Give Thanks

I’m glad we have a Thanksgiving Day in the United States for it reminds me of the thanks I should be offering every day.  I’m persuaded that many of us take our blessings for granted.  We have been the recipients of so many of them, for so long, that we have grown accustomed to them, and scarcely think of the source from which we have received them.

I can identify with Asaph in the Old Testament book of Psalms who confessed to God, “When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant, I was like a beast before thee.” That’s strong language, isn’t it?  But Asaph knew that he was like a beast, utterly irrational, behaving in a stupid, absurd manner.  At least he was being honest and truthful with himself.  He had failed to stop and think.  He had refused to ponder and reason.

Asaph held some ideas about the godly and ungodly life that were quite false.  At first glance it seemed that the ungodly prospered, and the godly suffered.  Therefore, Asaph was given to complaining.

Perhaps if we are honest we will discover that we, too, have walked in Asaph’s shoes.  We tend to take all the gifts and the pleasures and the happiness and the joy without saying much to God about it, but the moment anything goes wrong we begin to grumble and complain and say, “Why should God do this to me, why should this happen to me?”

We need to pause and reflect on the truthfulness of Solomon’s observation in Ecclesiastes 7:14: “In the day of prosperity be happy, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other…”

Inasmuch as every day has its good moments as well as its bad, it requires a grateful heart to be able to say, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24).

A little boy defined salt this way: “Salt is what always spoils the potatoes when it is left out.”  Using the same negative approach we can say, “Gratitude is what always spoils life when it is left out.”  A thankful spirit enables one to praise God even when circumstances are difficult.

Alexander Whyte, the Scottish preacher, always began his prayers with an expression of gratitude.  One cold, miserable day his people wondered what he would say.  He prayed, “We thank Thee, O Lord, that it is not always like this.”

Depending upon one’s viewpoint there is something for which we can be grateful even in the worst of circumstances.  We might be surprised at those things we experience in life that squelch the development of gratitude.  A wealthy woman told her doctor she was frustrated by a restless desire for more and more things.  He replied, “These are the usual symptoms of too much ease in the home and too little gratitude in the heart.” 

The man was wise who prayed over a heavy Thanksgiving table: “God please grant us one more blessing…a thankful heart.”  In our prosperous land we need to heed the words spoken to Israel when they were about to enter the land promised to them by God, “When thou…art full…beware that thou forget not the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:10-11).

Count your blessings

Name them one by one,

And it will surprise you

What the Lord hath done.

What Is A "Salvation Issue"?

A “salvation issue” is generally regarded as those matters that affect one’s eternal destiny.  Indeed, there are matters in which a person may engage that would not adversely affect his eternal destiny.  For instance, the apostle Paul addressed the matter of eating meats sacrificed to idols in his Corinthian correspondence (1 Cor. 8).  To eat or not eat such meat is a matter of indifference (1 Cor. 8:8).  In either case, it would not affect that person’s eternal destiny.

There are numerous things that we may do as Christians that will not affect our eternal destiny.  For instance, it is a matter of indifference whether or not we worship in a rented facility or one that is paid for by the church.  For that matter, we could worship under a tree or in a straw hut so long as we worshipped God according to his instructions (Jn. 4:24).  We can sing using a songbook or a power point portrayal on a screen so long as we teach and admonish one another and make melody in our heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).  We can evangelize through the printed page, the Internet, the mass media of radio or television without violating any command of God.  We can travel to our mission points by car, boat, airplane, bicycle, donkey, or walking.  It makes no difference so long as we go.  None of these matters are “salvation issues.”

However, there are practices that, if observed, would condemn a person to eternal punishment because they are a violation of God’s word.  A problem arises when man decides what is or is not a matter of indifference.  For instance, some people view baptism as a matter of indifference.  They do not consider it a “salvation issue” and, thus, do not teach its essentiality.  Jesus did not so regard it, for He said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16).  Neither did the inspired apostle Peter regard it as unessential, for he wrote, “The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us” (1 Pet. 3:21).  There are many passages in the New Testament that affirm baptism as an absolute requirement for salvation in spite of the fact that many religious people do not regard it as such.

Some do not regard being a member of the church as a “salvation issue.”  They advocate that having a “relationship with Jesus” is the important thing and it doesn’t matter to which church a person belongs or, for that matter, if he belongs to any church.  Yet, the Bible says God added the saved to the church (Acts 2:47).  Since the Bible affirms that there is only one church (Eph. 4:4), it appears to me that it does matter to which church one belongs.  A multiplicity of churches with their various and contradictory teachings about redemption, worship, divorce and remarriage, etc. is simply not acceptable to God.  Thus, whether or not a person is a member of the Lord’s church is a “salvation issue.”  It does make a difference to which church a person belongs.  Jesus only died for one (Acts 20:28) and built only one (Matt. 16:18).

Some even advocate that one’s sexual preference is not a “salvation issue.”  They reason that God made them with a sexual orientation toward a member of the same sex, therefore, to practice homosexuality will not affect their eternal destiny.  Yet, God condemns such behavior in no uncertain terms and declares that those who practice such will not inherit eternal life (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).

We are living in a period of time when “tolerance” seems to be the operative word.  As a result, the floodgates of fellowship are flung wide open to accept varying and conflicting views on biblical subjects in the name of “openness” and “freedom.”  To do otherwise is considered by some to be unkind, judgmental, narrow-minded and legalistic.  I beg to differ.  It is not being unkind or legalistic to teach and practice what God has authorized in His word and encourage others to do the same.  After all, it is by God’s word that we shall be judged (Jn. 12:48).

There is a safe and biblical principle upon which our doctrine and practice should be founded.  It is that we should teach and practice only that which is authorized in God’s word.  Peter declared, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).  Paul told us not to go beyond that which is written (1 Cor. 4:6).  John declared that if we go beyond that which is taught in God’s word we do not have God (2 Jn. 9).  When God speaks on a matter, that settles it whether I believe it or not.  Man does not have the authority to put it in the category of being a matter of indifference that he can choose to obey or not without affecting his eternal destiny.

Compliance with this principle would settle many issues that now face us.  God has given us everything we need to know in order to be saved (2 Pet. 1:3).  That being the case, when the Bible addresses a doctrinal or moral subject it is a matter of salvation.  A person cannot view it as a matter of indifference simply because he does not want to comply with the Bible, or because he feels the need to extend love and kindness to another person who may believe or practice something that does not harmonize with it.  The greatest love and kindness he can extend is to point out the area of transgression and appeal for compliance to God’s word and to do so in a “spirit of gentleness” (2 Tim. 2:24).  A minister of the gospel, for that matter any Christian, would be derelict in his responsibility if he did not “put the brethren in mind” (2 Tim. 4:6) of those things God has enjoined upon us.  Genuine unity is obtained upon the observance of divine instruction and not upon the husks of human opinion.

What Moms Should Teach Their Daughters to Look For In a Boy

This is a follow-up to the last article in which Susan Merrill wrote about what moms should teach their sons to look for in a girl.  I have outlined what Ms. Merrill listed with comments of my own.

1.    Look for a gentleman.  Polite gestures reflect an inner dignity you will want in a husband.  Impoliteness suggests a thoughtless and inconsiderate heart.

2.    Look for honor.  How does he treat his parents?  If he does not honor them, chances are he will not honor you as his wife.  Paul told children to honor their parents that it may be well with them (Eph. 6:3).

3.    Look for respect.  He will treasure you and your body as belonging to your future husband alone.  A respectful man will treat “…older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity (1 Tim. 5:2).

4.    Look for integrity.  His morals mean something to him and he lives them out in his daily life and not just when you are around.

5.    Look for responsibility.  He isn’t perfect and will make mistakes.  When he does he will take responsibility for his actions.

6.    Look for hard work.  If a man does not work and provide for his family, he is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8).  An indolent person makes for a sorry husband and father.

7.    Look for love.  Genuine love is more than an emotion.  It is an act of the will.  He will show love not only by his words, but also by his actions.  Read 1 Cor. 13:4-7 and insert his name where the word “love” is found.  If he possesses these traits, then it is true love.

8.    Look for faith.  As mentioned in the previous article this is the most important.  Choose a man who will lead you and your family spiritually that you may serve God together and inherit eternal life.

What Moms Should Teach Their Sons to Look For In a Girl

I recently came across an article written by Susan Merrill with the above thought in its title.  The article contained some suggestions that I thought would be helpful to parents and I include the suggestions below with additional comments.  I’m sure there are other suggestions that you feel would be beneficial.  If so, I would appreciate your sharing them with me.

1.   Look for a lady.  She conducts herself in a very respectful manner.  She dresses modestly and is kind and considerate of others.

2.   Look for inner beauty.  She emphasizes the development of her character and not just her outward appearance.  The      apostle Peter wrote, “Let not your adornment be merely external…but let it be the hidden person of the heart” (1 Pet. 3:3,     4).

3.   Look for thoughtfulness.  She remembers the small details you have shared with her.  She is also observant of the needs            and interests of others.

4.   Look for respect.  If she doesn’t show respect for her parents, it is unlikely she will have respect for her husband either.             Paul said,       “Let the wife see to it that she respect her husband” (Eph. 5:33).

5.   Look for gentleness.  The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but gentle toward all (1 Tim. 2:24-25).  Such a            disposition is a needed quality for every mother as she patiently trains the children.

6.   Look for selflessness.  She is not focused on herself, but is compassionate in her response to the needs of others.

7.   Look for joy.  Her happiness comes from a right relationship with God and does not depend on her circumstances.

8.   Look for faith.  This is the most important of all.  If she genuinely loves the Lord more than anyone or anything else, all    these other traits will come naturally

Consistency...Thou Art A Jewel

I’ve heard the above statement practically all of my life.  It’s a good statement, particularly as it relates to moral convictions and human behavior.  We like for people to be honest and consistent in life.

Inconsistency was strongly condemned by the Lord when he chastised the Pharisees for tithing “…mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law” (Mt. 23:23).  He earlier told his disciples and the multitudes who gathered to hear him that they were to do and observe what the Pharisees told them, but not to do according to their deeds, “for they say things, and do not do them” (Mt. 23:2).  Nobody respects a hypocrite.  That’s true in religion and society as a whole.  However, hypocrisy abounds!!

Let me give you a case in point.  You’ll need to bear with me on this one and follow me to the conclusion, but I will get to the point.  I love animals and have been around them most of my life.  Virginia and I don’t have a dog, cat, or bird in our house any longer, but it isn’t because we don’t like them.  We just don’t prefer to have them in the house.  The mission of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals.  They sponsor ads on television that pull at the heartstrings in an effort to promote care and compassion toward innocent animals, especially household pets.  I am certainly in favor of their efforts in this regard.

My problem is with the inconsistency of our society.  While we applaud efforts on the part of ASPCA and other similar organizations to provide quality life to animals, we pass laws that take away the opportunity of life for babies in the womb.  Am I missing something here?  Millions have been aborted since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision.  The rate is about 3,315 daily abortions in the U.S.  Where is the compassion toward unborn babies that is shown for animals?  There is something inconsistent here.