Saturday, June 30, 2007

"Every man did what was right in his own eyes"

Driving in Puerto Rico is a real experience. The traffic is heavy and there aren't enough roads for all of us which leads some people to do some crazy things. Most traffic lights, for example, have left turn lanes with an arrow. But if the line is too long in that lane, someone will pull into the adjoining lane and turn left from that one--in front of those in the real turn lane if they can. They will even occasionally U-turn from this lane in front of you. If you are foolish enough to stop at a red light when there is no traffic you will either get honked at or more likely, they will just go around you and run the light.

On Fridays and Saturdays the traffic will frequently back up so that people will block the entrance/exit of our subdivision. Of course when we get our short light we cannot move, but don't worry that just means we move as soon as we can, thus cutting into the light of the people across from us, so they run their red light, thus cutting short those turning left into the neighborhood, which blocks those going on the highway--I think you get the picture. I'm learning how to position myself in a left turn lane, etc. so that I effectively block as many as possible so they HAVE to let me go. Otherwise, I could sit there a good while.

What is really amusing (and dangerous) is to see semi trucks switching lanes, riding peoples bumpers, etc. as if they were a small car. I think it must be so ingrained in people they don't even realize that they are doing it. Our backyard is bordered by a creek, which is bordered by a 6 lane road. Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear a wreck from our yard and we see at least one a week.

You probably are wondering what all my ranting has to do with the title--a quote from the book of Judges. Everything!! Judges recounts what happened in Israel when there was no king--no leadership, "every man did what was right in his own eyes". Some examples of the results are recorded in the last 3-4 chapters, one of which almost lead to the extermination of the tribe of Benjamin.

In Puerto Rican traffic there is no law (it exists, but a law that is not enforced ceases to be a law) so every man does what he wants to do. The result is total chaos. It is no different in society at large--when a society rejects authority eventually it will deteriorate into chaos. Western society is a good example of this today. When no one tries to enforce right and wrong chaos will always result.

It is no different in the church either. When brethren reject authority not only chaos but division will follow. 1 Cor. 11 says as much: "there must be division among you that those who are approved may be made manifest." Some will stand for the truth when others leave it, so there will be division and every evil work.

What is your attitude toward authority? If God and His Word are not paramount in your live, you are at least sowing the seeds of chaos for your children, if not yourself.

Tol

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

One of the devil's most potent weapons

In Middle Tenn. and N. Alabama the church is strong and over 30 % of people are Christians. In this kind of area the devil is still at work, telling us that: 1) Nobody cares about the Gospel anymore, or 2) He causes to become self-righteous. In contrast in an area where the churches and Christians are few and scattered out, the devil works on us from a different direction--discouragement.

Being one of only two English speaking churches (and the other is liberal) we have several member who travel an hour each way to meet on Sunday. All of us come at least 20 minutes, even though traffic on Sunday morning is nothing. Then when we get there if we're all there, there are 14. Add to this, that several of them are single, so have no wife/husband to encourage them and you see why they get weak.

Even Elijah the prophet got weak when he felt he was all alone--he asked God to take his life because "I'm the only one left". Imagine the great man that faced up to Ahab (and Jezebel) but later is ready to throw in the towel. Is it any wonder that we get discouraged at times?

Such situations can be discouraging but we cannot let them overcome us. We must remember what God told Elijah, "I have 7,000 who have not bowed their knee to Baal, nor kissed him." Even if we don't see them, or know about them, we have brothers and sisters throughout the world. Dan. 2 prophesied that the kingdom of God would endure forever and it's sovereignty would not be passed to another. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom. 10:17 tells us that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." When we see that we are getting weak or discouraged we must turn back to the Word. Seeing other Christians is good, but it is only temporary. Faith built on His Word will continue no matter what.

To those of us who live among many Christians it would be very good for you to visit a place where that is not so. You can: 1) Encourage the brethren there, 2) learn to appreciate what you have more, 3) realize the power of God's Word and prayer.

Tol

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Driving in Puerto Rico--multitasking at its "best"

Driving in Puerto Rico requires your undivided attention. The roads themselves present all kinds of challenges--unmarked exits, exits with no warning, turn only lanes with no warning, lanes ending with no warning--you get the picture. When you mix in the drivers it really makes it interesting. So interesting that only yesterday Dana and I were wishing we had a camera in the car with us to record some of the things they do here.

There is the usual number of people talking on their cell phone, who are joined by those deeply engaged in conversation with one (or all) of the passengers, not to mention those acting as tour guides and pointing out all of the sights. While doing this they will drop 10-15 miles below the speed limit and are as likely to be in the far left lane as they are to be in the far right. We have seen women putting make up and countless numbers eating but we had another first today--a car in front of us was driving 10 or more miles under the speed limit as well as having trouble holding her lane. When we passed her it looked like she was breastfeeding--I couldn't see under the towel mind you, but it was the typical arrangement. I don't have a problem with breastfeeding, even in public if she's covered, but while driving?

None of the things these drivers are doing while driving is "bad", but they do distract them from the main thing--driving. The spiritual application of my ranting centers on just this point--Christians cannot allow themselves to be distracted from the main thing. As disciples of Christ our goal is to become like Him--in word, in thought, in deed. Everything we do, think, or say should be what He would do.

But often we allow ourselves to be distracted by other "good" things--children's activities, work, hobbies, sports, etc. While there is nothing wrong with any of these things, like driving distractions, they slow us down in our progress toward becoming more Christ-like or sometimes even derail us completely. Jesus rebuke of Martha was not so much, "Martha you sinful woman" but rather "Martha you are troubled about many things, but Mary has chosen the good part." Let us strive to choose the "good" part that cannot be taken away from us.

Tol

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Opinions in Bible class

I commend to your attention this excellent article by Rick Liggin--I couldn't agree more!

Are our Bible classes supposed to be times for open discussion when anyone and everyone may state his own "opinion" on what some Bible text or verse of Scripture means? Asked a little differently: are Bible class teachers simply discussion facilitators or are they supposed to actually teach the class something?

Obviously, teachers are supposed to teach! They are to "give instruction", since this is what a "teacher" does. And though that may involve engaging his students in some kind of discussion, in the end the teacher is supposed to be leading the class in a definite direction so that real learning takes place. Anyone can stand at the head of a classroom and ask his students for comments--but a teacher must do more than that. He must teach!! He must instruct! He must make sure that real learning--learning that is true to the Word--takes place in the minds and hearts of his students.

But not only must he teach; he must do so with authority. Paul told Timothy: "These things command and teach" (1 Tim. 4:11). He told Titus: "These things speak, exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you" (Tit. 2:15). A faithful Bible teacher does not hand down his own "opinion" of what the Bible says--an "opinion" that others may take or leave, accept or reject. He teaches the Word of God--an authoritative message that must be accepted and obeyed.

Now, I say these things because I fear that some of us have gotten the wrong idea about our Bible class periods. Some of us seem to think that Bible class is a time for us to all get together and share our "opinions" or "what this passage says to me" with one another about some Bible topic or Bible text. But folks, that's not Bible STUDY! It might be one thing if we were sharing with one another the fruit of our own diligent, honest and careful private Bible study. In fact, if that were the case, I'm sure that some real and significant Bible learning would take place in such a class period. But that most often is not the case!

More often than not, these "opinions" we express are not based on any real, personal Bible study; in fact, they're often not even based on having previously read the text before coming to class. More often than not, they are the result of whatever might pop into our heads as we read the text for the first time while already in class. I'll be honest and tell you that, as a Bible class teacher who works hard at preparing to teach Bible classes, I find that insulting. How dare you come to class and challenge a teacher's conclusions by expressing your "opinion" when you haven't even taken the time to read the text (much less study it) before coming to class! We're not saying that error should not be corrected--if a Bible class teacher teaches something wrong, he should be challenged and corrected kindly. But how can we do that if we have not studied the text before coming to class?

Bible class is not about sharing "opinions" (especially unstudied opinions) with one another. It's about helping one another learn correctly what God's Word says, so that we can use it to change our lives. And it is the teacher's place to do that--and do it with authority, so that all feel the need to do what God says. Vision for the future demands that we make our Bible classes periods of real learning, and that requires teachers who are prepared to teach and students who come to class prepared to learn.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

The work in Puerto Rico

After two Sundays here I thought I would give an update on the work. We have had 11 people at the English speaking congregation both Sundays, counting Dana and I. That is everybody with the exception of one brother who works 2 jobs, one of which is sometimes on Sunday. The Spanish speaking church did not meet the first Sunday, but last Sunday there were 6 of us, which is everybody.

With us here I'm confident the Spanish speaking group will be much more consistent--the brother who has done most of the preaching has to work a couple of Sundays a month, but I should always be there, so we will meet.

We also have 4 contacts to follow up with already--Christians who have fallen away. 3 of them were members at Dorado but live in our area so Caparra Terrace would not only be closer in distance but it time as well. Besides, it's in San Juan (the big city) not some little town on the outskirts--I know it shouldn't matter, but there is a psychological factor there. The other is from the Dom. Republic and just fell away because of the pressures of the everyday world. We also have the wives of two of the members who are good prospects--Arnaldo has already suggested that we need to come eat with them, so we can meet his wife, etc.

Please pray for us as we work here.

Tol