by J. Randal Matheny

"Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol -- a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the craftsman's hands -- and sets it up in secret" (Deuteronomy 27:15a NIV).

When the societal climate disapproves, the sinner practices his wrongdoing in secret. As the general attitude loosens, the sinner becomes braver and dares to make his sin public because he knows he can find acceptance and support.

So the homosexual comes "out of the closet," as gay activists put it.

The adulterer assumes leadership positions in the church.

The scholar says all churches are pretty much the same, just historical manifestations of human efforts.

The preacher says all those good people who claim Jesus as Savior are saved.

The elders say the use of instruments of music as worship is no big deal, and people are free to use them (except maybe not on Sundays).

The verse quoted above was the first of a series of curses which Moses commanded the people to pronounce on Mount Ebal. After each curse all the people were to shout "Amen!" (see Deut. 27:14-26). Moses was establishing what God's people would not -- should not -- tolerate in their midst.

Maybe, just maybe, we need to brush off that list of curses and decide what it is in the church of God that we, by Scriptural light, will not tolerate. Before the water gets so tepid that anybody can jump in and do as they please.

The secrets are coming out. Will they become the standard? Or will we say amen to God's curses on those who snub their noses at his law in order that his will may prevail in our midst?

"Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out. Then all the people shall say, 'Amen!'"

by J. Randal Matheny

Unmistakable. No way to confuse the two. That was Jesus' answer, and Luke's phraseology, to answer a slanderous accusation against the Lord's work.

Jesus had cured a mute by driving out a demon. Some of the Jews assigned the power behind the cure to Beelzebub, a name for Satan.

But the devil would be shooting himself in the foot were he to do that, answers Jesus. And besides, he continues, your disciples purport to expel demons, so they must be doing it by some "good" power. They are your own judges.

And then he says, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you" (Luke 11:20 NIV).

Luke's choice of the phrase "by the finger of God" draws us closer. Matthew used the phrase "by the Spirit of God" (12:28). Both phrases mean the power of God at work in Jesus' ministry, so we shouldn't trot off too quickly to yell contradiction.

Luke probably takes his phrase from Exodus 8:18. In previous plagues, Pharaoh's magicians had replicated to the king's satisfaction the miracles performed by Moses' hand. But they failed at the plague of the insects. "Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'" The next time they are mentioned, they cannot appear before Pharoah because they were covered with boils (9:11). They then disappear from the picture.

In the Expositor's Greek Testament, A. B. Bruce thought Luke's choice of phrase emphasized "the immediateness of the Divine action through Jesus" (1:549). But if we take Exodus 8 as the background, I would think Luke wanted to emphasize the obviousness of the divine power behind Jesus. The magicians were quick to acknowledge there was no mistaking the power of God evident in Moses' plagues. His power was clearly far beyond the powers of evil.

So what does that mean for us?

First, in something of a reverse situation, plenty of people want to use the power and blessing of God as a blanket for supposed miracles and good works. Just as Jesus didn't let the Jews get by with confusing minds about the source of his power, neither should we let go unchallenged assertions that people and religions operate by the power of God, when in fact the divine curse rests upon them for negating Christ.

Second, the finger of God is not only a symbol for the power of God, but also for the word of God. Moses received two tablets of stone "written by the finger of God" (Exodus 31.18). When we insist upon objective truth and full obedience to the gospel, people sometimes label us as "legalists" or worse. While we refuse to get into a mud fight, neither should we let them get away with calling light darkness and darkness, light.

Third, identifying the power and word of God just isn't that difficult. A hardened heart like Pharoah or the self-righteous Jews could look at the working of the finger of God right in front of their faces, but not because they couldn't recognize it. Because they didn't want to recognize it, because it didn't fit their ambitious plans. For when God speaks, when God works, it's unmistakable.

The finger of God. When it moves, you can't miss it.

by J. Randal Matheny

Many liberal scholars seem to love trashing clear affirmations of Scripture. As I prepared comments on Paul's letter to Ephesians, I noticed one Belgian writer, resident in Brazil, taking the old tack that Paul did not write the letter.

One of his evidences was the similarity of the greeting in Ephesians 1:1-2 to that of Colossians 1:1-2. (Stay with me; it'll be worth it.) Says the scholar, "The author [someone other than Paul] simply copied the formula from Colossians."*

But wait! Check any translation, and you can see, even if you don't read Greek, that the author of Ephesians didn't simply copy the Colossian greeting word for word. Here's the two of them:

Colossians, supposedly the original: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father."

Now Ephesians, the copycat: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace form God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (NASU)

Notice any differences, any "changes" from Colossians to Ephesians, that would negate simple copying? Here are four obvious ones (we won't count the inversion of "Christ Jesus"):

1. There is no mention of "Timothy our brother."

2. The word "brethren" is omitted.

3. Unlike Colossians, no addressees are mentioned in Ephesians. The scholar claims manuscript evidence is against including the phrase "at Ephesus." It must have been a later addition, he thinks.

4. The phrase "and the Lord Jesus Christ" is added to the Ephesian greeting; there are some Greek manuscripts that add it in Colossians, but the evidence is against its inclusion.

How can a responsible scholar claim that an anonymous author "simply copied" the Colossian greeting with these differences? Perhaps he would keep the phrase "and the Lord Jesus Christ" in Colossians to sustain his argument that the two are similar?

No chance. In his commentary on Colossians a year earlier than his Ephesians commentary, he wrote that "the original [Greek] text must have had only the name of the Father."

It appears we have a case of shaping the facts to fit the theory. The theory refuses to take plain biblical statements at face value. The theory ignores plenty of changes, natural if they came from the same writer's pen. But this theory accomplishes what the scholars want: it diminishes the force of divine inspiration and undermines divine authority in Scripture.

No wonder some of our own brethren are going the same route.

*My translation from the Portuguese.

by J. Randal Matheny

You're sophisticated. Financially and socially advanced. Studied philosophy, sociology, or science in the university. Are respected by your friends and colleagues for your wit, intellect, or business acumen.

The furtherest thing from your mind is religion, because you consider it irrelevant at best, or downright harmful. Easiest thing in the world to brush off. The name Jesus causes you to curl your upper lip. The thought of opening the Bible leaves you cold.

You're in control of your life. You set your own standards. You choose your causes and determine your own rules. You may even contribute time and money to an issue important to you.

Your life is centered on the here-and-now. Not much thought about life down the road. Certainly no consideration, other than perhaps an occasional twinge in the back of your mind, to what happens after death. You probably tell yourself that at death it's all over.

But do you know for sure?

And what if -- and this is a big if -- what if someone came back from the dead to say there's more. Much more. So much more that it makes this life pale in comparison. But to find it, you have to prepare for it.

The "if" isn't actually so big. It's a proven fact, and people have set out time and again to debunk it, only to convince themselves of its truth.

Why not check it out for yourself? You know the crowd just might be wrong about a thing or two.

Pick up a Bible, against your natural inclinations, and read any of four accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. And be ready for a shock.

You've heard the religionists say their piece. Lots of them are just parroting their superiors, who are handing down what they got from their human authorities. Lots of them have got it wrong, and you can tell that without knowing hardly anything of what's popularly called Christianity.

Why not get it from the horse's mouth?

After all, you're sophisticated and intelligent.

by J. Randal Matheny

Wednesday morning Wilson called me. I'd gone out with him and his wife the day before to look at some buildings for rent, since our congregation is on the move again.

Wilson was concerned about me. Said I'd been acting "different" while we were out. Not my usual chipper self. Wondered what was bothering me.

So I shared with him some of my concerns, some of the things that had been weighing heavily on me as of late.

• The war in Iraq
• Tasks for the planning of the national men's conference in April
• Putting the magazine back on schedule
• Getting everything done for my son's college application (and wondering how to pay for it)

I'm one of those people whose face shows the soul. A college friend (female, yet) told me she could always tell what I was thinking. So when I'm preoccupied with something, my demeanor betrays me.

Wilson's phone call encouraged me. It's good to know a friend is near. Besides that, it gave me opportunity to reflect. Drove me back to the Word and to prayer.

His kind expression of concern powerfully picked me up and allowed me to set aside my worries in order to rejoice at God's goodness in his people.

Maybe you have something bothering you today. Please know that you have friends who are concerned. They may not have expressed it yet, but given half a chance, they'll sidle up to you to be there for you. They may not even mention your bothered state, but may just make themselves present, for you to know someone cares. Don't miss them; notice their presence.

And you may just be the person today to lift someone's burden and give them a reason for joy. A word, a smile, a call is all it may take.

So, what's bothering you today?