Why Don't We Ask God?

 Bits & Pieces (September, 2005, p 4) ran a story about a panic-stricken mother named Melissa who was driving home accompanied by her six-year old son. Her husband had just phoned to tell her the family's much-loved dog, Gertie, had slipped her leash during a walk to chase a cat! He had looked everywhere but Gertie was gone! Melissa said to him over the phone, "God only knows where she is." As she drove through their neighborhood she carefully scanned the area for the cat-chasing canine. "How will we ever find her?" she wondered out loud. "She could be anywhere by now." Suddenly she heard six-year-old Max pipe up from the backseat, "Why don't you ask God?" Mom was jerked out of her intense search mode and said, "What did you say, honey?" Max replied, "You said only God knows, so why don't you ask Him?" Melissa chuckled and said a silent prayer. When she turned the next corner, there was Gertie barking happily up a tree at a wide-eyed neighborhood cat!

 I know it's just a nice little story. But wisdom is found from the mouth of Max in the question, "Why don't you ask God?" Praying is not something that gets top billing in American culture, but it ought to in the Lord's church. What Jesus says about prayer in Matthew 7:7-11 should often send us to our knees, or at least put us in a praying mode and mood - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Two truths are worth noting. First, we can trust God to answer our prayers. Psalm 65:2 describes God as "O You who hear prayer." Even a good parent may at times be distracted and not hear or respond to a child's question or request, even a legitimate one. But the Bible assures us that if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears and will respond to our requests (1 John 3:22; 5:14-15). A second truth is this - like any loving, caring father, God not only hears when His children ask - He always gives good gifts. He is not an overindulgent parent nor is He a mean-spirited Father who gives harmful gifts to His children. You can trust Him to give only good things in answer to prayer. Psalm 84:11b tells us, "The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly." No good parent can give a child literally anything and everything the child requests. To do so would be ruinous to the child! As the old adage says, "Give a pig and a boy everything they want, and you get a good pig and a bad boy." James 4:3 reminds us it is possible that Christians, too, "ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." God won't say yes to that kind of prayer. We can be assured God hears when we pray, and that He will answer - sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait awhile. Do you face situations in your life where only God knows? Then why don't you ask God?
    --by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Donald Sterling

"Not A Sterling Attitude"

This time last week the name "Donald Sterling" didn't mean anything to me. A week later, probably a large percentage of America now knows him as the man whose racist comments brought down a torrent of condemnation. Though one of the wealthiest men in California, he is now forbidden to attend even one basketball game played by a team he owns! In fact, he may soon be forced to sell that team.

Sterling's attitude is typical of many: They believe that people can be judged simply by the color of their skin. It's the same error made by Adolph Hitler and the Nazis last century; they believed that one race was superior to all. It is an inherent, inborn advantage, they claim. Sadly, there are many who still hold such views.

A simple experience that dispels such thinking is the exchange of blood between people. Those who undergo surgery or who've been injured in accidents often need infusions of blood. While there are differences in blood based on types, there is no difference based on race. My blood type is A-positive. Should I need blood, that's the only relevant factor. There is no need to search for A- positive blood from a Caucasian male; as long as it's the right type, blood from any race will work in my body.

When the apostle Paul spoke on Mars Hill in Athens, he made this affirmation: "And [God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth ..." (Acts 17:26). The earliest Greek manuscripts don't have the word for "blood", but the idea is the same: We have all descended from a common ancestor. That being the case, the idea of one race being superior to another is blatantly false.

Prejudices are nothing new. Peter was raised in a culture that regarded all non-Jews (Gentiles) as unclean. Yet after receiving a vision from God, he expressed his new understanding to Cornelius - a Gentile in whose house he was a guest: "... In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:34,35). If God shows no partiality to people based on their appearance, how can we?

Part of the good news Jesus brought to humanity is that "He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation" (Ephesians 2:14). Once there was a distinction between God's chosen people (i.e. the Jewish race) and all others (i.e. Gentiles). Now there are no distinctions.

The bottom line is this: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). To have a "Sterling attitude" today is to reject the good things Christ has done for us.
Timothy D. Hall

the good ole days

The Former Days
by Tom Wacaster

"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this" (Ecc. 7:10). Is it not interesting that the older we get, and the older our friends get, that we find ourselves reflecting upon "the good ole days"? Sometimes the stresses and strains of our high-pressured world take their toll and we find ourselves longing for "the good ole days." But then, the good ole days were not as "good" as we think, and we tend to remember the "good" in them and forget the hardships and challenges we faced "back then"! One observer wrote: "The world is too big for us. Too much going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will you get behind in the race, in spite of yourself it's an incessant strain to keep pace and still you lose ground. Science empties discoveries on you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world has news seen so rapidly you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more." Those words appeared in an editorial in the Atlantic Journal on June 16, 1883. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.

The Judds produced a popular hit some years back entitled, "Grandpa, Tell Me About The Good Old Days." It reflects a time not all that long ago when the influence of God's word was still having an impact upon our society. One stanza in that song contained these words:

Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like this world's gone crazy
And Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy.

Grandpas don't fit in today; their way of life was that of a different culture than what we see around us in this new century. As is often the case with each new generation, the older folks are written off as something a bit less than a nincompoop. With the changes descending upon us from a politically correct world and morally relevant society, is it any wonder that Grandpas take the time now and then to reminisce? But is that not what Grandpas are for? Is not the hoary head filled with wisdom that the younger generation desperately needs to survive in a world that lies in the wicked one? It is called experience; and experience is not something you get from books, television, movies or computers! It is something you live. It is something that comes only with the passing of time, and with age. We need to be reminded, as one ancient philosopher noted, "Young men for war, old men for counsel." The late Richard Black shared the same sentiment when he wrote: "Eddie Rabbit, songwriter, commenting on the death of his son said, 'I weave the pain and suffering of Timmy's death through my songs. It's a price of wisdom, but you pay for wisdom.'"

You see, it not just the "good" times, but also the "bad" times that help us grow in wisdom. While developing this particular thought I came across the following that addresses this precise point. "It's only against the backdrop of hardship that the greatest beauty can be seen. When is the blessing of good health appreciated any more than following a bout of illness or injury? What an avenue is provided for the demonstration of deep devotion and appreciation when a loved one becomes incapacitated and a spouse or child tenderly cares for their needs. Isn't it remarkable the outpouring of benevolent care from strangers to stranger following a natural disaster of wind or flood or quake? The human spirit is not at its best when idle or at ease, but when put to the test and hardship comes. Ultimately, how would one know of the all surpassing love of God were it not for the cruel circumstances of the death of our Savior? How much deeper the expression of love in the gift of that life by such brutal means than were He to do what most men would wish-give us what we want. Thank God for the hard times" (David Deffenbaugh).

It has been pointed out by social observers that today's youth is the first generation of Americans that will not be able to reach a higher plateaus of living than their parents. Economically, the living status has declined to such an extent that the middle class is shrinking and the wealthy and poor are increasing at an alarming rate. Morally? Will anyone dare suggest that America has improved in this area over the past 50 years? And yet, in the midst of all of this insanity that surrounds us, we have the word of God that serves as a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet (Psalms 119:105).

Maybe we should reflect upon the values that "Grandpa" practiced, and then remind ourselves that such values of "the good old days" were the fruit of God's word planted in the hearts of men. If we would ever hope to return to that kind of Godly living, then perhaps we need to be actively preaching and teaching that same gospel that was preached and taught "in the former days."

Important facts for missionaries

                    The Relationship Between the Missionaries and the National Church 

Introduction:  The term "national" is used in these studies to mean a Christian native to the foreign country where the mission work is being done.  The "national church" is the church being developed in the foreign country, made up primarily of "nationals."

The successes and failures of missionary efforts of various religious groups over the last 100 years have led to the recognition of a wise mission policy known as the "indigenous principle."  "Indigenous" people are nationals, people native to a particular country, not foreigners.  The indigenous church is the national church.  The "indigenous principle" states that the goal of missions is to produce a self-supporting, self-governing, self-teaching, self-propagating church as soon as possible; and it calls for methods which create as little dependence of the national church on missionaries as possible.  Over-dependence on missionaries stifles the growth of national leadership and can cause collapse if the missionaries have to suddenly leave.

With the rise of nationalism and a resentment of foreign control in more and more countries, nationals themselves are often anxious for the church not to depend on missionaries.  Some liberal churches in the "third world" have even called for a "moratorium" on missions.  In foreign church work in general, there is a healthy tendency for missionaries to be brothers and partners with national church leaders, or "advisors" to them, rather than being authority figures.

The indigenous principle must be in the minds of the missionaries concerning their own work, and in their teaching to the people.  Missionaries must mature the church to do its own work of service to Christ - Ephesians 4:11-15.

1.         General suggestions concerning the relationship of missionaries to the national church.

A.         Above all, the missionary must be genuine and sincere in his love and faith.  The nationals must know he is one who can always be depended on to do what he believes is right.  As long as they believe in his love and essential goodness, they will be willing to hear the missionary even when he explains the need for the nationals themselves to take on added burdens as the church matures.

B.         The missionary must beware of the natural temptation to be a "great father" or kingpin to the national Christians, and to let the missionary premises become "headquarters" for the national church - Luke 22:24-26; John 4:20-24: 1 Corinthians 3:16.

C.         Sometimes disagreements develop over the amount of burden the national church should assume.  The missionary must follow scriptural principles in dealing with his conflicts with national Christians.

1)         "Go to your brother and tell him his fault" - Matthew 18:15-17.

2)         Go to your brother if he has anything against you - Matthew 5:23,24.

3)         Remove any offensive behavior of your own - Matthew 18:6-9.

4)         Correct others gently and keep a calm, self-controlled spirit in difficult discussions - Galatians 6:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

5)         Confess and apologize when you are wrong - James 5:16.  Forgive when others are wrong - Matthew 18:21-35.

6)         "Lay down your rights" for the sake of saving others, as Christ and Paul did - Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 9:15,19-23; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Matthew 16:24,25; Romans 15:1-3.  But this does not mean sacrificing principles necessary for the church to learn independence.

D.         When the missionary must refuse a request of national brothers because of the indigenous principle,

1)         He should do so gently and in love, but clearly.

2)         He should not weary the brothers with long, drawn-out explanations to defend his action.

2.         The missionary should let the nationals grow, and should not hinder their growth by doing for them anything they are able to do for themselves.

A.         If we let the national church become overly dependent, there is danger of collapse if missionary support has to be suddenly withdrawn.

B.         If the missionary does too much, it delays the maturing of the national church.

C.         The process of moving the national church from dependency to independence is wearying emotionally and spiritually.  The temptation is to take the easy path and let dependency continue.

D.         It is natural for national Christians to want to leave the main burden of finance and leadership on the missionaries.  It is also natural for them to want to succeed to the role in which they cast the missionaries.  These opposite motivations cause inner conflict and frustration in national church leaders.

3.         The missionary must lead the national church to independence in 4 areas:

A.         Teaching

1)         Young national Christians are too prone to trust the teaching of the missionary in everything.  He must teach them to judge his and all teaching by scripture - Acts 17:11.

2)         A large part of the mission program should be devoted to training nationals, especially leaders, in God's word - 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 19:8-10.

B.         Discipline

1)         National brothers tend to call the missionary to judge every difficult question or church dispute.

2)         The missionary must instead urge the nationals to take their disputes to respected national brothers.

3)         When new persons or groups come wanting to relate to the missionaries, the missionaries should be sure they also relate properly to existing national brothers and churches.

C.         Evangelism

1)         The missionary should push forward capable national teachers, not try to do all the teaching himself.

2)         He should teach nationals the joy of soul-winning, how to develop understanding in a convert before baptism, how to teach and strengthen new converts, and how to establish strong, well-ordered churches.

3)         If national preachers ask funds for preaching trips, he should encourage them to look to their local congregations as far as possible, giving the church a chance to grow in evangelism.

D.         Finance

1)         This is usually the area of greatest potential conflict between the missionary and the national church leaders, and the hardest responsibility for nationals to accept.

2)         Much trouble can be avoided by starting with the right policies at the beginning of the work.  It is traumatic to tear away excessive support to which the national church has become accustomed.

3)         The national church should build its own buildings.

a.         It is artificial to build with foreign money buildings the nationals cannot afford or maintain.

b.         Whatever standard of housing nationals are able to provide for themselves, they can also provide for the Lord's work.

c.         What looks very poor in our eyes may look fine to people used to living on 5% of our income.

4)         As far as possible, the national church should help its own poor.

a.         Large amounts of material aid coming into a poor country from abroad attract the wrong kind of people to the church.

b.         We certainly must be compassionate and do benevolent work as missionaries (1 John 3:17,18).  There are exceptional situations where large amounts of foreign benevolent aid are necessary temporarily, but all benevolent work needs to be done as quietly and with as low a profile as possible so as not to appeal to wrong motives any more than necessary - John 6:26,27.

c.         Much jealousy and division among nationals can be created by unwise, though well-meaning distribution of personal aid to people.  People in a rich country can hardly imagine how much feeling can be generated among very poor people by what we should consider a small amount of material aid.  Benevolent projects such as medical units or schools that help whole groups rather than individuals create less jealousy, and still show the love of Christ.  Of course some private aid to people is necessary.

d.         The scriptures provide good order for benevolent work:  First a person should be expected to help himself -  2 Thessalonians 3:10; second his relatives should be expected to help him - 1 Timothy 5:4,8; then the local church should help its poor as far as possible before looking to other churches or missions - Acts 2:44,45; 4:32,36,37; 11:27-30; Romans 15:26.

e.         If material benefits stand out in a mission program, we will attract materially-minded people.  If Christ and the word of God stand out, we will attract lovers of God.

f.          The way we attract people determines how well the fruit of our work will survive - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

by G.B. Shelburne, III (except for any graphics and scripture quotations).  May be reproduced for non-profit, non-publishing instructional purposes provided document content is not altered and this copyright notice is included in full.  Format may be altered.  South Houston Bible Institute, 14325 Crescent Landing, Houston, TX 77062-2178, U.S.A., tel. 281-990-8899, email <shbi@shbi.org>, web site <www.shbi.org>.  Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 8 1978 and 1984 by the New York International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Historically marginalized groups

A Victory for Fairness


    In 2006, Michigan voters chose by a 58% majority to ban using race as a preference in admissions in their state-supported universities. The democratic vote was challenged in court and the U. S. Supreme Court ruled last week - in my opinion - as they ought to have ruled, by a 6-2 margin, no less. Yes, Michigan voters have the right to ban racial preferences in university admissions processes. While the decision the court was actually making was whether the voters could decide such a ban in the first place, it did undergird a fundamental principle of American society - fairness and justice that is (or ought to be) blind.


    Justice Sotomayor was one of the dissenting opinions and she wrote of “historically marginalized groups,” by which she no doubt had in mind African-Americans. I agree that the federal courts need to “protect their constitutional rights” - but the federal courts ought to protect everyone’s constitutional rights. It does not seem to me to be a “constitutional right” to get extra points in the college admissions process simply because you are black (or female or whatever). Justice is supposed to be blind.


    Grades are inherently based on merit. Do you deserve an A or not? In the same way, admissions into a program that is inherently limited by space and resources has to be meted out based on merit. Grades would not - or should not - be the ultimate factor but they should play a role. Community service could easily play just as important a role as grades or your score on the LSAT. And anyone can do community service!


    The problem with “historically marginalized groups” is not what the Left says it is. Their problem is not access to education. Their problem is too many of them are distracted from taking advantage of the education that is made available to them. Common sense and studies both confirm the fact that these minority groups suffer from two things: missing fathers and a parent (or parents) with no job.


    If Americans want to help marginalized groups, we will have to go back to following God’s pattern for the home: one man, one woman (for life) - and parents providing for their kids (see 1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 6:4). Rachel Sheffield, writing for the Heritage Foundation, calls on us to restore a “culture of marriage.” She is exactly right and exactly biblical. “The trend of family breakdown must be reversed. Strong families are the nation’s most precious resource, and we need to get serious about building and maintaining them” (blog.heritage.org).


    Giving someone an advantage over another simply based on the color of their skin does not help anyone. It is actually condescending. The Bible teaches: “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15).


    Eight years ago, the citizens of Michigan voted to be more fair in the university admissions process. Last week, the U. S. Supreme Court decided the citizens of Michigan were right. That’s worth celebrating.

Paul Hollamd

GENOVESE SYNDROME

 In the year of 1964, a young lady known, as Kitty Genovese was brutally stabbed to death near her home in Queens, New York.  It gained national recognition because of the nature of this terrible murder.  You see, although the neighbors were fully aware of the killing, no one offered or responded to help Kitty.  The neighbors were non-responsive to Kitty’s screaming and crying for help, allowing the killer to continue his act of violence. 

An investigation was conducted to try to find out why citizens refused to help this young lady.  The homicide case and the investigation went into the social-psychological phenomenon that now is known as the bystander effect. This phenomenon is also known as diffusion of responsibility.  This behavior is sometimes called the “Genovese syndrome."

This account of terror and detachment reminds me that human conduct has it’s high’s and low’s.  I am further reminded of The Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. In this portion of scripture, we find a lawyer trying to justify himself, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Verse 29). Jesus relates the parable of how one “fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead" (Verse 30).  The priest and then the Levite failed to render aid, they “passed on the other side”(Verse 31-32.)  Did these uncaring two mumble or think within themselves, “This is none of my business?”  “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and had compassion on him" (Verse 33).  Bless be such a type of human beings that take positive action in doing that, which is right.

From his wonderful, book entitled “Lessons From The Parables” Neil R. Lightfoot comments on the Good Samaritan in part as follows:   “In the parable the Samaritan exemplifies the principles of Christian conduct. The entire world remembers his compassion, but this is so because his compassion led to instant action.  Compassion is not real if it is no more than an emotion.  Real compassion affects conduct. And that, after all, is what Christianity is about" (Page 66-67).

Personally, I have had a few encounters with friends who did not inform me of facts that would have changed my mind for the better.  After making mistakes because of not knowing the whole truth, my friends basically on these occasions said, “Well, we knew you were making a big mistake, but it was none of our business.” It is one thing to be a busybody and another to be conscious of one who is facing danger. To warn one of the coming danger would be a good and compassionate deed. 

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

NOTE: For further study see:  http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/kitty+genovese  

--DONALD R. FOX (for more of my essays see http://www.abiblecommentary.com/donaldfox.htm)

Bible commentaries on the book of Ephesians

Ephesians: Heaven's Gallery Of Spiritual Wealth by Tom Wacaster When the prophets of old had penned the very words of God, they no doubt laid down the pen of inspiration, and in some instances may have even asked themselves, "What have I just written?" Peter informs us that those inspired men "sought and searched diligently.of the grace that should come unto you: searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them" (1 Peter 1:10). So profound were the words of men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos and Daniel (just to mention a few), that even the "angels desired to look into" the message from heaven (1 Peter 1:12). This student began a journey through Ephesians that has spanned more than four decades, and have now completed my commentary on this wonderful epistle in this New Year. No wonder men have marveled at masterpiece from the Holy Spirit! It is Heaven's Gallery of Spiritual Wealth, deposited in Christ, located in heavenly places, and it rests upon He Who is the foundation of the greatest institution ever to exist upon the face of this earth, being Himself the chief corner stone. The picture of the church that emerges from a careful study of this epistle is one of holiness and harmony (1:4; 4:4). If men would put aside their prejudice and preconceived notions concerning the church, and drink deeply from the pen of this inspired apostle, they would walk away with a concept of the church unlike the modern day concept of a divided, denominated, and materialistic church. In the six chapters of this epistle God unfolds for us the eternal majesty of the church, the beautiful bride of Christ. We are permitted to look backward into the recesses of eternity and get a small glimpse - just a glimpse - of the majesty and wisdom of our God as He foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (1:5). The door is opened into the vault of heaven's wealth, and we are invited to partake of the "riches" of God's grace for men. We are granted entrance into the library of wisdom and knowledge that surpasses that of the sages of this world, "having the eyes of your heart enlightened" by the "revelation in the knowledge of him" (1:17-18). We are given a panoramic view of God's grace as He lifted us out of spiritual death, and "raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places" (2:6). We have been granted citizenship in that heavenly kingdom (2:19), adoption into God's family (3:15), admittance into the "temple in the Lord" (2:21-22), and experienced the wonderful "love of Christ which passeth knowledge (3:19). But we have also been reminded that with these wonderful privileges comes great obligation and responsibility. We are to be "holy and without blemish" (1:4), "worthy of the calling wherewith you were called" (4;1), looking "carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise" (5:15). Clad with heaven's armor (6:13-20), we are encouraged to march forward "to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel" (6:19). If men would study this letter they would learn that the church is not some after-thought in the mind of God; they would learn that you cannot have Christ without the church; they would learn that how we live has a direct bearing upon our salvation; that the forces of evil are real and dangerous, but that God gives us strength in the hour of adversity. Paul's description of the church as it appears in this letter is a masterpiece of inspired literature. From the depths of sin, men can be lifted out of their spiritual poverty to participate in the wealth and riches of God's grace. The power to live holy lives as members of that church is promised to those who would but embrace the truths contained herein. Ours is an age of apathy and indifference. Unfortunately, members of the Lord's church have been lulled to sleep by the steady noise of worldliness and the satanic lies of post-modern relativism. Perhaps it is time to wipe the dust off our Bibles, and drink deeply from God's inspired description of the church as contained specifically in Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. The infidel and skeptic might scoff at God's word; modern day theologians might ridicule the simplicity of heaven's pattern; the weak Christian may not appreciate what he holds in his hands. But the faithful child of God knows that he has been privileged to walk through heaven's gallery of spiritual wealth. ~~~~~ Note: This article is the introduction to my commentary on Ephesians. If you would like more information on how to order this commentary, or any other of my books, send me an email. Thanks in advance