Christian Standard | March 2021 by Christian Standard Media

fr o m th e pu bli sh er

moving forward

The year 2020 was extremely difficult for all of us, with challenges that reached into nearly every part of life and work. With most church buildings closed down for some time, it wasn’t surprising many church leaders allowed their Christian Standard subscriptions to lapse in order to cut costs and get past the pandemic, with thoughts of reassessing the relationship at a later time. We’ve been doing that same type of thing at Christian Standard Media—we’ve been figuring out ways to cut costs while providing the very best window into the world of church leadership and life in the Restoration Movement. During the last four years, we’ve moved from for-profit to nonprofit, completely changed the look and feel of Christian Standard magazine, moved

from a subscription-based to an advertising-based business plan, merged what were previously two magazines into one, greatly enhanced our online and digital platforms, and developed the only up-to-date digital database of Christian churches. We have provided our content and database digitally and without cost to you. We are incredibly thankful that so many of our readers have stuck with us through all of these changes. In spite of the pandemic and the attrition of print subscriptions, Restoration Movement Media (Christian Standard Media) is the closest we have ever been to covering all of our costs in providing these resources to you. So, we are asking you to be patient with us and continue to partner with us as we move forward.

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Starting in May, Christian Standard will become an every-other-month print magazine. (The first bimonthly issue will be the May/June issue.) While this will reduce the total number of issues annually, we will be providing even more content through our bimonthly magazine and online. This change will substantially reduce our printing and postage costs, and it will allow us to cover our costs for the first time in many years. We plan to redeploy some of that cost savings to bolster and expand our up-to-the-minute newsgathering efforts on our digital platforms—website, newsletters, and social media outlets. Christian Standard Media has a number of touch points with our readers: Our print and (free) online versions of Christian Standard, our website containing our magazine archive and resources, several weekly newsletters and a daily Bible-reading/devotional newsletter, ccchurchlink.com (our up-to-date interactive digital database of all of our churches), and our social media platforms. With more than 40,000 contacts in our database and nearly 300,000 interactions since January, we know there is both a need and a desire for what we provide. Christian Standard’s 155 years of rich history comes with a responsibility to not just be caretakers, but to continue to tell the compelling stories of our movement for years to come. One additional change is to convert The Lookout from an in-magazine resource into weekly Bible studies published on our website and eventually in single yearly volumes. The Lookout’s scope and sequence leads participants on a 6-year journey through the Bible; we have completed 2 years of this journey. We intend to publish 6 total yearly volumes so that Sunday schools, small groups, or Bible studies can have more flexibility with how and when to use these lessons. Would you help Christian Standard Media by remaining faithful in your subscriptions? Would you interact

with us on social media platforms, “liking” us and sharing our articles with your friends and acquaintances? Would you encourage your church family to follow us so they can gain a better understanding of the larger worldwide family of churches connected to the Restoration Movement? Many of these actions can be done without cost. When we work together, we are stronger and better resourced to share the life and eternity-altering message of the gospel. The Restoration Movement has always been a unity movement, and we need those cords that hold us together, even as we cherish and maintain our independence. I want to thank The Solomon Foundation, who in 2017 took it upon themselves to bear the financial burden of preserving this magazine and its history, all of our faithful advertisers, and all of our readers who believe in this movement and want to stay current on how it is impacting our world. I also want to thank our staff, who gracefully adjust to these changes with a great attitude and who consistently employ their gifts to this kingdom work.

Jerry Harris is publisher of Christian Standard Media and senior pastor of The Crossing, a multisite church located in three states across the Midwest. @_jerryharris /jerrydharris

+ THE

LO O KO U T

FOUNDED 1866 BY ISAAC ERRETT Devoted to the restoration of New Testament Christianity, its doctrine, its ordinances, and its fruits.

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so help me god so help me god s e god so help me god so help me god so help me god so help so help me god so help me god so help me god so help me

CHRISTIAN STANDARD

In Every Issue TRUTH & TONE IN THE AGE OF FAKE NEWS Tyler McKenzie

2-3 from the publisher 6-7

THE QUESTION IN A CYNICAL WORLD: W H AT I S T R U T H ? John Caldwell

from the Editor 10-11

TRUTH + LOVE: THE BALANCING ACT Dave Stone

BOLD God Does Not Change Megan Rawlings

12-13 THE DILEMMA OF SOCIAL MEDIA & THE CHURCH Brent Bramer

HORIZONS An Ending and a Beginning Laura McKillip Wood

14-15 TRUSTWORTHY CHURCH LEADERSHIP Ken Idleman

HOW TO PREACH WITH BIBLICAL AUTHORITY Chris Philbeck

W H AT B R E A K S G O D ' S H E A R T ? Dale Reeves

T H E U N D E R S TA N D I N G D I S TA N C E Chad Ragsdale

e2:EFFECTIVE ELDERS

16-18

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Truth Is Inconvenient Jim Estep

METRICS The Truth About Bible Reading Kent E. Fillinger

THE LOOKOUT 96 THE FINAL WORD

f r o m th e edi to r

Truth Is Something to Be Done

Truth is personal to me. In my mid-twenties, I went on a journey seeking answers to the paramount questions, “What is truth and where can I find it?” My search took me on a logic-based study of various religions, spiritual beliefs, and systems of thought . . . and eventually led me to Jesus. In him I found the answers that nothing else in the world could provide. “What is truth?” is the foundational question for Christian faith, apologetics, and preaching. It’s especially important in today’s cultural climate in which the question has morphed to “Is there really any such thing as truth?” or “Why is your truth any better than my truth?” The truth is, defining truth is a bit tricky. The term throughout the Bible is used in a number of different senses. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia begins with this recognition and then spends

2,500 words explaining the different biblical aspects and standards of truth. And if you want to find a clear secular definition of truth, you’ll find more questions and confusion than answers. (See for yourself on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth.) Jesus tells us plainly, however, that we can and indeed will know the truth, and by that he meant much more than its definition. But how? Jesus told us that, too: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32, emphasis added). We can know the truth by following Jesus, obeying everything he taught. Jesus is the key that unlocks the treasure chest of truth. It is our firm belief as followers of Jesus that we know the truth, and we affirm that not out of pride or

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arrogance, but in humility and with great awe. Our conviction points not just to a proposition, but, more accurately, to a Person. Lewis Foster wrote in The True Life, published by Standard in 1978, “The truth is the gospel, and the gospel centers in Christ. As He is the living water who brings and sustains life, He is also the living truth that provides the way and shows the way to true life.” This word truth as Christ followers know it is different than the “truth” as the world knows it. The apostle Paul warned that in the last days, people would be “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7). He continued, “the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, . . . they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (4:3-4). It seems we’ve come to that time. Jesus embodied truth, then indwelled his followers with the Spirit of truth (John 14:17), and then sent us into the world with that same truth. As Foster put it, “In the New Testament, truth is something to be done as well as believed.” God’s Word teaches us how to come to a knowledge of truth and live out the truth through our lives.

• We give attention to God’s truth (Daniel 9:13) and walk in the truth (2 John 1:4) . . . and we correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth (Matthew 22:16). • We are sanctified by the truth (John 17:17), purify ourselves by obeying the truth (1 Peter 1:22), worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:2324), rejoice with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6) . . . and we work together for the truth (3 John 1:8). So, how do we actively live out the truth, especially in today’s world where truth is questioned? This month, our writers tackle that important topic, focusing on the significance of truth and tone in an age of fake news, how to balance truth and love, how to better understand truth, how to preach the truth with biblical authority, how to incorporate truth in how you lead, and more. God’s truth has set us free from sin and death. It still does as we seek it and are guided by it each day. I pray all of us will be lovers of the truth, committed to teaching it plainly and leading others to both believe it and do it.

• We are to seek the truth (Jeremiah 5:1) . . . and speak the truth (Psalm 15:2; Proverbs 22:21; Zechariah 8:16). • We can know the truth (John 8:32) . . . and lead others to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25). • We are to love truth (Zechariah 8:19) . . . and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). • We belong to the truth (1 John 3:19) . . . and are sent in God’s truth (Jeremiah 26:15). • We are to be guided by God’s truth (Psalm 25:5; John 16:13) . . . and we call people who have wandered from the truth back to it (James 5:19).

@michaelc.mack @michaelcmack @michaelcmack /authormichaelcmack

rying to understand God is like swimming underwater to the deepest part of the ocean and back to the surface with one deep breath. “It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity,” said Charles Spurgeon in The Immutability of God. “[It’s] so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it.”

BOLD

When talking about and studying God, I have found one of his characteristics more comforting than all of the others: God does not change. We call this attribute immutability. This means he doesn’t change his character, his plan, or his mind. Frankly, with the instability of life, this is the security we all long for—consistent unconditional love.

The Unchanging God

God does not change by Megan Rawlings

One of the most famous passages about God’s immutability is Malachi 3:6: “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed” (New Living Translation). Malachi was affirming that God’s people should find great comfort because he would honor his covenant with Jacob. Despite the fact that Israel deserved to be destroyed for reneging on their end of the deal, it was important for the people to understand that God cannot lie and he cannot change. Take note that we serve this same God who extends grace and mercy to us, especially during our shortcomings. This is good news for his followers. But an unchanging God is bad news for those living in sin. God will not overlook those sins.

T h at T i m e I t L o o k e d a s i f G o d C h a n g e d H i s M i n d So, what about the passages in Scripture where it appears God does change? Do you recall God’s words to the prophet Samuel? “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions” (1 Samuel 15:11, emphasis mine). The word regret in Hebrew is nahcam; it is often interpreted as “regret, relent, to change one’s mind, and repent.” This same Hebrew word is used four times in this chapter: twice as if God changed his mind, and twice as God never changing his mind.

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W h e n ta l k i n g a b o u t a n d s t u d y i n g G o d , I h av e f o u n d o n e o f h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s more comforting than all of the others: God does not change.

First Samuel is where we can find one of the strongest cases for God’s perfect decisiveness. “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind” (1 Samuel 15:29). The big clue here comes from the first part of this

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verse, “the glory of Israel does not lie.” God always speaks the truth, so from this, we can gather that he never literally waivers. Although it appears God has reformed his way of thinking, he actually changed only his action. In this case, he made Saul king, and then he removed Saul as king.

Anthropomorphic Language Christian theology professor Dr. Bruce Ware taught me that while reading Scripture we should avoid interpreting passages in this manner, speculating that God is moving from “Plan A” to “Plan B” based on something new God has learned. Rather, God is moving from Plan A, part 1, to Plan A, part 2, based in part on human involvement. God completes what he started and had planned the whole time, and he offers us an invitation to be part of it. Let me reiterate, God does not learn something new and change his mind. Additionally, the Bible uses humanistic terms to describe God and to teach us who he is. It is the language God chose to speak to us about himself. We call this anthropomorphic language, which is a human way of talking that is not proper to apply to God literally. In the same manner, we see Scripture doing this when speaking of God’s body parts. Those body parts are not literal; however, they are metamorphically true. In a world that is constantly changing, it is consoling to know we serve a God who keeps his word. What he has said remains as true today as when he first spoke it. We can rest upon the promise that his grace is sufficient, he will return, and he wants us to be part of it all. 

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Megan Rawlings is the founder and CEO of The Bold Movement. She is an extrovert, pastor’s wife, and lover of the Scriptures. /tbmministry @tbm_ministry @tbm_ministry @theboldmovement theboldmovement.com

hori z ons

aureen closed the book she’d been trying to read and switched off her bedside lamp. Burrowing into the covers, she tried not to think about the future. She felt her spirit stirring, as if God was about to do something big and different, but she didn’t yet know what that would be. “God, here I am. Send me,” she prayed for what seemed like the millionth time. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, still unsure of where God would take her. Several months later, an insightful missionary friend invited Maureen to attend a Global Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course. Maureen felt conflicted about it. On one hand, she was interested in the material and really wanted to learn more about what God was doing around the world. On the other hand, she suffered from anxiety that resulted in daily panic attacks.

An Ending and a Beginning by Laura McKillip Wood

The idea of walking into a large class in a church full of strangers almost paralyzed her, but she decided to take a step of faith and go. She entered the church and saw the room where her class was supposed to meet across the auditorium from her. A woman at a table looked up and then walked over and met her midway into the auditorium. She told Maureen, “God told me to meet you halfway.” This further confirmed to Maureen that she was where she was supposed to be. Over the next few months, Maureen got emails from three different friends, all telling her about a Christian school in Eastern Europe; they encouraged her to look into an open teaching position at the school. She deleted all three emails, but soon became curious enough to investigate the school and the area via the internet. At about the same time, she met the founders of the school at the International Conference on Missions. When doors opened for her to begin teaching in the school, she went through them. By August 2014, she had moved overseas to begin her work as a missionary teacher. Within two years of working at the school, Maureen’s anxiety had almost completely disappeared. Her steps of faith led to her own healing.

New Ministry Opportunities About three years into her teaching ministry, Maureen felt led to ministry in a church in the community where she was serving. There she opened a community center where she now teaches English to adult women and children in grades 3 to 12; she averages between 85 and 120 students. “I work to build bridges between the church and the community,” Maureen says. “I use teaching as a tool to meet people I wouldn’t otherwise meet, and I’m often the first Christian they meet.” Maureen and the students cannot talk about faith in the classroom setting, so they form relationships outside of

The work has become more challenging with the restrictions brought on by COVID-19. People have struggled financially and emotionally. Businesses have faltered, and the already weak health care system has become critically poor. Medications are scarce, and those who are able to find what they need must go into debt to afford it. People are not allowed to meet together.

That makes Maureen’s hard work worth all of the effort! 

Maureen has been praying and believes the Holy Spirit has led her to focus on teaching well, loving the T h e i d e a o f wa l k i n g i n t o a l a r g e c l a s s i n a students in front of her, and being c h u r c h f u l l o f s t r a n g e r s a l m o s t pa r a ly z e d as consistent as possible in a chah e r , b u t s h e d e c i d e d t o ta k e a s t e p o f fa i t h otic time. Her long-term goals have and go. been put on hold for the time being, but she hopes to someday move to a larger facility and open a lending library and coffee/tea bar in the community where the church is located. There is only one library in the country, and recent testing showed that 85 percent of the students who graduate from schools are functionally illiterate. A library and coffee/tea bar would allow her to meet some of the educational needs of the abou t the au thor children and adults in the community and also get to know more of the people in her town. She also hopes to create a neutral space for high school and college kids at church to invite their non-Christian friends to hang out, providing an entry point for those who would not normally attend a church event.

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R e wa r d s a n d C h a l l e n g e s Maureen says one challenge she faces in her work is understanding the honor-shame culture (an operating system for life prominent in Majority World cultures in which people avoid disgrace and seek status in the eyes of the community). “Where I live, the language does not have a real word for grace,” she says. Perhaps because of that, people do not exhibit a great deal of grace in their lives. They do not give and accept forgiveness, and it is not uncommon for someone to lie to another person to protect their honor or that of a family member or friend. This lack of understanding of grace and forgiveness makes explaining the gospel difficult. Maureen says one of the most rewarding things about her work has been seeing so many people attend church for the first time.

Laura McKillip Wood, former missionary to Ukraine, now lives in Papillion, Nebraska. She serves as an on-call chaplain at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. She and her husband, Andrew, have three teenagers. /laura.wood2 @woodlaura30 @woodlaura30 lauramckillipwood.com lauramckillipwood@gmail.com

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“Nationals are told things like if they come to church three times, they are automatically Christians,” she says. Naturally, people are reluctant to go, thinking they will have to relinquish their own religion and culture. “To see people I’ve met through an English course or outreach event come to church for the first time is pretty amazing. The relief on their faces is real. One friend told me she loves coming because she feels such peace and joy when she is in the building.”

English class, and that eventually leads to people talking about their beliefs. Maureen shares her love for Jesus in those settings. “Most of the time, it’s a conversation over a cup of tea or dinner where I get asked why I’m here and [then I] get to talk about Jesus. I pray I’m always prepared to give answers for the faith I proclaim.”

e 2:e ffe ct i v e e ld e r s

he very idea of truth seems almost to have disappeared. We live in a time of facts and “alternative facts.” We too often focus on favorable information rather than verifiable data.

If you don’t like what you hear on the news, simply dismiss it by labeling it “fake news.” We don’t affirm truth, it seems, but truthiness (“the quality of seeming or being felt to be true, even if not necessarily true,” according to dictionary.com). The Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016 was post-truth (“denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief”). We have demoted truth from something knowable, absolute, and immutable to a circumstantial feeling, a matter for personal or public preference. All of this ultimately leads many people down a path of skepticism.

Truth is Inconvenient by Jim Estep

The Restoration Movement is frequently described as a “truth movement”—one committed to the study, affirmation, and propagation of God’s truth revealed in Scripture. However, these days we find ourselves ministering and serving in a world that offers only truthiness. In fact, many people consider “there is no truth” to be the only true statement there is. In such a world, God’s truth as revealed through Scripture is an inconvenient reminder that their “alternative truth” is the real counterfeit. In our “gray” world, God’s revelation reminds people that he has established firm boundaries and that some things are written in black and white.

T r u t h o f t h e Ta b l o i d s Wherever we go, tabloids and TV screens scream all flavors of nonreligious and anti-religious noise and gossip at us. “Documentaries” attempt to un-tell the story of the Bible and creation by interviewing scholars who focus on what we cannot know and why not to believe. Large numbers of people continue to be drawn to matters of faith and the biblical story, but in such a cultural climate, they do not know what to make of it. It’s too good to be true, isn’t it?

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Don’t get me wrong. We all have questions, we all must endure challenges, and we all face issues . . . but this should spur us on to finding faithful answers. We cannot endure a perpetual holding pattern.

W e h av e d e m o t e d t r u t h f r o m s o m e t h i n g k n o wa b l e , a b s o l u t e , a n d i m m u ta b l e t o a c i r c u m s ta n t i a l f e e l i n g , a m at t e r f o r p e r s o n a l o r p u b l i c p r e f e r e n c e .

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the apostle wrote, “but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Three verses later he added, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19).

Through the centuries, Scripture has been an inconvenient reminder of God’s truth in the midst of the world’s myths. When the Old and New Testaments speak of truth, conformity to fact—as opposed to embracing falsehood and error—is one common feature. (See 1 Kings 10:6; Psalm 15:2; Proverbs 8:7; Isaiah 43:9; Jeremiah 9:5; Daniel 8:26; 10:1; 11:2; Zechariah 8:16; John 3:33; 7:28; 8:26; Acts 12:9; Romans 3:4; Philemon 1:18; 1 John 3:18; and Revelation 6:10.)

Finally, we act on the truth of Scripture. If you really want to test the truth of Scripture, live it. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Make truth tangible! Don’t just hear it, study it, memorize it, interpret it, translate it . . . do it. Hear, believe, study—and do! 

While the world characterizes the Bible as myth, the Bible presents itself as the anti-myth . . . the response to falsehood—that is, the truth!

Answers from Scripture How do we ensure that truth takes root in our lives and that the spirit of our age does not uproot it? Once again, Scripture provides some answers that allow us to insulate our lives with the truth and push back against myths. First, we need to know the truth of Scripture. Jesus critiqued some of his opponents by saying, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Similarly, Paul admonished Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Before we can live by it or stand up for it, we must know the truth of Scripture.

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Second, we affirm the truth of Scripture. Jesus challenged some of his opponents by saying, Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, “Honor your father and mother” and “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is “devoted to God,” they are not to “honor their father or mother” with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition (Matthew 15:3-6, author’s emphasis). Have you ever caught yourself replacing the voice of Scripture with your own? Or perhaps with the voice of your friends? Your family? A book? Even your church tradition? Anything but Scripture?

Jim Estep serves as vice president of academics with Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Missouri, and as event director with e2: effective elders.

/e2elders @e2elders

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Scripture connects truth to the faithfulness of believers and ultimately to the divine. What good is knowing and believing the Word, only to lay it aside when it disagrees with you? People don’t often lay aside the Bible because they disagree with it, but because it disagrees with them. (See Nehemiah 9:33; Psalm 145:18; Isaiah 61:8; Zechariah 8:6, 8; John 1:9; 6:32, 55; 15:1; and Hebrews 8:2; 9:24.)

Luke did not base his account of the good news on myth, but on the testimony of “eyewitnesses and servants of the word” (Luke 1:2). Paul cautioned his protégé Timothy that one day people would “turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:4).

ME TR I CS

iblegateway.com offers 61 different Bible translations and paraphrases for readers to choose from. I’ve halfjokingly said for years that most Christians choose to read the MOV (My Own Version) Bible.

The Jefferson Bible—more properly called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth—may be the most noteworthy example of trying to make the Bible fit one’s personal perspective. Our nation’s third president, Thomas Jefferson, like many at the time, shed his orthodox Christianity in stages. He started by doubting the Trinity, then Old Testament miracles, and then New Testament miracles.

The Truth about Bible Reading

During his presidency, Jefferson extracted, reduced, and cut down the Gospels until the only thing left was what he called “the most sublime and benevolent code of morals that has ever been offered to man.” He put these verses into a 46-page booklet he called The Philosophy of Jesus. (No copies of it exist today.) In 1820, he finished the fuller second version of his edited Gospel. He devoutly read from it until he died in 1826.

by Kent E. Fillinger My Truth, Your Truth, or His Truth? We all like our “version” of the truth because, for some reason, we think it’s better. Many people shift from confessing “I believe in God” to talking about “the God I believe in,” before somehow concluding, “I could never believe in a God who . . .” As Daniel Silliman recently noted in Christianity Today, “We seek to make the Scripture sublime with our revisions, but we only succeed in making it sad.” In Can I Believe? Christianity for the Hesitant, John Stackhouse reminds us that our situations in life, along with our interests, values, hopes, and fears, can deeply influence the way we think. He offers three suggestions for managing this reality: Choose your company wisely, widen your conversations to include varying perspectives, and acknowledge the influence of your will in deciding what to believe. Taking time to learn, know, and obey the truths of God’s Word in the Bible can set us free from entrapments of our own making. It’s just as Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32, New Living Translation).

B i b l e R e a d i n g i n a C O V I D -19 W o r l d Online Bible searches soared in 2020. A record number of people turned to the Bible for verses addressing fear, healing, and justice.

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The popular YouVersion Bible app saw searches increase by 80 percent to nearly 600 million worldwide in 2020. Isaiah 41:10 ranked as the most searched, read, and bookmarked verse on the app. YouVersion tracked 43.6 billion Bible chapters read during 2020, with about 500 million verses shared, the highest number on record. Spikes in Bible searches corresponded to major events, with “fear” being the app’s top search term during the first few months of 2020, “justice” in the spring, and “healing” trending throughout the year. Bible Gateway’s website reported similar search trends. Pandemic-related verses about God taking away sickness were queried about 90 times more than average when COVID-19 lockdowns began a year ago. The site also saw queries related to racism, justice, and oppression spike a hundredfold in the week following George Floyd’s death, and verses related to government authority were up at least 50 times their average on Election Day.

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M a n y p e o p l e s h i f t f r o m c o n f e s s i n g ‘I b e l i e v e i n G o d ’ t o ta l k i n g a b o u t ‘ t h e G o d I b e l i e v e i n ,’ b e f o r e s o m e h o w c o n c l u d i n g , ‘I c o u l d n e v e r b e l i e v e i n a G o d w h o . . .’

“Love” and “peace” remained the two most popular search terms at Bible Gateway, but “hope” rose to third (from fifth) and “fear” increased to sixth (from thirteenth) in 2020. These reports sound encouraging, but according to the State of the Bible 2020 report released by the Barna Group and the American Bible Society, between early 2019 and 2020, the percentage of U.S. adults who said they used the Bible daily dropped from 14 percent to 9 percent. A decrease of 5 percentage points in a single year was unprecedented in the annual survey’s 10-year history. From 2011 to 2019, daily Bible readers basically held steady at an average of 13.7 percent of the population. The decline in Bible reading continued during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, and by June 2020, the percentage of daily Bible users had dropped to 8.5 percent. The State of the Bible 2020 report divided people into the following five “Scripture Engagement Segments” based on their level of interaction with the Bible (the percentage of Americans represented in each category was also noted): • Bible-Centered people (9 percent, 22.7 million adults) interact with the Bible frequently. The values and principles of Scripture are central to their life choices and relationships. • Bible-Engaged people (19 percent, 48.3 million adults) interact with the Bible regularly. The values and principles of Scripture mostly influence their

relationships with God and others. To a lesser degree, the Bible also influences their life choices. • Bible-Friendly people (16 percent, 41.5 million adults) interact with the Bible periodically and are open to the Bible as a source of spiritual insight and wisdom. • Bible-Neutral people (10 percent, 24.4 million adults) interact with the Bible sporadically with little influence from the Bible. • Bible-Disengaged people (46 percent, 118.5 million adults) interact with the Bible infrequently, if at all, and it has a minimal impact on their lives. As a group, these people rarely seek out the Bible, tending to encounter it through others, rather than by choice.

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Your Bible Reading Habits

The State of the Bible 2020 report found that 68 percent of U.S. adults strongly agree or somewhat agree that the Bible contains everything one needs to know to live a meaningful life. The top reasons Bible users gave for reading the Bible was that it brings them closer to God (38 percent) and that it helped them discern God’s will for their life (18 percent). Reading the Bible is a good starting point, but it’s not the finish line. Remember, the Bible isn’t to be read only for information, but also transformation (see Romans 12:2). Success in the Christian life is the product of daily habits, not a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. Many people start a new year by setting a goal to read the Bible. But as James Clear writes in Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” The goal is not to read the Bible, the goal is to become a Bible reader. “The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do,” Clear writes. Start by telling yourself, “I am the type of person who reads the Bible.” Each time you read your Bible, you are a Bible reader. Clear suggests people follow four steps—cue, craving, response, and reward—to build a Bible-reading habit.

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Start by putting your Bible in a visible place (that’s your cue to read it). Decide what you crave to learn, do, or change by reading your Bible (see 1 Peter 2:2). Respond by identifying a specific time for reading your Bible, and then follow through. All of this delivers a reward. We chase rewards because they satisfy us and because they teach us. Put another way, a person interested in developing a Bible-reading habit might ask themself these four questions: How can I make it obvious? How can I make it attractive? How can I make it easy? How can I make it satisfying? 

Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.

/3strandsconsulting 3strandsconsulting.com

TRUTH TONE IN THE AGE OF FAKE NEWS BY TYLER MCKENZIE

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One of the disorienting realities of living in the United States today is not knowing where to go for truth. Think about it—who do you go to for truth? Politicians? The media? The church? Christian Twitter? Google? The irony is we have more access to content and commentary than ever, but who can we trust? Trust has completely eroded in our society. A 2018 research study conducted by the Pew Research Center cited these statistics: • 75 percent of Americans say trust in the federal government is shrinking • 64 percent say trust in other Americans is shrinking • 61 percent say you cannot trust the news media • Only 18 percent of people between the ages of 30 to 49 have a high level of personal trust • Only 11 percent of people ages 18 to 29 have a high level of personal trust (which makes Gen Z the least trusting generation in American history) To be clear, truth is truth whether we feel the source is trustworthy or not. Truth doesn’t care about your feelings. It’s objective. Many sociologists argue that we are the first culture ever to reject this; instead of believing truth is located in a fixed reference point outside of us, we believe truth lies within us. Scripture rejects that though. It tells us Jesus is the truth. Truth is found in God’s Word. This means truth is not contingent on our feelings or the track record of the truth-teller. However, this doesn’t change the reality that trust is a vital prerequisite to people embracing truth, especially when that truth challenges or contradicts their predispositions. The extent to which people will be open to what you say tends to directly correlate with their level of personal trust.

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TRUTH -------TRIBE Honestly, it feels like the Wild West out there. Last election cycle Joe Biden’s campaign was saying of President Donald Trump, “He’s a chronic liar!” and the Trump campaign was describing most media reports as “fake news!” This is a snapshot of how truth is constantly being manipulated. All the confusion and contradiction has worn down most of us. In our fatigue and frustration, we tend to give up and trust the voices that affirm what is familiar. We trust the voices that give us the moral high ground rather than call us to account. We trust the voices that take our legitimate concerns and turn them into imminent threats by exploiting fear. There is no effort to discern false teachers. We find our tribe, dig in our heels, plug our ears, and prepare for battle. This explains why everything seems to be so stubbornly polarized. Why can’t the left and right compromise? Where’s the nuance? Where’s the humility to admit that my side may not be entirely right all of the time? It boils down to trust. People have been discipled to trust their tribe and its leaders. We live in a culture where people have a higher allegiance to tribe than truth. Have you ever wondered how the sweet woman from church who teaches your kids’ Sunday school and leads the homeless ministry is the same lady celebrating dehumanizing and fearmongering attacks on her political opponents? Have you ever wondered how your close friend who has two degrees and built a small fortune as an entrepreneur is the same guy canceling all the “snowflakes” on Facebook and sharing outrageous conspiracies? One word—trust. We listen to people we trust, and sadly, many of our tribes are shaping the truth into the image of their tenets. It is supposed to be the other way around. I once heard Timothy Keller argue that if the truth stops offending you, you should be very concerned. God’s kingdom and his Word transcend all of our artificial political parties, religious sects, cultural worldviews, and ideological tribes. They affirm the goodness in each but also judge the brokenness. If we truly serve a transcendent God, we should be suspicious if he ever starts looking too American, too white, too progressive, too Republican, too whatever. We should expect to be challenged and embrace the thrill of sanctification. Today, it seems, many want to use the truth as a bludgeon. They beat others down in order to claim the moral high ground over them. But in the kingdom of God, there’s only one way to claim the moral high ground—humble repentance. Jesus told us the humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled. God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud. The truth must be used to deal with my log before their speck.

ONLY THE LOVE OF JESUS CAN MAKE A PERSON WANT TO BE DIFFERENT.

SPEAKING TRUTH WITH A DIFFERENT TONE When we grow to a place where we instinctually use truth as a mirror for self-reflection, we will then be able to hold the mirror up for others lovingly. We will have the moral authority that comes with long-standing repentance. We will speak from a grace-experienced place. We will remain patient. We will be gentle and lowly like our Lord. We will share our own struggles, knowing people may be impressed by our strengths but will connect with our weaknesses. Basically, Christians will have a markedly different tone than the world around us. Tone matters to truth as much as trust matters to truth. Our tone communicates our true motives. Is our intention to wound or heal? Is our intention to inflict guilt or incite growth? Is our intention to shame or help? Most of the truth I hear spoken (or see posted) today is loaded with rage, snark, and sarcasm. It is aimed to embarrass enemies and rile the base rather than convert them into friends. It cancels enemies rather than dying to forgive them. This is one attribute I deeply admire about the nonviolent approach of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Let’s not sugarcoat it, King led a movement that spoke truth through civil disobedience. He and his followers strategically targeted unjust practices and systems and then defied them with speeches, sit-ins, marches, protests, and gatherings. However, their civil disobedience was practiced within the framework of nonviolence. If civil disobedience was their truth, nonviolence was their tone. In his book Stride Toward Freedom, King laid out six principles of nonviolence. They are incredibly cross-shaped. 1. Nonviolence is only for courageous people. 2. Nonviolence chooses love over hate. 3. Nonviolence holds that our suffering will educate and transform others. 4. Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice. 5. Nonviolence is aggressive toward problems, not people. 6. Nonviolence seeks to turn enemies into friends. On December 17, 1956, when the Supreme Court rejected appeals and ordered Montgomery’s buses to be desegregated, the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) held two meetings to prepare for when protesters would return to the buses. They had won! But King knew the battle was far from over. That

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is why he prepared a document for the MIA on how to reenter the buses with love. He advised, • “Pray for guidance and commit yourself to complete nonviolence in word and action as you enter the bus.” • “In all things observe ordinary rules of courtesy and good behavior.” • “Remember that this is not a victory for [us] alone, but for all Montgomery and the South.” • “Do not boast! Do not brag!” • “Be loving enough to absorb evil and understanding enough to turn an enemy into a friend.” • “If cursed, do not curse back. If pushed, do not push back. If struck, do not strike back, but evidence love and goodwill at all times.” • “For the first few days try to get on the bus with a friend in whose nonviolence you have confidence. You can uphold one another by a glance or a prayer.” • “If another person is being molested, do not arise to go to his defense, but pray for the oppressor and use moral and spiritual force to carry on the struggle for justice.” Even in victory, King remained chiefly concerned with seeing his enemies embrace the truth. The goal wasn’t just to win the legislative battle and rub their noses in it. The goal was to see change in the oppressors. While laws are powerful and the state can penalize people into obedience, only the love of Jesus can make a person want to be different. King recognized this. Many activists today do not. I love the activist spirit of the emerging generation, but I do not love the spirit in which they are active. Many have chosen to speak the truth in hate. The church must resist that! Christians must have a markedly different tone than the world around us. The world desires vengeance, the provocation of shame. “You made me hurt. Now I’ll make you hurt even worse.” Shame is rarely a pathway to reconciliation and renewal. When our rhetoric is laced with shame, it results in one of two ends. It either provokes self-loathing or it provokes a response of defensiveness and resentment. As Christians, we should desire sanctification over shame. We know our motives are of the Spirit when the aim is sanctification and the tone is bursting with the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control

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I SHOULD BE EAGER TO RECEIVE THE TRUTH.

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IN LIGHT OF GRACE Perhaps we can summarize it like this: Speak the truth in light of God’s grace. Hear the truth in light of God’s grace. Speak. Be whimsical and nonabrasive. Rise above the rhetoric. Reframe the issues. Exercise nuance and cultural sophistication. Celebrate common ground. Argue toward common good. Don’t give in to the pressure to compromise biblical convictions. Let cross-shaped love lead. This is our markedly different way. It has been my experience that when I do these things, others are pleasantly surprised. Hear. Whether heinous criminals or holy saints, we all come up infinitely and thus equally short of loving God the way he deserves. If that is true, it’s also true of every system we create, nation we found, government we lead, tribe we claim, theology we map, and church we plant. This side of Heaven, there is always room for growth. I must be acutely aware that I have blind spots and the Holy Spirit is not quite through with me. As the Lord told the prophet, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This is what makes the gospel all the more beautiful. I am depraved yet saved, and it is only by God’s grace. In fact—plot twist!—Christianity is the only faith that says you have to repent from being right. What a clap back to this justice-oriented generation and religious fundamentalists. If you are using your righteousness to establish your standing before God, it won’t work. You must surrender to his grace. I should be prepared . . . no . . . I should be eager to receive the truth. God’s grace guarantees I still need it and God’s grace relieves all fears that I still need it. 

Tyler McKenzie serves as lead pastor at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

WHAT IS

By John Caldwell

T R

The Question in a Cynical World:

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In context, I believe Pilate was mostly being sarcastic, though with a shred of genuine curiosity. Pilate was raised in a pagan society that worshiped Caesar as God during a time of many opposing philosophies. In that day, people did not recognize absolute truth. In other words, it was in many regards much like today, a day when the notion of truth has become controversial. A day in which most people consider there to be no such thing as absolute truth; that truth is always relative. Like the Romans of the first century, a terrible cynicism characterizes modern-day life. That cynicism is reflected in the diminishing moral values of our society. Paul wrote to the Romans, “They exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. . . . For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions” (Romans 1:25-26, unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible). We’ll come back to that, but first we need to define truth.

We’re all familiar with Pilate’s question of Jesus, “What is truth?” He was responding to Jesus’ statement, “For this purpose I have been born . . . to testify to the truth” (John 18:37-38).

TRUTH DEFINED What is truth? Truth, as used in this article, is defined by that which conforms with fact or reality. It is genuine. It is objective. It is real. Theologically speaking, it is that which is consistent with the mind, the will, the character, and the being of God. When Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6, emphasis mine), he meant that he was the self-disclosure, the very revelation of God himself in human flesh. Theological truth is very narrowly defined; Jesus said he was “the way,” not one of the ways, to the Father. So when the Bible speaks of truth, it describes that which corresponds to reality; it describes what is factual and absolute, not relative. That makes the inerrancy of Scripture all the more important. For inerrancy not only affirms absolute truth, it also affirms the authority of God’s Word. However, philosophically, we need to recognize that truth is often defined by the world in other ways:

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Subjective Truth: The world also uses the word truth subjectively. In our house I often say, “Wow, it’s hot in here,” while my wife may say, “No, I’m freezing.” Both statements are true based on our personal, subjective feelings and individual preferences. I might say, “Peppermint ice cream is the most delicious in the world,” while for you it may be chocolate. Both can be subjectively true based on our feelings. But neither can be objectively true, for they are based on perceptions and preferences and are contradictory. “I drive a Honda” is objective truth (defined below); it is a fact, whether you believe it or not. “A Honda is the best car in the world” is a subjective statement of truth based on my opinion and limited experience, but there is room for disagreement. Objective Truth: So, “what is truth?” To state that something is “objectively true” means it is true for people of all cultures and ages, even if they don’t recognize it as true. Christians have always recognized that theological and moral truth belong to this category. The statement, “Jesus Christ is God,” is an example of that. Here are a few more examples: “Salvation is by grace through faith.” “Jesus is coming again.” “There is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun.” “Human life begins at conception.” “Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.” Christianity also recognizes that there are some acts that are intrinsically evil, meaning they are always wrong regardless of circumstances; examples include murder, adultery, fornication, lying, theft, greed, and slander. People may choose to reject objective truth, but there is nothing subjective about it. Such objective truth comes from God. All truth ultimately is God’s truth, not just the truth found in Scripture. Such truth is also absolute. Without God, there can be no absolutes.

Objective truth is not subjective. It is not determined by personal feelings. Instead, objective truth is definite, definitive, and conclusive. It is not abstract or vague. It never is concerned with political correctness. Such truth speaks to everyone in a consistent manner. Objective truth is authoritative. It is meant to be applied to every life with the very authority of God. It makes demands rather than offering suggestions. It requires our attention and our compliance/response. God’s truth is revealed by the Bible, but it is not limited to the Bible, though neither is it ever contradicted by the Bible. That means when I teach from the Bible, the teaching is supported and affirmed by historical reality. The Bible is not like fairy tales or fiction Everything in the Bible took place in a historical context of time, place, and real people. The resurrection was the greatest event ever; it affirmed Jesus as the truth. It took place in AD 33; Jesus rose from Joseph of Arimathea’s garden tomb, located just outside Jerusalem. That fact was testified to by hundreds who saw Jesus alive after his death and burial. Many of those witnesses gave their very lives in testifying to the fact of the resurrection. The resurrection is objective truth. It is a historical reality. I began my college experience as a premed major at a state university, thus my schedule was loaded with biology and chemistry classes. One of my biology professors was an avowed atheist and evolutionist. He loved to make fun of Christians and Christianity. However, one Christian girl would respectfully challenge him on the antibiblical statements he would make. In response, he would ridicule her and further ridicule Christianity. Over time, I began to notice he would never objectively or factually respond to her queries. It seemed unfair, and I began to wonder if he was actually able to offer objective answers. I was a nominal Christian who had in many ways strayed from the commitment to Christ I had made as a boy, and yet I was still a believer. So I began to ask myself questions about my belief in Christ, in the Bible, and in the truths it taught. That motivated a personal study of apologetics (even though I wasn’t familiar with that term), which in turn strengthened my faith in the Lord and his Word. Objective truth will do that! I firmly believe in teaching apologetics and Christian evidences in every church and to every follower of Christ. It not only strengthens our faith in objective truth, but it enables us to be witnesses to that truth in this cynical world.

Propositional Truth: By definition, propositional truth is a statement regarded as true as opposed to false; but it may in fact be either. The Bible is stated propositionally, but it is also objectively true. That’s why the psalmist wrote, “The very essence of your words is truth” (119:160, New Living Translation). It’s why Jesus prayed for his disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible is filled with language that communicates absolute truth in propositional terms. That’s why Paul wrote to his young protégé, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

THE GREATEST SOURCE OF POWER AVAILABLE TO A LEADER IS THE TRUST THAT DERIVES FROM FAITHFULLY SERVING FOLLOWERS

CAN THEY HANDLE THE TRUTH?

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I’ve seen surveys that indicate approximately 75 percent of Americans do not believe in absolute truth; the figures are even quite high among people who identify themselves as evangelicals. This view has resulted in a growing crisis in our society and in the church, and especially among our teens. Society tells us, “Kids can’t be expected to remain pure and refuse to engage in sex until marriage.” So, society responds by putting condom machines in school restrooms and prescribing birth-control pills for teenage girls, even without their parents’ knowledge. Unwanted pregnancies obviously will still occur, so society must provide publicly funded abortion clinics. Beyond that, society castigates those who dare to speak negatively of homosexuality or same-sex marriage. Does all that sound like standing up for objective truth? Of course not, because it isn’t!

we continue to downplay doctrinal truth and avoid any commentary on societal behavior that might make people uncomfortable. I realize there are many wonderful exceptions, but I fear we could be seeing a fulfillment of this Scripture: “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I referenced Romans 1 earlier. In it, Paul wrote, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (v. 18, emphasis mine). But our Lord’s brother presented the flip side of that: “If anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Perhaps it is time to stop our philosophical approach to truth and start using it to correct error and to introduce people to Jesus, who is the truth. 

I’m reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s encounter with a denier of absolute truth. Lincoln asked, “How many legs does a cow have?” “Four, of course!” “Now, suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg,” Lincoln pressed on, “how many legs does a cow have?” “Why, five of course,” was the confident reply. “Now, that’s where you are wrong,” Lincoln said. “Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” The church must not only return to believing objective truth, but also to proclaiming it and standing up for it. There was a time when people who did not profess to be Christian still believed that the Bible was the Word of God and the basis for morality. But today truth has become whatever happens to be true for you. And I fear the church has been complicit in this tragic change, as

John Caldwell served as senior pastor of Kingsway Christian Church in Indianapolis for more than 30 years. He remains involved in ministry as a guest speaker and interim minister, and he serves with three mission boards as well as a part-time field representative for Christian Arabic Services.

Even if you’ve never seen A Few Good Men, you likely are familiar with Jack Nicholson’s dramatic retort to Tom Cruise during a court martial, “You can’t handle the truth!” I fear that many pastor/teachers in the church today believe that. In our desire not to offend, we have taken a stance of political correctness—a marketing approach, that while not denying the truth, fails to speak it. We don’t want to appear judgmental. Tolerance is the value that defines much of today’s teaching and preaching, especially in attractional (or seekerdriven) churches.

The Balancin g Act

b y d av e s t o n e

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My wife, Beth, and I had just met a young couple as we were leaving church. After visiting with these strangers for a few minutes, we invited them to go eat lunch with our family. We found ourselves laughing and devouring sandwiches and getting to know them. And that’s when it got awkward. After asking Matt what part of town he lived in, I innocently proceeded to ask the same question of Stacie. In between bites, in matter-of-fact fashion, she replied that they lived together. Two voices in my subconscious immediately began whispering to me. One unwavering, firm voice said, Don’t hold back, Dave, they’ve given you an opening. They’ve caved into the culture and are living in sin. God served this up on a silver platter for you. Show some boldness and hit ’em with Revelation 22:15 and 1 Corinthians 6:18. The other voice was kinder and gentler: You just met them, Dave. Let it go for now, otherwise they are going to turn away. There will be more opportunities later, after they get to know you all, and then you can challenge them with biblical truth. I’m sure you’ve found yourself trying to walk a similar tightrope while still representing Jesus Christ. You’ve tried to keep the same balance he did when he stepped up for an adulterous woman in front of some self-righteous leaders and an observant crowd. “‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11). In just a few words, Jesus demonstrated the most powerful and potent combo when it comes to navigating your way through the land mines associated with differing beliefs and behavioral expectations.

This past year certainly underscored we have a lot to learn in knowing how to interact and converse with those whose views and values differ from our own. Whether it was the way your preacher handled the pandemic or your boss addressed the racial unrest or your local leaders managed the shutdown of restaurants, schools, and churches. It’s tough to lead when any decision you make is second-guessed. Such is the world we live in today. But I contend that Christians can hold different opinions than other Christians (and nonbelievers) and still remain faithful to Christ. I even believe that, in most situations, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Even when someone criticizes you or sends you a nasty email questioning a decision, you can still take the high road. If the conflict arises in a conversation, try to patiently wait while you intently listen. They will be more apt to listen to your opinion if you’ve listened to theirs. If someone writes to criticize you, I suggest you look for any truth in their words, own what you should, repent if you are guilty, thank them for personally writing to you (versus publicly complaining about you to others), and then wait a day or two before you send it. We’ve all hastily texted, written, or said something in the heat of the moment that we later wish we had toned down or softened. While diplomacy may be fading in society, it can still be evident in the life of the believer. The apostle Paul said, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, emphasis mine). The word instead indicates Paul wants the actions and words of Christians to look and sound quite different from the world.

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distinctive in public settings For those of you in Christian leadership, perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s less stressful at times to excel at “teaching the truth.” You can preach it boldly from a pulpit knowing there’s less risk, since you have the microphone and there’s no interaction. It’s easier to stand for truth when it’s a monologue and not a dialogue. But if there is harshness to your tone, if your nonverbal communication lacks love, then you have unknowingly discouraged your congregation from ever wanting to invite an unchurched friend to come to church with them. In their minds, it’s not worth the risk if their friend or acquaintance is likely to hear a lesson that’s heavy on truth but light on grace. The truth must be spoken, . . . and with tact. Someone defined tact as the ability to make someone feel at home—when you wish that they were! d i s t i n c t i v e i n p r i vat e s e t t i n g s At other times, you might excel at speaking in a loving manner. It might occur in a small gathering or perhaps when a crying person privately tells you a sad story that makes you side with them. In those moments, it can be easy to overlook that there’s another side to the story that may be just as compelling. So, it depends on the setting. But that’s not what Paul is asking, or commanding, us to do. He wants us to speak the truth in love. That’s what Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollos, who “taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). So, “Priscilla and Aquila . . . invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (v. 26).

I recognize that bringing someone to your home isn’t always possible or practical. Some situations and settings, like my impromptu lunch conversation, require an immediate response on a delicate subject right where you are. “Our carnal nature wants to deliver a dose of humiliation and condemnation,” Jon Weece says, “but Jesus wants to give grace and truth. Grace plus truth equals love.” no compromise But what about those areas where a Christian mustn’t compromise? In these contentious times, is it possible to honor biblical truth and still be loving? The church already has enough chameleon Christians who allow their setting and surroundings to dictate their decisions and alter their actions. If you have a pulse, then at times you will be tempted to lower your Christian standards to avoid conflict in the break room, locker room, board room, and even your own living room. There’s a temptation to remain silent. And yet, you know there are moments when God is expecting you to swim against the current. If you are a people pleaser, there’s a tendency to avoid difficult conversations and to simply say, “That’s their choice” or “That’s between them and the Lord.” But we can’t acquiesce and lower our standards just to keep the peace. M e a n w h i l e , B a c k at O u r L u n c h . . .

Priscilla and Aquila could have embarrassed Apollos before the crowd in the synagogue or taken him aside privately and debated him, but they took the high road. They invited him into their home, a safe and comfortable place. Home is a setting where questions could be asked and truth could be taught.

I did hear voices in my head during our lunch that day. One voice urged me toward righteous anger and boldness while another voice encouraged me to escape the subject of living together by avoiding it altogether. But, at the risk of sounding schizophrenic, thank the Lord there was a third voice. It sounded like the voice of my dad. Words from my favorite sermon of his came to mind. Dad was reading Paul’s words from that passage in Ephesians I mentioned earlier: “Instead, speaking the truth in love . . .”

Apollos may have been receptive to the couple’s instruction because of where they taught him.

Looking back, it probably was the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but throughout my life, quite often that

t ru t h in love—t hat 's chris t iani t y.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15

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So I swallowed a bite of my sandwich, . . . and then I swallowed again, and then I asked the couple if they were sleeping together. They nonchalantly replied, “Yes, we are.” And gently and lovingly I began to talk about how our culture has made “living together” a pseudo entry path to marriage. But I went on to share that God lays out a better route that can actually offer a deeper love, a fuller commitment and covenant. Matt feigned ignorance and Stacie followed his lead, but after I gently shared a few more lines, I could see Stacie’s eyes taking on more water than they could hold. Tears began to leak out and she looked at me and confessed, “I know what we are doing is wrong.” We all talked some more, and I asked them to take a couple of days to think about what we’d discussed and to pray about it. Before we left, we invited them to start coming to our home on Wednesday nights to hang out with some other couples (that’s code for inviting them to a home Bible study). They showed up that Wednesday. Three weeks later, Matt and Stacie changed their living arrangements, and I had the privilege of baptizing them into Christ. About four months later, I performed their wedding. God did it. We had a front-row seat to his power. He is always the central figure in any story of transformation. But he wants to use your creativity, personality, and faithfulness as you speak the truth in love to help draw people to him.

For those of you who tend to lean more toward grace than truth, ask yourself, “What’s at stake here?” If I remain silent and don’t share “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:25, English Standard Version), how could it negatively affect this person’s life, family tree, and eternity? For those of you who tend to instantly gravitate toward truth rather than grace, practice pressing pause and try to put yourself in the shoes of the other person. Why do they behave or believe the way they do? Someone said, “Never be surprised when an unbeliever acts like an unbeliever.” Patience and self-control also play a role in having an amicable, respectful dialogue. How you say words of truth is just as important as what you say. If your tone or manner communicates judgment or shame, it’s likely your challenge will be met with resistance or defensiveness. Over the years, I’m certain I’ve turned off some “Matts” and “Stacies” by taking too strict a stance on something, or, at other times, being too soft on sin. I’m sure, on some occasions, I proudly spouted Scripture (but missed the intent of the words), and in some settings I fearfully clammed up (instead of lovingly speaking up). I can’t unscramble eggs, but I can try to be ready for the next unexpected, awkward moment that presents itself. Read Ephesians 4:15 again (“Instead, speaking the truth in love . . .”). God’s inspired Word says he wants, expects, and demands both love and truth. I like the way Bob Russell puts it, "Love without truth—that’s sentimentality.

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Truth without love—that’s dogmatism.

I used the example of a couple living together outside of marriage, but in this world where moral relativism rules, there are many touchy topics that need to be turned toward the truth.

But the truth in love—that’s Christianity." 

Whether the issue is recreational drug use, acting out on same-sex attraction, abusing the workplace expense account, or occasionally viewing porn, you will need to share God’s truth. Just make certain you do so with his grace and love.

In 2019, Dave Stone “retired” as the senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, after serving there for 30 years. Since then he has done an interim ministry, and he currently serves as chairman of the Spire Network. He also enjoys preaching and helping churches through succession planning.

voice has closely resembled the uncompromising, loving tones of my father.

By Brent Bramer

The Dilemma of Social Media & the Church I received an email from Jonathan, a person I’d never met, last June. He explained that he’d hit a point in his life where he had questions about life, faith, his purpose, and how to respond to everything that was happening in the world. We were in the midst of a pandemic; people were losing their jobs, and there was political turmoil and racial injustice. Jonathan said he didn’t know how to process all the chaos we all were witnessing. Jonathan had found our church through Google and Instagram. Unbeknownst to me, he had been listening to our sermons and podcasts and following SLO City through social media. One day, while Jonathan was on vacation in Michigan, he put in his AirPods, headed out for a jog, and listened to our church’s message on joy—and that’s when the Lord touched his heart. Jonathan wrote this to our church: “God broke through to my heart. I dropped to my knees right there . . . and committed my life to Christ. I’m not exactly sure what the path forward looks like, but I wanted you to know that you are making an impact.” A few months later, when I had occasion to meet Jonathan for coffee, I was floored by the way God used social media and the spoken word through an online platform to meet him right in the middle of a jog.

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Social media is a tool to be used, but it also is a tool that can easily use us.

The Potential of Social Media Social media has impacted almost every aspect of our lives. Recent reports indicate there are more than 330 million Twitter users (sending more than 500 million tweets per day), 850 million Instagram users (posting over 95 million images per day), and 2.7 billion people using Facebook. People are engaging one another, shopping, sharing opinions, and gathering information online more than ever. Think about that for a moment. When we started SLO City Church, we built strong relationships with schools and city officials, we met neighbors and strangers in coffee shops, we coached sports teams and served our community, and we prioritized building a strong social media presence. Why? Because people all over the world—young and old, rich and poor—are using and consuming social media. We wanted to meet people—people like Jonathan—where they are and to bring the hope of Jesus into conversations happening online and in our city. We’re seeing God use social media platforms to connect the unconnected to Jesus . . . a hope that is steady and sure. Photographer and digital marketing consultant Steven Estes recently shared this: “Social media has the potential to be the greatest tool to advance the gospel since the printing press. It basically gives the average Joe (or Jolene) a pulpit (or platform) from which to share the gospel like never before, and it gives churches a constant connection to their congregants beyond a Sunday morning service. It’s up to us whether or not we use it as such.”

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The Deficiencies of a Digital World We all recognize the power of handshakes, eye contact, and face-to-face conversation. Hugs and in-person smiles are deeply impactful. This global pandemic has exposed our need for such interpersonal connection, and yet we’ve been left with our laptops, iPads, smartphones, Zoom meetings, and the glow of a blue screen to give us this sense of connection in this season. It has left most of us less than fulfilled. It can be hard to encourage and maintain community during a crisis that forces us to remain isolated. And while social media has blessed both our church community and thousands of others around the world, it’s also a reason for great concern. In 2020, the Netflix film The Social Dilemma explored this tension and exposed some of the troubling realities of a digital world. The film revealed what we all feel—that social media can be a breeding ground for comparison, contempt, hatred, and division. Studies show that social media usage increases anxiety and feelings of low self-worth. The film explained how the various platforms hook users and keep them coming back for more. In one of the most troubling scenes, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt shared that suicide rates and instances of self-harm in preteen and teenage girls have skyrocketed since social media was first made available on smartphones in 2009. In the last decade, suicide rates have risen 70 percent in preteen girls and 151 percent in teenage girls. The film is important viewing for everyone—parents, pastors, and parishioners—because it helps explain that social media is a tool to be used, but it also is a tool that can easily use us.

Wrestling with How to Use Social Media Well Social media is impactful. It can be a blessing, and it can be destructive. Social media users can be impacted in both good and bad ways. The church needs to wrestle with the dilemma of how we use it. The church needs to better understand how social media can shape opinions, perceptions, and politics. The church must resolve to be shaped by Jesus’ love, grace, truth, Word, and worship—and then to use social media to bless others. For too long the church has branded certain things as bad and untouchable, and for too long it has removed itself from certain places because of perceived dangers and threats. Social media undoubtedly fits in these categories. But Jesus and his disciples never slunk away from controversy or danger; instead, they went to public places and reached out to people in the middle of the mess. Jesus and his disciples met the people right where they were and sought to share hope with everyone. The church needs to look like Jesus in all settings. The church must shine the light of Christ wherever people are—for the glory of God and the good of all people. 

Brent Bramer serves as lead pastor of SLO City Church in San Luis Obispo, California. Brent and his wife, Jenna, have four children— Keegan, Cole, Hattie, and Isla. / slocitychurch

@ slocitychurch

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“The greatest source of power available to a leader,” said Dr. James O’Toole, founding director of Neely Center for Ethical Leadership at the University of Southern California, “is the trust that derives from faithfully serving followers.” Three decades earlier, Howard Hendricks, longtime professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, told a Promise Keepers rally, “The greatest crisis in America is a crisis of leadership, and the greatest crisis of leadership is a crisis of character.” During the past several decades, a proliferation of books, journals, degree programs, podcasts, online conferences, and DVD series have addressed the issues of character and trust in leadership in virtually all arenas of life. Of course, my first concern is the health and growth of the church of Christ. And nothing impacts the wellbeing of the church of Jesus more than the heart devotion of the spiritual shepherds who are entrusted with her care and feeding. In the early chapters of Acts, Luke—a Holy Spiritinspired historian and physician—did two things. First, he described the birth of the Christian church on the Day of Pentecost. Second, he exposed the strategy of the evil one, who sought to snuff out the life of the infant church. So, the first two chapters of Acts demonstrate the activity of the Holy Spirit. By contrast, Acts 3-6 reveals the activity of the unholy spirit—and we see the threefold strategy of the devil to destroy the church: Persecution—Satan tried to crush the church by force/ physical violence. In Acts 3, right after Pentecost, Peter and John were arrested, jailed, and warned not to speak further about Jesus. Upon their release, they went right back to preaching and working miracles. They were rearrested in Acts 5, severely beaten, and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. But the violent persecution resulted in the advancement of the gospel (Acts 5:42). Corruption—Having failed to destroy the church from the outside, Satan tried in Acts 5 to corrupt it from the

inside through the deceit of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple had sold a piece of property and claimed to have given all the income from the land sale to the church. It was a lie. When they were separately confronted, a divine death sentence was imposed on this couple for their stewardship sin. The result was “more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (Acts 5:14). Division—Satan’s third attack was even more subtle. He created dissension in the church to try to distract the apostles from their priority tasks of preaching and prayer. The number of disciples had exponentially increased and the pastoral load had become unmanageable. Racial and generational tension developed. The apostles knew they had to keep the focus on the ministry of the Word of God and prayer, so they proposed a practical solution that resulted in the number of disciples increasing rapidly (Acts 6:3-7). These are the devil’s three exclusive weapons to blunt the redemptive impact of the gospel and the church in every generation—persecution, corruption, and division. In over 20 centuries, he has not changed his strategy or tactics. Notice that all of these assaults on the Lord’s church were focused on leadership. Why? Because discouraging, discrediting, and distracting leaders is the shortcut to damaging the health and arresting the growth of the church. These were the three battlefronts for the firstcentury church in Jerusalem and they are the three battlefronts for the 21st-century church in your city. Today persecution comes from militant atheism and a secular worldview that actively seeks to excise knowledge of God from the minds of people. Corruption is evident in the frequent moral failures of professed/ recognized spiritual leaders. Division became more evident in the church during 2020 largely due to the polarization related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as racial and political issues. But trustworthy leaders today can meet these timeless assaults in the same ways the apostolic leaders responded to them in Acts 3–6.

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The apostles were arrested and imprisoned, but an angel of the Lord opened the doors, brought them out, and instructed them, “Go stand in the temple courts . . . and tell the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:20). The apostles courageously obeyed. Even when they were warned and flogged, they said, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). The text says that when people “saw the courage of Peter and John, . . . they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Ten years ago, a group of 70 of us from Crossroads Christian Church in Evansville, Indiana, made the trip to Dearborn, Michigan, to do festival evangelism in the city parks among the predominantly Muslim population. The first evening, the local imam and several clerics showed up to intentionally disrupt our meeting. They walked to the front of our assembly and began to shout at the people, “forbidden, forbidden!” They had young boys tattooed with the name Mohammed riding their bicycles through the crowd. I could hardly believe we were in the United States of America. The authorities were called. It was a volatile situation. But the next day, our entire team was renewed and energized to move on to the next park location to faithfully love, serve, and testify in this community of 250,000 Muslims. The courage of this team was not unlike the courage of the early apostles.

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The Trustworthy Leader’s Response to Corruption

Joseph Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute, described the qualities of an authentic Christian leader this way, “Living a life that is worthy of respect, by living as an exemplary leader in five areas: words, conduct (particularly my conduct in regard to women, work, and wealth), love, faith, and purity!” (Notice that all five areas have to do with integrity.) A survey of Fortune 500 headhunters asked, “What do you look for most in a prospective hire?” The number one answer was “integrity.” The number two answer was “honesty.” It goes the other way too. In their extensive studies of employees, James Kouzes and Barry Posner asked, “What trait do you most value/admire in your leaders?” Again, the top answer was “integrity.” The conclusion of both studies: Credibility (character) is the foundation of trustworthy leadership. Period. And the ultimate test of leaders’ credibility is whether they do what they say. The duplicitous lives and tragic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira provide evidence that a lack of integrity is a serious sin in the church. The harshest words from the lips of Jesus were directed at professed godly leaders who failed the test of authenticity (Matthew 23). It’s been said, “If you lose your reputation/testimony, you will be fortunate if you live long enough to restore it.” Paul shared perhaps the single greatest leadership ethic when he wrote, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25).

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The Trustworthy Leader’s Response to Division

When there was dissension and division in the early church over the daily distribution of food, the apostles chose seven men to counter this problem that threatened the unity of the young church. They were to be men of good reputation, known to be spiritually mature, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (a practical understanding of what is right and true when we do not have a clear word from Scripture). This wisdom is the by-product of a strong prayer life. Jesus’ brother wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). These leaders make great counselors and practical strategists. Strong bonds of trust between leaders—both vocational and volunteer—and between leaders and the church family are vital to the health and growth of every church in every generation. And if our eyes are open to Satan’s three frontal assaults on the church, we will be able to respond with courage, integrity, and wisdom that will honor God and advance his kingdom through the church in our troubled generation. 

Ken Idleman serves as vice president of leadership development for The Solomon Foundation. He served as the fourth president of Ozark Christian College and then as senior pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in Newburgh, Indiana.

HOW TO PREACH WITH BIBLICAL AUTHORITY 4 ESSENTIAL COMMITMENTS FOR REACHING BOTH BELIEVERS AND SEEKERS By Chris Philbeck

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I grew up in a small church on the west side of Tulsa, Oklahoma. My mother, who loved to sing, was part of the church choir. This was during the days when there was a midweek service followed by choir practice. One Wednesday when I was about 10, I was in the sanctuary (there’s a word you don’t hear much anymore) waiting for choir practice to end so we could go home. While I was waiting, the preacher, Delmar Debault, came in and walked over to where I was standing. As he talked to me, he took my face into his hands, bent over and kissed me on the forehead and said, “You’re going to be a preacher one day.” To be honest, I was a little embarrassed by what he did, especially the kiss to the forehead part, but it’s something I never forgot. And, as it turned out, he was a bit of a prophet, because I’ve been a preacher now for more than 40 years. Over the course of my ministry, I have developed a strong conviction about the necessity of biblical preaching based on biblical authority. At the same time, I understand we live in a day when for many people, including some preachers, the words preaching and authority don’t go together for a variety of reasons. A reality of life in a sinful and fallen world is that people rebel against authority of any kind. Some people view preaching with authority as the ultimate example of arrogance. They say, “Who are you to tell me what I need to do?” or “What makes you think you have all the answers?” People who preach with a sense of authority often can sound angry and judgmental. So, how do you preach with biblical authority in a way that actually reaches and engages, not just believers, but seekers as well? Here are four simple and honest answers from my heart.

START WITH THE EX AMPLE OF JESUS I love the way Matthew concluded his description of the Sermon on the Mount: “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28-29). The word used for authority has the fundamental meaning of “power” or “privilege.” The teachers of the law would often quote one another to lend authority to their teachings, but Jesus didn’t need to do that because he taught out of the reality and experience of who he was. When he spoke, he literally spoke the words of God. Isn’t that what we do, or what we’re supposed to do, when we preach? Who has the authority or the right to preach in any setting today? Is it the preacher or is it God? It’s God, of course, and that’s what happens when we embrace biblical preaching based on biblical authority, because we’re speaking the words of God. And don’t miss the people’s response. Matthew said the people were “amazed” at Jesus’ teaching. The word amazed literally means “to be struck out of oneself.” Today we might say, “The crowds were blown away.” Why this response? It was because they had never heard such straightforward, complete, and honest words of wisdom before. They had never heard such a clear and compelling call. They’d heard the teachers of the law talk about religion in the sense of rules and restrictions and opinions, but Jesus talked about a righteousness that was real. The difference between Jesus and the teachers of the law wasn’t the delivery, it was his message. Several years ago, I attended a conference with the worship and arts team from my church. On the first day of the conference, I went to a workshop for preachers led by someone known to many people reading this article. He opened the workshop by saying, “Content is no longer the key when it comes to preaching.” He then talked about the power and importance of creating an experience for listeners. While I understood his overall point, I reject his opening words. I can find an “experience” in lots of different places and settings, but those experiences don’t last because they don’t come from a place of authority, and they don’t speak to the eternal needs of my heart. Jesus’ teaching was different because he spoke the very words of God. In Preaching, Timothy Keller wrote, “A good sermon is not like a club that beats upon the will but like a sword that cuts to the heart.” I imagine that’s what it was like to listen to Jesus.

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MAKE IT YOUR GOAL TO CONNECT BIBLICAL PREACHING WITH EVERYDAY LIFE Biblical preaching needs to be much more than the explanation of Scripture, because if preaching never moves from information to life, the listener never sees or understands the application to life. This is why illustration and application must be a part of every message. I’ll provide an example from my own life. I’ve always loved Paul’s words, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). But those words became even more clear to me when I was diagnosed with cancer in December 2011 and went through an intensive time of treatment, not knowing if I would live or die. During the five months of treatment and recovery, I had a lot of alone time with the Lord. One thing I learned, or was reminded of, was just how shallow and fleeting the things of this world really are in comparison to the pursuit of Christ. Now, even though there are still times when I forget or allow myself to be distracted from that truth, God always brings me back to what I learned during that difficult time. That experience underpins my ability to preach to the futility of pursuing the things of the world in a way that anyone can understand. When you come face-to-face with the end of your life, the things of the world don’t hold much appeal, while the things of God become more precious than ever. God’s Word is enough on its own, but adding our personal experience makes it even more relatable to the listener. Biblical preaching suffers when we don’t give time and attention to illustration and application, whether it comes from our own lives or another source.

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BELIEVE GOD’S WORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART I don’t have a personal story or experience to share that corresponds with every truth in the Bible, but I believe the Bible from cover-to-cover. And as simple as it sounds, that belief gives power to preaching. Jason K. Allen made an excellent point in his article, “As One with Authority.” He told this story of George Whitefield, an 18th-century evangelist: David Hume, one of the 18th century’s leading skeptics, closely followed Whitefield’s ministry. On one occasion Hume traveled more than 20 miles before dawn to hear Whitefield preach. A fellow attender recognized Hume and inquired as to his attendance. “Where are you going this early hour?” “I am going to hear Whitefield preach” replied Hume. “But you don’t believe a word he preaches,” said the man.” “No,” Hume answered, “but he does.” When you believe in what you’re preaching, it will show because it will be engaging and compelling. At the end of John 6, many disciples were leaving Jesus. At one point, Jesus asked the Twelve, “‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ . . . Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’” (John 6:6768). Like Simon Peter, I believe with all my heart that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life, and that impacts the way I preach. The Bible is the only true source of help in this sinful and fallen world, and any preaching that substitutes human wisdom or creativity or personality or entertainment for biblical truth is not just wrong, it’s spiritually fatal.

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FEEL THE URGENCY OF PREACHING Every generation faces some kind of challenge when it comes to preaching, especially preaching with authority. Today we live in a world where truth is marginalized and authority has been abandoned, but the fundamental need of the human heart to be redeemed by God remains the same. That’s why we need to embrace the urgency of preaching with the same kind of passion the Puritan Richard Baxter expressed when he said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” But our urgency loses its impact if our message is anything other than authoritative biblical truth. Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). We know that the word gospel means “good news.” It’s the good news of redemption and transformation. It’s good news that there’s more to life than the world has to offer. It’s good news that God has a new and better plan for you. And the good news goes on and on. It’s a message that can be proclaimed with certainty and with authority. In Don’t Call It a Comeback, Kevin DeYoung wrote about a study Thom Rainer did years ago in which he asked formerly unchurched people this open-ended question: “What factors led you to choose this church?” Preaching was the overwhelming response. More specifically, it was a pastor who preached with certitude and conviction. DeYoung concluded, “When it comes to reaching outsiders, bold, deep, biblical preaching is not the problem. It’s part of the solution.” Haddon Robinson wrote in Biblical Preaching, Preaching means, “to cry out, herald, or exhort.” Preaching should so stir a man that he pours out the message with passion and fervor. Not all passionate pleading from a pulpit, however, possesses divine authority. When a preacher speaks as a herald, he must cry out “the Word.” Anything less cannot legitimately pass for Christian preaching. Let’s be committed to biblical preaching with biblical authority! 

Chris Philbeck has been in full-time ministry since 1980 and the senior pastor at Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood, Indiana, since 2001. Watch for his new column on preaching starting in May.

WHAT BREAKS GOD'S HEART

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Thoughts on how to pray more passionately for God’s will in our lives, churches, communities, and nation.

BY DALE REEVES

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POLITICAL DIVISION

Whether or not the candidates you voted for in November won, do you feel good about the state of our country? I doubt that many people would respond yes to that question. Like many of my fellow Christians, I grieved after the most recent general election . . . not about who won or lost the presidency or other political offices, but rather about the whole state of affairs. Scandalous behavior. Harsh accusations. Actions and reactions that represented the opposite tactic of King Solomon: “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare” (Proverbs 15:1, New Living Translation). ast year, Trevor DeVage challenged our church to pray every day for a week, “God, break my heart with the things that break your heart!” That’s not a safe or easy prayer. It’s not consistent with the God-please-bless-me-and-takecare-of-my-needs-and-answer-my-prayersthe-way-I-want-you-to Christianity that many American believers have grown accustomed to. I can’t claim to know everything that breaks God’s heart, but I know one must be when I try to hide from him and go my own way—as Adam and Eve did in the garden. If I wrote about everything that breaks God’s heart, this would be a very long article! But I’d like to offer just a few thoughts on this topic.

Solomon prayed, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9, English Standard Version). Every leader in our country should be praying that prayer. But we seem more focused on whether a particular state is red, blue, or purple than whether or not officeholders are concerned about pleasing God through the way they treat people and enact laws and policies. It has been sad to watch this kind of division in our country simmer for years and then boil over to scald many lives, families, and churches along the way.

DIVISION OF THE BODY One thing is even sadder than that: the division I have witnessed among people who claim to be brothers and sisters in the church. We so easily forget our struggle is not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). COVID-19 has provided the perfect storm for Satan to carry out his destructive work in our churches, homes, and nation. He works so well when he can isolate us from one another. One of our Lord’s last prayers before taking our sins upon himself was this: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me” (John 17:20-21, NLT).

LAWLESSNESS Sin breaks God’s heart. All sin. No one is immune from sin—it transcends political parties. One word for sin in the Bible is lawlessless. Our culture has turned its back on the sanctity with which God created every life; our nation is willing to discard lives that have been created in his image. It breaks God’s heart, and so do the sins of adultery within marriages, homosexuality, rebellion and godlessness, racism, sex trafficking of innocent children, and the list could go on and on. (See Galatians 5:19-21.)

The purpose of Christian unity is to be more like Jesus so “the world will believe.” It’s astonishing how many brothers and sisters have unfriended or unfollowed people on Facebook over politics. A friend of mine remarked, “People are watching how we as Christians act and deciding if they want anything to do with the God we proclaim to love.”

God’s heart breaks for those who are in bondage to sin patterns and addictions that not only destroy their lives but also crush the families who love them. When we throw off God’s basic rules for what’s right and wrong, our society collapses in upon itself. When people say, “I can’t believe they did this or that,” I respond, “Unfortunately, I’m not shocked anymore. When you no longer believe in absolute truth from God, then anything is up for grabs.”

Author Madeline L’Engle said, “We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”

The solution for every person is to own their own sin, repent of it, and confess it to God. Make no mistake, there is always forgiveness available to every one of us, but the consequences of our sin still must be dealt with. We reap what we sow.

The United States of America has not learned the lessons God laid out in Scripture. America’s present situation reminds me of the period of the judges in the Bible: “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25, NLT). It is sad indeed when more and more people say, “We don’t need God in our state!” In 1986, evangelist Vance Havner said, People used to blush when they were ashamed. Now they are ashamed if they blush. Modesty has disappeared and a brazen generation with no fear of God before its eyes mocks at sin. We are so fond of being called tolerant and broad-minded that we wink at sin when we ought to weep. Those words from more than 30 years ago seem even more relevant today. They were true more than 2,600 years ago when the prophet Jeremiah grieved over the people of God. He wrote, “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jeremiah 8:21-22).

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ephesians 6:12

The answer for them is the same for our country today. We as a nation have not repented. God wasn’t joking when he spoke of the great need for repentance through his prophets, and he still is looking for repentance from us. Here’s the truth: there are consequences for bad behavior. Yes, we can be forgiven of our sins through the blood of Jesus, but God still expects repentance. There won’t be any long-lasting solutions until we as a nation repent and until we as individuals confess our pride before him. Are you burdened and grieved today over the things that burden the heart of God? Have you looked in the mirror and accepted the heart surgery God needs to perform on you, praying, “Break my heart, O God”? My hope does not rest in any political officeholder; it rests in Jesus alone. And that’s why I want to know what breaks his heart.  Dale Reeves serves as story pastor with Christ’s Church, Mason, Ohio.

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PRIDE

THE UNDERST DI

by chad ragsdale

TANDING moving toward humble listening interpretation and acceptance of God s Word

STANCE

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In January 1846

Alexander Campbell wrote an article on biblical interpretation for the Millennial Harbinger with a message that is as relevant now as it was then. There is a distance which is properly called the speaking distance, or the hearing distance, beyond which the voice reaches not, and the ear hears not, Campbell asserted. To hear another, we must come within that circle which the voice audibly fills. Now, we may with propriety say that as it respects God there is an understanding distance. All within that distance can easily understand God in all matters of piety and morality, while all beyond that distance cannot understand him. God himself is the center of that circle, and humility is its circumference. Campbell’s point was straightforward. If we want to hear a person well, we must draw within a hearing distance. Haven’t we all had those shouting moments in our homes where everyone is raising their voice not in anger, but in laziness? Unwilling to leave the comfort of the couch, we resort to yelling at one another from the other side of the house. We do this even though we know it will likely result in misunderstanding and frustration. Hearing well often requires moving. Campbell said the same is true when it comes to hearing God in his Word. We must draw within a hearing, or understanding, distance, and that requires a degree of humility.

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Humble Listening

Many important principles are necessary for properly understanding a text. I teach these to my students. For instance, to understand any passage of Scripture well, one must dig into things like the historical and cultural background of a text. When the Bible was being written, the world was very different in important ways, so we must study those differences. We must also study such things as context. Many of the most common errors in biblical interpretation result from ignoring the broader context of a text. These and other principles are essential to any student of the Bible, but one of the key lessons I learned from Dr. Bob Lowery while studying at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian University was that humility is the most important principle of biblical interpretation. We can practice all the sound literary principles for interpreting a text, but if we lack humility, we can still make the text say whatever we want it to say. Humility is essential to all communication. Without humility we are prone to hear only our own voice. Putting words in someone’s mouth, jumping to conclusions, and overtalking are just a few of the communication breakdowns that result from a lack of humility. Humility beckons us to listen before we speak, to understand before we act. What is true in communication is also true of our interpretation of Scripture. I like to remind my students that understanding the Bible begins with a choice. Will we choose to humble ourselves and listen to what God has revealed in his Word, or will we choose instead to impose our own meaning on the text? Will we seek to hear God’s voice, or will we listen only for our own voice as we read the text?

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Humble Interpretation

Some people use the word exegesis to describe this approach to interpreting the Bible. Exegesis refers to the process of drawing meaning out of a text through careful and sound interpretation. As Eugene Peterson explained so well in Eat This Book, exegesis is humble interpretation. Exegesis does not mean mastering the text; it means submitting to it as it is given. Exegesis doesn’t take charge of the text and impose superior knowledge on it; instead, one who exercises exegesis in interpreting Scripture enters the world of the text and lets the text “read” them. Exegesis is an act of sustained humility (i.e., there is so much about this text that I don’t know, that I will never know). Christians keep returning to God’s Word, with exegetical help from grammarians, archaeologists, historians, and theologians, letting themselves be formed by it. Exegesis lets the text read us. This sounds counterintuitive at first. We read texts, not the other way around, right? In Bible study, it is natural to assume we are the subject and Scripture is the object of our study. Peterson challenges that assumption, which brings to mind Hebrews 4:12-13. According to that book’s author, when we really listen to God’s Word, we become the object of study. God’s Word is described as “alive and active.” It pierces us like a sacrificial dagger. It judges our innermost thoughts and lays us bare before God.

Humble exegesis recognizes that the Bible is not a dead book written by a long-departed author. Rather, humble exegesis listens for the voice of the living God in the text and is prepared to say, “Not my will, but your will be done.” This doesn’t mean that exegesis is easy. I challenge Campbell’s assertion that drawing within the hearing distance of God leads us to “easily understand him in all matters of piety and morality.” Not even those we read about in Scripture who heard directly from God easily understood him in all matters. I’ve found that humble exegesis often opens up new mysteries in the text that were unnoticed before. People who talk too much without listening seem to be the most certain among us. But those who listen are naturally more curious. It’s good for us to recognize that humble exegesis takes time and effort. Exegesis, like any other discipline, is something we refine with time and practice. Humble exegesis requires that we go back to a text over and over again and continue to learn from it. Humble exegesis requires that we be willing to consult with others who bring a level of expertise to the text that we lack. Humble exegesis might mean we admit that previous understandings were incomplete or perhaps even wrong. More than anything, humble exegesis means that when my will or the conventional wisdom of my culture comes up against the will of God in the text, the text wins.

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Humble Acceptance

James 1 offers us some of the clearest guidance of what humble exegesis looks like. James tells us, “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (v. 21). Interpreting Scripture within the hearing distance requires honest self-awareness. So often we protect those sensitive areas of our life that we don’t want to change from the penetrating truth of God’s Word. Worse, we’ve inherited from our culture the assumption that we shouldn’t be expected to change. We expect to be made comfortable rather than challenged by the Word. However, James tells us that humbly accepting the Word which can save us requires our willingness to release the moral filth and evil that control us. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves,” James 1:22 continues, “do what it says.” Mere knowledge and understanding are not enough. No act of communication is complete unless it is met with some kind of response. Reading without responding to the text is especially seductive because it gives us the illusion the text has been meaningful without any of the substance. Reading without responding puffs us up, but it leaves us unmoved and unchanged. Humble exegesis is ready to act on the Word. James closes out the paragraph by talking about the person who “looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues

to do it.” This person, James says, “will be blessed in what they do” (v. 25). Drawing within the understanding distance of Scripture has to be an ongoing discipline. One implication of this verse is that the person who continues to look intently into God’s Word is able to bring the Word to bear in every aspect of life. We don’t only need the discipline of a regular Bible study time, although that is certainly important. That regular Bible study should cultivate a life that is always listening to and shaped by Scripture. Whether at work or at home, on the computer or out with friends, we can be blessed in what we do because the truth of God’s Word has come to saturate our entire life. God’s people have always lived in confusing times. We struggle with the pressure to read our culture, our assumptions, and our temporal “truths” back into God’s Word. We are seduced to turn Scripture into an echo chamber where the only voice we hear sounds a lot like our own. It is true, however, that the more we care about the person speaking, the more we will humble ourselves and listen. Our love for them turns us into humble listeners. The same is true about Scripture. If we are convinced that this is a living Word from our Creator who loves us desperately, there is no other way to respond than to draw within the understanding distance and humbly accept that Word. 

Chad Ragsdale serves as professor of Christian apologetics and biblical interpretation at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. He regularly writes about the intersection of culture and faith at www.chadragsdale.com. @caragsdale

@caragsdale

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I recently called our local butcher shop and ordered a 3-pound tomahawk steak for a family celebration dinner, but before I could pick it up, a friend who knew of the celebration plans called to tell me she picked up a standing rib roast for me. I knew I needed to call the butcher to cancel my order. My first inclination was to lie—to tell her I was sick and couldn’t make it . . . or perhaps just not to show up at all. Thankfully, the angel on my shoulder (the Holy Spirit) quickly reminded me lying was not an option. I called Tami at the butcher shop and told her the truth; I know she wasn’t happy about it, but seeking to please people is never a reason to lie.

SPONSORED

Christians understand that we have such feelings because we are God’s creation—“knit . . . together in [our] mother’s womb” and “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14). We know and believe God has left his stamp on our hearts. That is why, when we hear God’s Word, it rings true. God is using his followers, the church, today to spread his Word. God’s Word also “rings true” when it is shared with those around us. That is the church’s purpose—to spread God’s Word. The church is vibrant and living! The church is open and meeting. The church is spreading the good news, baptizing believers, serving the community, hiring, making their loan payments, and growing. The calamity that was 2020 did not stop or break the church. COVID-19 will not shut down the church. I know this because I know the Christian churches of the Restoration Movement well. I have served these churches my whole life, and so have some of you. As a young girl, you could find me tugging at my father’s coattails, touring churches that needed his help with funding. I have spent 26 of my 38 years touring and exploring Christian churches, and my father and his co-workers have worked diligently to find creative ways to help them take the next step. Along the way, we have built relationships with all the people that gather inside them. Today, my dad and I work together at The Solomon Foundation, a church extension fund based out of Parker, Colorado. We help churches find loans and take investments to secure those loans. We provide people the opportunity to earn excellent interest while helping churches. The church is growing. In December 2020 alone, The Solomon Foundation provided $32 million in funding to 14 churches. That represents 14 churches that will grow the size of their buildings to accommodate more people who are actively seeking to find out the truth about Jesus. This broken, sinful world needs the protection of God, whose “word is truth,” and the church is where they are going to find it. Join us in helping churches teach the truth.

Renee Little serves as senior vice president of project management with The Solomon Foundation.

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how to use

Each week has a lesson aim, lesson text, and supplemental text.

Tabs indicate the week of each lesson.

Each week features three sections: Study, Application, and Discovery. Use the Discovery questions to study, discuss, and apply the Scripture passages in a group or class.

march 2021

proverbs

Pillars of Wisdom

The current world does not lack for information, but wisdom is in short supply. In Proverbs, Solomon (and others) shore up what is lacking in a moronic world. Students will learn the genesis of God’s wisdom, how it shouts in the marketplace of ideas, and the rewards it gives to all who embrace it.

proverbs

Pillars of Wisdom As k G o d to r e v e a l h i s w i s d o m to yo u as yo u s t u dy h i s Wo r d .

pplemen

text

P r o v e r b s 1 : 7 ; 2 :1 - 8 ; 8 : 2 2 -2 6 ; 9 :1 0

Isaiah 4 0:28 Romans 11: 33 James 1:5 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 2 0 -2 5

les

s t u dy

The Source of Wisdom by mark scott

Bumper stickers are secular proverbs. For example, “Honk if you love Jesus. Text while you drive if you want to meet him.” Following the wisdom literature of the Sermon on the Mount and the Epistle of James, we turn to the classic wisdom literature of the Bible— Proverbs. Proverbs are compressed narratives. They are stories in sentences. One can read the story of King David’s unfaithfulness in 2 Samuel 11:1-27 or one can read, “Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house [or peek at her from the balcony]” (Proverbs 5:8, English Standard Version). Proverbs are succinct, abrupt, and curt. They do not debate. They assert. They are short, pithy statements of “general” truth. They are always true but only in the intended context. They are not promises. They sometimes come clustered in various themes (Proverb 1:8–9:18; 31:10-31), but they often are seemingly without context, held together loosely by chiasms (literary patterns such as A-B-C-D paralleled by D-C-B-A) and contrasts. The Source of Wisdom Predicts Reverence Proverbs 1:7; 9:10 The climax of the prologue to Proverbs (1:1-7) is verse 7. The negative side is mentioned first: “but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The positive side is mentioned chapters later: “and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” There are at least 18 references to “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs. Fear can mean dreadful and terrifying, but it also can mean respect, reverence, or piety, as it does in these verses.

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Solomon pleaded with his son (Rehoboam?) throughout the book of Proverbs to consider the wonderful benefits of embracing wisdom. Both kings would have profited by listening to this inspired wisdom (for, sadly, Solomon later forgot much of his own advice). The verbs are intense as to the benefits of doing so. Solomon pleaded for us to accept, store up, turn your ear, apply your heart, call out, cry aloud, look for, and search for this wisdom, understanding, insight, and knowledge. Solomon did not want us to forget his words (speeches) and his commands (precepts). The benefits of this wisdom are likened to material wealth. The similes are twofold: look for wisdom as for silver (money, shekels, or talents) and as for hidden treasure. Solomon could write such words with integrity since he “made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones” (1 Kings 10:27). The benefits of this wisdom were also promised in terms of success (hidden things stored up) and protection. God holds things for the upright, he is a shield (as in armor and buckler) to the blameless, and he guards (just like a watchman) the just and protects his faithful ones. God is the source of the benefits of wisdom (James 1:5), and Jesus is the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The Source of Wisdom Predates Creation Proverbs 8:22-26 In keeping with Proverbs’ love of contrasts, two women in this book play prominent roles—Madam Folly and Lady Wisdom (Proverbs 8–9). Madam Folly is foolish and something on the order of a harlot (chapter 9). But Lady Wisdom is wise (chapter 8) and evidently was created before anything else in the created order (Genesis 1–2). Lady Wisdom is referred to in feminine terms (i.e., “she”). The Lord brought forth (purchased) wisdom as the first of his works. Wisdom predated God’s deeds of old (a reference to creation “ex nihilo”) and was formed (set up or poured out) long ages ago. Wisdom predated the watery depths, springs, mountains, hills, fields, and even dust. Some find this to be a reference to Christ, but he was not formed or brought forth. He always was. But Jesus became to us the source of “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60). Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue Faithful Res2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Lord’s record of faithfulness was without question. Paul had been delivered from the lion’s Paul was confident that if God wanted to deliver him, the Lord would do so again. But Paul also give him the ultimate rescue and bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul burst out in him. cue

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and

death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

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This fear is the beginning (starting point, essence, or capstone) of wisdom, knowledge, and instruction. In the realm of epistemology and presuppositions, starting points really matter. These terms are part of the semantics of cognition in Proverbs. They along with other terms (e.g. insight), are terms of the mind. But they are not just cognitive. They also deal with the volition and skill in living. They even have moral fabric to them. That is why fools (translated from three different Hebrew words in Proverbs and occurring 71 times) despise them. Fools are not so much atheists as they are stubborn and thickheaded. In contrast to fools are the humble who understand that knowledge of God is the most important knowledge of all (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

The Source of Wisdom Produces Benefits Proverbs 2:1-8

A p p l i c at i o n

Ten Offices by David Faust

Life’s highway contains many intersections, but it’s hard to beat the street address of New York’s Staten Island Christian Church—at the intersection of Church Avenue and Victory Boulevard. Wherever God’s people gather and his Word is preached, victories occur. Eternity intersects with everyday life when Christians interact with others in neighborhoods, classrooms, and workplaces—even in church offices. My first “minister’s office” was a small corner room at Hickory Lane Church of Christ in Washington Court House, Ohio, whose members bravely called me to preach at age 22. My office contained a gas heater, a rotary phone, and a mimeograph machine I cranked by hand to print the weekly bulletin. One of my weekly tasks was burning trash in a barrel in the parking lot. I didn’t own many books then, but on the shelf I displayed a wedding photo of my bride. For a seminary graduation gift, Candy bought me a brand-new set of William Barclay New Testament commentaries that looked sharp on the shelf with their blue, green, and red covers. Soon we moved to New York to lead the newly planted South Nassau Christian Church. We rented an aging facility where our church met on Sundays. Lonely but determined, on weekdays I worked in a corner of that rented building (my Office Number 2). Eventually God enabled us to purchase a church building on Long Island’s south shore where our congregation took root and grew. There in my Office Number 3, I continued using a rotary phone and wrote sermons on an IBM Selectric typewriter, but (a sign of progress) we bought our first copier. Years later I joined the faculty at Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary and occupied my fourth office. I learned to use a desktop computer and felt sincere gratitude (and a touch of awe) when the janitorial staff removed my office trash each week.

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Office Number 5 was a cubicle at Standard Publishing where I edited The Lookout magazine. Once again, I composed articles on an IBM Selectric typewriter. When I became senior minister of East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, my sixth office included a private bathroom, and I got my first laptop computer and cell phone. During 12 years as president of Cincinnati Christian University, I occupied three different workspaces, one of which had a window with a scenic view of the city skyline. For the last seven years I’ve been back at East 91st Street Christian Church serving as associate minister. My current workspace (my 10th office, if anyone is counting) is across the hall from the lead pastor’s office (the one with the bathroom). My wife’s wedding photo sits prominently near my desk, and those Barclay commentaries still look sharp on the shelf. Through the years, all 10 of my offices have been places for planning and problem-solving, study and prayer, hard work and heartache, successes and failures, laughter and tears. In each office I have made decisions—good ones and not-so-good ones—and I have begged God for strength and discernment. The Lord’s wisdom shows up “where the paths meet” (Proverbs 8:1-2), like a traffic light at a highway intersection that reveals when to slow down, stop, or move ahead. More than comforts, conveniences, or technological tools—in every place and in every role—we need the wisdom of God. Personal Challenge: God delights in saying yes to requests for wisdom (James 1:5). In what situations do you need divine guidance right now? This week, following Daniel’s example, pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10), and each time, ask God to give you wisdom. Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

Did you share something you’ve learned from God’s Word with someone outside the group last week? How? With whom?

What challenge did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Proverbs 1:7; 2:1-8; 8:22-26; and 9:10 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. (Leader, for the sake of continuity, it may help to print these as handouts before the meeting.) Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.

What do you learn in general about the source (beginning) of wisdom from these passages?

Let’s dig deeper into these Bible passages: • Compare and contrast Proverbs 1:7 with Proverbs 9:10. What do these verses reveal to you about wisdom, instruction, knowledge, and understanding? • What effect does “fear of the Lord” (respect, reverence for him) have on wisdom? • Proverbs 2:1-8 presents an elaborate conditional statement (if-if-if-then). How would you characterize, in general, the hypotheses (the if statements)? • What are the conclusions (vv. 5-8)? • In Proverbs 8:22-26, Wisdom is personified and speaks to humankind (actually sings a hymn) describing her role. What does this teach you about wisdom? What do you learn about God from these passages?

What do you learn about humankind from these passages?

In what specific way will you seek God’s wisdom? (Reread and perhaps circle the if statements in Proverbs 2:1-4; e.g., “Accept my words,” “store up my commands within you.” Then choose how you will live out that instruction consistently. Share this with the rest of the group.)

Look again at the if statements in Proverbs 2:1-4, but this time, consider this: How will you teach someone else how to seek God’s wisdom by following at least one of these instructions?

Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What challenges might you face this week as you seek to live in reverence and awe of God? For Next Week: Read and reflect on Proverbs 3:1-12; 14:2; and 22:4. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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WEEK OF march 07

proverbs

Pillars of Wisdom ,

W i t h r e v e r e n t i a l aw e lov e G o d a n d f o l low h i s ways .

pplemen

a l

te n

D euteronomy 1 0 :1 2 - 1 6 , 2 0 -2 1 ; P s a l m 3 6 :1 - 3

text

P r o v e r b s 3 :1 - 1 2 ; 14:2; 2 2:4

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s t u dy

The Beginning of Wisdom by mark scott The source of wisdom is God (last week’s lesson), and the beginning of wisdom is also God. Thus, the line between source and beginning is thin. The content of Proverbs 1–9 holds together quite well thematically, and the overall thesis is to do whatever it takes to get wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 1 contains the prologue (formal introduction), the contrast between wise people and sinners, and the call to wisdom. Proverbs 2–3 contain the values and benefits of wisdom.

familiar to most. Trusting God (having confidence, hope, and boldness in him), not leaning (supporting oneself) on one’s own understanding (knowledge or discernment), and submitting to (literally “knowing”) him will guarantee straight (level or direct) paths. These paths are always better than our own and are as high and lofty as God (Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-34). The opposite of this is given in Proverbs 14:2. To fear God is to walk uprightly, but to despise God leads to devious (perverse) paths.

The main part of this week’s text features an alternating pattern of command (Proverbs 3:1, 3, 5-6a, 7, 9, and 11) and reward (3:2, 4, 6b, 8, 10, and 12). When God’s people begin with God’s wisdom, they can . . .

Enjoy Good Health Proverbs 3:7-8; 22:4

Enjoy Long Life Proverbs 3:1-2 Following God’s teaching (torah, the word here, means God’s law, as in the Ten Commandments) and God’s commands (mitzvah is used here, meaning precepts or ordinances, as in bar mitzvah [i.e., “son of the law”]) prolongs life and brings about a state of peace and prosperity (shalom). In certain contexts this literally can be the case. Obedience to parents prolongs life (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). But proverbs are not promises in every context. Godly people can experience an earlier-than-normal death (Acts 12:2). But following God’s wisdom provides the best kind of life no matter how long or short it is (John 10:10b). Win Favor and a Good Reputation Proverbs 3:3-4

Experience Straight Paths Proverbs 3:5-6; 14:2 Straight paths were rare in the ancient world. The people had no heavy equipment to move hillsides and fill in valleys. A straight path, figuratively speaking, meant living life the way God intended it to be lived. This is best done by following God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15). Proverbs 3:5-6 is very

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Gain Wealth Proverbs 3:9-10 Again, caution is necessary in applying this teaching for a balanced biblical perspective. However, if God’s people put God first in their lives with their wealth (substance or sufficiency)—this is what honoring God with the stewardship of finances means—and giving to the Lord from the firstfruits of the crops (yields), then God will bless his people with abundance (Malachi 3:10). He will see to it that their barns will be filled to overflowing and their vats will brim over (burst or break) with new wine. The psalmist said, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25). God is committed to supplying our needs (not our greeds). He will either give us more or see to it we can get by on what we have (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:10-20). Receive Love Proverbs 3:11-12 Love can sometimes come in strange packages. Sometimes it comes in rebuke and discipline (correction and punishment). In fact, discipline is proof of God’s love and evidence of our identity in him (Hebrews 12:5-11). When we begin with God’s wisdom, then our heart, neck, eyes, body, and bones (the physical parts of our lives mentioned in the text) will be sound and healthy. Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own ino glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many times to one such time as the Epistle ends. He referothers deserted (left behind) Paul, the Lord it so that the gospel that Paul preached to the actions mirrored those of Jesus and Stephen, in

death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He referred enced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even though stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. He did Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with him. His that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF march 14

When love (the loving-kindness of God himself) and faithfulness (truth) are bound around the neck (also see Deuteronomy 6:8) and embraced in the heart, then vertical and horizontal dimensions of favor and a good name (reputation) are enjoyed. Love and faithfulness are two of God’s greatest qualities, and they should be ours as well. Our love for God and faithfulness to him result in us finding favor (grace) in him (c.f., Luke 2:40, 51-52). When fellow human beings see love and faithfulness in others, they respond positively. Even the most hardened criminals appreciate loyalty and love.

Taking care not to promote a “health and wealth gospel” (or handle all the exceptions) . . . when humility marks God’s people and they are not wise in their own eyes, and when they fear God and shun evil, they will experience God’s best in life. They will enjoy health in body and nourishment (like a refreshing drink) in their bones. The Old Testament actually teaches that if God’s people obey his word, then he will cause rain to fall, crops to grow, and wombs to be full. This teaching can easily be distorted, but there is a grain of truth to the teaching that obedience to God grants good health.

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Awe to Him I Owe by David Faust

Awe is a two-sided coin. When you hear bad news or eat unpleasant-tasting food, you say, “That’s awful!” But when you hear good news or taste delicious homemade pie, you say, “That’s awesome!” Awe is the amazement and admiration you feel when you gaze across the Grand Canyon, view a double rainbow in the sky, stand next to a roaring waterfall, or view the Hubble Telescope’s photos of outer space. Awe is evidence of the image of God in you. It puts tears in your eyes when you hear great music and grateful wonder in your soul when you cuddle a newborn baby. Healthy Fear for God Awe and fear are closely related. Proverbs 14:16 says, “The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,” and Job was commended for doing those very things (Job 1:1). Yet, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). How can these verses be reconciled? Why does the Bible say to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but also to approach God’s throne “with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16)? The “great and awesome God” is “for us” (Deuteronomy 7:21; Romans 8:31). “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), so we don’t have to cower in terror or wallow in shame; yet the Lord always deserves our highest reverence and respect. Awe is a stepping-stone toward wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Paul was brilliant and well-educated, but he humbly exclaimed, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). Awed by God’s grace, John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

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Remember the time Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee? The frightened disciples thought they were going to drown. Jesus stilled the wind and waves, but afterward a different kind of fear gripped the disciples. Who was this passenger in the boat with them who could control nature with a few simple words? “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:41). Their fear of dying in the storm gave way to overwhelming awe for Jesus. Two Challenges to Consider Be an awe-full Christian. First-century believers were “filled with awe” when they saw God’s hand at work (Acts 2:43). Do you give and serve cheerfully? Do you pray and read Scripture with a humble, receptive mind? If you’re a Christian, you’re a oncelost sheep sought and found by the Good Shepherd. Never quit being amazed by grace. Help your congregation be an awe-full church. The first-century church grew when the disciples lived “in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31). One of the most evangelistic things the church can do is to take God seriously and have the kind of gatherings where if unbelievers or inquirers visit, they can’t help but exclaim, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). Rejoice when new believers are baptized. Pour your whole self into worship. Imagine joining a huge multitude in Heaven—“from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9), praising God before his throne. Now that will be awesome! Personal Challenge: On a piece of paper or in your personal journal, write a list of God’s attributes and actions that stir your sense of awe. Using this list as a guide, offer a prayer of praise for the Lord. - 86 -

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

How did you seek God’s wisdom over the last week? • Look at each word that describes Jesus: our, glorious, Lord, Jesus, Christ. What do these terms tell you about whom we believe in?

What challenge did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Proverbs 3:1-12; 14:2; and 22:4 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. (Leader, for the sake of continuity, it may help to print these as handouts before the meeting.) Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.

What aspects of life do these passages say are affected by someone’s wisdom or lack of it?

Let’s dig deeper into these Bible passages: • Look at how the main passage (Proverbs 3:1-12) is arranged. You’ll see six commands or actions (do this or don’t do that) followed by corresponding results or rewards (“wages”). In what ways do you find this format to be beneficial? • As a group, look through the main passage again and read aloud each positive action (do this). What most stands out to you about these commands? • Now read aloud each negative action (don’t do that). What most jumps out to you from these? • What role does reverence/respect for the Lord (fear of the Lord) play in gaining wisdom?

What do you learn about God from these passages?

What do you learn about humankind?

Look again at the actions (both positive and negative) in these passages. For each one, silently and prayerfully evaluate how you are following that command. (Leader, allow participants a couple minutes to look through the passages and reflect on this.) • Which ones do you sense you are doing well? • What action step will you take to grow in that area of discipleship?

How can you help someone else (inside or outside this group) to mature in an area of weakness?

Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What challenges do you anticipate this week as you seek to grow in wisdom? For Next Week: Read and reflect on Proverbs 8:1-11; 9:1-6, 13-18. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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• Which one are you struggling with the most?

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Pillars of Wisdom S p e n d t h e t i m e a n d d o t h e h a r d wo r k r e q u i r e d to c u lt i vat e a d i s c e r n i n g i n t e l l e c t.

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The Call of Wisdom by mark scott

Sometimes we just do not think. A former NBA playerturned-coach said, “We are going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” Would that not land the team right back where it started? Or what about the person who says, “There are no absolutes.” Did that person not just state one? Maybe we need a fountain of smart more than a fountain of youth. Discernment does not seem to be in strong supply today. Many voices call out for our attention. But those voices are not all equal. Learning to pay attention to the right voices takes great wisdom. As the more “unified” section of Proverbs comes to a close in chapters 8–9, we hear two voices. They are the voices (and paths) of Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly. “Almost every verse in the remainder of the book points to one or both of these paths and/or consequences,” according to The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Lady Wisdom’s Voice Proverbs 8:1-11 In contrast to the “wily of heart” woman in Proverbs 7:10, the virtuous Lady Wisdom called out in the public square of life. She desired to be heard so she raised her voice. Since she wanted all people to hear her wisdom, she went to the highest point and where the paths meet (the crossroads where the public traffic is thick with people). She even went to the city gate (where court and debate were conducted in the ancient world). She did not confine her wisdom to a corner (Acts 26:26).

The content of Lady Wisdom’s voice is in verses 6-9. She had trustworthy things (excellent, noble, or princely) to say, right things to speak, true things to voice, and just words to utter. Her voice contained no crooked or perverse (abominable or wicked) things. When her words are heard, there is a subjective sense that they are right. Much like Jesus taught in John 7:17, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” The value of Lady Wisdom’s voice is in Proverbs 8:1011. It is more valuable than silver, gold, or rubies. In

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Lady Wisdom’s Banquet Proverbs 9:1-6 The rest of Proverbs 8 shows the company that Lady Wisdom kept (vv. 12-21), the origin of Lady Wisdom (vv. 22-31), and the plea of Lady Wisdom (vv. 32-36). In Proverbs 9, two banquets take place—one provided by Lady Wisdom and the other by Madam Folly. These “formal dinners” could not be more different. Lady Wisdom’s banquet took place in a majestic house set up on seven pillars. While seven is a number of completeness in the Bible, this phrase probably should be understood that the house was large and spacious, maybe even luxurious. In this majestic house the exquisite meal was prepared (prepared her meat means the animals had been slaughtered). The wine was also mixed; wine in the ancient world often was mixed with water to make it go further. Typical to ancient-world protocol, a second invitation was issued by the servants once the banquet was finally ready. The announcement was once again made from a most prominent place (highest point of the city). The invitation was for the simple to come and eat. By consuming Lady Wisdom’s food, foolishness can be jettisoned, and the way of insight can be embraced. Madam Folly’s Lies Proverbs 9:13-18 Madam Folly’s banquet was a mockery and sham compared to Lady Wisdom’s. The contrast is seen in the almost identical language describing them. Madam Folly was precisely what her name implied—stupid. She was an unruly woman (loud, clamoring, or turbulent). She was simple (seductive, naïve, and undisciplined). She used an identical call to her banquet as that of Lady Wisdom: “Let all who are simple come to my house!” But she lied. She could not deliver. Whatever wisdom she peddled was stolen. Whatever nourishment she promised was coming from a secret (hidden) place. People who eat at her banquet end up getting food poisoning and find themselves in the realm of the dead (Sheol). To whose call do you listen, and to whose banquet will you go? Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK march 21

Proverbs 8:1-3 deals with the public nature of her voice, while verses 4-5 deal with the result of her voice: all mankind (not just the Jewish people) will move from being simple (foolish and naïve) to gaining prudence (shrewdness) and from being foolish to learning sense (setting their hearts on it).

fact nothing can compare with her. And Solomon knew something about opulence (1 Kings 10:14-29).

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Life on the Ground Requires Wisdom from Above by David Faust

If you want to be savvy and streetwise, read the book of Proverbs. It’s a jewelry box filled with nuggets of spiritual gold. It’s a toolbox full of blue-collar common sense—hardworking truths that wound us and heal us, break us and mend our broken places. It’s a handbook of godly wisdom about real-life issues like anger, marriage, money, and sexuality. It’s a manual for parenting children, managing businesses, making friends, and leading teams.

Viewed that way, the book of Proverbs makes perfect sense—even the way it’s arranged. We don’t need an easy-to-read reference with alphabetical tabs. We need godly discernment to navigate the jumbled-up give-and-take of daily life. Worldly wisdom (street smarts) and academic training (book smarts) only take us so far. It’s good to hear the voice of reason, but do we hear the voice of God? Life on the ground requires wisdom from above.

The book of Proverbs doesn’t tell a story, but it helps us separate truth from falsehood in the other stories we hear. It presents a practical, no-nonsense approach to serving God. Do an honest day’s work. Don’t be lazy. Control your temper. Be faithful to your spouse. Don’t eat or drink too much. Cultivate healthy friendships. Spend, save, and give money prudently. Control your tongue. Replace destructive habits with constructive ones.

Wise Up!

Random Bits of Rugged Truth Do you ever feel frustrated because the book of Proverbs isn’t topically arranged? You wonder, Where is that verse about gossip? Then after a bit of research you discover not one but several verses about the tongue scattered randomly throughout the book. I don’t mean to second-guess the Lord, but why didn’t he put all the subjects in topical order for easy reference instead of scattering them randomly throughout the book? On the other hand, daily life contains a lot of randomness too. I need wisdom not only when everything goes according to plan, but when my best-laid plans fall apart. I need wisdom to handle unexpected interruptions, unplanned encounters with neighbors, disturbing news, and alluring temptations that come out of the blue. Life doesn’t happen in an orderly sequence of events moving smoothly from one subject to the next.

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Want to wise up? Here are three suggestions. Get serious about it. Make the pursuit of godly wisdom a conscious goal. Pray for discernment. Watch and listen carefully to others wiser than yourself. Get active with it. Wisdom is a call to action. Scripture equips us “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). The Bible isn’t just a source of quips and quotes; it’s equipment for life. According to Jesus, the wise builder (who constructs his house on a bedrock foundation) is the one who hears his words “and puts them into practice” (Matthew 7:24). Go public with it. Wisdom doesn’t huddle in a church building. Its voice can be heard “out in the open . . . in the public square . . . on top of the wall . . . at the city gate” (Proverbs 1:20-21). True wisdom doesn’t dodge real-world problems; it engages them. Let’s all be philosophers (lovers of wisdom). After all, “Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 8:11). Personal Challenge: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God” (James 1:5). In your personal journal or on a piece of paper, write: “God, I need your wisdom to deal with .” Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

What action steps did you take last week to grow in an area of discipleship? • How did you help someone else mature in an area of discipleship?

What challenge did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Proverbs 8:1-11; 9:1-6, 13-18 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.

What are the most conspicuous similarities and differences between Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly?

Let’s dig deeper into these passages: • Where does Lady Wisdom make her appeal, and what does that signify? • To whom does Lady Wisdom call, and what does that imply about wisdom? • How does Lady Wisdom characterize the content of her message, and what does that teach us about wisdom? • Dig deeper into the comparisons and contrasts between Wisdom and Folly’s invitations. What does each one do and what does each one say? • What do Wisdom and Folly offer to the ones they invite? What do you learn about God from these passages?

What do you learn about people?

These passages call us to make a choice between two extremes. God invites us to listen (8:6), choose (8:10), come (9:4-5), leave our simple ways (9:6), and walk in the way of insight (9:6). Which of these four actions do you most need to take right now, and what will you do to accept God’s invitation?

With whom will you share this teaching about the choice between Wisdom and Folly?

Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What challenges will you face this week as you seek to make wise choices? For Next Week: Read and reflect on Proverbs 2:12-22; 3:13-18; 13:20-25. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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Pillars of Wisdom R e a p t h e p r ac t i c a l a n d s p i r i t ua l r e wa r d s of a li fe of wise decisions.

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The Reward of Wisdom by mark scott

There is wisdom, and then there is wisdom. Some wisdom is from heaven, and some wisdom is from earth (James 3:13-18). On the first Palm Sunday, it might have seemed like people were expressing heaven’s wisdom, but within five days the earth’s wisdom seemed to have won out. Jesus’ six trials (three Jewish and three Roman) gave evidence that not all people experience the true reward of God’s wisdom. As we enter this Holy Week we must be careful of unjust accusations against our Jewish forefathers for missing Jesus. If we do not embrace the wisdom from heaven, we might miss him too. Wisdom Guards You Proverbs 2:12-22 Proverbs 2 traces the real value of godly wisdom. Solomon wrote, “Wisdom will save you” (keep, guard, and protect). This wisdom guards against the wrong men (vv. 12-15) and the wrong women (vv. 16-19). Fools are not gender-specific. We have already been introduced to wrong men (Proverbs 1:10-19). Their feet are swift to shed blood. This text describes them as being perverse in their words and as walking in paths that are crooked. Consider all the things they do wrong— left straight paths, walk in dark ways, delight in doing wrong, rejoice in the perverseness of evil, and are devious (twisted, distorted) in their ways.

But wisdom is not satisfied with just helping us guard against the bad influences. It also helps us embrace the good (Proverbs 2:20-22). Wisdom helps us walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. In doing so, we remain in the land of the living (i.e., being fulfilled in the Promised Land). In contrast, the wicked will be cut off (disinherited) from the land, and the unfaithful (treacherous) will be torn from it (rooted out of it).

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Some have found that while the Christian life is not easy, it is consistently best. God’s blessings are placed upon those who find wisdom and gain understanding. In fact the blessings of wisdom are compared to wealth, long life and happiness, pleasant ways (beauty and delight), and paths of peace. Wisdom is spoken of in terms of financial gain. Silver, gold, and rubies are mentioned as metaphors of blessings. The right hand and the left hand are ways of speaking of God’s generosity toward us (Matthew 6:3). God blesses the wise with long life and honor. Solomon takes us back to Eden as a final blessing of wisdom. The tree of life is seldom mentioned outside of Genesis 2–3 and Revelation 22. But it does appear in Proverbs (11:30; 13:12; 15:4). If we take hold of wisdom contained in God’s tree of life (trusting in the goodness of God), we will be blessed beyond measure. Wisdom Distinguishes You Proverbs 13:20-25 The Jewish people loved contrasts. They were famous for saying, “On the one hand . . . on the other hand.” Contrasts frame up the subgenre of this section of Proverbs. The six proverbs in this section offer a thesis in the first line and the antithesis in the second line. It is like a protagonist fighting against the antagonist. For instance, walking with wise people makes one wiser still. It is called intelligence by association. On the other hand, if one spends time with fools, harm (the root word is the word for “evil”) typically results from such pooled ignorance. In verse 21, trouble (once again the root is the word for “evil”) pursues (like a hunter pursuing an animal) the sinner. In contrast, the righteous are rewarded with good things. The last four proverbs in this section deal with inheritance, the poor, discipline of children, and contentment. Following God’s wisdom in these areas will distinguish God’s people from those who follow the wisdom of the world. When God’s wisdom is not embraced, sinners will lose their wealth, injustice will reign, children will be left to their own devices, and contentment will be compromised. No wonder the writer of Proverbs says, “Get wisdom” (Proverbs 4:7). Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Wisdom will also guard us against adulterous (strange or alien) and wayward (foreign) women. (See lengthy descriptions of such women in Proverbs 5:1-23; 7:5-27.) An adulterous woman is seductive (flattering, slippery, or smooth), she has left (forsaken) her husband, and she has ignored (forgotten) the covenant of marriage she made. The end result is a house that leads to death and a path that is ghostly (spirits of the dead). People that do not guard against her never return to their lives again and they never attain (regain) the paths of life (Proverbs 5:5-6; 7:26-27).

Wisdom Blesses You Proverbs 3:13-18

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Are You Idealistic or Realistic? by David Faust

Idealists enjoy dreaming about the future. Vision comes naturally to them, and they eagerly embrace change. Christians who are idealistic have no problem praying for miracles and trusting God to do big things. The problem is, unbridled idealism can lead to foolhardy decisions, financial overreach, and overlooking important details that need to be addressed. Realists, on the other hand, are practical and downto-earth. Visionaries often view them as pessimistic and resistant to change. Realists ask, “What will it cost?” When a new idea is proposed, they immediately see the obstacles and bring up cautionary lessons learned in the past. Christians wired to be realists believe in prayer, but they know prayer isn’t just wishing on a star or rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to get what you want. Must we choose between idealism and realism? Actually, it’s wise to embrace certain aspects of both. Christians should be realistic, because God exists and his Word is true—and truth is simply another word for reality. At the same time, the upward call of God should stir our vision and cause us to pursue ideals the world considers impossible to achieve.

problems. He was pressured, perplexed, and persecuted, but he never gave up his ideals. He believed in the resurrected Christ, so he fixed his eyes on the unseen (2 Corinthians 4:7-18). Finding the Right Balance The book of Proverbs advocates neither faithless realism nor foolish idealism. Instead, it urges us to pursue the way of wisdom, which I call “faithful idrealism.” Here is how it works: Faithless Realism Foolish Idealism Faithful IDREALISM “The evildoer has no future hope” (Proverbs 24:20)

“Those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty” (Proverbs 28:19)

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18)

Unhealthy pessimism about problems

Unhealthy denial of problems

Healthy optimism about God’s ability to overcome problems

Negative attitude about the future; no solutions— just questions, doubts, and fears

Unrealistic dreams about the future that never come to fruition

Positive attitude about the future; pursues practical solutions with faith and persistence

I coined a word that pulls these concepts together. I think Christians ought to be idrealists (pronounced “I-DREAL-ists”)—idealistic and realistic at the same time. We can keep our feet on the ground while our eyes are on Heaven. We can be realistic without being cynical, and we can hold onto our ideals without being wild-eyed dreamers. We can live in the “now” while we anticipate the “not yet.” We can see the present and its problems honestly while viewing the future hopefully. This is the way of wisdom.

In the real world, the ideal mingles with the notso-ideal. A generous woman pours out her expensive perfume while Judas complains (John 12:1-8). One thief mocks and insults Jesus, while another repents (Luke 23:39-43). Generous donors support God’s work, while others give with dishonest, selfish motives (Acts 4:36–5:11). Through it all, God is at work, sculpting servants and saints out of roughcut stones.

Jesus was an idrealist. He described both sides of the coin in John 16:33 when he said realistically, “In this world you will have trouble,” and then went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The apostle Paul constantly faced real-world

Personal Challenge: If you tend to be more idealistic, what can you learn from your down-to-earth, practical-minded friends that might help your vision become reality? If you tend to be more realistic, how do you think the Lord wants to stretch your faith?

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Dare to dream, but be wise. Be an idrealist.

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Faithful Res2 Timothy 4:16-18

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Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

With whom did you discuss the choice between Wisdom and Folly last week?

What challenge did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Proverbs 2:12-22; 3:13-18; 13:20-25 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.

Of all the benefits/blessings of walking in wisdom listed in these passages, which is for you the most important or valuable?

Let’s dig deeper into these passages: • What kinds of negative influences does wisdom save you from? • What do these passages convey to you about choosing the best paths to take in life? • Note the contrasts between the good and the wicked, the righteous and sinners, and the wise and fools throughout these passages. What perspectives on life do these contrasts reveal? • In what ways do these passages illustrate the New Testament “proverb” of Galatians 6:8, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”? What do you learn about God from these passages?

What do you learn about people?

What is one practical way you can walk on the path of wisdom over the next week?

How would you use these passages to convince someone to live God’s way rather than living their own way or the world’s way? • Who will you share this with?

Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What challenges will you face this week as you seek to walk in wisdom?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 as we begin a new study in the Gospel of Matthew with the theme, “Old to New.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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- THE FINAL WORD -

DON’T MISS A THING Christian Standard Media will soon expand to include more content that’s relevant to you. We will be reducing the total number of print and digital issues, but all of our bimonthly issues will now be focused on timeless, big-picture ministry topics. At the same time, we will be redoubling our online newsgathering efforts that focus on timely stories important to churches and ministries of the Restoration Movement. In addition, we also will be providing valuable resources to online readers through our resources platform. You won’t want to miss a thing. Scan the QR code below or go to ChristianStandard.com to sign up to receive our newsletter and resource updates.