A Plea For "Plain Talk"

Robert F. Turner

Once Jesus told his disciples, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father." And his disciples said, "Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb." (Jn. 16:28-29)

Again (in 2 Cor. 3:12) Paul, having contrasted the Old and New Testament, and having shown the greater glory of the later, wrote: "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech."

The days of "hidden wisdom" and the "mystery of the gospel" are past. (1 Cor. 2:7, 10, Eph. 3:3-7) The "Mystic Knights of the Sea" may keep their pagan rites and child-like secrets but God's children love the light, and rejoice unashamedly in the truth. It is with such a spirit as this that Plain Talk is introduced.

POLITICS AND RELIGION

These subjects are "taboo" in social circles, we are told. Why is it so? Is it better to repeat the latest gossip, or feed the ego with stories of yesterday's deeds? Or do we simply admit we know so little about these vital life subjects we cannot carry on an intelligent discussion without becoming obnoxious?

"A Weaving Way"

Some preachers, and politicians, cannot discuss their subjects calmly and factually. They must build up steam so that the stale cliches, flag waving, and stomping can take the place of substantiated truth. Maybe some reluctance to discuss religion results from such displays. You say, "If this is religion, deliver me."

And so-- Plain Talk

Stuff About Things

Robert F. Turner

When a California church bought a building from a denomination that was moving to different quarters, they gained two new members in the process. It seems two Methodist joined the Church of Christ rather than leave the building they loved. The Methodist didn’t lose any one, and the church of the Lord did not gain any one. The two were converted to the building, and they remained true to their first love.

It happens quite often with varied details. People are bound to external forms, places or other people, and these material ties are stronger by far than their convictions concerning the worship and service of God. They do not love the Lord; they like the suit He chanced to wear. We would surely be startled if we could borrow Gods X-Ray and see why people maintain their various religious affiliations. Or see our own heart — One says, I put hard-earned money into this building and they are not about to run me off. Another, I was married in this building, and I’ll have my funeral here. Family and social ties account for many. Some have been Church of Christers or Baptist for many generations, and consider it a sort of family obligation, at least while they are at home. When they move to another state, they have no ties whatsoever.

Within a community when differences arise among brethren, such folk are left without chart or compass. It is so sad to hear people who we sup­posed to have scriptural convictions say, I just don’t know what to do— I like people on both sides. Having never really been converted to Christ the teachings of Christ on the issues move them not. So, they usually, stay with the building.

Later they may become disgusted by the antics of their brethren, but by now they have been so prejudiced against the anti's or the liberals that they would cease all pretense of worship rather than change buildings.

I do not believe the situation would be measurably helped by aban­doning all buildings and meeting under a tree. It is the heart that must be changed— in each individual, in each generation. Can’t you just hear some old fellow say, my pappy worshipped under this oak, and I ain’t about to change to some modernistic fruitless mulberry.

The Expectations about Jesus

by Jeff Curtis

     When the Old Testament prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, the Jewish world had certain expectations of what this Messiah would be and what he would do. They eagerly waited for this Messiah from God.

     By the time Jesus finally came, anticipation about the coming of the Messiah was at an extremely high level. This can be seen in the excitement of Simeon and Anna, who welcomed the baby Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:25-38). Simeon had been looking for “the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). Anna talked about Jesus “to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

     The coming of the Messiah was evidently a popular subject of discussion. Details of His life were known: He would be a descendant of David (Matt. 22:42); He would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5,6; John 7:42). Tied in with the discussion concerning the Messiah was speculation about His forerunner (John 1:21; Matt.16:14). False Messiahs had apparently arisen, fanning the hopes of the people. Jesus told His disciples that this would happen after His departure (Matt. 24:23-24), and most scholars believe it also happened before His birth.

     With all the anticipation of His coming, the words of John may be hard to understand: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The rejection of Jesus by the Jews in general and by Jewish leaders in particular is a prominent theme in the New Testament (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 17:25; Acts 4:11; 1Peter 2:4,7). Why was Jesus not accepted as the long-awaited Messiah?

     Basically, Jesus was rejected because He didn’t fit the Jews’ preconceived concept of the Messiah. The Old Testament taught that the Messiah was to be a God-sent King (Isa. 9:6-7) from the royal line of David (Psa. 89:3-4). The Old Testament also taught that the Messiah was to be a suffering servant (Psa. 22:1-21; Isa. 53:1-12), but prophecies of this nature were largely ignored. It was clear in the minds of the Jewish people that they needed a strong political and military leader to defeat the Romans and re-establish the kingdom of Israel as it had been in the days of David and Solomon. A Christ who said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) would not do. Jesus was a “round peg” that didn’t fit into the “square hole” that His people had conceived for the Messiah.

Stay-Hope Order

by Heath Rogers

I was sending a message to a preacher friend in the Philippines this week and spoke of the non-official “stay-home order” given by our governor to help curb the spread of the corona virus. However, when typing in my message, I accidentally wrote the words “stay-hope.” While I quickly made the correction, I got to thinking - hasn’t God given us a “stay-hope” order for this pandemic?

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were tired of suffering for their new faith and wanted to return to observing the Law of Moses. The writer exhorted them to weather the temporary storm of suffering and remain faithful to Christ.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:19-20).

An anchor is thrown into the water and fixed on something solid. This connection keeps the boat from drifting off course or crashing into the rocks.

Hope is our anchor. Confident expectation of receiving God’s protection and God’s promises keeps us from being blown off course and shipwrecking our faith during the storms of life. Our hope keeps us connected to God, because it is anchored to “the Presence behind the veil” (the very presence of God in Heaven).

This pandemic rages on, but God’s “stay-hope” order remains. Maintain a firm grip on your anchor and keep your harbor light shining. This storm will end.