Category: Uncategorized

CONTRADICTING: The Pastime Of Our Time

Have you noticed that, no matter what the topic or matter one may choose to bring up, someone or ones seem to feel compelled to say something to contradict it?  What fuels the activity is known only to the doer, whether a need to seem expert or more knowledgeable, pride, a habit of argumentativeness, or the worldly, age-old practice of “disputing” (Phil. 2:14; 1 Tim. 6:4).  Doctrinally, we are called to lovingly defend God’s truth (Eph. 4:15), to gently help correct a brother (Gal. 6:1) or non-Christian (2 Tim. 2:24-26), and to guard the name of Christ against all attacks.  That is courageous and spiritual.

But, do you know what I am referencing?  That nit-picky, minute, non-essential practice of increasingly many to just “have” to correct somebody and everybody.  Why is that?  Perhaps forums like Facebook feed that tendency, where folks “drive by” somebody’s wall and “need” to be heard and seen as the guru and all-wise.  Perhaps it is something far more benign.  Surely, we don’t see how easily we sign up for the sport of sparring speech.  But, all of us are well served to ask, “What is my purpose in contradicting? What fruitful thing am I seeking to accomplish?”  If we can find no good answer, let’s challenge our own desire to challenge another.  Such makes for “seasonable speech” (cf. Col. 4:6).

FAITH OR OPINION?

W. Gaddys Roy

Neal Pollard

One of the fond memories I have from my first local work was attending a gospel meeting in a tiny block building in York, Alabama, conducted by the late gospel preacher and teacher, W. Gaddys Roy.  He was talking about authority that evening, and a member of a nearby non-institutional congregation took umbrage with some of brother Roy’s lesson.  Particularly, the brother did not like the idea that eating in a church building was a matter of opinion.  He thought it was a matter of faith, and his question for brother Roy was, “Where’s your authority to eat in the building?”  Brother Roy said, “Where’s your authority for the building?” The brother pressed his point, but ignored brother Roy’s question.

Sometimes, we hear people asking “where is your authority?” for something when they have misunderstood that the Bible authorizes generically as well as specifically.  In fact, a specific command will almost always authorize generically in some way.  For example, we are commanded to sing in our worship.  That leaves no room for “singing AND anything else” (like playing an instrument, beat-boxing, percussion, humming, etc.).  Yet, we are authorized to do or use anything that expedites our obeying that command (like songbooks, overhead lighting, shape notes, singing in parts, a projector, a pitch pipe, etc.).

We may have strong feelings about something, but we must beware the tendency to elevate our opinions to the level of being a “faith matter.”  If we make laws where God has not, we are as guilty of violating the will of God and challenging the authority of God as those who seek to generalize where God has specified.   We may not like something or be uncomfortable with something, but we must be careful not to press our case too strongly.  We must make sure we have Christ as the foundation of our objection.  Otherwise, we have simply elevated our will to be on a par with or to exceed His.

“VISITOR” OR “GUEST”?


Image

Neal Pollard

I have never attended a congregation who gets more “drop ins” than here. Last night’s midweek service, at which we had 223, included three non-Christians who were here either by invitation or on their own initiative. Sundays always means even more individuals and families who have come in from the community. What a golden opportunity this gives us as a church!

Last month, while attending “Affirming the Faith” in Oklahoma City, I heard Mark Taylor, preacher for the Memorial Road congregation, talking about what they have done to be more effective with “outsiders” who attend their services. This would include all who are not members of that congregation–Christian from in or out of the area and especially non-Christians “seeking” a church home. His thesis question was, “How do we view these individuals? Are they ‘visitors’ or ‘guests’?” He then demonstrated the difference.

He says a guest is someone for whom we have prepared. We clean our house, cook a delicious meal, and light a candle for guests. We plan for them. We want them there and we invite them back again. A visitor may drop by unannounced or unexpectedly. We may feel inconvenienced by a visitor. Your treatment of them may reflect that annoyance or apathy.

We never want to have another “visitor” again! That means we must treat all those who come in among us as guests! Such is proven by the steps we take toward them. It may not be easy to reach a “guest” sitting across the auditorium, but what about in our “section”? Is there an unfamiliar face? Greet them! Help them find a classroom. Take them on a tour. Invite them to lunch. Get the attendance card they filled out and drive to their home and tell them you were glad they were there. Every “guest” has a never-dying soul. Each of us is being handed an opportunity with eternal implications!

Will you pledge, with me, to seek out and honor every “guest”? Sunday is our next opportunity. Let us make the most of it (Col. 4:5)!

AREA PREACHER SPEAKS FOR GOD ABOUT WORSHIP

Neal Pollard

The church in the Denver metro area is no different than most parts of this nation.  There are a few congregations of God’s people with whom we find ourselves deeply divided when it comes to worship, women’s role, the plan of salvation, and even how to view the Bible.  One zealous young preacher in the area has been doing much to defend a radical overhauling of the Lord’s church through his writing and preaching.  One of his more recent blog posts seeks to prove what he sees as the pressing need of the church to change, using the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale to illustrate this.  He contrasts the time before Tiger Woods’ hole-in-one there in 1997.  Before, there were conservative old men with cardigans tied around their neck and polite golf claps.  Since then, a coliseum has been built around the hole and rowdy college fans boo shots they deem not close enough to the pin.  Analyzing this Arizona anomaly, the writer credits new leaders who change the boundaries, bending to the local culture, capitalizing on the “right moment,” and meeting people’s expectations.

The thing that struck me most was that this no doubt well-intentioned young man tried to speak for God and the Holy Spirit.  He said, “God and the Holy Spirit are ready for a party.”  God shows up for worship at church camp.  God shows up at the worship at Pepperdine University (Where Christian Church members speak on the program, like Victor Knowles. Where church of Christ members who have added instrumental music, like Rick Atchley, Lynn Anderson, Jeff Walling, and others, speak. And where this young man and his wife speak).  He asserts that “we need a fresh wind of the Spirit” plus “leaders who will change the expectation in our worship experience.”  He ends by saying that God is “ready for a new day.”

Here’s the flaw in his assertion.  How do we know what the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit want from our worship? How are we to know what God is ready for or where God shows up?  Are we to take our brother’s word about what God wants?  No matter who speaks, this brother or any other, including me, we must “speak the utterances of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).  We do not have to guess at what God wants or desires.  He has revealed His will.  We do not keep on the cardigan or hold onto the golf-clap, to borrow our brother’s analogy, out of personal preference.  Only the Lord gets to make that decision, and He has informed us of His decision about our worship in His written revelation (see 1 Tim. 2:8-15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; etc.).

One need only visit the podcasts or watch video of the latest worship at this area congregation to see what our brother means by “fresh wind,” “right moment,” or “change the expectation” in worship.  It means women leaders.  It means a choir.  Will it mean instrumental music?  If the Spirit is instructing them differently than in His Word, what proof is there to confirm it?  What is to be done with the Spirit’s previous, once for all, sufficient work of Scripture?  Does it get jettisoned?  I will not speak for God, but here is what He said:  “But even if we (which included an apostle, NP), or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Gal. 1:8).  Let us be very careful what we teach (cf. Jas. 3:1)!

FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Image

Neal Pollard

  • The Holy Spirit is one of three everlasting personalities of the Godhead, and as such He possesses all attributes of Deity (cf. Gen. 1:2,26; 1 Cor. 2:11).
  • The Holy Spirit moved the approximately forty men to write the Bible, breathing out God’s Word so that each writer, though equipped with free will and distinct personality, was guided completely, word for word, in the written message of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21).
  • The Holy Spirit has never directly operated upon the heart of man to bring about conversion, and thus He does not do so today (cf. Acts 2:40; 11:14).
  • The Holy Spirit has never overtaken an individual’s will or overrode one’s free choice, and that is true today, too (Rev. 22:17).
  • The Holy Spirit does not communicate Divine Revelation apart from Scripture today, as such would either be contradictory or superfluous in light of the written Word (2 Tim. 3:17; Jude 3).
  • The Holy Spirit provided miraculous gifts to the apostles to confirm the men and the message (Heb. 2:4).  Once that message had been faithfully delivered, there was no longer a need for miraculous evidence (John 20:30-21; Jude 3).
  • The Holy Spirit empowered first-century Christians with miraculous gifts, but these were to pass with the completion of the written Word.  Having thus the completed Word, there are no longer miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-13).
  • The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian.  Faithful Christians may be divided as to how, with some saying He does so representatively (through the Word only) and others saying He does so personally and non-miraculously, but either view can be harmonized with Bible truth (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 3:16; etc.).
  • The only instances of Holy Spirit baptism were of the apostles (Acts 1:5) and Cornelius’ household (Acts 10:47).  The one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is water baptism, of which there are many examples in the New Testament (Acts 8:38; 1 Pet. 3:21).

 

 

AN EXCITING THING ABOUT SERVING GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neal Pollard

We live in a time of unparalleled excitement when it comes to how fast words travel.  The internet, though a reservoir of danger and evil, is also the fastest conduit for spreading God’s Word we have ever known.  Consider blogs, like this one. Not only is every “hit” on my blog counted by WordPress, they are now able to tell me what country each reader calls home.  In the last 30 days, my articles have been read by people from such places as Lebanon, Pakistan, North Korea, Argentina, Serbia, Malta, Finland, Iceland, and Indonesia.  In fact, in addition to the United States, people from nearly 60 nations have read the blog.  That is humbling and frightening, in the light of James 3:1.  Please pray that I may always accurately handle God’s truth and teach it correctly!

But, this also points up something exciting for all of us as we think about each of our lives.  In most activities or actions we undertake, there is not a “counter” or “meter” that measures how many lives we effect.  Whether it is our example or a kind word or deed, whether it is an effort, however feeble or valiant, to teach someone the truth, or whether it is someone in whose life we invest, we cannot know the full impact we are having upon them and those whose lives they subsequently touch.  Certainly, the opposite of that is also true.  A bad example or deed that undermines Christ’s cause can have far-reaching, rippling effects, too.  Yet, think about the power that is in your hand.

Imagine walking the street of gold and meeting people who are there, in part, because of something you said or did!  Given the leavening effect of our lives, I believe we will be surprised at how many lives we touched for the good.  Keep that in mind as you leave your footprints on this day!

What Brings Alligators And Vultures Together?

 

Neal Pollard

Kathy and I were able to swing by the Everglades National Park a few weeks ago, near sundown.  The wildlife were very active, in a preserve that is a haven for many types of birds, panthers, snakes, crocodiles, and alligators.  As we were walking down one of the trails, we saw not only the beaty eyes of alligators in the adjoining canal but at least one that boldly ventured onto the trail.  You can imagine the respect and right of way the many park-goers like ourselves gave this scaly reptile.  I took this picture as three black vultures came boldly strolling up to the alligator.  There were gasps and fearful looks from some bystanders, most fearing the worst for the birds.  What do you think happened next?

It is very unpredictable.  Alligators are known to attack vultures, as a search of You Tube would amply demonstrate.  Vultures are known to attack alligators, too.  One is a strong, ferocious predator.  The other is a famous bird of prey, a scavenger who lives off of death and decay.  What might have happened under different circumstances, where hunger or a perceived threat or territorialism prevailed, is unknown.  Soon after the photo, however, the alligator lazily turned and retreated to the canal and the vultures returned to…whatever vultures do when they aren’t “vulturing.”

My imagination wandered.  What was this confrontation about?  Was this a game of “chicken”?  Were the vultures thrill-seekers?  Was the alligator full, bored, or something else?  Given that most alligator-vulture disputes center around vying for the same entree, the likeliest explanation is that the alligator had killed something and the vultures wanted a postmortem piece of the action.  They were likely brought together by death and devouring.

The Bible speaks of some who are like this, uniting for less than life-bringing reasons.  Asaph condemns God’s people for associating with adulterers and consenting with thieves (Ps. 50:18).  Some fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (cf. Eph. 5:11).  Some, who should know better, give hearty approval to those who practice things worthy of death (Rom. 1:32).  When you are with that companion or in that relationship, it is good to ask, “What brings us together?”  If the answer involves sin, spiritual darkness, and the spiritually deadly, maybe it is find to find a new “partner”–and not a partner in “crime.”

“Is Living Longer Always Better?”

Image

Neal Pollard

 Janice Lloyd writes about the medical profession and their ethics for helping the dying and their loved ones face death, especially in cases of terminal illness.  While the USA Today article (3/7/12) stops considerably short of advocating euthanasia (“mercy-killing”), even the title is provocative.  The article does not expressly call for such measures, but neither does it make judgments about the lack of ethicality of it.

While I believe suicide assistance to be both immoral and unethical, I want to focus on the question that forms the title of Lloyd’s article.  Did you know that Paul would answer to above question in the negative?  In Philippians 1:21-24, he says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”  Paul would not end his life or allow another to do that, but he expressed a greater desire for being with Christ than living in this body.

What a challenge we face in living in this world without falling in love with it!  It requires discipline and “other-worldly-mindedness” for us to adopt Paul’s way of thinking.  It is a mind-set that wants to expend ourselves on this earth for Jesus every day in every way without becoming too attached to “living below in this old, sinful world.”  It requires a longing for heaven and seeing God’s face.  It necessitates an understanding that this life is foremost about preparing for the next life.  As long as we live, let us give Christ our very best and work for His cause.  But, may we be more interested in living better than living longer!

 

“Is Living Longer Always Better?”

Image

Stay Humble And Hungry

Neal Pollard

Yes, today is one of the best days in sports on the whole calendar, the start of March Madness.  Brackets will be busted.  Cinderella stories will be written.  Usually, juggernauts will eventually reign.  It is a big day for Colorado basketball, as the Buffaloes make the field for the first time since 2003.  Tad Boyle, the head coach who has rebuilt a once-struggling program, summed up CU’s mission by saying, “We’ve got to stay humble and hungry.”  He is talking about not letting success go to their head, to know their strengths but realize their vulnerabilities.

There is an arena in which this mindset is infinitely more valuable.  In living the Christian life, no matter what roles we play in the church, we must remember to stay humble and hungry.  Pride and apathy may be polar opposites, but they are equally deadly.   With pride, we have an inflated view of self.  Yet, God roundly condemns arrogance as wickedness.  It is one of the things God hates (Prov. 6:17).  He resists it (Prov. 3:34).  It may be unattractive to us, but it is repulsive to Him!  Paul understood that in and of himself he was nothing, but his power and ability came through Christ who strengthened him (Phil. 4:13).

Equally damaging is the spiritual lethargy that displays a “couldn’t care less” attitude toward God’s Word and the Christian’s work.  This comfortable, lukewarm approach to spirituality makes God sick (Rev. 3:15-17).  People are dying lost.  Many are struggling with temptation, doubt, and fear.  Good works wait in the wings for eager, zealous people of God (Ti. 2:14).

Consistently, the New Testament likens Christianity to athletics and competition.  Among the needed qualities of the “competitors” is enthusiasm (Rom. 12:11) and humility (1 Pet. 5:5). Winning (the crown of life) means everything, so run to win (1 Cor. 9:24).

THE INNER STRUGGLES

Neal Pollard

Marilyn J. Abraham revealed something remarkable that a forest ranger told her about how trees protect themselves.  The ranger said that when a tree’s life is threatened, stressed by fire, drought, disease, or whatever, it twists beneath its bark to make itself stronger. You cannot see this new inner strength on the surface. The bark often looks the same.  It is when the exterior is stripped away or the tree is felled that its inner struggles are revealed.

The ranger’s story tells us several helpful things.  Often, we do not know the depths and extremes of others’ suffering.  Too, usually, no one knows the depth and extreme of our suffering.  But, God is able to help make us stronger even through the struggles through which we go.

Asaph wrote, “My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted” (Psa. 77:1-3).  Asaph depicts a mighty inner struggle, one wallowing in the pit of despair.  When things seemed most hopeless, the struggler saw that His pain had changed His view of God.  He had focused on God’s anger and seeming rejection.  But, then, He remembered who God is.  He thought about God’s deeds, His power, His holiness, and His leadership.  Then, he had the help he needed to handle the hurts.

To those who are hurting, remember who God is and what He can do!  Think about the strength and growth God can produce in you through the trials you are enduring.  May all of us understand, as we deal with others, that we may not be able to tell how much others are hurting when we see them.  Let us deal gently with others, since we do not know their inner struggles.

What Does It Cost You?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neal Pollard

Several years ago, a certain group of teenagers wanted to “raise awareness” about the plight of the homeless.  They decided that for a week they would live like homeless people live.  But, the activity was postponed…due to weather!  Isn’t that ironic? They said they wanted to live like the homeless, but don’t the homeless get rained on when it rains?

Most of us are real bargain hunters.  As gas prices go up and talk of general economic uncertainty, we all do well to think about how much things cost.  As good stewards of our finances, we never want to be wasteful!

In the spiritual realm, we are faced with a price to pay in order to become a Christian and then in living the Christian life.  Luke 14:26-35 is devoted to this idea.  Jesus teaches that there is a cost in terms of our earthly relationships (26).  There is a cost in terms of personal sacrifices (27). There is a cost in terms of our moral and spiritual endurance (28-32).  There is a cost in terms of our financial resources (33). There is a cost in terms of spiritual choices and examples (34-35).  You cannot become a Christian until you count the cost and make the decision to obey God rather than men (cf. Acts 5:29).  So many choose family, comfort, compromise, material things, or conformation over the One who gave everything for them.

In what shape is your spiritual life? One way to measure that is by asking, “What does it cost me?”  What does it cost me in terms of time?  What does it cost me occupationally?  What does it cost me in relationships? What does it cost me in fleshly desires?  If we will live a faithful Christian life, we must be prepared to do so when it is sunny and mild but also when it is cold and stormy!  Christian living isn’t a temporary experiment.  It’s, well, it’s a life!

HE WAS THEIR CAPTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neal Pollard

It has been suggested that the Psalms where David appears most anxious were written from the Cave of Adullam. His time there represented one of the deepest valleys of his life. Yet, one of the many contrasts between the man who would be the most beloved king of Israel and his predecessor was the great drawing power he possessed. The drawing power was not his military prowess, though he possessed it. It was his righteous and godly way of life. His brothers and members of his family came to him there, but so did another group. About 400 men crowded into this cave. It is what is said about the non-relatives in the cave that catches my eye. Consider what is said in 1 Samuel 22:2.

Those in distress came to him. It is not said why they were distressed, but in their distress they gravitated to David. Maybe he soothed them by his faith or through his songs. But the distressed knew David would be a source of comfort.

Those in debt came to him. It is not clear how they had gotten into debt, whether of their own poor choices or through some unfair tactic of Saul or someone else. The Bible elsewhere condemns folly which leads to debt, but there is no such judgment here. The endebted knew David would be a source of relief and protection.

Those in discontent came to him. There is no reason to believe that these were discontent in the way their grumbling and complaining forefathers had been. It could well have been that they were discontent with the dangerous spiritual direction the nation was headed under Saul’s leadership. The discontent knew David would be a source of optimism and leadership.

There are people like these around you today. Some of them are your spiritual brothers and sisters. Others could be, if you were able to lend them the comfort, relief, and leadership that Christ promises (cf. Matt. 11:28-30). Are you the kind of Christian that others come to for help and guidance? Learn from David’s example and be an oasis to a world in a desert of sorrow and sin.

 

GOD LOVES FRUIT


Neal Pollard
Those sugar bananas that grow in tropical and equatorial climates are unbelievably tasty. How about a sweet watermelon (especially seedless) on a hot, summer day? The best peaches probably grow in Fort Valley, Georgia, Chilton County, Alabama, or Palisade, Colorado. It is amazing how sweet a mango or red grape can taste. Surely, one of the crowns of creation had to be the blackberry which, in a cobbler, shows man’s intellectual capacity at its finest. Genesis 1:11 records that third day when God began making fruit, and it was fruit that was meant to sustain Adam and Eve (3:2-3). The diversity of fruit on this earth shows God’s desire for man to experience the enjoyment of something conjured by His perfect hand.
However, man is not the only one who loves fruit. The Bible makes it clear that God has a “taste” for fruit, too. He loves singing to Him done in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:24), which He calls “the fruit of lips” (Heb. 13:15). He calls the discipline of suffering which He allows for our growth and development “the fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11). He enumerates the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, a whole range of thoughts and actions that prove we are Christ’s. Often, however, God’s Word speaks of the fruits of involved, committed Christian living, evidence of our conversion to Him. These fruits are tangible works that prove our gratitude for redemption, our desire to grow closer to God, our sense of debt and duty, our love for the One who is love, and our understanding of how important each of us fulfills our purpose as Christians on this earth.
Jesus made spiritual application through a fruitless fig tree on at least two occasions, the parable of Luke 13:6-9 and his encounter with a barren fig tree between Bethany and Jerusalem (Matt. 21:18ff; cf. Mark 11:12-14). Yet, His most famous analogies using the “fruit concept” are found in Luke eight and John fifteen. In Luke eight, the seed (8:11-the Word of God) planted in a good heart is fruitful while that strewn on the other types of hearts is not productive. In John fifteen, Jesus uses this fruit metaphor in an extended way. He is the vine. We are the branches. The Father is the farmer, the cultivator and fruit inspector. Jesus alludes to the idea that fruitless disciples are cut off from God and thus punished. However, when God looks at you and me and sees “much fruit,” He “is glorified by this” (John 15:5,8). In fact, it is by bearing fruit that we prove ourselves disciples of Christ (John 15:8). The key is abiding in Him. If you are truly in a relationship with the Lord, cultivated by prayer, study, and faithful living, you are abiding in Him. Fruit is visible, tangible, and discernible. Are you bearing or barren?

Three Results Of Healthy Churches (Acts 9:31)

Neal Pollard

The churches in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were hearing challenging, accurate preaching and were actively getting the truth into their communities (Acts 9:26-30).  They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).  This led to three wonderful results, the very things we should want in our congregation today.

They were unified.  Luke records that these churches had “peace.”  This word has a literal and figurative application.  While there no doubt seems to be an allusion to the absence of external pressures that were in place previously (cf. Acts 8-9).  Yet, they were preaching the word (Act 8:4) even during these hard times, and the members were drawn together by faithful service in these circumstances.  Consequently, they had peace internally even while they were debates and threats (Acts 9:29).

They were edified.  In this great, working, and spiritually healthy atmosphere, the church was uplifted.  They were building up each other and reaching out to one another.  Though it is unstated, they were no doubt making decisions and acting in such a way as to think of others before themselves.  They were acting in the best interest of one another.  What an atmosphere this produces!

They were multiplied.  Essentially, they were experiencing numerical growth because of the spiritual atmosphere.    Because the church was obeying, serving, and honoring Jesus as Lord, they grew.  So, it will ever be.  Genuine, sustainable growth does not come through the bells and whistles of fads and fashions taken from society or the religious world.  Live out the word in your life, and you will see growth.

The Holy Spirit gives us good and bad examples of churches and individuals throughout the Bible.  The purpose of this is to help us know how we ought to conduct ourselves in the household of God (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15).  Thank God for the example found in Acts 9:31.

“Without The Venom This Time”

Neal Pollard

In Bill Whitehead’s comic strip, “Free Range,” a marriage counselor is mediating an obviously angry dispute between two poisonous snakes.  She exhorts them, “Okay…both of you take a deep breath and try to talk to each other without the venom this time.”  That is hard for snakes to do, but it is important for husbands and wives to heed such advice.

Stress, exhaustion, undisciplined emotion, hurt, mistrust, and fear can all be toxic ingredients in communication between marriage partners.  Rivalry can rout relationship.

The Bible stresses both that the husband love his wife (Eph. 5:25, 28; Col. 3:19) and that the wife love her husband (Tit. 2:4).  Discussing the husband’s relationship to his wife, the Bible urges an attempt to understand her (1 Pet. 3:7), nourish and cherish her (Eph. 5:29), please her (1 Cor. 7:33), and be joined to her (Gen. 2:24).  Discussing her relationship to him, God’s Word uses ideas like respect (Eph. 5:33), be subject (Eph. 5:22; Tit. 2:5), be submissive (1 Pet. 3:1), display chaste and respectful behavior (1 Pet. 3:2), and be kind (Tit. 2:5).  There is not much wiggle room in these passages for verbal venom.

Next time you feel your rattler rising, remember who you are and what God expects of you.  Then, take a moment to see your spouse for who they are and all they mean to you.  You are friends (and lovers), not foes.  You are heirs together of the grace of life (1 Pet. 3:7).  That is enough to de-fang our discussions!  Disagreements are inevitable.  Destructiveness is iniquity.

“Without The Venom This Time”


Neal Pollard

In Bill Whitehead’s comic strip, “Free Range,” a marriage counselor is mediating an obviously angry dispute between two poisonous snakes.  She exhorts them, “Okay…both of you take a deep breath and try to talk to each other without the venom this time.”  That is hard for snakes to do, but it is important for husbands and wives to heed such advice.

Stress, exhaustion, undisciplined emotion, hurt, mistrust, and fear can all be toxic ingredients in communication between marriage partners.  Rivalry can rout relationship.  Heaping hurts can hinder hearth and home.  

The Bible stresses both that the husband love his wife (Eph. 5:25, 28; Col. 3:19) and that the wife love her husband (Tit. 2:4).  Discussing the husband’s relationship to his wife, the Bible urges an attempt to understand her (1 Pet. 3:7), nourish and cherish her (Eph. 5:29), please her (1 Cor. 7:33), and be joined to her (Gen. 2:24).  Discussing her relationship to him, God’s Word uses ideas like respect (Eph. 5:33), be subject (Eph. 5:22; Tit. 2:5), be submissive (1 Pet. 3:1), display chaste and respectful behavior (1 Pet. 3:2), and be kind (Tit. 2:5).  There is not much wiggle room in these passages for verbal venom.

Next time you feel your rattler rising, remember who you are and what God expects of you.  Then, take a moment to see your spouse for who they are and all they mean to you.  You are friends (and lovers), not foes.  You are heirs together of the grace of life (1 Pet. 3:7).  That is enough to de-fang our discussions!  Disagreements are inevitable.  Destructiveness is iniquity.

ARE YOU “OVERTHINKING”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neal Pollard
USA Today ran a front page story about a brain study related to Alzheimer’s Disease. The caption reads, “Overthinking can be good for us.” The subheading continues, “Dementia appears less likely to creep into thought-filled brains.” The brain is extremely complex, so much so that conditions like Alzheimer’s remain largely a mystery as to cause and predisposition. The focus of this study, more than 9,000 middle-aged men, were asked to rate the degree to which they “ruminate” over family and work difficulties. Those who tended to “overthink” or “ruminate” were 40% less likely to suffer dementia than their more carefree counterparts.

It seems that “overthink” or “ruminate” is a sophisticated way of saying “worrying.” While worrying might be thought to be good for the brain, it’s not good for the soul. It may be awfully tempting to worry about health, finance, relationships, family, occupation, enemies, friends, time, and the future, but it can also be sinful (cf. Matt. 6:24-33). A repeated principle of scripture is to “trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding” (cf. Prov. 3:5-6). When our hearts fully trust and believe that God is in control of our lives and will ultimately save our souls, where is there room left there for worry? If you want a healthy brain, read more, do crossword puzzles, drink green tea, and, best of all, fill your mind with God’s Word! Don’t worry.

DO THEY KNOW IT’S GOOD NEWS?

Neal Pollard

Local and cable stations’ headlines are perpetually bad news, school shootings, raising gas prices, war and instability in the Middle East or elsewhere, and the list continues.  Hollywood perpetuates the peddling of salacious, titillating, and perverse ideas through its various outlets, both teaching and reflecting an increasingly immoral society.  The moral, ethical, and doctrinal state of society and the world seems at an all-time low.

Preaching needs to reflect an understanding of that, for sure.  Sin must be called by name and addressed. We cannot hold hands with the devil and walk with God.  There is no place for compromising God’s truth.

Jeremiah warned against those who cried “peace” when there was no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11).  His message was “negative”–that his nation was destined for punishment by the Babylonian Empire.  But, Jeremiah’s message included the hope and promise of a new, glorious covenant (31:31-34) and Jeremiah’s last word from God concerned the future salvation of his people and destruction of their enemy (ch. 51).

Joel starts his message with a message of doom and judgment for Judah (1:1-2:17), but he ends the book by showing the hope of God’s people experiencing His pardon (3:17-21).  Amos is a book about divine judgment and retribution, illustrated with graphic, horrific visions, but it is a book that ends focused on the glorious future of Israel (9:11-15).  Micah bounces back between a message of scathing rebuke of sin and hope in God.  Zephaniah’s message begins saturated with words about God’s judgment on His erring brethren as well as on other nations, but he ends by singing redemption’s sweet song (3:9ff).  Even Malachi, a book filled with warnings about empty, half-hearted religion ends with a word about “the sun of righteousness with healing in its wings”(4:2).

New Testament writers fill their message, however saturated with warning or rebuke, with hope and the possibility of salvation.  God’s consistent message is that He wants relationship with man, has proven that desire, and eagerly awaits that from each of us.  He wants all men saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).  Surely we know that, but do we possibly forget that at times?  Those of us who preach and teach, in such a responsible position, need to remind people that we can overcome–John says that at least four times in his first epistle (1 Jn. 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4).

One day hope will run out for the disobedient.  There will be no chance for restoration or conversion at the judgment.  It will be too late then, but it is not too late now!  May our teaching and preaching reflect this optimism, remembering that the powerful Word still softens hearts and changes lives (cf. Heb. 4:12).  Some day all hope will be gone, but that day is not today!

IF THOMAS EDISON DIDN’T INVENT THE LIGHT BULB, WHAT DID HE DO?

Neal Pollard

According to Joey Green, author of Contrary to Popular Belief, Edison did not invent the lightbulb. Predating Edison’s work was that of English chemist Sir Humphrey Davy (1802), French physicist Jean Foucault (1844), American inventor J.W. Starr (1845), Russian electrical engineer Paul Jablochkov (1867), and English physicist Sir Joseph Wilson Swann (1878), each with inventions that were a type of lightbulb.  Edison’s famed work occurred in 1879, when he patented his carbon-filament lamp.  Green suggests Edison became known as the “father of the light bulb by building local power plants to generate and distribute electricity” (199).

Edison did more than invent something, he provided a means to make its use more possible.  He took something that was already available and found a way to make it beneficial to more people.  Obviously, Edison’s work was invaluable!

You and I can do the same thing.  We did not invent the Word, but we do have the power to spread its light far and wide (Mt. 5:14,16).  Many are content to leave it in the church building or under a bushel (cf. Mt. 5:15), but God needs men and women who are ready and willing to distribute it far and wide.  Nothing is more beneficial to people’s lives, and nothing is more necessary for eternal preparation (Jn. 12:48).  God is relying upon our finding whatever ways we can to spread the gospel to as many people as possible.  We do not need to (and must not) invent or change the message.  We just need to get the Word out there!