How to Divide a Country - Stephen

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

[2 Timothy 2:15]

If, like myself, you grew up in the church program for kids called AWANA, you heard this verse fairly often. Why? — because Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.

But what does “rightly dividing” mean in this verse? And is it really that important when it comes to the “word of truth” (also known as the Word of God, Holy Bible, or simply The Book)? Lastly, if it is important, do we ever consider why?

 

The Greek word translated in English as “rightly dividing” was actually a term used for the exactness needed in carpentry, masonry, etc. or, in this context, to simply handle the Scriptures correctly. But, once again, beyond its definition is it really that important? I guess it depends on your answer to this question—was the American Civil War that important? 

 

A famous quote by our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, says: 

 

“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”[1]

 

Here’s the problem Lincoln faced: both fronts of the Civil War were claiming to be on “God’s side.” The North felt like they were on the side of God and the Bible to end and abolish slavery. The South thought they were on His side believing that slavery was something allowed and condoned by The Book itself. Professor and Civil War expert, Mark Noll, puts the situation like this: 

 

“…In American society as a whole, there was no recognized authority greater than the individual interpretation of Scripture to deploy for the purpose of understanding the Scriptures. And in 1860 fundamental disagreement existed over what the Bible had to say about slavery at the very moment when disputes over slavery were creating the most serious crisis in the nation’s history.”[2]

 

An example of Scripture that preachers within the South would use to support their cause against the Union was: 

 

“Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land….And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”

[Jeremiah 1:14, 16] [3]

 

On the other side, a Biblical principle the North would use over and over to defend their stance against slavery was:

 

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the 

Law and the Prophets.”

[Matthew 7:12][4]

 

 

With these in mind, how could both sides use the same book of Scripture to support their very different and opposing causes? The answer is that we must conclude, like Lincoln, that only one of them could be “rightly dividing the word of truth:”

 

“In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time.”[5]

 

This leads us back to our original question—since both sides of the Civil War could not be correct because of how contradictory they were, how important was it then and how important is it now that we are “rightly dividing the word of truth?” As parents, grandparents, and any other descriptive that comes with our place in life, how important is it that we are actually teaching and using the Bible correctly in our lives and in the training of those God has entrusted to our care? According to our original verse, 2 Timothy 2:15, it is especially important for three reasons.

 

First, it is important enough for God to call all of us to work at it. Now originally this verse was written from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor, but God saw fit to include it in the Bible so that we might all benefit and learn from this letter and its content. That word “study” means to give diligence to, to exert oneself, and to labor over.

 

Secondly, it is critical to "rightly divide the word" to the extent that we will be approved by God if we do. That word “approved” means to be accepted and pleasing to. And which of us does not want to hear the approving words of Matthew 25:21 as we enter our eternal home — ”Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

Lastly, it is paramount that we handle the Word of God correctly to the point that we will be ashamed if we fail to do so. Because if this verse says we should “not [be] ashamed” if we rightly divide the Word, what should we be if we don’t? The very opposite. That word “ashamed” means to disgrace and dishonor.

 

So, how important is it that we “rightly divide the word of truth?” Maybe we never divide a country again causing 620,000 casualties of war, but if today’s divide over the issue of Pride month even among Christians, is any indication, the need for this is most assuredly still relevant.[6]  

 

Therefore, may we commit ourselves to this task by laboring over the Scriptures that we might be approved by Almighty God Himself and not be ashamed when we stand before Him one day in eternity. 

 

“For God is not [the author] of confusion but of peace...”

[1 Corinthians 14:33]

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[1] https://www.historynet.com/abraham-lincoln-quotes/

[2] Noll, Mark A., The Civil War as a Theological Crisis, (The University of North Carolina Press, 2006), p. 28-29.

[3] Godfield, David, Still Fighting the Civil War: The American South and Southern History, (LSU Press, 2013), p. 50.

[4] Noll, p. 43. 

[5] https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/boisi/pdf/f10/Meditations_on_the_divine_will.pdf

[6] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/heresy-boys-girls-webb/

Living Committed - Ron

Perhaps no one knows the origins of the following thought, but there is little doubt that you have heard it before. It generally runs something like this: The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.

When reading the Bible, the inescapable conclusion is that Jesus Christ of Nazareth calls for and demands committed followers. Much like the pig gives its life for our breakfast, the call from the Savior time and again is for His followers to lay down their lives. It is impossible to follow Jesus in faith and continue to live a life based on self-interest. In John 12:25; Matthew 10:38-39; Mark 8:35; and Luke 17:33, Jesus speaks with authority, clarity, and force: You cannot follow me without learning how to die. It was true for the rich young ruler (Matthew 19, Mark 10, Luke 18) and it is true for you today. 

Following Jesus requires commitment.

And yet, for many Christians, there seems to be a fear of committed discipleship. Perhaps you know, on a deep level, that you lack the commitment to Christ to which He calls you. Maybe you are unsure how to maintain a level of commitment. For others, the issue is that you are unable to summon the drive to be committed. Perhaps there are even some doubts in your life holding you back from total commitment. 

Here are four general reasons why some remain uncommitted. Hopefully shedding light on these will help us to recognize them in our own life in order to move beyond them.

1. We pursue something better. When you refuse to commit to Christ, what you are saying is that there may be something better for your life. Is this true? Absolutely not. The Creator of the universe knows best how to give you a joyful, more abundant life (John 10:10). He has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11), a will for you (Romans 12:2), and a destiny for you (Romans 8:28-29).
   
   
2. We have unbiblical expectations. The call of Christ is a clear one. And yet, it is often misunderstood. The abundant life of Christ is not one of ease that is free from financial, physical, or emotional hardship. Jesus always made sure to tell of the cost associated with discipleship (Matthew 10:38; 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23; 14:27). Our expectation must come from Christ: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:38).
   
   
3. We have time to do it later. This could also be listed as: We are too busy right now. You tell yourself, “when I have more time I’ll commit to whatever He wants” — but deep down, you know that you will never have more time and there will never be a better time. No Christian would look Jesus in the face and say, “Hold on for a few years. Wait for me, and I will commit after I do some other stuff.” Yet many of them live out that thought in their actions. Your life is a vapor that only appears for a short while (James 4:14) and the return of Christ is imminent. Now is the only time you are guaranteed to have. In the words of Jesus: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mark 8:36)?
   
   
4. We have failed before. Perhaps you remain uncommitted because you tried to follow Christ with all of your heart before and failed. Be encouraged! The call from Scripture is not that you never fall, but you that you never stay down! Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” God’s mercy is new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and the ebb and flow of our fellowship with Him is found in our open confession and His endless forgiveness (First John 1:9). Far from causing us to quit in despair, our failures should cause us to rejoice again and again in His mercy and forgiveness. We have this confidence because we are not under condemnation (Romans 8:1) and we have peace with and access to God (Romans 5:1-2).

Regardless of the possible reasons for it, if you find your commitment lacking, the first step is to stop deceiving yourself. Jeremiah tells us that our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (17:9). What are you telling yourself versus what is going on at a deeper level? Did you make a decision to believe things about Christ, or did you make a commitment to follow Him? Do you find yourself constantly comparing your walk with Christ to that of your friends? The measure of our commitment must come from Scripture. It is a familiar passage, but perhaps Paul says it best in Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Even today, take the time to ask yourself the questions you’ve just read. What is your level of commitment to Jesus Christ? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you, and commit to living out Romans 12:1. Meditating on Scripture allows us to enter fully into a committed relationship with Jesus Christ with boldness! The life of commitment may seem like too high of a calling for you, but it isn't! In this matter, as in all others, cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).

What is a Pastor? - Stephen

 “Is a pastor a chaplain or a missionary? Is he to focus on tending people who are already Christians, or on winning more people to a living faith in the Lord Jesus? Is the pastor a coach or care giver? Is he a manager or CEO of an organization or a preacher of God’s word and steward of his sacred mysteries?” 

[Harold L. Senkbeil]

 

The Coffee Peddlar. 

That’s the name of our local coffee shop here in smalltown Ohio. It’s the place I have had several meetings to organize church events, meet with prospective members, or prayerfully share Biblical counsel to a soul in need. In other words, at a place named for a bean-juice salesman, I am seeking to be a pastor. 

 

A year-and-a-half is not a long time in pastoral longevity. Yet, that is the time I have accumulated so far. As time has progressed, I have learned a few lessons. 

 

I have learned that pastoring an entire church of all ages is much different than pastoring only students. For instance, instead of cheap pizza and an all-nighter, adults prefer a gift card and a short sermon. 

 

Lesson learned. Check.

 

But some lessons I am continuing to learn. I am finding out along the way that there are some questions about pastoring that can only be answered through experience. One of those questions that I am beginning to formulate an answer to is this—what is a pastor? 

 

That might sound a bit strange because why would I take a job that I don’t even know how to fully describe? It would be like a plumber not knowing it was his job to repair the leaking pipe, a chef who was not aware that dinner was her responsibility to prepare, or a politician who was not ready to govern in such a way that it benefitted the people he or she represented.

 

On second thought, ignore that last example. 

 

For many occupations, the answer to what the job “is” can be summed up in a neatly typed, 12-point font paragraph that seems more like an essential formality that no one actually reads. But pastoring is different. It can’t be summed up in a job description because every one of a pastor’s congregants would have a different answer. 

 

Once again, I believe this is a question that can only be answered through experience. For as the days of pastoring mount up, the answer to what a pastor is begins to take shape. And, in many ways, what a pastor is depends upon what he is called to do on that given day.  

 

Some days a pastor is the “email response guy” answering the questions about what time a special event starts that has been published in the bulletin for weeks, announced as many times as that, and shared on social media frequently. On other days, it is sitting in the aforementioned coffee shop taking part in one of the aforementioned meetings. There are moments when prayer is the most important thing on a day’s agenda because a tragic phone call has just been received. There are other moments when it is just you, your Bible, and a plea asking the Lord to give you a sermon that will faithfully relay His Word to His people placed under your care. 

 

To spare you every example, the point is that the answer to what a pastor is depends on the day you ask it. This is unlike a plumber who goes to different houses but finds himself still working with pipes nonetheless whether leaking, gushing, or stopped up. It’s unlike a chef who is preparing food whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And it’s unlike a politician because…well, you get the point. 

 

So, the question remains: what is a pastor? There must be an answer of some sort, right? The truth is, I should have started with the Bible in defining this term. Because it is there that the best answer is given. 

 

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

[Acts 20:28]

 

Did you catch the answer? The Apostle Paul gives it in that verse. Actually, the very word “pastor” is in there. Do you see it? If you didn’t, read these. 

 

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

[1Peter 5:2-4]

 

Don’t see “pastor” in there either? Then maybe I should explain. The exact term “pastor” is not found in the Bible. Not specifically. But the title is actually a 14^th-century term meaning “one who has care of a flock or herd."[1] In other words, you would know the title “pastor” better by another one, “shepherd.” 

 

And that’s what a pastor is. When I’m answering those emails, I am shepherding that recipient hopefully with grace despite their lack of attention in reading, listening, or following along. When I’m at those meetings, I am shepherding those with me hopefully with wisdom that only God can give from His Word. Whether I am praying or seeking the Lord for another sermon, I am asking the Lord, the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 2:4), to lead me in such a way that I can guide His flock placed under my care to a greater relationship with Him. 

 

In all honesty, I have been tempted to believe at times over the last year-and-a-half that my job should look more like that peddler. Except instead of coffee, I trick my mind into believing that I am a salesman seeking to pitch the Gospel of Jesus in such a creative way that I persuade unbelievers to believe whether they want to or not. On other days, instead of pitching the Gospel, I am pitching my local church and why one believer should come, join, stay, and serve at my church. In a way, sharing the Gospel and encouraging others to serve the Lord can certainly be a part of shepherding but that’s not quite it. 

 

Shepherding is a leading. It is a protecting. It is a slow, day-in-and-day-out process along the spiritual journey of life. Unlike a salesman, the Lord will not bless me on commission but on faithfulness (i.e., Matthew 25:21). The winsomeness of my pitch to the lost on a single day won’t matter nearly as much as the continual gracefulness of my response to His children. 

 

As that peddler focuses on that moment of joy counting his sales for the day, a shepherd has his sights set on his flock—leading them from one moment in this life to the next until they reach their joy together: the eternal presence of the greater Shepherd. 

 

That’s a lesson that’s been worth learning. 

And an answer I hope to continue to remind myself of as that year-and-a-half, Lord willing, turns into decades.

Decades of being a pastor. 

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[1] https://www.etymonline.com/word/pastor

Inside Out – Ben

One of my favorite Disney movies is Inside Out. It creatively explores the emotional minefield of a pre-teen. I especially love how it anthropomorphizes feelings like joy or sorrow.  If you’ve not watched the movie, here’s a great clip that’ll give you pretty good handle on the premise: click here.

Part of why I love Inside Out is that it illustrates how we can often be at the mercy of our emotions. Depending on who’s at the helm—i.e., fear, anger, etc.—we have a tendency to act accordingly. But where Inside Out fails is that, for the Christian, we aren’t supposed to be controlled by our emotions (cf. Prov. 16:32; 25:28). We are supposed to be filled with, and thereby controlled by, the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23). And there is no better way to know how much we are controlled by the Spirit than in listening to what comes out of our mouth. After all, words are the window of the heart.  We need only listen and discover what sort of person is behind the curtain. And, if you’re anything like me, you probably won’t like what you’re hearing. 

So, what are we to do? In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus explains we first have to fix what’s inside before we can fix what’s outside: 

For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.  For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus’ point is that as a tree is known by its fruit, so is a person is known by their speech. The condition of our heart determines the content of our vocabulary.  An evil and unregenerate mind produces corrupt and unregenerate ideas which make their way to our tongue and then out into the world.  A good and regenerated mind creates good and regenerated ideas which make their way to our tongue and then out into the world. 

What goes in must come out. So, should you fill your heart with good, you will fill the hearts of others with good.  But should you fill your heart with evil, you will fill the hearts of others with evil.  Fix the heart, and the tongue will be tamed (cf. Ja. 3:1-12).