by Barry Newton

I walked into the living room and dropped down onto the couch after a long day. From across the room a popular psychologist was busily chattering away through my tv set. My wife seemed to be engaged in listening to the program as she worked on a project. This was not how I was hoping the evening would unfold.

Just as I was planning my creative exit, something pleasantly surprised me. Essentially, this counselor acknowledged that injustices, neglect and other problems can leave their scars upon people, but people still are responsible for what they do! The psychologist then informed a guest on his show that although his guest had not enjoyed the advantage of a positive male role model, this did not relieve him from the responsibility of fulfilling his role as a husband. He then began to hammer away at what it meant to be a husband. This is not what I was expecting to hear from a popular psychologist. I do not know about his other shows, but he got this one right.

Consequences do exist. If we were raised in a dysfunctional family setting or within a homelife crippled by the spiritually impoverished air of secularism, chances are that as adults we will find ourselves grappling with trying to manage the damage in order to live as God intends. When strong godly role models are replaced by dysfunctional or inept ones, this can leave scars.*

In a world filled with abuse, neglect, self-centeredness, self-destructive patterns and every other form of sin, it is easy to blame others for our own inadequacies. The blame game began in the Garden of Eden and it seems to remain a favorite.

It is so easy to try to shirk the responsibility for our actions by blaming someone else. But have you noticed that Jesus never inquired into someone's past experiences as a guide for prescribing what standard should be fulfilled in their life? Jesus may have addressed how certain individuals should deal with specific issues of sin, but consistently Jesus called people to be accountable in living up to the very same standard.

While some might find it harder to do what is right, we are all responsible for whether we fulfill our various roles. If such thoughts make us angry, should not our anger be focused at the terribleness of sin and not at God? Knowing what is good for us, God's anger burns against sin.

In Jesus' parables, just because someone was a servant of the Master did not guarantee that he would hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

How do we get past the blame game? It is a matter of realizing that regardless of what might have happened in the past which can make today more difficult, ultimately I am responsible for what I choose to actually do.

*Because there are consequences for how children are raised, the importance of providing a strong godly nurturing environment for a child is irreplaceable. Every mother with young children who chooses to stay home for the purpose of raising those children should be highly praised. You may not bring in an income, but your work will have repercussions for decades to come.

by Barry Newton

I suspect that when most people go to visit someone in a hospital bed, they anticipate trying to minister to the ailing one through their presence, words, and prayer. They probably do not expect to walk away having received words of wisdom.

A few months ago, my expectations were turned upside down as I visited a fellow Christian in the hospital. As we talked, our conversation turned to the scriptures. It was not long before she interjected into our conversation:

"You don't work to be saved, you are saved to work."

How aptly spoken! How beautifully faithful to the Scriptures! What a wonderful thought to guide our perspective toward serving God in the new year!

This simple expression steers us away from a number of pitfalls which God's people can easily fall into, as it directs us toward a healthy perspective of our spiritual life. May we live up to the calling God has given us as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12; Eph. 4:1).

by Barry Newton

Several years ago on tv a commercial would begin with a group of people happily and noisily chatting. But as a certain man began to speak, suddenly the crowd would go silent and strain to hear every word which would fall from his lips. A narrator would announce, "When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen."

This commercial exaggerates the respect and behavior people show for those whom they respect. But such riveted attention is appropriate for how we should respond to Jesus.

While Jesus was fully human just as we are/1, he was also much more than just another prophet announcing God’s message. The Word which was with God in the beginning and which was God and through whom the world had been made took on flesh, blood and bone in order to live among us./2 Jesus was the Son of God./3

Accordingly, Jesus cried out to the crowds, "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."/4 "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father." /5

For us to comprehend and embrace Jesus’ teachings about himself, frees us from the apathy and ambivalence which comes from doubting whether truth is knowable. Jesus’ teachings recast our lives within the mold of assurance, meaningfulness and certainty. Their importance for our lives is seen in his pronouncement:

"If anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak." (6)

What did Jesus teach?

• If we are left to ourselves, we will not receive eternal life
• He has made it possible for us to receive eternal life.
• He came and died in order that we might be saved.
• Unless we believe what He has taught about himself and respond appropriately, we will die in our sins.
• It is foolish to ignore Him in order to pursue other goals thus losing our own life in the end.
• To follow Jesus involves dying to ourselves in order to live for God. This path of following Jesus is not a difficult burden.

While God used man to write down His message, the Bible is the Word of God, not a human product. May we all listen appropriately to the message of the Word which became flesh and was laid in a manger.

1/ Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 4:2 2/ John 1:1-3,14 3/ John 1:17 4/ John 8:26 (NASB) 5/ John 8:38 (NASB) 6/ John 12:47-49 (NASB)

by Barry Newton

For me, sometimes the irony gets real thick. I remember watching a television evangelist spend fifteen minutes emphasizing "you are saved by faith not by works." He correctly pointed out that we are not capable of being good enough to save ourselves; this would be salvation by works. And the scriptures do teach that we are not saved by our own merit; we must rely upon Jesus.

However, he also went beyond these biblical affirmations when he claimed that works meant doing something. Because of how he defined works, he concluded that there was nothing we could do in order to be saved. But then as the program came to an end, he began to encourage people to respond to Jesus. Guess what! He told them to do something in order to be saved! He told his listeners to say a prayer confessing that they were sinners and to ask Jesus to come into their hearts!

He obviously failed to realize that by defining works as "doing something", he had also condemned saying a prayer and inviting Jesus into one's heart! He could have avoided this whole awkward dance if he had just focused on preserving Paul's definition of works and faith in Christ which boil down to self-reliance and trusting in Jesus.

Each branch of Christendom teaches that you must do something in order to be saved. Does it not make sense to ask, "what does the Bible teach us to do?"

Examining Luke-Acts

This question is raised several times in the biblical books of Luke and Acts. We first encounter it being directed to John the Baptizer who was proclaiming a baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins as he preached the good news about the One to come (Lk. 3:3, 16-18; Acts 19:4). To him the crowds queried, "what should we do?" (Lk. 3:10,12,14). In each case, John's response called for them to repent, that is, to cease ungodly behavior and exemplify lives of love. And of course, they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River.

After Jesus died on the cross establishing the new covenant, Peter preached for the first time on the next Pentecost the good news that Jesus was the Messiah and Lord. They had killed Jesus, but God had raised him to life. In response to his lesson, his Jewish listeners asked their Jewish brethren, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter's answer was, "repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38 NASB).

Later when Saul of Tarsus encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul came to realize that Jesus was Lord. And yet, Jesus told Saul, "Rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do" (Acts 9:6).

What was Saul to do? When Saul retold this story in his own words he recounted Ananias' words, "For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:15,16).

Perhaps the Philippian jailer had in mind saving his skin when he asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). But Paul and Silas jumped at the opportunity to teach him the gospel. What did he need to do? He needed to understand who Jesus was and to believe in him. But this jailer had no idea who Jesus was nor how he should trust in him. So Paul and Silas taught him. And immediately he and his household were baptized. Upon being baptized, they rejoiced because they had come to believe in the Lord (Acts 16:31-34).

Conclusion

Whether in the Gospels, the historical literature of Acts, or the Epistles, consistently the New Testament message announces what we need to do in order to be saved/1. We must rely upon Jesus, not ourselves, for salvation. We start down the path of relying upon Jesus and his blood by being baptized.

Every group in Christendom teaches that you must do something in order to be saved. Why not teach what scripture announces?

1/ Mark 16:15,16; Matthew 28:19,20; John 1:12,13; 3:3-5; Acts 2:37,38; Galatians 3:26,27; Romans 6:1-4; 17,18

by Barry Newton

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. These words could well have been written about life during the holiday season. It can seem like the holiday season is made up of a wreath of special moments and cherished memories intertwined with hurt feelings, misunderstandings, loneliness and tremendous frustrations.

People get frustrated, if not downright angry, when their dreams and wishes for the holidays are blocked or if the events unfold contrary to their expectations of how things should be. Tensions within families can run high. Where should we spend the holidays? When and how should the presents be opened? Why should they get to relax while I labor at making preparations? The list of colliding thoughts, values and expectations contributing to the boiling point seems to be nearly endless.

What can you do to improve your holiday experience? Here's a few thoughts appropriate for those who call themselves members of God's family.

1. Do not wait for someone to invite you to their home, invite them to your home

The Golden Rule encourages us to take the initiative in doing for others what we would like them to do for us. Instead of allowing self-centeredness to swallow up our thoughts, plan how you will be a blessing to others (Lk. 6:31).

2. Reach out to those who are poor as well as the lonely

While it is not a sin to invite those to our parties who have means or who are our friends, we can serve God and model Christian values to our children by reaching out to those who do not have ability to return our invitation (Lk 14:12-14; Rom. 12:16).

3. Forgive the past and let go of previous grievances

Unfinished business swirling up from feelings of past favoritism, resentment over long-standing injustices and just a whole host of other interrelationship matters can sour and destroy time together. God's people are to forgive others. Yes, life can be unfair and others have at times acted out of dark motives as we too are not innocent in all matters. But as children of God, we are to forgive and not bear a grudge against others (Eph. 4:32-5:1; Lev. 19:18). This is not just for their benefit but also for our own well-being.

4. Know how to respond to frustrating situations

While those who demand their rights and feel "I should be able to ____" will only increase the pressure within relationships to the breaking point, the peace maker responds by seeking the well-being of others in the same manner he seeks his own. Perhaps the wisdom of overlooking an offense will be needed (Prov. 12:16). Perhaps there will be the need to reevaluate just how important an issue is. A hundred years from now will it really matter if we do it this way or that? Perhaps letting others have their way this time would be an appropriate response.

During this pressure cooker season, we have a wonderful opportunity as God's people to remember what is truly important and strive to bless the lives of others. May your words and actions reflect our Savior's values and will.