Bob's Blog

Rebuilding Within Community

2009-07-19T16:40:00.000-04:00

There are two phrases that no believer can ever say with validity. The first is "I do not need you!" and the second is that "You do not need me."

The Apostle Paul when writing to the church at Corinth likened the body of Christ (Every believer being the body of Christ) to the human body. Starting at verse 18 we read, "But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” (I Corinthians 12:18-21)

So there we have it, Biblical support that we truly need each other. It does not matter what your talents or spiritual gifts might be. If you are a believer of Christ you are an important member of His body - the church. And just as God has put each member of our body where he desires it, He does the same with us as individuals within the body of Christ.

Now that we have the knowledge of knowing we need each other, let us take it to the next level and adjust the way we live our lives accordingly. Here are some practical ways the scriptures instruct us to live in this manner.

We need each other in worshipping God. Sure there are some aspects of worshipping God we can do alone, but there are others we can not. Such as "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." (Ephesian 5:19) It is hard to speak and sing to others if you are not around others, wouldn't you agree?

We need the encouragement of one another. There are many times I find myself needing the encouragement of another person. It might be that I am going through a difficult time or even a time of testing or temptation concerning my walk with God. We are taught Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"

We need the prayers offered on by others. James 5:16 - "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

We need the correction or even rebuke of others. This is a tough one. No one likes to be corrected and it is not the easiest thing in the world to have to confront a believer concerning thier conduct. But when you stop and consider the alternative to not doing so, it is better to be confronted or having to confront than paying the spiritual consequences. Luke 17:3So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
We need to celebrate and mourn with others. Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Celebrating is much more enjoyable when you have someone to celebrate with. It is true of sporting events, personal achievements, the birth of a child, and even more true when it comes to celebrating God's blessings and presence in our lives. But life is not always joyful, at times their are periods of extreme loss and suffering. It is during those times we who grieve need others who will grieve with us. Whether it is the sorrow that comes from losing a loved one, or the unwanted news of an illness, or a broken marriage. What we need during those times is for others to empathize with us, not ignore us like we have the black plague.

We could go on, because God's word is full of "one another" passages, but I think we all get the point, "WE NEED EACH OTHER." So right at this moment, why not ask God to show you how you can make a difference in the life of someone else this day.

Who Is Truly In Need of An Attitude Adjustment?

2008-02-06T09:12:00.000-05:00

I am currently reading a book by George Barna. In this book he shares several misconceptions about ministering to the unchurched. Under the heading of Misconception #2 - Dealing with attitudes of the unchurched toward the church and Christianity is a big problem, Mr. Barna states that many Christians believe the greatest obstacle to ministering to the unchurched is changing their minds about church and Christianity. He states that we often assume that nonchurchgoers possess contempt for the church and are stubborn to their refusal to see anything good about Christianity. According to Barna, his research reveals that while there may be some unchurched who are hostile to the church and Christianity, the real attitude problem is not with them, it is with the churched. He shares, “The more audacious task is getting churched people genuinely to care about the souls and lives of those visitors. Congregation members balk at giving up their close- to- the-door parking spaces. They refuse to ante up the money it takes to cover the costs of reaching out to reach the unchurched. The churched often shows little excitement about a church that is not necessarily designed exclusively to meet their personal needs. It is one thing to talk about the importance of capturing the hearts of wayward sinners for Christ, but it is another thing altogether to make the sacrifices necessary to accomplish that task.”

That leads me to share an email I received just today from a pastor friend of mine. The email is titled “Are You a Friendly Church?” It was about man who visited 18 different churches on successive Sundays. He was trying to find out what the churches were really like. He said, "I sat near the front. After the service, I walked slowly to the rear, then returned to the front to leave by a different aisle. I smiled and was neatly dressed. I asked one person to direct me to a specific place. I stayed for tea/coffee if it was served. Then I used a scale to rate the reception I had received." He awarded points on the following basis:
· 10 for a smile from another person in the congregation
· 10 for a greeting from someone sitting nearby
· 100 for an exchange of names
· 200 for an invitation to have tea/coffee
· 200 for an invitation to return
· 1000 for an introduction to another person
· 2000 for an introduction to the pastor

He said, "On this scale, 11 of the 18 churches earned fewer than 100 points. Five scored less than 20 points." His conclusion! "The doctrine may be biblical, the singing inspirational, the sermon uplifting, but when a visitor finds nobody who cares whether he's here, he or she is not likely to come back."

Friends, there is much more at stake than filling up the pews, it is a matter of eternal significance. So let me ask you the same question I have been asking myself, “What really is your attitude toward the unchurched?” Do your actions confirm that you genuinely care about the souls and lives of those who visit us on any given weekend or better yet those you come in contact with on a regular basis.

Footwashing - You Can't Be Serious!

2007-03-27T16:06:00.001-04:00

Over the years the Church of God Reformation Movement has practiced foot washing, usually on Maundy Thursday. (The Thursday before Good Friday) Foot washing is just that, it is washing the feet of others. When people discover we practice such a thing their response is, "You can"t be serious?" That is certainly a understandable response and one that deserves an answer - "Yes we are serious as a heart attack!" Perhaps the following will help?

The basis for practicing this originates from John 13:7-17 which reads, " Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.6 And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter."8 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."12 And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.16 "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.17 "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.(NAS)

Some movements and denominations of the Christian faith have taken this very literal, such as the Church of God. It is viewed as an act symbolizing the servant ministry of all Christians to each other and to the world. It reminds us not only of our responsibility to serve one another, but the proper condition of a servant's heart - humility.

When footwashing is practiced in our congregation it is only during our Maundy Thursday service. Men assemble in one room and women in another. Persons wash each other's feet, we may sing hymns, and give personal testimonies of God's blessing on our lives. Participation is not considered a test of faith. Rather, it is a spiritual experience which Christians are encouraged to observe and join.

Jesus told the disciples that if they know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Is a person blessed simply by practicing foot washing and not possessing an attitude of humility and a willingness to serve others? I do not think so! God does not desire sacrifices, he desires obedience. He does not desire ritual, He desires right hearts, which lead to right conduct. It is that which God blesses. However, if practicing the ordinance of foot washing causes one to remember Christ's example of humbling Himself to serve others and they are quickened to do likewise, then I would say they have been blessed. If a person participates in foot washing and is stimulated to give thanks and praise to God for His indescribable gift - Jesus Christ, then I would say he or she was blessed. If a person participates and is reminded that living out one's faith is more than a individual endeavor, but also a connectedness with other members of the body of Christ, than I would say that individual too has been blessed.

Let me know what you think or what your experience with participating in foot washing have been. Perhaps you have further questions, if so post a response and I will try to get back to you.

Occassional Volunteer or Faithful Servant?

2006-10-09T21:41:00.000-04:00

We are all familiar with the term volunteer. A volunteer is someone who does something without being forced to do it and is usually not paid for doing it. We are familiar with this term because so many organizations are in need of such people to help run their programs because they often lack the resources to employ them. Such groups include the Red Cross, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, all sorts of sports and recreational leagues, Fire Departments, the PTA, Crime Prevention Groups, AA, MAD and even local churches. But should the church really be included in that group? Because local congregations often approach recruiting people the same way secular organizations do, we could say that the church belongs in that grouping. However, if our perspective is developed from scripture the answer would be a resounding no!

No where in scripture will you find Jesus asking for volunteers. When Jesus called the twelve to follow Him, He did not say, “Please volunteer your time and I will make you fishers of men that is if you have the time! Instead He said “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” If they were going to be involved in the kingdom work, it was going to call for a radical change in their priorities. When teaching the parable of the talents, Jesus did not say, “Well done my good and faithful volunteer.” Instead He said, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Paul would introduce himself to churches he was writing to as a “bondservant of Christ” he never referred to himself as a volunteer and neither should we who are believers in Christ.

Now you may think that I am splitting hairs over the use of the two terms but there is a big difference between a volunteer who gives up his or her discretionary time to be involved and someone who recognizes their role as a servant. Servants are obligated to do the will or work of their master. They recognize that they have been purchased with a price. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul taught, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” If we desire to have a meaningful relationship with our Lord and Savior we must live our lives in complete obedience to His will, for He is the one who paid the price for our salvation. Or to be more graphic, He left the wonders of heaven, took the form of a man, suffered at the hands of the very ones He created, He was nailed to the cross, suffered both emotionally and physically so we would not have to experience an eternity of misery and suffering far from His presence in Hell. For that I will ever be grateful for and will gladly wear the badge “Servant of Christ.”

A servant also recognizes that they can not put service off to their master to pursue other interests or other masters. Jesus taught in Luke 16:13 - "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." There is nothing wrong with volunteering in different segments of our society. I believe that by doing so we are able to carryout God’s instructions for us to be the salt and the light in a very dark world. The problem arises when we think as believers that we have an option of whether or not to be involved in Christ’s kingdom work. If we are not totally surrendered to Christ, than we are guilty of serving other masters.

If you are a faithful servant and have found out that serving can sometimes be difficult, may you be reminded of the great price of suffering He endured to purchase you. If you are one who has found your faith in Christ lacking consider what term best describes you, volunteer or servant? If it is the prior than you have some issues you need to settle with the Lord right at this moment.

It will truly be a wonderful moment when we who have chosen to embrace the role of being a servant of Christ to hear our master speak, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”