When What Happens Makes Them Walk Away!

When what ever it is happens there is usually nothing you can do about it.  It happens!  There are many in life who begin blaming themselves for the actions of others.  Especially parents whose children walk away from the upbringing and discipline that they were raised with.

When God spoke through the Proverbs in 22:6 He shared with us a great principal. Raise a child correctly and they will remember it all their lives.

It doesn't mean that they will follow what they have been taught or raised to believe but that they will never forget the teaching and direction their parents were pointing them in.  Every time that they do something contrary to what they were taught it will hit them in their heart, conscience as it were.  They will feel the tug to hold on to what they have always been taught, but the temptation that they face may be a stronger lure to them than desire to follow the paths they were brought to follow.

If you are suffering on a daily basis to rationalize why your child doesn't follow the path you wanted them to follow, remember this.  God is watching us slip and fall as we walk through our lives and He still loves us and I believe He still has faith in us to change and come back to what He wants for us in our lives.

That does not mean we should not continue to encourage them to get back on the path.  We should stand true with God.  But, when children begin making their own decisions there is nothing we can do but pray!  What a great design.  We can talk to God about it!  Do that!  He is waiting to hear us say, "We can't do this by ourselves."

I'll see you later!

God Give Us More Men Like Him!

Wilson Jay Tyree, a professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, was talking about one of his Bible students. "One of my former students has recently studied his way into a crisis of the spirit.  Never satisfied with hand-me-down faith this young man searches the scriptures and acts upon the truths he discovers."  His reaction was one that I agree with, "God give us more men like him."

I was thinking about this statement and wondered why have we become a people who do not search the scriptures any more?

When I became a Christian in the early '70s I was constantly impressed with the Bible knowledge that most of the members had.  Not all of them were as well versed as some, but it was something that everyone seemed to be striving for.

Then came the ideas of "a little knowledge is dangerous."  Therefore, I tried to study in depth.  I moved to Fort Worth in '77 and became aware that this was not the focus from what I saw in my new spiritual family away from my original Christian Family where I grew up.

Studying was not the focus but the debate over what was of faith and what was of command.  I learned to look at both sides of a discussion, not easily mind you, without passing judgment on someone else's thoughts on that scripture that I had "nailed down" so many years ago.

I hope and pray that we will become, once again, people of the word.  We need to know the word of God and that only comes through personal study.  Yes, you can look into what other's think about things, but don't accept what you read or hear without contemplating how it affects you.  Study the word of God and stop being satisfied with hand-me-down faith and search the scriptures and act upon the truths that you discover in your personal study.

God give us more men like that!

I'll see you later!

How We View The Bible (Taken from an article by Dan Scott of Nashville)

Dan Scott wrote this article and it confirmed my thoughts about Bible Study.  I hope you will read this and think about the implications concerning our society in our spiritual areas of life.  God bless us as we strive to move forward and closer to our Father and His word.

"The most important change within the Christian church in our times – and perhaps since the apostolic age -- has been how we view scripture.

Over a hundred years ago, certain methods of interpreting scripture began shaking Protestant’s confidence in the Bible. As a result, the Bible has slowly become only one important influence among many for forming a believer’s views and governing his or her behavior. It makes a great difference, you see, whether one views the Bible as the Word of God or is simply a human work about God.

Most of our great Protestant denominations – especially in Europe and The United States -- now define the Bible as a record of how the ancient Hebrews thought about God, ethics and justice. In this view, one may certainly use these ancient Hebrew stories to shine light on our contemporary issues. However, viewing the Bible as a revelation of God’s law, applicable to all times and all cultures, seems hopelessly antiquated. It even seems like a dangerous misuse of Holy Scripture.

Christians who think of themselves as “conservative” or “orthodox” naturally reject the liberal Protestant view of scripture. Nonetheless, Bible studies are not at the top priority for most self-professed conservative believers either. In fact, many conservative churches have replaced their historical Bible-centeredness with mere cultural conservatism. That approach has removed any sense of moral authority from Evangelical preaching. To the culture around us, our opinions now seem to rest merely upon our conservative tastes and cultural habits; not upon the foundation of eternal Truth. Unbelievers are asking us, “What makes your personal tastes and cultural values more important than ours?”

This question is getting harder for us to answer.

Our loss of the Bible – by liberals because of their deliberate intellectual shift away from orthodoxy, and by conservatives because of intellectual sloth and a worship of numerical and material success – have gradually gutted the American church of its ability to shepherd its flock.  This has resulted in making our views about homosexuality look like a pathological overreaction to people whose personal choices just happen to differ from ours. 

Our view of the Bible is therefore crucial.  Without it we do not have a solid basis for addressing homosexuality or any other contemporary issue."

-Dan Scott, “What About Homosexuality?”, Christ Church Nashville.

The Mistakes I Have Made!

My time on earth is in its autumn years!  There, I said it.  Hard to believe and even harder to admit.  I have another 20 years or so on this earth if I make the average. That being said, I have looked back over the last 55 years and realize I have a lot more mistakes in my life than I care to remember, but remember them I do.  It is easier to remember the mistakes than it is the things I am really proud of.  

That sounds a little harsh to some, and to others easy to imagine.  I am thankful for my life and the mistakes have tried to teach me things I wouldn't learn in ways that would have been less damaging, but I am not depressed or disparaged because of them.  They are what has made me who I am, faults and all.  Yes, I know, admit and am sorry for the past mistakes I have made.  To those who might have been hurt or affected by some of my past mistakes going back 50 years or so, I am sorry.  It isn't a day goes by that I am not reminded of some of the mistakes I have made (and I know God has forgiven me, but Satan continues to throw them up in my face).  

However, as I look through the eyes of death, I realize that time swiftly passes and God forgives, and I have allowed myself to be a child of our heavenly Father.  I have nothing to hang my head in shame about as His child, but men don't forget or forgive as easily.

So with that said let me share with you what got me on this thought.  I believe that I am a very forgiving person.  I have never held anything against anyone for any amount of time.  I am a forgiving person.  I know the need for forgiveness because of my past and when Satan reminds me of my past mistakes I am reminded of something someone said to me years ago.  When Satan reminds me of my past, I try to have the faith to remind him of my future.  That future is with my God.  I am His child and I am no better than any other child of my Father's.  I may have more mistakes and need more times of forgiveness in my eyes, but I am of the firm belief through faith that God will and has forgiven me for everything in my past.  I have a God who allows me to start over every time I need to.  

In saying this, I am not striving to make more mistakes to receive more grace and forgiveness, but as I feel the shame through remembering past mistakes I get to celebrate the fact that my God is bigger than my past and doesn't even remember my past as far as holding it against me.  

I am truly blessed beyond measure.  I am living a life better than I deserve.  I love my family and my spiritual family on this earth.  

May God bless you with that same understanding.  It is available to all men.  If you want to talk about this, just message me or give me a call.  I'm here as a result of someone caring enough to share their story of forgiveness with me and my family.  I am 20 or so years away from going home.  Maybe sooner!  I can't wait till that day comes, not because I am in a hurry, but I know that heaven is going to be so much better than here.

I'll see you there!

Church Family?

I am not sure about why it is that so many of our attenders come to worship but do not get involved in their church family.  Too many of us want religion with no strings attached.

My thought is, good luck.  God wants you to be a part of the family.  How you doing with that one?

I'll see you later.

Spiritual Days

This lesson I brought on November 16, 2014 was one that I hope will take Christians who have yet to decide how to handle "spiritual holidays" as the family of God.  Too many times we believe that our way is the only way and we don't examine the scriptures to find what we should do.

We need to remember that every day is to be lived in glory of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk2ZnM6Z4do&list=UU8W0X7wb22MucMwkMMNfWHg

God bless you as you watch and please comment if you feel you need to or contact me at bfarmer@wfcoc.org.

I'll see you later.

Non-Denominational Christianity

Non-Denominational! Yes, that is the key word to many of our religious friends and neighbors and many of whom are truly searching for God's direction for their lives.

To get into this discussion we have to first define the term "Non-denominational".

First, the prefix non comes from the word none.  None has the meaning according to Encarta Dictionary English (North America) -- not any part of something, or not a single one of something.

Second, the word denomination from same reference -- "a religious grouping within a faith that has its own system of organization."

Nondenominational according to Dictionary.com 

adjective

1. of or pertaining to a denomination or denominations.

2. founded, sponsored, or controlled by a particular religious denomination or sect:

denominational schools.

3.limited, conditioned, originating in, or influenced by the beliefs, attitudes,or interests of a religious sect, political party, etc.: denominational prejudice.

So, as I see it, non-denominational would have the meaning of a religious body not limited to or conditioned or influenced by the beliefs, attitudes or interests of a religious sect.  

This would mean that the religious group who is claiming to be a "non-denominational body of believers, or church" would be totally autonomous.  

Autonomous, according to Dictionary.com adjective

1. Government.

a.self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only.

b. pertaining to an autonomy.

2. having autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent:

So, to be a totally Non-denominational church or religious body would mean..."a self-governing, independent body of believers meeting in one place subject to its own membership controlled only from internal leaders completely independent of a board, leadership, or hierarchy outside the group.  

Using the words "nondenominational church" puts a lot of pressure on the local group striving to be truly autonomous striving to be free from following any list of rules or regulations outside of their local group.  Many of those who are claiming this thought process of not being linked to any other group may have trouble being true to themselves if they are overseen by a group who are not a part of that particular local congregation, body of believers, or group of Christians.

With that all said, let me address where I am coming from as far as why I worship with those who have, over the years, claimed the name "Church of Christ."  It is true that most of those who claim that name as a distinction do so for the purpose of core belief recognition.  They, for the most part, have the same core beliefs.  The only connection between these groups is that recognition.

I have preached and or worshiped with sixteen different churches over the last forty years. I attended a Christian College and preaching school that was led by those who were involved with that local school. During that time there has never been a directive from a church board or hierarchy from outside those local churches that has had any responsibility to regulate or dictate doctrinal matters or even matters of opinion that was given as a "church law, or doctrine" that had to be followed to keep a charter or "matter of faith" that affected the standing of that particular local church or congregation.

True non-denominational Christianity is to be led exclusively by God's word and the members of that local church or congregation of people claiming the same core beliefs. In true non-denominational faith, not everyone will agree on matters of opinion nor be held accountable for matters of opinion that come from others outside that local church or congregation of God's people.  True non-denominational Christianity would, and in my opinion from the definitions we use to describe "Non-denominational" churches, govern and regulate their thoughts on EVERY MATTER!

In most, not all, churches of Christ, elders (shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) lead the church and the minister who preaches is a paid (or financially supported) individual who takes the direction from those elders (shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) as far as matters of faith and or opinion. Those men, (elders, shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) are responsible to God and the local church members and to them only.  

Non-denominational Christianity can only be truly claimed by those who are truly autonomous and separate local congregations, churches or bodies of faith with the ultimate goal of bringing themselves and others closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ our savior.

These churches or bodies of faith are responsible to God and His word.  That is why every time we see leadership in the New Testament that there is a plurality of leaders (elders, shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc. and in that group there are certain qualities that these men should have that are recorded in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1).  These men, and from what I have studied not women, are to meet these qualities in that local congregation, church, or body of faith.  They are the decision makers for that local body of believers. This is according to the Biblical example therefore without need to be decided by man. 

When we allow "Men" or those outside of the local church, congregation, or body of believers make decisions we are no longer autonomous.  

Non-denominational Christian churches are true to God's word if they are totally autonomous from other leadership outside of the local church, congregation or body of believers.  

That is one of the reasons I believe I worship with the people I worship with. The leaders here take their responsibility seriously when it comes to leading the people of God who meet at West Freeway church.  They meet and pray together asking God's help in leading this local church in faith.  

Learning to be answerable to God and not man is a difficult aspect of being "Non-denominational". I am thankful to be the preaching minister here because I know that these men are not only responsible for all the members of this church family, this congregation of believers sharing a common faith, but that they are also my leaders.  I am not only responsible to God for what I teach and preach but I am also responsible to these men in following their leadership.  They will answer to God for the decisions that they make and it is with that I am able to pillow my head at night knowing that I have men who are not only praying for my church family but also praying for me.  They know me and my needs and bring those before God in their prayers.

I hope that you will find a church with Biblical Leadership.  I pray that you truly find a non-denominational church, congregation or body of faith, that will comfort you as you strive to follow the path of God to belong to a group truly striving to be what God wants them to be with biblical leaders that are truly "Non-Denominational."

May God bless you in your search for truth and a true "Non-denominational" church, congregation, or body of believers.