It is practically certain that the phrase “sound doctrine” is not one that you hear every day; in fact, it is possible you have never heard it at all. Even though both words are English, and we may know what each word means, they have a strange sound when put together. Despite the strangeness of this phrase, it is found in a handful of texts in the New Testament. While that may alert us to its importance, that does not tell us much about what it means. What should we make of this phrase and what God intends to communicate through it?
We should first consider the underlying meaning of “sound doctrine.” In every instance, it simply refers to healthy teaching. While no translation words it that way, that is the basic idea the phrase carries. To be more specific, the word “sound” refers to that which is free from error. It describes a state of completeness that has no fault in it. When we take that and apply it to teaching, then, we describe instruction that is meant to influence the hearers to do what is right. That is why we usually find the phrase as a contrast with instruction that destroys and tears down the hearers. The basic meaning of the phrase helps us grasp that it has to do with the instruction we receive from teachers and preachers, but to wrap our minds around how impactful it is, we must dig deeper. Of all the New Testament authors, Paul is the only one to use this phrase. In its first appearance, the apostle warns Timothy that some teachers have arisen who desire to teach the law of God given through Moses but are entirely ignorant of what it means (1 Timothy 1:5-7). To correct that problem, Paul writes that the law of God has a purpose, and that purpose is to identify sin (1 Timothy 1:8-10). In this list, Paul focuses on attitudes and activities that are unlawful before God, which makes them sinful. Notice that at the end of his list Paul writes, “and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” Apparently, the list Paul provides is not exhaustive, because there are other sins that may contradict sound doctrine. From this, we must recognize that sound doctrine impacts how we understand God’s law and how we view sin. A single article cannot sufficiently draw these points out, yet we must state that if we are taught unhealthy teachings about law and sin, then we will fail to live the life God intends. We will instead be deceived about these significant topics and act in ways that contradict sound doctrine, which harms the gospel and dishonors God. Sound doctrine matters because it affects our perspective on what God expects for how we live! The apostle Paul goes further in his letter to Titus. There, he commands Titus to say that which is “proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Paul does not launch into an extended discussion about worship or benevolence but instead focuses on how various groups in the Lord’s church live their lives. The older men, Paul writes, should be examples to others (Titus 2:2). The older women should demonstrate godliness in their conduct and teach the younger women how to live for Christ (Titus 2:3-5). The younger men should think clearly about life (Titus 2:5). Slaves should obey their masters and be faithful so that they may honor God’s instructions in how they live (Titus 2:9-10). Do you see the picture that emerges about sound doctrine? What we consider is not just a series of unrelated topics and ideas strung together; rather, we see instructions that benefit Christians of every age and in every place so that they may lead lives that honor God. It is important for teachers and preachers to discuss worship, church government, and many other subjects of concern, yet those instructions are not directly specified as “sound doctrine” like daily, Christ-centered living is. Sound doctrine matters because it influences how we conduct our lives day-to-day in the Lord’s work! The final text in which the phrase “sound doctrine” appears is in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Paul warns Timothy that there is a time in the not-so-distant future that some brethren will no longer “endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). He indicates that this will happen because they will pursue their own desires and find teachers who will give them what they want. Of the texts that use the phrase “sound doctrine,” this is perhaps the most significant. The reason for its significance is that it clearly shows “sound doctrine” contradicts our personal desires. It will not allow us to think or live as we please but instead calls us to deny self. That has never been, nor will it ever be, a popular declaration, but it is a necessary one if the doctrine is sound. Sound doctrine matters because it calls us to leave our personal desires behind and embrace the truth God has revealed! No matter how strange the phrase may sound to our modern ears, “sound doctrine” matters. It is through that healthy teaching we learn how to honor God through our perspectives and lives. Like any teaching, it will only be effective if we take heed to what it says. We would hardly wish to be like those Paul described as having “itching ears” that seek something other than healthy teaching. Instead, we wish to be people who yearn for the good instructions God has given us and earnestly strive to practice them each day.
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In most modern media that portrays Jesus, He is shown as someone to whom everyone can relate: He is unassuming, fun-loving, and tolerant of those around Him. You do not have to look far to find television shows and ad campaigns that exalt these values to extreme degrees. In fact, you almost get the impression that nothing else Jesus said or did mattered to the creators of these programs. The challenging statements of Jesus are cleverly omitted, His harsh words for evil people are ignored, and His emphasis on repentance and self-denial are set aside in favor of other, more appealing values.
These portrayals take their cue from modern culture rather than the Bible. It is part of a drawn-out effort to strip Jesus of His holy identity so He is more “approachable” for modern people. Americans in particular cannot stomach the thought of a Jesus who is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” despite the fact that it is an inspired utterance concerning Him (Hebrews 7:26). No, we cannot accept a Jesus like this because then we can no longer lay claim to Him and His benefits while living in ways contrary to His demands. If we can bring Jesus down to our level, though, then we can feel comfortable living however we choose. After all, Jesus is no different than we are, right? He sinned and fell short of God’s glory, too! The Bible rebukes this blasphemous thinking and presents a Jesus who embraced the power of a righteous, sinless life despite the difficulties He faced. We first need to be clear that Jesus lived as a human being. As such, He understands the issues that arise in life, specifically with respect to temptation. Satan grievously tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). If Jesus had no choice but to withstand temptation, then could we say He was tempted? And if these temptations had no genuine power behind them, then would it have mattered for Jesus to face them? The whole point of this account is to teach us that Jesus did face legitimate temptations, yet He did not fail. Jesus instead chose to resist Satan and to send Him packing with the word of God. That is why Hebrews testifies that Jesus can aid those who are tempted because He knows what it is like to suffer from it (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16). Who better to help us amid trial than someone who has been through the same? At the same time, Jesus did not fail amid temptation like we do. Frankly, no one reading this article can claim he has never sinned when he faced temptation. That is what makes Jesus stand out so much: He overcame genuine trials without failure. While Jesus is like us because He lived in the flesh, He is different from us because of His sinless character. He succeeded where we so often fail. The reality of Jesus’ success in the face of temptation naturally challenges us to do better. If Jesus suffered genuine temptations and lived in the flesh yet remained free from sin, then what is our excuse? The Hebrews writer will make that point in different terms to encourage his readers to remain faithful (Hebrews 12:1-3). Here these Christians floundered in their faith despite not even suffering to the point of bloodshed (Hebrews 12:4). They had no excuse, and we do not have one, either. Jesus’ success gives us an example that shows us how we ought to navigate the challenges of life. Yet the belief that Jesus is on our level undermines the power of His example. It basically changes it into something you can take or leave whenever you want. Where is the transformative power of Jesus in that line of thought? It is completely dried up. In Scripture, Jesus’ example is uniformly presented as that to which we conform our lives. It is never presented as optional. While Jesus is like us because He lived in the flesh and faced legitimate trials, He is unlike us in so many other respects. His success amid difficulty and His righteous example show how different Jesus is from how we typically live. That is why we want to maintain a perspective that sees Jesus as “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” lest we drift into false and blasphemous beliefs about Him. Instead, we want to strive to reach for the holiness, innocence, and purity that Jesus teaches us to have. Are we willing to rise to the challenge of Jesus’ righteous life? The following article comes from the desk of David Bobbitt, one of the men of the Madisonville church of Christ.
During the reign of Hezekiah, the bronze snake that Moses had made in the desert to save the Israelite people from the bite of poisonous serpents was destroyed. For generations the Israelites had carried it with them, calling it Nehushtan and venerating it as a holy object. According to 2 Kings 18:3, they had even burned incense to it! Recognizing that it had taken the people’s focus away from the Lord, Hezekiah destroyed it along with all the other idols and high places where the Israelites worshiped. Man’s capacity for doing evil seems boundless and Americans have followed in the ways of ancient Israel by creating mythical beings to be venerated by children. The Bible commands us to teach our children the ways of the Lord, not foist upon them stories of beings, who like God, give them good things. Whether it be Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, or any other such mythical being, are these not idols who usurp the praise and devotion rightly belonging to God? The History of Santa Claus is revealing. The modern-day version of Santa Claus appears to be a combination of Saint Nicholas, England’s Father Christmas, and the Norse god Odin, who gained access to homes to leave gifts by going down the chimney. Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra, which today is part of Turkey. He was known for his generosity toward the poor and downtrodden. He is said to have given three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian dowries to prevent them from falling into prostitution. He was the patron saint of children, whose feast day was celebrated on December 6th. Puritans and other Protestants initially rejected the celebration of Christmas, on the grounds that it was inconsistent with Bible teachings, but eventually, accommodations were made. Protestants coopted the holiday by giving gifts to children on December 24th and 25th instead of December 6th to avoid any association with the Saint Nicholas celebration and its ties to the veneration of saints, which they considered to be idolatry. In America, once Protestants secularized the celebration of Christmas, the holiday devolved into a riotous affair featuring drunken mobs roaming the streets damaging property and threatening the upper-classes. Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, and other Protestants continued to regard December 25th as an ordinary day without religious significance throughout the first half of the 19th century. Nonetheless, by the 1850’s many Protestant churches had invited Christmas back into their assemblies. They discovered that by embracing a secularize form of the holiday, which included Santa Claus, a decorated tree, and gift giving, Bible class attendance was greatly improved. Although it may not be a sin to celebrate Christmas in the privacy of one’s home, three things ought to become apparent. First, Santa Claus has no place in the church whatsoever because God should receive thanks for all good things that we receive, not some mythical being. Second, like the Israelites of old who worshiped Nehushtan, we risk committing idolatry by replacing God with some mythical being with gift-giving powers. Finally, we jeopardize the souls of our own children with our lies and deceptions. One study found that one in sixteen children suffered long-term negative effects once learning the truth about Santa Claus. Some children went so far as to reject the religious beliefs of their parents once they discovered that they had been lied to. They reasoned that if their parents had lied about the existence of Santa Claus, they might also have lied about the existence of God. Philosopher David Kyle Johnson wrote, “It's a lie, it degrades your parental trustworthiness, it encourages incredulity, it does not encourage imagination, and it's equivalent to bribing your kids for good behavior.” Yet even today some Christians can be heard telling their children or grandchildren that if they are not good, Santa Claus won’t come to see them! Shouldn’t we rather be concerned about them pleasing God? A poem about Saint Nicholas ends with these words: “Saint Nicholas, my dear good friend! To serve you ever was my end, if you will, now, me something give, I’ll serve you ever while I live.” Ironically, Jesus refers to the bronze serpent made by Moses in John 3:14-15, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” God has given us the greatest gift possible, eternal life through the blood his son Jesus. We should thankfully obey him and serve him only. Acknowledge the Lord, and him alone, as the only giver of good gifts. If there is one thing we hate to do, it is to confess wrongdoing. No one wants to be mistaken on any point. As you read this article, chances are you believe you are doing what is right in your life. By no means do you see yourself as perfect, but by no means do you see yourself as flawed, either. We often straddle the fence between these two extremes with false humility and defensiveness. We use this wishy-washy perspective as an excuse to dodge correction and instruction that would make us better. After all, if we feel we are right, then who has the authority to tell us we can do better? It is no wonder our society often rejects the message of the gospel which forcefully points out our sins and failures before God. We can scarcely read the Bible without confronting the reality that we are wrong, mistaken, and deeply flawed. That is why rather than outrunning our sins we should instead confront them through confession.
David’s words in Psalm 32 demonstrate the blessings we will find in confession. In that psalm, we also find the curses that come with denial of wrongdoing before God. The king does not specify the sin with which he struggled, but it is evident he tries to hide it. He opens the psalm with two statements of blessing: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalm 32:1-2). In these words we find the sobering reflections of a man overtaken by sin but who eventually confesses it before God. There is no hint of excuses or blame-shifting in these words. Instead, David tells us that we are blessed when God forgives our sins and no longer counts them against us. How can we experience these blessings if we are so busy trying to outrun our evil deeds, words, and thoughts? To ask it is to answer it, friends. That is why David writes of his failure to avoid confession: “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer” (Psalm 32:3-4). David, the strong and mighty warrior-king, becomes a shriveled-up weakling when he conceals his sin from God. Guilt and shame press in on him, and it makes his life unbearable. While the so-called enlightened people in our day see guilt and shame as what others impose onto us, the Bible sees these feelings as how we acknowledge our wrongdoing and seek to make it right. People certainly do use guilt and shame as tools against us, but that problem does not make the feelings themselves the issue. These feelings are meant to produce repentance. Because he feels guilt and shame, David finally confesses his wrongdoings to God: “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). Forgiveness becomes David’s when he admits he is wrong. His confession becomes the avenue through which his sin can be put away. God is faithful and just to forgive the sins we voluntarily confess and put away. Why would we want to shy away from such a blessing? We will only hurt ourselves when we avoid confession. As this psalm teaches, the Lord is eager to forgive, but He cannot and will not forgive the proud and unrepentant. Later, David will write a warning to his readers so that they will not be stubborn in times of confession: “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you” (Psalm 32:9). When we know we have done wrong, the temptation is to sweep the matter under the rug and hope no one finds out. If someone does find out and confronts us, the temptation is to harden our hearts and reject the correction. We must all resist these temptations and confess our evils before God, and in some cases, confess them before others. The Lord knows we are flesh and that sin is a reality in this world. He is not a harsh, overbearing Master who browbeats us for our flaws but is instead a gracious and forgiving One who wants to help us grow stronger. When we run away from Him and refuse to confess, then we run away from the only hope we have. We also reject the only strength we will have to overcome our weaknesses. David learned that confession is the path to God’s forgiveness. The question is whether we will learn the same lesson and come clean before God. Let us all reflect on this psalm and what it calls us to do. We have all been there before. We sit down after a long day of work to watch television, and, six hours later, we glance at the clock and wonder, “why did I bother watching TV for that long?” Perhaps we choose to browse the internet before dinner. Fast forward three hours and dinner is cold. Again, we wonder, “why did I bother sitting at the computer for that long?” Maybe we decide to be more productive and do some yardwork. After hours of raking leaves, pulling weeds, and trimming tree limbs, we bask in what we have accomplished. A week later, however, we see that everything we did was undone by nature. As with the previous two situations, we wonder, “why did I bother doing all that work just for it to go back to be the same way it was before?”
These are all neutral examples, but what if we apply the same attitude to a situation that is far more serious? It seems that modern Christians are tempted to adopt the “why bother” attitude concerning the Lord and His work. Consider these statements: “I stopped mentioning religion to my family years ago since they’ll never listen anyway” and “the church will never grow with all these false teachers around.” Maybe some truth undergirds these statements. Yet, regardless of their truth value, Christians are more likely to give up on the work altogether and let others do it for them. Such should never be. Interestingly, this is not a new problem. Malachi, the fifth-century B.C. prophet, spoke to people who took the “why bother” attitude to the Lord’s work. They asked, “where is the God of justice” and said, “it is useless to serve God” (Malachi 2:17; 3:14). Why would they feel this strongly? Because, like us, their circumstances were troubling. Hostile foreigners surrounded and ruled over the Jews. Judah was in disarray due to the wars fought there. And, worst of all, the people likely felt that God’s promises had gone unfulfilled. No wonder they had these feelings. No wonder they did the bare minimum to survive (Malachi 1:7-8, 13). And no wonder Malachi was commissioned to rebuke them (Malachi 1:1). Brethren, when we adopt the “why bother” attitude to the Lord’s work, we run the same risks these people did. We will no longer give our best to God, but will merely give Him our leftovers. The Lord deserves better. We cannot allow our temporary discouragements to hinder our race for eternal reward. We must be persistent in reaching the lost. We must be consistent in our conduct and our worship. And, above all, we must do all things wholeheartedly for the Lord. He will not forget our labors, but what if we have nothing to show Him (Hebrews 6:10-12)? The following article is from the desk of David Bobbitt, one of the men at the Madisonville church of Christ. We invite you to give his words some thought.
Most baby boomers grew up watching television shows which featured talented animal "actors" achieving remarkable feats of intelligence, agility, or heroism. In the 1950's and 60's, we followed the adventures of Lassie, marveled at the acrobatics of Flipper, and cried during the closing scenes of Old Yellar. Mr. Ed, a horse, had even talked! By the 1980's, Disney had discovered that the American public more readily warmed up to our furry friends who talked, hence the beginning of the era of the talking pet. Disney championed the humanization of animals, and perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the era during which the animal rights movement began to gain momentum. And Americans swallowed it hook line and sinker! There are now pet saunas, pet salons, pet motels, exotic pet foods, clothing for pets, and even cemeteries for pets. Banks give doggie biscuits to customers with pets who use the drive-thru window (cats are out of luck), and many ice cream shops offer a "pup cup!" In a nation where poverty, homelessness, and hunger are still major issues, how can we as Americans justify spending more than $60,000,000,000 a year on our pets? Animals are part of God's creation and have played an important role in the emergence and growth of human civilization. They made large-scale agricultural production possible, carried our warriors to victory, served as sources of companionship and entertainment, and in many other ways made the trials of human existence easier to bear. Yet God never places animals on a par with humankind. The world pushes its liberal agenda because it denies mankind its God-given right to "rule over and subdue" the earth. (Genesis 1:28) Though it may be hard for some to believe, mankind is the crowning achievement of God's creative act. We are made in the image of God and specially gifted intellectually, morally, and spiritually like no other creature under the heavens. While God may love all his creatures, he has clearly differentiated between the value of human beings and the value of animals. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." In Genesis 9:1-3, God gave the animals to Noah and his descendants as food. Interestingly, at that time there were no restrictions placed on man as to which animals he could and could not eat. All of that would come with the Mosaic Covenant. These Scriptures raise some important questions. If mankind is of more value than the animals, and the animals have been given to us as food, then what rights do animals really have? Some Christians believe that their pets will be with them in heaven! Do animals have souls? If so, how are they redeemed? Should we baptize our pets? If we speak of the "humane" treatment of animals, are we humanizing them? Certainly, we should never abuse or needlessly harm one of God creatures, but make no mistake about it, they have been put here by God for our benefit. Why does any of this matter? Because those who would rationalize God's word in small matters will eventually do so with larger, more important ones. A lack of respect for God's word breeds error. Hear what the apostle Paul says to Timothy in chapter four of his first letter: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." (I Timothy 4:1-5) Many people embrace the Scriptures only to the extent that they justify whatever lifestyle they subscribe to. But whether we are like Thomas Jefferson and literally cut those Scriptures which are not to our liking from our Bibles, or we rationalize God's word to suit our own purposes, the result is the same – we generally do as we please. So go ahead and enjoy your pets. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Abstain from eating meat if you so choose. We have a responsibility to keep our bodies fit for God's service and for some, a vegan or vegetarian diet is the only way they can do so. Yet beware of radical, anti-God messages which have no place in the church and don't forget where animals rank in the overall scheme of things. Animals don't possess the same rights as mankind, they don't have souls. In spite of what Disney says, no dogs go to heaven. Not long ago, few questioned the reality of truth in our world. To deny established facts and well-known principles was viewed as foolish and unhelpful. Even among groups with bitter disagreements, they could still acknowledge a universal standard of truth that governed their purpose even while debating how it applied to their situation. Today, 58% of our countrymen in the United States deny moral absolutes.1 They instead affirm that morality is up to each person to decide for themselves. When that statistic is further investigated, the results become even more shocking. It reveals a nation full of people who refuse to accept reality for what it is. No, for they have found a better path: their own version of truth. Indeed, it is far easier to invent your own truth so that you do not have to conform to that which is universal for all people. After all, every person faces unique circumstances that exempt them from the norm, right?
That is just the problem: it is not right. Truth is not a matter of circumstance or occasion. It is a bedrock foundation on which all that we are is built. To deny truth is not just a denial of facts and principles but a denial of what the Bible teaches. One cannot read the Scriptures and come away with the conclusion that truth does not exist or is irrelevant. When Jesus spoke of truth, He referred to it as a life-altering reality. He powerfully taught that truth sets us free from the bondage of sin (John 8:31-32). Denial of truth, then, is denial of liberty. When you deny the truth, you deny yourself liberation from the trap of sin. What you end up doing is submitting to Satan, who despises truth (John 8:44). Conversely, when you accept truth, no matter how challenging it is, you will find genuine freedom. That freedom will call you to abandon the paths of sin and live a life of righteousness for the Christ who purchased that freedom for you. Why then would we deny the truth? Later in John’s gospel, Jesus stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). One cannot follow Jesus without accepting the reality of truth, for Jesus Himself is truth. That refers to His existence, nature, and teachings. All that we read about Jesus in the Scriptures helps us see truth more clearly. Denial of the truth, then, becomes a denial of Jesus. That is perhaps one of the most disturbing parts of the thinking we find among the people of our land. The same people who deny truth will claim to accept Jesus and follow His ways. Such is an impossibility. We cannot reject the truth while simultaneously accepting the Savior who said He is the truth! If we refuse to accept the truth, then we will in effect refuse Jesus. Why then would we deny the truth? In His final recorded prayer, Jesus requested that the Father set His disciples apart by the truth (John 17:17). That truth of which He spoke was found in the word the Father revealed. To Jesus, God’s revealed word—which we have available today in the form of the Bible—is truth. It is not a half-truth or a partial truth, but the truth. It is no wonder that denial of truth tends to produce denial of what the Scriptures teach. All throughout the United States there are people who see the Bible as a book of fairytales and clever fables designed to deceive the minds of the simple. According to what Jesus taught, denial of the truth becomes a denial of the Scriptures. When we see the truth as subject to each person’s whims, no amount of evidence will change our minds. One person can take the Bible as the standard for all people while another can take it as a book of fiction and that will be alright to us. That perspective flies in the face of reality, fact, and principle. Archaeology, textual criticism, and other fields have proven the Scriptures to be true, but we must accept that truth exists and can be learned. It is through the Scriptures we learn truth and how it applies to our lives. When we learn it, we can then practice it and be pleasing in God’s sight. Why then would we deny the truth? Friends, the truth has not become a matter of interpretation. There remains a universal standard to which all people must conform. When they do, they will find liberty, Jesus, and the power of the Scriptures. While your own version of truth may bring you comfort and affirmation, it will not last. Eventually reality will come and demand your attention. Accepting truth may bring hardship and denial, but, in the end, it will bring lasting satisfaction that is not based on circumstance but on the bedrock of what is right. Let us all give the truth some thought. Sources Within our fleshly families, we count our brothers and sisters either as some of our closest confidants or some of our most bitter enemies. One anonymous author quipped, “Siblings: your only enemy you can’t live without.” That may define the relationship some have with their brothers and sisters in the flesh. Sadly, it most often defines the relationship we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Siblings in Jesus have been afflicted with interpersonal conflicts and divisions from the first century to the present day. Wherever such an affliction is found, we quickly find a host of other ailments that, if left untreated, will produce more disease and, inevitably, spiritual death. How we view our brothers and sisters in the faith makes a great difference in our own spiritual health and the health of our congregations.
Consider how some are quick to dismiss the conscience of their weaker brethren. Rather than treat them with kindness and deference, the “stronger” brothers and sisters treat the weaker like punching bags. They actively mock the weak and hold them in contempt for their perspective. The opposite is also true: the weak view the strong as immoral and false. The weak then treat the strong in accordance with their viewpoint. Friends, neither the strong nor the weak have the right to trample on the other one’s conscience. The Holy Spirit is clear that liberty in Christ should not become a stumbling block, nor should we allow a weak brother to perish over some indifferent matter (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Furthermore, we cannot allow our personal scruples to become a doctrinal issue that divides us. It is fine to have personal convictions that are not in Scripture, but it is wrong to bind such on others (Romans 14:22-23). Whether we are strong, weak, or somewhere in between, let us not be dismissive toward each other. That is a sure way to treat our brothers as bothers. Evil suspicion is another way to treat our brothers like bothers. Oh, how often we have heard a brother or sister gripe about another and speak ill of their motives! They have said, “Surely brother so-and-so just wants to take control of the church for his own benefit.” Or they have stated, “Sister so-and-so does not care about anyone, but they sure like to make it seem like they do.” Do either of these statements sound like those who would say them are seeing the best in their brethren? We need to take heed to ourselves lest we dare speak evil of the motives of our brethren. It could be that we say more about who we are when we make such statements. Scripture clearly teaches us that genuine love does not think evil of others but instead looks to what is best (1 Corinthians 13:5). As a united family in Jesus, we should be willing to show such love toward one another. High-mindedness will also lead us to treat each other like bothers instead of brothers. At the heart of evil suspicion and enforcing matters of conscience is someone who elevates themselves above others. When someone views himself as better than those around him, he will naturally see anyone who disagrees as an opponent. If they do not fall into line, then he will seek to destroy them. Yet Scripture admonishes us to not think more highly of ourselves than is appropriate (Romans 12:3). Some are so busy seeing themselves as God’s gift to the brethren that they do not see the discord they are sowing through their attitude. Let us not walk with arrogance but instead adopt the same mind toward each other, realizing our opinions and ideas are not on a higher level than others (Romans 12:16). Brothers and sisters in Jesus must never forget that we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. It could be that such a reminder would help us avoid conflicts with our spiritual family. There yet remains one thought to consider: do you view your brothers as bothers? If you dismiss their conscience, view them with suspicion, and think yourself better than them, then you are eaten up with spiritual disease. You may think these perspectives are harmless, but inevitably, they will spread like cancer that devours the people of God. Friends, let us be quick to repent of these perspectives that lead us to view our brethren as lesser. We have all been bought by the blood of our Savior Jesus and should rejoice together in Him. Jesus’ desire is for His people to be united, not divided up over personalities and attitudes (John 17:20-24). We must then strive to abandon conflict and work to have strong relationships with each other that glorify God. Then, and only then, will we show a divided, chaotic world the Lord we serve. |
AuthorStephen Null is the preacher for the Madisonville church of Christ. He has served in that capacity since October of 2021. Archives
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