Wednesday, May 2, 2007

DOERS OF THE WORD

GODLY FRUIT

Joshua was told to conquer all of the nations in the promise land. It did not happen and because of that, those surviving people corrupted God’s people over time. Israel took up idolatry and many pagan practices due to the heathen influence. So too, after the apostles and elders who taught and wrote the NT text where gone and the gospel was to advance farther into the world, those uninspired teachers did not keep the Holy Writings pure. They did not cast out pagan myth and philosophy as they should have but they mixed it with Christian tradition, which has caused the church to suffer from that time until now.

Since the time Israel entered the promise land, they experienced both blessings and corruption. Their actions depended upon who their leadership was at the time. If they had good leaders then they prospered but if their leaders were corrupt then the nation fell into corruption. I see this also in church history over the centuries when Godly men influenced the church it prospered but when influenced by corrupted leaders the church has suffered.

I fear almost all Christian doctrines are a mixture of truth and human belief. I think we need to strive to rid the Christian doctrines of error while we seek to understand the Word of God more deeply.

Titus 1:7-9 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

James 1:27 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep yourself unstained by the world.

Ephesians 4:14-16 14 The purpose of this is to no longer be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who with craftiness carry out their deceitful schemes. 15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. 16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

James 3:17-18 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

From what I have seen in books, publications and internet forums there is a huge lack of Godly fruit coming from what is proclaimed and promoted. People are too busy to prove themselves right instead of proving the Scriptures correct by their deeds. There is too much talk and not enough action. In Christian circles, what one accuses the other of; they too are guilty of the same. It is almost an atmosphere of animals biting and devouring each other.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 3 If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has a sick interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, 5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.

Those actions are so obvious in the internet forums over the last few years. Few do what they say. There are too many hearers and proclaimers of the Word and not enough doers. Let us speak the truth in love and practice it toward one another.

Philippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

By Fred Robbins May‘07