YOU and GOD

Again, “looking out my kitchen window,” here are a few more informal observations of my world, which (as I have noted in my previous “Fundamentalism Today” blogs) is the theology and practice of historic, Biblical fundamentalism. There have been some shifts that are undeniable. To pinpoint some of the obvious ones—with neither advocacy for nor criticism against—I share my view as a matter of discussion and “food for thought” rather than debate.

In this post, I want to talk about worship in our churches. I am painting with a broad brush, and none of my remarks will be true of every assembly. But there are, I believe, observable trends in what we call corporate worship. In his book Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God’s People, Matt Merker defines it as “the gathering of God’s people by his grace, for his glory, for their good, and before a watching world.”

Here’s some of what is trending:

(1) Hymnals, the use of. The hymnal is being replaced by a visual display of a song’s words on an overhead screen that is easily read by anyone in the assembly. Most of the time, only the words (and not the notes) are displayed. Fewer people remove the hymnals from the racks in front of them, as there is really no need to read the words from a hymnal held in one’s hands.

One evangelist who visits scores of churches remarked that he cannot hear any harmony when a congregation is singing by words only. The music is just not there, so only if one knows the score of a song, musically, can he or she sing the harmony or a specific part. This may be an unintended consequence of making it easy for everyone to sing without holding onto and looking at a hymnal. And, despite the cost of installing the technology and equipment to project the words, it may prove cost-effective by saving a hefty sum of money to replace worn-out hymnals.

(2) Bibles in hand. Have you noticed that Bibles are carried by fewer people; or, at least, it seems they are used by fewer folk? Like songs, verses of scripture are often projected onto the overhead screen, making it possibly quicker and simpler for the worshippers to follow along as a passage is read or quoted. And some who do not carry a Bible to the worship service simply open their phone. With a couple of clicks, they can read any passage the speaker may be teaching or quoting from. Again, I am not advocating for or against this shift in worship ways. It is just an observable trend that characterizes corporate worship in this 21st century.

(3) Version Diversion. Speaking of Bibles, there is also a shift from what in the mid-20th century was an almost universal use of the King James translation to the use of multiple versions. Most older people in fundamental churches grew up memorizing from and reading the KJV translation. That was almost exclusive up until maybe the early 1980s. Then, other translations began to be used; and, gradually, versions such as the New KJV became more common—first in devotional books, then as an option in Awana, and finally in some pulpits. Today, with a plethora of versions on the market, a pastor may use, cite, and preach from a different translation than some in his congregation are reading from. Again, good or not so good? Each pastor, teacher, and church will make their own call; but it is, without question, what distinguishes some of what we know today as corporate worship in fundamentalism.

(4) Preaching and teaching. With modern technology available to any pastor or teacher, many lessons or sermons are delivered through a “Power Point” presentation. Some pastors and teachers use this medium exclusively, some less. It surely has its pros and cons. The audience can both hear and see the truths presented, which is certainly a plus. Maybe the negative is that one’s message tends to become a “lecture” rather than a soul-stirring sermon that appeals to the heart over the head.

(5) Invitations. Is it safe to say that fewer worship services end with an “invitation”? The “mourner’s bench” has been pretty much put into wraps for good; but even an appeal for hearers to “come to Christ”—or to make a decision for salvation or consecration—may be “old fashioned” to many. Dr. R.V. Clearwaters, former pastor of Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis, when I was a student in the seminary he founded, used to chide preachers who were hesitant to extend an invitation—for fear that no one would respond—with these words: “I stand here week after week with sometimes no one responding, but I will keep throwing out the life-line every service, leaving the results to God.” (That is not a direct quote but the essence of what I remember “the Doc” as saying.)

Many who read this will think of other trends common in today’s corporate worship, for better or worse. I have mentioned just a few. Please feel free to respond with your comments, for or against. Change is inevitable. The early church, meeting in rooms and sometimes caves, would surely be “taken aback” if they were to visit a service in any of our fundamental assemblies. It is a changing world to be sure. But what must never change in any of our worship services is what the “mother church” (at Jerusalem) established as the sine qua non of corporate worship: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (I Tim. 4:13)

What this post will speak to has no doubt claimed more lives than alcohol, tobacco, cancer, heart disease, war and automobile accidents—all put together.

It is more dangerous than a raging river that is out of its banks, or a lightning bolt that is not grounded, or a hungry lion out of its cage.

It will, if not corrected, not only vex your soul but destroy your body.

I am talking about bitterness, and I believe unbelievers and believers alike are guilty of nursing this pet sin.

It not only works from within; it finally destroys that which is without. It starts in the heart and mind—then affects the eyes, the lips, the tongue, and the hands and feet. Its scars are sometimes visible, but as likely as not they are invisible.

Its side effects are anger, hatred, murder, separation, loneliness, and, not seldom, suicide.

Its symptoms are physical and mental; arthritis, pains of all sorts, heart disorders, nervousness, and many other maladies are common among its victims.

“Let all bitterness be put away,” Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, just before he warned them not to grieve the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:31) Bitterness in all of its guises:

• Because of bad business relationships;
• Because of unfulfilled expectations;
• Because of hurt over what someone said or did not say, did or did not do;
• Because of unkind or untrue words spoken about us, or about a loved one;
• Because of unpaid loans, or unrequited kindness.

1. The Companions of bitterness (Hebrews 12:14-17)

• Failing of the grace of God.
• Failing to go on to perfection and run with patience the race set before us.
• A soul troubled by grief, by sorrow, by broken relationships, and by a smitten conscience.
• A defiled mind, which is manifest in a loss of the ability to reason and discern.
• A degraded body, too often given in the last stages to fornication (such as Esau) because of harbored bitterness, which weakens one’s moral defenses and erases one’s rational decisiveness. There is a high cost to pay for “getting even,” and it is often the emaciated state of what was once a sound mind and body.

2. The Curse of bitterness

• A loss of reward. Esau sacrificed the permanent on the altar of the temporary. He forfeited spiritual blessings (birthright blessings) for that which was material.
• A loss of repentance: Esau “found no place of repentance.” (Hebs. 12:17)

3. The Correction of bitterness

• Follow after peace with all men (Hebs. 12:14)
• Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath (Eph. 4:26)
• Be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another (Eph. 4:31)
• Honor all men. Love the brotherhood (I Pet.2:1)
• All of you be subject one to another (I Pet.5:5)

Dr. S.I. McMillan, in his book None of These Diseases, says “it might be written on many thousands of death certificates that the victim died of ‘grudgitis.’” He went on to say that “the moment I start hating a man, I become his slave. I cannot enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body; I become fatigued after only a few hours of work.”

Some years ago “Reader’s Digest” published an account of a woman who had been bitten by a dog and was advised by her doctor to write out her last wishes, as she would likely die of hydrophobia. She spent a long time with the pencil and paper, and finally the doctor said something about the length of her will. “Will!” she exclaimed. “I’m writing out a list of the people I’m going to bite!”

Follow after holiness, without which no man will see God. (Hebs. 12:14) Pursue and perfect holiness. (II Cor. 7:1) Be done with self-pity; ingratitude; sarcasm; hoping retribution will fall upon someone; and extreme negativism against a person or organization. As the hymn exhorts us: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen Lemmel)

The antidote for all bitterness!

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27,28)

Today marks the fourth year since I began posting this blog series, “You and God.” This is post #416. I have covered a wide range of topics bearing upon Christian living and am gratified that a few hundred readers follow these posts and read them regularly.

It was a little over two years ago that I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of the blood that attacks one’s bone structure. There is no known cause for this disease, nor is there yet any known cure; but with proper treatments, it often goes into remission for a time. It is treated with chemotherapy in pill form, along with monthly injections of some other high-powered and very expensive therapy. Thankfully, through insurance and other available programs, the cost of this medicine is covered. Insurance coverage and generous grants from non-profit foundations have enabled us to keep our heads above water, so to speak, financially, for which we give God all the glory, thanksgiving, and praise.

I want to take a “time out” in this installment of “You and God” to thank all of you who have faithfully prayed for Ellen and myself during this time. And when I mention Ellen, it is by design, for she has been a caregiver “par excellence!” Those of you who have suffered with, or are suffering with, a prolonged illness know full-well that the caregiver is placed under extraordinary stress, with demands that are life-altering on his/her time and attention.

Everyone with MM deals with different symptoms and side effects. It generally leaves one weak, especially in the extremities. I have not had a great deal of pain other than weakness in my legs, along with neuropathy. I do not have much energy, and my balance is pretty shaky. I have been blessed not only with an amazing caregiver here at home but with a team of superb Indianapolis doctors at both the St. Francis cancer center and the Indiana University Hospital, both within 15 minutes of our home. We are blessed with a devoted family; a caring church and pastor; and a cadre of praying friends hither and yon, some of whom assure us that they are praying daily for us.

One of my doctors told me more than a year ago that I would die of something other than MM. Well, I suppose that is a safe bet seeing that I am now 81 and it is certain that my normally allotted days upon this earth are soon to expire, one way or another! I have not achieved remission and may never, but for several months the doctors have said that I am “stable,” and they encourage me to “stay the course.” I have had the strength to preach a few times a month when called upon; and my desire to write has not diminished; so I feel blessed above measure. This summer, Ellen and I will celebrate 59 years of marriage, most all of which have afforded us good health, wonderful friends, fruitful ministries, and children who have always been loving, supportive, and caring. We would not have dared to pray for more than the blessings we have enjoyed!

So, since I generally do not like to make my health a topic of discussion—but am aware that most of you know of my health issues—I thought it appropriate on this four-year anniversary of “You and God” to take a “time out” to bring you up to date on what’s happening at our house, health-wise. Ellen is diabetic and has been able to keep that in check with medications and with meals that are recommended for diabetics. (That kind of diet is good for me, too!)

Again, thank you to all who assure us of your prayers! We do not have words for how much we deeply appreciate you all. Thank you for reading these bi-weekly posts and for occasionally replying with a comment. Life is good for us, and we surely have no complaints. Without a doubt, His mercies are new every morning; His love is matchless; His grace is all-sufficient; His Word is ever comforting, and His Spirit is a constant guide. His church is amazing, great hymns of the faith are inspiring, and our family is never far away—and always right here when needed. Yes, God is good.

“The Lord bless thee and keep thee: The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Num. 6:24-26)

FYI:  All of the 416 posts are archived and at your fingertips. Here’s how to access them. Scroll to the bottom of this post until you read the words, “Read in Browser.” Click on that and you will get another posting of today’s blog. Scroll all the way to the bottom and past until, after the “Comments” box, you will see April 2024, March 2024, etc. You can find any month, all the way back to April 2020. Click on any one of those months and you will get a listing of the posts for that month with the titles. When you click “continue reading,” the entire post will come up and you can then read, copy, or send it.

Special thanks to my son Theo for proofing and doing some minor editing on my posts, and to my daughter Sandy Wagner who dresses each post up with some attractive design/artwork!

It was a typically cold winter morning, that first week of February, 1981. The children were all settled into their classrooms, and moms and dads were at their workplaces. That’s about where the word typical will have to cease in describing that fatal February morning.

At my desk in the office at Thompson Road Baptist Church, I received a call that Gerald “Butch” Doss, one of the deacons of our church, working on railroad tracks as an employee of Conrail, had been tragically and instantly killed as he and a fellow worker, dressed in warm winter parkas, had been cutting railroad ties on a track that was supposed to have been “dormant.” Butch had a huge chain saw in his hands as he was working a section of the track, and he never saw or heard the speeding train that swept by the two men, killing the young father of two.

It suddenly became a day of shock, weeping, and for a time stunned silence. Ellen and I immediately went to visit Butch’s wife, Brenda, who then lived just a few minutes from our church. There were no words—just hugs, tears, and pain. Butch and Brenda had taken our family in when we had moved to Indianapolis in the fall of 1979 to assume the pastorate here; as we were trying to find housing, they graciously kept our three children for I think two or three weeks, giving us time to find a house and get moved in.

Butch was the kind of deacon any pastor would love to serve alongside of! He was an encourager and a vibrant, growing believer who modeled godliness. Both he and Brenda soaked up the Word of God. Butch began a ministry of taping the services at our church, and his ministry was not limited to our local church; he had expanded it, making duplicated messages available to a wider audience. Back then, as I recall, the cassette-tape ministry was just starting to replace the old, cumbersome reel-to-reel tapes. Butch was zealous about sharing God’s Word with whomever would want to hear a taped version of the services.

My last memory of this good deacon was of the service he attended just before being called to glory. His face was beaming; he was excited about what God was doing in our church and was hopeful about what he believed God was going to do. His enthusiasm shone through with a big smile and a caring pat on his preacher’s back. He would not long thereafter be looking into the face of His living, loving Savior.

Having received the call that shattered our morning, and in a real sense our lives, Ellen and I made our way to the Doss home, where I would leave Ellen while I made my way to the school where the two Doss children, Sonnie and Eric, were in their classes. I conveyed to the principal what my mission was, and the children were quickly dismissed to my care. I drew deeply upon God’s grace and strength in sharing with them that their daddy had been killed by a train that morning. It was one of those moments you would have hoped would never come; one that you could never blot from your memory. I could not even imagine what was going through the hearts of those precious little ones.

Meanwhile, Ellen was with Brenda, and they were in each other’s arms. In a recent prayer meeting, our Pastor, Joel Stevens, taught a lesson from II Corinthians 1 about “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” Ellen shared a testimony that when she arrived at the Doss home that morning, Brenda told her that God had already been preparing her for this day, as early that very morning she had just been reading this passage in II Corinthians. Brenda’s words 43 years ago—words from God’s Word at the darkest moment of her life—still ring in Ellen’s heart and memory as words of comfort, yet reminders that He is one ”Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (II Cor. 1:4). God’s Word, first and last, really does work, and it works for a lifetime.

This is not to say that there was not anguished suffering; there was! Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual agonies of body, mind and soul were to assault Brenda and her family for an indefinite period of time. The aftershocks will never fully fade away this side of glory; but neither will God’s sustaining grace and comforting consolations.

Brenda taught English in a local Christian academy for several decades after Butch’s homegoing. For more than 50 years, she has faithfully attended and served her Lord at Thompson Road Baptist Church in many capacities including church secretary, women’s Sunday School class teacher, and member of the choir. In time, God gave her a wonderful husband in the person of Donald Harris—a Vietnam veteran who, saved out of a religious background that majored on works, has been a caring and devoted husband and, for 47 years now, a stalwart and faithful servant of God here at TRBC.

Some near-crippling physical issues have taken a toll on Brenda, so that mobility challenges now limit her church attendance. But no one who knows her doubts that when the church gathers for worship, she is in their midst, either in body and spirit or in spirit—singing, praising, bowing in her Savior’s presence, all the while looking forward to that day when our faith will be made sight; and that grand reunion of the church, the rapture, will be called at the sound of the trumpet to summon our meeting with the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thess. 4:17,18)

Continuing my “table talk” discussion of the landscape of fundamentalism today, as seen through the eyes of this aged pastor who has been privileged to serve churches in the latter part of the 20th century and the first couple of decades of the 21st century, I want to speak to a few other subjects that are significant in any discussion of the subject.

Cultural considerations: Of course, over a period of 60 years there are bound to be many cultural drifts, some gradual, some not so subtle. When I was a young pastor in the early 70’s, long hair on men and short skirts on women began to surface, and for people who had grown up in the 1940’s and 50’s, these outward breaks with past norms were problematic. Standards that were not negotiable in fundamental churches became issues to debate. Women would never wear “pants” or slacks to church in the 60’s, or some even in the 70’s. Today, in almost any independent Baptist church, most of those externals have been pretty much laid to rest and one might see any or all of the above in any assembly on any given Lord’s day. No longer are they “issues.” Cycling through those years with changes that people had decided opinions on was a challenge to most pastors. Some who majored on the theme of “grace” were considered not to be fundamental, and others who homed in on the old standards were considered to be legalistic. Today these old battles have been for the most part put to rest, but at the apex of the evolving attitudes, there was a climate that sometimes was unattractive in our fundamental circles.

Versions and translations: Also, the past half-century has witnessed debate and division amongst those who are known as fundamentalists over issues surrounding the plethora of modern Bible versions and translations. When I was a child, I remember in our home there was a copy of the “Amplified” version of the Bible. No thought was given to the idea that it was not a legitimate copy of God’s Word. But today, beginning in the early 70’s with Kenneth Taylor’s paraphrase The Living Bible, the market has been flooded with all sorts of translations and versions of the Holy writ. Of course, there have been sometimes raging debates over the validity of the newer translations, as opposed to the “authorized” King James (TR) Version that was first published in 1611. The debate is not roiling as much today, but it still simmers, and there are those both for and against new versions that would go to the stake defending their position. People have called those who differ with them all sorts of bad names, written them off as unbelievers, severed any kind of fellowship with them and considered them anathema. It was, at times, ugly. But it is part of the history of fundamentalism today and cannot be ignored.

Pastoral/Ministry Ethics. I have witnessed an erosion of basic ministerial ethics in the course of the time that I have pastored. Like divorce, moving from one Bible-preaching church to another used to be rare. Not so much now. As one member once said, with no accompanying explanation following a Sunday morning service, “We’ll be moving on now”— meaning it would be his last Sunday at the church. Many leave at the drop of a hat, over any issue or no issue. In our city, you can drive 10 minutes from our church and pass by more than one fundamental church. The options are almost limitless; thus the “musical church hopping.” What’s more depressing: Many pastors seem not to discourage it and fail to even initiate a courtesy call to the pastor of the visitors who are “church hopping.”

Sectarianism in fundamentalism. To be honest, the landscape of what we call fundamentalism is so broken up that “tip-toeing through the tulips” has taken on new meaning. A missionary, evangelist, or pastoral candidate has to line up squarely with the right version of scripture, the right Bible college, the right dress standard, the right song book, the right mission board—ad nauseum—if he is to be accepted. Independent churches and pastors too often have become “islands” to themselves and their flock, all in the name of biblical separation, “bless God!” It is a 21st century scandal in ministry, and it answers the question: “Why do we not experience revival today?”

Well, I think I have said (maybe more than) enough. That’s how I see things as I look out on today’s fundamentalism. Who’s to blame? No one (except Satan). It’s a sign of the times, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. So, be encouraged. Keep on keeping on. Practice brotherly kindness and charity. (II Pet.1: 7) And, look up, for our redemption draweth nigh!

(Comments, pro and con, of course are welcomed. I do not pretend to “know it all” or even to have the best perspective on the subject. Share your thoughts if you care to. I may do a part 3, and if so it will focus on corporate worship and a few doctrinal issues. Stay tuned.)

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude, v. 3)

I write this post and the next in a bit of a different mode; consider it “table talk” over a cup of coffee as an old preacher, not far from glory’s shore, shares some candid thoughts.

I’ve given considerable thought of late to “fundamentalism.” It is, after all, a movement with which I have identified all of my life as a student, then as a pastor, and now as a “retired” pastor who lives every day with an incurable disease. I have, then, no axe to grind and nothing to prove, but merely some observations to share.

I was saved as a youngster, not yet 10 years of age, under the preaching of Pastor Harold Day, who labored over the flock of God that met weekly on North Court street in Ottumwa, Iowa, known as the North Court Baptist Church. It was affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. Pastor Day was an unashamed fundamentalist, warning his flock of the apostacy which he saw then, in the mid-1950s, gaining ground through such organs as the National Council of Churches. He was a dispensationalist, and about the only Bible college that I remember him speaking of was the Omaha Baptist Bible Baptist Institute (today known as Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa).

When I was a teenager, my parents joined a church on Ottumwa’s south side, pastored by Rev. Keith Knauss, a good Bible teacher/pastor who pastored the Calvary Baptist Church, then affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Association of Churches. Pastor Keith channeled all the young people he could to Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota, a fundamental Bible college then led by Evangelist Monroe Parker.

Also on the south side of our city was the Ottumwa Baptist Temple, a church that lined up with the Bible Baptist Fellowship. The pastor, A.D. Pringle, favored the then newly formed Baptist Bible College of Springfield, Missouri, where my oldest sister attended as a classmate of a student from Virginia who would become quite well-known, Jerry Falwell.

So, my background, when I enrolled at Bob Jones University in 1962 was in Bible-preaching, fundamental, dispensational churches. Upon completion of my training for ministry, I accepted a call to pastor Gideon Baptist Church of Wichita, Kansas, an independent church with a history of lining up with the Bible Baptist Fellowship, as several other churches in the greater Wichita area did at that time. In 1979, I accepted a call to pastor the Thompson Road Baptist Church to succeed Pastor Fred Moritz, a former seminary classmate of mine who resigned the Indianapolis church to go into full-time evangelism. He later became assistant director, under the leadership of Dr. Monroe Parker, of Baptist World Mission—and would eventually become its executive director, a job he so ably discharged for more than two decades.

When I settled into the pastorate of Thompson Road Baptist Church (TRBC) in the fall of 1979, I soon learned of the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Churches (IFBF) and would be a member of this strong state body of independent Baptists for the duration of my ministry as a senior pastor. So, from the time I became a believer through faith in Christ, through the years of my training and then pastoring, I have always been in the fundamentalist camp, specifically in the Independent Baptist branch of fundamentalism. I have encouraged young people to attend a Christian college that believed the fundamentals of the faith; and I have recommended to the churches that I have pastored missionaries sent out by churches of like faith, serving under the auspices of mission boards that were known as conservative, independent, and fundamental. I always have been, therefore—and am to this day—a fundamentalist without apology. So, looking at the landscape of the movement I have been identified with for more than half a century in ministry, what do I see?

Schools/Colleges. Many of the colleges that I could recommend to young people early in my ministry are no longer in existence. Some that are struggle to maintain open doors. The mood of many of today’s youth is career focused, and the colleges that once trained hundreds of preachers have shrunken ministerial classes that are dwarfed in size compared to the classes of yesteryear. Schools that once trained missionaries that had hearts burning to reach lost souls and cities in fields far and near no longer specialize in the training of vocational missionaries. Some few schools still major in missions and ministry, but most are not large schools, though one can and should be thankful that there are some who are “staying by the stuff” in this lukewarm spiritual climate.

Fellowships/Associations. Many of the fellowships and associations of churches that were once ablaze in banding together for revival, missions, and church planting are no longer true to their original mission. Compromise on the basics, sectarianism, isolationism, and other trends have gutted their once hard-core militant stand on the fundamentals of the faith, so that they are today a shell of their original founding body.

(to be continued)

Seven essential building blocks are listed in II Peter 1:5-7. Six of these we have already covered: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. We come now to the seventh, charity.

Today, brotherly kindness and charity are often thought of as synonymous. Not so, though, in the Greek mind; and the fisherman-Apostle Peter wrote these words employing the Greek language of his day; thus, it will help to understand the nuances of these two words if we check out the differences as first written, as opposed to the English translation.

First, brotherly kindness is just one word, philadelphian, a word that refers to a kind of tender affection—something close friends enjoy in a soul-binding friendship, much like that of David and Jonathan’s loyal and deep affection for one another.

On the other hand, the word “charity” here, which is transliterated as agapao, refers to a selfless, sacrificial love of the highest degree. This word is used often by Jesus in the gospel of John, as in John 3:16, where the Son said of the Father that He “so loved (agapao) the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

To our faith, then, we must apply all diligence to add this love that only flows from the heart of Him who is love, for “God is love.” (I John 4:8)

Now, I must at this point admit that I “blew it” when, in an earlier installment of “You and God” in this series, I said that temperance was the only building block in this list of “add-ons” in II Peter 1 that was also mentioned in Paul’s listing of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23. It is not! Love, translated “charity” in II Pet.1:7, is the same as the first fruit that Paul mentions in his list in Galatians, which begins with love, joy, peace, etc. I missed it as I focused on the word “charity” in the II Peter list. My bad! It does prove this: Any speaker, writer, or teacher who speaks often or writes much will have to make a retraction sooner or later. I have taught this passage and preached from it many times, yet I flubbed this one. Thanks for your “kindness.”

Thus, as with temperance, so with charity: We can only add these traits by surrendering to the Holy Spirit. There is NOTHING within us that can produce love, which can only come from the heart of God. Brotherly kindness is different. We can work at that, and if our heart is right with God, by our words and deeds we can treat others with a friendship that can only be described as “kindness.”

Now, if we have agapao love within our hearts, it will be evident that we will (1) Love God, (2) Love our neighbor, and (3) Love our enemies.

(1) Love God. God is love, and if He is in us then—and only then—can we love God. (I John 4:16) One wise person said, “On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to talk about than our love for Him.” John put it this way: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19)

In John 21, there is an interesting post-resurrection appearance of Jesus with some of His disciples as they had enjoyed breakfast together. Three times, Jesus bluntly asked Peter, “Do you love me?” The first two times, Jesus employed the word “agapao.” Do you love with a love in your heart like God the Father’s love? Selfless. Self-sacrificing. Genuine. Absolute love. Each time, Peter said in response, “I phileo you” (i.e., have tender affection, friendship for you). Having denied Jesus three times when His Lord stood before Pilate—just after having affirmed that he would never deny Jesus but would, if necessary, die for Him—Peter now would not let himself say, “I love (agapao) You, Lord.” Jesus again posed the question, “Do you love Me?” But this third time, Jesus used the word “phileo.” And for the third time, Peter replied, “I love (phileo) You.” A play on words, to be sure, but a keen insight into both the Savior’s heart for His Apostle and the Apostle’s heart for his Savior. Jesus got into the depths of Peter’s soul, and accepted his confession that at that particular moment—what with the recent history of denial fresh in Peter’s mind—he was unable to use the word “agapao,” the highest and deepest God-like love, in telling how he felt for Jesus. Jesus accepted that, and in turn commissioned Peter to feed His sheep. Peter would do that, as we learned in Acts. And now, in his epistles, he bids his brethren to add to their faith “agapao” love.

(2) Love our neighbor. Jesus told His followers of the good Samaritan, a story which underscored the truth that our neighbor is anyone who is near us and in need. (Luke 10:29-37) James 2:8: “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”

(3) Love our enemies. In His extended sermon in Matthew 5:43,44, Jesus said that we should not only love our neighbor, but that we should also love our enemies and even “bless them that curse you.” This kind of treatment of those who despitefully use us can only be the result of God’s love coming from us to others.

So, add to your faith LOVE. The Christian life has faith as its foundation and love as its crown of glory. We are to add love—the love of God, love of neighbors and love of our enemies. Believers who have added to their faith these qualities will neither be spiritually barren nor blind. (II Peter 1:8,9)

“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren, nor unfruitful…but he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Pet.1:8,9)

“Isn’t it strange that princes and kings, and clowns that caper in sawdust rings, and common folk like you and me, are builders for eternity? To each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass, and a book of rules; and each must build ‘ere life has flown, a stumbling block or a stepping stone.” (“A Bag of Tools,” R. Lee Sharpe)

Strange indeed! But even stranger that God would save the weak, the base, the despised, and the foolish—and use them to build His church and further His kingdom! But it’s true; therefore, it is incumbent upon us to take to heart Paul’s admonition in his epistle to the church at Colossae, when he wrote: “And say to Archippus, Take heed to thy ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” (Col. 4:17)

I have addressed these words “to those in ministry,” and every person who has confessed Christ as Savior has a ministry to discharge faithfully for the Lord. Peter says that “as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (I Pet. 4:10) The gift Peter speaks of is the gift with which the Holy Spirit has endowed each believer, meted out at the moment of one’s salvation. Peter says, “every one of you has received a spiritual gift for use in ministry.” Paul reiterated that in Eph. 4 when he wrote that He (Christ) gave gifts unto men (v. 8), including apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors-teachers. These gifts, Paul said, were “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11,12) Another and more complete list of spiritual gifts occurs in Romans 12:6-8: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, or ministry…teaching…exhortation…or he that giveth…he that ruleth, he that sheweth mercy.” Other spiritual gifts are mentioned in I Cor. 12. So, God has equipped, by His Holy Spirit, the Church He founded with men and women who are gifted for ministry in the Body of Christ for the purpose of edifying the Body.

You, if you have been redeemed, have a spiritual gift. You received it when you became a follower of Christ. It was given to you not to keep to yourself, not to show others how gifted you are, but to use in ministry to build up the Church that Christ loved and died for. Just like Archippus. How are you doing with your gift and the use of it? No believer can plead ignorance by saying, “I’m not sure what my gift is.” God does not give gifts to people so that they can figure out what the gift is. He will shew you plainly, and it behooves each of us to “take heed to the ministry” that we have received. The Devil has darts of discouragement, of doubt, of disappointment, discontent, detours and distractions. Take heed that you are faithful and fruitful, and that your ministry is, at the last, fulfilled:

1) Faithful. Faithful to your calling, which is a high calling. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) Not only is it a high calling; it is a holy calling: “Who saved us and called us with an holy calling.” (II Tim. 1:9) And, too, it is a heavenly calling: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling.” (Heb. 3:1) Faithful to our calling means that we will “study to shew ourselves approved unto God” (II Tim. 2:15); pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17); love one another (John 15:12); stand (Eph. 6:14); watch (Matt. 24:42); occupy (Luke 19:13); and contend (Jude 3), among many other things.

2) Fruitful. Not “successful,” nor “acclaimed,” nor “popular,” nor “well off,” but fruitful. Jesus: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16)

3) Fulfilled. Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 4:7) He knew his death was pending, but he could say, “I am now ready to be offered.” Archippus, Paul had exhorted, was to fulfill the ministry he had received. Paul fulfilled the ministry that God had given him and for which the Holy Spirit had equipped him.

Babe Ruth was the “home-run king,” but he once said, “Most of the people who have really counted in my life were not famous. Nobody ever heard of them except those who knew and loved them. I was acquainted with an old minister once. His hair was white and his face shown with joy. I have written my name on thousands and thousands of baseballs in my life. The old minister wrote his name on just a few simple hearts, but how I envy him! He was not trying to please himself, so fame never came to him. I am listed as a famous home-run hitter, yet compared to that obscure preacher, who was so good and wise, I never got to first base.”

Take heed to your ministry: Faithful. Fruitful. Fulfilled.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness; which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” (2 Tim.4:8)