by Mike Benson

Teri Horton stopped in Dot's Thrift Shop to browse around. During her junket she stumbled across a bright abstract painting and decided that it might make a good gag gift for a disheartened friend. Teri shelled out $5.00 for the 66-inch by 48-inch canvas and then lugged it home.

Teri's friend, Theresa, got a big laugh out of the hideous present, but turned it down because it barely fit through her front door. Teri took it home again, but after a year decided it was taking up too much space and so she offered it to yet another friend who was an art-instructor. The work turned out to be an authentic Jackson Pollock worth millions!

Pollock (1912—1957) was a leader in the American expressionist movement of the 1940's. He employed large canvases and then "painted" by pouring liquid pigment out of a can and dripping color with a brush.

No one knows for sure how the masterpiece ended up at the thrift store. Some think it may have been purchased at an estate sale in Southern California; others believe it may have simply been given away by Pollock's brother following his untimely death. In either case, "Untitled 1948" found its way to the little store near San Bernardino where it sat for years until Teri Horton happened along.

Imagine. A multi-million dollar painting sold for only five bucks. The store owner had no idea what she possessed.

Maybe you've never thought about it before, but like Teri Horton, you have an incredible treasure in your home too. It is bound in genuine calf skin, printed on thin rice paper, and written in black Indian ink. It is the holy (Jeremiah 23:9), inspired (2 Timothy 3:16,17) and infallible (Psalm 19:7) Word of God (Psalm 33:4). Splashed across its pages are the thoughts of the greatest author in the universe.

Dear friend, where is your Bible? Is it lodged in some dusty crevasse of your home? When was the last time you sat down and really dug into Scripture (Acts 17:11)? The Word of God is a valuable find (cf. 2 Kings 23:24)! The Psalmist wrote, "I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure!" (Psalm 119:162).

"How precious is the Book divine, by inspiration giv'n! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, to guide my soul to heav'n. Holy Book divine! Precious treasure mine! Lamp to my feet and a light to my way to guide me safely home." (L. O. Sanderson).

by Stan Mitchell

I ran across a survey recently that polled American leaders in business, politics, and the media. They were asked what groups constituted the "greatest danger to democracy" today. Fourteen percent fretted about the dangers posed by racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. Interesting, you might say. But here's the shocker.

Twenty-four percent said that they viewed Evangelical Christianity as a threat to democracy!

Allow that to filter through your thinking for a moment. Greater than power-hungry politicians, greater than the attempts of the Politically Correct to dictate, greater than a one-sided, eager to "educate" media, greater than those pathetic, hate-filled skinheads. Bible believing, conservative churches are a greater threat to democracy than these! Don't be afraid of media moguls who brainwash us with PC thinking; be afraid of a Gospel Preacher in a church Sunday morning, be afraid of churches that stand up for scripture. (The Williamsburg Charter Survey on Religion and Public Life, Washington DC, 1988).

What are they saying? What does this tell us?

To begin with, this sort of thing is as silly as Letterman after his bedtime. Conservative church groups are simply not a threat to democracy and free thinking. Curbing their right to enter public discussion, robbing their ability to express themselves, tearing the Ten Commandments off court walls, removing the very name God from our pledges and commitments –- now that would be a threat to democracy!

What it tells us is that the world is still, and relentlessly, the implacable foe of what is right and godly. Why are we surprised? Did we forget?

"Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12).

The threat they feel is not to their democracy, but to their deviance from God's will. The world has always hated that!

by Barry Newton

He chose his words carefully. Standing next to me, the university professor made his case. It went something like this. If the Bible teaches that we can not be saved by works and if works involve doing something, then baptism can not be a part of salvation because baptism involves doing something.

My friend had failed to understand Paul. His difficulty was not that he lacked intelligence. Rather, by assuming a non-biblical definition of "works" he built his castle upon sand. For the moment, let's turn our gaze to another story.

Many years ago, a man was moved to apply pen to papyrus. God's people needed to be warned against a growing danger. It was imperative that they be reminded of what was true and taught about the path to follow. And so words regarding salvation spilled forth. "That I might be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith of Christ – the righteousness of God that is by faith."/1 And again, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."/2

This would be a familiar chord the early church would hear from Paul. The apostle forcefully argued the futility of trying to achieve one's own righteousness through living up to the standard of the Law./3 In principle, completing the works of the Law would give a person cause for boasting./4 In actuality, the Law could never result in anyone being declared righteous, for it reveals the sinful weakness of the flesh./5

Paul's pen continued to push forward. God in his grace had provided a different way for people to be declared righteous which would not take into consideration their unrighteous state. Those who would rely upon Jesus for salvation would be included in the body of Christ and declared righteous on account of Jesus./6 Thus, salvation would be gifted to those who trust in Jesus. There would be no need for anyone to earn his or her own righteousness.

When Paul wrote that salvation is by faith and not by works, was he setting "just believing" against "doing something"? Or was the apostle contrasting two competing paths by which people in his day were seeking to be justified –– trusting in Jesus verses the self-reliance of demonstrating one's own goodness? As previously noted in this series of articles, to trust in someone can demand a person to do something.

What's at stake in how someone responds? First, there is the matter of accurately understanding the intended message. Second, the practical difference between the two paradigms of "just believing vs. doing something" and "trust vs. meriting righteousness" is enormous. The first paradigm logically denies that baptism can play any role in being saved, while the second is perfectly compatible with affirming the necessity of baptism to be forgiven. In some situations, in order to trust in someone a person must do something. Can we know which understanding the apostle intended? Yep!

If when Paul penned "not by works," he had meant we receive salvation independent of doing anything, then scripture should not tie salvation to any form of obedient activity. If it does, we can know that Paul was not denouncing "doing something" but rather was rejecting all efforts of self-reliance.

Since statements about active obedience leading to salvation abound,/7 Paul's purpose in writing "not by works" involved rejecting those attempts to merit righteousness. For Paul, the preaching of the gospel which causes someone to come to faith in Christ involves obedience./8

Baptism does not reveal our righteousness, rather it is the prescribed faith response to Jesus whereby someone depends upon Christ for forgiveness! With immersion a person is trusting in Jesus for cleansing and inclusion into the people of God. Salvation is not by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

1/ Philippians 1:9 2/ Ephesians 2:8,9 3/ Galatians 2:16,21; Romans 3:21,22 4/ Romans 3:27,28; 4:2; Ephesians 2:9 5/ Romans 3:20; 5:21; 7:7,8; 8:3; Galatians 3:10,11 6/ Romans 3:22-25; 4:21-5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 7/ Hebrews 5:9; Romans 6;17,18; 1 Peter 1:22; Acts 2:38; 6:7; 22:16 8/ Romans 1:5; 16:25,26

by Richard Mansel

Surely you have heard this exchange.

"Do you attend church?"

"No way!" "

"Why not?"

"They're all a bunch of hypocrites up there!"

At this point, the one posing the questions is supposed to pause, see the profundity of the charge and slink away in shame.

Hypocrite simply means, "one who is pretending to be something they are not." The popular usage usually refers to someone who fails to live up to a standard bestowed on their position in society.

Originally the word was ascribed to actors playing a part. One writer has said, "The art of the actor is that from the moment he dons the mask his whole conduct on stage should be in keeping with his allotted role" (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 8:560).

Let us consider this concept for a moment. Two films are under consideration. In the first, a man roams the streets filming whomever passes in front of his camera. In the second, friends are hired to play roles according to a script. Which film is using actors? Obviously it would be the second film.

Someone acts purposely on stage or film to portray someone they are not. By definition, for someone to be a hypocrite they must do so purposefully. If we inadvertently wander onto the stage of a live play in the park, we are not suddenly billed as an actor in that production. Someone who dons a mask has to do so intentionally.

The hypocritical Christian is portraying a faithful believer when they intend to deceive. Vine's says "it was a custom of Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 242). No actor alters their appearance or voice without intending to do so.

Christians who are weak and sinful are not necessarily hypocrites. Christians who battle temptations and lose frequently are not hypocrites, but sinners in need of forgiveness. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:10). We all fail to be what we intend. If this made one a hypocrite, then everyone would be a hypocrite. Consider that when an alcoholic refuses a drink or a rapist passes on a victim, they are hypocrites by the popular definition.

Let us consider some thoughts. First, the charge evidences a lack of understanding of what a true Christian is. Second, the charge creates an untenable situation. Since everyone who ever lived but Jesus was a hypocrite, we would not be able to live among human beings.

This charge also fails to account for personal responsibility. The hypocrisy of a Christian and the religious condition of the sinner are two different issues. The Christian will be held responsible by God for his hypocrisy. If he fails to remedy the situation and repent, he will lose his soul.

Yet, this has nothing to do with the sinner leveling the charge. They will also stand before God and be judged. Revelation 20:12 says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things written in the books" (NKJV). Then charges of hypocrisy will be futile. Now the accuser will be the one in trouble.

A safer path would be to worry about our own soul and let God handle the hypocrites.

by Barbara Oliver

Last night I was talking with a friend, and at the same time we both said, "Unfortunately, we are known for what we don't do."

We did not mean that we should not be the voice of concern in this age of moral laissez faire. Knowing what we don't or shouldn't do is important. But should it be the outstanding characteristic of our Christian walk?

My goal in life is not to be known for what I don't do, but rather for what I do. When people look at me, I want them to wonder what makes me different. I want to be known for my love, and my joy, and my peace. I want to be known for my longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).

Let us strive in our Christian growth to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. The don'ts should not be done. But let's make sure we are doing the do's.