What Do I Do?

The movie was about a politician who was an underdog in an upcoming election. It focused on all the facets of running for office, and as you might guess, he won. Various camera angles captured the great celebration in a ballroom full of supporters. The movie ended with our politician-hero, with fear in his eyes, desperately pulling his campaign manager aside, “What do I do now?”

Sometimes people are fully engaged in an idea, but not quite sure what to do. It’s one thing to support, agree, pledge, and even immerse oneself in an idea. But the time comes to ‘do.’

John the Baptist was sent by God to preach. He wasn’t a city preacher but lived and preached in the wilderness areas of Judea. People came to John to hear him preach. Many embraced his teaching, some became disciples. Excitement was running high because of John’s message:

“Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Some who came to John were insincere. So, he confronted them saying, “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance….” (Luke 3:8) Those who were sincere asked, “What shall we do?” John instructed them to share their abundance with those in need.

The kingdom of God was not an idea but real. It was not some kind of idealistic philosophy; it was a kingdom with a real king and real citizens. The people understood that in God’s kingdom there was a certain way of life; it was God’s kingdom. So, theirs was a natural question: “What do we do?” They wanted to know how to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom. There were expectations; there was expected behavior.

Even with John’s general instruction, some wanted to know more specifically about their circumstances. Two candidates for the kingdom of God asked John what they needed to do. To the tax collectors, he instructed that they sould collect only what they were supposed to collect. To the soldiers, he instructed that they should not take money by force, should not make false accusations, and should be content with their wages.

Jesus came after John the Baptist with the same message: “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.” He also taught people what they should do.

Here are some general instructions that apply to Jesus’ followers:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

You shall love your neighbor as your self.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Can you apply these instructions to your circumstances? Look at each of these teachings and apply sincere thought to your life. Ask, “How does the Golden Rule apply to me in my home, at my workplace, and elsewhere?”

Did you know that there is specific instruction for husbands, for wives, for children, for church leaders, for preachers, and others.

God has not thrown together a rulebook. Rather, He has communicated His identity and character to mankind. He has communicated what he expects of the citizens of His kingdom. 

What is your attitude? 

God has not left us wondering what to do. 

So, listen!

Mark Stinnett

October 19, 2025

Flee Immorality!

More than one preacher has misspoken and said the word immorality when he meant to say immortality. The result: raised eyebrows, embarrassment, and undoubtedly, a few chuckles. Look at the difference between the two words and look at the title. The following is about the ugly sin of immorality.

Most Christians have been trained to think and react negatively toward immorality. It is immoral, that is, not moral. However, it has not always been considered a sin.

The Greek term translated immorality was not a negative word. It originally referred to a prostitute, usually a woman purchased as a slave. Over time, it was applied more generally to any sexual behavior outside of marriage. (Adultery had its own specific word because of civil/legal concerns.)

Attitudes differed in antiquity at different places and at different times. Even when immoral practices were frowned upon, allowances were made. It was believed by some that sexual appetites were no different than food appetites and should be satisfied. Among the Persians daughters might be given over in service to gods and goddesses as temple prostitutes. This was considered a noble gesture.

Only in the Bible do we find consistent prohibitions against sexual activity outside of marriage, i.e., immorality. If you were to present biblical teachings to non-Christian young adults of our day, they might respond with a puzzled look and wonder, “Why?” Many have adopted the attitudes of antiquity.

Using the human body as an illustration, the Apostle Paul wrote to saints reminding them that “your bodies are members of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 6:14) Physically speaking, your hands, nose, legs, tongue, liver, etc. are all members of your body. They are all attached. That is the imagery Paul used to tell us that ‘we’ are attached to Jesus Christ as members of His body.

In the next verse Paul asked, “Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?” It is quite an outlandish question. It is to ask if one’s body should be dismembered! But it is in reference to the body of Christ! Even more shocking is Paul’s suggestion that the member that is removed be joined to a prostitute (i.e., immoral person). And why?

Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” (vv. 16-17)

God created humans in such a way that sexual intimacy creates a literal bond. That is a good thing for a married couple, but disastrous outside of marriage. For that reason, Paul continued (v. 18):

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

If you steal from a store, you hurt the store owner. If you lie to your friend, you hurt your friend. If you beat someone up, you harm that person. However, if you unite yourself to another person through sexual intimacy (and you are not married to that person), you harm yourself. And why?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (v. 19)

Sexual immorality makes your body (temple) unfit for the Holy Spirit. It is a desecration of something that has been made holy and is devoted to God.

Sexual sin destroys one’s relationship with God, not because a rule has been broken, but because it severs one’s union with Christ and makes a unifying bond with someone else. That’s why Paul’s used the strongest language he could in his warning against sexual immorality: 

Flee immorality. 

RUN!!


Mark Stinnett

October 12, 2025

When Truth Does Not Help

When writing to the saints at Rome, the Apostle Paul addressed a point of contention in the church. Truth was declared, but truth was not the issue. In reading chapter 14 of the book of Romans we see Christians, presumably of a Jewish background, who were concerned about some of the food that they ate. They believed there were food restrictions. However, others, presumed to be Gentiles, non-Jews, did not have the same restrictions. One group judged the other. One group looked down on the other.

Paul, writing by inspiration, solved the problem, but not in the way you might expect. He wrote that “nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” (v. 14)

Did you see it? Did you see the truth? “Nothing is unclean in itself.”

That is truth. From that we can establish doctrinal correctness. Paul might have reflected on the words of Jesus: “Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated.?” A parenthetical statement follows from the inspired writer, Mark, “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)” (Mark 7:18-19)

So...we have the truth. All food is clean. We all have the liberty to eat anything we wish to eat, no restrictions. We should teach those who think there are food restrictions that there are no food restrictions. Right?

Going back to Romans 14, read the latter part of verse 14 again: “...but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” So, what are we to do with that? Paul continues...

For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.” (v. 15)

It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. (v. 21)

What is all this about?

First, this is not about food restrictions or food liberties. Yet, when dealing with that 1st century issue, Paul provided timeless instruction. Second, recognize that it is not truth that is the problem. Truth exists. Truth is vital. But truth did not help because of wrong attitudes toward fellow saints.

Paul clarified in 1 Corinthians 8…

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. (v. 1)

If food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. (v. 13)

Paul recognized that truth existed, but that truth needed to be handled properly. One’s knowledge of truth can be used pridefully. It can be used in a mocking way that shows disregard. A person can know truth and yet, with an improper attitude, cause division. It is in the case of a wrong attitude or mishandling God's word that truth does not really help.

There are some truths that are absolute. Paul declares that there is one God and one Lord and one Spirit and one body (church) in Ephesians 4. These are truths that cannot be compromised. We need discernment when it comes to truth. The food issue and some issues of our day are about the conscience and are not absolute truths that cannot be compromised.

When you stand before God in judgment, who do you want to be; the one who boasts in the knowledge of truth, knowledge of Christian liberties, doctrinal correctness, or the one who builds up fellow saints through love?

Mark Stinnett

October 5, 2025

Turning the Head

I learned to turn my head because dad turned his head.

Why did we turn our heads?

It was the bikini-clad beauty on the car commercial or in the beach scene in a movie. I learned that we were supposed to turn our heads to avoid seeing something that we should not see. I didn’t understand the reason.

I later learned that turning my eyes away from the indecently dressed model/actress was to avoid lust. Instead of gazing and taking the risk of allowing my mind to develop improper desires...look away.

I have made a covenant with my eyes;

How then could I gaze at a virgin?

Job 31:1

Job made a promise to himself to turn his head and look away to avoid lust.

Since that early head-turning lesson from my dad, I have learned that there are other times to turn my head. Did you know that not only does the turning of one’s head have practical value, it is symbolic of rejection?

In Scripture, God turned his face or hid his face from His people when they turned to idols. (Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 31:18) Do you see all the turning? They turned away from God, rejecting Him. In disappointment, He turned away from His people, rejecting them.

King David pleaded with God, “Do not hide your face from me,” a plea echoed one line later: “Do not abandon me nor forsake me.” (Psalm 27:9) In the beloved Psalm 51, David pleaded, “Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.”

For God to look at a person brings blessings; to turn His face away is rejection.

Is there anything in life that you should turn your face from? Is there anything that you should reject by literally turning your head?

Sitting at the wedding of an acquaintance, the bride and groom stepped away from the officiant and approached a statue. They knelt before it and prayed. I could not look! It was offensive! It did not matter who the statue represented; nor the reason for bowing and praying. It was idolatry!

The Apostle Paul wrote…

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 

—Ephesians 5:11-12

Are you curious about sin? 

Do you want to know more about darkness?

Do you want to talk about the things ungodly people do in secret?

Be careful with your gaze. Keep your curiosity in check. To whatever it is that you consistently turn your head to look, there lies your heart’s interest.

Idolatry causes God to turn his face away; but a humble heart captures his attention as does one who is moved by His word. (Isaiah 66:2)

What about you? 

Is there anything that causes you to turn your head and look away? 

What kinds of things turn your head to draw your attention?

The writer of Hebrews encouraged the saints to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

If, like Lot’s wife we turn toward Sodom, we will become like Sodom. But if we set our gaze on Jesus, we will become like Jesus. 

On what do you gaze?

Mark Stinnett

September 28, 2025

Is God Responsible for the Crusades?

Master of the Roman de Fauvel -
Published in William of Tyre's Historia, 1337

Is God responsible for things just because they happen?

That is the idea you get when listening to many people of our day. As an illustration...

Everybody at church was praying for healing for Gladys (made up name). However, she took a turn for the worse and passed away. Overheard at the next church gathering was a well-meaning word of comfort that ended, “I guess it was God’s will to take her.” 

Was it God’s will??

I have known people who expressed anger at God for ‘taking’ a loved one or for not coming through on a desired request. However...

• Was it really God’s will (fault) that you did not get the job you wanted?
• Was it really God’s will (fault) that the person you had your heart set on did not fall in love with you?
• Was it really God’s will (fault) that your grandmother died?

I do not wish to sound unkind with my questions. Yet, it is important to see where this kind of thinking leads.

Some people follow the idea that God has everything in life mapped out for everybody (especially them). So, whenever something happens, it happened because it was God’s will. Otherwise, it would not have happened.

You cannot come to that conclusion when thinking about the idolatry of God’s people in the Old Testament. What about the crusades of the 11th century, prison camps in Nazi Germany, or the lives lost on 9-11-2001?

Did you know that the crusades were carried out in the name of Jesus Christ?! They were not merely approved, but called for by a church council in 1095 under the authority of Pope Urban II. The first crusade was over possession of the “Holy Sepulchre,” a church building erected by Constantine the Great in the 4th century, and considered a holy site by many people of the Christian faith.

In light of the crusades, reflect on the words of Jesus as He answered the Roman governor Pilate just before His crucifixion, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews.” (John 18:36) How does a fight over a building and land, regardless of its purpose/use make sense?? Does God really want His people fighting over earthly possessions? I find nothing in the New Testament to justify such a thing, even if it is done by devoted Christians and even if they devoted their war to God.

Think back to the Garden of Eden. God had instructed Adam that he could eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was God’s will. He expected Adam and Eve to comply. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they opposed God’s instruction. No one could say, “Well, that’s too bad; it must have been God’s will.” Sin is never God’s will. Evil is not God’s will. Sin messed the world up, but it did not change God’s will.

God is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 

That is God’s will. 

God sent His Son into the world to repair the broken relationship between Himself and mankind due to sin. 

That was God’s will. 

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. 

That was God’s will.

Whenever something happens that you do not understand or you cannot explain or that disappoints you or is vastly different from your expectation...pause before you conclude that it was God’s will just because it happened. There are many things going on in this world today that are opposed to God’s will. Make sure you are not one of them.

Mark Stinnett

September 21, 2025

Senseless

We call them senseless because we search for meaning but cannot find any reasonable explanation. I am referring to the senseless violence that has occurred over the past several days, two school shootings, a woman being stabbed while riding on public transportation, and most recently the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an outspoken political and religious personality.

An outcry of sorrow, but also of anxiety, follows the school shootings. Speculation about the woman’s stabbing is fruitless, yet no one is thinking that the murderer was justified. Sadly, the reaction to Kirk’s death was immediately mixed.

Major news outlets and social media exploded with both outrage and sympathy. Yet, many who voiced sympathy also made political jabs against Kirk and his ideals. Then, there were extremists who were bold enough to applauded his death.

These senseless acts of violence seem to affect us more profoundly than tragedies overseas. They affect our kids, threaten our public safety, touch our beliefs and values. They did not happen somewhere else but in our ‘backyard.’ They each affect us differently, yet all heighten our awareness that we live in a broken world and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.

As Christians, what do we do? How do we react? What do we say?

The Scriptures provide guidance.

First, Jesus dealt with the news of senseless acts of violence in His day. The Roman governor, Pilate, had apparently ordered the death of some Jews from Galilee and mixed their blood with their sacrifices. (Luke 13:1-5) It was a hot-button issue of that day and caused outrage among some. However, Jesus’ response suggests that they were not as much angry with Pilate, but wanted Jesus to address the apparent guilt of the Galileans. In other words, they thought those Galileans must have been some really bad people for God to have allowed such a thing. They wanted Jesus’ opinion.

Jesus pulled their attention away from the headline news of the day with a statement that some might consider insensitive, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way?” Jesus was telling them that their focus was in the wrong place.

Would you like Jesus to weigh in on the violence of our day, give His divine opinion on the matter?

Jesus walked this earth as deity in the flesh. He existed before His earthly ministry. He had a perspective that we may overlook. He saw Cain kill Abel. He saw the condition of the world at the time of the flood, the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, the violent Assyrians attack Israel, His own people offering children as sacrifices, the desecration of the temple in Jerusalem by the Greeks. He had seen it all and the events of His day were nothing new.

Jesus did weigh in on the senseless matters of His day. He came to “seek and to save the lost” and “to give His life a ransom for many.” He did not think that He would end war and violence on the earth. Rather, He opened the door to God’s kingdom. He calls for you to change your thinking about the headline news and realign your focus to God and His kingdom!

Second, “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20) So, curb your outrage. Refrain from social media outbursts and from your own senseless opinionated banter. Instead of expressing your liberty of free speech, capture God’s attention. Use your voice in the quiet of your room...on your knees...in humble prayer.

Mark Stinnett

September 14, 2025  

Why I Pray for Understanding

To emphasize the importance of discernment the preacher remarked that Christianity was a thinking religion. Dissatisfied, one woman quipped, “If they would just tell me what I need to do, I could do that.” (No thinking.)

A friend told me about his experience in the church of his youth. He had questions. He asked questions. He wanted understanding. He was shut down with answers like, “That’s just the way it is.”

A young lady visited several churches asking for help in understanding the Bible. Church folks kept telling her that she just needed to have faith.

Sometimes biblical teachings are clear and unmistakable. Yet, there are some teachings that are not so black and white. So, we need discernment.

You may remember Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. They were priests and had received instruction about offering incense to God. They decided to change God’s instruction and “offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.” (Leviticus 10:1) A person could reason that they did not break a command because what they did was not prohibited. And yet, they did something different than what they had been told to do. They should have applied discernment and reasoned that God’s specific instruction excluded their ‘strange’ incense mixture.

Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,’” a teaching from the Law of Moses regarding the strict application of justice. And yet, Jesus taught that God’s people should learn to turn the other cheek, that is, absorb an injustice. He was not updating the Law or superseding the Law but communicating the need to think about the strict application of the Law. After all, would you want to be the one to carry out the consequences of putting out someone else’s eye if your eye was accidentally put out?! The simple point is that unquestioned obedience to the Law would have Israel full of people who were crippled, one-eyed, missing teeth, etc. However, after giving thought to the outcome of strict obedience, voluntary mercy and forgiveness would prove to be a better way.

In the Parable of the Talents two of the servants were given a sum of money. They put the money to use for their master. However, another servant hid his money and later returned it to the master. He was rebuked because he should have known what to do. He should have thought more clearly!

After telling several of the parables Jesus concluded by saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” This stood in stark contrast to the cry of the Old Testament prophets. They warned God’s people of divine judgment because the people had eyes but did not see and had ears but did not hear. Jesus was calling for ears that were attentive to His message in the parables. The people were to listen and then ponder the parables. Some of the parables have no further explanation. It appears that Jesus believed that those parables could be understood both then and now by applying discernment. At other times His listeners voiced their lack of understanding and asked Jesus to explain. To those who asked, He explained!

“Ask, and it will be given to you” applies to discernment in Bible study. It also applies to the application of Scripture in our daily lives. God did not speak to mankind and have His word recorded to keep understanding hidden. He wants us to understand! In the first psalm David wrote that he meditated on the Law day and night. He craved understanding and received it.

Wisdom tells us to study and meditate on God’s word, to strive for understanding. 

Wisdom tells us to ask. 

Remember to pray for understanding.

Mark Stinnett

September 7, 2025

What is a Gift?

I have a beautiful Bible sitting on a shelf in my office. It is the older King Jame Version that I seldom use. I did not need another copy. I did not want another copy. It was a gift.

It’s a larger edition KJV Bible with gold gilding, multiple ribbons and an excellent genuine leather cover (not bonded leather). It has many nice features, and it looks good, smells good, and feels good to the touch. I looked it up online and found that it is an expensive edition. It was a gift.

It was not given so that I could find it a new home. It was a gift...to me.

It was given to me by an older friend with whom I had studied the Bible. Our friendship grew out of our mutual love for the Lord. When she heard that my family and I were moving away, she wanted to give me a gift to show her love and appreciation. She gave a beautiful, expensive Bible

I do not know if buying such an expensive Bible was a burden to her. Nevertheless, because it was expensive and brand new, I knew that it meant something to her. It was a costly gift and it was intentional.

Even though I do not need that Bible and though I almost never use it, I keep it. It means something to me. It is called sentimental value. It reminds me of my friend and her sacrifice. It reminds me of our friendship.

Have you ever given a gift that was a dud? It is true that many husbands have made mistakes by choosing gifts for their wives that were practical but not sensible. (Think, vacuum cleaner.) And yet, this is not the ‘dud’ that I am thinking about. Rather, have you ever given a gift that was appropriate yet under-appreciated or even rejected? You were sure it would bring joy, but you could see the disappointment on the person’s face. Maybe there was a kind smile and a “Thank you,” but you knew it was not genuine.

Let’s shift to yet another aspect of gift-giving. Have you ever rejected a gift. Perhaps, you received and accepted the gift, but you later ‘regifted’ it or simply set it aside...rejected. And, unlike my lovely Bible, the gift you received did not hold sentimental value. After all, you had made a list of potential gift ideas, but the gift-giver went ‘off script.’ You felt that the giver had not really listened. You felt disappointment, no joy.

Let’s pause here and agree that gift giving can be complicated. Even so, think about the way you give and how gifts have been presented to you. Think about the joys and the disappointments. Would you agree that, in general, the greater the sacrifice, the more meaningful the gift?

Now, think about God.

God is the giver of all good things. Everyone accepts the gifts God has given through creation, such as, sunshine, rain, natural resources, crops, etc.

The most precious and expensive gift that God gave was His Son Jesus. It was a gift of life for the purpose of fellowship with man. Many want this gift, but few embrace it because it is a gift that has conditions. To embrace God’s gift of life a person must no longer embrace the life this world offers. Only a few are willing to die to this world in order to embrace life eternal.

We, in return, give to God. But what can we possibly give? He’s made it easy by telling us what He expects and accepts. We offer to God: genuine thanks, a broken and contrite spirit (humility), faithfulness, obedience, worship. Even our service to others is regarded as a gift to God: justice, mercy, kindness, physical/financial assistance, even a cup of cold water.

This week, think about your giving, but do so in light of God’s gifts to you.


Mark Stinnett

August 31, 2025

What were Behemoth and Leviathan??

The short answer of the title question is: Uncertain. 

(But these creatures are important!)

Behemoth

The name Behemoth appears in the Bible only once (Job 40:15). Its description is that of a great and powerful creature. Some have suggested that Behemoth is the hippopotamus, while others think it is a reference to a mythological creature with symbolic significance, or perhaps, an extinct dinosaur. Each idea has merit, but also difficulties.

Leviathan

Following a description of Behemoth is a reference to Leviathan (Job 41). It is also a great and powerful creature. While Behemoth appears to have been a land creature, Leviathan was a sea creature. A series of rhetorical questions are asked about Leviathan, each suggesting a fierce creature that man cannot catch or overpower: “Lay your hand on him; remember the battle; you will not do it again!”

Suggestions for the identification of Leviathan range from crocodile to mythological creature to dragon to extinct dinosaur.

Making Sense of Behemoth and Leviathan

More important than the specific identification of these creatures is an understanding of why they appear in Scripture, namely in the book of Job.

God mentions Behemoth and Leviathan in a response to the man Job. It is possible that each creature symbolized something in the minds of the people of that day, similar to the way that a lion symbolizes courage to us.

Up to this point in the book, Job had endured terrible misfortune with regard to his family, his wealth, and his personal health. His friends were under the impression that since Job was suffering such misfortune, he must have sinned greatly. After all, according to their thinking, good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. However, Job insisted that his misfortune was not the result of sin. He was quite sure that if he could bring his case before God, the great Judge would vindicate him.

God did answer Job, but not as Job expected. Prior to mentioning Behemoth and Leviathan, God posed dozens of rhetorical questions to Job about creation. (See chapters 38 & 39.) God appears to have been pressing the point: I am Creator; you are not. Job understood and recognized his insignificance in comparison to his Creator. However, God was not finished.

Continuing to exalt Himself (It’s ok for God to do that; it’s not pride but truth.), God said: “Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you…” (40:15). Then after a lengthy description, rich with symbolism of greatness and power, God concluded, “Can anyone capture him…?”

Then God spoke of Leviathan, presumably a creature that He had also made. It was a fierce creature that could not be caught or subdued by man. God concluded about Leviathan, “He looks on everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” (41:34) In other words, no one, not even man in his greatness, can match the power and fierceness of Leviathan.

Using two great and powerful creatures that God had created, Behemoth and Leviathan, His simple message to Job was, “You, little man, wish to bring your petty case of suffering before Me as Judge? I am Creator!”

God boldly asserted truth: “I am Creator; justice is mine.” In that, Job could rely on God’s justice even when he had experienced grave injustices. 

We may never know how to accurately identify these mysterious creatures. However, we can trust that our exalted Creator renders justice in all matters.

Mark Stinnett

August 24, 2025

"Holier Than Thou" ??

“Oh, you just think you’re better than everyone else!”

That’s how I’ve heard it. It’s usually said during a heated religious discussion or when someone is being corrected (and they don’t want to be corrected). It is a way of deflecting correction, halting the discussion, and shifting attention in a different direction.

Over the years it has been said that three areas should be avoided in conversation: sex, religion and politics. They are subjects of controversy where people have deep-seeded beliefs that they do not wish to have challenged. Add to that the that most people simply do not take correction well. After all, who wants to be told, “You’re wrong!”?

So, a simple defense mechanism is to attack back, “You just think you’re better than everyone else.” Or, “You think you are holier than everyone else.” Such a counterattack often disarms the other person so that they feel they must defend themselves against that accusation.

What would happen if when attacked back, a person agreed, “Yes, I am”?

“I am holy. I am not better, but I am holy.”

Let me explain…

In recent decades Christians have blurred the line between the saved and the sinner. For most, I think, it comes from a genuine desire to relate to others and share the goodness of God and His mercy. We do not want to appear arrogant in our Christianity. So, we try to relate to others: “I’m a sinner, just like everyone else.”

In one sense, that is a true statement. We can even quote Scripture: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Or, “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10) There it is, biblical proof that we are all in the same boat, all sinners. We think that helps us to be more relatable. I’m not sure that the result has been what we expected.

We don’t need to explain the two verses quoted above. In fact, even without those direct statements from Scripture, every human who is able to assess his conscience knows that he is a sinner. How do we know? Every adult has, at one time or another, violated his own conscience. He has done or said something that he believed to be morally wrong. Guilty! And yet…

From Acts 9 forward, Christians are referred to as saints more than any other descriptive term in the Bible. The word saint means ‘holy one,’ that is, one who is set apart, namely, set apart to God as one who was formerly dead in his sins but now alive in Christ. So, you are a saint; you ARE holier than those who are not in Christ. So, we can say with a humble and thankful heart, “Yes! I AM holier than thou,” yet, I am not better than anyone else. So, holiness is not a license for arrogance, but for humble thanksgiving.

The Apostle Paul began his letter to the Christians in Corinth: 

To those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling,….

King David recognized the beauty of being a saint…

As for the saints who are in the earth,

They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

--Psalm 16:3

As a saint in Christ, you must embrace the different direction that you have taken in life. You are no longer lost in sin. You have been found by the grace of God. That defines your acceptance by God and His purpose for your life. It is true that you are not better than anyone else. However, you are better off. God has made you holy in Christ! Humbly embrace your sainthood!

Mark Stinnett

August 17, 2025

Instruction for Life

Not long ago I took a break for lunch at a favorite fast food restaurant. Seated directly behind me was a grandmother-granddaughter pair. I was not aware of the music coming over the speakers until Grandma informed her granddaughter: “This is not real country music. Real country music was sung by Johnny Cash.” She went on to name others of that era and continued, “Real country music makes you feel something.” (Long pause.) “It makes you think.” The lesson continued.

I call it a ‘lesson’ because Grandma was teaching the little girl (no more than three years old) the definition of good music and its value. I cannot help but think that there will be similar lessons to follow, lessons to reinforce the important truth taught that day. Grandma will someday pass from this earth and whether that little girl embraces real country music or she marches to her own drumbeat, I cannot predict. However, this lesson will undoubtedly be remembered as being of great importance to Grandma.

I cannot help but think that the grandmother practiced what she preached and listened to real country music. That would be another vitally important component of teaching:

1. Model the values, attitudes and behavior that you wish pass on.
2. Verbally express your values, attitudes and behaviors. After all, people, and especially kids, do not always understand your example.

Paul’s instruction, “whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7), may be applied to teaching. It applies to both verbal instruction and the lessons one models through example.

In my opening illustration, grandma thought it important to teach her granddaughter about country music. I reflected on the content of the lessons that I had taught my children.

Paul’s instruction to fathers about the content of parental instruction is compact: “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) There are many valuable life lessons. Yet, many have value only in this life. They are not the specific content of “the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” They are more often based on one’s life experience and home-spun philosophy. That is not what Paul meant.

The entire Bible is filled with the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Instruction is the verbal/written aspect of teaching while discipline is the hand-on, practical application of God’s teaching. Throughout Scripture we receive instruction on honesty, integrity, faith, morality, self-control, godliness, generosity, service, love of God, love of others, and more.

The ‘stories’ in the Bible are also important. Noah teaches faithfulness, patience, and gratitude. David (and Goliath) teaches faith and courage. Ruth teaches faithfulness. Nebuchadnezzar teaches humility (in contrast to great pride). The stories teach us something about the character of man but also God’s expectation of good character. We need to tell the stories, but we must not forget the lessons taught by those important examples. At the same time, we must not forget how God’s interaction with people teaches valuable lessons about His divine character.

You might say that every person’s life declares, “This is how to live life.”

Eyes are watching; ears are listening.

So, what are you teaching by your example? What lessons will continue to ring in the ears of your children, grandchildren and those who knew you? Make sure that you are providing instruction of eternal value.

Mark Stinnett

August 10, 2025

Mining the Scriptures

Anyone who is interested in genuinely understanding God’s word knows that Bible study requires time and effort; much time, much hard work.

I had a favorable experience several years ago when preparing for a Bible class in which Matthew 24 & 25 was to be considered. I was puzzled because the text seemed to refer to two different things with no apparent break between. I was eventually able to resolve my issues and answer my questions by applying three important elements of study:

Saturation: 

This is about the careful examination of a verse or passage or topic. You look at every angle asking questions and refining ideas. You are keenly aware of the difficulties as well as the details of the biblical material. You allow it to constantly turn over in your mind when reading or studying other passages/topics. Even unrelated studies are evaluated for a possible clue to understanding. The material and questions are always fresh.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

—Psalm 1:2

Timing: 

Have you ever experienced sudden insight into a passage of scripture that you had read many times before? Why were you able to understand more that day than before?

It may be simple timing.

Often a change in circumstances provides a heightened awareness of a need. Passages that answer that need seem to stand out. Some scriptures are better understood when a person is an adult, or when married, or with children. I wonder how aging may open my eyes to truths unseen before.

Financial difficulties, loss of job, health issues, or the death of a loved one can all give a person never-before-seen truths or greater clarity. Some passages are difficult simply because we are not ready to understand fully. The timing has not yet been right. Profitable study takes time, much time.

These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him….

—John 12:16

Outside help: 

Do you expect an explanation about Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and other Bible resources?

I am thinking about prayer and the Holy Spirit!

Bible resource materials are useful and should be consulted, but not first. Commentaries, Bible dictionaries and other resources are produced by men. Before turning to man’s resources it is wise to search for meaning and understanding in the immediate text and within the context of the Bible as a whole. Listen to God first. Then pray for understanding. He has given us His Holy Spirit to assist us.

Ask and it shall be given to you.

—Matthew 7:7

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

—Luke 11:13

God’s word was revealed to us for understanding, not to confuse. So, apply yourself and study. The reward is immeasurable.

Mark Stinnett

August 3, 2025

Is the Bible Just about Law?

Several years ago my mother told me about a preacher who delivered a good biblical lesson which concluded with a plea to think and make personal application. He had left the application open-ended making each person responsible. The stay-at-home mom would have a different application than the doctor or the widow; different also than the application to the salesman or the school teacher.

Afterward a friend of my mom snorted, “Why can’t he just tell us what to do? It would be a lot easier if we knew the rules. I could do that.” Many would agree. There is something comfortable in a packaged set of rules. It’s neat and tidy. It’s brief and simple. It is not flawed like a command lacking precise definition such as: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

OOPS! Back up. Those were the words of Jesus drawn from the Law of Moses!

It is true, a packaged law code may sound simple, brief, and tidy. Yet it strikes against the two most important commands uttered by God in which the application is open-ended. Jesus commented on the two Great Commands saying:

On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. 

 —Matthew 22:40 (NASB95)

In the Hebrew Scriptures ‘The Law’ was not simply the law code known as Law of Moses. It was the entire Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. ‘The Prophets’ included the historical books (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings), as well as all the books of prophecy. So, Jesus was saying that God’s revelation, up to His point in time, depended on the two Great Commands. All scripture revolved around and was connected to the commands to love God and to love one’s neighbor which both had open-ended application.

We can thank a Jewish lawyer for pointing out the gray area, “Who is my neighbor?” Yet, Jesus gave an answer in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that showed that the lawyer had asked the wrong question. (Luke 10)

The statement from my mom’s friend suggested the same kind of thinking as the lawyer. On the surface it sounds good, “Just define the rules and we can follow.” “Give me a precise definition of ‘neighbor’ and I will comply.” And yet, that is the wrong approach.

Too often, people have reduced the Bible to a set of rules and tried to push those rules on others. As a result, many people have lost interest in the Bible.

In the late 1800’s there was a shift in biblical scholarship. Instead of the inspired Word of God many saw the Bible as mere ancient literature. The literary approach might have partly been a reaction to a legal approach, but it gave way to the view that truth is largely dependent upon history and culture. Based on the trend of modern biblical interpretation many 'Christian' groups have effectively stamped the word ‘Obsolete’ on the cover of the Bible.

However, the Bible still claims to be the inspired revelation of God. The Bible claims to be relevant in giving life answers regardless of location, time, cultural background, history or politics. So, one must either embrace the Bible in its entirety or reject the whole book. There is no middle ground.

The study and application of the Bible can be challenging. Not every question in life is answered directly, not every issue resolved by a single verse. However, if we are going to be true disciples of Jesus, we must devote ourselves to His Word. We will be wise to approach the Bible with a proper attitude and with a patient, thinking mind.


Mark Stinnett

July 27, 2025

Outsmarting God

Kareem, a foreign student in a doctoral program, was my teacher in an advanced college math class. He and I occasionally spoke before class. Topics included mathematics, his home country, religion, God, and the Bible. Upon arriving early to class one day, Kareem casually approached my desk and said with a grin, “You know, I can prove that God does not exist.”

I quickly responded, “And I would expect that you can also prove that God DOES exist.”

His eyes lit up and he fired back, “So what does that tell you about God!?”

“He is not subject to human proof,” I said (glad not to have embarrassed myself).

Kareem seemed quite satisfied with the whole exchange knowing that his ‘proof’ was simply based on human logic. It was his purpose was to show the absurdity of using math and human logic to attempt to prove or disprove God. Yet, that has not stopped many from deceiving the naïve and unsuspecting.

Recall Satan’s attempt to deceive Jesus with the first temptation:

If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.

—Matthew 4:3

Who said that turning stones into bread proved one to be the Son of God? Satan made a logical connection where none existed. Deceiver.

Recall how some Jews plotted against Jesus. They asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. If Jesus answered, “Yes,” then he would be siding with the Roman government and turn the people against him. Yet, to answer, “No,” would be to position himself against Rome. Testers.

A modern-day writer posed a series of difficult-to-answer questions about a controversial issue. His questions were meant to tear down teachings from the past and usher in greater enlightenment. Though the questions might have been challenging, they did not change the simple text of Scripture. Questioner.

A popular writer posed the question, “What if Mary was not a virgin.” He went on to talk about translation issues in Old Testament prophecy and whether the prophecy really meant that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Matthew plainly indicated that the virgin birth fulfilled that prophecy. Yet the writer wondered with doubt whether the Jews expected a virgin birth and how that might affect the way people look at Scripture. Doubter.

The deceiver, tester, questioner, and doubter all have one thing in common: They are scoffers who have little regard for God’s word. Through their wordcraft they create clouds of doubt where none exist.

Through human reasoning some think they have out-witted God to create ‘gray areas’ in His word that do not exist. They have confused clear teachings regarding sin and righteousness in order to justify their ideas. Do not be fooled! Just because a person can ask tough questions, create doubt, rationalize, and/or make straightforward teachings fuzzy does not make that individual a good teacher. He spreads seeds of doubt so that people question God’s word and God Himself. He does not love the truth but only himself.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and

   do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

   and He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

—Proverbs 3:5-7

Mark Stinnett

July 20, 2025

Validating Scripture

Several years ago I sat in a Bible class on the book of Proverbs and then later a class on the book of Ecclesiastes. Both are categorized as books of wisdom. As much as I loved these writings, I was sorely disappointed with the presentation of each teacher.

I did not object to the stories the teachers told that related to the text. Many were great illustrations. However, the stories were not given as illustrations of the truths found in scripture, they were offered to validate what was written.

Think for a moment…

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

—2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21for 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 (NASB)

We accept that the Bible is the inspired word of God. That means that ultimately, even though written by the hand of men, using the style, language and vocabulary of men, the Bible was authored by God through the Holy Spirit.

We may have questions about the inspiration of the Bible, yet we do not wonder if it is God’s word. For that reason we must adopt and maintain an attitude of reverence toward the word of God. We really should imagine in our minds that God is speaking to us through the many writers of scripture.

Now, back to the classes on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes…
The personal stories were offered to validate the things written in scripture. Does that seem backwards to you? It is one thing to use an illustration to clarify a difficult proverb. It is quite another thing to evaluate the truth of the proverb on the basis of one’s life experience.

God did not speak to mankind and then ask, "What do you think about that; do you think it's true?" We must not take the word of God and then compare it our own understanding of the sum total of human experience and knowledge. Remember…

In the beginning...God.

God is the starting point of man’s existence. He is the backdrop against which we must discover ourselves and find meaning. His word is the standard by which we evaluate our lives.

Applied to the wisdom of the Proverbs, we must accept the truth of God’s word and then evaluate our own life experiences. It is the truth of God’s word that validates my life, not the other way around. If my personal experiences are necessary to validate God’s word, then ‘I’ have become the standard by which truth is known and understood. We should use human experiences only to illustrate and perhaps to help explain the existing truth of God’s word.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn from evil.

—Proverbs 3:7 (NASB)

We need to be a people who listen to God’s word. We need to accept it at face value. We need to adjust our lives to conform to God’s word, not make it conform to our lives.

Mark Stinnett

July 13, 2025

Modern-Day Israel: Prophecy Fulfilled??

You may have heard about or seen the 2024 epic film, as it is billed, called “I Am Israel.” The marketing material emphasizes fulfillment of a prophecy from Ezekiel 36:8 that says, “My children are coming home.” The idea is that ancient promises have finally seen fulfillment in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. 

 So, is modern-day Israel God’s chosen nation?

The question is important. If modern-day Israel is God’s chosen nation, then there must be two paths of fellowship with God: one through Moses (The Law of Moses) and one through Jesus Christ.

What does the Bible say?

First, the prophecy from Ezekiel was written when the Israelites, more specifically, the Israelites from the tribe of Judah, were taken captive by the nation of Babylon. The prophecy contained a threefold message:

• The reason for their capture: unfaithfulness to God through idolatry;
• God will judge the nations who mocked His people; and
• God will restore His people to the Promised Land.

Those prophesies were fulfilled a few years after they were spoken. God’s people were released from captivity and returned to Jerusalem in Judea in 536 B.C. The restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem is recorded in the Old Testament book of Ezra. So, Ezekiel’s prophecy has not been left unfulfilled until our day.

Another significant prophecy is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34 in which God promised to make a new covenant. It would be different from the covenant He had made with Israel at the time of Moses. Under the first (old) covenant, children were born into the covenant but did not know anything about God until taught. In contrast, under the new covenant, a person would first learn about God and then, if he/she chose, would enter into a covenant relationship with God. Entrance into the new covenant would be on the basis of God’s forgiveness of sins, not physical birth.

Jesus looked forward to the new covenant at His last Passover meal with His disciples. He presented a cup of ‘the fruit of the vine’ as representation of “My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:24) Jesus was referring to His sacrificial death in which His blood was to be shed to inaugurate the new covenant as prophesied by Jeremiah.

Later, the writer of the book of Hebrews stated that the first covenant was made obsolete by the new covenant. So, by the time of the writing of Hebrews, the new covenant had been established and was in effect.

The Apostle Peter wrote to Christians, those who believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and promised Messiah:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession….

—1 Peter 2:9

Earlier, he referred to the same people as a “spiritual house.” So, the new covenant was of a spiritual nature. The “holy nation” of God was not, and is not, a physical nation, but rather, a spiritual nation.

The covenant relationship God once had with the physical nation of Israel ended because the people broke their covenant with Him and in doing so released Him from His obligation to the covenant. Even if today’s Israel were to return to all the practices taught in the Law of Moses, they would not enjoy a covenant relationship with God. The old covenant is obsolete. 

However, today’s Israel and the Jews of today can once again come into a covenant relationship with God, but only through a faith response to Jesus Christ. Anyone who wishes to be a part of the kingdom of God must be born again, born of the Spirit , born into a spiritual kingdom. (John 3:3-8)

Mark Stinnett

July 6, 2025

You're Not Just a Clod

Have you ever thought about your value as a human being? 

We’re all just a bunch of clods...dirt clods.

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground…. 

--Genesis 2:7

Even unbelieving evolutionists recognize that when a person dies their body decomposes and eventually becomes...dirt. Perhaps the difference is that the believer acknowledges that the body ‘returns’ to the dust of the ground from which it was 'created.'

Articles have been published in which the physical ingredients of an adult human body were catalogued and measured. They were then given an approximate value based on current prices for the separate components. The totals were always just a few dollars. 

Dirt clods.

So, what gives a person value?

There is one ingredient that scientists cannot measure; cannot calculate; cannot really comprehend scientifically. Science can tell us the various chemical components of our physical body, but they have never been able to come up with a recipe to mix all the dry ingredients together, add water, and then produce...life.

We can continue the cycle of reproduction that already exists, but we cannot create. The essence of life is not a dry ingredient that man can manipulate into life.

For that reason, life is valuable.

Long before the New Testament was recorded, before the Law of Moses was given, at the time of Noah, God commanded that man not eat anything with its blood in it. Why? 

Life is in the blood.

--Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11

The penalty for killing another human was death. Why?

Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed,

For in the image of God He made man.

--Genesis 9:6

God did something quite wonderful when he formed man out of the dust of the ground:

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

--Genesis 2:7

It is easy to take life for granted. It is easy to forget that people are not assigned value based on human perception. Value is assigned by God.

We recognize how often violent men display their lack of regard for life when someone is killed. Most of us would never think of murdering someone. However, do we ever treat people as insignificant or practically invisible? Do we devalue people on the basis of their politics, their religion, their personality, their perceptions of life, their sin? Are there people that we simply ‘write off’ because they are not worth the effort?

We are more than ‘dirt clods’ because God made each of us valuable when he gave us life. And then he did something unthinkable, something beyond imagination, something marvelous: He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins so we could live with Him forever.

Your true value is not found in human accomplishments, material possessions, or your glowing personality. Your value has little to do with you. You are valuable...

     ...because God has made you in His image...

          ...because he has given you life...

               ...because He has offered life everlasting to your soul. 

Value life!

Mark Stinnett

June 29, 2025