Wednesday, 24. September 2003
A Rude Awakening About Being Spiritual BNewton, September 24, 2003 at 5:55:00 PM BST
by Barry Newton It must be a rude awakening when members of a congregation who were probably celebrating their freedom that “all things are permissible for me” and who seemingly were confident of their own spirituality suddenly discover their flight feathers being clipped by an apostle’s pen. But it appears that at least part of the letter of 1 Corinthians may have served this purpose. Based upon what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10, it is not too hard to reasonably reconstruct with a good measure of probability what some members of the church at Corinth were thinking. It probably went something like: I have been baptized into Christ. I am being spiritually fed by Christ. My spiritual health is outstanding and secure! Contrary to such thinking, Paul argued that just because someone has been baptized and is even feasting on true spiritual nourishment proves nothing about that individual’s spiritual health. What? Alarm bells might go off in some heads today just as they may have sounded back then. But in fact, Paul’s actual teaching goes beyond my bland summary paraphrase to even assert that being nourished by Christ proves nothing about your spiritual health before God! To teach this lesson, Paul retold an Old Testament story. Paul reminded them that all of Israel had experienced a baptism into Moses when Israel had crossed the Red Sea. Furthermore, all of the Israelites had even been nourished by Christ himself! Yet, and this is where the clap of thunder rolls in, God was not pleased with most of them as seen by the fact that He strewed their bodies throughout the desert. Their spiritual standing was far from secure. As important as it is to start the journey by being baptized and to be sustained by feasting on spiritual nourishment from Christ, something can still be lacking! Israel had failed to faithfully live out the message they had received; their actions were blatantly rebellious. Paul’s point must have smashed home to the Corinthians as a rude awakening. Just because they had become Christians and were being nourished by Christ proved nothing about their spiritual health. More was required. To be pleasing to God and to avoid falling, the Corinthian Christians could not afford to flaunt grace while living out lives estranged to the message. They had to live in accordance with God’s message. Not everything is truly permissible. Sin is still unacceptable. Yes, Christ’s blood has the power to forgive all sin. Yes, we can not merit God’s forgiveness. Yes, those in Christ have been released from the condemnation of sin. But if we allow the apostle to speak for himself, these truths do not relinquish us from the responsibility of being careful that we do not fall. Grace teaches us to say, “No” to ungodliness and to pursue godly living. Titus 2:11-12 Since 1 Corinthians 10 is directed to Christians, we need to make sure we have learned the lesson as well. The individual who is spiritually healthy, has not only entered Christ and feasts upon spiritual nourishment, but also lives out God’s message through his life. Paul’s next words in 1 Corthians 10 are comforting. God is faithful when we are tempted by not allowing us to face more than what we can handle. In India baoliver, September 24, 2003 at 11:39:00 AM BST
Finally, an internet cafe! Well, the last time we talked, I was worried because J.C. took the back seat out of the van so he could get more luggage in. Betty rode to the airport in the back of the van on the suitcases, and I rode up front with J.C., because I get car sick (grin). The trip to India took a total of 48 hours! We hopped on a plane to Atlanta, then back to Los Angeles. We were scanned and patted and passed through all the barriers without a problem. What they thought three old people weighed down with luggage would do is beyond me. If I were going to blow up a plane, I certainly wouldn't bother taking a bunch of luggage! But in a world that insists on asking me if I get the senior citizen discount, it was refreshing to be addressed as "young lady" by the security people. So that more than made up for the inconveniences! There was a four-hour layover in Los Angeles before we boarded Singapore Airlines (the best airline!) for a 14-hour trip across the ocean. Being the old pros that they are, Betty and J.C. fell asleep everytime they sat down, while I watched movies and read. We reached Taipei, where we had another hour layover, then another four hours to Singapore for a 6-hour layover. We went into town to get a video camera for one of the men for his TV work, and J.C. asked me if I wanted to eat at Popeye's. I was scandalized! After finishing our errands, we decided to get back to the airport, where we ate at Burger King. It is a small world. Then it was back on the plane for another four hours to New Delhi. The brethren picked us up at the airport, drove us to the church building and lugged all our heavy stuff upstairs. After visiting for a few minutes, they left us to ourselves. The good news was, it was shower time. The bad news was, there was very little water. I will try to attach a picture to show you the shower. It is actually a bucket and a cup. You collect the water in the bucket, wash down and then rinse with the cup. The problem: only a half-gallon of water came out before the spigot dried up! We are still working on this problem. But you would be surprised how far you can stretch a half-gallon of water! Saturday was a rest day. We went out to buy me some Indian garb. Sunday was wonderful! I met folks I had not seen in 30 years. Some of them had been tiny children when I left India in 1974; others, like me, had grown old and gray and fatter! I also met my internet buddy in person, my friend, Ajit, who is married to one of Sunny David's girls, Pretty. Sunny's mama, who is 82, just hugged and hugged me. I honestly had never expected to see her again. India is unimaginable to most people. But the brethren are the same everywhere: wonderful to be with. And no matter the differences in dress, customs or language, God is worshipped in spirit and in truth. |
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Update on FMag Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM They Were His Servants by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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