The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 22, 2009
In
This Issue:
Winning
Last Place
by
Steve Klein
"As
Long as I love..."
by
Kevin A. Sulc
Winning Last Place
We live in a society that is sports crazy. We love football and fishing, racing and wrestling, soccer and softball -- not to mention baseball, basketball and golf. Nearly all of us have had the experience of cheering for our team or favorite player to win, whether the contest was professional, college, high school or just the youth league team that our child or grandchild played on. And many of us have participated in sports ourselves. We've personally experienced "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."
From a spiritual perspective, sports are not necessarily a bad thing. According to the Bible, sports teach us important lessons about disciplining ourselves when striving for a goal (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), playing by the rules (2 Timothy 2:5), and running with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). Obviously, we can allow sports to become a bad thing if we place too much importance on them or allow them to crowd out spiritual concerns. But sports can also impact us negatively in other ways. They can train us to be too competitive, self-seeking, and ambitious -- too concerned with winning at all costs.
In most sports competitions, everyone wants first place. But there are times in the life of every Christian when he should seek last place. In Mark 9:35, Jesus told the twelve apostles, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees because "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues" (Matthew 23:6). He told His disciples, "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place . . ." (Luke 14:10).
The Bible reveals that we should be striving to win last place in our relationships with others!
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"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2:3).
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". . . Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."" (1 Peter 5:5).
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". . . Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." (Romans 12:16).
Here are some practical suggestions for winning last place. The next time that you disagree with a brother in an area of judgment or opinion, insist that your brother get his way. The next time that your wife or husband neglects to do a chore that merely benefits you, do it yourself. The next time they are looking for a volunteer at work to do some menial task, volunteer! Win last place!
-- Steve Klein
There are many concepts and beliefs that are held regarding salvation. We must never just accept something because it is commonly accepted or taught by religious teachers but see what the Scriptures say lest we be deceived.
Let us examine the concept of "As long as I love Jesus, it doesn't matter what I do in my life." The young man who said this to me several years ago was attempting to justify a sin in his life. As I have discussed religion with people in the 13 years since this statement was made, it has become clear that this doctrine is very popular in most religious groups. But what does the Bible teach? Can a person lie, curse, commit immoralities, or do anything he wants to do and still be righteous in God's sight, providing he "loves" Jesus? Salvation would indeed be easy if it were true. We would not have to be concerned with commandments! Ah . . . I think we have found why this concept is so prevalent. But is this a concept of wisdom that really leads to salvation?
I find it hard to believe that any honest Bible student would accept any doc-trine that says salvation has nothing to do with what we do in our life. "Are we not saved by the grace of God," you ask? Certainly (Ephesians 2:8). But I ask you, "May we sin so that the grace of God abounds on us?" Paul answers "No!" in Romans 6:1. If you examine the complete context of Ephesians 2 (and any passage which speaks of salvation), you learn that the means of our salvation is a gift from God, namely, the cross of Christ, but that it is conditioned upon and for the purpose of our walking in the good works that are of Christ and not in the works of disobedience (e.g. read all of Ephesians 2:1-10, not just verse 8).
"But I love Jesus," you say, "isn't that all He wants?" What do you mean by love? "Love" has been redefined in the "Christianity" of today to simply mean you have some sort subjective inward emotion that makes you feel "close" to God. Biblically, there is more to it. Think about it. If we say we love someone, but it is only a feeling, is it really love? Not as defined by 1 Corinthians 13. Jesus Himself said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." If we really love Jesus, it does matter what we do in our lives.
-- Kevin A. Sulc
Via The Berean, Vol. 5, No. 6, August 1996