Author: preacherpollard

preacher,Cumberland Trace church of Christ, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Who Is Our Neighbor?

Caden Hammer

This past weekend, a group of us college students traveled to Sneedville, Tennessee, to do service work. Lauren Ritter and her home congregation have a long-standing relationship with the community of Sneedville and have done a lot of outreach over the years. At the young adult’s retreat, Lauren suggested a group of us could go do a project there. Sneedville is a poor community in Appalachia with low access to running water, employment, and education opportunities. Along with delivering groceries to local families, we took on a large project of building a wooden platform and placing a 500-gallon water tank on it to give a family access to water. I am very grateful to have been involved in the project, and have reflected on the experience a lot over the last several days. 

If you would go ahead and turn your Bibles to Mark chapter 12, verse 28. In the verses before this, Jesus has been questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees who were trying to trip him up and get him to make a mistake in his answers. In verse 28 they ask him another question. Starting in verse 28 it says, “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, Which commandment is the most important of all? Jesus answered, The most important is, Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

The first thing we have to figure out in these verses is, Who is our neighbor and how do we love them as ourselves? Well, Jesus gives us the answer in Luke 10. Jesus is talking to a lawyer who wants to know how to be saved. The lawyer already knows that he is supposed to love his neighbor as himself, but like a lot of us he isn’t sure who his neighbor is or how to love them that way. The lawyer asks in Luke 10 verse 29, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus then responds by telling the parable of the good Samaritan, which most have us have heard plenty of times. While we have all heard this parable and know what it says, I’m not sure we really understand the significance of it. The person who helped the man was supposed to be an enemy of him. They were supposed to hate each other. They were completely different, yet the Samaritan was the one who chose to help. Jesus then asked the lawyer at the end of the parable, “Who was the neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” and the man understood that it was the Samaritan. The lawyer Jesus was talking to understood what exactly that parable meant and what he was supposed to do. But do we? Do we understand that our neighbor isn’t just our friends or people we go to church with, or people that look like us, or act like us, or people we think are cool? While those people are also our neighbors, the people Jesus focuses on are the people that are the most different from us. Just look at the people that Jesus talked to the most. The sinful woman in Luke chapter 7. He ate with tax collectors in Mark chapter 2. He touched the bleeding woman in Mark chapter 5. He drank water from the woman at the well in John chapter 4. These people were either completely different than him or hated by everyone else in the community. Yet these are the people that Jesus chose to be with. We tend to look down on people that are different than us, but Jesus says that loving them as ourselves is the second greatest command only behind loving God.  When we learn to love like Jesus it opens our eyes to see people for who and what they really are: a soul that is precious to God. The good Samaritan helped the man not knowing anything about him, his past, his work history, his family situation, or if he would be receptive to the Gospel.  If we learn to love people like this, it will change us. 

While this past weekend was focused on providing for physical needs, we should never forget the greatest need of all is spiritual. Loving people with no strings attached and forming relationships eventually allows people to be receptive to what good news you have to offer.  When they see you love them as you love yourself, they know you want what is best for them. Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world preaching the gospel. There are people all over the world and in our communities who have never had someone show love to them the way Jesus loves and to point them to Him. This weekend really opened my eyes to this.  While these people look and live much differently than I do, their needs are no different than mine, and they are no less loved by God.  Learning how to step outside our comfort zones and love and serve people will provide opportunities to share the gospel.  

The finished product: installed water tank for the family in need

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XVIII)

Unity And Spiritual Gifts (Part One)(12:1-12)

Neal Pollard

When we get to 1 Corinthians 12, we see one of Paul’s transitional cues. He uses his phrase, “Now concerning,” indicating a change of subject. He will address “spiritual gifts” from here until he changes subjects again, saying, “Now I make known…” (15:1) to begin his discussion of the resurrection. 

We are going to see that God used miraculous spiritual gifts in His work of confirming His Word (12:28-13:13; 14:22), but each Christian was given a spiritual gift (7). As we go through this section, I want us to consider this by way of application: we each have been blessed with abilities which, as these gifts were, are to be used “as He wills” (11). Notice a few ideas he emphasizes as he introduces this subject.

DO NOT BE UNAWARE (1-3)

Things are different in Christ and are not like they were before you became a Christian. Your function, role, and purpose have been exalted for divine use. We are seeking to be used by God to accomplish His will.

THESE GIFTS ARE VARIED (4-6)

He says there are varieties of gifts, ministries, and effects, but they come from one source. It is a divine source. He works all things in all persons (6). Be careful about disparaging your work or talent. God gave it. Don’t boast about it (a problem the Corinthians had), but don’t hide it under a basket either (Mat. 5:13-16). 

TO EACH IS GIVEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD (7-11)

He identifies the categories of miraculous spiritual gifts here: wisdom (8), the word of knowledge (8), faith (9), gifts of healing (9), miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongue-speaking, and interpretation (10). Each of these were exercised miraculously. But all of them had the same end in mind–“the common good” (7). God distributes these as He wills (11). Consider this even as we do not exercise these gifts miraculously today. God still endows each of us with unique abilities (some have great people skills, some excel in teaching, some are wonderful encouragers, some are skilled with their hands, etc.). Why do we have those gifts? For the common good! No ability is greater or better than another. To think that way is to miss Paul’s point here. 

What Are You Showing?

Brent Pollard

The geopolitical landscape under Hezekiah, King of Judah, saw an increase in the threat from Babylon while Assyria’s influence declined. Hezekiah’s political interests and personal ambitions were intertwined to solidify his kingdom amidst evolving circumstances. When he recovered from a severe illness, envoys from Babylon, a rising power seeking to weaken Assyria, visited him. Overwhelmed with relief and eager to impress his potential new allies, Hezekiah made a critical error.

The scripture recounts in 2 Kings 20.13, “Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.” (NASB95) This act of pride had serious future consequences, as the prophet Isaiah sharply points out in Isaiah 39.4 by questioning Hezekiah, resulting in a prophecy of doom for his lineage and nation.

This passage emphasizes the importance of being careful with what we disclose. It encourages us to consider the consequences of our actions, which can affect not only our own but also the fate of the community.

The Dangers of Pride and Showing Off

Hezekiah intended to gain political favor by displaying his kingdom’s wealth, but he also revealed a more profound spiritual issue that the Scriptures emphasize: the danger of pride. The Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12.16–21, in which a man obsessed with wealth plans to build larger barns to store his crops only to die the same night, reinforces this New Testament message. Like the rich fool, Hezekiah’s pride in his treasures arose from prioritizing material security over spiritual faithfulness.

When displaying our possessions, achievements, or abilities, we must consider whether they serve a greater purpose or feed our ego. Self-reflection is critical to avoiding arrogance and conceit.

Wisdom in Confidentiality

Hezekiah’s strategic error stemmed not only from his pride but also from his failure to anticipate the consequences of his disclosures. Jesus advised such individuals not to “give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7.6 NASB95) Protecting valuable things, whether spiritual beliefs or important assets, is essential.

The principle of caution prompts us to be careful when sharing information. Sometimes, it is preferable to keep things private to protect ourselves and our communities from potential harm. This wisdom, rooted in scripture, encourages us to consider the possible impact on the larger community before sharing information.

Consequences Extend Beyond the Individual

Isaiah’s prophecy reveals a fundamental biblical truth: our actions have a long-term impact on our descendants and community. The exile of Judah’s elite to Babylon, which Isaiah predicted, exemplifies how Hezekiah’s decisions had severe and long-term consequences. This interconnectedness of fate resonates with Paul’s assertion in 1 Corinthians 12.26, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (NASB95)

Acting community-mindedly requires us to consider how our decisions affect others.

Hezekiah’s encounter with the Babylonian envoys underscores the significance of humility, discretion, and foresight in our social dealings. As we navigate life’s complexities, it is critical that we embody these virtues and only show others what honors God and promotes communal well-being. It is imperative to heed Hezekiah’s missteps and aim to make choices that glorify God and enrich future generations. Integrating foresight and wisdom into our daily choices empowers us to enhance our lives and contribute to a brighter world.

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XVII)

Unity And “The Lord’s Supper” (11:17-34)

Neal Pollard

In this paragraph, we have the verses probably most frequently read before we take communion each Sunday. While it does provide a good reminder, how often do we read it in context? As we know from reading through the letter to this point, Paul is writing to help a church struggling with unity on so many fronts. Those who struggle to be of the same mind and same judgment can even divide over the thing that should be the strongest uniting force–remembering the sacrifice of our Savior. Why, it’s the very heart of our Christianity! The cross is why our past is forgiven, why our present has meaning, and our future has hope. The Corinthians had divisions over this (18)!

The Lord’s Supper had lost its meaning (20). While how it lost meaning to them might seem foreign to us, we can struggle with it, too. What are we doing during this commemoration, and what should we be doing? 

WHAT THE SUPPER IS NOT (17-22)

It is not a whitewash for fellowship problems (17-19). Jesus taught in His ministry that interpersonal problems need to be dealt with before we offer acceptable worship (Mat. 5:23-24). It is pretentious to piously participate in this sacred remembrance when we won’t speak to a brother or have a long-standing grudge we refuse to resolve with a sister. There are times when God tells His people, “I don’t want your worship” (Isa. 1:11-15; Jer. 6:20; Amos 5:21-22; Mal. 1:10). Why did God refuse what He commanded? Because worship is not a substitute for unrighteous living. 

It is not a mindless activity (20-22). Paul is about to remind them of what the Lord’s Supper is. They needed that because they totally lost focus on why they were doing it. Their problem was they turned this symbolic remembrance into dinner on the grounds, a potluck except without sharing with everyone. Oh how we need our mind engaged in what this memorial is all about! What do we do with this precious time? How do we treat it, as common or sacred? He’s not condemning eating in a church building (they may have been meeting in a home, like the church at Rome did–see 16:19), but misusing the Lord’s Supper in their assemblies. It was a heart problem.

WHAT THE SUPPER IS (23-29)

It is a God-given remembrance (23-25). Jesus instituted this memorial on the night of His betrayal and arrest, the day before His crucifixion (23; Mat. 26:26-28). How important is this to God? It was on His mind right before His death on a night, ironically, He would fervently pray for His believers to be united (John 17). He wanted us to keep coming together and remembering what He did for us and what that does for us.

It is a periodic proclamation (26). We understand this from the phrase, “For as often as.” Acts 20:7 shows us how often “often” is–“On the first day of the week” (cf. 1 Cor. 16:2). But, instead of being “a mindless activity,” it is a recurring opportunity to “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” You are telling others of the basis of your hope and the source of your strength. You are saying, “This is so important to me that I could not miss it.” 

It is a time of self-examination (27-29).  Did the early church speak to each other during this time? Surprisingly, Scripture is silent about that. But one thing is for sure. They used this time to look within and examine themselves. So, my involvement in the Lord’s Supper is not just a time to look back at the cross, but to look inwardly at my own Christian life. Not only do I ask, “Am I thinking about the Lord right now?” I ask, “Am I living faithfully for the Lord each day?” Did you get the third dimension? “Am I judging the body rightly?” What does that mean? Certainly, it involves remembering the physical body of Jesus that suffered. But, Paul also ties the “one bread” to the idea that “we who are many are one body” (10:17). He is about to discuss the one body, the church, in light of spiritual gifts (12:12-27). Given the disunity of the Corinthian church, is Paul demanding that they see each other lovingly and charitably rather than contemptuously and resentfully? It would be hard to say dogmatically, but it should make us hesitate to come to this memorial with an improper view of any of our spiritual family!

WHAT THE SUPPER REVEALS (30-34)

We may conceal from the church our spiritual weakness, sickness, and slumber (30), but God knows and we, through honest self-examination, know. Yet, this is an eminently fixable problem! Judge yourself. Examine yourself. Discipline yourself. What a beautiful opportunity to humbly work on our hearts, look at our sins, and lean on His atoning sacrifice, and come away more determined to live more like Jesus. Consider the blessing of your spiritual family and determine to do more to help them live like Jesus. 

This Sunday, will you remember this during our time of communion? There may be crying babies, clanging, banging noises, a cell phone inadvertently ringing, someone with a nagging cough, even someone whispering nearby. Tune it out of your heart and ears. Look back to Calvary. Look into your life. Look around at the precious body of believers. Look ahead to His coming. Look up to the Lord, your source of strength. Look down on no one! This is the way to unite around the Lord’s Supper. 

The Giver Of Life

Carl Pollard

 There are some in the world who follow Christ for the wrong reasons. Perhaps they were told that everything in life would be perfect if they chose to follow Jesus. It is possible that they did it for their family and not out of their own conviction. Maybe they became a Christian to try and get some physical blessing out of it. 

To put our faith in action we are all motivated by something. If we aren’t careful, we can quickly lose motivation if it is based on the wrong ideas. For a few moments we are going to turn our attention to the cost of discipleship. As Christians, we are called to follow God, and not because our faith will come with certain perks. We follow Christ because He is the Son of the Living God. The truth of His resurrection compels us to put our faith in action. The many attributes of Christ compel us to trust in Him as Lord. He is worthy of our worship, our love, and our obedience. 

But even more, the beauty of the Gospel is that in trusting Jesus and acting out our faith, we find that He pours many blessings into our lives. This is not our motivation, but it is a side effect of faithfully following the Savior. I used to believe that it was wrong to think, “what’s in it for me.” 

We may even feel guilty for thinking this way. We do our best to put our faith in action and often we ask, “what’s the point?” 

This is NOT wrong. In fact, this is the definition of “counting the cost.” Luke 14:28, Jesus says, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” 

In this section, Jesus is teaching us to realize just how much it will cost us to become His follower. Faith in action is no easy task. Obeying the Son of God isn’t a walk in the park. There were several occasions where the people believed that Jesus’ teachings were too hard to obey. But that sacrifice is part of following the Son of God. Deny self, take up cross, follow Him. 

Those are difficult decisions to make. 

Jesus, in Luke 14, shows us the importance of fully understanding what it will cost us to follow Him. In this mental exercise, you measure the cost against what you stand to gain in following Jesus (hint, you’ll gain far more than what it cost you). As we think about the idea of counting the cost, there’s one of many reasons why Jesus is worth the Cost: Jesus Gives Life. 

In John 6, Jesus presents some very difficult teachings to the crowds. He is teaching in the synagogue in the city of Capernaum to a large group of Jews. These hard teachings from Jesus actually caused many followers to leave Jesus! Verse 60 says, “When His followers heard this many of them said, ‘this teaching is hard, who can accept it?’” 

How often do we respond like this? 

There’s more discussion, and Jesus knew this would happen. Finally, in verse 66, it says that after He said these things His followers left him and followed Him no more. 

After these people leave Him, He turns to His disciples and notice what He says: “Do you want to go away as well?’” (67).

Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter’s response is profound. When faced with the question, “will you also leave?”, his response is “to whom shall we go?” This is a question we must all consider. Who would you be without Christ? Who could take the place of Savior in your life? Many have made the decision to let the world be their savior.

If Christ wasn’t in your life, who could you turn to? 

It is in the identity of Jesus that we find the main appeal of God’s Son. Jesus is God. Peter realized this powerful truth. Christ has the words of eternal life. This was all he needed to follow Jesus to the very end. 

If Jesus is God, His words are more than just words. His words are truth. His words open our eyes to the truth of eternity. Jesus is worth following; He is worthy of our faith, because He gives us eternal Life. 

Jesus gives us the option to follow or leave. But who would we turn to? He is the Son of God, His words give life. This powerful encouragement shows us that every word of Jesus pierces the depths of our souls and binds our lives in truth. This cannot be found anywhere else. Others can offer words of wisdom and words of truth, but Jesus alone gives the words that can be trusted for an eternity.

As we count the cost, we must keep in mind that Jesus gives everlasting life to those who put their faith in Him.

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XVI)

Unity And Gender Roles (11:1-16)

Neal Pollard

A church prone to division will suffer symptoms in just about every way such can be measured. Corinth seemed to take pride in all the wrong things–who baptized them, how much knowledge they had, what spiritual gifts they possessed, how much money they had, and, apparently, who, by gender, was in charge or had responsibility for church leadership. So, Paul has to take the time to share God’s will on the matter.

THE OVERARCHING PRINCIPLE OF HEADSHIP

This section of Scripture has proven difficult for many Bible students. While we will address the “head covering” below, often we miss the point of the paragraph. Paul leads out with it: “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God” (3). Everything that follows serves as an illustration of that truth. Paul will apply this truth to the assemblies in chapter 14. Paul gives some reasons why God has decided to order things as He has. Man was not made from woman, but woman from man (8). Man was not created for woman, but woman was made for man (9). One might not understand or like that principle, but that does not change the truth of it. By following this principle faithfully, a congregation can eliminate this as a divisive issue.

THE MUTUAL DEPENDENCE OF BOTH GENDERS

Before we get to the head covering, Paul clarifies an important point. Perhaps anticipating this as a reason for boasting or resentment, he reminds men and women in Christ of how equally they depend upon each other (11). He says, “for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God” (12). As other passages demonstrate, this is not a matter of superiority and inferiority. God assigns different roles and responsibilities within the body. An elder is not inherently smarter or more important because he is an elder. He just has a different role, one that carries oversight and superintendence. So it is with man’s role in home and church leadership. 

THE CULTURAL EXAMPLE OF SUBMISSION 

A couple of points should be made about Paul’s illustration of headship and submission. When Paul refers to a woman artificially covering her head, the word “cover” means ” To cover with a veil or something which hangs down” (Zodhiates, np). Arndt and the others, in the BDAG lexicon, appeals to contemporary secular writing for what this veil was like, saying, “The covering of the clothes on the head is of such a kind that the whole face seems to be covered as with a mask (517). So, this would more resemble a burka than a doily. Second, Paul makes clear that such a covering is not commanded nor should it be divisive. He summarizes the discussion, saying, “If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God” (16). We know this is true because the hair of the women in the congregation at Ephesus was visible (1 Tim. 2:9), as was the hair of the women of the congregations in the five regions Peter wrote to (1 Pet. 3:3). Significantly, the context of 1 Timothy 2 deals with a worship and assembly context, as does 1 Corinthians 11. 

My friend, Denny Petrillo, is a formidable Greek scholar and he helps clarify a lot of the confusion this has caused some in understanding this section of Scripture. In answering whether or not this passage requires women to wear head coverings in the assemblies today, he says “no” for the following reasons:

1) It is not commanded here or elsewhere in Scripture.
2) The practice of wearing veils was not found in other locations
3) Proponents of the veil have had difficulty explaining verse 15
4) The impact of the teaching is no longer relevant for today.
5) The practice was not universal in the New Testament
6) The practice was not found in the early church.
7) It might be successfully argued that the context of 1 Corinthians 11 is the misuse of spiritual gifts by these women.
8) Inconsistency in application (holy kiss, foot washing).
9) Is there any relevance for single women or widows?

(Each of these nine points is substantiated with lengthy, persuasive argument; Contact me if you would like his entire document on this)

The question is not whether it is acceptable for a woman to cover her head when she comes to worship today. It is a legitimate conviction and may be a matter of conscience for some today, and they should not be ostracized or judged for so doing. However, it is not something which should be made a test of fellowship, either, nor something which should divide God’s people today.

Paul is seeking to root out division wherever it reared its ugly head. When a congregation is prone to have strife, it can affect every area of life. We must maintain our view of Christ’s bigger picture and strive to be united by honoring our individual roles and responsibilities. 

Dozen Thousand

Gary Pollard

It’s so encouraging that many public figures (by extension, many of their audiences) have rejected outright atheism and godless evolution! Even those who would never consider themselves believers have rejected some of the main pillars of evolution. Among them are people like Joe Rogan, Randall Carlson, Graham Hancock, Jordan Peterson (who does describe himself as a believer in some capacity), Ben Van Kerkwyk, and many others. 

What have they rejected (minus Peterson)? Gradualism/Uniformitarianism — a belief (it is a belief) that current processes are sufficient to explain how things were in the past. Uniformitarianism is the foundation supporting a belief that our earth is billions of years old, that geological processes take millions of years, and it serves as the bias behind radiocarbon/radioisotope dating. 

So what’s the problem? These same proponents of catastrophism (the belief that geological processes are best explained through natural disasters rather than gradual changes over long periods of time) still view the earth as being billions of years old. They still have an evolutionary view of our timeline. Progress is progress, so I don’t want to be harsh in discussing these people! 

But I would like to remind myself (and whoever may read this) of why I don’t believe the earth is any more than (at most) 12-15,000 years old: 

  1. Population of earth — We double in population every couple of decades. Allowing for disasters, if humans (or humans-ish, as evolutionists say) came onto the scene 1,000,000 years ago, we’d have something like 1×105000 people on earth today. The known universe couldn’t hold anywhere near that many people, much less our one planet. Since the current population of earth is around 8.02 billion (according to commerce.gov), we can safely assume that we’re no older than 12-15,000 years. 
  2. Sediment layers across our ocean floors are far too “thin” to support an age of hundreds of millions of years. Sediment should be “choking the oceans” if the oceans were that old. The salinity (saltiness) of the oceans is another problem for old-earth proponents — it has been convincingly proven that our oceans are getting saltier with time (rather than remaining constant). Based on current salinity, our earth is no more than several thousand years old. 

Many other brilliant authors have written much more than can be contained here. I recommend perusing the Institute for Creation Research’s website, as well as Apologetics Press and Answers in Genesis for more proofs. While the secular world is still off on quite a few things, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that progress is being made. 

At least for right now, there does seem to be a positive trend in society’s thirst for meaning! Let’s make the most of this by showing God’s love even more. Let’s prove to the world that there’s no better life than a Christian life! Our God is coming back — when he does, the entire world will see him. Let’s show them that we believe in him enough to love like Jesus!  

1  Butt, K. (2001). Fighting the crowd over a young earth. ApologeticsPress.org. https://apologeticspress.org/fighting-the-crowd-over-a-young-earth-882/

2  Tomkins, J.P. & Clarey, T. (2021). The oceans point to a young earth. Institute for Creation Research. https://www.icr.org/article/oceans-young-earth

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XV)

Unity And Israel’s “How Not To” Example (10:1-14)

Neal Pollard

The past is a valuable teacher. Often, we look back and are humbled at how much our forefathers achieved with relatively fewer resources and opportunities. Society often reflects back and sees ancestors who appear to have been more moral and righteous, and we decry our comparative spiritual decline. We say, “These things would not have happened back then.” Well, Paul reminds us that sometimes we should look to the past as an example of how not to behave. If you take the generation of Jews who were part of the wilderness wandering, you have a people so faithless and disobedient that God washed His hands of them.  Yet, Paul warned that some of their traits and tendencies could taint the thinking and actions of the Christians at Corinth.

Disunity Arises When We Ignore Our Blessings (1-5)

Israel had every spiritual advantage they needed to succeed. God was leading them (1). He did so through Moses (2) and Christ (4). God provided for their every need (3-4). Despite this, they displeased God (5a).  Every congregation of God’s people ought to seriously reflect on how much God has blessed us. He has given us a perfect Word to lead and guide us. He gives us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He gives liberally (Jas. 1:5,17). We fail and fall short despite our advantages, not because of them. 

Disunity Arises When We Give In To Our Flesh (6-11)

Paul enumerates the divisive behavior of these wandering Jews. They craved evil things (6; Num. 11:4), were idolatrous, worshipping pleasure and comfort (7; Ex. 32:4-6), were sexually immoral (8; Num. 25:1ff), tried the Lord (9; Num. 21:5ff), and grumbled (10; Num. 16-17). Notice the spectrum of immoral behavior they put on display. Also notice God’s strong response to it. They fell and were destroyed (8-10). As their next generation learned, a congregation cannot thrive with unchecked sin in the camp (Josh. 7). Paul had just made that point with Corinth earlier in the letter (1 Cor. 5). It is vital to remember something Paul told Galatia: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (5:24-26). Israel shows us how to rise above the call of our flesh (11). 

Disunity Arises When We Mishandle Temptation (12-14)

Churches are full of people, which is also to say full of sinners. Christians are pardoned, but not perfect. How do we properly handle the temptations that can plague us and prevent our unity?

Be humble (12). How often do we personally fail when we consider ourselves immune from and impervious to temptation? The emphasis of our preaching, teaching, fellowship, and relationships within the body ought to be sober vigilance (1 Pet. 5:8) and active resistance (1 Pet. 5:9; Jas. 4:7) regarding the Tempter. We also must honestly view our own tendencies and understand we are prone to be weak and willing in the face of temptation (Jas. 1:13ff). Spiritual giants so great as David, Solomon, and Peter fell hard by giving in to temptation. So, the counsel is wise to “let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 

Avail yourself of God’s help (13). These are some of the most comforting words in all of Scripture. You are not alone nor are you the first to encounter this temptation. You always have a door of escape, if you will take it. The temptation is not bigger than you and God! How could it be? The key to this principle is that “God is faithful.” Maybe it does seem bigger than you. It is never bigger than God. 

Run (14). You won’t escape if you hold hands with, embrace, and nurture that temptation. Joseph didn’t just stand there with Potiphar’s wife. He didn’t ease away or even walk. He fled. Some sins are more subtle than sexual sins, and Paul deals with a variety of behaviors. We must build our conviction to handle temptation in all areas the same way. Get away from it as quickly as possible!

Congregations full of people committed to Christ’s standards of ethics and morality, in speech, attitude, and conduct, rise up together and do great things. Unity is disrupted and prevented, though, when sin runs amuck among us. We have an individual and collective responsibility to imitate Christ and those who effectively model Him (11:1). We also do well to see how not to do it, too! 

Kathy’s 17th Reason!

52 Reasons to Love the Church

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XIV)

Unity And Liberty (Part 2)(9:1-27)

Neal Pollard

Paul continues his lengthy discussion of liberty, and the inspired apostle now uses himself, as he often does, to illustrate a point (see 2 Cor. 11; Phil. 1, 3, etc.). In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul mentions various rights that he could have legitimately exercised but chose to forego due to seeming critics either in Corinth or those who made an impression on Corinth (3; he more vigorously defends his apostleship and mission work in 2 Corinthians). His motivation in all his work is the salvation of souls (22) and the sake of the gospel (23). Chapter eight shows how sensitive he was to his example and influence over others. How different from an attitude that says, “If they don’t like it, they’ll just have to get over it. That’s not my problem.” Notice chapter nine.

LEGITIMATE RIGHTS PAUL DID NOT EXERCISE (1-15)

Paul had a right to be married, but he did not exercise it (5). Paul had a right to be paid for preaching the gospel rather than work a secular job, but he did not exercise it (6-15). Apparently, especially the latter right because in this circumstance it might have been a hindrance to the gospel (12) and made his boast an empty one (16). There will be occasions where we can scripturally defend legitimate rights that may cause a brother to stumble. Paul had those. What did he do? He chose his brethren over his right (4,12).

PAUL’S MOTIVATIONS IN CHOOSING INFLUENCE OVER RIGHTS (16-

First, Paul wanted to be the most successful proclaimer of the gospel he could be (16-18). In his circumstance, that meant offering “the gospel without charge” (18). He felt compelled to answer the gospel’s call to share the gospel with as many people as possible. That is not just a job for full-time preachers. We all are in a position to share the gospel every day. We will take care with our example and influence, doing nothing to undermine the message of salvation before others.

Second, Paul wanted by all means to save souls (19-23). His concern in relationships was establishing rapport and commonality. He did so by acting in a way counter to worldly thinking. He says, “I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more” (19). He accommodated himself to the Jews (20), those under the Law (20), those without law (21), and the weak (22). He summarizes, “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some” (22). How much bigger and stronger will the church become when more of us imitate Paul’s example in this. That doesn’t mean to become a chameleon, conforming to the sinful behaviors of those we’re trying to teach in order to win them. Paul condemns the idea of doing evil that good may come of it (Rom. 3:8). He was willing to invest in the religious and the irreligious, people of all walks of life, in order to try and help them come to Christ. 

Third, Paul wanted eternal salvation more than earthly satisfaction (24-27). Paul’s sensitivity to his influence and example was also due to his personal spiritual goals. He ran (24,26), exercised self-control (25), fought (26), and disciplined and enslaved his body (27) to spiritually win (24), receive an imperishable crown (25), and to avoid being spiritually disqualified (27). He urges Corinth (and us) to do the same. Don’t lose sight of what must be your ultimate, highest goal–eternal life! In eternity, so many of the things we jealously and foolishly defend in this life will seem utterly foolish and inconsequential. Paul encourages us to have the wisdom of foresight and understand that in this life. When we get to heaven, we’ll be eternally glad we did!

What Every Joint Supplies

Neal Pollard

We closed out the second annual Equipped workshop last night, walking through the gospel of John. It was encouraging and uplifting, even beyond the well-prepared, well-presented lessons. We had guests attend from New York to California, Florida to Indiana, and each was a delight! I could list many reasons for why it was so enjoyable, but I just want to mention my favorite one: Our members.

Last night, in expressing thanks to different groups, I mentioned tasks performed by the members of our congregation before and during the workshop. Volunteers, taking time off from works and school, spending how ever many hours, did these jobs with joy and enthusiasm. No job was small and each contributed to the overall success of the weekend. This included:

  • A/V tasks (Power Point, timers, audio, video, equipment, etc., etc.)
  • Registration (Set up, decorating, printing name tags and putting them in lanyards, keeping records, etc., etc.)
  • Making speaker packets
  • Mail-outs (inputting addresses, stuffing letters and envelopes, etc.)
  • Providing security (arranging it, volunteering)
  • Food trucks (contacting, coordinating, assisting)
  • Greeters
  • Transportation
  • Bookstore (set up, decorating, manning)
  • Babysitting
  • Lodging (contacting hotels, brokering discounts)
  • Restaurant discounts (contacting and arranging)
  • Hospitality Room (gathering items, stocking, and preparing)
  • Brochure design and production
  • Website management (for both the church site and the dedicated site)
  • Social media (promotion, posting)
  • Personal invitations to friends, family, coworkers, and classmates)
  • Taking photos and videos (as well as creating Google drive and uploading content)
  • Moving tables and chairs (several times)
  • Coordinating displayers and displays
  • Providing the coffee shop (brewing, creating, serving)
  • Decorating bulletin boards
  • Displaying warmth and friendliness

I’m certain I’m overlooking one or maybe several more tasks, all essential to the enormous success of this edifying event. Yet, it all is a reminder and an example of something Paul wrote long ago to the church in Ephesus. “…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15b-16).

So many individual parts were working and the net result was and will be growth! Ironically, the name “Equipped” comes from this very context. The works planned and enacted by the local leadership is, in part, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12). God wants His people working, building, and growing. It is beautiful to see His wisdom proven when His people work His plan. Every single person is important and part of that plan!

Photo Credit: Eli Watson

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XIII)

UNITY AND LIBERTY (8:1-13)

Neal Pollard

We notice again Paul’s transitional statement: “Now concerning….” This signifies Paul’s change of subject. The specific issue he addresses is “things sacrificed to idols” (1). But, in his usual fashion, the apostle will pan out to the broader issue. The principle is tempering biblical knowledge and love. Paul will repeat this principle several more times in the letter (13:1ff; 14:1; 16:14). Have you ever known someone who seemed to have a deep, mature level of knowledge but share it with arrogance and an air of superiority? Even if you appreciated their grasp of what the Bible says, you probably didn’t care much for how they shared it. In more severe cases, one can ruin a weaker brother or sister (11). We can wind up sinning against a brother or wounding his conscience by our headstrong or self-serving application of knowledge (12). Whenever we insist on our rights, even at the expense of the conscience of a weaker brother or sister, we will be a source of division in the body of Christ. Paul gives Corinth a principle they can apply to any number of issues, not just this one.

Some Of Us Will Have A More Mature Understanding Than Others (1-7a)

It may well have been Jewish Christians and some more grounded Gentile Christians who realized that meat originally used in pagan worship and resold in the marketplace was not a big deal. They understood that idols were not really gods (4) and that there is only one true God (4-6). Perhaps it was among Gentile converts that eating meats sacrificed to idols was a stumbling block. They had been in those “worship services,” and they may have associated it with religious error and all that went along with it. But, these brethren were to be united despite their different levels of faith and maturity.

None Of Us Can Choose “Liberty” Over Love (7-13)

Why? 

First, exercising our liberty can defile a weak conscience (7). 

Second, exercising our liberty can become a stumbling block to the weak (9).

Third, exercising our liberty can ruin a weak brother (11). 

Fourth, exercising our liberty can be a sin against that brother and consequently a sin  against Christ (12). 

There is certainly a need to educate and help strengthen and mature that weak brother in Christ, but throughout that process a prevailing attitude of care and concern for the weak brother must be maintained. Paul makes clear what principle ought to rule in matters like this. He writes, “Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.” Maybe that seems unfair or unreasonable. But how small a sacrifice is that for the salvation of vulnerable spiritual family members? They should matter more than any earthly thing, even things we have a legitimate right to engage in.  The point is, stop and consider the weight of your influence. Your weaker brother is watching. 

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XII)

Unity And The Unmarried (7:25-40)

Neal Pollard

This is one of Paul’s earlier letters, probably written from Ephesus during his third missionary journey. It would have been about a decade before Nero takes his life. When he writes in this paragraph about the “present distress” (26), life was about to get hard for the Christian in various parts of the Roman Empire. 

Some suggest that this is an allusion to a famine that occurred around this time under the emperor Claudius. Many think it an allusion to looming persecution. Against that backdrop, Paul writes some instructions to virgins and widows, and the otherwise unmarried. The Corinthians seemed troubled by how best to proceed if not married. Paul thoroughly addresses that here. He makes clear that whether or not to be married, so long as is consistent with the Lord’s teaching on marriage (39), is a matter of judgment rather than a matter of truth and error. 

PAUL’S LIST OF REASONS WHY STAYING SINGLE WAS PREFERABLE

Of course, Paul has already said that it is better to marry than burn with passion (9). Yet, Paul makes a defense for the unmarried to “remain as I” (8). In the middle of this paragraph, he says, “I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you” (35). What is Paul’s rationale?

  • “The current distress” (26). We do not know what Paul specifically had in mind here, but it was a time of difficulty which he felt should at least be considered by single Christians contemplating marriage. There may be times when the winds of culture blow adversely for a Christian, who may not want to add worrying about a spouse and children suffering, too. 
  • The married will have additional trouble in this life (28). In every generation, there will be additional trouble for every member added to a household. This is true financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s not a negative observation; it’s just a fact. 
  • The married have concerns not borne by the single (32-34). If one makes the decision to get married, he or she has more than the Lord to please. The married person must focus on pleasing his or her spouse. Paul elaborates on that more in Ephesians 5:22-33, using marriage to illustrate Christ and the church. Peter also deals with it in 1 Peter 3:1-7. The married have divided interests the single do not (34).
  • The single can exercise undistracted devotion to the Lord (35). This is a corollary to the last reason. Stated positively, the unmarried can focus more fully on his or her relationship with God than the married can. 

PAUL’S OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE

So that he is not misinterpreted, Paul repeatedly makes it clear that this is not a command of the Lord. Though he feels that his case is supported by “the Spirit of God” (40), he says, “I give an opinion” (25), “I think then” (26), reiterates that one who decides either way “does well” (38), and bookends the discussion by again asserting that whether or not the marriageable marries or stays single is a matter of “opinion” (40). Paul is asking each Christian to evaluate their situation and make the best spiritual decision for their own circumstance. 

The overriding principle is “please the Lord” and decide what state or condition you can do that best in–as married or single. Some have that decision made for them (cf. Matt. 19:9) and some choose to make that decision (Mat. 19:12). I have known Christians who chose to make that decision and served God with distinction as preachers, missionaries, and godly, faithful Christian men and women. 

Married Christians must never forget to include and encourage single Christians in their circle of friends and loved ones. We must also value their contributions as highly as their married counterparts. This is a practical application of unity among the body of Christ, where the world might be divided.

Judicial Hardening

God’s Righteous Judgment on the Unrepentant

Brent Pollard

The Bible can offer insights into how our spiritual lives work, giving us glimpses into the hidden world where God interacts with good and evil forces. However, due to the limitations of our senses, caution is essential in exploring this area. We can’t learn about the unseen realm without God’s revelation, even though we walk by faith, not sight (2 Corinthians 5.7).

Because of our limitations, we are grateful for Scripture’s fleeting insights. One intriguing view into the third heaven illustrates the principle of “judicial hardening.” Judicial hardening is God’s sovereign, holy decision to withdraw His restraining grace from persistently unrepentant sinners, allowing them to carry out their sin and unbelief through a spiritually hardened, truth-blind condition. 

Generally, we think of the pharaoh of the Exodus as a prime example of judicial hardening. We aim to comprehend the events behind eternity’s veil, leading us to attribute the pharaoh’s judicial hardening solely to God’s actions. It’s similar to describing electricity using only a lit light bulb for illustration. In other words, the electricity is there, but what causes the bulb to light up when we flip the switch?

In 2 Thessalonians 2.11-12, Paul warns the first-century Christians about the man of lawlessness who comes after apostasy. 

“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (NASB95). 

In contrast to the pharaoh, whose heart both God and pharaoh hardened, Paul specifies that God sends the “deluding influence” after the impending apostasy. This prospect would be highly unsettling were it not for the example of Ahab in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. Elijah previously prophesied that God would destroy Ahab and his household (cf. 1 Kings 21). Rather than repent and accept God’s mercy, Ahab persisted in sinfulness. 

When the time came to engage in war with his Aramean neighbors, Ahab requested Judah’s king, Jehoshaphat, to join him in battle. The good king, Jehoshaphat, stated his willingness to do so as long as Ahab consulted God’s prophet. Ahab balked at the idea, given that the only true prophets of God in Israel would not prophesy favorably. We note that Ahab had already called for 400 false prophets to persuade Jehoshaphat. 

Upon Jehoshapahat’s insistence, Ahab summoned Micaiah. Ahab told Jehoshaphat that he didn’t like Micaiah because he always prophesied against him. When the messenger summoned Micaiah, he told him to go along with the words of the other so-called prophets. Surprisingly, Micaiah did so. Ahab knew Micaiah was insincere and told him to speak God’s real message. Micaiah told Ahab and Jehoshaphat that their efforts against the Arameans would fail.

As Ahab reiterates to Jehoshaphat how Micaiah always prophecies against him, Micaiah continues, informing his sovereign audience of what events took place in heaven, leading to the moment they found themselves. Note 2 Chronicles 18.18–22.

Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. The Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.’ Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, for the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.” (NASB95)

In other parts of the Old Testament, like in Job, the heavenly beings are depicted as gathered before God, including Satan among them. However, to implement His judgment upon Ahab, God wants to know who will use Ahab’s wicked nature to facilitate his downfall. Ahab desires to confront the Arameans, while God has foretold the destruction of Ahab and his household. So, God needed a volunteer to execute His judgment. A spirit volunteered, saying he would serve as the deceiving spirit in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets.

No, this does not make God a liar. God is truthful and does not deceive (Titus 1.2; Hebrews 6.18). And men sin when lust draws them away (James 1.13–16). In conclusion, it is essential to remember key aspects of this example of judicial hardening. 

The “lying spirit” does not speak falsehoods but amplifies and vocalizes the lies or delusions held by unrepentant sinners because of their hardened hearts against the truth.

Secondly, God does not directly speak or endorse the lie; instead, He permits the unrepentant sinner to fall prey to the deceptions they have chosen through their persistent rejection of the truth. 

Thirdly, this may be an anthropomorphic representation of how God employs secondary causes or agents to induce judicial hardening or blindness in those who deliberately reject Him rather than God directly originating the deception. 

Lastly, “spirit” could denote an impersonal force or influence from God rather than specifically a personal angelic being conveying a direct falsehood.

The account of God permitting a “deceiving spirit” to influence Ahab’s prophets vividly demonstrates the concept of judicial hardening. God judges those who repeatedly reject the truth by allowing them to succumb entirely to their chosen lies. This truth does not imply that God is untruthful; instead, He withholds grace from the unrepentant, leading to the hardening and deception of their hearts. While our knowledge of the spiritual realm is limited, stories like this assist us in grasping how God interacts with intentional sinners. He demonstrates His justice by hardening the disobedient but also shows patience by repeatedly presenting the truth before judgment arrives. For us, the challenge is to accept God’s truth humbly and keep our hearts responsive to His grace.

April 18-21: EQUIPPED In Bowling Green, KY (Come Join Us!)

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XI)

Unity And Complicated Marital Issues (7:10-24)

Neal Pollard

With so much moral confusion and corruption among the Corinthians,  Paul had his hands full in addressing the various complications that arose in this congregation. Having already dealt with incest, homosexuality, fornication, and even spouses depriving one another, he moves on to another complicated matter. What do you do when your non-Christian spouse wants to abandon the marriage? What are your rights and restrictions? 

Unfortunately, some have interpreted 1 Corinthians 7 as a passage giving one an additional “exception” to the Lord’s rule in Matthew 19:9 (this belief is often called “The Pauline Privilege”). Is Paul adding to the Lord’s teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage? If one’s spouse “deserts” them, is he or she free to remarry?

First, notice that Paul begins by reviewing just what the Lord said during His ministry (10-11). He signifies this by saying, “But to the married I give instructions, not I but the Lord….” (10). In other words, Paul reviews what the Lord taught as recorded by Matthew (19:1-12). It is a summary of that passage. Keep in mind that anything Paul subsequently says cannot contradict what the Lord taught in His ministry on the subject. Everything Paul says here must be understood in the light of how he begins–“stay married, but if you divorce, remain unmarried or be reconciled to the husband you divorced.”

Second, notice that Paul is dealing with something the Lord did not address in His earthly ministry. That’s what Paul means when he says, “But to the rest I say, not the Lord…” (12).  Paul addresses an apparent concern for Christians in a pagan society like Corinth (our nation would be a lot more like Corinth than Jerusalem!). Paul delves into what a Christian ought to do who is married to an unbeliever. He begins with the scenario that the unbeliever is okay with staying married to the Christian. In that case, there is nothing to do. Do not leave them if they want to remain married (13-14). 

Then, he discusses a scenario where the unbeliever is not okay with staying married to the Christian. A spouse would then be in a quandary, deciding whether or not to stay with Christ or choose the unbelieving mate (15). Paul is saying, your duty to your husband does not outweigh your duty to Christ. If they force you into that choice, choose Christ. Some try to make the word “bondage” in this verse refer to the marriage bond, believing Paul to say you are free to remarry. Paul is using that word throughout this paragraph to speak of being enslaved, not to speak of being married (“bondage” is found in eight New Testament verses; the other seven–Acts 7:6, Rom. 6:18,22, 1 Cor. 9:19, Gal. 4:3, Ti. 2:3, and 2 Pet. 2:19–all mean “to make someone a slave”; that’s what Paul is saying here. Paul uses the word for “marry” several times in this chapter, a different word with a different meaning altogether). 

Third, understand the rest of this paragraph in light of what Paul has already said. He is not allowing people to do something which, as he has already pointed out, the Lord explicitly forbad. His words in 1 Corinthian 7:15-24 do not give a person an additional reason to divorce and remarry. Paul is illustrating with the circumcision analogy what he has just taught in verses 13-14. 

There is nothing in this context or any other passage that teaches that non-Christians who obey the gospel and are in an unscriptural marriage can remain in that condition. He is simply using multiple means to make a singular point: “Do not become enslaved to man’s will because you belong to Christ.” Do not choose your spouse over Christ. If they threaten to leave you if you don’t leave Christ, you must stay faithful to Christ. 

Sin brings complications. No relationship must be honored or prioritized over Christ. When a Christian is married to a non-Christian, he or she is to do everything possible to win the non-Christian spouse (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1ff). As Paul says, ” For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” (16). That’s the ideal. But in less than ideal situations, always choose Christ! 

The Power Of The Resurrection (Part 3)

Carl Pollard

 Previously we have discussed the importance of knowing for certain that Jesus lived on this earth. The power of His resurrection begins with the hope of His birth. We are all in need of a Savior. Thankfully, 2,000 years ago God sent His Son to take on flesh. He willingly came and left an example for us to imitate. Secular historians all agree that Jesus of Nazareth really did exist. But there’s more to this that we need to study. He lived, oh yes, He LIVED. But we also need to understand that He Died. 

Scripture says that, in John 19:18, “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” Mark 15:39 adds, “When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Scripture tells us that not only did Jesus live on earth, He was also put to death. John tells us that Jesus hung on a cross between two criminals. Mark records the response of a Roman centurion who saw the way Jesus died and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” 

God in flesh and blood hung on a cross for my sins, for the sins of the world. For me, having several biblical authors record the death of Jesus is more than enough proof. But let’s see what secular history has to say about His death. 

The Roman historian Tacitus said this in AD 117, “Their originator, Christ, has been executed in Tiberius’ reign, by Pontius Pilate.” Even Jesus’ worst enemies record His death. The Jewish Rabbis and Religious leaders wrote this in the Talmud, “Jesus of Nazareth was a transgressor in Israel who practiced magic, scorned the words of the wise, led the people astray, and said that he had not come to destroy the law but to add to it. He was hanged on Passover Eve for heresy and misleading the people.” 

The truth is, Jesus surely died for you and me. Scripture clearly teaches this, and so do many secular historians. For us to fully grasp the power of what comes next, we’ve got to believe that Jesus lived and that He died on a cross for you and me. 

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (X)

Unity Through Sexual Integrity (6:9-20)

Neal Pollard


It had to be a challenge to maintain sexual purity in a city world-renowned for its sexual debauchery. Paul points out that this is a matter of feeding fleshly appetites, but that these must be mastered by those who want what only God can give. It also requires an appropriate appreciation for what God has done for us and wishes to do for us. One of their number had infamously failed at this, and God wanted it dealt with appropriately (chapter five). Paul urges them all to, like himself, “not be mastered by anything” (12). How could Corinth (how can we?) combat the temptation to succumb to immorality?

Remember What You Were And See What You Are (9-11)

Paul established the church at Corinth, helping to win the first converts there. In those first 18 months, how many conversations and counseling sessions did he have with these spiritual babes about their sinful past and spiritual struggles? Part of their studying to become Christians likely dealt with how to repent. Paul knew their situations. He reminds them they were guilty of all kinds of sexual sins (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, promiscuity)(9) in addition to sins of immoral character (10). The whole list has in common that they each pandered to fleshly desires. The wonderful news is that through Christ they put that all away, and by obeying the gospel they were washed, sanctified, and justified (11). The guilt of those sins were removed. They were set apart for God’s righteous use. They were in a right relationship with God. No sinful pleasure can compete with the feeling of peace and relief of forgiveness!

Understand What Your Body Is For And Whose Your Body Is (12-15)

Don’t we struggle with that? The flesh has cravings, and we can satisfy those cravings improperly. In principle, this can be done with food, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and so on, but the central issue of context is sexual immorality. Paul points to the positive potential of our bodies. They are for the Lord (13). They are for the resurrection of life (14). They are members of Christ’s body (15). God has such exalted expectations of how we will spend our lives in these bodies. We cannot squander our purpose or lose sight of our identity! Too much is at stake.

Beware Of What Fornication Is And What Is Does (16-18)

Ben Witherington says, “Paul’s point is that sexual sin, unlike other sins, involves one’s very body in a union with others and is a sin against self as well as others. It involves the whole self and thus is dangerous and deadly to one’s spiritual well-being, for it puts one into the hands and mastery of someone other than the Lord” (169).  Certainly, Paul’s language is dramatic. Like Joseph (Gen. 39), run from it! Don’t do anything that jeopardizes your unity with the Lord! No matter how enticing it is, it will not be worth it! God has a wonderful place for this natural appetite to be fulfilled, and he will encourage that in chapter seven. Ironically, those who had the right and privilege of sex, husbands and wives, were failing to exercise such and causing each other to stumble. Society glorifies the shameful and ridicules the glorious, and that includes in sexual matters. Paul peels back the veneer of fornication and shows the ugly, rotten truth of what lies within.

Know Who Is In You And What You Are To Do (19-20)

One of the most powerful deterrents against sin is the knowledge that the Holy Spirit indwells me. Paul explicitly says so (19). When one becomes a Christian, he or she is telling God, “I am mine no more!” What I am now is God’s house, giving myself entirely for His use and glory. With privilege comes responsibility. Not only is that grand, impacting eternity, but it’s fundamental, involving my body. I cannot forget this. 

Put in the context of church unity, I am most responsible for how I handle my life and my body. By living a sexually pure life, I represent God as I should. That helps the church. Remember the words of Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do.”

Not Our Problem

Gary Pollard

If I had a dollar for every time the world was supposed to have ended in my lifetime alone, I could probably fill my gas tank. Most recently, the eclipse was supposed to mark “the end.” In Graham Hancock’s 1995 book Fingerprints of the Gods, he puts great stock in the Mayan prophecy concerning the world’s end (supposedly Dec 23, 2012, conveniently revised to “no later than 2040” in Magicians of the Gods, 2015). Y2K was supposed to be a disaster. 

Just since I was born (1993), here are a few of the times the world was supposed to end (from Wikipedia, sorry): 

  1. David Berg claimed that the earth would end in 1993. 
  2. 05.02.1994 — Neal Chase’s claim that New York City would be struck by a nuclear bomb, followed shortly by the second coming. 
  3. 09.06, 09.29, 10.2.1994 — Harold Camping’s three consecutive failed predictions that the rapture would occur on these dates. 
  4. 10.23.1997 — The date, according to 17th century bishop James Ussher, that the world was supposed to end. 
  5. 03.31.1998 — Hon-Ming Chen claimed that God would come to earth in a flying saucer at 10:00 AM. 
  6. 08.18.1999 — World was supposed to end on this day, according to the psychic The Amazing Criswell. 
  7. 09.11.1999 — Earth was supposed to burn on this date, according to Philip Berg. 
  8. At least a dozen different public figures claimed the earth would end in the year 2000 (Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins, James Harmston, Ruth Montgomery, Edgar Cayce, Sun Myung Moon, Ed Dobson, Lester Sumrall, and others). 
  9. Some 22 other predictions between 2000 and 2024 claimed that the end of earth was imminent. 

Does earth have an expiration date? Of course! But it makes us (understandably) look ridiculous when we fall for the doomsday-predictors’ nonsense. To comfort the churches at Thessalonica, Paul made it clear that we can’t miss the second coming. A few things have to take place first: 

  1. Lawlessness runs the entire world (2.3)
  2. The majority of Christians all around the world abandon God (II Thess 2.3). 
  3. Religion is discarded (2.4). 

We aren’t there yet. The church is still doing great things all over the world! The world is chaotic, but nowhere near as bad as it could be. Rather than discarding religion, we’re now seeing people pursue it, fed up with hedonism and its best friend nihilism. This may change in our lifetime, it may not. 

I’m writing this in light of what’s happened over the last few days in the Middle East. Already we’re seeing people claim that “Armageddon” is coming because Iran attacked Israel. The point is this: we simply don’t know when Jesus will return. Of all people, we’re the ones who are supposed to be least concerned about it! Rather than portraying an image of gullibility, let’s showcase Jesus’s love to our fellow people. If he returns, great! If not, we have much better things to do than share, post, re-post, or otherwise buy into doomsday speculations. 

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (IX)

Unity And Lawsuits (6:1-6)

Neal Pollard

Apparently, brethren suing one another was a problem plaguing the church of the first century. James asks his audience, “Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” (2:6). In context, these are not the rich from the community but rich Christians taking their brethren to court. It was a problem for the church at Corinth, and Paul takes the time to address it. 

This Practice Was Audacious (1)

“Neighbor” in this verse is “Christian neighbor,” which is clear from verses five and six. Paul shows his disbelief at this practice, using the word “dare.” We might say, “How dare you do this?” To take a matter of disagreement or division between ourselves “before the unrighteous and not before the saints” damages the image of the Lord’s church in the community. 

This Practice Was Ignorant (2-3)

Often, we get so off track and err because we “do not know” God’s Word (Paul says “do you not know” twice in these verses). I have known of Christians suing Christians, and it is the height of ignorance of the worst kind! When challenged by the Sadducees, Jesus responded, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Mat. 22:29). When we are ignorant of Scripture, we will wind up violating the will of God and breaking the heart of God.

This Practice Was An Abdication (4-6)

God has a definitive system for His family to handle whatever challenges it faces. If our brother offends us, He has a plan (Mat. 18:15-17). If our brother is overtaken in a fault, He has a plan (Gal. 6:1-2). If we offend our brother, He has a plan (Mat. 5:23-24). If we have seemingly irreconcilable difference, He has a plan. The plan is not to use earthly courts, but to solicit “a wise man” from “among you” (5). 

This Practice Was Damaging (6)

Paul’s bottom-line concern is inviting interference and unflattering insight into the precious bride of Christ. To have the world see the church’s “dirty laundry” can do untold harm to her ability to win souls to Christ. Incidentally, this is not about covering up abuses or crimes, but rather personal grievances brethren have between each other. If we act like the world in such circumstances, we offer the world absolutely nothing different from what it already believes and does. The world is hopelessly divided already. They should be able to look to the church and see a higher law!