A humanist website says this about Christmas: “Christmas is a multicultural festival with a long pagan history, and can be celebrated by anyone”. You’ll probably hear stuff like that from unbelievers. They will tell you that “the church” just decided to appropriate a then-current pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice or the Roman celebration of the sun god, Jupiter. Please understand that whether or not Christians decided to have a celebration at a time when heathen celebrations occurred is irrelevant. That doesn’t mean it has a pagan history.

      The first recorded date of celebrating Christmas on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December. It was observed to celebrate the birth of Christ; nothing more and certainty nothing less. There were no Christmas trees, partridges in pear trees, sleigh rides or exchanging of gifts. It was a religious mass (celebration) of the birth or Christ. Santa Claus was nowhere in the picture.

     Since that time well-meaning folks have, however misguided, sought to enhance that celebration with certain symbols and events meant to take the celebration to new heights. In doing so the door was opened for the commercialization of Christmas and from there the religious celebration morphed into a frenzied holiday that contains elements that even pagans can embrace. In fact, I believe that the statement from the humanist website should be corrected to say “Christmas is a Christian celebration, many aspects of which several ideologies have appropriated for their own celebrations”.

     Think about this: All of the characteristics that people say are what Christmas is all about…love, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, family…are characteristics that God commands us to have and empowers us, as Christians, to have to a degree that the “world” can never achieve. But, because of what began with the birth of Christ, people can now love their enemies, do good to those that abuse them, and forgive those that wrong them. They can love their neighbors as they love themselves. They can sacrifice for the good of others. All…to a measure the world cannot copy.

     So when people try to secularize Christmas, remind them that it is His day. And because of what happened on that day love, joy, and happiness in their purest forms are available to all.

 

Say good things about your church and about your Savior. It’s His birthday we are celebrating.

Bro. Tony

      The most wonderful time of the year. That’s what the Christmas season is, isn’t it? I’ve watched three Hallmark Christmas movies (Yes, I watch some of them. So what?) and so far five couples have fallen in love, two parent/adult child relationships have been healed, a couple of miserly hearts have been softened, and two small town Christmases have been “saved”. You can’t get much more wonderful than that, can you? Here is the thing: I knew it was going to happen. That’s what happens in those movies. I watched the first fifteen minutes of one and turned to Angie and said “She is going to fall in love with that guy, he is going to start getting along with his dad, she will quit her city job, buy that store for sale, and move to the little town. There will be a misunderstanding between them but it will be OK. Oh, and the church bells will ring again”. That’s exactly what happened.

 

      So why do I watch them? They don’t generally speak much about Jesus or proclaim the real message of that wonderful event that changed the course of history. But those simplistic movies do speak of family values, compassion, forgiveness, and the goodness in people. They do it without pushing an agenda on me, whether it is transgender rights, homosexual marriages, racial stereotypes, sexual promiscuity, or violence. No one is trying too indoctrinate me or tell me that I’m a horrible, bigoted person because of my religious beliefs.

 

     So, yes, they may be formulaic and simple but they are still better than most of the trash that passes for entertainment. They all have religious carols sung without apology and will generally involve a church choir at some point. They may not point right at Jesus but neither do they take time to deny Him. And I guess in this age of humanism and Christophobia that’s a refreshing thing.

 

Say good things about your church and about your Savior. It’s His birthday we are celebrating.

Bro. Tony

     There are some things that we just cannot measure. As advanced as the field of medicine is there is not yet a machine that can measure pain. When trying to discern the level of pain a patient is asked to point to one of a series of “smiley faces”. Even if there was such a machine, it could not determine a person’s ability, physically or mentally, to handled levels of pain. If, for instance, there was a measuring tool would a nurse be justified in telling me “Man up, Mr. Barber. The machine says your pain is only measuring a 5. You shouldn’t be curled up in a fetal position and crying”? No. The nurse would manage my personal level of pain.

 

     My point is that people handle things differently; they process things emotionally different. Yet we too often judge people by our own standards. Instead of judging how some should feel according to how we may or may not have felt in a similar situation (or how we think we would feel) we should try to help them manage their situation. Could there be a time where we try to get that person to recognize that he or she should be handling the situation differently? Of Course. But that will come in the midst of ministry after we know more and understand better. It shouldn’t be our first step/reaction.

 

     That is not saying that there will not be times when a person’s reaction to a situation is blatantly and obviously wrong (“Mr. Barber, it’s a paper cut. I will not give you morphine.”). But we should always look deeper into a situation before we judge someone’s reaction. That is what compassion does.

 

Say good things about your Savior and about your church.

Bro. Tony

I enjoy watching college football, especially our in-state teams.  It seems that every week there is an “upset” where teams that were projected to win actually lose.  Sometimes there is even a “major upset” where a team that was suppose to get beat by several touchdowns wins the game.  The reason offered most of the time is that the better team took the other team too lightly. I always thought that was a lousy excuse because after a few plays into the game the players should be able to realized they should play harder.  Right?

              I feel that we Christians do the same thing in our battles with Satan.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are stronger than the devil: “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4).  Then how does he win so many battles? We take him too lightly as we prepare. We are pretty good at looking at the wicked thugs napping in our nation and we have honed our complaining to razor sharpness. But what about in our personal lives? Are we on guard against temptation and sin? Do we recognize the devil in our anger, jealousy, selfishness, and lackadaisical attitude toward spiritual matters?

              We are indeed in a large scale battle for the soul of our nation but there are battles in our own life for which we need to be prepared. Satan may want to corrupt our nation in general, but he wants to hurt and destroy you in particular. Study the word of God.  Bathe your family, friends, and church in prayer. One day in your future will be “game day”.  Are you prepared?

 

Say good things about you church and about your Savior.

Bro. Tony

What would cause a person to go into a synagogue and kill people merely because they are Jewish or enter a church and kill people because they are black? Is it possible that all the un-civil rhetoric of politicians (from both parties) is seen as green light for violence? Is racism becoming more prevalent and violent? Does gun ownership create a culture of killing?  Those seem to be the talking points when such atrocities occur.

                But let me throw out a talking point that I believe needs our attention more than others: Evil.  Evil has been defined as “profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force”.  The problem is that there is absolutely nothing a government can do to eradicate evil.  Laws can be passed to mitigate the result of evil, but because evil is a supernatural force it can only be overcome by a supernatural force. Make no mistake about it, Jesus is that supernatural force.  The only thing that can destroy evil is the love of Christ.

                Many have repeated the oft told lie that Christianity is a hateful, violent religion. There are, indeed, some religions that deem violence as a necessary tool to destroy other religions, such as the Islamic slaughter of thousands of Christian men, women, and children in Nigeria this year alone.  But true Christianity creates a new person incapable of perpetrating violence because that new person is indwelled with the heart of Jesus.

                Did Jesus hate sin? Absolutely. Does He want people to live moral and righteous lives? Of course. Does He teach us the difference between good and evil? He is the light that dispels the darkness of evil. But He never….not once…remotely suggested that His followers change the world by force. In fact He said that He would give his followers a peace that surpassed the knowledge of the world.

     True Christianity destroys every form of evil be it hatred, racism, or violence.  We don’t need more laws we just need more Jesus. He is the answer to every question and the solution to every problem.

 

Say good things about you church and about your Savior.

Bro. Tony

       What should the Christian response be to the newest caravan of refugees approaching the U.S. border? It is being billed as a “humanitarian crisis” and I suppose it truly is. In the current heated political arena, however, our first reaction is often one of suspicion. Honestly, our first thoughts should be on compassion; no one should be more compassionate than the body of Christ. If people are hungry we should feed them, if they are sick we should try to get them help.                

       But compassion must be tempered with diligence. Believe it or not people have learned how to take advantage of compassionate people…especially the church.  The Church on the Bluff is a compassionate and generous church.  We have helped members and non-members alike with rent, utilities, food, and gas.  We do not discriminate for any reason be it race, nationality, citizenship status, sexual orientation, or religious standing: if they are in need we try to help. But…we do our best to establish that there is a need. We call the landlord, check with the utilities when possible, refer them to the Green Springs Ministry for food, check with their own church (for those who claim church attendance), and we never…ever…give them cash.  And here is what we discover: many of them are trying to deceive us or have developed a lifestyle of dependency on compassionate people.  We save our resources and effort for those who are truly in need.                

           I say all of that to remind us that diligence is necessary on a large scale, too.  Five-thousand people suddenly deciding to rush our borders just ahead of an important election, knowing the difficulties faced by a previous group,  reeks of political manipulation…at the expense of vulnerable people.  Immigration laws are necessary.  Open borders is not the answer to world hunger or poverty.

          If that huge group gets here you better believe that our Christian organizations will be in their camps helping all we can…while they go through legal channels to enter. Don’t believe the falsehood that defining borders is un-compassionate, neither is it turning our backs on people in need. It is just common sense.

          Let me encourage you to give locally to the Green Springs Food Ministry and to give to our own Benevolence Fund at church.  It will be distributed wisely to people in need.  And when presented with the opportunity to give to reputable Christian organizations to help the people waiting at the border, take advantage of that, too.   Say good things about you church and about your Savior.   Bro. Tony

I feel like I’m watching a country devour itself.  The anger and animosity between political parties rip through our nation not unlike the horrible hurricanes that have battered our shores recently. The true political divide has been laid open in all of its rawness and ugliness. Honestly, it’s a little scary, isn’t it?  The big question to me, as a Christian and as a Pastor, is “what is the role of the church in all of this?”

The first thing I want to point out that the primary function of the church is to spread the Gospel. We have to gauge our every word and action with the effect they will have on our ability to reach people for Christ. At the same time, because we are parents, grandparents, and citizens of an earthly nation we have the responsibility to protect our families and our freedoms as we deem best. Is balancing those two things difficult? I do not believe it is nearly as hard as some might say.

I do not advocate for one party or another from the pulpit.  I have learned over the years that there have been members of several political ideologies who sit under my preaching.  There are certain policies and activities that even sincere Christians with like theological philosophies can rightfully disagree: national security, foreign relations, fiscal responsibility, among others.  But when it comes to moral authority and what pleases God I do not hesitate to preach the Biblical truth and let the chips fall where they may politically.

I will always preach that abortion is wrong and that it violates the command of God. I will preach that a homosexual lifestyle is contrary to God’s purpose and that gender dysphoria is a sickness that God wants healed, not affirmed.  I will always preach that it is now and always will be God’s purpose for marriage to be between a man and a woman. I will preach that God ordained the family unit, a married man and woman raising their children together, as the essential building block of a civil society.

So when you enter into a discussion about politics help people see how love and compassion drive your beliefs on those matters, discussing them calmly, with honesty and integrity. And when you enter the voting booth I urge you to vote for the candidates that uphold and promote those values, be it Democrat, Republican, or Independent.

Say good things about you church and about your Savior.

Bro. Tony

We just celebrated 120 years of ministry as an organized body of Christians. What a wonderful accomplishment. I want us to think back for a moment and ask ourselves this question: Why did they organize?  The year was 1898.  William McKinley was president and the Spanish-American War was going on. Trains were the main source of mass transportation and “horseless carriage” were just rare and for the wealthy; most people having never seen nor heard of them.  The overwhelming majority of people had no telephone or other communication device.

So what motivated the people in a small community to organize a church?  First let’s look  at the social aspects of the local church “back then”. The church was usually also the local school and was fundamental in teaching the three R’s: “Readin’, Ritin’, and Rythmatic”. Along with the occasional barn dance, church socials and picnics were where families got together.  I suspect that is where many young folks met their eventual spouse. Of course churches were necessary for weddings and funerals, too. The church impacted the community in so many ways.

Some of those things have changed, however.  The local church is no longer needed for school.  The social aspect has certainly diminished as people gather most often for entertainment, dining out, and sporting events. Many weddings are celebrated at wedding “venues” and funeral homes conduct many funeral services.

Are we useless, then? Heavens no!  The sweetest social interaction is still as the body gathers together, whether it be for services or fellowship.  I may be an old fuddy duddy but being with my fellow believers is still my favorite part of social life.

We must remember, though, that the most important aspect has to do with the Gospel.  We know, of course, that churches existed for the proclamation of the Gospel.  How can people hear if no one preaches to them? (Romans 10:14). But it was also for the preservation of the Gospel. The purity of Christian teachings needed to be upheld. Sound doctrine is of utmost importance. Those two things are still the bedrock foundation of our purpose as a church.  And what we preach and what we teach are still the most important things we do:  They determine our eternal destination and our quality of life, both personally and in the structure of our society.  I’d say we still have an important role, wouldn’t you?

 

Say good things about you church and about your Savior.

Bro. Tony

                It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks with all the political nonsense going on and then the indoor monsoon in the nursery area.  It seems like there is bad news on top of bad news. But it is in these times that we have to take one of the strongest steps of faith and do the one thing that brings us peace and comfort: we have to “turn it over to God”.  And, honestly, that’s not easy, is it?

Yet, God tells us that we can do that, even in the worst of times.  Remember the verses in 1 Peter 5 where Satan is described as a roaring lion looking to devour us? Here is the verse immediately preceding that warning: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Can we truly turn it over to God? Absolutely! But there are a few steps were have to take.

I’m 66 (and ¾) years old. I do not recall the nation being in this much turmoil, even during the race riots of the 60’s and the Vietnam War/hippie era. Those times were defining moments in the shape of our nation. The racial unrest rightfully turned our country down the path of equality. The free-love, down with the man, anything goes movement, not so much (I know there are those who will disagree with that). Where will this cultural unrest take us? The answer to that can be either very frightening or a source of comfort. I believe the church will determine the answer to that. Many churches failed miserably during the civil rights battle and many were not successful in ministering during the flower child era. Why? In both cases I believe that we let our anger supplant our concern for souls. That is, we judged people and found them unworthy of our love and evangelistic efforts. We stopped and circled the wagons instead of continuing the journey of ministry. Am I suggesting that we not be involved in politics? Of course we should be involved. What a wonderful privilege we Christians have to be a voice in how our nation functions. And I believe every Christian should vote and vote according to Biblical principles. Quite frankly I’m appalled at politicians on both sides of the isle but I will continue to reach out to all because the only way to change our culture is to change the people in our culture. That is our first priority. Do I have the right to wear a “Make America Great Again” hat or a “Trump is not my president” T-shirt? Of course I have that right. But how successful do you think I would be sharing the gospel with someone of the opposite political leaning while wearing either? Like I heard someone say: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Jesus is the main thing.

Bro. Tony