John Baker

It’s been said that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. As April 15th rolls around this week, perhaps we should once again give careful consideration to our obligations toward government.

Matthew 22:15-22 records an ingenious (or so they thought) test contrived by the Pharisees to discredit the Savior in the eyes of the Jews. For many years, the Jews had debated the wisdom of paying taxes to a Roman government that was not only corrupt, but sometimes systematically persecuted the Jewish people. Additionally, the Law of Moses only prescribed taxes to be paid to the government of Israel (cf. Lev. 25-27). Nothing of consequence was said about obligations to pagan governments in the Law. From a Jewish perspective, then, it seemed rather easy to justify the practice of non-payment. After all, could it really be God’s will that His people give their hard-earned money to the corrupt and often psychotic Caesars?Could God really expect them to pay for “bad” government???

The Pharisees hoped to impale the Savior on the horns of a dilemma. If Jesus answered that the Jews should not pay taxes to Caesar, then the Pharisees could deliver Him to the Romans for inciting sedition against that government. On the other hand, if Jesus answered that the Jews were obligated to pay taxes to Rome, He could be discredited as the Messiah who most Jews thought would be their earthly King and Deliverer.

Jesus calmly took a coin from the Pharisees and asked whose face was imprinted on it. When the Jews answered, “Caesar’s,” Jesus said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21).

We would do well to heed the command of Jesus today. Perhaps, like the Jews of Jesus’ day, we don’t think we’re getting “good” government for our tax money. Maybe we question the wisdom of helping pay for roads and battleships when we could “better” use that money for the Lord’s work. It’s even conceivable that our government might make some very unwise and ungodly decisions regarding our tax money. The bottom line is, Jesus told us to be good citizens, no matter how corrupt or ungodly our government may or may not be. He told Pilate (a representative of Rome) that Rome’s power to govern came from God, and He then allowed Pilate’s government to abuse its power and execute Jesus (John 19:10-11). Even Paul wrote that, “every soul should be subject to the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1-7). What’s striking about that statement was thatPaul encouraged and commanded Christians to pay taxes during the reign of Nero Caesar, one of the most violent persecutors of the early church!

Brethren, our obligation to pay taxes is part of our obligation to God. In a day when it’s relatively easy to find “loopholes” and other less-than-ethical means of shirking our duty, Jesus still reminds us to, “render unto Caesar.” The IRS may or may not bring cheaters to justice, but all of us will one day give an account to God regarding our honesty with the governments under which we live (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10-11).

Will we really be lights in a dark and ungodly world (Matt. 5:16)? Will our righteousness really be a reflection of what’s in our hearts (Matt. 5:17-48)? Christians ought to be model citizens, because we hold citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Let’s develop the character of Jesus in us as we reflect on our great hope of an eternity spent with Him!            — JB

 “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). Jesus declared that His mission on earth was to, “restore sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18). The Master Teacher made sure that those who were spiritually blind had an opportunity to see, and the vision He gave them was life-changing. Just like the blind man whose sight was restored in John 9:1-11, our lives will be changed radically when we understand the significance of His presence in us (Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27).

Satan is hard at work trying to deceive us, however. The Lord’s church may have seen God’s glory in the past, but Satan is doing his best to ensure that we don’t see it in the present. The Devil wants to create as many vision problems as he can, because when he does so he undermines the mission of Jesus Christ’s church. Here’s how he’s doing it:

“Business as Usual” Christianity — We are blinded to real challenges and opportunities for growth and service when we take a “business as usual” approach to Christian living. God came to transform lives (Rom. 12:1-2), not to leave us complacent and comfortable. Even the mighty preacher Paul did not regard himself as having attained the prize of Christianity (Phil. 3:11-13). Too many churches blindly think that if they have programs in place and nobody’s complaining, they are fulfilling God’s will. In reality, Jesus expects us to get out of our comfort zones and make a real difference in the world around us (Matt. 5:13-16). Mark these words: “business as usual” Christianity is a guaranteed recipe for shriveled souls and dying churches. Let’s pray and encourage our families and churches to continue to rise up and meet new challenges and launch out in faith — it’s what Jesus would do (Luke 4:43).

“Somebody Else” Christianity — It’s easy to sing, “We’ll Work ‘Till Jesus Comes,” but it’s sometimes much harder to live it. Brethren, we live in a lost and dying world (Rom. 3:23), and the privilege is ours to reach out to others with the gospel. How delighted the Devil must be, then, when he sees Christians waiting for “somebody else” to do the Lord’s work. I believe we’re all too often like the disciples waiting for “somebody else” to wash our feet (John 13:1-11). How humbling are the words of Jesus: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The power and beauty of a Christian life is revealed in humble service to others. So many congregations of God’s people are full of “benchwarmers” just waiting for someone else to serve them. Whether we’re elders, deacons, or members of Christ’s church, let’s rejoice for the privilege of serving, and let’s resolve not to be blinded by what “somebody else” is or isn’t doing!

“Too Busy With Life” Christianity — If you want to follow Christ, it can’t be a partial commitment (Luke 9:23). He must be the center, the focus, of everything we are and do. If Satan has his way, our lives will be so filled up with good things that we’ll miss out on the very best thing of all — a relationship with God! Relationships take time to nurture and develop, and our time is what Satan would really like to control. No wonder Paul said the, “days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). We will be blinded to the glorious and life-changing power of the gospel if we never make the time to investigate it. Jesus describes this phenomenon as the “choking out of the word” by the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19). Let’s be sure that our priorities are right (Matt. 6:33), and that we’re not so caught up in good things that we miss what’s truly important! — JB

Baptism is a subject of much contention in the religious world these days. Many who claim to be Christians deny that baptism has any part in the salvation process. Let’s examine some passages dealing with baptism that will give us a clearer picture of God’s will on this matter.

John 3:5 — “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” In this conversation with the wise Nicodemus, Jesus Himself linked baptism in water to spiritual rebirth. Notice that “water” is not the placental fluid associated with childbirth, as some have alleged, for such would make Jesus sound like an ignoramus. This view has Jesus saying, “Except a man first exist, and then be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Neither is the water under discussion the Spirit Himself, for that would have Jesus saying, “Except a man be born of Spirit and the Spirit…” Make no mistake: the “water” in view here is literal. The word “except” sets conditions that afford men no alternative. One who is not born of water and of the Spirit will not inherit eternal life.

Mark 16:16 — “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Obviously Jesus intended His followers to understand that baptism plays a role in the salvation process. Here, the Lord inextricably links belief with baptism by the conjunction, “and.” In other words, salvation does not take place until both of these conditions are met! Notice that baptism is not mentioned in the second clause, “he who does not believe will be condemned.” This is called an ellipsis. Part of the preceding phrase was left out because it was not necessary for Jesus to repeat it. An analogy to this type of statement might be, “He who buys a ticket and boards the airplane will fly to Memphis; He who does not buy a ticket will stay in Dallas.” Obviously, boarding the airplane is a vital part of flying to Memphis, and yet that part of the clause is left out of the second phrase. Likewise, baptism is a vital part of our obedient response to God’s grace, but without belief, baptism is merely, “getting wet.”

Acts 2:38 — “Repent ye, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” On Pentecost, Peter preached a magnificent sermon that convinced many of the Jews that they had in fact crucified the Son of God (cf. Acts 2:14-36). Notice that the listeners already believed in Jesus’ identity (Acts 2:37), and now asked the important question, “what shall we do?” Peter does not tell these people to, “believe,” because they already do! By inspiration, Peter does tell the entire crowd, “ye [you all] repent.” Then the apostle says, “let each one of you be baptized for [unto, for the purpose of] the remission of sins.” The word, “for” in this sentence is the Greek word, “eis,” and always looks forward to the action being accomplished. The same word is used by Jesus in Matthew 26:28, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for [“eis”; for the purpose of] the remission of sins.” Thus, Acts 2:38 should leave no doubt in our minds: baptism in water is commanded by God as the culmination of an alien sinner obediently turning to Christ.

Baptism is described as a new birth (John 3:5), a part of the plan of salvation (Mark 16:16), and the avenue to access Christ’s blood (Acts 2:38; Matt 26:28). May all men everywhere have the wisdom and humility to see God’s will concerning this vital subject! — John Baker

Over the course of the past century, our culture has witnessed a fundamental shift in its thinking from a theocentric (God-centered) point of view to an anthropocentric (man-centered) system of philosophy. The existence of an all-powerful and all-loving Creator is no longer the basis of morality for our society. Said another way, right now our society either believes God is dead, or at the very least, it’s living like it believes He’s not a factor! The ancient philosophy known as humanism has reared its ugly head in our day, and to some extent it has even crept into the lives and thinking of many Christians! God warns us: “Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). Humanism declares that God isn’t real and that the world is, therefore, the only thing worth loving.

Humanism is not about concern and benevolence to fellow human beings (that’s known as humanitarianism). Rather,humanism is the belief that man, not God, is the measure of all things. In other words, the only way to find what’s “good” and “true” in life is to look at yourself and decide what’s “good” and “true” for you. The problem with this line of thinking is found clearly in God’s word: “when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding” (2 Cor. 10:12). And again, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). When we allow man to be the standard and measure of our morality, our goodness, and truth itself, we have in effect declared that there is no God (cf. Psalm 14:1). A closer look at humanism may yield some surprising insights:

“Man is alone in the universe” — Humanism has crept into our thinking through the theories of Darwin and other evolutionists. Man, they believe, is merely a colossal cosmic accident resulting from the “big bang,” and there is, therefore, nothing in the universe that cannot ultimately be explained by science and reason. To the humanist, God is nothing but a fabrication of ancient minds who were trying to explain the universe around them. Understand this point clearly: to the humanist, spiritual things are nonsensical and ultimately harmful to human “progress.” Any religion declaring the existence of a supernatural or spiritual realm is viewed as harmful to the, “enhancement of human life.” Humanism decries all organized religion as a prison from which men must escape. To this particular mindset, the Bible is clearly opposed (cf. Gen. 1-2; Psalm 19; John 1:1-18; Eph. 1-3).

“Man needs an education, not a Redeemer” — The humanist fundamentally believes all men are good. We are born as “blank slates” and must be educated for our goodness to be realized. Humanism teaches that every individual is a product of his culture and environment, and that only through the reprogramming power of secular education can each individual overcome his background and realize his own inherent, “goodness.” Said another way, all we need to do is give every man a great education and access to great technology, and the humanist believes the world will know true happiness, joy, and peace. The Bible rejects such thinking. God’s word boldly declares, “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). While “original sin” is nowhere found in Scripture, neither is the idea found that secular education, in and of itself, will cure man’s greatest problems. What men need in order to realize true happiness, joy, and peace is a Redeemer, not an education! The wars of the 20th Century alone should have made it abundantly clear that humanism cannot and will not redeem mankind. Jesus is still the only solution to man’s ultimate problem (John 14:6)!

Humanism is dedicated to the destruction of “religion” — Quoting from Humanist Manifesto II: “Some humanists believe we should reinterpret traditional religions and reinvest them with meanings appropriate to the current situation… We need, instead, radically new human purposes and goals.” In other words, humanists are feverishly working in every sphere of our society (universities, law, politics, business, public schools, entertainment, psychology, sociology, and even the halls of our government) to rid the world of all organized religions. If allowed to continue, the humanist agenda will undoubtedly create a situation much like we read about in Judges, when, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 17:6). Read the last five chapters of Judges to see the horrible results when man becomes the sole measure of morality in society!

Humanism steals the ethics of Christianity — The virtues of love, compassion, unity, justice, and redemption are all found in God’s word. Interestingly, these virtues are held up as ideals by the humanist as well. For the Christian, whatever reflects the character of God is good, and whatever does not is evil (cf. Psalm 111:1-10). The humanist, however, defends the same virtues without an explanation as to why they are worthy of pursuit. When you follow the basic premise of humanism (that man, not God, is the measure of all things) to its logical conclusion, how can the humanist say that any system of ethics is right or wrong? The Christian can defend the virtues of his religion by pointing to an almighty and all-authoritative God as the standard of his ethics. The unbelieving humanist, by contrast, cannot tell you why you must be loving, compassionate, or just — he merely asserts that you must!

Humanism is in all of our lives at times — Christians, hear this well: anytime we are the center of our own lives, we are humanistic in our thinking. When we fight with our spouses, when we rebel against authority, and when we are not at worship, we are setting ourselves up as the standard and measure for our behavior, and that is the core of humanism. When we hear God’s word and don’t do, we are humanists (cf. James 1:22). When we give to get, instead of giving to give, we are humanists. Anytime God is not the authority in my life (Matt. 28:18), I am a humanist.

Humanism is only overcome by the love of God — Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). “God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love and grace instruct us (Titus 2:11-14) to allow Him to be the real measure of our lives. His love is what gives man his dignity (Eph. 1:3-14). How we need to convey this message to the world! We can only be relevant to our society if we are saying things that are eternal (1 Pet. 1:23). As we choose to love God and others because He first loved us (1 John 4:11), we will exhibit the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). The love of God is what draws men out of their self-centered, self-autonomous existence and into a life of self-renunciation (Luke 9:23). How we need to emphasize His love more in our lives!                                                                                                                — JB

Perhaps the most beautiful concept revealed in the Bible is the grace of God. Paul explained the foundation of grace this way: “God manifests His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” Because of sin, all men deserve punishment in hell (cf. Romans 6:23), and yet God has made it possible for us to be saved through the gift of His Son (cf. John 3:16). Truly, the grace that God offers is good news!

Here’s something to consider, however: the grace of God and the law of Christ cannot be separated. Jesus knew all about grace, and yet He Himself declared, “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge you at the last day (John 12:48).” Certainly, Christians can know that their sins are forgiven by the grace of God (cf. Romans 8:1), but God still demands faithful obedience to His word and complete submission to His will (cf. James 4:17). Let’s consider some truths about God’s grace and God’s law:

God’s grace does not give us license to sin — Paul himself exclaimed, “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid (Rom 6:1)!” The passage goes on to point out that those who are buried with Christ in baptism become dead to themselves and alive in Christ. No longer are Christians to be about the business of doing whatever we want. Instead, we live to serve as Christ served (John 13; Mark 10:45). We do what He commands because of our love for Him (John 14:15). Let’s be grateful for God’s continuing grace, but let’s not forget that His grace is not a license to sin.

Grace and law are not mutually exclusive — In recent years some have advanced the idea that grace completely frees us from the law of God, and that Christians can therefore afford to be lax in their views of Biblical authority. Brethren, this position greatly distorts the purposes of God. God has always given men commandments (or “laws”) which He expects us to obey. When a person breaks one law, he is guilty, and that guilt demands a penalty (cf. James 2:10). No amount of law-keeping can undo the guilt of that one broken commandment. This is why God’s grace is so important. The Bible says that all are guilty of sin (cf. Romans 3:10; 3:23), and there is nothing that any of us, in and of ourselves, can do about it. God’s grace is needed for us to escape the wages of sin in eternal punishment (Romans 6:23). The good news is that, as we humbly and submissively obey His will, Jesus’ blood cleanses us from every sin (cf. 1 John 1:7). God’s grace does not exclude His law, rather, it instructs us and motivates us to keep His commandments (cf. Titus 2:11-14).

We are saved by grace through faith — God’s grace has been offered to all (Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9), and yet Jesus said that few will be saved (Matt 7:13-14). This is because faith is required to gain access into Jesus’ sacrifice (Eph 2:8-9). It is impossible to “earn” or “merit” our salvation, but it is likewise impossible to be saved without submitting to God’s will in all aspects of our lives (Matt 26:39). Faith is defined as trust in Jesus as the Messiah conjoined with obedience to His word. The fact that faith is required to respond to God’s offer of grace means that we must properly understand and apply His law to our lives. Thanks be to God for His grace!                                                                                                                  — John Baker

I met a man recently who asked what I do for a living. Upon hearing that I am a gospel preacher, he began to talk about the differences in teachings from one religious organization to the next. At the conclusion of our conversation, he startled me by saying, “Well, there are just so many different interpretations of the Bible, I don’t guess we can tell who’s teaching right or wrong.”

That’s a very popular view these days. In a society that increasingly shuns personal accountability for our actions, we’ve become masters at rationalizing our own ungodly behavior. We’re often told that our behavior is a direct result of our genetic code, our home environment, the persecution we feel from others, and myriad other causes that help shift blame away from us. And when confronted with Biblical truth, people will often object, “Well, that’s just your interpretation!”

Truth is, it’s not my interpretation, nor is it your interpretation. All Scripture is profitable because it is God’s inspired word (2 Tim 3:16)! Consider the following:

God always says exactly what He means. As He created the world, God spoke: “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). Creation did not stop to have a debate on how that was to take place. His word is far too powerful to second-guess — when the command went forth, nature obeyed! A lot of people would love to second-guess what God has said through His word. If, however, one accepts that God is all-powerful, does it not stand to reason that He is capable of communicating to His creatures in a clear and meaningful way? When God says, “Love one another” (John 13:34), does anyone misunderstand? Yet when God says, “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16), the mental gymnastics begin as men struggle to find a spiritual “loophole” or reason why God did not mean exactly that! Friends, please understand that God is interested in our salvation (2 Peter 3:9), and that He really means what He says in His word!

God said that we can know the truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). How blessed we are to have that statement from the Savior! In a world that thinks that everybody has a different version of truth, Jesus held God’s word up as an objective standard by which we will be judged (cf. John 12:48-49). When honest, sincere people are willing to search (cf. Acts 17:11) they will find what they seek. The greatest problem most men face is notunderstanding what God says. The real problem is that so many lack the will to obey! Only eternity will tell how many people have been presented with the gospel and responded by saying, “I see what it says, but…” How tragic to face the judgment bar of Christ and try to tell the Lord that we just couldn’t understand what He said.

Friends, while men may invent many theories and ideas about what God has said, in the final analysis, His word is all that counts. Let’s not let our hearts be hardened to His truth (cf. 1 Tim 4:1-3). Let’s not hold on to ungodliness while we wait for a “more favorable interpretation.” God says what He means, and means what He says!                                                                                                                                            — John Baker

Atheism most commonly objects to the idea of God on the basis of the following argument: if God is both omnibenevolent (all-good) and omnipotent (all-powerful), then how can He allow suffering and pain (what they call, “evil”) to exist in this world? This seeming dilemma has confounded many a Christian, and every time a hurricane, tsunami, or other disaster occurs, atheism begins to complain again about the idea of God. “Why do bad things happen to good people?” they ask. How could a God who is infinitely good and all-powerful allow suffering in this present world?

These questions are not to be taken lightly, and neither can they be easily answered, for we are not privy to all of God’s specific plans and purposes in His providence. However, the Bible does communicate a number of enlightening principles concerning the “problem” of suffering in a world ruled by an all-loving and all-powerful God. These principles, once considered, do a great deal of harm to the atheists’ case.

“Evil” is not subjective or relative — Ask just about anybody what they believe is evil, and the nearly universal response will likely be, “evil is whatever displeases me.” Thus, apart from God’s word, most people tend to regard nearly any negative or unpleasant event in their lives as an “evil” thing. However, God’s word declares that the concept of “evil” is not subjective; rather, evil is defined by God as that which is sinful (Rom. 1:29-32). The only inherent evil in the world is that which violates the word of God. As God’s people, we would do well to distinguish between what is truly evil and that which is merely unpleasant.

Suffering can be beneficial, and thus is not always “evil” — Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:27-28), but he later found himself in position to deliver his brothers from a famine in their own land. Joseph’s verdict on his suffering was this: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). Suffering can be instructive (Matt. 14:22-33), faith-building (James 1:2-4), and corrective (Heb. 12:5-6). Suffering can strengthen people to fight bigger battles in the future (Jer. 12:5). Therefore suffering, while unpleasant at the time, can serve the beneficial purposes of an all-loving and all-good God.

We may have failed to correctly identify God’s purpose in creation — God did not create this world to last forever (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10-11), but He did create this world for a purpose — His own glory (cf. Isa. 43:7-10). As the song goes, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through!” God’s purpose in this world, according to Scripture, is to provide an ideal environment in which man can choose to either accept or reject Him (cf. Eph. 1:3-11). Therefore, God’s ultimate aim in this world is not to make His creation comfortable, but rather to give people opportunity to choose whom we will serve while here (Josh. 24:15).

God is infinitely wiser than we — Through his suffering, Job learned that God desired him to be faithful even though we humans rarely understand why things are the way they are (cf. Job 40-42). When Habakkuk asked God what He was doing, God responded, “I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (Hab. 1:5). Isaiah was told, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isa. 55:8). God does not have to explain every reason why we suffer in order for us to trust that, “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). He can see the beginning, middle, and end of our lives, while we humans tend to only focus on our immediate circumstances. Oh, for the wisdom and patience to trust that God is working all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11)! — JB

These days it seems many are down on the church. Many who witnessed churches of Christ grow in great numbers in the 1950’s and 60’s are today lamenting that few seem genuinely interested in spiritual things. The Lord’s church also faces vicious attacks from within; men and women from our own ranks who ought to know better seem to find great sport in mocking those who stand with conviction upon matters of faith. It has always been easier to grumble and complain against God and His people than to build with wisdom upon a solid foundation (see Numbers 11:1-35). Oh, for the wisdom and insight to be able to see what is truly right with the church of Jesus Christ!

The Lord’s church is still the only place where salvation can be found. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6). Scripture teaches that when a person is baptized two things happen: first, one’s sins are washed away (Acts 2:38), and second, that person is added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:47). Thus, it is not possible to be saved without being a member of the church of Christ. The church is the body of Christ (cf. Eph. 1:22-23), so it is impossible to be in Christ while being outside His body. As one preacher of a bygone generation used to say: “You can’t get to heaven in a church built by a man… the devil has a mortgage out on a church like that, and one day that mortgage will come due! ”

The Lord’s church is still the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 speaks of the church in lofty terms – it is both the pillar and bulwark of the truth. If God’s people do not hold up God’s truth in a world filled with darkness, who will? Our postmodern society has come to doubt whether absolute truth even exists; yet, Jesus taught that people can indeed know truth (Jn. 8:32). As we often sing, “Into our hands the gospel is given” (John 12:48; Jude 3). People in our own society are struggling with great and substantial issues of right and wrong, morality and immorality, good and evil. The God of heaven is the ultimate standard of morality and He expects His children to be lights, revealing His divine glory to the world (Matt. 5:16).

The Lord’s church is still growing in number. It’s never right to be pessimistic about the church of Christ — primarily because God is not pessimistic about His church (cf. Eph. 3:9-11). It is estimated that there are now more congregations of the church of Christ meeting in India and Africa than in all of the United States. Moreover, we constantly hear calls from missionaries in dozens of foreign fields literally begging for more workers and financial support because people are starving for the word of God. Certainly we ought to be involved in local evangelism here in our own nation, but the scope of the Great Commission does not end at the borders of the United States. Jesus said to go into all the world (Mark 16:15). How we need to see the church through God’s eyes!

The Lord’s church is still the apple of God’s eye. People need to hear about the eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3:9-11; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20). God planned salvation through His Son in the church of Christ before the foundation of the world! That astounding truth means that there is much more to the church of Christ than meets the eye. Revelation speaks of the church with the language of victory (cf. Rev. 7). The church of Christ has a special place in the plan of Almighty God – it is the apple of His eye (cf. Zech. 2:8-13; Titus 2:11-15). May God help us to truly love His church more! —JB

 Question: Is God still interested in the righteousness of nations today?

Answer: Absolutely. God’s judgment is multi-faceted. Scriptures speak of a great Day of Judgment when all who have ever lived will be forced to meet their Maker and give an account for how they have invested their lives (2 Cor. 5:9-10). However, before and until that Day arrives, God often exercises His divine right to pour out His wrath within history (Gen. 18:25).

In national affairs, God has always ruled over the kingdoms of men (Dan. 4:17; Rom. 13:1-6), and we can be confident in this: God is alive and active in world history just as much today as He was in ancient times. His word says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

But a word of caution is in order. Though we can be confident that God is vitally interested in human and national affairs, it can be greatly misleading to attempt to discern His will in every specific matter. In His infinite wisdom, God allows some wicked nations to prosper for a time while others are quickly cast down. Even the prophet Habakkuk could not understand how God could punish His own people while the “more wicked” Babylonians were allowed to prosper (cf. Hab. 1:12-17). Indeed, God does not think and act like man does — His thoughts and actions are higher than ours (Isa. 55:8).

When one reads the Bible, some particular sins seem to be very prominent reasons for God’s judgment upon a people in history. This is not to say that God is more concerned with some sins than others, but His word does seem to consistently bring the same issues to the attention of guilty nations. While the following will not be an exhaustive list, consider some of the more common reasons for God’s condemnation of an entire nation:

Materialism / Exploitation of the Poor — “You oppress the poor, you crush the needy, you say to your husbands, ‘Bring wine, let us drink’” (Amos 4:1). When a love for ‘things’ creeps into the consciousness of an entire culture, a ruthless selfishness often becomes the norm (1 Jn. 2:15-17). The accumulation of wealth becomes the supposed road to peace, security and happiness, and it doesn’t matter who is hurt or mistreated in the process! God warns those who would exploit the poor to line their own pockets: “the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (Jas. 5:4). Of materialistic peoples God said, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath” (Zephaniah 1:18).

Idolatry / Worship of False Gods — “He makes a god and worships it, he makes a carved image and falls down to it… shall I fall down before a block of wood?” (Isa. 44:15, 19). Countless cultures through history have manufactured false gods and worshipped them. From the ancient Greeks with their gods on Mount Olympus to the ancestor worship still found in many cultures today, idolatry is an ever-present reality in our world. Even our own culture is seeing recurring signs of the superstitions and idolatries that our ancestors cast off centuries ago. A steadily growing interest in astrology, witchcraft, nature worship, and eastern mysticism is making its mark in our culture right now. Such practices are still an abomination before God, and in His righteousness He cannot allow nations that practice widespread idolatry to prosper for long (cf. Jer. 50:2).

Pluralism / Moral Relativism — “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isa. 5:20). “I will cut off… those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, but who also swear by Milcom” (Zephaniah 1:5). God’s word is absolute truth (Jn. 17:17; 8:32), but pluralism has to do with the idea that there are many “versions” of truth, and that no single “version” can therefore claim to be exclusively true. Cultures that practice pluralism do not see the inconsistency of offering worship to God and then worshipping idols as well. The lines between right and wrong are blurred to the point where almost anything can be justified if it seems “true for me.” Nations that consistently embrace and practice pluralism have historically been the objects of God’s wrath and judgment.

Pride / False Confidence — “Your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am a god’… yet you are a man” (Eze. 28:2). “The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 3). Just as individuals can be guilty of the sin of pride, so can entire nations. The ancient Edomites had built magnificent cities in the high mountainous areas south of the Dead Sea, and they believed they were virtually invincible. On the contrary, their pride became their greatest vulnerability. When nations begin to trust in things like technology, geography, and history, they usually begin to forget the God who has blessed them so richly. First century Israel believed that both God and history were on their side, yet Jesus clearly condemned them for their pride (John 8:31-59) and predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Matt. 24:3-34). Pride is indeed deceitful!

Persecution of God’s People — “The devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days” (Rev. 2:10). “And in [fallen Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and saints, and all who were slain on the earth” (Rev. 18:24). The Bible clearly teaches that nations that persecute God’s people will be judged by God Himself. In Old Testament times, the kingdoms of men were cast down for persecuting Israel (e.g. Egypt in Exodus 4-12). In New Testament times, the book of Revelation teaches that God will ultimately judge nations who are antagonistic to the New Testament church. While it is not possible to discern God’s timetable for such events, isn’t it reassuring to know that He is ultimately in control? Jesus was able to tell Pontius Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11).

Celebration of Sin — “The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests bear rule by their power, and My people love to have it so” (Jer. 5:31). “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush” (Jer. 8:12). People and cultures can depart so far from God that they lose all sense of morality and decency. Jeremiah wept when he saw the deplorable state of Israel’s heart (Jer. 9:1). Sin had once been a shameful thing in Israel, but now it was out in the open for all to see. And what was the reaction? The people celebrated their newfound “freedom” and “enlightened perspectives” on life. When sinful behavior is openly celebrated and endorsed in any society, can God’s anger be withheld for long? When every man, “does what is right in his own eyes,” what will be the consequence? (Judg. 17:6; Prov. 14:12).

Devaluation of Human Life / Cruelty — “They built the high places of Baal which are in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and daughters to pass through the fire to Molech” (Jer. 32:35). Molech was an idol in ancient times that demanded human sacrifice (usually babies and small children). What is so horrifying is that the Israelites, who should have been worshipping God, reached a point where they began to offer their own sons and daughters as human sacrifices to Molech. Such practices seem barbaric at first until one considers the 40+ million legally aborted babies in our own nation over the past 30 years. Are we not offering our own children on the idolatrous altars of convenience and self-worship (i.e. “My body, my choice”)? God has historically poured out His wrath on nations that devalue human life with such heartless cruelty (Rom. 1:31).

Embracing Sexual Sin — “Let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth, for I hate divorce… says the Lord of Hosts” (Mal. 2:15-16). “Neither fornicators… nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites… will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). From ancient times, sexual sin has been an abomination before God. He is our Creator (Gen. 1:26-29), and He alone has the right to express to us how to use the bodies He has created. When cultures embrace and celebrate sexual sin, God’s judgment is often exercised within history. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for, among other things, their sexual depravity (cf. Gen. 18:20-19:29).

Forgetfulness of God’s Word — “I will send a famine on the land… a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Cultures that marginalize or ignore God’s words will inevitably face His wrath. The people of Nineveh once listened to the preaching of Jonah and repented (Jonah 3:1-10), but little more than a century later they had forgotten the words of the Lord and were destroyed (Nahum 1:14). A society is free insofar as it adheres to Biblical principles for moral and ethical guidance. When a culture abandons the word of God, moral decline tends to happen with amazing speed. God’s righteousness cannot allow Him to endure such blasphemies forever.

This series of articles has been intended to provoke thought among Christians about how God views nations, and what causes Him to judge nations within history. Ultimately, it must be said that no one can predict how or when God might pour out His wrath on an ungodly people, for He has not revealed every detail of His intentions to us (cf. Deut. 29:29; Isa. 55:8). However, the nations of the earth should take care to heed the warnings of Scripture: God does indeed rule in the kingdoms of men, and He will be both just and righteous in dealing with the nations of the earth (Gen. 18:25).

Christians ought to be earnestly praying for all the rulers of the world (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and also praying that God’s will might be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). We need to be patient, knowing that whatever happens in this world, God knows and cares about the fate of His people (Rev. 2:7,10). Ultimately, the kingdom of God does and will prevail over all the kingdoms of the earth (Dan. 2:44-45). Now, that’s reason for rejoicing! —JB

 Mel Gibson is one of the most famous actors and directors in Hollywood these days. His latest movie, The Passion of the Christ, has sparked interest, enthusiasm, and even controversy in many circles. Gibson, a conservative Roman Catholic, has reportedly portrayed the trial and execution of Jesus in a surprisingly stark and violent manner, and he undoubtedly hopes to convey a sense of realism in his work.

Many Christians will almost certainly be eager to see this movie, which has already garnered an “R” rating for violent content. Some denominational leaders have hailed this movie as, “the greatest potential evangelistic tool in 2000 years.” Before we happily rush off to see this film, however, I believe it would be wise to consider precisely what we are going to see. Scriptures tell us to, “test all things, hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21).

The Good — As a Christian I believe that movies like this one may indeed hold some value to a dying and sin-sick world. This movie represents an attitude in culture that still takes the cross seriously. Just stop and notice how many critics are ridiculing the events and the historicity of the Biblical accounts. Further, it may be that some do not fully realize the depth of brutality the cross represents. Crosses were the most heinous instruments of torture that the depraved Romans could imagine. They were reserved for the vilest criminals accused of the very worst crimes.

The Bad — The biggest problem with movies (and other dramatic re-enactments) concerning the crucifixion of Jesus is that the medium limits the message. There simply is no adequate substitute for the printed or spoken word to describe what happened to Jesus Christ. Scripture clearly teaches that God wants the “message of the cross” to be “preached” (1 Cor. 1:23; 2 Tim. 4:2). Movies, television shows, and dramatic plays fail to convey the Gospel message in two important areas. First, they appeal primarily to the emotion, and only occasionally to our sense of reason. This is the exact opposite of God’s method for making disciples. Jesus Himself told His followers to first, “count the cost” before they made a decision to follow Him (Luke 14:28ff). Experience teaches that purely emotional responses usually prove to be superficial responses (cf. Lk. 8:13). A second area where dramatic media (movies, plays, etc.) fail the Gospel message is in their failure to convey the full significance of the events they portray. How, praytell, can a motion picture ever hope to capture all the Biblical details of Jesus’ trial and execution, to say nothing of what those details mean? The crucifixion itself lasted six hours, but The Passion of the Christ will attempt to compress several days, complete with context and background, into the span of two hours or so.How could such a medium ever hope to do full justice to God’s word? How can a movie hope to significantly change hearts and minds when it has done little more than play on our emotions? When the final credits roll, the best that any dramatic movie or play can ever hope for is to spark (emotionally) enough interest for further investigation of the facts. The audience will still leave this movie devoid of Biblical answers to the eternally significant question, “What does all this mean?”

Please understand I am arguing neither for nor against seeing this movie. What I am pointing out, however, is that no movie can ever hope to compete with the transforming power of the written message found in God’s word (Rom. 1:16). Dramatic media (movies, plays, etc.) by their very nature limit and hinder what God originally intended to say. Our generation desperately needs to dust off the Bible and restore a high (and Biblical) view of preaching and teaching (2 Tim. 4:1-8). Only then will lives be truly and deeply transformed (Rom. 12:1-2)! — JB