CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
March 7, 2010
25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373
www.blakehart.com/cypresswoodbulletin.htm
PRAYER CONCERNS:
God’s will for our congregation The persecuted church
Various friends, relatives and co-workers Our nation, military and leaders
GOOD OR BAD
“But if any of you do not have them, you are nearsighted and blind, and you have forgotten that you have been cleansed from your past sins” (2 Peter 1:9).
Radio talk show host Dennis Prager often says that those on the left see people as good and those on the right see people as bad. What does he mean by this? Consider the following. If people are generally good, then crime is caused by poverty. If people are generally good, then terrorists are bombing because of the abuse of others such as the United States, or as is popular in some areas, because these terrorists are poor. Guns kill people is a popular statement by the left, so we need to regulate or get rid of guns. Capitalism is evil so we need to be come socialists. Why? Capitalism produces greedy people, big businesses that rip off ordinary people and workers, and strip the third world of its resources. Global warming is a great threat because of projections of decades into the future and it calls for responsible people to take control of resources to prevent it. Government is the answer to all our problems. Closely akin to this is changing repulsive things to more acceptable terms (1). A baby becomes a fetus, adultery an affair, homosexuality gay.
For those who see people as bad, or sinful, we recognize that it is people who are responsible for their actions. Criminals commit crimes, not because they are poor, but because they want something they are unwilling to work for, or to support another illegal habit. Though there are many poor among the Muslim nations, it has been found that many of the known terrorists are from well-to-do families. We live in a capitalist society. The problem isn’t with the economic system of capitalism but with those who become covetous and want more. A few abuse the system in unethical and illegal behavior and affect many because of their greed, which Paul calls idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). Are government officials concerned with the future of people or the control of society? When politicians do not pay their taxes like the rest of us, yet remain in office, when they abuse their power to get their own way, it is not the democracy that is the problem. People are the problem.
We are all sinners. Say that and see what happens. Just ask Brit Hume (2). He made a comment about Tiger Woods need to find forgiveness in Christ and the main stream media went bonkers over his comments. One has to wonder why. Some saw it as an attack on the multiculturalism and secularism of those in the media. Not only is there a need to keep the church and state separated, there now appears the need to keep the church and media separated. We must not use the term Muslim terrorist but to ridicule Christianity is standard for many. Mr. Hume was asked about the reactions to his statement. He said that it really wasn’t surprised by it because the Bible tells us that would happen (see John 16; Matthew 5:10-12).
Christianity is often blamed for many of the ills of society. What the left practices is often applied to Christians. We are told that we are not concerned for the earth, that we want a theocratic state, that we are way out of the mainstream of America. They see the riches of television preachers and apply it to all. As Christians, we recognize that we are imperfect. We sin. We make mistakes. We sometimes choose words that are offensive. In a politically correct atmosphere, it can be difficult to present the good news without being accused of something. Yet we must speak. Have there been Christians who have become greedy? Yes. Have there been Christians who have desired power or fame? Yes. Has history shown that there have been abuses? Yes. But keep in mind, it is people who have done these things, not the organization.
We want to address heart issues. Until people change their hearts, that is, their relationship with God, then we will continue to have problems. Some have repented and found the forgiveness that Brit Hume spoke of. We understand that sin affects lives. We have Mark McGuire who now confesses to the use of steroids and Tiger Woods and his adulterous lifestyle. But we also have Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy, college quarterbacks who practice their Christian life. It is something that even the sports media have problems with, even shocked at, because they see players praise God in one moment and then practice some ungodly behavior in the next moment. Maybe we should blame the sports industry for this. The world doesn’t understand what Christianity teaches. I remember one pro football game where a player was seriously injured. The camera was moving around the field looking a players reactions when the camera person came upon a group of players from both teams kneeling in prayer. That was the only time they showed that.
As Christians, we recognize that we are sinners saved by the grace of God. Our lives should be such as Paul said, “To live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Before the enlightenment, it was understood that God was active in the lives of people, though their understandings were not theologically perfect. They did understand that God was a part of their daily lives (3). Today we have compartmentalized are lives. Church is just one department of life. Sports, work, neighborhood are others. We are good in church but then we can abuse the referee in soccer, the employee at work, and ignore our neighbor. Our challenge is to realize that we are to live Christ daily everywhere. It is not easy but that is our challenge. Here is what Peter has to say about this when he describes what many call the Christian virtues.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
for if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being
ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Quite a challenge isn’t it? We approach those who are bad and seek to bring them into Christ. We pray for our critics. Some will say it is none of our business. We say that God loves them and so do we, no matter how bad you have been. We pray for our enemies that they may find the truth found in Christ. Some think that they cannot change but we know that is not true. Others might say that God can’t use me but consider this:
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
Isaiah had a foul mouth.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate bugs.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worry about everything.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer.
And, Lazarus was dead.
Bad people can become good in Christ, not perfect, but good. And we can do good things. We see that as a nation when we send military and economic aid to an earthquake destroyed Haiti, and that is on top of the various Christian organizations already there. As Christians, we recognize that we are responsible for our actions, and so is everyone else. The gospel calls for everyone to look at his or her own life, repent, and being baptized into Christ, finding the forgiveness that our gracious Father offers. Then He will provide help to us through His Spirit and His people to walk a life in Christ.
George B. Mearns
(1) See Victor Davis Hanson, When Conservative Felonies Become Liberal Misdemeanors, www.jewishworldreviews.com (1/14/2010).
(2) See Adam Baldwin, Secularism’s Drones ‘Sting’ Brit Hume, http://bighollywood.breitbart.com (1/13/10). Ross Douthat, Let’s Talk About Faith, www.nytimes.com (1/11/10), Michael Gerson, Narrowing our public discourse, http://townhall.com (1/08/10), Brent Bozell, The Soul of Tiger Woods, http://townhall.com (1/08/10), Q & A: Brit Hume, www.christianitytoday.com (1/07/10), Matt Barber, The Crucifixion of Brit Hume, http://townhall.com (1/08/10), Bill O’Reilly, Brit Hume, Tiger Woods and Buddha, http://townhall.com (1/09/10). Also see footnote one from the 2/28/10 bulletin.
(3) Bruce Sheiman, An Atheist Defends Religion, Why Humanity Is Better Off With Religion than without it, Alpha, 2009.