Born To Stand Out - Part 2

By Tom Rose

To gain further insight into the distinction of being Godly as portrayed in Psalm 1 and what it would 'look like' in real life, consider the true story of an early Christian.  It was the middle of the second century, during the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius. Christianity was illegal, and believers throughout the Roman Empire faced the threat of imprisonment, torture, or death. Persecution was especially intense in southern Europe, where Sanctus, a deacon from Vienna, had been arrested and brought to trial. This young man was repeatedly told to renounce the faith he professed, but his resolve was undeterred. No matter what question he was asked, he always gave the same unchanging answer. According to the ancient church historian, Eusebius, Sanctus "girded himself against [his accusers] with such firmness that he would not even tell his name, or the nation or city to which he belonged, or whether he was bond or free, but answered in the Roman tongue to all their questions, 'I am a Chistian.'" For Sanctus, his whole identity – including his name, citizenship, and social status – was found in Jesus Christ.

This same perspective was shared by countless others in the early church. It fueled their witness, strengthened their resolve, and confounded their opponents. At the moment when life itself was on the line, nothing else mattered besides seeing themselves as His servant. For these faithful persons, the name "Christian" was much more than a general religious designation. It was an entirely new way of thinking – one that had serious implications for how they lived – and ultimately how they died. The label underscored their love for the Savior along with a willingness to follow Him no matter the cost. It displayed the wholesale transformation God had produced in their hearts, and how they had died to their old way of life, having been born spiritually into the family of God.

The conclusion of this psalm as well as this article can be summed up by observing: when we call ourselves Christians, we proclaim to the world that everything about us, including our very self-identity, is found in Jesus Christ. We can choose to stand apart from the world, as "a people for God’s own possession" (1 Pet. 2:9). As people of God, we can deny ourselves in order to follow and obey Him. He is both our Savior and our Sovereign, and our lives should center on totally pleasing Him. Contrary to much current religious thinking, there are no relative or half-measures of a righteous life. Rather, the scriptures (including Ps. 1 :5-6) portray a judgment with no in between points. It will either be "God’s Way" or "No Way At All." One will either prosper or perish.

People frequently ask me why I work so hard on preparing my comments when presiding at the Lord’s Table. I always offer the same answer, "I want people not to observe out of habit or ritual, rather I want them to think about what they’re doing." Today millions of Christians live in a sentimental haze of vague piety. Their religion is a pleasant thing: divorced from the will, divorced from the intellect, and demanding little except lip service to a few platitudes. I suspect that Satan has called off his attempt to convert these people to agnosticism. It’s much safer, from Satan’s point of view, to vaccinate a man with a mild case of Christianity so as to protect him from the real disease!

Born to Stand Out - Part 1

By Tom Rose

In many churches today, we hear a message that fits our modern sensibilities. God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be. Personal ambition, personal fulfillment, personal gratification – these have all become part of the lexicon of evangelical Christianity – and the essence of what it means to have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Christians in the first century were different. Truth be known, the gospel is not simply an invitation to become Christ’s friend, associate in battle, or companion on the journey. The Bible includes an unmistakable mandate to become His righteous servant. To gain some insight and understanding of how God portrays such a person, take a moment to read Psalm 1:1-6. Some scholars refer to its mere 128 words as the wisdom psalm – effectively introducing the entire Book of Psalms. Its theme is as big as the whole Bible because it tells of people, paths, and ultimate destinations. Using two elements of contrast, this psalm separates all people into their respective spiritual categories – the Godly and the Ungodly. This psalm is wholly about man – with every verse making reference to him and his ways. By observing the conduct of men, God pictures the Godly (vs. 1-3) and the Ungodly (v. 4), then from the fruits of their lifestyles they are judged either to prosper or perish (vs. 5-6).

In the beginning verses it seems a righteous life is composed of both doing and not doing. Given three negative examples (v. 1), the righteous: walks not, stands not, and sits not in the way of the ungodly. Rather, the righteous delight in God’s law and meditate on it, centering their life on God’s Word and His will (v. 2). Verses 3 and 4 describe the consequences of taking two different paths in life. The godly are illustrated as a tree living in harmony with nature, producing seasonal fruits, and remaining hearty and ever prospering regardless of conditions. The writer contrasts this scene using only five, powerful words exclaiming, “The ungodly are not so!” The unrighteous are pictured as unprofitable chaff. Verse 5 announces that the ungodly are found guilty by God and cast out.

Upon closer examination one finds this psalm explains what it means to be “blessed” by God. [It should be noted that this word in the Hebrew language really means “blessednesses,” and is always plural. There never was a singular form of the word because there was no such thing as a single blessing from God!] Verse 3 shows the righteous defy the wind (a metaphor for adversity) because their “leaf shall not wither,” while verse 4 shows the unrighteous are driven away by the same wind. Additionally, the righteous know God (v. 2) and are known by Him (v. 6). This suggests the life of the Christian is regulated by the Lord through a knowledge of His Law. The child of God also takes comfort in that the Lord knows the way of the righteous. Hence, the faithful believers have a complete sense of who they are and who God is.

(Next week: The condition of being Godly will be illustrated by the example of an early Christian, and some conclusions will be drawn for everyone to consider.)

What It Means To Be Born Again

By Paul Earnhart

Nicodemus, the great Jewish rabbi, must have been shocked when Jesus said to him, “You must be born again.” (Jn. 3:7)  There was nothing Nicodemus was prouder of than his first birth.  He was born as a descendant of Abraham.  He might well have described himself as another Jewish rabbi did: “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews.” (Phil. 3:5)  What better birth could a man have?

Jesus, of course, was not speaking of another physical birth.  He was speaking of a figurative new birth.  It was another way of saying that Nicodemus would have to make a completely new beginning.  The first birth of Nicodemus determined his family relations, his nationality, his cultural heritage, his language, and even to a great degree his goals and values.  All of these would have to become new for him.  Many people talk of being born again without realizing the significance of the expression.  The fact is no matter what a person may have experienced, if these changes have not taken place in their life, they have not been born again.

“How can a man be born when he is old,” Nicodemus asked? (Jn. 3:4)  Perhaps you wonder that, too.  Jesus answered the question, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:5)  The Holy Spirit changes the spirit of mankind.  Jesus said, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:6)  This is accomplished through the word of God which the Spirit has given.  Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:23 that Christians have been born again through “the word of God which lives and abides forever.” 

But there is another part of the new birth.  Jesus said that one must be born of water and the Spirit.  The only act the New Testament describes involving water is water baptism.  When the Spirit has changed the inner man, the outer man must be washed in the water of baptism.  Have you been born of the water and the Spirit?

The Hope of Spring

By Mark McCrary

Spring is a time of renewal.  After a dark and cold winter, life begins to emerge once more.  Warmth returns, trees blossom, and flowers bloom.  Along the journey of our lives, there are moments that echo the vibrant glories of spring.  Just as the earth emerges from its winter rest, so we also encounter similar moments of awakening and potential for lasting transformation.

Spring is a time of renewed life.  Similarly, this moment in one’s life holds the potential for newfound hope and possibilities.  It may follow a period of uncertainty, when faith has been tested … but resilience forged.  Like the arrival of spring, there is a stirring within the soul – a gentle whisper of hope speaking of brighter days ahead.

Biblically, hope is not merely wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God (Romans 15:13).  As the psalmist declares, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  So too we trust that God’s faithfulness will usher in a season of renewal.

As spring unfolds its petals, so too can our faith unfold as well.  Just as seeds planted eventually emerge as vibrant flowers, our faith matures and flourishes through seasons of growth and cultivation.  It is a time to nurture our relationship with God, to deepen our trust in His providence, and to surrender to His will.  As we lean into our faith, we are reminded that God can breathe life into the most barren of landscapes, bringing beauty and abundance beyond our wildest imagination.

Finally, spring is a time when the earth is invigorated with fresh energy and purpose.  Similarly, this moment in life holds the potential for renewed purpose.  New opportunities and dreams beckon before us. God’s servant, Paul, stated confidently, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  As we align our hearts with God, we align ourselves to His divine plan – a plan that is marked by hope, abundance, and fulfillment.

Look around as your drive about and pay attention to the new life springing out around you.  So too God can draw new life out of you.  You can experience the blessings that spring forth from a life nourished by God’s loving care.

Some Marks of the Maturing Christian

By Tom Rose

We all know maturity when we see it in everyday life. Some examples would be: a painter efficiently trimming a window with no paint on the glass; a veteran teacher keeping track of individual student skills while instructing a room full of kids; and an experienced mother exuding patience and persistence calming a distraught child. Likewise, God expects all His believers to improve their life and walk as a Christian. Indeed, Paul reminds the Ephesian church that regardless of their role, they are "all to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect* man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). *[Perfect in this context means “fully developed.”]

In her column, the late Ann Landers described maturity as “the ability to do a job whether you’re supervised or not; finish a job once it’s started; carry money without spending it; and last, but not least, the ability to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.” The writer of the Hebrew letter expressed a similar thought when looking at the lack of spiritual progress among the brethren. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:12-14).

First, maturity in Christ is a shift from reading the Word to believing and living it. God is not impressed with what we know. How could our feeble efforts to know impress Him who is Omniscience? Rather, it is the degree of our faith and devotion to Him. It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that makes us Christians. This is the place God has chosen for us: to be obedient servants, and not all-knowing scholars.

Secondly, maturity in Christ is developing your faith beyond rules to relationships. Many Jews in the first century were a devotedly religious people, and their religious activity was “doctrinally sound.” Yet, because they did not know their God and did not seek to know Him, it was all meaningless. God wanted a people who wanted Him. Today, we need to emphasize Jesus as the center of a joyful, fulfilled life (see Gal.2:20).  We need to spend hours, days, and a lifetime of seeking to reach His head in prayer and devotion. To some, Christianity is an argument. To others, it is a performance. But, to those who truly want to find Him, it is the experience of a wonderful relationship with Jesus Christ.

Finally, maturity in Christ is integrating childlike qualities into our adult behavior. Children exhibit an openness when meeting a new person. In about five minutes, they relate like lifetime friends – honest, open, and real with each other. Because children don’t expect too much, they aren’t often disappointed. Eager, enthusiastic, energetic, and playful, they have the ability to make even the most mundane task incredibly exciting and special. Additionally, since children haven’t really learned the meaning of the word “failure,” they possess the desire to “go for it” most of the time. They take risks in life because they intuitively know that to risk is to learn and to grow. Moreover, children seem to realize that happiness is an attitude they create. Perhaps that’s why children often act silly or cheery and frequently make jokes. They know how to cultivate a sense of humor that keeps them chronically happy. Lastly, children are filled with unconditional love. Have you noticed how quickly they forget their anger and forgive others, letting go of grudges? Children accept you totally for your good points, and your not-so-good points. Most children are prepared to accept people as people, even if offended or hurt, as they will come back to forgive and love over and over again. Our Lord’s words, "Let the little children come to Me, ...for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14), reminds us of the importance of becoming like children.

In closing, consider that a standard piano keyboard has 88 keys. The same keys can be used to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto, No. 2 in C minor. It just depends upon the time and effort one takes to mature their skill at the piano. The same is true for a maturing child of God. Unfortunately, the religious convictions of many people are but thinly veiled rationalizations for their conduct, rather than a transforming influence upon it.” The aged and worn apostle Paul, taking stock of his own maturity, told the Philippians, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12-14).