Recession or Depression

By Jeff S. Smith

As pen meets paper, the entire world is struggling to break free from a terrible economic recession, the causes of which will be debated for decades, but which surely include greed and dishonesty.

Some have even questioned the potential for another depression, not unlike the one our grandparents endured in the 1930s, when only a world war was enough to rescue the victors’ economies. Recession and depression are discouraging themes, but the spiritual state of our world has been slipping in that direction even longer.

For decades, we have witnessed a spiritual recession in the currency of biblical interest, even among the people of God. An unhealthy collision between itching ears and glib doctrine produced a generation that counted religion to be a matter of entertainment and recreation, of almost absolute tolerance and compromise even where conviction should have stood fast.

And little wonder, for Paul warned long ago that, “in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (First Timothy 4:1-2). Biblical mastery receded and the joy of the Holy Spirit was misinterpreted to mean fun. Worship had to be fun. Bible class had to be fun, and if it wasn’t, it was augmented with snacks and prizes or replaced altogether by video games and dodge ball.

Like profit-hungry bankers, certain preachers and elders contributed to this recession of reason by satisfying the ear-tickling demand. Conditions in the time of Hosea were revisited. To the teachers, God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you” (4:6). God’s rejection, however, is too subtle for the apathetic observer to notice. Sermons were drained of scriptural content so that humor and philosophy could better display the preacher’s charisma (First Corinthians 2:1-2). The work of the church tilted away from the soul and toward the social. Sin was seldom identified so to avoid alienating the sinner; the recession deepened beneath the surface.

Gradually, this spiritual recession became more pronounced and seemingly irreversible. Moral poverty came upon the saints “like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Proverbs 24:33-34). We entered a self-inflicted biblical dust bowl – “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Here we are.

The Great Depression ended as nations ramped up for war, but now our world suffers from a much more personal form. Only when the soldiers of Christ renew their militance for evangelism and discipleship will this depression show signs of abating. “Fight the good fight of the faith” (First Timothy 6:12). “Preach the word” (Second Timothy 4:2). & (From Bible Mat­ters)

You Can Avoid Sinning (2)

By Bob Myhan

Contrary to the sermons and articles of some of our brethren, the Christian can, indeed, avoid sinning. Otherwise, Jesus commanded at least two people to do the impossible when He told them to “Sin no more” (John 5:14; 8:11).

David wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Surely, if we will hide God’s word in our hearts we will be able to avoid sinning against Him.

One might well ask, “How does the word of God help me to avoid sinning?” It does at least six things that will help us.

1  It imparts counsel concerning sin (Psalm 1:1-2).

2  It warns us of punishment for sin (Rom. 6:23).

3  It promises a reward for overcoming sin (James 1:12).

4  It tells us of God's love (Rom. 5:5; 1 John 4:9-10, 19; 5:3).

5  It enjoins practical responsibilities (Rom. 12:9-21).

6  It communicates spiritual strength (Eph. 6:10-20).

Of course, the fact that we can avoid sin is not a guarantee that we will avoid sin. The apostle John wrote,

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

God’s word does not demand that we be sinless. It does, however, require us to “walk in newness of life” after baptism.

³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

God’s word also promises the crown of life to those who are “faithful unto death.”

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10, ESV)

Thus, if we will focus on being faithful, by hiding God’s word in our hearts, we will be too busy to sin.

Can we avoid sinning? Yes. Will we avoid sinning? Probably not. Nevertheless, we are responsible for the sins that we commit. &

A Man Who Was Not Far From the Kingdom of God

By Bob Myhan

At a time when no one was actually in the kingdom of God—it had not yet been established—there was a man who was not far from it in his attitude. Let us examine his exchange with Jesus.

²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³² And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. ³³ And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  ³⁴ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34)

What kind of man was this? What attitudes did he possess? Perhaps, if we can identify them in this man, we can reproduce them in ourselves.

First, he believed in God, recognizing the reality and unity of the Godhead. (V. 32)

Second, he knew his duty to the One God—to love Him affectionately (“with all the heart”), intelligently (“with all the understanding”), fervently (“with all the soul”) and energetically (“with all the strength”). (V. 33)

Third, he knew his duty to his fellow man. Loving himself, a man will do himself no injury; he will work that which is good for himself—his body, his reputation and his character. And, loving his neighbor as he loves himself, he will do his neighbor no injury; he will work that which is good to his neighbor. (V. 33; Romans 13:8-10)

Fourth, he possessed a proper sense of values. He placed love to God first and love to man second. He also placed spiritual and moral values above burnt offerings and sacrifices. (V. 33)

Because of these attitudes, this man was “not far from the kingdom of God.” Today, men and women must have these same attitudes to approach near enough to the kingdom of God to enter it. But, even then, they cannot enter it without being “born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:3-7) &

This article was taken at some point in the past from a sermon outline book.