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St Mary's, GA, United States
Weekly bulletin. Church Office Phone: (912) 882-5800

Friday, January 23, 2009

PEACE IN THE CHURCH

In Philippians 2:5, the apostle Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” One important ingredient in a successful church is a prevailing attitude of peace. This does not mean the total absence of conflict. Anytime you have a group of people together, you will have disagreements (there are times I am not sure I agree with myself). The problem is not necessarily the conflict itself, but how we handle it. If there is an abiding desire for peace, we will find a way to work it out. In the passage mentioned above, Paul reveals the secret: have the mind of Christ. What is involved in having the mind of Christ? How will it contribute to peace? There are four things mentioned in Philippians 2 that are involved in having the mind of Christ that will develop a loving, abiding peace among His people.

First of all, we must have the same love (verse 2). Two things come to mind when I think of the phrase “having the same love.” One thing I think of is that we all have the same love for one another. Loving one another in the church is absolutely essential (John 13:34-35). Paul says that we can have great faith and do great things, but without love it is in vain (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). However, I also think there may be something else here. Perhaps Paul is encouraging us to have the same for one another as did Christ. If I love you as you love me, what happens if you do not love me? However, if my love for you is the same as Christ, it will be an unconditional, sacrificial love. When we have that kind of love for one another, peace will prevail.

Second, we must be of one mind (verse 2). Again, this does not mean we will never disagree, but that we will not be disagreeable. There are some people who simply have a belligerent attitude. They are looking for a fight and will argue about anything at the drop of a hat. My mother used to say, “You would argue with a sign post after you put the sign post up.” We need to have an agreeable nature. What was foremost in the mind of Christ? Doing the Father’s will (John 4:34). If we will have that same mind, peace will prevail.

Third, we must be unselfish (verses 3-4). It is not unusual to find a small child who is the center of his/her universe. Everything should be done in their way, on their schedule. Everything in sight, and sometimes things out of sight, is “Mine! Mine! Mine!” The problem is when a child is never taught and never grows out of such an attitude. Unfortunately, we have the same problem in the church. Elmer Morgan writes, “All too often, all the babies aren’t in the church nursery. They are in the pews in grown up clothes, crying, “More for me, more for me.” Where would we be if Christ had that attitude? He gave up everything, including His life, for me. We need to look out more for the interests of others, and peace will prevail.

Finally, we must be humble (verses 6-8). Peace cannot survive where there is pride and superiority. “I am the (preacher, elder, oldest member, last charter member, etc.), so my opinion counts for more. Jesus left heaven and equality with God (John 1:1-3, 14). He came to this earth as a man and obediently submitted to death on the cross. He did not insist on having His way. He did not claim such a task was beneath Him and someone else should do it. He humbly submitted. We cannot have peace in the church if I think I am more important than others, or if I think I am too good for a certain task. We must be willing to empty ourselves of all pride and arrogance, and peace will prevail.
--Lamar
In Philippians 2:5, the apostle Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” One important ingredient in a successful church is a prevailing attitude of peace. This does not mean the total absence of conflict. Anytime you have a group of people together, you will have disagreements (there are times I am not sure I agree with myself). The problem is not necessarily the conflict itself, but how we handle it. If there is an abiding desire for peace, we will find a way to work it out. In the passage mentioned above, Paul reveals the secret: have the mind of Christ. What is involved in having the mind of Christ? How will it contribute to peace? There are four things mentioned in Philippians 2 that are involved in having the mind of Christ that will develop a loving, abiding peace among His people.

First of all, we must have the same love (verse 2). Two things come to mind when I think of the phrase “having the same love.” One thing I think of is that we all have the same love for one another. Loving one another in the church is absolutely essential (John 13:34-35). Paul says that we can have great faith and do great things, but without love it is in vain (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). However, I also think there may be something else here. Perhaps Paul is encouraging us to have the same for one another as did Christ. If I love you as you love me, what happens if you do not love me? However, if my love for you is the same as Christ, it will be an unconditional, sacrificial love. When we have that kind of love for one another, peace will prevail.

Second, we must be of one mind (verse 2). Again, this does not mean we will never disagree, but that we will not be disagreeable. There are some people who simply have a belligerent attitude. They are looking for a fight and will argue about anything at the drop of a hat. My mother used to say, “You would argue with a sign post after you put the sign post up.” We need to have an agreeable nature. What was foremost in the mind of Christ? Doing the Father’s will (John 4:34). If we will have that same mind, peace will prevail.

Third, we must be unselfish (verses 3-4). It is not unusual to find a small child who is the center of his/her universe. Everything should be done in their way, on their schedule. Everything in sight, and sometimes things out of sight, is “Mine! Mine! Mine!” The problem is when a child is never taught and never grows out of such an attitude. Unfortunately, we have the same problem in the church. Elmer Morgan writes, “All too often, all the babies aren’t in the church nursery. They are in the pews in grown up clothes, crying, “More for me, more for me.” Where would we be if Christ had that attitude? He gave up everything, including His life, for me. We need to look out more for the interests of others, and peace will prevail.

Finally, we must be humble (verses 6-8). Peace cannot survive where there is pride and superiority. “I am the (preacher, elder, oldest member, last charter member, etc.), so my opinion counts for more. Jesus left heaven and equality with God (John 1:1-3, 14). He came to this earth as a man and obediently submitted to death on the cross. He did not insist on having His way. He did not claim such a task was beneath Him and someone else should do it. He humbly submitted. We cannot have peace in the church if I think I am more important than others, or if I think I am too good for a certain task. We must be willing to empty ourselves of all pride and arrogance, and peace will prevail.
--Lamar
In Philippians 2:5, the apostle Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” One important ingredient in a successful church is a prevailing attitude of peace. This does not mean the total absence of conflict. Anytime you have a group of people together, you will have disagreements (there are times I am not sure I agree with myself). The problem is not necessarily the conflict itself, but how we handle it. If there is an abiding desire for peace, we will find a way to work it out. In the passage mentioned above, Paul reveals the secret: have the mind of Christ. What is involved in having the mind of Christ? How will it contribute to peace? There are four things mentioned in Philippians 2 that are involved in having the mind of Christ that will develop a loving, abiding peace among His people.

First of all, we must have the same love (verse 2). Two things come to mind when I think of the phrase “having the same love.” One thing I think of is that we all have the same love for one another. Loving one another in the church is absolutely essential (John 13:34-35). Paul says that we can have great faith and do great things, but without love it is in vain (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). However, I also think there may be something else here. Perhaps Paul is encouraging us to have the same for one another as did Christ. If I love you as you love me, what happens if you do not love me? However, if my love for you is the same as Christ, it will be an unconditional, sacrificial love. When we have that kind of love for one another, peace will prevail.

Second, we must be of one mind (verse 2). Again, this does not mean we will never disagree, but that we will not be disagreeable. There are some people who simply have a belligerent attitude. They are looking for a fight and will argue about anything at the drop of a hat. My mother used to say, “You would argue with a sign post after you put the sign post up.” We need to have an agreeable nature. What was foremost in the mind of Christ? Doing the Father’s will (John 4:34). If we will have that same mind, peace will prevail.

Third, we must be unselfish (verses 3-4). It is not unusual to find a small child who is the center of his/her universe. Everything should be done in their way, on their schedule. Everything in sight, and sometimes things out of sight, is “Mine! Mine! Mine!” The problem is when a child is never taught and never grows out of such an attitude. Unfortunately, we have the same problem in the church. Elmer Morgan writes, “All too often, all the babies aren’t in the church nursery. They are in the pews in grown up clothes, crying, “More for me, more for me.” Where would we be if Christ had that attitude? He gave up everything, including His life, for me. We need to look out more for the interests of others, and peace will prevail.

Finally, we must be humble (verses 6-8). Peace cannot survive where there is pride and superiority. “I am the (preacher, elder, oldest member, last charter member, etc.), so my opinion counts for more. Jesus left heaven and equality with God (John 1:1-3, 14). He came to this earth as a man and obediently submitted to death on the cross. He did not insist on having His way. He did not claim such a task was beneath Him and someone else should do it. He humbly submitted. We cannot have peace in the church if I think I am more important than others, or if I think I am too good for a certain task. We must be willing to empty ourselves of all pride and arrogance, and peace will prevail.
--Lamar

Friday, January 16, 2009

FALSE CLICHES

We often like to use clichés in our conversations. A cliché is defined as “a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse.” Some are true, such as, “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Others are false, and perhaps harmful. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The cliché I would like for us to think about today is, “What you don’t know will not hurt you.”

How many times have we heard this statement, or said it ourselves? It just is not true. In 1982, seven people died after taking Tylenol which had been poisoned with cyanide. Did any of them know they were taking poison? Probably not. Did their lack of knowledge provide them any safety? Definitely not.

I have also heard this phrase used in religious discussions. It may be said in different ways, but the idea is that if you do not know God’s will about a subject, He will not hold you accountable. One way it is used in by referring to people in a particular area who do not know about Jesus or His gospel. The idea promoted is that since they are ignorant of the gospel, they are in a safe condition with God. Another idea is that if you do not know or understand a particular aspect of the gospel, you will not be held accountable. For example, if you do not know or do not understand that baptism is essential for salvation, you can be saved without being baptized. If you do not know there is one curch, you can be saved in any church.

I am afraid many people are being misled by such thinking. Paul says, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,” (Acts 17:30). The Athenians had built an altar to the unknown god and were worshipping such in ignorance. Paul says that the one they were worshipping without knowing he would declare unto them (Acts 17:23). Were the Athenians safe in their ignorance? If so, were they still safe after Paul preached to them? According to Paul’s statement, they were lost in either situation. There is also something else to consider. Suppose for a moment there is a group of people who have never heard the gospel. If they are safe in their ignorance, the worst thing we could do is teach the gospel to them. They now know the gospel; they no longer have the excuse of ignorance; they are now in a lost condition. If they were safe in their ignorance, the best thing we could have done was to leave them alone.

Ignorance is no excuse, and what you don’t know will hurt you.

--Lamar