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Mt. Baker Beacon
Vol. 03, No. 32 Aug 11, 2024
Your word is a lamp to my feet Mount Volume 03, Number 32 Published by Location: Sunday: Web site: Mt. Baker church
| In this issue: LAODICEA, A MODERATE CHURCH Many people like to think of themselves as a moderate in various circumstances. In many areas, it may be good thinking and conduct to be moderate. One can eat too much and gain excessive weight. Or they can eat too little and damage their health because of a lack of adequate nutrition. A balanced, nutritious diet and moderation on the amount of food on our plate, are usually the way healthy people manage a proper weight for themselves. In numerous other areas, moderation is usually a good policy. But let us get to the real issue! When it comes to our relationship with our Creator, we need to give this a closer look. Of course, there are always fanatics and extremists in religious circles. This includes those who stubbornly misuse and distort Bible teaching by taking verses out of context, ignoring figurative or metaphorical language, manipulating Scriptures, and other ways of perverting the true meaning of the Biblical text to promote their preconceived ideas or biases (2 Pet. 3:16; Gal. 1:6-7; Rom. 16:17-18). Also, there are those who blindly form a narrow, implacable interpretation concerning some Bible subject, wherein the Lord has granted legitimate choices in implementing His instructions. For an example of permissible choices, consider "go" in the great commission (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19). (We tried to pick a non-controversial example) There are several choices in the command to go. One can walk, ride, sail, or fly and still be going, thus obeying the Lord. One would be an unreasonable, blind extremist to demand only two or three ways to go! In obeying the Lord, Paul admonishes, "Let your moderation (sweet reasonableness, gentleness) be known to all men" (Phil. 4:5). The Bible abounds with other generic or general instructions, where authorized, legitimate expediencies may apply. Certainly, one must make certain that the expediency comes legitimately under a command (1 Cor. 10:23, Paul is dealing with eating food, but the principle is that there must be a law for an expediency to properly apply). Noah was commanded to build the ark following the Lord instructions (Gen. 6:14-16, 22). Tools (expediencies) such as hammers, saws, rulers, etc., though not specifically mentioned, were authorized in the general command "build". Noah remained faithful, abiding under the authority (word) of God, in the building of the ark (cf. Heb. 11:7; Rom. 10:17). Now, when it comes to faith in God, without which we cannot please Him (Heb. 11:6), are we to be "moderate" and accept the false gods of paganism because we do not want to be an "extremist" by believing only in the one true God? (Isa. 44:8) Is there room for choices here? Please understand that we are not talking about being tolerate towards others personally who believe in false gods. Being tolerant or kind towards others with false beliefs (Col. 4:5-6) is not necessarily the same as accepting their false theology (Eph. 5:11)! The Isaiah text cited above declares that we are not to be "moderate" in relation to faith in the one true God. We either believe that He is the only true and living God, or we do not. There is no "middle ground" in this (cf. Matt. 12:30). One cannot be a moderate here. We are treading upon sacred ground. One is in disfavor with the Creator to claim that one only "moderately" believes in Him (Heb. 11:6; 2 Cor. 8:5-6; Eph. 4:6). There is no middle ground or place for a "moderate" belief in these verses. What about the Bible? The Scriptures clearly teach that we either believe the Bible to be the Word of God or we do not (2 Tim. 3:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:22-25). Skeptics, modernists, liberals of all shades spout their doubts and disbelief concerning the Bible. And because they are highly educated and very smart, many are persuaded by their attacks against God and the Bible. But the above Scriptures are clear. We either believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God or join the destructive critics or doubters of the Bible. There is no middle ground. To reject the Bible in any way is to place one in eternal jeopardy (John 12:48). There are other vital issues to consider. What about Jesus Christ? Do we "moderately" believe that He is the Son of God? Do we partly believe that He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God? Do these passages give us room to pick and choose what we believe about Christ (John 6:44-45; 8:24; 14:6; 20:30-31). Are we ashamed of our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ (Luke 9:26; Rom. 1:16-17)? Am I fearful of what others may think of me because I am devoted to Christ (cf. Rev. 21:8; 1 Jno. 4:17-19)? Just what are my priorities in life - in death -- in eternity? The Laodiceans were moderates. They were nether hot nor cold. Just comfortable being in the middle, after all, they did not wish to offend their pagan neighbors. But the Lord said that they must make us their minds concerning their relationship with the Him (also cf. 1 Kings 18:21). The Laodicean lukewarmness sickened the Lord and He was about to reject them (Rev. 3:16). Dear one, please be very careful what you are "moderate" concerning. We all face an eternal judgment, and there is no room for being "moderate" with this! "KEEP IT SIMPLE!" The above statement is the "mantra" of a friend of mine. When it comes to preaching and teaching God's word, he often tells me, "Keep it simple." This sentiment was impressed upon my mind even further when a sister in Christ told me, "The main problem that high school students have today is not which church to go to, but whether or not to believe in God in the first place." Think about it: We live in a society that has so pushed God aside that the lady who talked with me said she knows high school students who need to be convinced about the very existence of God! This sister's observation told me that, yes, my friend is right in telling me to "keep it simple" as I preach. It also tells me that I need to be preaching and teaching these "simple" sermons not only to the teenagers but also to the parents of those teenagers! After all, children are the students of their parents. Therefore, if parents do not expose their children to God, the Bible, the truth, etc., then how can we expect them to know these things? God has placed the responsibility of teaching with parents (Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:6-9, 11:18-21; Eph. 6:4; II Tim. 1:5; etc.). Furthermore, when I think about the statement, "Keep it simple," I find this does not mean making things simplistic or speaking down to people. Instead, it places responsibility on the teacher to make sure things are said in such a way that folks can understand. For many years, brethren said that one does not need to be a "Greek scholar" to go to Heaven. We do not need Ph.D's to understand the Bible! The apostle Paul said, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:4). Jesus encouraged the reading and searching (studying) of Scriptures, for He knew that by so doing, mankind could understand the truth and follow it (Jn. 5:39, 17:17; Rev. 1:3). Not only did He state this truth, but He lived it (Acts 1:1)! Bear in mind, that when Jesus spoke, "the common people heard him gladly" (Mk. 12:37). This means that the message of God is not just for the educated or the elite, but for everyone. Those who listened to Jesus were often the "unknowns," the "rejected," and "the general population." In contrast, the social "elites" and their ilk did not like Jesus. In fact, they conspired against Him to keep Him from preaching (Jn. 11:47-53). After Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the apostles continued preaching His simple message (Acts 2, etc.). When they preached that simple message, the "elites" and "educated" people marveled at their words, noting, "...they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). Therefore, to "keep it simple" means to preach like Jesus and the apostles did. Can we think of any better examples to follow than Christ and His apostles when one today wants to communicate God's will effectively? I can't! When we determine to preach and teach as Christ, then we will "keep it simple" for all people searching for the truth. Let no man get so caught up in his own ability and talents that he forgets to "hide behind the cross" when preaching! Keep it simple so the "common people" can hear the truth, believe it, and obey it! Start at home! Created by John Bass, last updated. 08/06/2024 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA. |
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