Are you really a faithful Christian?

We should not be surprised when we hear people claim they are faithful Christians regardless of their personal conduct. In the four gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Jesus encountered many Pharisees and other religious people who claimed to have God’s approval. Like when Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Jesus knew that they called Him Lord because they thought that would be enough. This is precisely what many religious people do today. They say, “I believe in Jesus Christ and have been baptized for the remission of my sins” but they do not worship God with His people, nor do they worship His way (Heb. 10:25; John 4:24).

In order to truly be a faithful Christian, one must walk in the light (I John 1:7). This does not mean we just walk around and say “God knows my heart.” If we are knowingly committing sin, God knows that our heart is not right (Acts 8:21). Just because we know that something is wrong does not mean we are automatically forgiven. As Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish,” (Luke 13:3).

James had something to add when he wrote, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin,” (James 4:17). Just as sin is held against us even if we know an activity is wrong, we will also be held accountable for the good works we knew we should do but did not. In both cases, God knows their heart. This just means that they need to repent and turn back to the Lord.

People have a knack for justifying not doing what the Lord demands. They tweak things to fit into what they personally want to do. This is nothing more than selfish living. To learn what Jesus thinks of that kind of thinking, just read Matthew 23. 

                                                                                           Chuck                                                                                     

What if I like having
instrumental music in worship?

When discussing the subject of instrumental music in worship, most people are quick to defend the practice by simply saying that they like it. Interestingly, God likes it too! Yes, you heard me right. God not only likes instrumental music in worship, He demands and commands it. Let’s take a closer look at this subject.

You cannot find a clearer passage of scripture to reveal God’s expectations for worship than Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

This verse is plain and clear – Christians are commanded to use a specific instrument for music in worship, namely their voices. This helps us understand why psalms and hymns and spiritual songs were listed. These forms of music contain words that we can use to praise the Lord and teach and admonish one another with. In contrast, the notes made by mechanical instruments cannot teach, admonish or offer praise.

Remember, the purpose of this article is to determine what is expected out of saints when they worship the Lord musically. Consider also Paul’s argument in I Corinthians 14:16. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”  Here again we see that we must understand what we are singing – merely offering music as general praise is not enough. Clearly, 1 Cor. 14:16 is not an admonition to “play” some sort of mechanical instrument with understanding.

Just as we need Biblical authority to use our voices as instruments to please our God, we should also seek Biblical authority to use mechanical instruments in worship. The fact is, the only instrument authorized is the voice. Many religious groups today will play instruments during prayer or when a teacher is winding down his lesson. Just as there is no scripture to support mechanical instruments for praising God in song, there is no Biblical support musical accompaniment during prayers and preaching either.

The verses of the New Testament feature a consistent pattern of acapella singing. When Paul and Silas were cast into prison and started to sing, is it logical to assume that they also started to play instruments (Acts 16:25)? Of course not. If we were hypothetically commanded to both sing and play instruments, then it would be sinful to sing without instrumental music. On top of that, it would be sinful if everyone was just singing and not playing an instrument.

“Is it wrong to sing praises to God without mechanical instruments?” Every time I have asked this question to someone advocating for instrumental music, the answer has always been “No!”  I then ask how they can be so sure it is not wrong.  My purpose is to get them to realize that Biblical authority is necessary and that anything else is just an opinion. I recall attending a denominational church years ago where a man got up and played a “spiritual song” that consisted solely of musical notes. There were no words at all. How does this match the instructions of 1 Cor. 14:16 or Col. 3:16? We need to listen to our God and walk by faith to please Him (Heb. 11:6). Only those who listen to His words and abide are walking by faith (Rom. 10:17).

                                                                                               Chuck

How can you not?

The brethren at Rome were told to “repay no one evil for evil,” (Rom. 12:17). How should Christians react when someone commits an evil against us? If someone breaks into our home, are we to let them ransack the place and hurt us? What is this verse teaching?

The key to understanding this verse is to focus on the word evil. If someone does something evil to us, we are not going to do the same to them. However, let us not confuse evil with that which is lawful. As an example: God said, in times past, if someone murders another, then the murderer is to be put to death (Num. 35:16). Is this two evils? The answer is no. One is an evil, and it was called murder. The other was not a murder, it was justice.

What about Christians though? It is not wrong to call 911 or subdue an intruder. Repaying evil for evil would be to lose control and “take the law into our own hands.” It would be wanting to harm the person in retribution. It is not evil to demand justice, and we need to recognize the difference in order to understand our own relationship with our heavenly Father. Those who think a punishment is the same as the crime do not understand what evil is.

Consider what Jesus did not do while hanging on the cross. “When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten…” (I Pet. 2:23). Our Lord did not stoop to the level of his foes. He kept His composure and prayed for them. This does not mean their evil was overlooked though. Note that the apostles told those who crucified Jesus to repent (Acts 2:36-38).

Obviously, a desire for earthly justice can overflow and become sinful.  Regardless of what happens on the earth, we must remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Rom. 12:19). We must remember that having the approval of our brethren is not the same as having God’s approval. The only way to please God is to walk by faith (Heb. 11:6). Beware of repaying evil for evil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Chuck                       

What not to do 

This past Sunday, we studied a lesson about parents nurturing their children properly. As Paul put it, Christians should “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). That same verse also says that fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath. Children need discipline to be raised as the Lord has instructed, but improper discipline can lead children to wrath. How can parents provoke their children to wrath?

1. Punish them for things they did not do.  We are to care for our children like our Father cares from us. The Bible is clear that God is just, so we also need to be just with our young (I John 1:9).

2. Be inconsistent with your punishment. Christians know good from evil because God has pointed these things out. Similarly, our children must know what our standards are (II John 9-10).

3. Only criticize, never compliment. If brothers and sisters in Christ need building up, certainly our sons and daughters do too (I Thess. 5:11).

4. Belittle and mock. Criticism can hurt, but mocking and embarrassing a child can crush their spirit. This is nothing more than foolish talking and jesting (Eph. 5:4).

5. Make unreasonable demands. Having unrealistic expectations for your child will cut them to the core. Children need to be learn to do things, but giving impossible tasks is just cruel. Children do childish things, and it is foolish to think otherwise (I Cor. 13:11).

6. Administer disproportionate punishment. Parents use judgment to decide when and how to punish. Without love though, a child could end up with a punishment disproportionate to their error (Heb. 12:6).

7. Punish them for things you do as a parent. Nothing will confuse and anger a child faster than being punished for things they see their parents do. Children need proper examples, and parents need to lead that effort (I Tim. 4:12).

8. Show favoritism with your children. It will only hurt all of your children if they see a parent favor one child. This will certainly produce anger (Gen. 37:4).

9. Allow disobedience to go unpunished. It might seem counterintuitive, but children will eventually learn to despise a parent who gives them everything. This is why our heavenly Father stated He will not be mocked (Gal. 6:7). Mocking comes when a child does not reap what he sows, but we can be assured that God will punish all disobedience.

10. Giving them too much freedom. Immature parents think they are benefiting their child by letting them decide everything. Children need to make more of their own decisions as they age, but they still need guidance. Without it, they will be provoked to anger (Prov. 22:6). “Train” means to teach, so be their teacher!

11. Treat them as an inconvenience. If you want to provoke a child, then make it clear that you resent them. Anyone can have a child, but it does not automatically make them a good parent (Eph. 6:4).

As adults, we may remember times where we were provoked to anger as children. This is not an excuse to repeat the cycle by provoking our own children. We have no excuse for not being faithful.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Chuck

How can you say it and then deny it?

The brethren at Corinth were told something by Paul that is a bit hard to follow. Paul told them this: “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while,” (II Cor. 7:8). So did Paul regret sending the letter or not?

The answer is simple that Paul both regretted and did not regret sending the letter. Paul wrote to correct something in the lives of the brethren. They needed to repent, which meant that they were going to be told that they were doing something wrong. Paul knew that in order from them to repent, godly sorrow was needed (2 Cor. 7:10).

The lesson is very important for us to see. People have become very “politically correct” in all aspects of their lives, including spiritual matters.  Many religious teachers are doing all they can to try and make people feel good while still trying to teach the need for repentance.  You cannot do it! The gospel of Christ is full of hard lessons – at some point we must address these things directly in order to enable genuine faith. Paul’s ultimate goal was not to get the Corinthian brethren to feel bad – it was to get them to repent and be pleasing to the Lord. The same is true today. We are not happy someone weeps over a sin they committed, but we are thankful at the same time because that sorrow is necessary to inspire repentance.

We, like the apostle, want people to repent and be converted (Acts 3:19). We may regret that they will feel bad for their sins because we do not want to see someone full of sorrow. Teachers should not be so hardened as to enjoy the inner pain people can feel when they are convicted by truth.  On the other hand, we should have no regret for teaching the truth, especially if people repent. We should find solace in seeing their sorrow turn to joy by making things right.

May we all see the need to regret and at the same time not regret. Perhaps some people regret not having regrets – think about it.

                                                                                         Chuck