involvement. What able-bodied Christians is excluded from the work God has given the church? Once, a man did nothing and gave every excuse imaginable. We remember how that turned out (Mat. 25:28-30).
M– “More” is the adjective of involvement. That is, “more involved” and “more people involved.” Has there ever been a church with too many involved? God’s able to do more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20), and He wants to see us always trying to do more for Him!
E– “Evangelism” is the fruit of involvement. Active churches attract the curiosity of the community. Those involved in the church’s work naturally grow more spiritual-minded, and by this grow more bold in sharing the gospel.
N– “Now” is the time for involvement. What in our lives do we definitely know will change between now and the never-seen tomorrow (Prov. 27:1)? Let’s kill the excuses! Resurrect the enthusiasm! Start today!
T–“Teamwork” is the mindset of involvement. We’re to work together. No one man, no staff, no eldership, no group of deacons or others can or should do the work of an entire congregation. The local church is a team.
To become adequately involved, let’s ask three questions.
“What needs doing in this church?” “Who needs help in doing it?” “What can I do?”
Be an Isaiah, a child of God who enthusiastically says,
“Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8)!
