Richard Mansel's Blog, page 6

Keep on Writing for God

J. Randal Matheny made some nice comments about me today and I greatly appreciate them. He is a dear friend and colleague.

He wrote,

About three weeks ago, columnist and former managing editor Richard Mansel wrote his 500th consecutive article here on Forthright. He’s never missed a single week. He holds a Forthright record that will likely never be beat. We’re grateful for Richard’s consistent, quality articles. We count him as a good friend and coworker in the gospel. His contributions continue to enrich our lives and we pray the Lord will increase his fruitful harvest in his upcoming change of ministry.

I’m proud of this milestone and now I press on to 520 weeks or a full 10 years of consecutive articles at Forthright Magazine. I’m thankful that they allow me to write for such a wonderful site and to share with such a great staff of writers.

Writing to the glory of God is as great an honor as exists on earth and I am deeply privileged to have the chance to serve Him in this manner. I pray my health allows me to do so for years to come. I have too much more to say. Thanks to all my readers who make it possible.

Review of “Dancing on the Head of a Pen” by Robert Benson

Blogging for Books provided me a copy of “Dancing on the Head of a Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life” by Robert Benson in lieu of a review.

Benson is an experienced writer and the author of several books. This slim volume can be read in an hour or two. In it, he covers the mindset, persistence and imagination necessary to the life of a writer.

There aren’t really any new revelations here but Benson’s passion is infectious and writers can find an infusion of motivation here to help them persevere in the lonely work of writing.

His first chapter refers to writing as “the dark marks on a page,” and I really liked that imagery.

 

Irresistible Grace

What John Calvin formalized in the sixteenth century began with the teachings of Augustine in the fourth century. Since Calvin’s day, scholars have spread the doctrine throughout most of the denominational world. Through the years they simplified their teachings into five principles, the fourth of which is called “Irresistible Grace.”

Calvinists claim that since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, we’re all born sinners and are therefore too depraved to make sound spiritual decisions. As a result, God predestined certain individuals to be saved and others to be lost and that cannot be changed. Subsequently, Christ only died for the elect who are guaranteed heaven.

Calvinism is built on faulty presuppositions and half-truths. Their teachings are taken out of context or misinterpreted with such skill that they can bewilder the inattentive Bible student. In Calvinism, each point is ultimately wrong, but possesses enough truth to be dangerous.

Fascinating Nugget from Scripture

I love Bible study for many fulfilling reasons. We can find enough interesting tidbits of information to keep us busy for a lifetime. This week I found one that I wanted to share with you.

“So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you'” (Luke 17:6, NKJV).

A.T. Robertson points out that there are two mulberry trees in the New Testament:

“At the present time both the black mulberry (sycamine) and the white mulberry (sycamore) exist in Palestine.”

Luke is the only writer to mention both trees: Sycamine (Luke 17:6) and Sycamore (Luke 19:4).

Robertson continues:

“The distinction is not observed in the Septuagint [the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament], but it is observed in the late Greek medical writers for both trees have medicinal properties. Hence it may be assumed that Luke, as a physician, makes the distinction.”

I find that to be awesome. What about you?

Photo Credit 

Differences between Evangelism and Church Growth

The Great Commission is given to the Lord’s Church (Matthew 28:18-19). Accordingly, all Christians share the responsibility to spread the gospel. Seeking the lost is never someone else’s job.

Evangelism is successful when prospects are located, taught and immersed into Christ (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4). Church growth is when they’re added to the Lord’s Body (Acts 2:47), and become a part of a larger whole (Ephesians 2:19).

Evangelism requires planning and preparation as we fill ourselves with the Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), humility (James 4:10) and proven strategies.

Someone in the congregation teaches, baptizes and teaches a person. The great work of the soul-winner now faces an entirely new test as the convert tries to incorporate into the congregation. If the ground has not been prepared and fertilized, the seed may never grow.

Evangelism may be accomplished by one individual while church growth requires the cooperation of every member with whom the new convert interacts. Without it, the workers may be wasting their time.

Church growth requires the following:

First, church growth requires total involvement. Weeks, months or years of work can be undone in seconds by someone with a bad attitude. A prospect or a new convert is very fragile and we all must remember our place in the kingdom and put the larger work of the Lord first (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Second, church growth requires spiritual maturation. The proper attitudes, speech and conduct in the Lord’s Church cannot occur unless we’re all working to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2). Flashes of sin can damage someone else’s spiritual progress at any moment. We must constantly monitor and edit our words and behavior.

Third, church growth requires a healthy, positive atmosphere. We often associate a positive pulpit with error because Biblical compromise too often occurs in the guise of growth. Yet, we can be positive and scriptural. Anyone who stands before the congregation to speak, teach, pray, lead songs or make announcements must weigh every word.

Joy begets joy and unrighteous judgment spreads dissolution (Matthew 7:1-2). We stand for truth but we do so in love (Ephesians 4:15). We work together to go to heaven and that attitude must be heard. We direct people to Christ at all times and we allow the Word to be critical, not our personal prejudices.

Fourth, church growth requires a respect for Biblical authority. Everything begins and ends with reverence for God’s Word (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6). People must hear the Bible instead of opinions from the pulpit (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

The Lord’s Church in a community  will either grow or die because of the  members of the congregation. The entire group must be unified for good or Satan will destroy everything (2 Corinthians 11:3-14).

Church growth is never done by others since everyone has a crucial role. As a result, every Christian must determine whether they’re a part of the problem or the solution. Think about it.

Seek and Hide

Most of us played “Hide and Seek” as children. The person who is “it” counts while everyone else hide. When the counter finishes, they attempt to locate the hiders. As we grow older, we leave that game behind.

In Scripture, God has “Seek and Hide,” but it’s neither a game nor childish.

In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah restored allegiance to Jehovah by tearing down the idols of the previous two kings. Manasseh had been especially evil (2 Chronicles 33:1-9).

During the restoration process, the High Priest, Hilkiah, found the Torah (2 Kings 22:8-11) and they went to Huldah the prophetess to seek the guidance of the Lord (2 Kings 22:14-20).

Jeremiah and Zephaniah, contemporaries of Huldah, prophesied of the Babylonian captivity that would bring devastation to the land and the enslavement of the people (2 Kings 21:13-14)

Zephaniah was of royal blood descended from King Hezekiah (Zephaniah 1:1). He boldly proclaimed dire prophecies about the certainty of judgment (Zephaniah 1:2-4,8-9,12,17).

God is basically referring to national sins. Of course, national sins are the result of individual sins. Yet, we shouldn’t think that everyone in the nation of Israel was sinful. Elijah was told that God had seven thousand faithful souls in his day (1 Kings 19:18).

God would protect the righteous as the nation went into captivity (Zephaniah 2:3) because he has always been faithful to his people (Ephesians 5:24-27; Hebrews 13:5). His grace and mercy will never fade away (1 John 1:7).

Taking responsibility for our sins is a sobering challenge. Sometimes we think we have repented when we’ve only skimmed the surface. Sins hide other sins and we more we dig, the deeper they become.

A partial expulsion is much easier than a total purge. However, we must locate the sins we fiercely protect and rationalize and banish them forever (Luke 13:3,5). Too many want to hide from God and hope he will seek us anyway, but that is folly.

We must shine the Light of God’s Word into our hearts to purge the sin in our lives (John8:12). We must test ourselves by the Word (2 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:23-27; Psalm 77:1-6) and examine carefully every corner and space in our lives.

Zephaniah tells us to seek the Lord and his righteousness and hide within it for safety (Zephaniah 2:3). Once we have been found by God, we should never ever want to leave.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Huldah the Prophetess

In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah begins to reform the nation’s spiritual practices. His grandfather Manasseh and his father, Amon, were idolaters. Young Josiah saw a better way.

Hilkiah the High Priest finds the book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22: 8; cf. Deuteronomy 31:24-26). What a High Priest does without a knowledge of

the Torah is a complete mystery.

Shaphan the scribe reads it to Josiah and the King desires the council of God. What happens next is one of the more unusual stories of the Old Testament.

Hilkiah goes to Huldah, the prophetess who was the wife of Shallum. He went to a woman to inquire of the Lord? What’s more, she was a contemporary of Jeremiah and related to the prophet by marriage (2 Kings 22:14; Jeremiah 1:1; 32:7-8).

A lot of theories are given as to why Hilkiah went to a woman. Many of them are misogynistic while others are just wild guesses. Simply put, we don’t know where Jeremiah was at the time. It appears that Zephaniah came onto the scene later.

They consulted Huldah and she spoke the Word of the Lord with boldness (2 Kings 22:15-20). She pronounced doom on the nation but King Josiah would be saved as a result of his faith. Judah’s penalty came upon them after Josiah’s death (2 Chronicles 36:15-23).

The Jewish Encyclopedia said that Huldah had a school. We know she lived in the Second Quarter which was part of an expansion of the walls of Jerusalem. Later there was a Gate of Huldah in the second temple, but it doesn’t appear that it had anything to do with her. She was one of the seven prophetesses called by name in Scripture.

We have to respect Huldah. The King came to her and she did not take advantage of the situation. She didn’t question their motives or intentions. She simply spoke the word of God and let it stand on its own.

Do we put the Lord above our own needs (Colossians 3:15)? Or, do we try to find a way of glorifying him and helping ourselves at the same time (Ephesians 3:20-21)?

Let us always send people to God and his Word (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Corinthians 4:6). Transformation means we always put the Lord first (Romans 12:1-2).

We can thank Huldah for her stand and example. May we speak boldly and clearly when our opportunity arises.

Bible and the Locked Room

We are asked to grasp the wind.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV).

However, we can also say that without faith it is impossible to understand God, as well. The foundation beliefs about God are accessible for all but the deeper we go, the more challenging God becomes.

Fleshly man lives in a finite world where we trust in science and the tangible. Seeing is believing in our self-absorbed age but we cannot apply that to understanding God. He is a spirit (John 4:24) and although we are made in his spiritual image (Genesis 1:26), he is absolutely nothing like us.

God is everywhere at once (Psalm 139:7-12) and cannot be contained. Yet, we persist in our efforts to reduce God to our own level. Judging God by human standards & then pronouncing him a failure is like criticizing a Tiger for his inadequacy as an Ostrich.

We want to put God in a locked room so we can control him. Whatever we prefer or like, God will go along with it. Such temerity!

“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25).

God transcends our imagination. Until we unleash our minds and think spiritually, we will never grasp the majesty of our Lord. We have to open the doors and windows and let him out!

Jesus came to earth to show us the Father (John 14:8-12). The foolish captors thought they had eliminated Jesus when he simply threw off the shackles of death to prove his greatness.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians1:15).

Our fleshly minds cannot understand Christ, much less God (John 1:1). Scripture gives us images, analogies, metaphors, parables, and a host of other methods to help us grasp the impossible.

We read about God in anthropomorphic terms, but God doesn’t have hands and feet. However, we must have something for our minds to latch onto. That is our connection to the invisible.

We must train our spiritual minds to ponder the unknowable. Faith includes a window into the unseen and impossible, so we must start thinking bigger or we will believe a lie (John8:44).

Philosophy of Preaching

Preachers carry a specific mindset into the pulpit. They approach the text and the presentation based on their presuppositions coupled with their abilities and opportunities.

Faithful Bible students will allow Scripture to be their mirror and sword (James 1:23; Ephesians 6:17).

As a fulltime preacher for the past nineteen years I want to share the main points of my philosophy of preaching in hopes of helping others.

Reverence

Proclaiming the Word of God is one of the highest callings on earth (Romans 10:15). As a result, we must be spiritually transformed so we can connect with the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

This spiritual connection should lead us to a deep reverence and respectful fear for God and his Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). All spiritual blessings are found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and without them, preaching is simply a motivational talk.

When we open the Bible and prepare a sermon, we’re fired with humility and awe (James4:10). God is always watching and listening (Psalm 139:7-12). So our presentation is bigger than us. We utilize the intelligence and abilities God gave us to bring glory to him (Ephesians 3:21).

At the forefront of our mission must be an undeniable faith that God is always good and his Word is always right. We are simply messengers taking the Word from God’s mouth and delivering it to human souls in need of salvation.

Respect

Absolute reverence leads to a deep respect for God’s plan and Word. We come to the Bible with a careful heart seeking only God’s will and nothing else. We subsequently proclaim the Word instead of our own prejudices and agendas (2 Timothy 4:2).

Respect and love for God turns our soft hearts to our brethren and the lost (1 John 4). We respect them enough to tell them the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Reading

In order to be a better preacher, we have to be thoroughly educated in the human spirit and mind. We cannot change hearts we do not understand. Preachers should therefore drink deeply from the Word first and then from the best human writers.

Reading enhances our vocabulary, empathy and understanding. It also ensures that we will remain young, vibrant and growing.

Utilizing what we have learned, we bring it to the pulpit and we read the people before us. Preaching not only to their hearts, minds and souls, we also study their faces to see what is resonating so we can penetrate deeper into that subject.

Responsibility

We take preaching very seriously. Every lesson is life and death to someone because it may be the last sermon they hear. That should drive us to push harder in study and preparation. We do all we can to deliver interesting and edifying lessons.

The Word becomes a repository of spiritual treasures. We dig deeply and fill our minds with the richness of the text and present it as simply as possible so souls can be saved.

There aren’t any shortcuts for the passionate. God deserves our best and beyond and we should do all we can to deliver.

Making the Bible Smaller

The Bible is a lengthy book and there have been many efforts to reduce its size. Some cut out the verses they don’t like while others ignore huge chunks like the Old Testament. Years ago, a Reader’s Digest version only included so-called important verses.

Yet, there is a healthier way to make the Bible smaller and more manageable and it has God’s stamp of approval (Psalm 119). Deep study familiarizes us with the entirety of the Bible and in the process brings the covers closer together.

Ignorance causes us to see 66 disparate books of unrelated information. We weigh passages against each other to see which ones are important to us. It’s an ego-centric method of Bible Study rather than one that glorifies the Lord (Ephesians 3:21).

We must learn everything we can about Scripture so we can fit the pieces together. Trace the threads of light and darkness, blood and water, shepherding, bondage and freedom and a host of others that permeate God’s Word.

Tie the Old and New Testaments together through themes, types, antitypes and prophecies. Nothing was invented when the new covenant was ushered into existence in Acts 2. God had prepared everything beforehand and they simply had to apply what already existed in new ways.

No one should attempt to understand worship, baptism or the Lord’s Supper without a thorough study of Exodus and Leviticus. It’s imperative that we become conversant with the Old Testament so we can understand the New (Romans 15:4).

We must make every page vibrant in our hearts because it’s all inspired and important if we want to go to heaven (2 Timothy 3:16-17). See if it from God’s perspective and we understand how each word rings with clarity.