Tag: unfaithful

God Wants Us With His People

Neal Pollard

A dear sister in Christ recently spoke candidly about a time in her recent past where she was staying at home and watching the services of a local church rather than assembling with them. She grew convicted that she needed to praise God with His people, and it brought her back to the assemblies. What a righteous response and what a potent truth! Does God want us with His people?

There is the oft-recited, familiar passage in Hebrews 10:24-25 that admonishes us to stimulate one another to love and good deeds by not forsaking the assembling of ourselves. Why the warning?

It’s an unhealthy habit. How do we know? Well, the writer warns us of as much. He ties it to neglecting the assemblies (ESV). Jesus uses that same word to ask the Father, “Why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Demas and the others deserted Paul when he needed their support (2 Tim. 4:10,16). It can also be translated abandon (Acts 2:27). Some do this with the assemblies. Attending is a habit formed by doing. Neglecting them is a habit formed by doing (or not going). You miss one, a few times, several times, and then you get to the place where you lose the desire to come together. Something else takes its place.

It’s a discouraging decision. How do we know? The writer tells us that through assembling we encourage one another. This connects us to the exhortation in the previous verse. By staying away, I fail to provide that friendly face, that timely word, that listening ear, that singing voice, that minute of interaction that likely makes a difference in encouraging the faithfulness of the recipients. The writer calls it “exhorting” one another, a beautiful word involving encouragement, consolation, comfort, and even pleading.

It’s a shortsighted approach. How do we know? The writer shows us by connecting assembling and eternity. He reminds us there is a great day coming, and all of us will be there! He follows this verse with the idea of judgment (27), punishment (28), the Lord judging His people (30), and falling into the hands of the living God (31). Those who withdraw themselves from God’s people and their meeting times for worship and study are indicating that their hearts, thoughts, priorities, and greater interests lie with the things of this life. A mind set on things above (Col. 3:1) makes plans, decisions, and efforts that leads closer to God and an eternal home with Him.

Oh, that there would be more tender hearts like the dear Christian whose conscience was pricked by God’s truth! She had stayed away, but she could not keeping staying away. She needed to be with God’s people. She knew her Father wanted the whole family together.

Asleep At The Screen

Brent Pollard

A few nights ago, I made an error while browsing an online store via my tablet in bed on my ventilator. As I slowly dozed off to sleep, my thumb inadvertently pressed a few buttons, ordering a $70 package deal consisting of a new razor, 12 replacement razor blade cartridges, and 5 outdoor straw archery targets. The following morning, I received an email confirmation for the purchase and was also charged the amount from my bank account. (Don’t feel guilty for laughing. It is a humorous anecdote.)

No intention. No awareness. But very real consequences.

My little online shopping incident is a small object lesson in the larger spiritual truth that it is not the big mistakes we make that affect us most, but rather the many small ways we fall short of our best intentions.

Why Spiritual Vigilance Matters: The Warning of 1 Peter 5:8

The Bible says that Christians must be on guard against the temptations they face. The temptation could come at any moment, so we must always be on our guard. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5.8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” The word néphó, “be sober,” and grégoreó, “be vigilant,” both mean to be awake. Your adversary is like a roaring lion, and a roaring lion does not attack the watchful; the sleeping is what a roaring lion attacks. Peter knew what it was like to be sleeping when something very important was happening. He was sleeping in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was struggling with the greatest battle of His life.

The Lord turned to Peter, who was sleeping, and rebuked him, saying, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation; for the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26.41). Yet just a few hours later Peter, while spiritually lethargic, was denying his Lord before the rooster crowed. Today, this same Peter is urging us to “be sober” and “be vigilant” because our adversary, the devil, “is roaming about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5.8).

Our adversary the devil is a wily foe. Instead of bursting through our front doors, he will slip in through an unlocked window. The most harmful temptation for Christians is the one they are unaware of—that they are being tempted to sin against God. Drowsiness is a state that causes the Christian to be less than their full potential, and in this state, the enemy of our souls does his greatest work.

How Does Spiritual Drift Begin?

My accidental purchase started with my unintentional use of my tablet. I picked it up to distract myself from the difficult process of transition from free-breathing to a ventilator. I intended to use my tablet to fall asleep. To that end, my plan was successful. However, my thumb continued tapping here and there. The items I bought were all outside my original plan. Their purchase happened unconsciously. I only realized I purchased something when I received the confirmation email, and I was surprised.

Hebrews 2.1 warns us to pay close attention to the Gospel, likening it to a harbor (pararreó) where we tie our boat to avoid drifting away. The image highlights the danger of slowly, imperceptibly losing our way if we neglect these words. To stay anchored in faith, we must heed these sound teachings, for letting them go leads to drifting.

The sleeper misses something vital: wonder. They might worship, pray, receive the Lord’s Supper, or read the Word of God, but eventually, they lack a great treasure—reverence for God. This is a tremendous loss, unnoticed by the sleeper, who does not tremble before the Holy God, an awe-inspiring being. We must worship with awe and reverence; otherwise, He holds no value for us.

Sowing and Reaping: Why Intent Does Not Erase Outcome (Galatians 6:7)

Drifting is subtle; most of the time, people don’t even realize they have started drifting. They are lost before they even realize it. The main thing to understand to begin to combat this sort of spiritual problem is that whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap. In other words, the intention behind an action does not change its outcome. A person can be spiritually lost even though they were not intentionally trying to lose themselves.

And it matters not whether or not one intended to plant a particular crop. The truth of the matter is that there are two seeds a person can sow. There is the seed of the Spirit, and there is the seed of the flesh. In the case of the seed of the flesh, a person can be sowing it without even realizing it. His neglect of the things of the Spirit can in fact bring about a spiritual famine in his life, resulting in a harvest of dry and lifeless things. The point is, however, that regardless of whether a person intends to reap a particular harvest, he will reap what he sows.

There is hope for those spiritually asleep. While the law of sowing and reaping exists, for Christians it is transformed by Christ’s blood. God’s Word, given by the Spirit, teaches us what to sow to gain eternal life. Salvation is a blessing, not a burden, and comes as we stay spiritually alert. An alert soul is filled with joy in the Lord’s presence and takes pleasure at His right hand forever (Psalm 16.11). Vigilance is not a penalty but a sign of valuing what’s most important and of awaiting its manifestation (Luke 12.34).

Staying Spiritually Awake: Practical Watchfulness for Everyday Faith

This, however, is not to say that we so easily fall into errors. No, we must always guard our hearts and direct our lives in the best fashion possible. And the best way for us to do this is to pay close attention to how we live day to day. If we pay attention to our lives, we can easily avoid errors and make them the best they can be.

We previously urged you to be watchful, as the hour of salvation is near (Romans 13.11). Stay alert in your walk and lifestyle. Sobriety and vigilance are essential (1 Thessalonians 5.6). Don’t wait for the right feelings or go through the motions blindly. Live watchfully daily. Dedicate time for prayer every day. Even before bed, when you might feel less alert, use that time to read the Word meaningfully, not as a tourist but as a resident. Regularly examine yourself during the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11.28). Beyond private devotion, avoid forsaking the saints, as gathering encourages love and good works (Hebrews 10.24-25). Simple daily practices help prevent error.

Wake up! Trim your wick. Answer the call of your Lord while it is yet today. Be a person of great expectancy as you go through your daily routine, because He is coming at an unexpected hour for His Bride (Matthew 25.13).

Most people don’t intentionally mess up their lives or look to fall from grace. They just fall asleep at the wheel or with a tablet in their hands.

Favor To A Faithless People (2 Kings 14:22-29)

Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

The writer of 2 Kings is constantly diverting his attention from Israel to Judah and vice versa. So, he introduces us to Azariah, also known as Uzziah, anointed king over Judah at age 16. We will read much more about him in 2 Kings 15, but he seems to be referenced here only to give us the chronology for when Jeroboam II is anointed king of Israel. It is in the 16th year of Uzziah’s reign that Jeroboam comes to the throne. This will be the next-to-last generation in the dynasty of Jehu, but his son, Zechariah (29), will be murdered after six months. When he ascends to the throne, Israel only has about 70 years left before they are destroyed by the vicious Assyrians. God has been patient with Israel for almost 150 years, as king after king behaves just as Jeroboam will behave: “He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin” (24). 

He will reign 41 years over Israel, an evil king over a wicked and disobedient people. But, these are God’s people, Abraham’s descendants and once part of the United Kingdom. If we do the impossible and try to put ourselves in God’s place, can we imagine giving to and doing for a people who are continually unappreciative, rebellious, and unfaithful? How long could we go before we ran out of patience? How many times could we be betrayed and hated by the recipients of our generosity before we gave up on them? Or, having God’s power, how long before we destroyed them all? God will go over 200 years, restraining Himself as His people served other gods and gratified their flesh. 

Isn’t it amazing how much grace and kindness God shows to this faithless people? The Jonah who God graciously sends to the Assyrians to preach repentance (Jonah 1:1) is also sent to Israel (25). Despite Jonah’s flaws, his ministry seemed to be to extend God’s grace to an unrighteous people. Then, read what the author says about God and Israel next. “For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel. The Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (26-27). You want insight into the heart of God, as He deals with our sins? He cares when His people suffer. He views us with compassion, sympathy, and concern. He doesn’t want to reject us or let us go. God sent His prophet Hosea to this very people and speaks His mind on this subject: “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath” (Hosea 11:8-9). 

No one will be able to legitimately say at the Judgment, “God, you were harsh, hasty, and hateful!” No, even in the face of faithlessness, God shows His matchless grace! His patience can be exhausted and His justice will not allow impenitence to go unpunished (read Exodus 34:7). But let no one accuse God of reckless wrath! He is the God of unending love. May this lead us to repentance (Rom. 2:4) and faithfulness (Rev. 2:10)! 

Neal Pollard

“I Don’t Consider Myself Unfaithful”

Neal Pollard

An intelligent, independent young American man in his mid-20s showed up at the Siem Reap church building for mid-week services.  He not only grew up in the church, but he even attended a “Christian” high school and one of our brotherhood universities.  He is doing field research for an advanced degree in cultural anthropology, which brought him to Cambodia.  He is a decent, inquisitive person seemingly intent on bringing positive change to this world, but upon leaving his home state after graduating college he ceased association with the church.  When asked about his religious life, he said, “I don’t consider myself unfaithful, but I’m not attending the church right now.  I guess you could say I’m taking a break.”

Rather than being a “what’s wrong with young people is…” or “what’s wrong with the church is…” article, I want to think in terms of what faithfulness or unfaithfulness is.  Is it something we can gauge, and, if so, how?  Can we claim faithfulness but fail to demonstrate it?

The Bible speaks of the faithfulness of God, for example.  How do we know He is faithful?  Moses suggests we conclude such based on His work, ways, and attributes (Deut. 32:4). The psalmist points to His word and work (Psa. 33:4).  Faithfulness involved His working wonders and deliberately planning (Isa. 25:1).

In the same way, the Bible identifies faithfulness as something tangible and measurable, as visible as justice and mercy (Mat. 23:23), as demonstrable as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).  The very word refers to loyalty and trustworthiness (Utley, np).  In Galatians 5:22, it “describes the believer’s new relationship with people, especially believers” (ibid.).  In this list, it is more than trust or belief.  The other eight words indicate ethical qualities, so this should be interpreted as such, too.  In other words, being faithful is seen by how we live and what we do.  Can we be faithful to Christ and His church when we do not attach ourselves to a local congregation, provoking others to love and good works as a manner of habit (Heb. 10:24-25).  If we are not seeking to build up one another (1 Th. 5:11) or cause the growth of the body (Eph. 4:16), how is that not unfaithful?  Twice in the gospels, Jesus tells parables concerning faithfully accomplish our Christian responsibilities (Mat. 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). There could be no judgment and accountability without there being concrete ways to measure and determine faithfulness.

We do not get to define it for ourselves.  The Lord has already revealed what He considers faithfulness and unfaithfulness.  Ceasing to work for and worship Him, failing to encourage the spiritual family, and abstaining from such service as soul-winning and moral distinctiveness are tangible indicators that we have ceased from faithfulness.  Let us so live that in the end we can hear our Lord exclaim, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mat. 25:21,23).

Carl preaching at the mid-week service at Siem Reap church of Christ.