THAT
THERE MAY BE EQUALITY By Al Diestelkamp (continued from THINK
page 1)
In regard to finances, they "have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17), but have grown "lukewarm"
when it comes to the support of the gospel in needy places.
Perhaps we would do well to
examine some of the reasons this inequity has become so apparent,
and look for ways that it can be lessened:
The problem has been increased
in some areas by needless splintering. While we would like for
there to be a thriving congregation in every town, in some areas
that is simply not practical. If small congregations meeting
within a few miles of each other would band together it would
alleviate part of the problem. The expense of maintaining two
or three meeting places could be cut significantly and make it
more possible to become self-sufficient. Often the reasons there
are multiple congregations within a given area is because of
past divisions that have since been resolved, but neither group
will budge to seek actual unity.
There are also some congregations
which once were self-sufficient but have dwindled down to a point
where they are merely "keeping house"--and not doing
very well at that! If there are other congregations within reasonable
distance, it may be time to fold up. If there are no other sound
congregations reasonably close, these are the kinds of places
that able congregations should be anxious to help by providing
support for a man or two to work with them.
Speaking of having two preachers
in one location, a growing number of large or affluent congregations
are feeling the "need" for a second preacher, while
ignoring the plight of many small or poor congregations which
can't even support one man. I'm not opposed to a church having
two preachers, but it's high time we realize that the need for
two preachers in one congregation is more justifiable in new
or needy places than it is in congregations with an eldership
and many capable members.
Christians sometimes lament
about a so-called "preacher shortage" among our brethren.
I don't really think there is as much a preacher shortage as
there is a "support shortage." As this is being written
an online website has no less than 38 non-institutional churches
seeking preachers, with only two claiming to be able to provide
full support. There are 31 on this list that reveal their inability
to support, informing prospective preachers of having to raise
what is lacking. We all know there are many more churches throughout
the world that are not on such a list that are in the same situation.
Another thing which has contributed
to the disparity is the temptation for affluent congregations
to spend huge sums of money on luxuries which appeal primarily
to the flesh. This is often manifested in the construction of
church buildings which are opulent instead of commodious. At
the same time there are brethren in other locations who not only
don't have adequate meeting places, but also can't support a
preacher to work with them.
This emphasis on luxury is
being fueled by a few "church growth experts" who are
convincing brethren that they cannot grow unless they follow
the lead of the survey-driven "seeker-friendly" advocates
in the evangelical movement.
Then there are churches which
have huge sums of money setting in bank accounts with no specific
purpose in mind, while churches in needy areas are deficit-spending
and their preachers are having to beg for support. It should
not have to be said, but the church is not in the money-saving
business, and an unused treasury brings no glory to God.
I will likely be reminded that
the bank balance a church maintains, what it spends on architecture,
or whether to have two preachers, are all matters of judgment.
That is true, but let me remind you that we will give account
one day for the judgments we make. While I am obviously disturbed
by this widening gap, I am happy to say that there are still
a good many able congregations that are resisting the "inward-looking"
trend and are doing their best to support gospel preaching in
needy areas, while at the same time being effective in their
local areas. God bless them!
____
AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com
Return to THINK page 1.
'INCREDIBLE
BEGINNING By Andy Diestelkamp (continued
from THINK page 1)
However, the ancient book of books, the Holy Scriptures, offers
another explanation. Many find its explanation incredible, but
it is far more credible than the spontaneous generation of something
from nothing suggested by atheists and agnostics. "In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).
Indeed, mankind is without excuse for not drawing the basic conclusion
that a powerful supernatural intelligence (God) is the cause
of this physical existence (Rom. 1:20).
Scripture reveals that God simply spoke things into existence.
"Then God said...and it was so," is an oft repeated
phrase in Genesis 1. To be able to speak material things into
existence demands a power that is beyond nature and beyond our
comprehension. It is super-natural. Therefore, it is understandable
that atheists assume that this creation account (along with the
rest of the first eleven chapters of Genesis) is mythical, legendary
or, at best, allegorical, but certainly not literal. Yet, even
some believers in God attempt to explain the creation using the
naturalistic assumptions of unbelievers.
Forgetting that with God all
things are possible (Matt. 19:26), many find these accounts incredible
and unbelievable. However, again borrowing from the sayings of
Paul, "why should it be thought incredible by you that"
God spoke things into existence in six days? Of course, Paul
was addressing Agrippa with regard to Jesus' resurrection (Acts
26:8). But beware! If you find a six-day creation incredible,
you might have the same problem with the resurrection from the
dead. Most people do. Whenever we doubt the power of God's spoken
word, we have no foundation for faith in any aspect of His word.
As disciples of Christ, we
would do well to follow His lead concerning the authority of
the Genesis account. In responding to His adversaries about a
point of great controversy regarding divorce, Jesus refers to
the Genesis account of the beginning (Matt. 19:3-8). Jesus' authoritative
use of Moses' account of creation affirms that He believed it
to be accurate. Indeed, we cannot claim Christ as our Lord and
reject the accuracy of Moses' words (Jn. 5:46,47). To adapt Jesus'
words to the Sadducees and apply them to the present controversy
over creation/evolution, "You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Matt. 22:29). Beware,
a rejection of these beginning truths undermines the whole foundation
of the rest of Scripture and, therefore, our faith in God's power
to do anything.
Return to THINK page 1.
ANDY DIESTELKAMP
323 E. Indiana Ave., Pontiac, Illinois 61764
Email: adiestel@verizon.net
WHY
GO TO HELL TWICE? By David Diestelkamp (continued from THINK
page 1)
Faith and hope say we have to wait to see and have what we desperately
need (Heb. 11:1; Rom. 8:24-25). We hate waiting--especially when
the deficiency is or seems urgent or unbearable. God does not
ask that we ignore pain, depravation or loneliness. He does not
suggest that these are not real. What God does ask is that we
know and trust Him enough that we will accept His answer to these.
Most people contend that God
sometimes answers "yes" to requests for relief from
suffering, and sometimes He responds with a "no." This,
in turn, opens up a debate as to why God might give such replies
in certain circumstances. Some conclude that a good and loving
God wouldn't sit by and do nothing as suffering and death ravage
us--and they are right! God has done something!
Unbelief based on human suffering
misses the theme of the Bible, it denies the value of God becoming
flesh, and ignores the proclamation of the cross--God cares!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). Is it possible that, as God
told Paul, His grace is "sufficient"? (2 Cor. 12:9).
God knows that we need our tears wiped away--no more death, sorrow,
crying and pain (Rev. 21:4). These are real needs and are addressed
fully by God by giving His servants a home where none of these
exist for eternity. It is not cruelty for God not to end suffering
for everyone now, it is merciful for Him to give us a way to
conquer even death "through Him who loved us" (Rom.
8:37).
Suffering now pushes us toward
God because He alone can end it for us. Focusing on heaven motivates
faithfulness since "the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed
in us" (Rom. 8:18).
What is the alternative? What
is the point of being "of those who draw back to perdition"?
(Heb. 10:39). Will we let the feeling of being cursed in this
life cause us to choose damnation? What is the point of going
through a life of suffering while also holding to "a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which
will devour the adversaries"? (Heb. 10:27).
Why would anyone want to go
to hell twice? God's mercy and grace says we don't have to.
DAVID DIESTELKAMP
940 N. Elmwood Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60506
Email: davdiestel@yahoo.com
Return to THINK page 1.
BORDER
CROSSING By Matt Hennecke (continued
from THINK page 1)
...those who want to be Christians, but are unwilling to do what
the Bible says to obtain citizenship.
Consider for a moment Paul's
words regarding our past alien status, and how we became citizens:
"Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ,
excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:12-13).
And then he concludes: "So
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints, and are of God's household" (Eph.
2:19).
Did you catch it? The entrance
requirement for becoming citizens? It was there in verse 13:
"in Christ Jesus." Being "in" Christ Jesus
is what makes us citizens. Okay, so how do we get "in"?
Paul tells us the entrance requirement: "For all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ"
(Gal. 3:27).
But people don't want to obey
the rules or follow the regulations. They want citizenship on
their terms not God's. They think all they have to do is be a
"good person," or attend worship, or simply believe
in God. So, they think they are citizens, they believe they enjoy
the benefits of citizenship, but in reality they are aliens--alienated
from Christ himself. Here is how Paul put it: "being darkened
in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because
of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of
their heart" (Eph. 4:18).
Dear reader, please simply
read the first several chapters of the book of Acts--sometimes
referred to as the book of conversions. In it are stories of
people who became Christians; who followed the instructions for
citizenship; who were once aliens but are now free; who were
once lost, but now enjoy the blessings of citizenship in the
kingdom. Be sure you have followed the proper procedures for
entrance!
Return to THINK page 1.
MATT HENNECKE
3026 Box Canyon Road, Huntsville, AL 35803
Email: matt@biblemaps.com