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Jump Start # 2460

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2460

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

 

Books, are a lot like the topic of history. It seems either people love them or they don’t. I’m definitely in the “love ‘em” category. I grew up in a family which made reading books a high priority. I’m surrounded with books, at home, and definitely in my office. Old books. New books. Great books. Some that were not so great. Rare books. Very popular books. I’ve got ‘em and I have a lot of them.

 

All of this came up recently because a friend asked about books. He wanted my recommendations on some reference books. We met in my office so I could show him. On the last pages of inspiration that Paul wrote, he asked Timothy to bring books. I’d love to see what books Paul had. I have been to some extremely rare libraries. I saw the signature of Martin Luther, the reformer in a copy of one of his German translations of the Bible. I saw Isaac Newton’s signature in a very old book about astronomy. I’ve seen parts of the Dead Sea scrolls. And, I think one reason I like books is because God does. He wrote a book, the Bible. Of all the avenues of communication and ways to preserve His message, God chose writing a book. A large percentage of the books I own have outlived the authors. That’s the unique thing about writing. It can go places we can’t and it can last longer than we can.

 

There is a lot you can tell about a person by the books he reads. And, in our current culture, books are dying. People are not reading much these days. Bookstores are closing. The percentage of college grads who never read a book the rest of their lives is staggering. We are in a Youtube, video, bullet point, TV age and the printed page is being ignored. Newspapers are dying because you can catch the news on TV or get the highlights on your phone.

 

For a guy who writes this blog every day of the week, there are a few things about writing and books I want to share.

 

First, some people prefer electronic versions of the Bible. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s still the word of God. I have the Bible on my phone and tablet but I prefer the printed version. I like to write in my Bible. I like to underline words and I have things taped on those blank pages in the back. But I must be careful not to look down at those who prefer electronic versions of the Bible. I must not think that I am better or that I am more spiritual than the electronic crowd. Not so. There is a convenience with electronic versions of the Bible. You don’t have to carry around a big book. You’re likely not to forget it. You have access to multiple translations in an instant. So don’t frown upon a person for not having the Bible when he does, it’s on his phone.

 

Second, reading is learning and learning is growing. Education doesn’t stop when we are finished with school. A person who is a life long reader will have great insights, understandings and knowledge because he has opened his mind to reading. It has been said that each of us will be just as we are in five years except for the books we read and the people we associate with. So, if I include quality books and quality people in my life, then I will continue to grow. Now, the choice of books is important. There is a place for fiction, but that’s not likely to move me to the next level in development. Character studies, biographies, histories, religious material can be of great value. Be sure to read with a careful eye. What is written by man, is just that, written by man. Much of what is found in religious books is wrong. Discernment will catch that and not be hurt by that. There can still be good thoughts and material in such books. Have balance in your reading. Don’t read just from one author or one slant. Don’t read just fiction. Don’t read just religious material. And, like the Bereans, search the Scriptures to see if what you read is true.

 

Third, reading, as music, as movies, as people, influences us and with an open heart can change us. This is the power of God’s word. When read with an honest heart, it will move you. It will challenge you. It will change you. Be careful of what books you recommend. Not everyone has a discerning eye. Not everyone can recognize error. Authors that honor God, respect inspiration, and seem to get the big picture of what the Bible is about can truly be an asset to your life. The right books can be wonderful tools to help you teach classes and prepare lessons. But books are like people, everyone has different tastes. Books that some like, I don’t. And, the books that have meant a lot to me, others have not liked. So, it will take time for you to find the type of books and authors that you like. My writings these Jump Starts have been a direct result of some authors that I drank deeply from years ago. Some of those authors had very little in common with what I believe, but they were amazing writers. They had a way of saying things in which a person would think. They had me looking at things in verses that I had read right over and thought nothing about. Now, I have learned to see things myself. For instance, with the story of the bent over woman, Luke tells us that “Jesus saw her.” Of course, He did. No big deal. But wait. He really saw her. How many others looked at her, but never saw her. Jesus calls her to come to Him and heals her. Just from that little expression, how many people do I not see on a Sunday morning. A mother who is tired from being up all night with a sick child. A man who is worried about losing his job. A couple who have to make a decision about an aging parent. A young lady who broke up with a boyfriend because he’s trying to lead her away from the Lord. An elderly person who wonders if their money is going to run out. A shepherd who has spent a week trying to get someone to make up his mind if he wants to follow Christ or not. Jesus saw her. WOW. And, it was amazing authors who I spent time with in their books who opened my eyes and now I see.

 

Fourth, Solomon, in our verse is warning about excessive books. There is no end to writing books. That was then. Just think about today. And, too much devotion to books can weary the body. I’ve noticed something in many scholarly books, everyone wants to quote some old dead guy. I guess that gives more punch to what they are trying to say. I’d rather quote someone who is alive, like GOD. Because someone wrote it and because it’s in a book doesn’t change the price of coffee. Just about anyone can write, especially these day. Self publishing is inexpensive and one can hang a shingle out that they are an author. Great. Now what? Stand in line, there are so many authors. No book equals the Bible. We can read books about the Bible, but it’s better to just read the Bible. Given the choice between these Jump Starts and the Bible, I’d point you to the Bible.

 

Want some good reading material? Ask one of the shepherds or your preacher. A great conversation piece to ask is, “What are you reading these days?”

 

Books—they have a place, but they are not life. Books– can help you or hurt you, be wise. Books—make great gifts, great friends, and great adventure. Surround yourself with great books.

 

Roger

 

 

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Jump Start # 2458

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2458

Romans 14:20 “Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.”

 

One of the difficult things to comes to terms with in our walk with God is understanding that God ‘s word allows different judgments or we might call them opinions in the fulfilling of what God says. This is hard for some to understand. “We do all things according to the Bible,” is a true statement, but built within that are some judgments that God allows.

 

For instance, we are to worship the Lord on Sunday. The early Christians did that. We follow that example. You are not going to get many Christians differing with you on that. However, what God did not say, is that every congregation should begin their services at 9:30 Sunday morning. That is not in the Bible. Some do. Some don’t. Some start services with a prayer. Some start with a song. Some start with opening announcements. Some have Bible classes first on Sunday morning. Some begin with worship and then they have Bible classes. So do not have Bible classes on Sunday morning. They have it Sunday evening. Some congregations take up a collection right after the Lord’s Supper. Some put a song in between. Some move the collection to different parts of the worship. Some call the leaders “elders.” Some call them “shepherds.” A few will call them “pastors.” Put all of this in a pot and stir it around a bit, and technically we are all following the Bible and doing God’s will, but for different reasons, we don’t follow the exact same order in worship. The reason being is that there is no exact same order given in the Bible.

 

And, there are other things. How one baptizes a person. The structure of Bible classes. How a person is disciplined. Who cleans the church building. Who cuts the lawn around the church building. How often is the preacher paid. How long Gospel meetings are conducted. How often the elders and deacons meet. Do elders and deacons meet at all? How often do the elders meet? The list seems to go on and on.

 

Now, most times all of this works fine. The problems arise is when someone visits our congregation or we visit another congregation and we see things differently than back home. We see things that we are not used to. And, immediately we say, “Oh, I don’t like that.” Or, worse, “I don’t think they are right.” And, that begins a skirmish that can lead to a all out battle over the way things are supposed to be done. And, the problem with all of this is that there is no one way that things are supposed to be done. God allows our judgment, or call it opinion, to execute His will.

 

Now, here are a few thoughts on this:

 

First, what is done must be Biblical. If there is no principle, or, command, then there is no judgment that can follow. The command to assemble implies somewhere. Where are we going to meet for worship? My house? Your house? Rent a place? Buy a place? Build a place? It could be yes to all of those things. But buying a theme park is out of the question. A theme park doesn’t execute any command or principle that the church is to follow. What we do must fit with the Bible.

 

Second, for the sake of unity, consideration of the people must be considered. If I had it my way, we’d start Sunday worship around 6 AM. It’s Sunday—let’s get at it. But I expect I’d be about the only one there if we did that. Young families, senior citizens, traffic, distance—all of that must be considered when thinking about starting time. It’s like family dinner time at home. You have to work with what you have. Some have a set time to eat. Others, it’s based upon the day. It changes all the time. It is possible to change locations and even starting times for worship week to week, but most would find that confusing and it would be hard to attract visitors. There is something about consistency. The unit, the congregation, must be taken into thought when planning meetings, classes and things in which the leaders expect the members to be there.

 

Third, to function as a congregation, I must be a team player. This is where the trouble often arises. I don’t like the way things are done. I want different times for worship. I want different ways of doing the Lord’s Supper. I want different ways of making announcements. I want things differently.

 

A person must come to terms with the fact that if something is not “wrong” Biblically, then it is a matter of judgment or opinion. When a person becomes part of a congregation, he comes in understanding that this is the way that congregation does things. If he doesn’t like what he sees, then he should not be a part of it. It’s one thing to share ideas with the leaders, but to try to change them because I don’t like the way they do things, is not being a team player. So, this means that there may be some things done in worship that I’d do differently, if I had my way. If what we are currently doing is just one of many ways to fulfill God’s command, then I need to be a team player and go along with that. The church is not one and the church certainly isn’t me. And, when I start raising a fuss because things are not the way I would like them to be, I become a problem. The way things are done is not the problem, I am, because I am demonstrating that I am not in unity.

 

Our verse, taken from the chapter about eating meats, reminds us that even something that is right, can be wrong if my spirit, attitude and lack of cooperation is not in the spirit of Jesus. Eating meats was not wrong. But eating meats could be wrong if the guy doing it became a problem.

 

Don’t use the worship hour to push agendas, introduce change, or to do new things, especially without the approval of the elders. What is accomplished is a bunch of upset people and ruined worship because the attention was taken off of the Lord and focus was upon the “New Way” of doing things. Don’t be slick. Don’t be sly. Don’t do things under the radar. And, don’t pout and throw a fit if the elders do not approve of your idea of a new way to do things. Some can be so focused and excited about being different, that they have forgotten about the people. The Lord first. The people second. Don’t forget that.

 

Each congregation has it’s own flavor, spirit and feel to it. It’s like each home I visit. Some homes are very formal. Take your shoes off at the door. There are so many towels in the bathroom, you don’t know which one to use. Other homes are really laidback. Newspapers, toys and stuff are on the couches. Put your feet up on the coffee table, make yourself at home, feel to it. Congregations are just like that. Some seem very formal. Some seem very informal. Some start exactly at the hour they are supposed to. Some will get around to it sooner or later. Some will have people calling out announcements from the audience. Some would never do that.

 

Right, wrong, it’s a matter of judgment. Don’t crush the people of God over a judgment call. Don’t split churches over opinions. Don’t be so selfish. Don’t accuse others of being unscriptural when they are not.

 

My neighbor and I sure mow our yards differently. He leaves lumps of cut grass and he flies as fast as he can. Mine is manicured. Straight lines. No lumps. Beautiful. Is he wrong for the way he mows his yard? No. he probably has more important things to do than sit on a mower. Different emphasis. Our yards are mowed. Does his yard bug me? Nope. Would I do it differently? Yep. I don’t let the way he does things impact me. And, that helps me when it comes to opinions and judgments in congregations.

 

Roger