Just for Today...

Today I will make at least one person smile. I will comfort someone who is struggling. I will be the voice of encouragement to one who is discouraged. I will wipe away tears of frustration and pain. I will adjust my life for the betterment of someone else. I will get out of my comfort zone and do what it takes to assist them to reach their goals. And when they do, I will take no credit or glory for what I have done. It is what I have been given from God above to bless others with. It is but a function of my stewardship of what God has given me. When they reach their goals, I silently reach mine. Their joy becomes my joy. Then without pause for personal celebration, we begin anew with new goals and greater perspective of the true journey in front of us. This is my passion, my love, my reason for living.

We Are the Family of God - 2

Lesson # 2

We are the Family of God

Lesson # 2
Learning
Copyright © 2002
D. S. Briggs, BA; ThM; D. Min.,

2 Timothy 2:14 - 17
Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-12
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:14-15

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind and doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive…but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”

Help!!!

Listen carefully and you can hear the desperate cries for assistance coming from the young preacher we have come to know as Timothy. After spending some time in the ministry there at Ephesus, Timothy undoubtedly was shaken at how pervasive false doctrine had entrenched and entwined itself with the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Public worship of the true and living God had been “mixed” in with worship from the Temple of Artemis (Diana). There was an absence of qualified family members to entrust with the leadership responsibilities of this new ministry. The church’s initial excitement and efforts to evangelize their community for Christ has given way to discouragement. The dreams of following faithfully in the footsteps of his father in the ministry have been turned into nightmares by what he has seen and heard. I can almost hear Timothy screaming, ”they need Jesus, but they don’t want Jesus!”

His cry is the cry of many preachers and pastors, evangelists and teachers, leaders and laity alike 2000 years later. The ever rising frustration of trying to preach and teach Christ in a culture and sometimes within a church that either minimizes his influence and teachings, or water them down because they can not bear the full strength of the gospel. The inability to cultivate sound, consistent, and systemic spiritual leadership because the vast majority of leadership models that has been produced in the church and practiced by the church have been carnal in nature. Particularly offensive is the combining of two or three different theological teachings or platforms, so as not to offend anybody and yet please everybody. This buffet line approach to the gospel (I’ll take a little bit of this… a lot of that…I don’t want none of that…maybe I’ll come back and get that later if I still have room…etc.) is nothing new, for this is the same problem that Timothy faced. It is to these problems, Paul shares of his wisdom to encourage and empower Timothy for ministry there at Ephesus.

Apostle Paul writes to encourage his son in the ministry Timothy, who has
been given the first charge of pastoring the fledgling church at Ephesus. Paul gives great wisdom on the practice, purpose, and primacy of studying the word of God. Written from a prison cell, awaiting the sound of the footsteps that would eventually lead Paul to his death, the aged apostle writes this epistle of encouragement to this young pastor. Although it seems to be tucked away midway through his letter, it’s physical position in the letter does not diminish the power of Paul’s words. The key thought of Paul to Timothy seems to be one of perseverance.

Throughout the second chapter of second Timothy, Paul lists several characteristics of a faithful servant/minister. These are…

· Discipling teacher…………………………………………………….verses 1-2
· Single minded soldier……………………………………...…..…….verses 3-5
· Enduring husbandman………………………...…………………...verses 6-13
· Diligent workman………….…………………………..….……….verses 14-19
· Sanctified vessel…………………………….……………….……verses 20-23
· Gentle servant……………………………………………………..verses 24-26

Let’s look at the diligent workman aspect of second Timothy chapter two.

2 Timothy 2:14 – 19

Ø vs# 14… of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Ø Vs# 15…Study to shew thyself approved unto god, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ø Vs# 16…but shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Ø Vs# 17 …and their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.

I.) Our Responsibility before the Lord
A.) Hold onto sound teaching and doctrine
1.) Psalm 119: 93
2.) St. Matthew 4:4
3.) 2 Timothy 3:16-17
B.) Avoid subversive teaching and doctrine
1.) St. Matthew 7:15-20
2.) Jeremiah 11:18 –19
3.) 2 Timothy 2:18-19
4.) Jude 17 - 21

How does one accurately know which doctrines(s) are of God? Which preacher or teacher is telling us the truth? Which church or ministry truly points the way to God? 2 Timothy 2:15 gives us the requirement and responsibility of every believer.

Study!

The word in the greek language of the text is the word “spoudazo.” Translated it means to be prompt, earnest, endeavor… To give diligent attention to not only the scriptures but to self. This is an intensive approach to the scriptures and not a mere skimming over the surface. It is going to the depth of the item of study and discovering where its roots lie, and in what type of ground does the roots reside. Simply put, it is asking the following of every text:

¨ Who?
¨ What?
¨ Where?
¨ When?
¨ Why?
¨ How does this apply to me?

To relinquish this aspect of our personal study of the word of God off onto the preacher/pastor and to accept at face value what he/she says without any research of our own has undeniably increased the proliferation of religious misinformation that pervades our churches today. Almost to the point we will not hear the truth, because we will rather believe a lie because of who we heard the lie from.

Shew thyself…

This has an implication of inspection in it. The only way to properly shew one’s self truly competent in any area is to actually do it. It is not just quoting and toting the Scripture but living it out in our daily lives. Our Verbal Expressions of Christianity mean absolutely nothing without our Vital Example. To not just talk the talk but to walk the walk. All else is sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.

Approved unto God…

The purpose of our study is not to show off the amount of knowledge that we have attained, not to demonstrate to others that we have been studying. Rather it is to be drawn into a more intimate relationship with God, and to seek his approval of this mark of our stewardship concerning his word. The Lord alone gives the affirmation of his approval, and this to his children, not to others.

Workman that needeth not to be ashamed…

A workman (ergates) is one that has not only competence but confidence. His confidence comes not only in the tools of his trade, but also in his ability to use them in an appropriate manner. One that is sure of himself that he can adeptly handle whatever comes his way, concerning his vocation because he has been trained, and seeks continued training day by day.

Rightly dividing the word of truth…

There is a point of dissemination that must occur with the word of God. There is both a right way and a wrong way to divide it. One that has been elevated to the status of a workman does not wrest the scriptures to his destruction, nor to the downfall of others. (cf: 2 Peter 3:16) They have learned to read and study the text in the context of what has been written. To do otherwise makes it a pre text to say whatever one desires and to advance any agenda as a biblical one.

Concluding thought:

It is the responsibility of the one who has studied the word of God, not to enter into discussions of deception, distraction, and determent. (vs # 17) with those that seek to undermine the great work of God. If given the platform to sow their seeds of deception, it will take root and grow in the life of the believer and the church like a cancer. This will always happen until we as the family of God become grounded in the word of God, and it alone becomes the foundation for every ministry and outreach. There is only one preventive medicine out here for this type of deception; study the word of God!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”
Psalm 119:11

The Gamble of Legalized Gambling (Mar 2008)

“Show me the money” has become a catch phrase for rapacious greed in today’s society. Although the phrase was first uttered in the movie Jerry Maguire by Cuba Gooding Jr., it is Tom Cruise’s fanatical response to Gooding’s request that reverberates to this day. Nowhere can we see the intricate dynamics of what it truly means to showing the money more on display then when we look at our local lottery.

The lottery has tragically become the poor man’s hope beyond all hope; his lifeline at the end of the abyss beyond the American ideals of industry, invention, thrift and tenacity and even faith to pull himself out of the valley of debt and despair. It is the government’s proposed panacea for all his issues, the promised land of financial freedom that can only be reached if he picks the right numbers, at the right time, on the right day, and with the right wager. You have to be in it to win it. So if you are going to be in it, you may as well play big or go home.

It sounds archaic to say that gambling was once seen as one of the great sins this moral nation sought to protect its people from. Although lotteries were instrumental in the formative years of America and were used to build many of the earliest institutions of higher learning, they were abandoned in the early to mid 19^th century.  In their place illegal lotteries called running numbers by organized crime became the poor man’s opportunity to immediate short term instant wealth (or despair if he did not pay up if he lost) until the lottery was officially reintroduced to Americans in 1964 when New Hampshire authorized a lottery for Education.

Since 1964 forty two states have adopted laws to allow legalized gambling in the form of state sponsored lotteries, thus all but eliminating the illegal numbers racket by entrenching with the hand of the government a kinder, gentler racket. In urging passage, many states point to surrounding states that have the lottery bemoaning the fact that its residents are traveling just across the border to play and that state benefits from such expenditures, when we could keep that money here in state. This has become the equivalent of the maternal refrain “if everyone jumps off a bridge, will you jump too?” The anecdotal answer is apparently yes when it comes to the lottery.

Numerous political and appointed bureaucratic functionaries stipulate that legalized gambling, whether casinos, or other types of gambling, generate enough revenue to significantly enhance per pupil expenditures. (Stanley 2004). However to play the casinos or horse races one must usually travel to get to these locations. The working poor does not have that type of cash at immediate disposal whereas having a lottery means they can pick up tickets while in the course of their day at numerous outlets in their home town. Education is often used as a smokescreen for the politicians’ true purpose in proposing legislation in favor of lotteries gathering monies for other projects that people would not pay for through raise in taxes.  How can people vote against something as noble as education?  After all if you lose, the money is going to a great cause, namely education of our youth. The lottery according to Ronald Wilson “once almost universally rejected as ethically unacceptable, lotteries and other forms of state-supported gambling have become major sources of revenue for U.S.[S]tates reluctant to raise taxes;” (Wilson 2004 para 1) In following such a course of action“… the government essentially turns gambling into some sort of civic virtue, equating it with staying in school or abstaining from drugs.” (Hertzke 1998 pg 629)

With the media shamelessly trumpeting the creation of new jobs and endless dollars willingly donated by lottery players for politicians pet projects, the amount of loss has been devastatingly brutal, although not as publicized by the proponents of the lottery. Administrative costs and salaries often make up a sizeable portion of the proclaimed gains brought in by lottery sales. Monies that have been publicly announced to be allocated for the proclaimed purpose are often “borrowed” by politicians to pay for other projects, never to be repaid.  Hypocritical warnings about the dangers of gambling are absurd when placed in hard to read small print after an ad extolling the virtues of playing the lottery. Those who truly win are seldom well prepared to handle such windfall and usually fall prey to the snarling wolves knocking at their doors begging for a hand out in one form or the other. The psychological damage of perpetually losing is never seriously addressed by the government. These reasons make the lottery a gamble that is not worth the potential risks inherent in placing the first wager that it will pay off for the state.

Slick and colorful marketing of these legal games of chance are often intensified in the lower socioeconomic regions of every state in a never ending attempt to rob from the poor and give to the rich. Very rarely do the little bettors – the ones that are constantly paraded before the citizenry as responsible players-win. New games are quickly introduced whenever sales slump to entice discouraged players to try their luck once again.  In an ethical essay on the lottery, Richard Wilson writes:

“Lottery revenues are not guaranteed and may fall after the novelty interest in lotteries wears off or if excessive number of states begins to use lotteries. If the enlarged government’s programs become seen as entitlements, then those programs may be difficult to eliminate—or even trim—after lottery revenues subside. Taxes may then have to be raised to support the programs.” (Knox 2004 Vol 2 pg 867 para 9)

In North Carolina where I live the lottery brought in a reported $79 million dollars for the month of January alone, yet they just increased the Pick 3 drawing from once to twice a day. The payout for this game is minimal by lottery standards, (S500.00) but it brings in fifteen percent of the lottery income. This game in particular targets the poor of the state with a chance to win $500.00 at only fifty cents a chance, ironically the same cost of the daily newspaper.  In commenting on this shameful reach towards those least likely to be able to afford it long term, John Rustin of the North Carolina Family Council comments: “It’s kind of the continual progression of the lottery adding more ways for people to gamble in an attempt to separate the citizen’s of the state from their hard earned money” (Niolet and Qullin 2008 p16a )

Admittedly there will always be a perpetual need to generate revenue for local, state and federal governments. Not one citizen wants to pay more through taxes, even if they realize the need for additional tax revenue to fund necessary governmental initiatives. There are numerous well intended but inadequately financed projects that conspicuously clutter the legislative highways of numerous local and state governments. Roads and bridges are in desperate need of repair, public schools desperate for more space, more equipment and more staff seem to always top the immediate and most pressing needs lists when presenting the call for legalized gambling through a lottery. Without a lottery we are told that our schools will never be fixed, new modern schools can not be built, qualified teachers will bypass our state for neighboring states that have a lottery, our roads will remain in constant disrepair, and our bridges will collapse like a house of cards.

Particularly devious is the position of those politicians who support legalized gambling through the lottery, is the attachment of public education initiatives to the passing of lottery referendums. Promises of immediate, untaxed income for new schools, teacher pay raises, new equipment and more teachers are the seductively sweet inducements that have caused the public to incessantly rot its collective teeth. This then politically puts the voter with a moral compass in one of two untenable positions; pro lottery or anti education. Jonathon Bean and Donald Gribbin write: “In short you can become a millionaire AND help fund poor schools and underpaid teachers by playing the lottery. This being against the state lottery is like being against laws such as the “Pro Children Act.” (Bean and Gribbin, 2007 para 1)

Politicians love to conceal the greedy hand of government. The lottery is an ideal example. (Bean and Gribbin, 2007 para 10) This is a gamble that the people of this state should not longer allow the government of the state to make. The odds are overwhelming that the majority of those who play the lottery will not win enough to radically alter their lifestyle. Even with the advertised Multi million dollar payouts in the major games, it is but a drop in the proverbial bucket to what people put in for the chance to win that amount. The money generated for the noble purpose of education will not all reach it’s proclaimed beneficiaries as promised but will be diverted to some other immediate and pressing concern. Politicians will always find ways to keep the funds from reaching the source citing other concerns before the money is released. In effect the rich will keep getting richer, the poor will keep getting poorer and the children we are trying to help will suffer in ways not envisioned by lottery advocates.

You can bet on it.

You can call me...

"It matters not what men call you, it matters only what you answer to." (Unknown)
They got me! I had finally caved into the "demands" of many of my peers and potential churches that I must have a business card. I can remember my first business cards clearly. White background, teal writing. Professionally done, yet inexpensive. Those cards created more controversy at that point in my life than anything else.

"Why doesn't it say reverend? You are a reverend aren't you?" "Oh you must not be a Baptist preacher, cause all Baptist preachers use Rev, Pastor, or Rev. Dr." "You should of put Pastor on there. Churches only like to call people who have been a Pastor so it will get your foot in the door." "What about your degrees?" They need to know if this is all they ever get from you that you went to school somewhere." "They look too cheap. You should of gotten more color or something to make them stand out from the other cards they will get."

Sad but true. The great error I made on my first business cards according to the "experts" apparently is that instead of using Reverend as a title, I used "Minister." That one thing sent those around me into tizzy fits as they tried to lecture and shame me into getting new cards that were more "appropriate" for a young Baptist preacher. It did not matter to them that I pointed out that the only time reverend is used in the Bible it not used to describe man, or a preacher but God. In Psalm 111:9 we read, "He has sent redemption to his people; he has ordained his covenant forever; holy and reverend is his name." Somehow I was denying the faith and the traditions of my fathers by not claiming Reverend as my title.

My have times changed. Now it appears that using the title Rev would be one of the most humble of titles used by modern preachers. I point this out because the modern day push for titles and grandiosity is nothing new. Through my journey through the ministry first you had to be a Rev; Then a Pastor because if you didn't pastor a church you were a jackleg preacher (one not good enough for a church to ever want you to be their pastor & therefore consigned to just preaching the circuit but never being seriously considered anywhere) As mentioned it was even better to have it on your card even if you were not currently filling that office. Then a Rev. Dr. because being educated was a status symbols for churches to brag about their Pastor. Two of my sons in the ministry would constantly lament to me that they were turned down for so many churches because they were not a Rev Dr and that was one of the things most Baptist churches were looking for. Many churches including quite a few in the country where the people and $$ were few let it be known that if you did not have a doctorate do not even think about applying for the vacant pulpit.

Now we have gone off into being Bishops, Prophets and Apostles - a returning to biblical titles but unfortunately still being used in the wrong spirit. Primarily heard in the Catholic, Methodist, Epispocal and Non Denominational churches/ministries these titles are being used everywhere now. Even in the traditional Baptist church these titles amongst the clergy are becoming more commonplace. I joke around with fellow ministers that I am waiting earnestly to see a mass movement of Cardinals, Suffragan Bishops and even Popes being named among us. Unfortunately someone somewhere always has to feel that they are one better than someone else.

We have allowed vanity to speak to us and we have listened raptly. We have cast aside the true essence of our calling in pursuit of lofty titles without the anointing or ability to carry it. The humility and holiness we lived when we first acknowledged our calling have given way to how to climb up the ladder faster than someone else, put more people in the pews and make a few $$ more. We have fallen victim to what I preached many years ago in a sermon entitled "When Leaders listen to Followers." Because it sounds good to them, we embrace it and have to nerve to say it came from God. Until God calls us on it. Believe me He is, and will call us on this nonsense. Judgement must first begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

At the end of the day we must remember that it matters not what man calls us, or what we call ourselves. It only matters what God calls us. I have read the Scripture and nowhere do I ever see God addressing one of His ... do not miss that point - one of His - by their title. He calls them by their connection with Him (son, daughter) their commitment to Him (disciple) and by their character in Him (servant) but not their title. So who do we think we are having conniptions because someone does not address us as Rev Dr., Bishop, Apostle, etc. Yes I am fully aware of the respect issue. That you don't want anyone to intentionally disrespect the office God has given you by not having them call you by that title. But don't fall into a sinful attitude of pride and vanity trying to make sure someone respects you either - which too much of that is happening around the country.

After a five year self imposed sabbatical to purge myself of all the garbage I have endured in ministry I am slowly launching out again. My new cards should be in soon. Plain, inexpensive cards tastefully done. Nothing terribly fancy. Servant is the title - after all that is all a minister really is anyhow. A servant of God and a servant of man. Hopefully now, twenty four years later, it will be clear.