Date: 2010-08-29

Message Title: The Alien Life

In his writings, Søren Kierkegaard noted that true Christianity is abolished in a “Christian land” (“a religion has been abolished by . . . flourishing”). Kierkegaard claimed that Christian living in his day (1813-1855) was twice as hard as when Christianity started because of the existence of “Christian lands.” Kierkegaard was familiar with a form of “Christianity” that demanded nothing and was altered to appeal to the taste of the masses. Where Christianity and society are virtually the same, the “church” exists only to pronounce blessings on the people without calling people to repentance and discipleship (what Dietrich Bonhoeffer would later refer to as “cheap grace).

To some extent, the absence of a state church in America has made the American experience different from what Kierkegaard saw in Europe. Yet, even for us, the age of a form of Christianity that is propped up by culture (and the state to some extent) has disappeared with amazing speed. Some say “good riddance,” while others are bent on attempting to make politics move us back to those “good ole days.” The people of God in America no longer live in a land that promotes godly virtues and values (the value of human life, sex, marriage, and many other things). We are daily assailed with non-Christian ethical insights and standards.

American Christians are aliens in our own country.

The apostle Peter wrote to Christians in similar circumstances (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11) to provide a resource for the alien life. Peter knows that living as the people of God in a culture that is not sympathetic to Christianity pressures Christians to “conform” to its standards, but the saint must not succumb to the pressure (1 Pet. 1:14-16; 2:11-12; 4:1-5). Instead, the alien life is the life lived in imitation of God, gaining His character. The alien life is succinctly stated by “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Pet. 1:15). Lest you think that this was just a letter specific concern for Peter, one should note Peter’s closing admonitions in 2 Peter: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11) and “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). Thank God His protective power (1 Pet. 1:5), for the redemptive work of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:2, 18-19) and the sanctifying work of the Spirit (1 Pet. 1:2). As we obediently respond (1 Pet. 1:14, 22) to God, we are purified and made whole, being holy as God is holy. Holy living (“the alien life”) is an authentic expression of our identity in Christ and not merely some futile aspiration to better ourselves merely by trying harder. Holiness is for the here and now.

Date: 2010-08-22

Message Title: Marks Remarks

Vacation Bible School came and went in a hurry! I appreciate Paul Portley for directing our VBS, he does a wonderful job. This was also our first year to have the DuPont congregation work with on us on VBS. I believe it helped both congregations as we worked together to honor God. VBS cannot take place without a lot of people doing a lot of work. Thank you all for investing your time, money, and energy in this kingdom event. I especially appreciate Mike Green for teaching the adult VBS class this year. Next up is the Pinewood Derby (this coming Saturday)! I hope you have your cars “tuned up” (or maybe “whittled down” is more appropriate) and ready to race.

Family Camp at Yellowstone Bible Camp was excellent this year. I know that it is not for all (staying in rustic cabins, doing meal clean-up, hiking, three Bible based lessons a day, cool temperatures this year, and more), but Annette, Daniel and I loved it. Cory Collins from Florence, AL (he preaches for the Mars Hill congregation and teaches at Heritage Christian University) brought good lessons all week long on “Refocusing on Jesus” (with an emphasis on the final week of Jesus’ pre-resurrection life). Camp was smaller this year (only 60 participants), but that allowed us to get to know each other better. It was a refreshing time for me. Getting that far away from home, in the mountains of Montana, with no technology, and with good brothers and sisters in the Lord is a blessing. I will be teaching at the Family Camp II session of Yellowstone Bible Camp next (July 30 – Aug. 6) and we are thinking about staying for the next week (Family Camp III, Aug. 6-13) because of the relationships that we have developed there.

The best spiritual insights I received at camp did not come from the lessons, but from a conversation on the front porch of our cabin on Thursday night. The conversation was with a brother who is in the Sojourners program and is an elder in the church at Brownfield, TX (a congregation of 250 in a town of 10,000). Our conversation was wide ranging and I am sure it was more helpful to me than to him. He had attended the Wednesday night assembly, so he was joking about he had to go to Wednesday assembly to “get his ticket punched.” He asked me if knew about “turtles and skunks” (he had already told me about raising goats when we talked on Saturday and he went fishing most evenings), so I thought he was talking about animals. “Turtles and skunks” refer to two kinds of people who leave the congregation. “Turtles” just kind of slowly fade away and after awhile, you realize that so and so is gone. On the other hand, “skunks” are people who “make a big stink” when they leave. He noted it is really hard to get the real reason that people leave (this was also noted by Cory in one of his lessons). He also told me about the plan that the Brownfield congregation uses for selecting elders and deacons (which includes some very valuable steps that I had not heard before). God worked through this brother in Christ that evening!

Date: 2010-08-01

Message Title: Guarding Your Heart And Mind

One way of looking at life is that it is a series of choices. We all are confronted with the possibility of good and bad opportunities for our hearts and minds. Human character and destiny grow out of the choices that we make. In order to be a people who consistently make good decisions (I am assuming that we prefer good decisions to bad decisions) we have to guard our hearts and minds. The Proverbs direct the wise to “watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23; see also 23:7). What you think determines who you are and what you will become. As we have been working through Philippians together, I hope Paul’s emphasis on having the correct “mind” (Phil. 1:7; 2:2, 5; 3:15, 19; 4:2, 10) has been shaping us individually and collectively. According to Paul we can either “set our minds on earthly things” or have the “mind of Christ.” If we choose to have the “mind of Christ,” we will be a people of “the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:2).

Godly character comes from including the Lord (His character, His attributes, and His priorities) in our thinking. Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Where does your mind “dwell”? All of us have moments and even segments of time when we are free to think about anything we please. It is at these times that we need to guard our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7).

In an article that Doug Parsons wrote many years ago, he provided the four following practical suggestions for Christians to monitor their mind:

1. Fill the niches and corners of every day with portions of the Word of God. David wrote, “Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). We need to “program” and “store” portions of God’s word into the “hard drive” of our minds.

2. Make Jesus Christ Lord of your mind. This takes more than a routine “bless me!” kind of prayer. It is about “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). This is a moment by moment, lifelong surrender of our thoughts to God.

3. Pray about everything in your schedule so that God can help you to think about things as you should (Prov. 16:3).

4. Dare to dream with God.

Date: 2010-07-25

Message Title: Watch What You Say

Scripture has much to say about how the people of God are to use our tongues (i.e. words). “Death and life are in the power of tongue” (Prov. 18:21). “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18). “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly” (Prov. 15:2). “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit” (Prov. 15:4). “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance” (Prov. 25:23). “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless” (Jam. 1:26). “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell” (Jam. 3:6). “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (Jam. 3:8). There are many other texts, but the above should get the point across.

Our Creator wants us to watch what we say! Our words can be a source of grace or they can destroy relationships. Words can heal or they can be a poison. The old Bee Gees song had the line “they’re only words, but words are all I have to take your heart away.” What are your words doing to those around you?

One preacher formed what he called a “mutual encouragement” fellowship at a time of great stress in his ministry. Those involved agreed to apply a simple formula before speaking about any person or subject that was possibly controversial. This is the formula they used:

T is it True?
H is it Helpful?
I is it Inspiring?
N is it Necessary?
K is it Kind?

Let us “think” before we speak and use our words for the building up of the body of Christ.

Date: 2010-07-18

Message Title: I Never Intended To Quit

A man who had not attended one worship assembly of the church in four years told the brother who visited him that he never thought of “quitting” the church. That brother reminded him that he had:

1. Withdrawn his presence from the assembly.
2. He had refused to give his moral support to the activities of the congregation.
3. He had withdrawn his financial support, for he had not given one dime to help carry on the Lord’s work.

Then the brother asked the man, “What else would you have to do in order to ‘quit’ the church? In case you ever decide that you no longer desire to be a member, what other steps will be necessary to ‘quit’ the church?”

As his true spiritual status dawned upon him, his expression reflected his sober thoughts. He replied, “Why, brother, I’ve already quit, haven’t I? Well, I surely didn’t mean to! And I don’t know when I did it … but I’ve quit the Lord and His church! I’ll tell you right now … I’m coming back.” He did too. He was restored at the next worship assembly and three years later he was still faithful.

Dear reader, how about you? Have you quit the Lord and His church without resolving to do so? Perhaps no one deliberately decides to quit, but many carelessly drift into unfaithfulness.

If you quit attending the worship assemblies and Bible classes, quit boosting the program of activities planned by the elders and quit giving as God has prospered you, you need to be restored.

Gus Nichols (adapted by Mark Johnson)