I Can...and I Will!

I saw an ad for a soft drink; I think the company has a new campaign slogan: “Because I can.” I’m sure it will be successful because it taps into the general mindset of America. Among other things, “I am going to drink this soft drink...because I can.”

I suppose that’s fine for a marketing campaign, or as positive motivation for success or overcoming obstacles in one’s life. But do you think it is a healthy attitude for a Christian?

It is the kind of attitude that says, “I am doing or saying [something] because I can…”

• ...And you can’t tell me I can’t.
• ...And you can’t stop me.
• ...I have the right/freedom/liberty!
• ...I don’t need any help.
• ...I am self sufficient.

Someone might read this and take issue thinking there is a positive side to “I can.” It expresses a person’s will power in overcoming obstacles. Yes, I understand and can appreciate that.

However, you might have heard of the Old Testament prophet Balaam. He had an ‘I can’ attitude when he came up to an obstacle in the road. Oddly, the obstacle was an angel sent from God. Balaam was acting foolishly and had not listened to God. The point is that God can put an obstacle in our way for our own good.

In the New Testament there are several ‘I can’ passages. (The count varies by translation.) Many of the ‘I can’ passages are actually ‘I may.’ The ‘I may’ passages are more about permission or authority, while the ‘I can’ passages are about ability or strength.

I was a little surprised to find almost as many ‘I cannot’ passages as ‘I can’ passages. For example, Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own initiative” (John 5:30). He expressed His focus on God’s will.

Just before He was arrested and crucified, Jesus prayed to God and basically asked if there was another way. He said to God, “If this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).

Perhaps the most well-known ‘I can’ verse for Christians is found in Philippians 4:13, which says:

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

To be clear, this verse has nothing to do with soft drink marketing, American liberties, Christian liberties or individual willpower.

Do you know why the Apostle Paul wrote it?

Prompted by the concern of the Christians in Philippi, he had just made a statement about his physical welfare. They had been generous in sending aid. He was happy that they were helping, not because he needed it, but “for the profit which increases to your account.” In other words, he knew that it pleased God and as a result was more for their benefit than his.

So, what did he say about himself?

He said that he had learned how to get along in poverty and in prosperity. He had learned the secret of going hungry and being full, of suffering need and having abundance.

What was his secret? What had he learned?
Answer: To Be Content; not ‘how’ to be content, but simply, to be content.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” is about contentment, not success or willpower!

Paul’s laser-focused attention was on the will of God. 

What about you???

Have you adopted a popular attitude of our society or are you focused on the will of God?

Mark Stinnett

February 2, 2020

The Kingdom of God Is...

How should we go about resolving doctrinal differences (ugh!)???
(Wait! Don't shy away from biblical doctrine; it is nothing more that biblical 'teaching.')

In the last two hundred years, I think Christianity has failed miserably. Just look at the number of denominations and splinter groups within those denominations. Yet, many religious folks are talking about unity these days. Unfortunately, many wish to achieve unity by simply ignoring doctrinal differences or by throwing doctrine out the window altogether. The Apostle Paul offered the answer, but not everyone can hear it!

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome he spoke of the kingdom, but not by saying, “the kingdom of God is like” (as in many of Jesus' parables). Rather, he wrote, “the kingdom of God is.” He was saying something about the nature of the kingdom of God.

The Christians in Rome were divided. There were doctrinal issues concerning the eating of meat and also the observance of special days. As Paul dealt with the divisive attitudes of the Christians he reminded them:

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 14:17

That statement followed his clear assertion that there was no restriction in the eating of meat! However, instead of demanding that everyone adopt his apostolic explanation of liberty, he warned those who already understood their liberty (of eating all meat) not to harm their fellow Christian who, for conscience sake, could not enjoy the same liberty. Then came his explanation: “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking.”

Bear in mind that some Christians in Rome believed it to be a sin to eat certain meat. So they abstained in order to avoid sinning. It truly was a doctrinal issue, not a mere subjective opinion as many writers and teachers suggest.

Have you ever known of a church issue in which one group believed  that a certain practice was sinful, yet another group believed they had the liberty to engage in that same practice? In an open discussion of scripture each group considered the scriptures with a good conscience. Yet both, using the scriptures, came to conflicting conclusions. Their conclusions were based on their reasonings.*
Stalemate! What next?

What issues of our day are similar in nature to those in the church in Rome?
Has God actually left some doctrinal questions without clear answers in scripture?
Yes and No.

There ARE, in fact, some questions/issues for which there is no direct instruction or guiding example. Yet, an all encompassing answer IS given for all churches for all time:
The kingdom of God is...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I think God wants to see whether people are more interested in brotherly love or personal liberty. Are you seeking “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” or are you zealous for your liberty!? Do peace and joy accompany your definition of righteousness? What is the kingdom of God really about?

Those who pursue ‘righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ will show self-restraint regarding their perceived Christian liberties. They will consider their fellow Christians first.

In contrast to those who show restraint are those who insist on pursuing their Christian liberties. In reality they are merely set on indulging in their personal desires.

On one occasion Paul wrote…
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.

All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
--1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Voluntarily giving up my Christian liberty for the sake of my Christian brother...that is the meaning of ‘love your neighbor.’ Isn’t that what the kingdom of God is about???

* ‘Reasonings’ is the literal meaning in Romans 14:1 where some translations have opinions (NASB, ESV, RSV), disputable matters (NIV), doubtful things/issues (NKJV, CSB).