Peach-Video Chat

Stilwell Church of Christ - Rusty Dawson, Minister

Bitterness and Disappointment

A wise saying: If you do not heal from your emotional wounds, you will bleed on those who never harmed you. So many people are angry about so many things that they are a seething caldron ready to erupt in rage and violence. Heb. 12:15 warns us, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”

That verse holds up God’s grace as our example in confronting injustice in all its ugly forms. Those who perpetrate injustice, prejudice, persecution, and oppression are not conforming to the love and grace of God. They are showing bitterness in their hearts. Those who react with violence, rioting, looting, and revenge are not conforming to the love and grace of God. They are showing bitterness in their hearts. This negative spiral of evil will continue as long as people are willing to embrace their bitterness, and many will be defiled. Those who lash out in violence and those who respond with a backlash of violence doom us to a pattern of escalating revenge.

That pattern is the opposite of God’s grace. Rom. 5:8 gives us the contrast: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ demonstrated God’s grace on the cross: “and while being reviled, He did not evil in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (I Pet. 2:23). As long as people feel they have to return evil for evil, the pattern of violence will not change.

Christ’s example, as He suffered injustice, humiliation, and even death, was “He uttered no threats.” He trusted God to judge righteously. We must do the same.

Stilwell Church of Christ - Rusty Dawson, Minister

Acceptance or Approval

One of the problems that stands in the way of better communication and understanding is a misunderstanding about the difference between acceptance and approval.

Acceptance is a realization that some perceive and act in certain ways; they just do. For example, we can accept that some are so outraged by the injustice they see in the world, that they lash out in anger and destruction. We can accept that some are overcome by substances and become addicted to them. We can accept that some value their pleasures more than their righteousness and fall into what the Bible defines as sin.

Acceptance, though, is not the same as approval. We can understand the rage that some feel without condoning rioting and looting. We can sympathize with those caught in addiction without turning a blind eye to the destruction of lives which it causes. We can identify with the power of sin in temptation without approving of sin.

Gal. 6:1 speaks of a person who is caught up in a trespass. Some in our society say that we should ignore that behavior because it is none of our business. Others have taken the stance that sin is a bold statement of independence, and we would celebrate those in sin for being true to themselves. The Bible says, “You who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1). Acceptance does not mean that we stand with those who are doing wrong. It does mean that we try to stand by them in an effort to reconcile them with God. When we have a strong, Bible-based sense of what God approves, we work to restore ourselves and others to His standard, and we are commanded to do that with gentleness.

Stilwell Church of Christ - Rusty Dawson, Minister

In reading social media comments about the pandemic, I get the feeling that some are saying that if you don’t agree with them, you’re an idiot. If you are not wearing a mask and gloves, then somehow you are an irresponsible person. If you are wearing a mask and gloves, then somehow you are a naive sheep. Perhaps social media just lends itself to regarding others with different ideas as somehow mentally or morally defective.

Of course, these attitudes are not new. On spiritual matters, many have adopted the same idea that those who disagree with them are somehow delusional. You can fill in the doctrinal blank - If you don’t believe in X, then you are lost, sinful, ignorant of the scriptures, tradition bound . . . We do need a firm commitment to God’s truth. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Prov. 14:12 is an important warning, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” False doctrine can lead people astray and put their souls in jeopardy.

However, the truth needs to be presented with an attitude of love. “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged” (II Tim. 2:24). When we disagree, we should not be disagreeable. As we contend for the faith, we should not be contentious. II Tim. 2:25-26 says, “with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.” That passage acknowledges that some are in opposition, they need repentance, they need to come to their senses in order to escape Satan’s evil plan for them and their souls. Our love of God, our love of God’s truth, and our love of souls motivates us to reach out with God’s message of life. Let’s try to do our reaching with respect and gentleness even as try to bring God’s correction.

Stilwell Church of Christ - Rusty Dawson, Minister

Testing Positive - For Sin

One of the strategies against the corona virus is to test lots of people. The idea is that health officials can curb the spread of the disease by identifying those who have it and putting them into isolation. Many who have the virus do not have obvious symptoms. They may not seem sick but they are able to pass the sickness on to others. On the other hand, those who test negative today have no assurance they will test negative tomorrow or the next day.

We can also test for the presence of sin. Since, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23), at one point we have all tested positive. That result means that everyone has had the sentence of death within themselves for “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Sinners may not look sick, but they are headed toward spiritual destruction. They also have a way of sharing their iniquities with others.

Yet there is a cure. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Rom. 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If we are in Christ, we test negative for sin. However, we need the continual cleansing which comes from following Christ and remaining in Him. “If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I Jn. 1:7)

Stilwell Church of Christ - Rusty Dawson, Minister

Ps. 139:14 declares, “I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.” The human body is an amazing testament to the creative power of God. We are indeed wonderfully made! When our health is good, we have multiple intricate systems and parts all working together to deliver to us the breath of life which usually lasts for decades. Even when something like a virus enters our system, our bodies can rally a defense, and usually we can stave off the assault and return to health. For those times when an illness is more than our immune system can handle, God has given us minds which have devised medicine technology to fight our various ailments. Even with this present virus, around ninety-eight percent of those suffering are recovering. We thank God that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Of course, we are still mortal creatures. Ever since sin entered the world, all individuals are marching toward an end of life. God told Adam, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). Because of this truth, we need to realize there is also an eternal life, reserved for those who follow God’s will. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies” (Jn. 11:25). One day we will reach our appointed end, and then comes the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Therefore, we need to stand with Christ in this life that we might live with Him eternally in the next life.