In This Issue

• "PUT YOUR SWORD IN ITS PLACE"

• RUNNING THE CHURCH LIKE A BUSINESS

• WHAT WOULD YOU PREACH?
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

"PUT YOUR SWORD IN ITS PLACE"

As the delegation from the chief priests came to the garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Matthew tells us that "suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twenty thousand legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus?'" (Matt. 26:51-54).

The apostle John, in his account of this incident, identifies the disciple who drew the sword, and supplies additional information not mentioned by Matthew. "Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus" (John 18:10). Luke informs us that Jesus touched Malchus and healed his ear, Luke 22:51.

Surely these events were still fresh on the minds of those who observed, when, a few hours later, Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:37).

There are three observations we want to make on these passages. First, Jesus' kingdom is not a worldly, political, carnal kingdom. If it were, it would be advanced by carnal warfare such as knives and guns and bombs. Paul plainly says, "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4). See also Eph. 6:12-18.

Second, we note that as late as the time of the arrest of Jesus, His closest followers did not yet understand the spiritual nature of His kingdom. Had Peter understood these events as he later did, his sword would never have left its sheath. Even as late as the time of the ascension of Jesus to heaven, the apostles were still looking for an earthly, political kingdom like that which existed in the days of King David. See Acts 1:6-8. Once the Holy Spirit came upon them to guide them into all truth, they realized that Jesus' kingdom is spiritual in nature, and that He is presently reigning on the throne of David in heaven, Acts 2:29-36; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9.

Finally, we observe that Jesus recognized the continuing validity of capital punishment for those who "live by the sword." From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible endorses capital punishment for those who commit the crime of murder, Gen. 9:6; Rev. 13:10.

--CRJ

RUNNING THE CHURCH LIKE A BUSINESS

The apostle Paul wrote that "not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Cor. 1:26). He did not say that not ANY from these classes of people would be saved. Fortunately, for them, and for the church, some of these kinds of people humbly submit to the Lord and thus become Christians.

As our cultural environment has become more educated and prosperous the makeup of the church has followed suit. These changes have brought with them both improvements and some problems. Fortunately, at least in my experience, there does not seem to be much problem with discrimination or class envy among most brethren today.

However, one of the disturbing trends that has been a "side-effect" of our socioeconomic rise is a desire to try to "run the church" like a business. In this article, when I speak of the church, I am referring to a local congregation.

Successful businessmen who are Christians are a welcome benefit to a congregation. Their expertise can be invaluable to the church if they keep in mind that the church is not a business. For that reason not all decisions should be made using the same criteria as are appropriate in the business world.

This is especially true in matters regarding the relationship between the congregation and a preacher. Some are inclined to treat the preacher like an employee instead of a brother. Instead of merely agreeing to support a man to preach and teach the gospel, they "hire" a man and then attempt to micro-manage him and his family. If he, or his family, do not meet their expectations they "ask him to leave." Don’t mistake what I am saying. I am not referring to men who are not living right. Certainly they should not continue to be supported or allowed to teach what they will not live. Rather, I refer to his style and technique -- and even his personality.

It appears to me that the apostle Paul was a man with a personality unlike most others. I get the impression that he was quite different in his approach to the work than that of some of his fellow-workers. Clearly, Paul and Barnabas had differing styles and personalities. Yet both were very useful in the kingdom.

I doubt that the apostle Paul would have had much patience with the brethren in Berea had they complained after he left there that Silas and Timothy, who remained, were not "like Paul" in either his methods or his personality.

In the business world, workers are often sought for positions that require a certain persona. The temptation might be for elders or (God forbid) business meetings to develop a profile that their preacher must fit. Oddly enough, the profile often includes qualities, traits and abilities absent in their own lives. Yet their preacher (and his family) must have them or be prepared to pack up and move.

A disclaimer is in order here. Let it be known that though I preach in a congregation where there are businessmen, including an elder whose profession is management training, this article and the concerns mentioned were not prompted from my current experience.

My appeal is for brethren to recognize the fact that the church is more like a family than a business, and decisions should be made from that kind of perspective.

--Al Diestelkamp, Think on These Things, Vol. 32, No. 4.

WHAT WOULD YOU PREACH?

It is rather amusing at times to hear someone that has never preached a sermon tell a preacher what and how to preach. It is kinda like people that tell you what they would do with their children IF they had any. Do not misunderstand the purpose of this article and get the idea that I am saying preachers do not need advice, or constructive criticism, for such is not the case. I wonder though, what some would preach if they were ever called on to do so. Let’s observe some criticisms that are often given to a preacher and just see what you would preach if you were a preacher.

Some have made the following statement: "I wish he wouldn’t preach on this for it is will not do any good." Whatever they mean, let’s see what they would preach.

A. Would you preach God’s plan to save? According to their criticism that "it will not do any good," they could not preach on it, for many times such is declared and no one ever responds to the invitation. Many become offended when you preach such for they say there is no plan.

B. Would you preach that Christ built one church? How often has this been preached and people have rejected the message? It would offend the people that say "one church is as good as another."

C. Would you preach on godly living? How much "good" does it do? How many really pay attention to such sermons? This will really cause some to become angry when you preach against drinking, gambling, lying, adultery, etc.

D. Would you oppose Catholicism in your preaching? How many leave the Catholic faith when you do so? Some really get offended. Some would say it does not do any good.

E. Would you preach against departures in the church? What good would it do? How many of the brethren would change their ways? I am confident that such preaching would offend some.

Now, just what would you preach and please the brethren by the "reasoning" that it will not do any good? The truth about the matter is that when you preach the things above it will do good. It will do good in many ways:

1. It will exalt the truth, John 8:32.

2. It will oppose error, James 5:19-20.

3. It will be a warning to the ones that are in need of such preaching.

4. It will strengthen the body of Christ. It will help them to be able to expose the error of human wisdom.

I believe that you can see that preaching the truth and exposing error on any subject cannot but do good. It is a shame when the members of the church will not stand up for sound preaching. Remember the words of Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" (Rom. 1:16).

--Robert Jackson

Faults are thick where love is thin.

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