Yours for the Asking...

I remember the day, though I do not remember the date. The preacher quoted a verse from the book of James:

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (1:5)

I remember thinking, “Someday I’ll be wise.”

I was only in the sixth grade, and I make no presumptuous evaluation of myself today. But I was not naïve in my thinking. After all, God openly made an offer and He even added that He would give wisdom without reproach, that is, without making fun of you for not having it.

Over the years I’ve heard folks treat this and other passages with the classic, “yeah, but…” logic. It is a lazy man’s way of scoffing at God’s word by explaining why it doesn’t really mean what it says. It is the voice of the doubter.

I really believe that God meant for us to ask for wisdom and I believe that He really meant that He would give it. I also recognize the context in which the statement was written. James was writing about life’s trials.

A trial could be temptation, adversity, or difficulty of any kind. It’s source might be known or unknown. However, God made an offer: ask for wisdom to get through the trial and He will give you wisdom. Just don’t doubt.

Only a fool would not ask God for help.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:99-100.

I have more insight than all my teachers,

For Your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

Because I have observed Your precepts.

Imagine knowing more than your teachers.

I remember a couple of college professors that seemed out of touch with reality, but I don’t think that is what the psalmist meant. And he was not saying that he knew more math than his math teacher or more economics than his economics teacher. The context is about life and living before God. And yet it was not just a religious/moral/Bible-knowledge statement.

By focusing on God’s word, the psalmist surpassed his teachers in life knowledge. He did so by reading God’s word. But notice that he also meditated on it. That means that he had to stop!

He stopped and thought. He thought about what he had read. He mulled it over in his mind. He reasoned out how to apply God’s word in his life. And that’s not all.

He gained understanding, the ability to discern. Discernment is the application of knowledge when making decisions. It is making evaluations and then choosing one thing over another. It is being able to choose good over bad, better over good, best over better. It is not just the mental capacity to make those choices, it includes the discipline to follow through by observing God’s precepts.

I am completely dumbfounded by my fellow Christians who insist on sifting through pages of human research and opinion to learn about themselves, family (marriage, parenting, extended-family), getting along with others (work, politics, church), how to be pleasing to God, how church growth works, etc. Why do so many trust their thinking to man and his research??

Jesus once said:

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

--Luke 18:8

Mark Stinnett

December 31, 2023

Why Are There Seven Days in a Week?

I spoke with a young preacher who had taken issue with something I had said in a sermon. As we talked, I began to realize that he had a very different view of scripture than I had. So, I interjected, “Not everything in the Bible is black and white.” I detected shock in his voice as he corrected me, “Of course it is.”

I once lived in a black and white world when it came to religion and morality. And please don’t get nervous thinking I’ve closed my Bible. Rather, I have come face-to-face with a few situations in which the answer simply was not clearly presented in Scripture in black and white terms.

Let me be more specific by considering some things about the Sabbath…

The observance of the Sabbath Day was commanded in the Law of Moses and applied specifically to the Israelites. Yet, Christians are not commanded to observe the Sabbath. Still, we are not instructed that it is wrong to observe the Sabbath Day. In fact, God’s reasoning for the Sabbath Day for Israel was rooted in the creation sequence. In other words, the idea of the Sabbath and God’s intention for man to keep the Sabbath predated the Law of Moses.

In my youth I was taught that the Israelites had the Sabbath Day and Christians have the Lord’s Day. Even so, our worship assembly on the Sunday is more from examples of early Christians than direct command.

Luke, the writer of Acts, reported that he and his missionary companions met on the first day of the week in Troas. Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians to put something aside for benevolence on the first day of the week so that he did not have to go around collecting money when he arrived. These are the strongest statements in the Bible for scheduling a gathering of Christians every Sunday. I recognize that, historically, the Sunday meeting was widespread among early Christians, but the instruction is not black and white. Even then, Sunday is never referred to as the Christian Sabbath.

Did you know that the Sabbath was literally the day of rest?

Over time, the Jews, in an effort to clarify the things that were lawful on the Sabbath, added restrictions that God had not intended. In response, Jesus said that the day of rest was made for man; man was not made for the day of rest. In other words, God did not create mankind to serve a calendar. Rather, He created an extra day so man could have rest from his work.

So, God intentionally rested for a day after creation so that our week cycle would have seven days instead of six. His purpose was that we would rest for a day each seven-day cycle.

Knowing that man would not be very good at resting, God made a law for the Israelites. The Sabbath law was etched in stone...literally. It is not so black and white for us.

When God explained His intentions to Israel regarding the rest day, He said that man was given six days for work. We often overlook all the things that God included in the six days: work, hobbies, sports, entertainment, vacation, yard work, house projects, family fun, etc. He intentionally gave man six days to get all his stuff done. Then God asked that man give Him one day; just one...but the whole one.

God has not made a rigid Sabbath law for us. But His intentions are quite clear.

Do you take advantage of a rest day for God?

Or...

Is every day another day for you??

Mark Stinnett

December 24, 2023

What is the Basis for God's Judgment?

How does God decide how to judge?

God told Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” (Exodus 33:19)

At first glance, it might seem that God is arbitrary or judges according to a whim. It is as if, depending upon his mood, He might be merciful or wrathful; He might be gracious or choose to withhold His blessings.

In reality, moodiness is a human trait, not a part of God’s character. Rather, God’s character is consistent. He is at all times gracious and compassionate. He is slow in getting angry, but will not allow sin to go unpunished. (Exodus 34:6-7) That said, can we understand God’s judgment?

God created man and woman in His own image. That means that there are qualities or attributes in humans that are like our Creator. Beyond the simple fact of creation, we know that God made humans with the expectation of there being a relationship between Creator and created.

Think of your human relationships. Why do those relationships exist? Ultimately, relationships exist because of connections of commonness. The Bible calls that fellowship.

• Family members are in a relationship because of common relatives.
• Best friends share common likes and dislikes, share common experiences, and think similarly.
• You might have a relationship with people of a common interest such as a hobby or political ideology or religious belief.

In all relationships, if the point of commonality dissolves, the relationship also dissolves. The same is true about God and us. When a person stops being like God, the relationship ends. Sin is sin because it is not like God.

Judgment, whether God’s judgment or human judgment, is composed of two elements: discernment and separation. Discernment is about deciding the basis for separation. Then, there is the act of separation. A silly, but simple example is that of judging silverware. When setting the table, silverware is put out in sets for individual use. Yet, when stored, the silverware is categorized (judged) by grouping similar kinds of utensils. In each case discernment is used, and then a separation is made.

When God judges people, it is on the basis of relationship. God separates people into two groups:

• Those who have a fellowship relationship with Him and 
• Those who have nothing in common with Him, i.e., no fellowship.

Have you ever grown apart from a friend? 

You went your way and they went theirs. Common interests and experiences became more history than present. It is not a matter of dislike, but a lack of commonality. The relationship fades.

What happens when a person pulls away from God, no longer listens to God’s instruction, and no longer thinks the way God thinks. What happens when a person no longer has anything in common with God? The relationship dissolves.

We sometimes wonder why, in Scripture, God judged people in a way that seems harsh. The simple answer is that there was no relationship. God has done everything divinely possible to have a relationship with mankind. He is even willing to forgive sin. Yet, some people refuse God, turn from God, or even oppose God.

God’s judgment is based on His recognition of a person’s current relationship status with Him.
What is your status?
Are you in fellowship with God?

Mark Stinnett

December 17, 2023

How Do You Hide from God?

Have you ever felt like hiding from God?

There are three common ways to attempt to hide from God and I think that, at one time or another, each of us had tried one of these. After having done something wrong, our conscience convicts us: “Guilty!” Our shame makes us want to avoid God, to hide from Him.

Adam and Eve: Hiding
After Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened. The next thing they did is try to hide their naked bodies with clothing. And then, when they heard the sound of God in the Garden of Eden…

“...the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” 

—Genesis 3:8

They literally hid, but It didn’t work.

Jonah: Running
God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh with a message of divine judgment. Jonah ran the opposite direction from Nineveh. He revealed his reasoning: He knew that God was merciful and he did not want the people of Nineveh (Israel’s enemy) to receive mercy. (Jonah 4:2)

Jonah had not sinned like Adam and Eve. He was not running in shame. He was trying to avoid God’s instruction. Stated more emphatically, Jonah attempted to hide from God through disobedience to God’s instruction! That too, did not work.

David: Denying
King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then ordered the death of her husband to cover up their sin due to her pregnancy. David continued for months without addressing his sin. He was hiding from God by denying his sin and guilt through silence.

David explained how his attempt at hiding worked out…

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

—Psalm 32:3-4

We can attempt to hide from God in silence, like David. We can attempt to hide from God in disobedience, like Jonah. We can even attempt to hide among the trees, like Adam and Eve. In the latter case, we may attempt to hide by avoiding fellow Christians when we feel shame. Being around anyone living the Christian life makes us feel even more guilty.

Another way of hiding among the trees is by managing conversations so that no one ever gets close to finding out our guilt.

How do you hide from God? 

You can’t.

We must understand that God knows that sin separates us from Him, and yet, He loves to forgive. He doesn’t want us to hide from Him when we sin, but rather, race to Him confessing our sins. With open arms He is eager to forgive.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9

If we refuse to confess our sins, we are fooling ourselves in a futile attempt at hiding. Yet, when we confess our sins, we are running to God assuring Him that we agree about sin, that sin is hideous and that we desire purity.

Have you been hiding?

Do you need to confess sin?
Confess to God in prayer! 

Run to God...Now!

Mark Stinnett

December 10, 2023

Looking Back on a Day We Didn't Assemble *

I think I'll remember Sunday, March 22, 2020 for a long, long time.

It began like any other Sunday. I started early so I could get to the church building and have some 'alone' time as I prepared my thoughts for Sunday worship. But it was not like any other Sunday. For one thing, I wore blue jeans; but that was not what made it memorable.

I stepped out the back door of my house to walk to my car and the familiar sound of passing cars was missing. There were no tumbleweeds blowing through town, but I heard only the sounds of nature. Yet that is not what made it a memorable day.

All the traffic lights were green, and I passed only one moving car. Unusual, yet, those are not what made it a memorable day.

I entered the church building like any other day. I did not turn on all the lights as I normally do, nor did I unlock the doors. The government recommended that group gatherings dismiss due to the Coronavirus. No one would be coming to the building that Sunday.

However, we met remotely on our computers and phones. Although we did not meet in-person we gathered online for a period of worship and fellowship.

I saw something on that day that we didn't assemble.

Before I tell you what I saw, let me share an experience on Facebook when the following Scripture was discussed:

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

—Hebrews 10:24–25

Some folks insisted that the verse was a command for Christians to meet every Sunday. Their rigid stance made me sad; I think they missed the point.

Others opposed with statements like: "It's not a command" and "It doesn't even say Sunday" and "It doesn't say anything about worship." Their rigid opposition made me sad; they also missed the point.

The command viewpoint made it something that even a robot or a dog could obey. Yet, the opposing viewpoint lacked substance by merely pointing out what the verse didn’t say. Both approached the Scriptures as a legal document and figuratively rolled up the scroll of Scripture and whacked the other on the head. Shame. Shame on both!

We must not approach Scripture as law. We must ask why God said anything about "not forsaking our own assembling together."

I saw something on Sunday, March 22, 2020, that day that we didn't assemble.

I saw Hebrews 10:25 in a deeper way because I was given a different perspective. For the first time ever we were kept from meeting together and it had nothing to do with inclement weather, building renovations, etc. Our circumstances profoundly emphasized that meeting together is important for the life of the church.

Forty-two network connections provided the means to gather in an online video conference meeting. People joined early and stayed late. One couple amused us by volunteering to be official greeters as other folks joined. This didn't happen because we were commanded. It happened because we wanted to assemble together. No, actually, we HAD TO ASSEMBLE because that is who we are.

That phrase, "not forsaking our own assembling together," is God telling us that coming together in the name of Jesus is rich and powerful. Our assemblies have meaning because of the intent of our hearts toward God and toward each other.

Our congregation did assemble on Sunday, March 22, 2020. We prayed together; we sang together; we shared in the Lord's Supper together, we opened our Bibles together, and we just sat around and chatted with each other. It was very different from meeting in-person, but it was real and it was meaningful.

We were together when we could not be together...and we are richer for having had that experience.

I am thankful for that day.
Every Sunday I am thankful for you and I am thankful that we can be together.

Don't turn your back on meeting together with other Christians. Come and be a part of something rich and meaningful. 

God thinks our gatherings are important.

Do you?

Mark Stinnett

December 3, 2023

*Revised from a blog first published on March 24, 2020.

Are You on Auto-Pilot?

I have a morning routine when I arrive at my office. After getting my laptop connected and turned on and other things situated, I sit at my desk and put on my reading glasses. Not thinking and not paying attention, I placed my reading glasses over my regular glasses. (Eye roll. Chuckle.) This morning I was on auto-pilot.

Do you ever find yourself living on auto-pilot? Not really thinking, not really paying attention, you just drift through life.

That’s not the best way to live life. That is a terrible way to live a Christian life.

Offering practical advice that applies to every aspect of life, Solomon pointed to the ants that work diligently for provisions. He warned…

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest, and

poverty will come upon you like a robber;

your need, like a bandit.

—Proverbs 6:10-11 (HCSB)

The simple point is that it is wise to be alert, think ahead, plan, and prepare, like the ants.

Jesus taught His disciples to be alert and ready in numerous teachings, such as, in...

• Matthew 24 & 25
• Mark 13:33-37
• Luke 12:37-40
• Luke 21:34-36

[I did not list these passages to prove a point, but in hopes that you will actually look them up, read them, and give them a little thought. It's worth the time.]

I knew of a preacher who carried brief notes for a sermon in his billfold in case he was needed on short notice; and a song leader who carried a preselected list of songs. Both men showed forethought. They were alert to the possibilities and prepared for an uncertain situation.

Near the end of several of his letters, the Apostles Paul urged his readers to be awake, sober, and alert. Check out the following Scriptures...

• 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Ephesians 6:18
• Colossians 4:2
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 & 8

[Likewise, I didn't list these passages to prove a point, but in hope that you will look them up and read them and give them some thought.]

The Apostle Peter urged his readers:

Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 1:13

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 

—1 Peter 4:7

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

—1 Peter 5:8

There may be times in which you are just trying to get through the day. The schedule is full, life’s challenges are many, circumstances are not working out satisfactorily more than they are. You might shift into auto-pilot just to get through. Even so, God expects us to be awake, alert, sober-minded, and ready for action.

You may need to respond to spiritual danger, or respond to needs, or pray. You ought to be alert to opportunities to let your light shine.

Jesus offered:

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

—Matthew 11:28

And yet, that did not mean for us to check out and go to sleep spiritually. Finding rest in Jesus actually gives you confidence so that you can boldly live in service to the King.

If you’ve been on auto-pilot...isn’t it time you wake up? 

Be watchful. 

Be ready. 

He’s coming back!


Mark Stinnett

November 26, 2023

A Handy Guide to Hate

One: To hate something or someone (this is really about hating someone), you must first settle on a distinction that differs from YOU. (It’s all about YOU!) The particular distinction is immaterial. It could be ethnicity, nationality, political stance, age, clothing preferences, automobile choices, music preferences…anything.

Two: Once you’ve decided on a particular category of distinction, you heighten your skills of observation. You take notice whenever those who are NOT a part of your distinctive group say foolish things, make poor choices, or fail. You also take notice when those of your distinctive group do and say things that you approve.

Three: You verbalize your disapproval of the other group and mock their mistakes and failures even if there is no connection between their group identity and their failures. At the same time, you champion the successes of your distinctive group even if their success has no connection to your group’s identity.

Four: Make subtle biased suggestions to those outside of your group to influence them to embrace your viewpoint. Be patient and look for opportunities to persuade them to come into your distinctive camp. One important aspect of your evangelistic efforts is to frame your comments in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’ so that your intention is clear, but your language is indistinct. That makes denial of hatred easier.

Five: If you have kids, by all means indoctrinate them to embrace your prejudices and to follow your example so that your ideals will be perpetuated into the next generation.

Hint: Social media offers a broad range of tools to spew your hatred without ever using the word hate. 

Bonus: Social media comes with the protection of the sacred first amendment.

I hope that my sarcasm is apparent.

One of the most confusing things about our current society is that some of the most forceful haters are those who oppose hate.

What can a Christian say and do?

On one occasion Jesus was asked about the greatest command. In his extended response He said that the second great command is to love your neighbor. A man challenged Him asking, “Who is my neighbor.” Jesus responded with the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. He set the parable up beautifully to expose and diffuse hatred. The good man who extended selfless assistance was a Samaritan, one among a distinctive group hated by the Jews. Two beloved Jews were featured, a priest and a Levite. Both ignored the man in need.

A priest was normally engaged in the offering of sacrifices and services in the temple while the Levite was involved in other services relating to the temple. Both were numbered among the religious elite in Jewish society.

So, the hated Samaritan was presented in a good light as one offering help. Yet, the accepted holy men were seen as uncaring.

Let’s not forget the injured man. In the parable he is faceless and unidentifiable. The Samaritan responded on the basis of need, not any distinctive category. He saw a person; he saw a need.

When Jesus concluded, He asked who proved to be a neighbor. It was obvious, the one who showed mercy. When Jesus said, “Go and do the same,” He gave us a peek into the heart of God, who is not fond of haters. God approves those, like the Samaritan, who respond to people and needs...with no distinctive categories.


Mark Stinnett

November 19, 2023

Running with Her Back to the Lord

His family ran to the mountains for safety. He had been warned by God’s angels that Sodom was to be destroyed almost immediately. His two married daughters were with him; both husbands stayed behind. His name was lot and his wife was also with him...sort of. She was physically moving in the right direction, just as the Lord directed. Yet her heart was still in Sodom.

Perhaps she longed for friendships left behind, her neighborhood, or the shops in the town’s marketplace. Perhaps she longed for her house or the creature comforts she was forced to abandon. Perhaps she thought about their family’s wealth in money, animals, grain, and other belongings that would be forfeited.

Is it possible that she felt a degree of anger? 

Having been uprooted so abruptly and being forced to leave her life behind, she may have been angry at Lot, or even God. Whatever she felt, it was more than she could bear...she turned and looked back.

We remember Lot’s wife...pillar of salt.

When a person turns toward one thing, he must turn away from another. For Lot’s wife, turning toward Sodom meant turning away from her family, from safety, but more importantly, turning away from God himself.

Some Christians walk like Lot’s wife. They think they walk with the Lord. They intend to walk with the Lord. They appear to walk with the Lord. They appear to love fellow Christians. They do religious things and speak religious words. Yet, their hearts are facing a different direction. As a result they naturally walk with their backs to the Lord while facing their heart’s desire, their own personal Sodom.

Lot’s wife may illustrate people in general. A person’s head can turn this way or that, yet eventually, every individual will turn to face the object that is of greatest value in their life. It will become evident in the way that a person spends his time and money, in his conversation, in the places he goes, in his entertainment choices, and in the choices that influence the overall direction of his life. Ultimately, every individual will square his body and turn to directly face his god/God.

A Christian may reflect on his life by looking back from time to time. However, the one whose face is forever turned to Christ turns back only to reflect; only to learn, never to yearn.

To remain faithful to God we must individually make a conscious decision each day to set our gaze on Jesus. We do this by listening to the voice of our God in the scriptures. We do this by talking with Him in prayer, leaving our worries and weaknesses at His feet, and by asking for his assistance to fill the voids in our lives. We do this by associating with His people. We do this by keeping our future expectation (hope) in the forefront of our mind.

Facing our God, our simple and willful cry…

“I surrender all.”

Mark Stinnett
November 12, 2023

(Read the biblical account of Lot and his family and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.)

"...In Jesus' Name"

Centuries ago a commander in the king’s army approached a cottage and called for all the sons of the family who were old enough to fight in battle. The parents released their sons and the sons went willingly – The commander had come in the name of the king!

In that example, we understand that the word of the commander was not his own, but rather the word of the king. The family did not see the king’s face or hear his voice, but they recognized the king’s authority and responded accordingly.

As Christians, we have been given the right to approach God and make requests in the name of Jesus, our King. In a prayer, when we say the words, “in Jesus’ name,” we are not casting a spell or a charm. There is no magic that compels God as if we have power over Him by speaking the right words in the right order on the right occasion.

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 

 —John 16:26-27

In this statement Jesus assured His disciples that in His absence they themselves would have the right to speak to God. “In Jesus’ name” was not a new rule for ending prayers, but the way in which the disciples of Jesus would identify themselves when approaching God in prayer.

Does God know you?

“Yes, of course,” you reply.

Yet, in what way?

Without Jesus you are no different than any other sinner. God gives no special privileges to one sinner over another. So, as a sinner you have no expectation that God would respond to your words or my words when we speak on our own, that is, in our own name. Would we dare to approach God to speak to Him face-to-face in our name?

Without Jesus we are rebellious sinners. As humans we broke the original relationship the Creator had with his created. We are unholy.

However, God does recognize Jesus. So, when Christians approach God, speaking in the name of Jesus...God springs forward to listen, to give gifts, to protect, to assist, to forgive. He responds to those He loves, and He loves those who are clothed with Christ, those who have devoted their lives to Jesus the King.

_________________________

Do not take lightly the words that you speak in prayer to God. The words, “...in Jesus’ name,” are not added to a prayer as a command. Nor are they magic as if to control or manipulate Deity. Nor are they a trite ending to our prayers like an “excuse me” after a sneeze (just good manners).

When we pray we ought to remember that we have been given the privilege to speak to God, but in Jesus’ name. Considering that privilege, we ought to give thought to the content of our prayers. When we speak to God in Jesus’ name, the things we say ought to reflect the will of our Savior, and not our self-centered will. Then, when we stand before God, we stand with the assurance that Jesus spoke of. We can be confident that God will listen and respond to those who come to him with a heart of humility and faith...

...In Jesus’ name.

Mark Stinnett

November 5, 2023

Holy Is Your Name

Does holiness seem to be more of a religious word in our day? About the only time you expect to hear the word holy is in a religious service or in a silly exclamation such as, “Holy Cow!” However, God is holy. We are to be holy. His name is holy. So, what does it mean to be holy?

By definition, something that is holy is set apart from or separated from common things. So, in reality, museum artifacts are holy because they are separated from common items that are in current use. They have an important connection to our past, a unique quality, or great value. These special objects are guarded from casual contact, protected from the elements, and given a place of honor in a museum. Visitors are expected to give the artifacts proper respect.

God is holy. He is deserving of honor and respect, no, reverence and awe. We show reverence, not by admiring God as an artifact in a museum, but by our worship and by our devotion to his ways. He is holy because he is, by his very nature, separate from mankind and all that is created. He is holy; man is common. He is righteous; man is unrighteous. He is eternal; man is finite. He is creator; man is created.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he taught them that the name of God is holy (hallowed). It is not enough to accept that God himself is holy, his name is also holy. 

At some point in their history the ancient Jews stopped saying the name of God. It is said that they reasoned that if they did not say God’s name then they would not break the command:

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” 

--Exodus 20:7

It appears that the ancient Jews put God’s name up on a shelf as if it were an artifact. Yet, that was not God’s intent.

When God revealed his name to Moses it meant something. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob was about to deliver them from Egypt. He told Moses to tell Israel His name and it was packed with meaning. He is the one who Is:

“I AM Who I AM.”

God expected his name to be spoken but with reverence and honor. His name was not to be on an equal level with the names of foreign gods. His name was above them, because he is real, and he is supreme. His name is not a common name like that of any man or woman throughout history. His name is not to be used as the punch-line of a joke or the subject of humor. His name is not for meaningless exclamations of surprise. God’s name is not to be shouted as a explicative when experiencing sharp pain or anger.

God’s name has meaning and it uniquely identifies God as deity, as one who is self-sufficient, eternal in existence, and changeless. No other single descriptor is capable of encompassing his identity. His is not a name that must not be spoken but one that must be revered. The name of God can only be attributed to Him, for no other name can make such a claim as does the name of God: 

I AM.

“Our Father in heaven...HOLY IS YOUR NAME.”

Mark Stinnett

October 29, 2023

'Again' or 'Above,' How Can You Know??

We live at a time when there are many English translations of the Bible. Perhaps you have read from more than one version of the Bible. If so, you might have noticed that, at times, the wording is so different in one translation that you get a completely different impression of the meaning than from another. For example:

The question presented in the title comes from John 3:3 where Jesus was speaking to a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. Quoting from two different translations, Jesus said…

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The first quotation is from the New American Standard Bible and is similar to most modern translations. The second quotation is from the New English Translation or NET Bible. Surely you noticed the difference which I placed in italics: Born again vs born from above.

Naturally, we want to ask the question, “Which is correct?” or “Which is best?”

The answer is: Translators have a challenging task. In this case translators encounter a Greek word that was used in two different ways and both meanings make sense. Of course, only one word can be chosen for an English text.

Instead of arguing over word meanings it might be wise to consider where each meaning leads. So, what does it mean to be born again? And how is that different from being born from above? After carefully examining the entire passage, it is clear that person must be born again AND that the new birth is best understood as being born from above, that is, born of the Spirit of God. Both meanings are accurate at the same time! Jesus was brilliant! We just don't have an English equivalent.

Another example is found in Ecclesiastes 5:9. The Hebrew text must be difficult to translate because there are three or more English variations that paint very different pictures. Since I am not an expert in biblical Hebrew, I cannot determine which version is more accurate or best. So, how do I approach this verse?

I do not wish to casually dismiss scripture, as some do, just because it is difficult to understand. So, after reading the entire passage I discovered that greater emphasis is placed on the previous verse. The difficult verse (5:9) is meant to be an explanation of the clear instruction from the previous verse which urges, don’t be surprised at the injustices of life. So, even if the explanation is fuzzy, the main point is clear.

One more example is found in Acts 2:38 where baptized believers are promised “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” There is no translation issue, but rather a long-standing debate over the meaning of the gift. Is the promised gift the Holy Spirit Himself or something that the Holy Spirit gives?

After remembering what Jesus said about the promised Spirit, I had my answer. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our comforter or helper. (See John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.) The Spirit was the one to be sent to come alongside and help the disciples of Jesus after He left the earth. So, whether that help IS the Spirit or is given by the Spirit, we are assured help. That’s what matters.

The Apostle Paul instructed us to dwell on “whatever is true,” not uncertainties. (Philippians 4:8) Let me encourage you to apply that to your Bible study. It is more important to focus on what we confidently know, than to obsess or argue over uncertainties. 

Study wisely.

Mark Stinnett

October 22, 2023

Finding Harmony

We recognize dissonance at our child’s band concert when a clarinet squeaks, a trumpet plays a wrong note, or the timpani is out of tune. The overall sound is no longer pleasant and meaningful. In music, dissonance is the opposite of harmony.

When we sing together, the lead, or melody, is generally sung by soprano voices. Other vocal parts (alto, tenor, and bass) add depth and richness to the melody. Each vocal part may sing a different note, yet the notes are arranged to blend together for a pleasant sound...harmony.

The word harmony has been used to describe relationships beyond that of musical notes, such as people living in harmony with nature. Again, harmony is the idea of different things blending together with a pleasant result.

Some people have rejected the Bible saying that it is full of contradictions, so a lack of harmony. Anyone who has spent time studying the Bible has most likely run into passages that seem to conflict, or facts that seem to contradict. However, one should not be too quick to judge.

For example, the Bible advises, “Answer not a fool according to his folly.” Yet, in the very next verse we read, “Answer a fool according to his folly.” These come from Proverbs 26:4-5 (from the King James Version). Understanding comes by reading both verses in their entirety. The Bible is harmonious by teaching a person to be wise in dealing with a foolish person. There are circumstances that call for a verbal response and other circumstances that call for silence.

Another difficulty is found in 2 Samuel 24:1 where “the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and incited David” to count the army. Yet, in a parallel verse in 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read that it was Satan who stood against Israel.

A footnote in some Bibles explain that “satan” is a Hebrew word that literally meant adversary. So, in 1 Chronicles, it was not the evil one we know as Satan. Rather, God had become an adversary to His own people. So, no contradiction.

Other examples could be presented, but the simple point is that rational explanations exist for alleged Bible difficulties. The Bible IS a harmonious revelation from God.

Let me offer one other example involving statements written by the Apostles Paul and Peter:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

—Ephesians 2:8-9

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 3:21

Ignoring Peter, you have salvation by an affirmation of belief alone. Ignore Paul and it sounds like salvation by religious ritual. The question is not, “Which is correct,” but “How do we find harmony?” God has not contradicted Himself in His divine revelation to mankind, especially not concerning the salvation of the soul. So, in our Bible study we would be wise to learn the principle taught by the psalmist in Psalm 119:160:

The sum of Your word is truth….

We must not pit one passage against another. We must seek harmony in God’s word by avoiding the mistake of emphasizing one verse or passage of Scripture above another. We must embrace the entirety of God’s revelation. In doing so, we will find harmony.

Mark Stinnett

October 15, 2023

The Right Perspective

The story is told of five blind men who had never encountered an elephant, but had the opportunity to inspect one in their village. One found a leg of the elephant, another the elephant’s trunk, another an ear, another its tail and the last, a tusk. Each blind man described the elephant differently because of his limited experience.

The story illustrates differences in individual perspectives. Each of the five men were influenced by their experience. They could report truthfully, yet each report was incomplete.

People process and understand what you say based on their perspective. For example, when you use the word family, those listening to you will naturally picture in their mind their own family. Consider how different the perspective of an only child would be compared to a person with several siblings; or compare a person who regularly engages with extended family to someone who sees her family only on occasion.

A person’s perspective is also affected by his/her values. For example, a person who values saving money will have a different view of money than a person who loves to spend money. A person who loves all little fuzzy creatures will view animals differently than a hunter.

Compare the perspectives of school teachers with businessmen, or the perspective of a factory owner with an assembly line worker. Each one’s vocation influences his/her perspective.

Have you ever thought about how your personal experiences, values, and choices have affected your perspective of the Bible?

On one occasion Jesus was tested by a lawyer asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Instead of answering directly, Jesus asked…

“What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 

—Luke 10:26

Notice that Jesus asked the man two questions. The first had nothing to do with his perspective. It was simply a question about what was written in the Law of Moses. Regardless of the man’s experiences, personal values, or choices, the Law of Moses said something. This man’s existence had no bearing on what the Law said.

The second question had more to do with the man’s perspective. It was about how he understood the Law. Even so, Jesus responded to the man’s answer by telling him, “You have answered correctly.” We must see that there was a correct answer. He could have had a wrong perspective. The validation Jesus gave tells us that the man had the same perspective as God.

Someone who loves fuzzy animals and then frowns on God for animal sacrifices in the Law of Moses judges God with a subjective perspective that limits understanding of the Bible.

A person whose attitude is all love and tolerance, and who declares, “No one should ever hate anyone,” holds to a naïve perspective that is sure to clash with divine perspective.

To understand the Bible, you must consider God’s perspective because it is His word and He meant something specific when He revealed it. You adjust your perspective by accepting God’s perspective and allowing His values to mold your own. By looking at life through the eyes of God you gain understanding regarding life and your place in this world. A change in perspective will increase understanding.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 

—Isaiah 55:8

Mark Stinnett
October 8, 2023

Dots and the Big Picture

"She reads her Bible every day, but she never really studies.” That was one husband’s assessment of his wife’s Bible reading. Of course, he was pretty sure his study was better.

Anyone who wishes to understand the Bible needs both.

We use expressions like, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” or “A bird’s eye view.” In both cases the idea is that a person has to step back and view things from a distance to gain a proper perspective.

The famous French painter Georges Seurat gave us a splendid illustration in his masterpiece Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It is one of the most famous examples of pointillism, a style of art in which Seurat used tiny dots to compose his painting. Up close, you see dots...just dots; but when you step back at a distance you see many people enjoying a sunny day beside a river in a beautiful park-like setting.

More sobering is the example of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who scrutinized over details in the Law of Moses. Jesus rebuked them saying…

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 

—Matthew 23:23 (NASB95)

The Pharisees had focused on the details of tithing (even their spices!) while overlooking more important people matters. They were focusing on the dots and could not see the big picture.

When we study the Bible it is imperative that we see the big picture. We need to understand God’s overall plan for man, the overall purpose and general content of His revealed word. Only then will individual books of the Bible make sense. Only then will we begin to see the relevance of the many events and characters recorded in Scripture. Only then will we be able to understand some of the imagery in the New Testament that is rooted in the events of the Old. Only then can we fully embrace the value of prophecy and its fulfillment. You get a bird’s eye view by reading large portions of scripture in one sitting, entire books when possible.

Of equal importance is detailed study. This may involve reading the same chapter or passage or verse many times while giving yourself time to process and ponder its meaning. You may choose to commit portions of it to memory. You will also consider personal application.

In this kind of study you might spend time in a Bible dictionary. If possible, you might locate resources that provide additional insight on Hebrew and/or Greek terms.

This kind of study may focus on a specific Bible concept such as redemption or judgment or the Sabbath. It might focus on a specific chapter or shorter passage or just a phrase.

As an example, I was surprised to read that God forgave us “for His name’s sake.” (1 John 2:12) Again, surprisingly, I found similar expressions in other passages. I gave careful attention to when and how this expression was used and It opened up to me a whole new perspective about God.

There is wisdom in getting a broad, big picture understanding. Yet, concentrated, focused study yields many benefits. You might consider alternating between longer readings and focused study.

Getting the big picture is imperative, but the dots provide rich substance.

Mark Stinnett

October 1, 2023

Don't Stop Reading

A head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of a mixture of clay and iron. What was the meaning of this splendid statue in the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar?

The meaning of the dream was given to Daniel who then relayed its meaning to the king. It was revealed and written down; no speculation.

Some parables and prophesies are challenging to understand. Most often the mystery is solved simply by reading the text. That’s the way you can discern the mysterious imagery in the prophesies recorded in Daniel 7-12. The same is true regarding much of the imagery found in the book of Revelation. Jesus explained some of his parables, so no further interpretation is needed.

The Apostle Peter reminds us…

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

—2 Peter 1:20–21

God revealed his mind to mankind. We must never treat God’s word casually as if any interpretation we come up with is acceptable.

Sometimes we need other help. Occasionally a Hebrew or Greek term in the Bible text has a perfect English counterpart, but one not commonly used. For example, Jesus is referred to as our propitiation in 1 John 2:2. Though not found in all modern translations, propitiation is the perfect word to translate its Greek counterpart. An English dictionary will be helpful in this case. Just bear in mind that an English dictionary reflects English usage and has absolutely no impact on the way words were used in the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible.

Some terms and expressions in the Bible are simply foreign to us. One example is the Asherah that Gideon cut down in Judges 6. Asherah was a goddess, so why was Gideon cutting it down? A good Bible dictionary should provide an answer.

A Bible dictionary can also help with weights and measures used in Bible times, expressions of time such as, “the third hour of the day,” etc.

Did you know that Zion, a term found 39 times in the Psalms, refers to Jerusalem? You’d have to do a lot of reading to find this connection. So, though it can be discovered by reading, a good Bible dictionary can tell you where the term is first used and give other examples.

Many things in the Bible are challenging because they were written in a different language and written to a specific audience with cultural experiences that we do not share. Some things that God revealed to us were written in a poetic style that doesn’t match the way we think of poetry. Some things were revealed through lengthy conversations, others through two-line proverbs. There are also long narrative sections and plenty of direct instruction. Even so, God revealed to us His thoughts. (See Amos 4:13.) He is not hiding His thoughts or being difficult. So, if you are serious about understanding God’s word...

• Read and read and read.
• Keep an English dictionary handy.
• Use a good Bible dictionary when needed.

You don’t have to have a college degree to read and understand the Bible. Yet, it does take dedication and patience.

Mark Stinnett

September 24, 2023

365,000 to 1?

Is the Bible full of encoded messages? Some people think so; and it’s true that there are difficult passages. But you don’t have to be a master at deciphering myth and history like Hollywood’s Indiana Jones or Ben Gates of "National Treasure" fame. Yet, there are some really wild interpretations out there. So, what do we need?

We need to be diligent in our study.
We need to be careful in how we interpret.

Let me show you one simple example of what I’m talking about. But first, let me show you why this verse has been misinterpreted.

A couple hundred years ago in Europe there were folks who were very dissatisfied with the church. For most people the church was either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England. Both had a kind of stranglehold on the interpretation of Scripture and were in cahoots with the government. This bond between government and church meant strong control over the general population.

Some dissatisfied folks, instead of turning to the Bible for answers, simply turned away from religion. At the same time science was making great strides and was accepted at face value.

It was in this climate that some people began to throw off the power of religion because they wanted to engage in activities of their choosing without the severe judgment of the church. However, they needed credible justification.

The theory of evolution had been around for a while but had gained no popularity, not until Darwin suggested that the changes in species had evolved over long periods of time. He claimed to have found evidence for an old earth that was millions of years old. Though without proof, that was all that was needed for others to market the theory to the public as science.

Many clergymen were unable to stand against the sacred cow of science. So, to embrace science without throwing the Bible out, theistic evolution was born.*

Theistic evolution suggests that God created things but set evolution in motion and let it develop naturally. In other words, the creation account in Genesis had to be reinterpreted or thrown out completely.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. —2 Peter 3:8

Science said, “Aha!” and religion, “Hallelujah!”

This was like a decoder ring that allowed the word day in Genesis be reinterpreted as a thousand years (365,000 days). So, a day in the creation sequence could have been millions of years (though that kind of reasoning makes sense nowhere else). Yet, looking back to the verse of Scripture, notice that Peter wrote, “with the Lord” one day “is like” a thousand years. It was a statement describing the timelessness of God...and that’s all. The point was that it might seem that God was taking a long time to do something, but that was only man’s view. God is not restricted by time. Not only that, God is not ignorant of the meanings of words. He communicated accurately about His work.

The Law of Moses was given to common people. 

The prophets were sent to common people. 

The New Testament was written to common people. 

God wants and expects common people to understand His word. 

We need diligence, not a mysterious decoder ring of subjectivity.

Mark Stinnett

September 17, 2023

*Among other sources, these things have been documented by Milt Marcy in his book, “The Emperors Who Had No Clothes.”

Are You Ready?

The title question, “Are you ready?” is often asked in reference to time. Of course, it could also be a question about one’s preparation, and that’s what I want you to think about.

The question, “Are you ready?” is to ask, “Are you fully equipped?” Even then, ambiguity remains, “Fully equipped for what?”

We go to school (or are home schooled) and that is supposed to prepare us...for something. Some high school grads go to trade school, while others go to college. Those are also supposed to prepare us...for something. The work place, from blue collar to white collar, is filled with every kind of training opportunity.

All of that tells us that we put quite a lot of time and energy and money into training. But for what purpose?

We might think of resumes, job interviews and work references as part of the process for finding out how well equipped a person is for a job.

Parents provide training that spans areas such as language and communication, good manners, personal hygiene, moral behavior, getting along with others, how to thrive in one’s surroundings (home, neighborhood, town, world). Additional training might include personal organization and planning, finances, yard/car/house maintenance, long-term planning, gardening, animal/pet care, and the list goes on. That training partly equips us for life on earth.

Have you ever thought about God’s training?

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Scripture is beneficial in getting you ready! Specifically, it is beneficial in fully equipping you “for every good work.”

High school is inadequate; college is inadequate; trade school is inadequate. Even the best parents are inadequate. All of the training designed and carried out by people is inadequate to fully equip a person “for every good work.”

It is not that educational institutions or parents or anyone else has failed. Rather, it is God’s intention to prepare people for something different than our usual focus. Our training programs focus on what we (humans) think is important. God has focused on what He knows is important because He designed us. In fact…

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

—Ephesians 2:10 (NASB95)

God did not create us for building cars, entertainment, forestry, accounting, selling furniture, cooking, managing a business, archaeology, or a world full of other areas of work. He created us for good works. His revealed word, Scripture, is capable of making us “adequate, equipped for every good work.”

God is not a big fan of the separation of church and state. He expects us to take our Christianity into our homes, into our places of work, into our schools, into stores and entertainment venues. His expectation is that we walk in good works every day in every place.

We often misunderstand God’s will because our focus is on ourselves, our jobs, our ideas of what is important. So, let’s realign our focus and embrace God's training. And then, let's get out there and walk in good works.

Mark Stinnett

September 10, 2023

All Things to All People

In the past two centuries man has managed to reform Christianity into something quite foreign to that of the Bible.

• Religion, salvation and even Jesus have been personalized by many.
• Jesus’ parables have become stories.
• The witness of the Apostles has been traded for personal testimonies that all too often draw attention away from God and His word to human experiences.
• God’s will has been personalized to the point of turning our attention from the “kingdom of God and His righteousness” to my personal bucket list for God. In other words, people decide what they want to do for God instead of offering themselves, “What does God want of me.”

What kind of God do you want?

• Do you want a God who will give you warm snuggles at night?
• How about a God who loves story?
• How about a God who loves everyone and accepts everyone...just as I am?
• Would you like a God who promises health, and wealth and power?
• How about a genie-in-a-bottle God?
• Would you like a God who puts up with all kinds of sin, except for the really bad sins?
• How about a God who has changed His mind on His own standard of morality, saying, “That was once sinful, but no longer”?

“Living Under Water” is a book about Christian baptism. The author reported that as a part of his year-long study on the doctrine of baptism, he had baptized folks from infants to elderly; by sprinkling, pouring and immersion; in baptisteries, natural bodies of water, and a farm watering trough; as a part of formal ceremonies and informal occasions; in public and in private; and for whatever reason the one being baptized wanted to be baptized: confirmation, membership, salvation, declaration of dedication, etc. For the author, Christian baptism had become all things to all people.

Translation: Baptism lacked meaning.

The Bible tells about the Creator who is the God who declared, “I Am Who I Am,” a God who is changeless and timeless, the same yesterday, today and forever.

The God of the Bible is not like our high school yearbook buddy who wrote, “Stay the way you are.” He says, “Come as you are, but I will transform you into something better.” Indeed, God has reached down into the pit of mankind, but not to become like us and fit our definition of the kind of god we want. He came and lived among us in order to pull us up out of our pit of sin and death so that we could enjoy life!

Each person must decide whether he wants the God of the Bible or a god of his own design. If you wish to know your Creator, and not a god made in the mind of man, then you must open your mind and heart to God’s revelation of Himself, the Bible.

For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are his thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of hosts is His name. 

—Amos 4:13

The God of the Bible has revealed Himself. He is not a meaningless all things to all people kind of god.

What is your God/god like? 

Does your god bow to you?

Or, do you bow before the changeless Creator of mankind, the great I AM?!

Mark Stinnett

September 3, 2023