Are We Willing to Yield?

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

We all acknowledge that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I used to not really understand nor appreciate this maxim, but I do now more than ever. And I will add that change for the sake of change is hardly ever a benefit. And so we wrestle hard and fast against change of nearly any kind. Truthfully, when stores change their layout, I am unhappy and may not return.

I will admit that as a man (a male) I really have a problem with change, but I wasn’t always this way. Maybe it’s a sign of aging as we rage against the inevitable. Or maybe it’s because I am stubborn, selfish, and scared.

The spirit of Christ is not about change — the gospel message is the same today as it has been when the apostle Peter preached on Pentecost day: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’ ” (Acts 2:38–39).

One reason why I make this point is because our current culture — much like all cultures before us — want to have it their way, not God’s way. And so, as morality seems to change there is a shift in people’s thinking that God’s will has also changed. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines” (Hebrews 13:8–9).

As a result of being conformed to the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29) we are no longer to walk like those of the world (Ephesians 4:17). “That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22–24). As followers of Jesus Christ, we’re to think and therefore behave differently. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18–19).

But sometimes change is necessary when it comes to expedients, when it comes to things that do not really matter, or a matters of opinion. We want to serve others; and so, as Christians, we are to be about others. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1–2).

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3–5).

What can we do to help others? If we can, then we should.

Choose To Be The Difference

Weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

When I first read about what happened in Orlando very early Sunday morning, I was angered and saddened.

Part of the reason why I was feeling angry was because I felt I knew what was coming in the media hailstorm—and not just in the mainline media, but especially from social media. I knew nothing about the victims except that they were victims.

Later Sunday morning I read that the death-toll had gone up to 50 with 50+ injured. And then it was reported that it had happened at a gay bar. And what startled me so much was that some's reactions changed because they had heard these victims of such horrific and unexpected violence were gay.

Weep with those who weep.

More than offering sympathy, can we not find empathy in our hearts toward those who were murdered?

I am reminded of the Lord healing a man with a withered hand; and He did so on a Sabbath day! Incredulous!

Jesus went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him (Matthew 12:9-14).

The Pharisees had no compassion. Are we any better than they?

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20)

When In Doubt, Don’t Quit

“When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; 

but some were doubtful.”

—Matthew 28:17—

We would like to believe that if it had been us who had witnessed the Lord’s horrific crucifixion, burial, and resurrection that we would have never doubted. This is the result of the hubris of thinking more of ourselves than we should. We would have been just like the apostles who witnessed it all, but still there were some who were doubtful. And this was moments before Jesus’ ascension.

Is doubt sinful? Is doubt the result of an unbelieving heart? What should we do when we doubt?

First of all, the word of God admonishes us to be merciful to those who are doubting: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 20–22).

Jesus showed compassion toward those who doubted: with the apostles when He walked on water (Matthew 14:31); and in teaching them about expectations and faith when He cursed the fig tree which falsely showed it had figs (Matthew 21:21 / Mark 11:23).

Sometimes we fail to appreciate or hold in compassion those who  may be doubting. If we were honest with ourselves we would quickly acknowledge that we, too, have had moments of doubt. Doubt can actually help us assimilate for ourselves the truth as we ask questions with the view to understanding.

Doubt which merely asks questions, but doesn’t seek answers—or summarily rejects the answers offered—is destructive. We know those who have doubted even God’s existence who have left their first love, but not because of doubt alone, but because they did not ask, seek, and knock with the desire for it to be given, found, or opened (Matthew 7:7–11). These are the ones who feel that asking alone is enough; but they don’t want to stay for the answers. They’re the ones who ask difficult questions, but then want simple answers.

Sometimes doubt appears because we don’t understand something. Can we imagine experiencing what the apostles had as they witnessed the brutality of Jesus’ crucifixion and His burial? As all people before, Jesus died and was buried. The expectation of Jesus’ resurrection of the dead should have been there—not because it had happened before in this way—but because Jesus had told them it would happen (e.g., Mark 8:31 / 9:9–10, 30–32 / 10:33–34).

So, what should we do when we doubt?

• Don’t quit. We’re not told that all the apostles doubted; we’re told that some did. But none of them quit following the Lord. I would suggest that doubt wasn’t immediately removed, but took time and an effort from themselves to grow in their belief. Make the time to read 2 Corinthians 4:16—5:9 and Isaiah 40:28–31.
• Pray for faith. A father was in dire need of his son to be healed from being demon-possessed. The father explained to Jesus that the spirit “has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22–24). The apostles also asked for an increase in faith (Luke 17:5). If we lack anything, then we should ask for it (James 1:4–8).
• Have faith. When the disciples watched the fig tree wither, they were marveling. Matthew writes that Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:21–22). 
• Spend more time in God’s word. “So faith comes of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). “Your word is a lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105 / and read Psalm 19:7–11).

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9).

The Past Is Passed

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13–14).

Too often people have assumed that Paul is referring to one’s past failures. But in the larger context of the chapter, Paul is actually addressing the past’s successes.

For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless (Philippians 3:3–6).

Paul’s point in mentioning these things — even his zeal for God as revealed by his persecution of the church — is that “whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (verses 7–8).

The word “rubbish,” by the way, means more than just trash. The Greek word is only found here in the New Testament, but it is used in other ancient sources as dung — “The vulgar term stresses the force of the renunciation he has made for Christ’s sake” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged, p. 1052).

OUR TROPHIES ARE TRASH

And so the real point — and maybe even the difficult point to accept — is that our trophies, our successes, when compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ, are not merely to be thrown away, but are as revolting to us as dung.

KNOWING THE LORD

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord” ( Jeremiah 9:23–24).

Do we delight in knowing God? Is He nothing more than an afterthought, or acquaintance? The relationship God is seeking with us is likened to a father/son relationship (Romans 8:12–17; Hebrews 2:10–13). But beyond this relationship, God likens His relationship with the church as a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25–33; Revelation 21:2, 9).

Again, the past — with its inherent successes and failures — is passed. “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10). Satan sometimes traps us in the past. We dwell on things that, in the grand scheme, do not matter to our soul’s salvation.

Letting go of past failings is difficult enough, but it is especially challenging to release our minds from dwelling on our past successes. But if we value Christ and an eternal home in Heaven, then we will cling to Him as Paul did — “not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:9–11).

Handling Disappointment

But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:18 NLT).

For us to experience disappointment we must first have an expectation. Sometimes our expectations are unclear, maybe even to ourselves. This realization may not help us feel a lot better, but we should at least consider the possibility of our unclear expectations being the reason why we are disappointed. Furthermore, it may also be that we are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations — more often about what we expect of or from others than ourselves.

The apostle Paul reminds us to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Paul probably understood disappointment and even discouragement — especially when it came from brethren — more than almost anyone, except maybe the Lord himself.

Paul also mentions “danger from false brothers” (2 Cor. 11:26). It’s one thing to have to undergo hardship because of those who do not love the Lord, but it’s quite another level of disappointment — and possibly despair — when hardship comes from false brothers.

It’s hard to imagine that there were brothers who wanted to make Paul’s imprisonment worse, but there were. Paul briefly addresses his situation, and brings up a rather idealistic turn:

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:14–18).

Writing to his preaching protege, Timothy, the apostle Paul reminded him of the reasons why he suffered, and that Timothy’s expectation should very well be the same:

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra — which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:10–13)

Timothy’s imprisonment can be inferred from the writer of Hebrews as he delivered the good news of Timothy’s release — “You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon” (Heb. 13:23). We know nothing about the details surrounding his being detained: whether it was to visit Paul (cf. 2 Tim. 4:11, 21) or for something else.

Getting back on point … We are going to suffer disappointment. Whether it comes from a coworker, neighbor, or friend; and, yes, it will feel worse when it comes from a brother or sister in Christ because we obviously expect better things from them.

So what can we do?

• We can begin by looking for spiritual stability and friendship with the Lord: He is the anchor of our souls (Heb. 6:13–20) and remains the same (Heb. 13:8–9).
• Prayer works (Luke 18:1 / Rom. 12:12 / 1 Thess. 5:17).
• We also need to remember that we, too, disappoint others — and we should give them the benefit of the doubt when we are disappointed by them because of God’s love for us all (Ecc. 7:21–22 / 1 Cor. 13:7 / 1 John 2:1–2, 4:19 / Rom. 3:23).
• We need to remember that God will judge, it’s not our place to exact revenge (Rom. 12:14, 17–21 / Heb. 10:30–31).
• Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:13–14).

Just Because It’s Green Doesn’t Mean It’s Grass

Driving through my neighborhood recently, I noticed a number of lawns being watered despite a recent rain. What really caught my attention was one lawn that was, from a distance, green and being watered, but when I drove closer I saw that the green wasn’t grass, but weeds — and then the thought came to mind: Just because it’s green, doesn’t mean it’s grass.

No one likes a hypocrite, because we know they’re deceptive pretenders. And, yes, we’ve all played the part. Back in the first-century day the term hypocrite was applied to actors because of the interchangeable faces they would literally use to convey the different characters they pretended to be in their tragedies and plays. We sometimes say of a hypocrite that they’re “two-faced,” and this is where that notion comes.

We know that Jesus was no deceiver (1 Pet. 2:22). Jesus never play-acted, He never pretended to be or feel something different than what he was conveying to others. His love was genuine (Rom. 12:9). Now this doesn’t mean He got along with hypocrites, but that He was merciful to them :
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (Matt. 22:15–22)

In the following chapter of Matthew (ch. 23), we read a lengthy diatribe from the Lord against the scribes and Pharisees — in the scathing rebuke, Jesus calls them hypocrites 6 times (vv. 13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29).

In what we call the sermon on the mount, Jesus taught, “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19–20).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. (Matthew 23:25–32)

It’s safe to conclude that the Lord did not enjoy dealing with hypocrites and their hypocrisy — “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:1–3).

One of the dangers of hypocrisy is that anyone can be guilty of it, including an apostle! Paul accused Peter of such (Gal. 2:11–14). Later, Peter writes, “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Pet. 2:1-3).

Do we want to be in heaven? Then don’t be a hypocrite — “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). God knows our hearts, and is not impressed by appearances (1 Sam. 16:7 / 1 John 3:19–24 / John 7:24).

And, yes, congregations are indeed filled with hypocrites, from the pulpit through to the pew: the fact is we’re all going to spend time with hypocrites — whether for the short term in life under the sun, or for eternity in hell.

The Blatant Hypocrisy Of Knowing The Right Thing To Do, But Refusing To Do It

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name (Acts 22:16).

Shocking. Stunning. Stupefying. These words come to mind when thinking about people who know the right thing to do, who refuse to do it themselves, but then tell other people that they need to do it! I’m not sure this phenomenon can be explained satisfactorily. And I’m not sure how what they are saying is coming across to those who see the blatant hypocrisy.

The rather benign example is that of a fat doctor telling his patients how important it is to lose weight. The doctor might even defend himself by saying you can be fat and super-healthy … just like him, but since you’re not him, you’re in desperate need to lose weight. Another fine example is that of a lazy coworker who tells you how important it is to show up to work early and leave late; but he never does it himself!? Okay, then—crazy much?

What is much worse—because of the eternal consequences of hellfire and brimstone—is that there are people who know what they need to do to have eternal life (e.g., hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and live faithfully) but who simply refuse to do it while simultaneously telling people that if they don’t they’re going to hell.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (James 1:21–25).

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19–20).

PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH

Jesus said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice” (Matthew 23:2–3). This blatant hypocrisy of not practicing what we preach is not modern: it is the plague of mankind.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. … But if you … boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:13, 17–24).

Virtue is imperative to our lives as Christians—in other words, living the life we say we believe we should is far more effective than listening to (or having to endure listening to) hundreds of sermons. So then, if we don’t live it, then we really don’t believe it!

Again Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36–37).

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. … For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47–48).