Church Discipline

Berean Baptist on February 24, 2020

            In our study of the Laodicean church, I have used a word that sounds scary to some. It conjures up thoughts of church councils, trials, judgment, and torture. The word is discipline.We speak of discipling our children and most of the time we mean we have given them some sort of punishment to modify their behavior. This is not the way the Bible uses the term.

            Discipline is related to disciple which in its verb form means to teach. In the noun form, it is a person who is taught. The purpose of discipline is to instruct and to correct through instruction. It does not need to be considered a form of punishment.

            As it concerns the Laodicean church, the counsel the Lord gave them was not punishment but an appeal for them to change their ways and to receive Him back into the church. This is always the goal of discipline. It is to restore to fellowship and to bring us back into harmony with the Lord and our fellow church members. Thus, discipline is not considered punitive but formative.

            We become confused about discipline when it must be stepped up to the next level. Sometimes we must protect the church by removing members that are involved in serious sins. We always remember that each of us is sinful, but there are some sins that are categorized as too harmful to the testimony of the body to let them go unanswered. These offenders must have their membership rescinded until they repent of their sin. There is no greater temporal judgment we can pass than to remove someone from fellowship.

            We learn this biblical and effective method from Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 5. A man in the church was guilty of a sexual sin and had to be removed. Paul was concerned about the reproach on the name of Christ and how it would harm the church’s testimony. Later in 2 Corinthians, we learn the discipline worked. The man repented and was restored to fellowship. This is the expected result when a believer is confronted with his sin. If he does not repent as a response to this serious action, we are to assume he is an unbeliever. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw His people to Him. If this does not happen, what are we to assume but that they do not belong to Christ?

            Removing members for sexual sins should not be a point of contention between us. The scriptures are clear what needs to be done. However, some offenses may not seem as serious, but they too warrant excisive discipline. We remove members for non-attendance which is often seen as an inconsequential action. It is merely procedural and does not carry the same weight as removal for other reasons. Is this true? I do not believe so.

The reason for removal does not change the eternal weight of the Lord’s most important institution. Non-attendance shows contempt for the Lord’s work. This contempt is also a sign of unbelief. We cannot love Christ if we do not love His church. The church is not helped by members that do not attend. Often, they are involved in a deep sin that we are not aware.

Our duty is to protect our church. The Lord expects the purity of the body. Therefore, we will follow the instructions in the Bible. When we obey, we reflect the proper understanding of discipline. Christ wants only dedicated people in His church, and so do we.

                                                                        Pastor V. Mark Smith

WHO IS THE MORMON GOD?

Berean Baptist on February 16, 2020

This week I continue to be impressed with the salutation of Christ’s letter to the Laodicean church. I have discussed with you the likely issue of Laodicea’s faulty belief concerning the deity of Christ. The Colossian letter gave us a clue as Paul said the letter needed to be read at Laodicea. This may have been necessary because Laodicea experienced the same doctrinal problems as Colossae.

            I am prompted to think more on this issue and how the deity of Christ has been challenged throughout church history. In this article, I want to write a little about Mormonism and their teachings about God. Their official name is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” which suggests they are a branch of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth.

            The early controversies in church history about the nature of God scarcely encompassed the extreme heresies of Mormonism. Since I don’t have space to go in-depth concerning their many heretical beliefs, I need only mention one which is more than fair warning that Mormonism is pure paganism.

            The central question is this: Who is the God of Mormonism? As a Christian, you understand God is transcendent over His creation. God is of vastly contrasting character to humans. He is spirit and He is light. He is unapproachable light which speaks of the ineffability of His being. However, when you and I say God and when a Mormon says God, we are not in the same universe of meaning. Mormons believe God is as we are. They believe God is of the same species as us. He is a man that has reached a higher stage of development than we are. He is still a man but has attained a higher level.

            Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, said: “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heaven…I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see…that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did…”

            This fantastical idea of God is only deeply worsened as Joseph Smith dilates. Mormons teach that the current iteration of God is one of a succession of other men who have attained the position. Further, it is possible that some Mormon today could likewise hold the position in the future and become for a time the most exalted man. If you ask a Mormon, “Who is the number one God?” he will not answer because he doesn’t know nor dares to ask.

            Without delving further into this deep darkness of deceit, is this not enough to demonstrate that Mormonism has nothing to do with Christianity? Be careful when you speak to a Mormon because they use the same language as you—grace, faith, sin, redemption—and God. The meaning of the terms is nothing like yours.

            First and foremost, remember when they say God, they are worlds apart from who we understand God to be. Salvation is impossible for them if they persist in their fantasy of unbelief. Are they good family people? Not really. They are horrible because they are taking their children to hell.

                                                                        Pastor V. Mark Smith

The Flip Side of Life

Berean Baptist on February 10, 2020

This week I was thinking about one of our favorite scriptures written by Paul in Romans 8. I believe Bereans may know this verse just as well as they do John 3:16. In the 28th verse, Paul wrote: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” He said we know this, but I am not sure most Christians have the same confidence Paul had or understand why he was so sure. Paul knew because he was a big-picture guy. He understood that God can see what we cannot see and everything He does is according to a master plan. The end of the plan is the ultimate good for His children to the praise of His glory. With a love that is unequaled, unqualified, and always invested in our welfare, how is it possible for Him not to work for our good? The reason we doubt God is that personal struggles are never fun. Personal gratification is too slow coming. We don’t like the process of getting to the good outcome.

            I read an interesting analogy that may help us understand. Life is like a tapestry, or if you are more familiar, a Persian rug. The upside of the rug is beautiful. This is the side you expose and use to dress up your house and impress your friends. The other side is not beautiful. There is no pattern, the threads seem random and without rhyme or reason. It is scattered and ugly and may even show stains and dirt that have worked their way through the fibers. We would never turn the rug upside down for everyone to see. For sure, it would not help the décor!

            Our lives are much like the underside of the rug. We can’t see the beauty on the other side where the weaver has perfectly placed all the threads into a beautiful tapestry. The apostle Paul was that big-picture guy who knew the other side is exactly as the designer intended.

            While contemplating this, I thought of the advice I often give men who seek the office of deacon. I tell them they must be prepared to see the underbelly of the church. They must be prepared for disappointment in people they thought were spiritual paragons but may not have it all perfectly together. Included are the pastor and their fellow deacons. Along the way, they discover it is best not to throw stones because others will learn a few things about them. The ministers of the church are privy to much information the average church member does not know. This information is best not told as issues are better worked out with time and prayer.

            My point is the underbelly of the church doesn’t always look good, but we know the true church of Christ is being sanctified to get where God wants it to be. We must be patient with the process to know that someday we will see the other side in which God has made us the beautiful bride for His Son.

            When life’s troubles are too much, remember the big picture. Every thread is in the place God wove it. Every stitch is perfect because God never makes mistakes. If you know God, be sure He knows you too. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

The Idolatry of Sports

Berean Baptist on February 3, 2020

Thankfully, secular Sunday (Superbowl Sunday) is over. Today, I thought I would include this thoughtful article by Dr. Jon Payne. I apologize for losing the original source. I sincerely beg for Christian forgiveness for reproducing this article without acknowledging the publication.

Although soccer is like a hairball caught in my throat, the comments on soccer fit well with the biggest sports event of the year—the Superbowl. They also work well with any other activity that takes the place of Christ and His church. The questions in the last paragraph were answered this past Sunday afternoon. See if they weren’t!

“A few years ago, a friend treated my son and me to a tour of St. James’ Park, the home grounds of Newcastle United F.C., a famous English Premier League soccer club. Having spent a good portion of my life on the soccer pitch, I could not help but be impressed by the beautifully manicured (and heated) playing surface, palatial locker rooms, and illustrious trophy collection. St. James’ Park is truly a first-class stadium. As the tour continued, however, I began to feel uncomfortable. It was becoming increasingly apparent that Newcastle United was more than just a soccer team to the tour guide. The team was his identity, his religion, his life.

“After the tour, we hunted for a souvenir in the stadium shop. Sadly, we found a shirt that audaciously declared, ‘St. James’ Park is My Church & Newcastle United is My God.’ Not only was this declaration blasphemous, it was a stark reminder that idolatry comes in all forms; yes, even sports.

“Idolatry is the replacement of God with something else, the yielding of our primary devotion and chief affections to anything or anyone besides the Lord. It is the ‘giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone’ (Westminster Shorter Catechism 47; see Isa. 42:8). Indeed, the first commandment unequivocally states, ‘You shall have no other gods before me. . . . You shall not bow down to them or serve them’ (Ex. 20:3, 5). Dear believer, God will entertain no rivals—sports included.

“I grew up the oldest son of a prominent sportswriter and have been around sports for as long as I can remember. For many years, my dad was the beat writer for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. He covered major international soccer matches and multiple college sports. He introduced me to dozens of famous athletes, many of whom inspired me to pursue and realize my own athletic dreams. As a result, I am very thankful for sports. They have played an important and valuable role in my life. Sports bring people together. They encourage health and fitness. They cultivate grit and discipline. They provide an array of life lessons. They can also be a wholesome source of entertainment. Sports are a gift from God. However, as with anything, if we are not careful, the gift can supplant the Giver. Sports can become a golden calf that leads us down the path of idolatry.   

“A friend and former college football star told my son, ‘Sports are great, but they make a terrible god.’ This is a message that athletes and sports fans need to hear today, especially since sports are given such an inordinately prominent status in our culture. 

“Do sports hold a higher priority in your life than Jesus? Is God on the sidelines of your heart? Have your Lord’s Days morphed into sports days? May sports never take precedence over your relationship with or devotion to the living God. ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols’ (1 John 5:21).”

Dr. Jon D. Payne