Resources/Articles
Something Concerns Me
I do not know much of anything. Really. I am not a movie, political, or historical expert. When people talk about those subjects, I know little of which they speak…
Although I do not know much, something really concerns me. It is about 2 Timothy 2:15. It says, “Study (give diligence, ASV) to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.”
Do we have an air of superiority about how we can turn to the Bible and find a passage to refute error or defend righteousness? We may have in our mind the passage for every problem. We may be adequately equipped with the scriptures, but have we used what we know is right? Righteousness means nothing in the mind and on paper. Righteousness is a manifestation of a workman of God. Those are the only ones God approves. It is not enough to know the right thing to do. Handle what is the right thing wisely in an approved way…
Our preoccupation with future apostasy or the “trouble that lies ahead” keeps us from doing what we need to do today. We best pay attention to today and let the Christians of tomorrow take care of tomorrow’s business it its time. The Lord will reward the workman who does His work today, not tomorrow. Let’s take a good look at our work and get our attitudes right, or we may be surprised at the judgment…
Something which concerns me comes from what Paul said his concern was which “presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). I can relate to his concerns. When you witness the overwhelming influence and attraction of the world, the response of the body of believers may be surprising, and it does raise some concern…
We have done a good job at teaching and abiding by the pattern of the New Testament church. We call for a return to the Bible for authority for all we do whether it is salvation or worship or a host of other matters, but where are the attitudes of the New Testament church replicated today?
There have been times when Christians will befriend those in the world quicker than they will those in the church. Sometimes we have treated those in the world better than those in the church. Why do we cut, accuse, rail, and clamor against our fellow brethren all in the name of restoring the New Testament church? Does the church not need peace, safety, and security among those worshipping and working together?
You might be right about where you stand, but if your attitude is not from love, respect, compassion, mercy, and genuine concern, you have not restored New Testament Christianity. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God…let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32).
