by Warren Baldwin

When I was a kid, two items in the local newspaper drew my attention: the sports page and the Ann Landers (or Dear Abby) column. I liked the sports page because it carried a lot of stories about local events and athletes, and I liked the column of Ann or Abby (I can't remember which one of these two it was, but at one time or another I have read both of their columns) because I couldn't believe some of the personal-problem stories people wrote in about. I also couldn't believe some of the answers Ann gave.

It struck me early on that Ann was not giving Christian responses. Yes, much of her advice was moral and sound. But over time it seemed like the undertone of her advice was oriented to personal rights: "You have the right to be happy, you have the right to self-fulfillment, you have the right to appropriate self-expression." And in a society committed to individual rights, who would argue with her?

I think Paul would. Not Paul McCartney or Paul Newman. I mean the apostle Paul.

Think about it. Paul dealt with some of the same issues that Ann Landers did. Marital problems, selfish relatives and friends, inconsiderate neighbors or associates, sexual temptations or indiscretions, disruptions at church. Well, maybe Ann didn't deal with that last one a lot, but there were some discussions about church and synagogue issues in her column as I recall.

Paul dealt with those problems differently than Ann. Whereas Ann wrote from a personal rights agenda, Paul wrote from a corporate responsibility agenda. The answer to a question about an inconsiderate husband or wife was not to assert your rights, but to seek the best interests of the family, reflecting Christ in the process. The answer to sexual temptation was not to seek one's own comfort or pleasure, but to orient that stress toward marriage and family, reflecting Christ in the process. The answer to selfish or inconsiderate people in one's life was not to competitively assert one's self over them, but to serve their best interests, reflecting Christ in the process. And the answer to church disruptions was not to push back, fight back or retaliate in some way, but to maintain the body of Christ in the spirit of unity and peace, reflecting Christ in the process.

Some of Ann's answers might sound like Paul's on a given issue, but the origin and nature of their thinking over time would take the reader in very different directions: One toward individual happiness (which often results, ironically, in loneliness), and one toward corporate responsibility (which often results, as God intends, in belonging and togetherness).

Richard Hays writes of Paul's approach: "The advice he (Paul) offers is not ... as though he were a first-century Ann Landers, answering everybody's cards and letters in terms of a lowest common denominator of common sense. Rather, he is seeking to shape the life of a particular community ... His letters should be read primarily as instruments of community formation" ("Ecclesiology and Ethics in 1 Corinthians," Ex Auditu. Link: campus.northpark.edu).

As good as some of Ann's advice was, it was oriented too much around the self. It promoted self-awareness, self-assurance, self-realization. And, in fairness to Ann, that approach is quite the norm in our self-oriented society. One unfortunate result of so much self-promotion is we have many lonely, sad people, the unavoidable fallout of self-ish living.

Paul's approach, by virtue of the Spirit, is community focused, whether that community be the Christian home or the larger Christian community, the church. The Spirit promotes community-awareness, community-interests, community-service. Paul's interest in community building meant that he sometimes ignored his own desires and happiness, even his own health and safety, for the good of the larger community. Paul didn't put himself into situations to be imprisoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and starved because he liked it or it promoted self-ish interests. Rather, he endured abuse because it served the interests of the larger community and reflected Christ in the process. "Does this make me happy?" was not the pivotal question for Paul.

Paul or Ann; community or self. That tension tears at our families and churches. Which side of the tension do you fall on?

by Bill Nicks

The cross of Christ has always been a stumbling block, an offense, to many (1 Pet. 2:8; 1 Cor. 1:23). The Jews reasoned, "How could one who was accursed to hang on a tree be the Messiah?" (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13). The Gentiles reasoned, "How could anyone worship a god who was condemned by the Romans to crucifixion?" So, He was rejected by both.

But Paul affirmed, "God made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Because of Jesus, no word is more widely known than the "cross". It symbolizes the depths of man's ignorance and sin. Had the rulers and princes known who He was, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (Acts 3:17; 1 Cor. 2:8). Though willful ignorance was signified in His crucifixion, it also symbolized the mercy and love of God (Rom. 5:8).

The cross is paradoxical.

1. It was the most tragic event in history, yet it was the most wonderful.

2. It was the saddest spectacle ever beheld, yet it produced the greatest joy.

3. It was Satan's greatest victory, yet Christ's most stunning defeat.

4. It was Satan's greatest defeat, yet Christ's most glorious victory. Christ won by losing and conquered by surrendering.

5. God's justice condemned sin in His flesh, but in His mercy He forgave sin.

6. From a human standpoint, it was foolishness, yet it was a revelation of the highest wisdom of God (Gal. 6:14, 2:20).

"Blood is not dignified," said a modernist preacher, so they deleted the word from all their songs. They did not believe there was atoning power in the blood. One who heard it said, "I'm not ashamed of blood. My mother pushed me and my brother off a railroad track to save us, while her blood was spread for yards up and down the track. She gave her precious blood to save us."

"Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18). There is power in the blood of Christ. I know, because my Bible tells me so! No fact is more plainly revealed (Matt. 26:28; 20:28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 2:9). Animal blood cannot now atone (Heb. 9:26; 10:1-4). Even the vilest human may be saved by the "wonder working power of the blood" (Col. 1:20-22; Eph. 2:3-6).

Our Lord's death was not accidental, it was foreknown, typified by the Passover lamb (Exo. 12; John 1:29; Isa. 53:7-12; Matt. 8:17; Acts 8:32).

The following things were accomplished by His death:

1. He purchased the kingdom, the church (Acts 20:28).
2. He reconciled Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:16).
3. He effected atonement for sin (1 John 2:1; 4:10).
4. He repealed the old covenant to establish the new (Heb. 9:15-17; Matt. 26:28; Heb. 13:20).
5. He destroyed Satan's power (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8).
6. He delivered all who were in bondage to fear of death (Heb. 2:15).

Salvation has been made available to all, yet not all will be saved because some reject, and others neglect, the great salvation (Heb. 2:3). Like Naaman of old, many have preconceived notions (2 Kings 5:1-14). God wants all to be saved (2 Pet. 3:9), but they must enter at the "strait gate" and travel "the narrow way" (Matt. 7:13).

If we are to please God, all we do must be centered around the cross; whether conditions of pardon, worship, or our daily walk of life. We cannot choose our own path, we cannot direct our own steps. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And the way of Christ was the cross.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol. 28, pgs 10-11.

by Jeff A. Jenkins

In the most recent Newsweek magazine, Jon Meacham writes about the new movie, "The Passion of the Christ". Meacham raises questions concerning the accuracy of the Word of God when he writes, "the Bible can be a problematic source. Though countless believers take it as the immutable word of God, Scripture is not always a faithful record of historical events; the Bible is the product of human authors."

If Meacham is right, the Bible is no better than any other book. If the Bible is not always a faithful record of historical events, how can we know if Scripture is ever faithful and accurate?

The claim of Scripture is radically different from Mr. Meacham's point of view. The Bible claims to be the Word of God. The Apostle Paul states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16).

The word inspiration comes from the Greek word, "theopneustos". It is a word that literally means "God-breathed". The Biblical claim is, God spoke His Words to man. The Apostle Peter states that Scripture did not come from man. He claims that it came from God (2 Pet. 1:20,21). Jesus himself said the Word of God is Truth (Jn. 17:17).

Meacham and the Bible cannot both be correct. Either the Bible is historically accurate in every instance or it is not. Either the Bible is the product of human authors or it is the product of a Divine Author. I will take God's Word over the word of man every time (Jn. 12:34).

by Oran Burt

1. Give up your Idols.

God had allowed the Midianites to oppress Israel for seven years because of Israel's wickedness. God called Gideon to deliver his people from the oppression, and the first order of business was to destroy the idols (Ashera) that his father had built (6:25). Idolatry had resulted in Israel hiding in caves and wine presses from their enemy. Idols can't deliver us, but can help prevent God's deliverance.

2. Prepare for Battle.

The timid, careless need not apply. God wanted Gideon to realize that he could not deliver himself, but that he must rely on God and not say "my own power has delivered me" (7:2). Our adversary doesn't give up easily. He threw down the boy possessed with demons - even after being commanded to depart (Mk. 9:26,27) - and he is determined to seek and devour. God gave Gideon 400 to 1 odds so that the issue would be clear.

3. Let your light shine.

When Gideon and the 300 men broke the pots and the lights "came on" suddenly, they were able to conquer the enemy with God's help. Light dispels the darkness. If we let our light shine among men through our good works, God will receive the glory today (Mt. 5:16).

4. Let God rule over your life.

After the deliverance, the people were so impressed with Gideon and his sons that they asked him to rule over them. He turned down the offer saying, "the Lord shall rule over you" (8:23).

5. Don't go back into bondage.

Gideon made an ephod from the gold offerings the people gave. That ephod became a snare to him and his household. We have been set free from sin that we might live for another, yet the pull of temptation is constant. Joshua pleaded with the people of God not to go back and cling to the nations from which God had delivered them (Josh. 23:12). The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Peter warned about the disaster of having escaped the pollutions of the world and yet becoming entangled in them again.

by Hollis Miller

Some important lessons for modern times can be learned from Paul's words recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:28-2:16. What the apostle wrote by inspiration certainly ranks among the most instructive verses in the Bible. In them he declared that the message of the cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to all who are being saved.

The philosophers known to the Corinthians had been unable through their wisdom to deliver men from enslavement to moral and spiritual darkness. They had been unable to do so because their philosophic eyes were incapable of penetrating beyond the boundaries of human thought.

Had philosophy been able to deliver men from the realm of darkness into the realm of light surely the Greeks would have supplied the bridge. They could boast of some of the greatest thinkers ever to walk the earth. Yet their genius had utterly failed to provide men with the truth that sets them free.

In the scripture cited above, Paul declared that the cross of Christ is God's wisdom, the wisdom which the wise of this world think is foolishness. The apostle's statement is by no means limited to the first century world. Many today rejoice when the faith of Christians is attacked by theorists of various descriptions, slandered, or laughingly ridiculed. Yet Paul declared that it is these very people who are themselves acting foolishly.

What should the church today learn from 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16? One obvious lesson is that when the Gospel is rejected, nothing can be gained either for God or for men by turning to human wisdom for a substitute message. Another is that worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom do not equal each other. It is therefore a dangerous thing to assume that worldly learning within itself will better equip one to either proclaim the Gospel or to lead the church. Unless the wisdom gleaned from the wise of this world is supervised by heavenly wisdom one is poorly prepared to lead others into total faith in the sufficiency of the cross of Christ.

At Corinth the Gospel made its greatest appeal to those who were not enthralled by their own wisdom, power, and riches. Paul stated it thusly: "For see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." Just how this stated fact applies to different societies in different times may be a flexible matter, but experience seems to teach us that even today biased worldly wisdom, power, and wealth do not equip many for reception of the Gospel. God's ways are not worldly man's way, and it still remains true that the cross of Christ is foolishness to those who think more highly of their own wisdom than they do of God's wisdom.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 20, pgs. 13-14.