“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is a slogan coined by Arthur Fletcher, the former head of the United Negro College Fund.
A mind is a terrible thing for anyone waste especially if the mind is focused on murder.
Last Sunday, a man with serious mental health issues walked into a church meeting and opened fire on those gathered there. Sadly, this act of murder was the product of a long journey: arrest for abusive actions, dishonorable discharge from the service, incarceration, mental health treatment. Even though the man had his problems addressed, they were not resolved.
From a Christian point of view this act of murder began in the man’s mind. The sixth commandment tells us, "You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13). But keeping the sixth commandment in the letter, literally not committing the act of murder, is only the first line of defense against this sin.
Jesus Christ explained that the sixth commandment is to be kept not only in the letter, but in the spirit. Christ explains the full application of the sixth commandment in Matthew 5:21-22, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Christ is saying that murder begins in the heart with anger and hatred. When anger and hatred reside in a person’s heart they eventually burst forth in derogatory words and eventually into murderous actions.
Jesus described the point of origin of murder and other sins in Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Evil thoughts, fueled by unresolved anger, fester in a person’s mind until murder seems to be the obvious course of action.
Recently our nation has been plagued by a couple of mass murders. Why? Because something has gone very wrong in the minds of those who have perpetrated the slaughter of their fellow man.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste on hatred and rage that manifests in murder. Imagine the bondage and turmoil of someone with this mindset.
Jesus Christ came to set us at liberty from such life-destroying thinking. Christ’s work is to set us free from unresolved anger and hatred. As Christians we are told, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). It would seem that the man who murdered the church-goers was entangled in a yoke of bondage.
Following Christ’s example and admonition, we can forgive those who have sinned against us (Matthew 6:14-15). Instead of nursing anger toward another, we can forgive them of their sin and allow God to deal with the sinner in his mercy and wisdom. We don’t have to carry the burden of anger and vengeance.
In harmony with Christ’s teaching Paul tells us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). In other words, as we humble ourselves before God, we can reject the worldly way of anger and hatred, and be renewed in godly thinking.
Thankfully, the path that is “good and acceptable” and in perfect harmony with God’s will is available to us as followers of Jesus Christ.
Additionally, we know that there will come a time when the young man with the mind so twisted by hatred will be able to enjoy the liberty we now enjoy. At that time his mind will no longer be wasted by anger and hatred.
It is why we pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Have a pleasant Sabbath,
Gary Smith
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Friday, November 10, 2017
Friday, October 30, 2015
God's Unchanging Standard
As promised in last week’s Sabbath thought, I want continue the discussion about the benefits of standardization. This week we will look at this subject from a more spiritual perspective.
At one time in America, Protestant Christianity was the standard. Judeo-Christian morality was commonly accepted. Christianity was a routine part of American society.
However, our world has dramatically changed what is now standard. An assistant football coach helps to illustrate our changing standards in regard to what is religiously accepted.
Joe Kennedy was a coach at Bremerton High School in the state of Washington. Since 2008, the coach has offered on-field prayers at the 50-yard line after each game. While he typically goes on the field to pray alone, students and players often voluntarily join Kennedy — and that is what has sparked controversy and concerns over the separation of church and state.
Because of the school district’s concern over separation of church and state, the coach was told to cease these public prayers.
The coach felt that this restriction placed on him by the school district was an infringement on his religious liberty as an American. He continued to pray after a game and ended up being suspended as an assistant football coach.
There was a time in America when praying before or after a football game would not have been controversial but standards have changed.
How will this religious freedom issue work out in 21st century America? Time will give the answer to that question.
As Christians, we know that there is an unchanging standard in which we can have unwavering confidence. We know that God and His spiritual standard does not change. Let’s consider a few scriptural passages that illustrate this point:
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” God does not change in His nature, His purposes and His promises. If God were changeable He would have consumed the Jews for their sins.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James tells us that good and perfect gifts come down from heaven, “from the Father of lights.” God is the creator of these heavenly lights; He himself is nothing but light. Therefore, darkness cannot exist in the presence of God. In this light, God displays his holiness, goodness, love, integrity, and unchangeableness.
In the New Testament Commentary by Hendrikson and Kistemaker, they “Note that James calls God the “Father” of lights and uses this figure of speech to illustrate God's absolute stability. God “does not change like shifting shadows.” The being, nature, and characteristics of God are unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). As the earth, sun, moon, and stars move in their ordained courses, we observe the interplay of light and darkness, day and night, the longest and the shortest day of the year, the waning and the waxing of the moon, eclipses, and the movements of the planets. Nature is subject to variation and change. Not so with God! He is the Father of the heavenly lights, who is always light and does not change. He has an abiding interest in his children.”
Finally consider Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ embodies the same standard at all time as does the heavenly Father.
As we consider the world of men, standards change over time. God never changes in His character or in His truth. God’s unchanging standard gives us confidence as we go about our lives.
As we observe the weekly Sabbath, rejoice in God’s unchanging standard.
Gary Smith
At one time in America, Protestant Christianity was the standard. Judeo-Christian morality was commonly accepted. Christianity was a routine part of American society.
However, our world has dramatically changed what is now standard. An assistant football coach helps to illustrate our changing standards in regard to what is religiously accepted.
Joe Kennedy was a coach at Bremerton High School in the state of Washington. Since 2008, the coach has offered on-field prayers at the 50-yard line after each game. While he typically goes on the field to pray alone, students and players often voluntarily join Kennedy — and that is what has sparked controversy and concerns over the separation of church and state.
Because of the school district’s concern over separation of church and state, the coach was told to cease these public prayers.
The coach felt that this restriction placed on him by the school district was an infringement on his religious liberty as an American. He continued to pray after a game and ended up being suspended as an assistant football coach.
There was a time in America when praying before or after a football game would not have been controversial but standards have changed.
How will this religious freedom issue work out in 21st century America? Time will give the answer to that question.
As Christians, we know that there is an unchanging standard in which we can have unwavering confidence. We know that God and His spiritual standard does not change. Let’s consider a few scriptural passages that illustrate this point:
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” God does not change in His nature, His purposes and His promises. If God were changeable He would have consumed the Jews for their sins.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James tells us that good and perfect gifts come down from heaven, “from the Father of lights.” God is the creator of these heavenly lights; He himself is nothing but light. Therefore, darkness cannot exist in the presence of God. In this light, God displays his holiness, goodness, love, integrity, and unchangeableness.
In the New Testament Commentary by Hendrikson and Kistemaker, they “Note that James calls God the “Father” of lights and uses this figure of speech to illustrate God's absolute stability. God “does not change like shifting shadows.” The being, nature, and characteristics of God are unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). As the earth, sun, moon, and stars move in their ordained courses, we observe the interplay of light and darkness, day and night, the longest and the shortest day of the year, the waning and the waxing of the moon, eclipses, and the movements of the planets. Nature is subject to variation and change. Not so with God! He is the Father of the heavenly lights, who is always light and does not change. He has an abiding interest in his children.”
Finally consider Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ embodies the same standard at all time as does the heavenly Father.
As we consider the world of men, standards change over time. God never changes in His character or in His truth. God’s unchanging standard gives us confidence as we go about our lives.
As we observe the weekly Sabbath, rejoice in God’s unchanging standard.
Gary Smith
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