Author: preacherpollard

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

“Now The Sons Of Eli…”

Neal Pollard

After reading the beautiful story of a distressed, barren woman who was able to have a son and who dedicated him to the Lord (1 Samuel 1), we turn to the much darker, tragic story of the High Priest and judge of Israel, Eli, and his sons in 1 Samuel 2:11-36. We read of much better things of Hannah’s son, Samuel. He “was ministering before the Lord” (18). He “grew in the presence of the Lord” (21). Like Jesus in Luke 2:52, “Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man” (26). But it was not like this with Hophni and Phineas. Notice how Scripture describes them in 1 Samuel two.

They were worthless (11). Literally, they were “sons of Belial.” This means worthlessness, wickedness, and good-for-nothing. It would be difficult to think of a more unfavorable way to be memorialized by God in scripture. Their deeds, which Scripture reveals, will show us why they are remembered this way. 

They were ignorant (11). More specifically, they were ignorant about the Lord. What irony! The men whose job it was to minister to the people on His behalf according to the law are described as those who “did not know the Lord.” The word “know” suggests to observe, realize, experience, recognize, be concerned about, and care about (Holladay 128-129). Merely going through the motions of worship and service does not guarantee that we know the God we serve. Hophni and Phineas did not!

They were sinful (17). This is a general assessment of their behavior among the people. “The sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord.” They showed this by treating “the offering of the Lord with contempt.” It was holy, but they treated it as unholy! How audacious was their sin? “They lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting” (22). Instead of reverently ministering to God, treating Him as holy at the time and place of worship, they were there committing fornication! 

They were obstinate (25). Their father, Eli, pleaded with them to repent. He admonished them, “but they would not listen to the voice of their father” (25). Is there a condition any worse than an unwillingness to listen to instruction? Truly, “a foolish son is destruction to his father” (Prov. 19:13). 

They were indulged (27-36). No doubt, Hophni and Phineas were “worthless,” but who did God make liable? Eli! God sent a rebuking prophet to him, not his sons (27). God charged Eli with “scorning” (“kicking,” NAS, NKJ) His sacrifices and offerings. He indulged himself and acted without self-control, and he left that example for his sons (29). It was tantamount to despising God (30). God promised judgment and destruction on his house. He was a poor example to his children, and he was responsible for their behavior. He was “unfaithful” in his duties (cf. 35). While they are grown by the time we read of them in 1 Samuel two, they obviously were not disciplined and trained as they should have been. God makes that clear.

Children are a legacy concerning our priorities, influence, and values. More often than not, they are a reflection of us. That can make us rejoice or regret. In Eli’s case, he would rue his sons’ actions to the day of his death (4:18). May we do all we can to esteem highly the Lord’s instructions for our homes (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4)! 

The “God-Shaped Void” And Ontological Argument

Brent Pollard

The debate between creationists and atheists is probably not new to you. This heated debate frequently takes the form of verbal duels, with each side trying to persuade onlookers to take their side. Unfortunately, these arguments rarely convince their opponents to change their minds. In most cases, they are speaking to an already confident audience.

Since I hold a creationist worldview, I frequently read works that reinforce that view. Unfortunately, the strategy used to make the case for God’s existence often comes off as bland and unpersuasive. These tactics wouldn’t have influenced me had I not already convinced myself.

Ultimately, faith is the deciding factor. We can’t provide indisputable evidence since we weren’t around for the “Big Bang” or creation. We found our faith in the evidence that we found most convincing, be it ancient fossils or direct revelation from God. This truth leads me to an essential aspect of my approach when discussing my faith.

When asked about my faith, I usually explain why I think there must be a higher power, pleading only for tolerance and acceptance. I want to debunk the myth that people who believe in God are stupid. To this end, allow me to provide two fundamental arguments that offer compelling evidence of a Creator.

First, I’d like to discuss the concept of a “God-shaped void” in every person’s soul. Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, a theologian born roughly 320 years after Jesus of Nazareth, is widely credited with developing this idea. However, the French mathematician Blaise Pascal may be a more likely originator. Pascal’s perspective gives us much to ponder.

According to Pascal, the search for and disappointment in material happiness are signs of a more profound spiritual longing. He contended that only something infinite and unchanging, like God, could fill this gaping chasm. This void brings us to an intriguing point about our universal need for worship.

We can’t help but wonder if there is a universal, hardwired urge to worship. How come religion is so pervasive? What accounts for the universality of references to spiritual phenomena like ghosts and ghouls? How do some people discover spirituality in the great outdoors? These occurrences point to an innate desire to worship. Skeptics, however, might have a different take on this.

Skeptics may write off religion as the product of neuroses, thereby tagging the vast majority of humanity as mentally ill. The paradox here is apparent: It takes neurosis or paranoia to believe you’re the only sane person in the room. Interestingly, skeptics themselves seem to show a form of devotion.

Even skeptics have their form of religious devotion. Non-believers hold science in high regard and defend its tenets with great zeal. Like accusations of heresy in religious contexts, challenging their scientific beliefs can elicit strong reactions. This reaction has led me to question the source of our knowledge.

While I value science’s role, I am skeptical of its origins. Believers credit their knowledge to God or a higher power. Atheist scientists rely heavily on human-made discoveries and theories with inherent flaws. Changes in academic science are possible and frequent. However, God’s Word does not change. This immutability brings me to another critical argument I wish to present.

The ontological argument is my second piece of evidence for God’s existence. Anselm of Canterbury first advanced this line of a priori knowledge-based philosophical reasoning in 1078. Here’s what Anselm proposed:

Anselm theorized that God must exist because He is “a being than which no greater can be conceived.” This argument may seem complicated, but it claims that God must exist because everyone can imagine a supreme being and that having a physical presence is one measure of greatness. The universal nature of belief in God provides further credence to this argument.

The fact that people all over the world believe in God lends support to this claim. It resonates with the concept of a “God-shaped void,” implying a global recognition of a supreme entity Whom men desire to worship. With these points in mind, what do I conclude about the existence of God?

Is there a God? Yes, I think so. I suggest you give that idea some thought, too. Perhaps you already know about God but still, feel something is missing. Seek Him out; you won’t regret it. I believe that you can find Him because I have found Him.

Details

The Love Of Money…

Neal Pollard

In the New Testament, Paul says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). He mentions temptation and being trapped by many and foolish and harmful desires (1 Tim. 6:9). In the Old Testament, In Ecclesiastes 5, Solomon shares with us some of those evils and desires.

Money…

  • Fails to satisfy (10). Who ever thinks they have enough money? The one who loves money finds no satisfaction with abundance or income, yet he keeps pursuing it any way. Money doesn’t just burn a hole in the pocket. It cannot fill the hole of the heart. Solomon, who would know, says, “This too is vanity.”
  • Increases threats (11). I have been to huts in Tanzania and Cambodia, and they do not have ADT or Ring doorbells (they often don’t have doors)! But, in first-world countries like our own, we have locks, guns, and other security measures. We have cyber security and other means of trying to prevent fraud and theft. Solomon says, “When good things increase, those who consume them increase.” The more we have, the more can can have taken.
  • Is not a sleep aid (12). Solomon asserts that a poor working man pillows his head in sleep more readily than his wealthy counterpart. Money does not bring peace and comfort of itself.
  • Can easily be lost (13-14). We can think of notable incidents that cost the rich, at times almost overnight–The Great Depression, The Dot Com Bust, 2008. Solomon mentions bad investments, but the point is that money is not a foundation we can trust to build a life upon. Paul calls them the “uncertainty of riches” (1 Tim. 6:17).
  • Cannot be taken with us (15-16). When Job lost everything, this righteous rich man humbly took this in stride, saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Here, Solomon says that’s a fact where we humbly resign ourselves to it or resist it. Paul adds, “for we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:7). To be consumed with stockpiling what stays behind is folly. Jesus says, “Send it on up to heaven” (Mat. 6:19-21).
  • Is not a mood lifter (17). It might buy a face lift, but it can’t lift the face. The old adage, “money can’t buy happiness,” has repeatedly been proven true. While it can buy property, it can’t buy personality. Solomon’s rich man, toiling after the wind, “eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.”

Jesus wants us to get the basics of true meaning and purpose in this life. To that end, He warns, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Mat. 6:24). No, it is not a wholesale indictment of money or the rich. It is a warning that there is only one solid foundation to build life upon (Mat. 7:24-27). Money is not it.

The Qualifications Of Elders

Gary Pollard

I Timothy three deals with the qualifications of Christian men who want to be elders. 

1 — Wanting to be an elder is a good thing. 

2 — An elder must have a squeaky clean reputation, both inside and out of the church. He also has to be faithful to his wife. A man who isn’t faithful to his wife certainly can’t be faithful to the bride of Christ. 

3 — An elder can’t be alcoholic or violent; he should be known for being gentle and peaceful. He also can’t be materialistic. Since elders who preach, teach, and work hard deserve to be paid (5.17-18), this shouldn’t be a weakness for them. 

4-5 — Are repeats of verse 2, but expands this to an elder’s family. If he neglects his family’s spiritual health, he’ll neglect the church’s spiritual health. 

6 — An elder can’t be a new Christian. 

7 — An elder has to have the respect of people who aren’t in the church. 

Verses 8-13 are the qualifications for deacons. They’re nearly identical to elders, and the faithful-to-their-wives issue is repeated here. This section has been a source of controversy for years, but it’s explained very clearly in 3.11-12: they must be faithful to their wives, and their wives must also have the respect of other people. It also applies to widows in 5.9 — they have to have been faithful to their husbands (and meet some other qualifications) to be financially supported by their church family. 

Osophobia

Ososphobia: The Fear Of Cannibalism

Dale Pollard

The name is derived from a Greek word meaning “human-eater.” 

In the movie 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea there’s a scene where one of the main characters finds himself on an island in the middle of the ocean. Suspense begins to build as he hears the faint sound of bongo drums beating in the distance and that sound becomes louder and steadily closer. Suddenly, out of the jungle line a large group of spear-wielding cannibalistic natives appear and they’re running right at the protagonist. They chase the poor man across the beach and he barely escapes by the skin of his teeth. 

That scene was terrifying and it even instilled in me this irrational fear of cannibals, even though they’re rare here in Tompkinsville Kentucky. 

Did You Know?

In the 1830s, European explorers came to the Fiji islands and they were horrified to discover the local custom of cannibalism. In my humble opinion, exploration is just not worth a run in with human-eating humans. Today, there are allegedly isolated tribes in the most remote places that still partake in the practice of plating people. 

Fear Is Natural 

We all fear something! The one who claims to be fearless is afraid to admit or confront their fear. Fear isn’t wrong; it’s actually natural. We’re supposed to have a healthy fear of the Lord (Job 28:28) and Solomon discusses the natural fear of death in Ecclesiastes. Facing fear is a noble thing but it only truly matters in a spiritual sense. 

The Fear of Truth 

A common phobia in our world today seems to be the fear of truth itself. Many in the Lord’s church know family members and friends who have refused to listen and act on the truth found in God’s Word. They’re afraid to give up the teachings taught to them by their families or the religious groups they grew up in. They’re afraid that the truth requires them to give up a sin they tightly hold on to and the sacrifice which is required to follow Christ. 

The Power of Truth 

The gospel of John is all about truth. In it we learn that Jesus is the only way to heaven— and that’s the truth (John 14:6, 17:17). Though confronting that truth might occasionally make us fearful, we must show others that it also has the power to free and cleanse us of our past and future sins. We must teach through our actions, daily lives, and yes, by inviting them to look at this great truth in Bible study. 

Avoid Making God Your Adversary

Neal Pollard

Because Solomon chose his wives over God, God was angry at him and told him, “I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11:11). It was only because of God’s integrity and His loyalty to his father David that God did not take the entire kingdom away from him and his posterity. God told Solomon, “I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen” (13).

In 1 Kings 11:14-40, God details the opposition of three powerful enemies: Hadad the Edomite (14-22), Rezan, ruler of the Arameans (23-25), and especially Jeroboam the son of Nebat (26-40). The immediate cause of Hadad’s opposition was David’s army commander, Joab’s, extermination of the rest of the Edomite males of his generation. His resulting hatred emboldened his opposition to Solomon. The immediate cause of Rezan’s opposition was Solomon’s father, David’s slaughtering of his former army. The immediate cause of Jeroboam’s opposition was the visit from God’s prophet, Ahijah the Shilohite, who told him God was giving him rule over ten of the tribes of Israel because of Solomon’s idolatry and disobedience. Solomon heard about that prophecy and, combined with hearing from God that he would lose the majority of the kingdom, “Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death; but Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt to Shishak king of Egypt, and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon” (40). 

It is interesting that there was an immediate cause of all of this opposition to Solomon, but there was also an ultimate cause. The ultimate cause was Solomon’s own sin and unfaithfulness. He was learning an immutable (unchanging) truth, that one cannot successfully oppose God without consequences. He was reaping the very thing he had sown. My dad often says, “Many people sow their wild oats and pray for a crop failure.” Perhaps that was Solomon. But, he was seeing noxious weeds choking the garden of his achievements and success. 

Scripture gives us an avoidable maxim: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). Hosea would put it sowing to the wind and reaping a whirlwind (8:7). Eliphaz described it as plowing iniquity and sowing trouble harvesting the same (Job 4:8). However we put it, no one wants to set himself up as God’s enemy (Rom. 8:7; Jas. 4:4). It is a losing proposition that brings heartache in this life and infinitely more trouble in the life to come. 

Overcoming Distractions: Maintaining Focus on Spiritual Responsibilities

Brent Pollard

We all have spiritual responsibilities. Unfortunately, we do not always meet them. We frequently let these responsibilities slip despite being fully aware of their importance. A study of the Scriptures reveals three significant sources of distraction from our spiritual obligations.

First is pursuing material wealth (refer to Matthew 6.24–34). In this passage, Jesus warns against serving God and the embodiment of wealth, or Mammon. Life isn’t all about material things. We create a spiritual void when we focus solely on meeting material needs. The theologian Augustine referred to this as a “God-shaped blank” within us, emphasizing our innate desire to worship and serve God. If God does not fill this void, something else, most often Mammon, will. Possessions and pleasures can quickly become idols in our lives. However, Jesus assures us that if we prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness, our material needs, like those of the creatures in His creation, will be met. The problem arises when our faith wanes, and we forget God’s promise. In times of financial difficulty, we may believe it is solely our responsibility to fix things rather than trusting God’s provision. While we must continue to work, like the birds searching for worms, we must not allow anxiety to consume us. Excessive devotion to Mammon causes spiritual suffering and neglect of spiritual responsibilities.

Second, we may pay attention to the wrong things (Matthew 14.28–33). This passage depicts Peter walking on the raging Sea of Galilee, echoing Jesus’ feat. But Peter begins to sink when he starts paying attention to the wind and waves rather than focusing on Jesus. Similarly, the people in our lives might serve to divert our attention from Jesus, which is why 1 Corinthians 5.6 and 15.33 warn us to be cautious. Likewise, worldly concerns, wealth, and pleasures can choke out God’s Word, preventing us from bearing fruit (Luke 8.14). Our faith may wane, just as Peter’s did if we allow the world’s distractions and temptations to consume us. We must constantly refocus our attention on Jesus and place our relationship with Him first and foremost. We can ensure that we continue to grow in our faith and bear fruit for God’s kingdom by doing so.

Finally, we become fixated on minor issues (Luke 10.38–42). In this story, Martha over-prepares because she intends to serve Jesus and His disciples. Jesus corrects her, saying that her sister Mary is doing what is genuinely needed by focusing on her spiritual needs. Too often, we allow valid but minor issues to divert our attention away from our spiritual responsibilities. Brother Maxie Boren gave an example of a congregation arguing over a surplus of bricks rather than focusing on evangelizing their community, which resulted in zero evangelistic efforts. Sometimes, even good intentions can distract us from our spiritual responsibilities, like chasing after money or being in a negative environment. Recognizing that our spiritual needs should always precede trivial matters is crucial. We can better serve our community through the proclamation of the Gospel if we put our spiritual duties first. Maintaining vigilance and not allowing eternally insignificant matters to impede our progress in fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities is critical. 

Let us strive to stay focused, fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities and avoiding pitfalls related to wealth, our environment, and trivialities.

20 Tips On Encouragement

Neal Pollard
  • Look for the lonely and reach out to them.
  • Pay attention to the (small) details and acknowledge what others miss.
  • Don’t miss the bashful and shy.
  • Listen closely to what’s going on in people’s lives.
  • Care.
  • Pray for opportunities to encourage.
  • At times, encourage anonymously.
  • Remember those who are usually behind the scenes.
  • Put yourself in the place of others.
  • See through Christlike eyes.
  • Find happiness in encouraging and joy in others enjoying encouragement.
  • Consider encouragement a sacred duty.
  • Do an act of service for an unsuspecting other.
  • Be a meaningful, genuine complimenter free of selfish motives.
  • Remember that encouragers are church growers.
  • Don’t overlook the frustrated (young parents, teens, unemployed, newly divorced).
  • Mentally walk a mile in the potentially encouraged’s shoes.
  • Find exciting, unusual ways to make someone’s day.
  • Appreciate the value of a handwritten note or card (especially in our virtual world).
  • Reach out to the “marginalized” (new members, the poor, those who attend alone, the elderly, widows, widowers, etc.)

Worship, Women, And The Wrong Idea

Gary Pollard

Chapter two is what we’re probably most familiar with when we study I Timothy. Here are the highlights:
1 — God expects us to pray for everyone, specifically that God will do good things for them and give them what they need. “All people” includes people who hate us and want to harm us.
2 — God expects us to pray for anyone who has authority over us. This is for the specific purpose of living quiet and peaceful lives.
3 — This makes God happy, and he’s the one who will save us in the end.
8 — Anywhere Christians are together and worship is being offered to God in some way, he expects godly men to lead that worship. This goes back to 1.4 and the word usually translated “administration” or “stewardship”. The word is οικονομια (oikonomia), and would be best translated “house-law” in this context. The church is God’s house, so he expects us to follow his rules.
This is a difficult passage for many to accept because it contradicts our culture’s view of equality. Many in the world think this passage is misogynistic, but it isn’t. When it comes to worship — and because the church is God’s house, not ours — he wants godly men to lead. Notice that not just any man can lead! Hymenaus and Alexander were men, but they weren’t qualified. Men who lead can’t have anger issues and can’t be argumentative. If a man who has those issues leads a prayer or any other act of worship, according to I Tim 2.8 it’s just as sinful as if a woman did the same.
9-15 lists some of the reasons that this is the case, but I want to focus on the most difficult verse in this section (15 — “…but women will be saved through having children, if they continue to live in faith, love, and holiness with self-control”). On its face, this is a weird verse. What’s going on here?
Men have the responsibility of leading worship and leading their families. We’re told that this is because Eve sinned first, then Adam (14). Maybe Paul doesn’t want Christian women to get the wrong idea, thinking there’s no hope for them because of something someone did thousands of years before. Women are the only people who can bring new life into the world. The church is made up of people, and only because of mothers. This could be an encouragement — “Women, we’re only here because of you. This is so important that if you live faithfully, you have just as much a claim to salvation as your male counterparts”. This is echoed in I Pt 3.7. But it may also be a call to avoid the lifestyles of the women in II Tim 3.6-7, who may have been former employees at the Temple of Artemis.

Fearless

Dale Pollard

It began with just a few men. They didn’t know exactly what kind of damage they were about to inflict on their own reputation— for all eternity. There’s an intense account found in Acts 15 where we’re introduced to  “some men” and they’re on their way from Judea. They begin to teach,

 “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

 Paul and Barnabas rise to the challenge and they debate them fearlessly, but the damage had already been done. The argument had  not only confused them but it stirred up the entire group to the point that it was decided to take matters to the very top. Off they went to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 

HERE’S WHAT WENT DOWN

Paul and Barnabas hadn’t lost faith and in fact, they proclaimed what God had done for the Gentiles to all who would listen on their trip. The news of God’s grace to all races and nations brought them great joy. In Jerusalem the apostles and elders had gathered to deal with the conflict. It didn’t take long for the group to separate into two teams with two different beliefs about God’s will for us all. It was at this moment where Peter stands up and begins to speak. He explains that God knows the heart of all of us. He’s always known this! 

HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Spirit had descended on the apostles to prove that there is no discrimination between Jews and Gentiles. The demand for proof is always in our hearts, and so the Spirit demonstrated miraculous powers to give credence. Peter would explain that under the Jewish law, even Moses and the greats couldn’t bear the load. It wasn’t sustainable, and it wasn’t meant to last. 

It’s verse twelve that gives one some additional insight. It says,

 “And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done though them among the Gentiles.” 

HERE’S THE POINT

How do we solve our conflicting views that spring up in our midst? There’s only one effective way to do so and that’s to take our matters of division to the top. Not preachers, teachers, deacons, or elders, but to the very top. But if God is going to speak, we’ve got to be quiet. The assembly went silent. Everyone there, no matter what their belief decided to listen. Speaking over each other never solved a problem and this is true on a congregational level, and a personal one.

HERE’S A QUESTION 

 How many times do we fall victim to the bias assembly of thoughts in our own minds when reading God’s word? It can be difficult to hush those voices, but it’s when we do that real, positive change finally has a chance to take root. 

“You Thought That I Was One Like Yourself”

Neal Pollard

Asaph was a spiritual Renaissance man, a musician (1 Chron. 15:17-19), a worship leader (1 Chron. 16:4-15), a prophet (2 Chron. 29:30), and a poet, whose inspired work is found in twelve of the psalms in the book of Psalms. In numerical order, Psalm 50 comes first. In that psalm, he addresses the whole earth (1-6), His people (7-15), and the wicked (16-23). He establishes His right and power to judge “His people” (4)…”for God Himself is judge” (6). He tells His people that He wants their true worship (7-13), and by giving it they would find a responsive, protecting God (14-15).

How He ends the chapter is jarring! He addresses “the wicked” presumably from among His people. They tell of His statutes and His covenant is in their mouths (16), but they are worldly to the core. They hate His teaching and His Words (17). They love to hang out with dishonest, dishonorable people (18). Their tongue is an unruly evil (19-20). This is a comprehensive and graphic picture of the hypocrite. What emboldened them to live in such an audacious way? God’s silence (21). They thought they were getting away with it because God did not respond to this as He did with Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3), Korah and his clan (Num. 16), and Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:7). He says, “These things have you done and I kept silence….” (21a). God explains how one can perceive the lack of immediate punishment as an endorsement of a lifestyle or a mindset, saying, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil” (Ecc. 8:11).

This can cause us to bring God down to our level, to think that He thinks like we think and that He feels like we feel. “You thought I was just like you” (21b). If one is tolerant of sin and permissive of a sinful situation, he or she may naturally think God will overlook it. If one is willing to accept in fellowship a person who is living in rebellion against God’s will, he or she may conclude that God does too. This leads to rationalizing and embracing things God, in His Word, has already declared His thoughts and feelings about. That is why He says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). Like in Psalm 50:21, Isaiah reminds us God’s thoughts and ways are not ours (Isa. 55:8-9).

God longs for a relationship with His people (22-23), but it will be on His terms. If we forget God, the result is frightening (22), but if we honor Him with righteous living He shall “show the salvation of God” (23). For this to occur, we cannot bring God down to our level and think that because we want to endorse willful sin He does, too. There is an enormous difference between wrestling with sin and wallowing in it. The one He sees with compassion, the other He sees with condemnation.

Understanding The Parable Of The Mustard Seed Through The Story Of Kudzu

Brent Pollard

I found an old commercial promoting kudzu for groundcover while researching my family’s history on Newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com extension. Given the plant’s current status as an invasive species plaguing the southeastern United States, this revelation made me laugh. This year, particularly, has seen a remarkable increase in the kudzu crop.

Looking through historical documents, I discovered that kudzu first appeared on American soil in 1876 during the Centennial International Exhibition. This exotic vine proudly displayed in the Japanese pavilion at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia, captivated spectators so much that it was quickly renamed the “Jack and the Beanstalk vine.”

Early twentieth-century newspapers like The Boston Globe recommended kudzu for backyard gardeners, praising its rapid growth, pleasant aroma, and low maintenance requirements. By the 1950s, however, the federal government was forced to acknowledge the drawbacks of kudzu’s rampant spread, a species they had promoted for decades for erosion control. The USDA designated kudzu as a weed in 1970 and was redesignated as a “noxious weed” in 1997.

This story of kudzu—initially celebrated, then reviled—resembles the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which appears in Matthew 13.31–32, Mark 4.30–32, and Luke 13.18–19. Jesus uses The mustard seed in this parable to demonstrate the profound potential that can emerge from humble beginnings. 

In the parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s divine rule, to a mustard seed. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, when planted, it grows into the largest of garden plants, even becoming a tree. This tree then becomes a haven for birds, providing shade and a place for them to nest in its branches.

The mustard seed’s growth, from small to great, signifies how God’s kingdom begins as a tiny seed in our hearts and develops into a powerful influence. Similarly, kudzu started as a tiny seed in the United States and grew into a major ecological force. Instead of providing a haven, it became an uncontrollable pest, engulfing large areas of the southern United States.

So, what can we learn from the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the story of kudzu? Both teach us about the potential consequences of small beginnings and remind us to consider the possible long-term impact of our actions. We have the free will to choose our efforts. Let’s aim to plant excellent seeds that enrich our environment through activities that align with the divine and benefit the world (as taught in Luke 8.11).

…

Handed Over To Satan?

Gary Pollard

I Timothy one ends with 19, “Continue to trust God and do what you know is right. Some people haven’t done this and their faith is now in ruins. Hymenaeus and Alexander are men like that. I have given them to Satan so they will learn not to speak against God.” 

This is a difficult passage, but not the only time Paul has used the phrase “given them to Satan.” He also said this in I Corinthians 5.5, which gives us more insight into what this might mean. 

The member in I Corinthians 5 was handed over to Satan for physical punishment so that he could be saved at the end. This appears to be very similar to what Satan was allowed to do in the book of Job — though in these situations, it appears that he has the power to punish Christians physically when they have one foot in the world and one in Christianity, but with a lot more weight on the foot that’s in the world. 

This obviously doesn’t happen to every — or probably even most — Christians who fall away, but I Corinthians 5.5 gives us at least some hope for those who end up in Satan’s hands. This passage uses a phrase that likely means, “I have given Satan permission to kill this person.” But it doesn’t end there: “…so that their spirit will be rescued in the day of the Lord.” The original word used here (ινα or hina) means, “Resulting in,” or, “So that”. It’s used to describe the purpose or intended result of something. 

Perhaps this means that God’s grace will allow some Christians’ physical lives to be lost before they reach the point of no return, ultimately saving their soul. After all, God doesn’t want anyone to die spiritually, but for everyone to be converted (II Pt 3.9), something repeated by Paul in I Timothy 2.4. Even in judgment God shows mercy! 

Recognizing Who We Are

Carl Pollard

As Christians it can be easy to lose sight of what our purpose is now that we have been justified through Christ. We are offerings to God. Romans 11:36 says, “from God and through God everything exists.” Now present your bodies a living sacrifice to THAT God. So that your life is acceptable to THAT God. Renew your mind so that you will prove what the will of God is. 

You know when you buy toys for your kids or grandkids often times on the package in fine print are these words, “Batteries not included.” Do you know what that means? It means that you get the toy, but the power to make it work is not included. That is not the kind of gift that God gives. God’s gift of holiness includes the power of the fullness of the Holy Spirit – the power to make it work.

We are different from the rest of the world (Rom. 12:2). I am not an offering to me. 

A sacrifice is “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” What is worthy of your sacrifice? What is worth the sacrifice of your life? For way too many in the world it’s not God and I’m convinced it’s because they just don’t understand who HE is. 

Will I sacrifice my life to my job? My spouse? Family? Who is it that is worthy of my soul? If any of those things pull you away from the One that holds your breath and life in your hand and determines your eternal destination, you’ve made a costly and foolish mistake. A truly faithful christian is one that lives as an offering to God. 

God offers us something that nothing in this world can, He offers transformation that prepares us to be in His presence. God knows what we need and He has offered it. 

I found some advice for those of you that are married, what not to buy your wife…Don’t buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. Avoid all things useful. No mops, brooms, Clorox wipes, etc. 

Don’t buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can’t afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn’t want. Finally, don’t spend too much. “How do you think we’re going to afford that?” she’ll ask. But don’t spend too little. She won’t say anything, but she’ll think, “Is that all I’m worth?”

Unlike shopping for your wife, God knows exactly what we need. He knows our struggles. He knows our battle with sin, so He offered salvation. So will we recognize who we are and what God has done to make us who we are today? 

Talking Truth About The Ticker

Dale Pollard

Your heart is only a little bigger than your fist and it weighs a mere 7-15 ounces. Despite its small size on the outside, on the inside, in that figurative heart, you’ll find a massive stadium. There are battles that take place in this stadium on a daily basis. In the movies the good guy will always win, but in this arena? It depends on who is stronger. The Bible gives us several vivid descriptions of what goes on inside the heart, so let’s explore that. 

Dead Giveaways 

A cheerful disposition can be the sign of a healthy heart according to Proverbs 15:13. This tells us that our outward appearance can give away our interior. 

Check out this section of scripture to see that in action. 

Crazy Train Cain 

“On Abel God looked with favor, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. God said to Cain why are you angry why has your countenance fallen? If you do right will you not be accepted? But if you do that which is not right, sin is crouching at the door” 

Gen. 4.5-6

God already knew what was in Cain’s heart but notice how He explains to Cain that his body language had given away his inward struggles. 

Cain is livid and his countenance has fallen. In the following verses Cain ends up killing his own brother because that darkness had taken over. 

While we can assume what somebody might be dealing with by observing their countenance, we can’t be absolutely sure. Some people are great at masking their inward selves but God isn’t fooled by our camouflage. 

Remember Ol’ Jeroboam? 

In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam takes the throne and is now leader over the Northern nation of Israel. In the Southern kingdom, they had the capital of Jerusalem where all the Israelites in that region would gather to sacrifice to the Lord. 

The Bible indicates to us the very plans that Jeroboam said in the “privacy” of his heart. He built his own place of worship and foolishly placed those golden calves up for his new kingdom to worship.

In Luke 16.15, Jesus will prove once again that He’s the son of God by listening in on the secret conversations that take place inside the heart. 

May we never forget that we serve a God who has a perfect and intimate knowledge of us. There might be things hidden within us that nobody on earth knows about, but it’s not hidden in heaven. To deny the fact that God can’t see through you is to deny the fact that we are all humans created in His image. Who is the champion of your heart today? 

Another Wendell Winkler Video

Indebted to Leonard Graves, Jr., who has this on his YouTube page. Check it out!

Take Your Soundings

Neal Pollard

In the sixth chapter of Scripture, we read of the first vessel intended to travel upon the seas. Secular history attests to seafaring vessels being around at least 6,000 years, with perhaps the Egyptians pioneering the way around the time of Abraham. It is thought that as early as the second millennium a crude means of measuring the depths of the water had been developed. Certainly, the use of a lead weight and line measurements were in practice by the time we read about Paul’s shipwreck and the events leading up to it (Acts 27:28). One such event prior to the shipwreck involved sailors who “took soundings and found” the sea’s depth “to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms.” This was to prevent running aground “somewhere on the rocks” (Acts 27:29), so they put down anchors.

With regard to our personal lives, we need to regularly “take soundings.” Paul says it this way: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). While it is far easier to analyze how others are living, how committed or uncommitted they are, Paul does not suggest this. It is far too easy for us to drift from where we ought to be (cf. Heb. 2:1). We may have been close to Christ last year or last month, but what about now? What about doctrinally? Are we balanced or have we moved toward extremes whether loosing where God has bound or binding where God has not? What about in our family life versus time spent with the job or personal pursuits? How is our marriage?

See, self-examination is so crucial yet for most of us so neglected. It is imperative that we frequently “take soundings” of our lives. How tragic for us to allow ourselves into dangerous waters just because we have been careless about maintaining proper spirituality and negligent about moving closer to God. I am convinced that unfaithful attendance, immorality, materialism, apostasy, and a thousand other harmful things are allowed to grow in our lives because we have ceased getting a gauge of where we are in our personal, spiritual lives. Please keep taking those soundings and determine how deep or shallow your faith is!

The Power Of A Name:

A Lesson from McDonald’s #McDStories Debacle

Brent Pollard

McDonald’s ill-conceived #McDStories campaign has emerged as a classic example of a well-intended marketing strategy gone wrong in a world where hashtags have become increasingly important. In January 2012, McDonald’s launched this hashtag to highlight their food suppliers, which McDonald’s hoped would reassure customers after the damaging Sparboe Farms scandal. Unfortunately, the campaign backfired spectacularly, as Twitter users took advantage of the opportunity to share “McHorror Stories.”

This blunder highlighted the vital lesson that a corporation or individual cannot control or reserve hashtags since they are in the public domain. Due to McDonald’s public relations team’s apparent lack of awareness of this fact, current and former employees, angry clients, and pranksters hijacked the #McDStories hashtag. 

History has documented a religious occurrence that bears a resemblance to this event. The followers of Jesus Christ in Antioch, Syria, were dubbed “Christians” (Acts 11.26). Although the term may have originated as a derisive moniker, early disciples eagerly accepted it, even in mortal danger.

On the other hand, people who use the term “Christian” to describe themselves without truly adhering to its biblical meaning have usurped and degraded it over time. Despite their name, their actions and words frequently contradict New Testament teachings. This appropriation has allowed critics to mock and malign the faith, highlighting the wrongdoing committed in the name of Christianity.

Despite these challenges, the intrinsic value of “McDonald’s” and “Christianity” remains unaffected. As of this writing, a single McDonald’s share is worth a healthy $295.22, indicating the brand’s tenacity. Genuine bearers of the name “Christian,” derived from the only name offering salvation (Acts 4.12), hold immeasurable value. 

Therefore, while McDonald’s and the Christian community have seen their names hijacked and misused, the essence of these entities’ worth remains intact. An unjust focus on a few’s negative stories and actions cannot diminish the good done by many. The ultimate value of a name lies with the one who holds it, and it is vital to call out critics who misrepresent these identities.

Countless others uphold and honor a name for every person who misuses it. McDonald’s and Christianity are global organizations serving millions of people, the vast majority happy and fulfilled. However, as the uproar over #McDStories demonstrated, the loudest voices aren’t always the most representative.

In conclusion, the bearer and most people using a name determine its value. One should balance the focus on negative outliers with the positive stories that go untold. Names evoke a rich tapestry of emotions that are impossible to condense into a hashtag or be appropriated by a minority, from McDonald’s to Christianity. 

References:

  • McDonald’s #McDStories Twitter campaign backfires. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012. Web. 13 February 2012.
  • Matz, Karin. McDonald’s dumps egg supplier after safety, cruelty concerns. 2011. Web. 13 February 2012.
  • McDonald’s Corporation MCD. Morningstar, Inc. 2023. Web. 13 July 2023.

A Marriage Made In Heaven?

Neal Pollard

What do you know about the book of Hosea? At the head of the Minor Prophets, Hosea is often known as the book about the prophet and the prostitute. But it is much more than that. It is a book about a marriage commanded by God between His messenger and a “wife of whoredom” that reflected a marriage made by God with His chosen nation. The prophet’s name means “deliverance” but it was written to warn about the northern kingdom about impending judgment and destruction. Certainly, the prophet reveals the spurned Husband offering Himself as the only means of salvation which the people foolishly were rejecting for a relationship with cruel, unrighteous idolaters who desired only to use and abuse them. It was written during an extremely prosperous time for the Northern Kingdom, when Jeroboam II reigned. 2 Kings 14:25 says he “restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.” He was mighty and recovered cities for Israel that had been taken from Judah (2 Ki. 14:28). But, while they prospered militarily and economically, they were spiritually destitute. 

But it is not simply about terrifying judgment on a rebellious nation. It is a love story, though it was a tragic story of unrequited (i.e., unreturned) love. Like Hosea’s wife would leave him for her lovers, Israel left God for idols. Like Hosea went and redeemed his wife despite her faithfulness, God longed for Israel to return to Him. Despite her rejection, He would say to her, “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender” (11:8). While judgment is implied even in that (Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed alongside better-known Sodom and Gomorrah), it is not what God wanted. 

It is also good to look for the “New Testament” sprinkled throughout this book. Not only does the theme reflect a desire God has for people today through Christ, but there are quite a few passages in the New Testament which quote from this relatively brief Old Testament book. Here is my list:

  • Hosea 1:10 is quoted in 1 Peter 2:10.
  • Hosea 2:23 is quoted in Romans 9:25.
  • Hosea 6:6 is quoted in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7.
  • Hosea 10:8 is quoted in Luke 23:30 and Revelation 6:16. 
  • Hosea 11:1 is quoted in Matthew 2:15.
  • Hosea 13:14 is quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:55.

So, we see everything from Christ’s infancy as a human to His victorious resurrection foretold in this great, Old Testament book. An overriding principle to see as we walk through the book is that though God will punish those who absolutely refuse to return to Him, He loves us with a perfect love and desires nothing more than a relationship with us. We need to be wise and touched by that truth and be faithful to Him! 

(Photo credit: Kathy Pollard, March 2018–the valley of Jezreel taken from Mt. Carmel)

Thoughts On Teaching

Gary Pollard

I Timothy 1.7 calls out the problem at Ephesus directly: there were members who were eager to teach but had no business doing so. This is, unfortunately, one of the bigger issues facing the church today. Some take the approach of emphasizing regulations and rules and prohibitions, which is what these bad influences were doing (as well as teaching that the resurrection had already occurred). 

1.8-10 gives us some guidance on when prohibitive teachings are appropriate: We know that the law is good if used correctly. We also know that the law is not made for those who do what is right. It is made for those who are opposed to the law and refuse to follow it. The law is for sinners who are against God and all that is pleasing to him. It is for those who have no interest in spiritual things, namely those who kill their parents or anyone else. It’s for people who commit sexual sins, for homosexuals, for people who kidnap and sell other people into slavery, for people who always tell lies, for people who lie under oath, and for people who are against God’s true teaching. 

Thankfully, that doesn’t apply to the overwhelming majority of Christians! The goal of our instruction should be to encourage love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith. We do this by teaching positive commands (ie, “we should do this”) as opposed to negative ones (ie, “we should not do this”). While there is a time and place for teaching the prohibitions in scripture, there should be balance in this.