Month: March 2026

               At the end of January, our church went through its yearly ritual of the Annual Church Membership Meeting. The design is something like the State of the Union address with reports on the past year’s financials, membership, and new challenges we face in the new current year. A major component is the election of officers to serve for the current year and the attrition of the membership. We hope our reports do not include attrition but sadly, with contributing factors, we report more attrition than addition. The word attrition has an interesting etymology. Without breaking down each nuance of meaning, the word comes from the Latin attritio which means “hardship, tribulation.” Today’s broadened interpretation means the “gradual wearing down” of an organization’s ranks through death, retirement, or resignation. I also found it interesting that the word refers to wearing down with a result of becoming weaker and less effective.

               These sentences are so depressing that using the word in a Christian context seems highly inappropriate. Yet the word arose in a spiritual context related to repentance. What makes this last church meeting so much different is that it did not have an air of depression. Attrition can occupy our minds so much that we feel we are beating our heads against a brick wall. I reaffirmed my own teachings that leaving everything in God’s hands puts us spiritually where we should be. There are other satisfying parts of ministry such as the closeness of our group which makes Berean feel like home.

               I cannot begin to tell you the numbers of thoughts that run through my head on this subject. I have learned that friends I was not sure of were friends all along. There are times I thought certain people were trying to undermine the ministry because of disagreements. I have learned that disagreement is not always in the same category as disrespect. If I were a typical independent Baptist pastor, I would necessarily interpret it that way. Disagreement is potential disaster and thus there is only one tolerable opinion in the church. I have always wanted to heed Peter’s advice and not make myself the Lord of the church. I have responsibility to be doctrinally sound, so I am not talking about compromising scripture. The hard part is discovering the times when members lack enough respect or confidence in the pastor, though seasoned as he may be, that he has ability to interpret scripture. The disappointment is watching people you love go astray and refuse godly counsel.

               Bulletin articles may start out with one intent and end differently than expected. I rarely have an article thought out from beginning to end. I may wander a bit, but things I am most thankful for are that our sovereign God knows our heart and will complete the excellent work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). Scattered on my desk are an open Bible, materials for our afternoon class, and a list of tasks completed for the week. This is the last one, so it ends up catching all those loose thoughts that run through my brain. I do not always promise to be coherent. Read for what parts you understand and bless you. Leave the rest and someday you will figure out what attrition does to the pastor’s heart.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

               At the end of January, we began a series of sermons from Mark 13 about Jesus’ conversation with His disciples concerning eschatology. The etymological basis for this word is the Greek eschatos with the simple meaning of “last.” Jesus spoke with them about the last times or commonly called the end times. Since this conversation two thousand years ago, the meaning of Mark 13 and its parallels of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 have sparked debate, more I suppose in our time than in centuries before. In church history, the doctrines of theology proper (essentia Dei), anthropology, Christology, soteriology, and ecclesiology were more the topics of debate than eschatology. And yet, the end times did have its advocates even leading to the establishment of new religious movements that made it their primary reason for existence. Without exception, each of these movements resulted in new heresies, in dangerous cults, and deceitful false prophets.

               This week in our study, a major part of the sermon is Jesus’ claim that many will come in His name with their plans to help people through the calamities of the tribulation. Satan knows the wickedness of the human heart and knows we are all naturally religious. This statement is not difficult to defend since we are dichotomous beings consisting of both physical and spiritual life. There is pretend political salvation in the tribulation coupled with false spiritual hope which satisfies this dichotomy. These are willing bedfellows until the religious aspect is no longer useful.

               This description now leads me away from future events to contemplate the insidious use of religion and God’s name to deceive and entrap the confused—those whom true believers could help with truth to leave their sinful lifestyles. Instead, false prophets lead them to believe that God is the instigator and supporter of their lifestyles. Though what they do receives plain and stern rebuke throughout God’s word, these false prophets twist and make excuses and promise they are faithful to God when they choose a life that is against His created order. As I call these deceitful purveyors of wickedness false prophets, they are in churches provoking the helpless, contented with leaving them without truth to the condemnation of following a lie from which God says they will never receive deliverance. Why? Because also provoking God’s penetrating eyes, they ate of the tree that promised to give them satisfaction in their sinful desires. What is better than living in their sins while at the same time claiming God gives them an approving gaze as they claim affinity with His sinless Son? This is the ultimate deception. They will not recover if they convince themselves they are worthy of sympathy for mistreatment from those they falsely claim want to hurt them. Thus, Satan blocks the possibility of recovery because their minds are reprobate with no ability to seek or desire forgiveness of their sins. When Satan convinces that sin is just harmless natural propensity and therefore inoffensive to God, what is their motive to ask forgiveness?

               This is the worst false prophet. Not content to suffer the consequences of sin alone, they forge alliances with others dying with the same false hopes. Meanwhile, false Christianity and a relentless devil cheer them on. They have worked through a strategy that says, “give this part up and God will let you have this other part that feeds your desires.” They think they have their bargain with God and have reached settlement. All along it was nothing more than a pact with Satan. A false prophet is a false prophet even though the packaging may differ.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

               As I write my bulletin article today, I reflect on my road trip to Canada in January. Upon my return, friends and family asked what I did while I was gone. The answer is nothing more than drive. I had a destination in mind, I drove there, spent the night, and returned. I traveled about 2400 miles with my stated purpose to spend time with my thoughts. I chose a Canadian town where a significant event happened to Pam and me. I made it the terminus before turning around to head home.

               Entering and leaving Canada, I chose backroad border crossings hoping to avoid lines waiting to cross. Add this to the successes of the trip because to my surprise I was the only person in line. This made the border agents a little more talkative since no one was waiting to get through. I learned a long time ago not to joke with these agents just as with the TSA at the airport. There is nothing I can say they have not heard a hundred times before.

               Accordingly, when asked about my reasons for being in Canada, I answered with one word, “memories.” This was the conversation starter. Naturally, follow-ups were in order resulting in sympathies expressed for my purposes. I stayed away from saying I wanted memories of Canada as a foreign country to remain intact before the U.S. made Canada the 51^st state. At that point, I figured they would search my luggage and find my cache of drugs I always travel with. While these are all legal in our country, I recently read an article claiming that even carrying Benadryl to foreign countries can make life extremely uncomfortable.

               On Wednesday evening after returning home, we had a deacons’ meeting in which I got the border crossing treatment. “Why did you go to Canada?” Followed by objections that all Canadians are liberal nuts. All the deacons agreed we do not want Canada because their presence would dilute Congress and make conservatism go away. Instead, one suggested we should give them Minnesota. This became a teaching moment for me as I explained we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. I did not know my few days of vacation would spark a political debate over my bad choices.

               I have given you about four hundred words that help fill my quota of between 500-650, which is the usual length of an article. It is time to expand with the few words left to give my spiritual observations. I very much like Canadians. I have been across the entire country from Nova Scotia to Victoria with never an unfriendly experience. In fact, I found exceptionally friendly people like a fast-food clerk who referred to me as her fine gentleman customer. I was stunningly embarrassed without a reply.

               In our deacons’ meeting, we talked momentarily about pastors arrested in Canada during COVID. Indeed, my observations are that Canada is a wide-open mission’s field. I know there are Baptists and other Christians but in all the times I have been to Canada, I have not noticed much Christian activity. Either there are hardly any in the general population or they do not give any public indications. This bothers me unless kindness is their badge. But then I thought the difference is insignificant when traveling north through California, Oregon, and Washington. We have no persecution and no reason to hide who we are. For goodness’ sake, LBGTQ has taken our country without firing a shot (however, not without violence). They came out and apparently are not going back in any time soon. While I do not advocate their intolerant aggressiveness, we could sure use far better awareness. We shine a small light in a very dark world.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

• (Originally published on Feb. 1, 2026)

               One of the points in the message last week was that we study eschatology to keep ourselves from being deceived. I used examples of Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses. These are groups that corrupt the gospel after capturing the hearts of those who have keen interest in the Second Coming. Some are looking for that one religious group that is different and has hit on the “secrets” of deciphering the Bible on this subject. I want to warn, however, that a difference in the details of the tribulation, the exact placement of the millennium on a timeline and the positioning of Christ’s return relative to these do not always add up to deception nor has any bearing on the doctrine of soteriology (salvation). Good solid Christians vary on these. While I like to discuss my own eschatological position, I am in no mood to make enemies over the differences with good Bible believing Christians.

               Several months ago, I discussed this with another pastor who acted as if I was from the moon because I could fellowship with others who differ on this subject’s interpretation. I hope I am known for being steadfast and uncompromising. If you have not yet discovered this, there is much you do not know about me. This subject is not salvific. Come at me with differences on justification, sanctification, ecclesiology, and other vital doctrines and we may spend time rolling in the dirt. My lack of spitting on opponents in no way implies that I am indifferent towards eschatology. I also spoke last week about how our understanding affects our godliness. If we stray away from using Christ’s return as incentive to live every day to become more like Christ, increasing in our sanctification, or as John says, “not to be ashamed before him at his coming,” our interpretations are defective. They must change to reflect God’s purposes in including the doctrine in His Holy Word.

               Details in this area are difficult. In 2008-2012, we studied Revelation ending with 142 sermons. In 2014, more than 20 sermons covered Matthew 24-25. In 2016, most of our study of Heaven with 16 sermons was in Revelation. In 2018, there were 33 sermons on Revelation 2-3. The latest series on the subject in 2021 entitled “Living in the Light of Christ’s Return, ended with 75 sermons in 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Obviously, we have significant convictions and confidence in our position. I am not sure what the count will be for Mark 13, but I am sure no one will leave Berean thinking I just have no interest in the subject!

               This leaves my final admonition for you. I have always encouraged questions. I cannot guarantee I have all the answers. If our nuances on this doctrine diverge, friendship and fellowship remain. This is true unless you want me to sit on your rooftop and wait.

Pastor V. Mark Smith