Jan 05

The Problem With Some Christians…

Categories:

Discipleship

by Steve Higginbotham

With very little observation necessary, one can easily see that not everyone who professes to be a follower of Jesus is committed to the task of discipleship.  Apparently, “Easy-beliefism” has salved the consciences of those who are unwilling to bring their lifestyle into conformity with their desires.

Take a close look at the list below.  Do any of the items describe your thinking or lifestyle?  Could the word “they” be replaced by the word, “I?”  Give it some thought.

  1. They revere the Bible, but they don’t read it.
  2. They believe the 10 Commandments, but they don’t know them.
  3. They love God, but they don’t abhor sin.
  4. They want a crown, but they don’t want a cross.
  5. They want a Savior, but they don’t want a Lord.
  6. They want a harvest, but they don’t want to sow any seed.
  7. They want the right to pray, but they don’t.
  8. They want Hollywood to clean up it’s act, but they go to all the movies regardless.
  9. They want to go to Heaven, but they don’t want to go to church.
  10. They want to be served, but they don’t want to serve.
  11. They want to die the death of the righteous, but they live the life of a sinner.
  12. They want spiritual growth, but they don’t want to feed on his word for nourishment.
  13. They want a relationship with Jesus, but they don’t want to be tied down to a church.
  14. They want a preacher to “tell it like it is,” but they do as they please.
  15. They want God to be 1st in their lives, but he always comes in 2nd to their social calendar.

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Jan 02

Well, It Happened Again

Categories:

Culture, Discipleship

by Steve Higginbotham

A couple years ago I had the opportunity to make a trip to Israel.  One of the places we visited was the “Church of the Nativity.”  This church building was erected over the alleged birthplace of Jesus.  As we walked through the facility, one of the men in our group quietly chuckled at something that was said by another tourist.  Immediately, one of the priests approached him and threatened to throw him out if he continued to show disrespect in this “holy place.”

I found this priest’s rebuke to be rather ironic, because only months prior to our arrival, the Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests that share possession of this church building got into a brawl as they cleaned the building in preparation for their observance of the birth of Jesus.  Due to their brawl, several priests and police who tried to stop the fighting had to be sent to the hospital.  So while this priest lectured this man about “respect,” I couldn’t help but think that this man, only a few months earlier, had engaged in a free-for-all at the same spot.

Well, it happened again.  As December 25 approached in 2011, these priests got into it again, throwing brooms at each other and beating each other with broomsticks and iron rods.  Again, their riot had to be broken up by police.

Allow me to make a point from this.  We need to allow this story to remind us  how in congruent unholy actions are coming from those who are supposed to be holy.  Oh, it’s easier to see in others than in ourselves, isn’t it?  The inconsistency of the actions of these priests is glaring as we look on.  However, let me remind you that our unholy actions are just as glaring to our friends and family.  God has called us to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).  There is more to being a Christian than just a single act of obedience which allows us to wear the name of Christ.  Those of us who wear the name of Christ must also give special attention to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and to guard our influence so that the world will not blaspheme.

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Dec 13

Christmas on Sunday? How Inconvenient!

Categories:

Culture

by Steve Higginbotham

I’ve been reading in the news lately of several churches who are deciding to cancel their Bible classes and worship services on Christmas Day because it falls on Sunday.  Several rather influential churches have announced that they are closing their doors on Christmas day, which of course, falls on Sunday this year.  Apart from the obvious inconsistency in this practice and their oft repeated statement, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” there is another factor I would like for you to consider.

According to these churches, the reason for closing their doors on Christmas is because they value families, and want families to be able to spend time together. Having to schedule opening presents, a meal with all the trimmings, and all that goes along with Christmas, around Bible study and worship service is considered too inconvenient, so those who have preached we need to put “Christ back into Christmas,” will be locking the doors to their houses of worship, keeping those who have accepted their message locked outside in the cold.

But now consider. Where will this end? How long will it take for someone to see the logical end of such a position, and call for its implementation less sporadically. Imagine this Spring the following AP News Headline…Churches Cancel Worship Services Since Easter Falls On Sunday. “In order to promote family time, churches across America will be closing their doors on Easter Sunday so that families won’t be inconvenienced with having to schedule their Easter egg hunts and Easter egg paintings around Bible study and worship…”

Who are we fooling? This isn’t about valuing family. It’s about individualism. It’s about consumerism. It’s about having what we want, when we want it, the way we want it. And apparently, even God can’t be allowed to get in the way.

Friends, while I value my family and respect others who value theirs, I am reminded that family should not be elevated above my relationship to the Lord. It was Jesus who said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Are these churches really prepared to stand by their logic which elevates family over the Lord when special occasions fall on Sunday? If so, I wonder what will occur on Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Labor Day Weekend, 4th of July, President’s Day, Groundhog Day, etc… I guess time will tell.

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Dec 07

A Date That Shall Live In Infamy

Categories:

Culture

by Steve Higginbotham

Seventy years ago today, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Imperial Japanese Navy.  This attack caused the United States Congress to declare war on Japan, and precipitated the now famous statement by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Roosevelt  declared that  December 7, 1941, would be a date that would live in infamy.  And he was right.  Ever since that date 70 years ago, we take time to remember the “dastardly [FDR]” events of that date.  From those who are old enough to remember the events, to beginning school children, we all are reminded or taught about the events of that date.

But if only “evil” would confine itself to a particular date on the calendar and leave us alone the rest of the time!  But such is not the case. I cannot help but think that as God views it, there would be sufficient reason for him to declare that every date on the calendar is a “date that shall live in infamy.”

FDR’s speech played heavily upon the violation of the “innocence” of the United States in the unprovoked attack which cost 2,403 American lives that day.  How much more validity does his  point have when one considers the “innocence” of the more than 3,000 infants in the United States who lose their lives every day by the unprovoked attack of abortion. If the loss of 2,403 American lives on December 7, 1941 constitutes a “date that shall live in infamy,” then tell me what the daily slaughter of  more than 3000 innocent Americans for the past 38 years would constitute?

Friends, there’s a  war going on around you.  There is an evil aggressor who seeks your destruction on many fronts.  If you haven’t yet declared war against this aggressor, for what are you waiting?  Give it some thought.

 

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Nov 18

Angry Birds

Categories:

Culture, Discipleship

by Steve Higginbotham

I recently read an article by Michael Hite at http://ministrytechonline.com, in which he raised an interesting observation upon which I would like to add a few comments of my own.

I have a confession to make.  I’m hooked by “Angry Birds.”  For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, “Angry Birds” is a video game you can play on your phone.

Just recently, at the “2011 Slush Conference” in Helsinki, Finland, Mikael Hed, the CEO of Rovio (the company that created “Angry Birds”), reported that since 2009, the collective time spent by people playing Angry Birds is equivalent to 200,000 years!  Just think of how much time has been “killed” by playing this game.

But now, here’s where Michael Hite turned this story to a point of relevance.  Rather than “killing” time playing a game, what could be accomplished if God’s people would collectively make good use of time?

Consider the following facts.  If just 200 of us  would spend 2 hours a week for 5 years in intentional service to God, do you realize how much we could accomplish collectively?  That collective time of work would be equivalent to one preacher working 60 hours a week for 33 years or 40 hours a week for 50 years!

Wow!  I think we’re on to something, don’t you?  There’s tremendous power in “collective work!”  And of course, God knew it before we did.  We have correctly taught that in the Lord’s church there is no clergy/laity distinction.  As Christians, we are all a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and we all have priestly obligations.  If we all pitched in and did our part, just think of the collective good that could be accomplished.  Collectively, with as little as two hours a week for five years, we could devote as much time to the cause of Christ as a man who spent 50 years of his life in full-time ministry!

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Nov 10

Say It Ain’t So, Joe!

Categories:

Culture

by Steve Higginbotham

By now, most everyone has heard that the legendary college football coach, Joe Paterno has been fired from Penn State.  The reason for Paterno’s firing is his involvement (or lack thereof) in a child molestation case involving one of Paterno’s coaches.  Jerry Sandusky, one of Paterno’s assistant coaches is  now facing 40 charges in a child sex abuse scandal that allegedly spanned a period of 15 years.  The problem for Paterno is that he allegedly knew of at least one case, but didn’t report what he knew to the proper authorities.  Grant it, Paterno allegedly reported this crime to Penn State’s Athletic Director, but when he saw the “AD” did not take any action, Paterno did not go to the police.

In short, Paterno was fired for not telling what he knew.

I’ve always been a fan of Jo Paterno.  A fellow teammate of mine from my high school basketball team played under Paterno when they won the National Championship.  So I take no delight in his career ending in such a fashion.  However, this whole affair has set me to thinking.  Paterno is in trouble today because he failed to tell what he knew.  In light of that, I couldn’t help but raise this question:

How many Christians will someday be in trouble because they too, failed to tell others what they knew?  As a child of God, I possess news that is so powerful, that to withhold it is criminal!  All I know is that someday when I stand before God, I don’t want to hear him say, “Why didn’t you tell what you knew?”

You Never Mentioned Him To Me
by James Rowe
When in the better land before the bar we stand,
How deeply grieved our souls may (will) be,
If any lost one there should cry in deep despair,
You never mentioned Him to me.

 

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