by J. Randal Matheny

A sign in Sao Paulo, where we were taking kids back and forth to camp this weekend, proclaimed that some group was "opening a church." Not infrequently we hear that phrase spoken, and seeing it in large letters struck me that the words are more than just an awkward expression.

Out near the Christian camp, it is told that one man who bought a little dilapidated building, formerly a bar, pondered whether to continue as a bar or "open a church." He apparently had trouble deciding which would bring in more money.

Biblically speaking, one does not open a church. You open a store. You open a business. You can even open, in Portuguese, an exception. You open a can (of worms). But you can't open a church. At least, not Christ's church.

This phrase is not merely an unfortunate expression. It belies either pecuniary interest or power issues. It climbs the height of religious sectarianism and plunges the depth of human depravity.

God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Man is God's tool to plant and water, but God makes it grow.

Jesus said that he would build his church (Matthew 16:18). His reference is primarily to the establishing of the church, as revealed in Acts 2, but it is he who continues to build churches throughout the world. It is not, and never can be, a human activity. The New Testament speaks little or nothing about church planting or church growth, to the chagrin of church growth advocates.

It does speak of the progress of the gospel (see Philippians 1:12). By these words Paul refers to what happened to him, not what he caused to happen. His imprisonment permitted him to preach to people who otherwise would never have heard the gospel.

Christians pray, preach, and teach. And through that divinely appointed activity, God makes it happen. The Lord builds churches.

In some places, because of Christians' lack of faith and disobedience, not even God is "opening churches." But that is a different travesty.

by J. Randal Matheny

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20, NIV).

Wandering from the truth: No effort required, no goal need be established. Just lay back, feel the drift, and the world will ease you downstream, away from the truth.

Bringing back: Stand in the gap, point the way back, signal the dangers, pour out concerns in prayer, extend forgiveness. Jude calls it snatching them from the fire to save them (v. 23). Paul terms it a gentle restoring (Galatians 6:1). What a balance of tough poise and meek strength!

And from the one who returns: Hot tears of repentance, prayers for forgiveness, frank confessions, efforts at restitution, breaking away from sticky habits and false friends, getting up the eighth time after seven falls (Proverbs 24:16).

You can wander away, but you never just wander back. You can stray from the path, but never get back on it by accident.

To go astray, do nothing, and you'll get lost fast. To remain faithful, or to come back to the fold, or to bring one back from the brink of hell, every ounce of energy is required.

Which are you doing?

by J. Randal Matheny

"Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?'" (Matthew 17:19, NRSV).

Far from the crowd, in private with Jesus, I learn why my best efforts weren't enough. He will tell me, if I'll only go to him.

He will show me my wrong motives. When Jesus was away where God showed his glory, I wanted to be the one to stand out. Ambition killed my success.

He will point out my lack of faith. I thought I had it down pat. "I can do this. Stand back everybody, and watch things happen." But nothing happened. My efforts depended upon my strength, not his.

He will point me to success. Little faith is no faith at all. Any "amount" of faith can deal with the challenges, for the power is not in my faith but in its object, the omnipotent God.

Jesus will answer my question. But first I must go to him, ask the private question that hurts to ask, shut up, and listen to what he has to say.

And I will be grateful that Jesus not only helps me grow in my mistake, but himself blesses another where I failed.

by J. Randal Matheny

A 34-year-old man in Henderson, Texas, prepared a candle-lit bubble bath for his wife. But he didn't have romance in mind. As she relaxed in the water, he knocked a radio into the tub. She caught it and threw it out before it hit the water.

Suspicious over his reaction to her quick reflexes, she went to the computer and discovered her husband had accessed web sites on bathtub electrocution two days earlier. The man was charged with second-degree attempted murder.

We should be so creative in putting to death the sins of the flesh. Not by hook or crook, deceit or cheat, but by honest confrontation with the forces of evil at work in and around us.

What can we do to mortify the flesh?

First, and perhaps hardest of all, admit it. A smoker once told me, "I can quit anytime I want to." He was fooling only himself. So confess It. Whatever It may be. Be transparent with God and with spiritual significant others. Getting it out in the open is halfway there to overcoming it.

Second, develop the fruit of the Spirit. Focus on growth, maturity, positive character, instead of the bad that pops up its head. A major step for me one day was when I prayed, "Lord, I know my self is not defined by this evil."

Third, dive into the Word. The Bible is life and strength. Jesus cited Scripture to ward off Satan's attacks. None better than his example.

Fourth, persevere. J. Andrews said, "Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th." Perseverance is not an excuse to continue in sin, but a reason not to give up on weakness.

Fifth, surround yourself with saints. No greater encouragement to holy living than wonderful examples of faithful people.

So you be creative in implementing these simple steps. Instead of causing someone's death, we'll find life for ourselves.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13, ESV).

by J. Randal Matheny

In 1977 Merhan Karimi Nasseri was expelled from his native Iran, without a passport, for protesting against the Shah. He bounced around Europe in search of a country and finally gained refugee papers from Belgium in 1981. Only to have them stolen. So in August of 1988, he got stuck in Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. No papers, no way of getting out, nowhere to go.

He took up residence in Terminal One. He's been there ever since. He's never put a foot out into the sunshine. Since 1988, he's never had his own quarters, never worked a single day, never walked through a meadow or park.

What a sad thing, right? Yes, until 1999.

That's when he finally got permission to leave the airport. Granted new papers, he can go to any part of Europe, if he wants. But now he won't leave.

"He is scared to leave this bubble world he has been living in," said Dr. Philippe Bargain, the airport's medical director. "Finally getting the papers has been a huge shock to him, as if he was just thrown from his horse. When you wait 11 years for something and suddenly in a few minutes you sign some papers and it's done — imagine what a shock that is."/1

He's free, but after 11 years of captivity in an airport terminal, he just can't bring himself to walk away.

And he has money. Dreamweaver is said to have paid him $250,000 for the rights to his story, for the movie, "The Terminal," with Tom Hanks.

What makes a man with money and papers stay in the terminal prison he inhabited for 11 years?

The same fear that keeps us imprisoned in our resentments, behaviors, vices, and sins. The same feeling of being accustomed to our little world of selfishness, pride, and egotism. The intimate knowledge of every corner of our puny existence versus the great, wide world of God's immense mercy and mission.

Nasseri is not alone in his predicament. So many of us are just like him. Hunkering in our habits, hiding in our corners.

To this day, Nasseri looks out the automatic doors of the Charles De Gaulle Airport and sees the sun, feels the breeze of the open air, but can't bring himself to step out into freedom.

For you, too, the doors are open. The sun of God's grace is shining. The cool wind of Christ's salvation is blowing.

Just walk out. Freedom is a step away.

"For freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1).

1/ www.snopes.com