The White Flag of Surrender

The commanding officer evaluates the battle: soldiers, supplies, reinforcements. He evaluates his strategic position and the battlefield. He evaluates the enemy. A message is sent and his superiors agree that the battle cannot be won. With certain defeat and unnecessary loss of life on the horizon, a white flag is raised: surrender.

It might not be a white flag, but surrender is also present in other circumstances. Disheartened competitors recognize that a score that cannot be matched. A runner lets up when he realizes he cannot pass the leader before reaching the finish line. A student is frustrated by an overbearing teacher. An unreasonable boss makes negotiations impossible.

Surrender is most often associated with defeat. It is disheartening. It is the realization that continued effort (fighting or competing or reasoning or negotiating) will not help. The will is crushed and strength is lost. Whether an enemy, a boss, a teacher, a parent, or a competitor; defeat is accepted. “I give up,” is the weak cry.

Those who follow Jesus surrender to God. Yet, something tells us that God is not the same as an opponent who stands against us. He desires our surrender, yet not to defeat us and not to lower our sense of personal value.

Years ago one of my children returned home from a competition where there was no scoreboard. I asked her how the game went. “We won!” she exclaimed. My wife shook her head, “No.” (One of the parents kept a tally.) My daughter saw no defeat because there was no visible standard that arbitrarily assigned a greater value to one team or individual over another.

God removes the arbitrary standard of victory set up in the minds of man. This was seen in the life of the Apostle Paul as he struggled with his thorn in the flesh. He prayed to God to remove his thorn in the flesh on three occasions. When he did not get help, he did not give up, yet he did surrender. He surrendered his will to God, understanding that God was working through him. He recognized that God’s strength worked through his weakness. God did not expect Paul to overcome this weakness, but rather to rely on Him. God expected faith, not personal achievement. So, in his weakness Paul surrendered and received the grace of God. (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)

How can we surrender like Paul?

When confronted with difficulties, pray earnestly and frequently for God’s wisdom, God’s guidance, and God’s intervention. Then, live life, being alert to the opening and closing of doors of opportunity.

Do you have concerns over your job, an investment, college, children, retirement, your soul? Evaluate options and plan to the best of your ability. Ask God for insight and wisdom. Then, follow through with your plan. If God closes a door, give thanks for his gracious answer. (He may be protecting you.) If the door remains open, give thanks for his gracious answer.

Surrender to God first considers the advancement of His kingdom. It also involves a heart that relies on God to supply every need. Surrender is the giving up of one’s own will in submission to God’s will. Where uncertainties exist, kneel in prayer and trust that He will assist. You may be surprised to find freedom from worry when you completely surrender to God.

Raise a white flag of surrender to God’s will, and enjoy peace, security and victory in Him!

His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. 

 —2 Peter 1:3

Mark Stinnett

March 30, 2025

A Forgiving Spirit

Forgiveness is difficult. Forgiveness is not fair. Yet, justice demands that the one who offends another pay for his offence.

Justice cries out, “An eye for an eye.” Justice demands equity. Equity demands restoration, but you simply cannot un-ring the bell. Even when the thief returns stolen goods, the theft still occurred. It cannot be undone.

Relationships are affected; trust is broken. Justice is never completely served. In the “eye for an eye” system of justice, equity demands a second injury after the first, but does it never equal the first?

When justice is demanded, does it ever satisfy? Does it take away the hurt and repair the damage? Does it balance out the wrong done?

We must realize that mankind is unjust. For that reason, no one deserves justice (fairness) from others. In contrast, God is just and He alone can demand justice. He is just because He is by nature pure and holy.

Forgiveness may appear to be the opposite of justice. However, God is, by nature, just; and God is, by nature, forgiving. He is not schizophrenic as if His justice personality and His forgiving personality battle each other. Both are part of His nature and He is not in conflict with Himself.

If we were to compare ourselves to God, we would see that we are flawed and incomplete. Such reflection should affect our attitudes toward others.

We desire forgiveness from God, and we desire forgiveness from other people. Every one has given in to sin yet desires mercy and forgiveness. Every one of us has wronged someone and yet we desire that they extend forgiveness. 

So, what does it mean to ask for forgiveness?

When I ask you to forgive me, it is because I have done something to hurt you; I have committed a wrong against you. To ask forgiveness is to ask you to bear the pain of that wrong and release me from the debt I owe. I am asking you to go on living as if the wrong had never occurred.

There are three grossly unfair aspects to forgiveness.

• First, the forgiver bears the pain.
• Second, the offender goes free.
• Third, the forgiver may be shamed and appears guilty.

Jesus taught that forgiveness has no restrictions. What limitation do you find in the following statement?

If you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

—Matthew 6:15

When Jesus was crucified, He asked God to forgive his murderers. In reality, He asked God to place their guilt on Him. He would bear the pain; He would bear the shame; He would appear to be the criminal.

Jesus recognized that the people who crucified Him did not understand what they were doing. Do not take that statement lightly. Is it possible for us to adopt the same understanding about those who hurt us? They really do not know what they are doing. The question is whether we really know what we are doing when we refuse to forgive...and when we do forgive.

As saints in Christ, when we are faced with a decision to forgive, we should remember that we have been forgiven by God. It is true that nothing is fair about forgiveness! However, when we forgive, we are just like the Lamb of God who has taken away our sins.

Pursue a forgiving spirit. 

Pursue the heart of Christ.


Mark Stinnett

March 23, 2025

Starting from Scratch

You are not really interested in my sermon prep but stick with me. This was an accidental eye-opener for me that may impact your personal study.

The text was 1 Corinthians 9 where the Apostle Paul wrote: “To the weak I became weak that I might win the weak.” I wondered if the same Greek term for weak was used in James 5:14, a difficult verse which had been part of a recent study. I looked and discovered that the word was the same.

At that point I began to wonder how I could work this newly found gem into my sermon. It would support my long-held belief involving a controversial interpretation of James 5:14. After a few failed attempts it suddenly struck me that “I” had gotten in the way of Scripture with my purpose. I let myself guide Scripture instead of Scripture guiding me!
So, what is the point?

When studying the Bible the baggage of life that we each carry can become a distraction. That may include past teaching by parents, friends, trusted preachers, beloved authors, etc. Our perceptions can be tainted by the thinking of our society in our location at our time in history. It can be difficult to approach Scripture with a clear and unbiased mind.

I vividly remember beginning a study on the biblical teaching of baptism. Before opening my Bible and starting from scratch, I prayed for insight and for the ability to be honest with Scripture. I made a personal vow to God that I would follow the text of scripture and that I would change my views and my teachings where necessary. My prayer frightened me. I realized it such an approach would be the moment of truth thinking, “What if…?”

What if I discovered that I had been wrong all these years? How could I face my parents and close relatives? How could I continue preaching and teaching at the same congregation? What would I say to my wife and children?

On one occasion Jesus said:

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 

--Matthew 10:34

He was not talking about a literal sword and fighting. Rather, he spoke about the cost of discipleship. Just a few verses later He added:

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (verses 37-38)

When reading and studying God’s word we cannot merely rest on the understanding from parents, friends, preachers, authors, or anyone else. We must engage in our own independent study. The result may be that we have to turn loose of teachings and conclusions from our past. It may mean clarifying teachings that have not been fully understood. We are each responsible for our understanding of the Bible. So, whether it is a passage of text like 1 Corinthians 9, a topic like baptism, or a question on a current social issue, mom and dad must not stand in the way of God’s word. Trusted people and fine Bible resources must not stand in the way of God’s word. And certainly, “I” must not stand in the way of God’s word. Ultimately, we must each start from scratch in our journey with the Lord.

That is not to say that we can trust no one in our study. Rather, it is to emphasize one’s personal responsibility in his study and his response to God. Only with sincerity and devotion will you be counted worthy of Jesus.


Mark Stinnett

March 16, 2025

Faithfulness

I remember preachers pounding the pulpit urging Christians to “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10). What does that mean?

Perhaps it is an oversimplification, but you could say that it means that a Christians should not be unfaithful to Christ. (Hmm. Not helpful.)

We understand faithfulness in marriage; it has a twofold meaning. First, the husband and wife both bring to the marriage all that makes marriage a marriage. Second, neither one adds to the marriage something that would pollute the marriage. 

Faithfulness also carries the idea of duration. So, in a marriage, husband and wife commit to each other for the duration of life.

Behind the actions of faithfulness is an attitude of faithfulness. A person intends to be faithful and does not deviate from that intention.

As an illustration, consider…

Many years ago my older sister and I left home at the end of our Christmas break to return to college. There was a blanket of snow on the ground as we began our trip south. Along the way the snow-covered highway became an ice-covered highway. Though driving slowly and carefully, I lost control. We spun around and slid into a ditch, the car pointing north. A kind man in a truck stopped and pulled us out of the ditch. There was no damage to the car and we resumed our journey south to college.

Question: At what point were we headed back home?

• The car slid off the road…heading home?
• The car was pointed north…heading home?
• We were pulled northward out of the ditch…heading home?
• We were a bit shaken up…heading home?

Though we had left the path there was never a point in which we intended to go back home. The mishap and the physical orientation of the car did not indicate a change of heart. Our intentions were always college bound (southbound). In fact, we later pulled off the road intentionally and looked for a place to eat, yet we were still on our way to college.

The illustration simply emphasizes that a person can be faithful to a choice, yet also experience setbacks along the way. Even then, faithfulness has the quality of perseverance and singlemindedness.

In short, faithfulness to Christ means no turning back from one’s choice to follow Christ. Once a devoted disciple to Christ, a Christian never quits, never returns to his former way of thinking and living.

Faithfulness also means, Christ only. There is no room for another Lord. You cannot mix Christianity with another religion or mix in another philosophy or mix in ungodly attitudes and sinful behaviors. The Bible never teaches “Christ…and,” rather, Christ alone.

In the Old Testament God is sometimes described as a jealous God. The Apostle Paul explained:

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

—Ephesians 4:5-6

Faithfulness is ALL Christ,

     ONLY Christ,

          ALWAYS Christ,

               NO MATTER THE COST...Christ.

Mark Stinnett

March 9, 2025

Is 'Free Speech' from God?

Free speech: It’s our first amendment right...right?

The forefathers of our nation saw fit to guarantee all Americans the right to free speech. It protects the free and public expression of the opinions of citizens from censorship, interference, or restraint by the government.

Because of its brevity and broad interpretation, the free speech clause of the first amendment has been tested in court cases including issues concerning commercial advertising, burning the U.S. flag, wearing military medals by non-military people, publishing materials anonymously, publishing obscene materials, taxation of media, and more. Decisions handed down by the courts have often protected the publication of false statements, classified government documents, and pornography. What began as good has been used by some for evil.

What do you think God thinks about free speech?

While the first amendment is more about governmental interference in the lives of her citizens, God is interested in relationships and truth. For that reason, we ought to give careful thought as to how we use our free speech.

Found in a list of sinful practices that oppose godliness is malicious gossip. (2 Timothy 3:3). The word that the Apostle Paul used was about making false and harmful statements about others. In the same list he also warned about reviling, the use of abusive speech against others such as mockery or the spreading of harmful statements whether true or not.

Paul warned about boasting in Romans 1:30. The word that he used was about making false statements to elevate oneself. In the same list is untrustworthy, describing someone who agrees to do something but does not keep his word. The laws of the land might not prosecute you for boasting or being untrustworthy, but God sees those as evil.

You would think that God did not have to tell His people that lying was evil. And yet, it seems that we need reminders. For that reason, lying is explicitly forbidden in Scripture in numerous passages. It is also at the core of boasting, breaking promises, gossip, slander, deception, and other sins of the tongue. Paul identified liars as unrighteous people in 1 Timothy 1:10 and then added, “and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.”

Sound teaching is wholesome teaching. The expected result of wholesome teaching is love and godliness. So, any kind of speech that does not produce love and godliness stands in opposition to God and His goals.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,” Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29. We must not play games with God. We must consider what we say and how we say it. That applies to flaming emails, social media rants, judgmental political statements, and similar things.

We sometimes act as if exercising our civil liberties is of greater importance than maintain our relationship with God and others. We also sometimes forget the value of truth. Parental wisdom has taught, “Think before you speak.” That wisdom comes from God; free speech does not.

Mark Stinnett

March 2, 2025