Three Results of Healthy Churches

The churches in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were hearing challenging, accurate preaching and were actively getting the truth into their communities (Acts 9:26-30).  They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).  This led to three wonderful results, the very things we should want in our congregation today.

They were unified.  Luke records that these churches had "peace."  This word has a literal and figurative application.  While there no doubt seems to be an allusion to the absence of external pressures that were in place previously (cf. Acts 8-9).  Yet, they were preaching the word (Act 8:4) even during these hard times, and the members were drawn together by faithful service in these circumstances.  Consequently, they had peace internally even while they were debates and threats (Acts 9:29).

They were edified.  In this great, working, and spiritually healthy atmosphere, the church was uplifted.  They were building up each other and reaching out to one another.  Though it is unstated, they were no doubt making decisions and acting in such a way as to think of others before themselves.  They were acting in the best interest of one another.  What an atmosphere this produces!

They were multiplied.  Essentially, they were experiencing numerical growth because of the spiritual atmosphere.    Because the church was obeying, serving, and honoring Jesus as Lord, they grew.  So, it will ever be.  Genuine, sustainable growth does not come through the bells and whistles of fads and fashions taken from society or the religious world.  Live out the word in your life, and you will see growth.

The Holy Spirit gives us good and bad examples of churches and individuals throughout the Bible.  The purpose of this is to help us know how we ought to conduct ourselves in the household of God (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15).  Thank God for the example found in Acts 9:31.

Turning Pain into Pearls

Have you ever wondered how an oyster makes a pearl? The process is astonishing! It all starts when a foreign material, or a parasite, makes its way inside the shell and begins causing damage. The intruder can threaten the life of the oyster, so something must be done. To protect itself, the oyster seals off the threat by using the same material that lines the inside of its shell (called nacre). It cannot reject the intruder, so it literally covers it with many layers of precious material. In other words, the producing of a pearl is a defense mechanism. The result? The painful intruders are turned into the beautiful pearls we have today.

There is much we could learn from the oyster. Too often, evil intruders like discouragement, lies, insults, and anger find their way into our lives. So much good could be done if we could take these hurtful aspects and form them into pearls of love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and encouragement (Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 3:12-13). Many of these are known as the "fruits of the spirit," but maybe they could also be called the "pearls of the soul."

As sad as it is, hurtful words and actions are going to enter our lives, but how we react to them is completely up to us. We could counter with a sinful response, or we could turn the pain and insults into a beautiful pearl. This discussion couldn't be concluded any better than from God Himself through the apostle Peter:

"To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:8-9).

Without the Venom This Time

In Bill Whitehead's comic strip, "Free Range," a marriage counselor is mediating an obviously angry dispute between two poisonous snakes.  She exhorts them, "Okay...both of you take a deep breath and try to talk to each other without the venom this time."  That is hard for snakes to do, but it is important for husbands and wives to heed such advice.

Stress, exhaustion, undisciplined emotion, hurt, mistrust, and fear can all be toxic ingredients in communication between marriage partners.  Rivalry can rout relationship.  Heaping hurts can hinder hearth and home.  

The Bible stresses both that the husband love his wife (Eph. 5:25, 28; Col. 3:19) and that the wife love her husband (Tit. 2:4).  Discussing the husband's relationship to his wife, the Bible urges an attempt to understand her (1 Pet. 3:7), nourish and cherish her (Eph. 5:29), please her (1 Cor. 7:33), and be joined to her (Gen. 2:24).  Discussing her relationship to him, God's Word uses ideas like respect (Eph. 5:33), be subject (Eph. 5:22; Tit. 2:5), be submissive (1 Pet. 3:1), display chaste and respectful behavior (1 Pet. 3:2), and be kind (Tit. 2:5).  There is not much wiggle room in these passages for verbal venom.

Next time you feel your rattler rising, remember who you are and what God expects of you.  Then, take a moment to see your spouse for who they are and all they mean to you.  You are friends (and lovers), not foes.  You are heirs together of the grace of life (1 Pet. 3:7).  That is enough to de-fang our discussions!  Disagreements are inevitable.  Destructiveness is iniquity.

Are You Over-Thinking?

USA Today ran a front page story about a brain study related to Alzheimer's Disease.  The caption reads, "Overthinking can be good for us."  The subheading continues, "Dementia appears less likely to creep into thought-filled brains."  The brain is extremely complex, so much so that conditions like Alzheimer's remain largely a mystery as to cause and predisposition.  The focus of this study, more than 9,000 middle-aged men, were asked to rate the degree to which they "ruminate" over family and work difficulties.  Those who tended to "overthink" or "ruminate" were 40% less likely to suffer dementia than their more carefree counterparts.  

It seems that "overthink" or "ruminate" is a sophisticated way of saying "worrying."  While worrying might be thought to be good for the brain, it's not good for the soul.  It may be awfully tempting to worry about health, finance, relationships, family, occupation, enemies, friends, time, and the future, but it can also be sinful (cf. Matt. 6:24-33).  A repeated principle of scripture is to "trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding" (cf. Prov. 3:5-6).  When our hearts fully trust and believe that God is in control of our lives and will ultimately save our souls, where is there room left there for worry?  If you want a healthy brain, read more, do crossword puzzles, drink green tea, and, best of all, fill your mind with God's Word!  Don't worry.

Ripping Pages Out of the Bible

Bill Keane, creator of the "Family Circus" cartoon strip, told of a time whenhe was penciling one of his cartoons. His son Jeffy walked up, looked at his dad's drawing and said, "Daddy, how do you know what to draw?" He replied, "God tells me." Jeffy questioned, "Then why do you keep erasing parts of it?"

What a smart kid! Whether he meant it or not, Jeffy understood a concept many adults are still struggling to learn. His mind hadn't yet been clouded with thoughts, opinions, and other kinds of "baggage." He simply understood that if God had really told his Dad what to draw (which God hadn't), it would be wrong to change it and go against it.

Too often people tear out the Bible pages they don't like, sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Maybe it's because it describes something sinful they are already doing. Maybe it's because they don't want to accept the destination of unfaithful family members who have passed on. Maybe they just hate God and the Bible. No matter the reason, it doesn't change the fact that we will be responsible for knowing and obeying this information (John 12:48; James 1:22-25).

Since every word of Scripture is given by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and since the Bible gives us everything we need to know for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), it is vital that we keep all the pages of Scripture firmly where they belong. God never has and never will want people to add or take away from His words (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:36; Joshua 1:7-8; Proverbs 30:5-6; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Galatians 1:9-10; Revelation 22:18). We must always obey the commands in Scripture. Jeffy understood this concept. Do you?