A Reliable Witness??

I was recommended a book a few of years ago in which the author praised his new-found resource that had given him a deeper understanding of the Bible. He went on to talk about his time spent conversing about the Scriptures with Jewish acquaintances.

I have noticed several biblical resources that approach the Scriptures, even the New Testament, from a Jewish point of view. Does that seem odd, a Jewish perspective on the New Testament?

This is not a criticism, but what kind of biblical understanding I should expect from a person who has rejected Jesus as the Christ, and who embraces interpretations of the Old Testament handed down over the centuries.

Those of the Jewish faith can say truthful things. Yet, Jesus rejected the traditions of the Jewish elders of His day. At the same time, the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day rejected Him and demanded His death. I don’t think the best teacher for a believer in Christ is someone who rejects Jesus as the Christ.

A while back I purchased a new Study Bible. I asked a friend of mine to look it over and give me his opinion. He alerted me to the fact that the primary author of the notes on the Old Testament regarded the Bible as nothing more than ancient literature. The author of the notes believed the message of the Old Testament to be metaphor, not composed of genuine historical content. I would not count that scholar to be a reliable teacher.

Yet, does it really matter?
“YES!” Your source of information has always mattered to God!

Do you know why Jesus rebuked and silenced the demons who correctly and openly identified Him as the Holy One of God (Luke 4:34-35)?

Do you know why Paul rebuked the girl with a spirit of divination who correctly identified him and his missionary companions as bond-servants of the Most High God (Acts 16:16-18)?

Those spirits were described as unclean, evil and demonic. They were not considered to be reliable teachers. They may have been able to say something truthful, but they would not be reliable witnesses in all things. They were not in pursuit of the will of God.

• Will a believer of the Jewish faith lead you to Jesus Christ?
• Will an expert in ancient literature point you to the resurrected Jesus?
• Will a proclaimed believer who openly rebels against God’s word give you enlightenment regarding God and His word?
• Will a sincerely religious person who denies that Jesus is the Son of God be able to take you into the depths of God’s wisdom?
• Will a non-believer strengthen your faith in God and encourage your heart toward your eternal hope?

Is truth important to you? Do you desire a strong faith and a fulfilled hope (expectation)?

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

--Romans 10:17

Paul wrote of the hidden wisdom of God:

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

--1 Corinthians 2:10

We don’t need a Jewish perspective or a scholarly point of view. 

We have the Spirit of God.


Mark Stinnett

April 26, 2026

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

Your Object of Faith

Now Faith is...
concerning things expected...reality,
concerning things not seen...confidence.
(Personal rewording of Hebrews 11:1)

We look to the future. Yet even scientific discoveries, statistical analysis, and historical research leave many questions unanswered. There are problems needing resolution. There are deep needs that yearn for fulfillment. We often feel a void of uncertainty.

What is it that offers hope? What is it that offers the possibility, or better yet, a true expectation of filling the void or solving the problem? What is it that provides the confidence that tomorrow’s uncertainties will be manageable?

What is that unseen force, power, or being that gives you strength of confidence and a real expectation that with it, you can face tomorrow; you can overcome life’s uncertainties, your needs will be met?

Do you expect financial success to provide?
A higher paying job, a more lucrative investment, a bigger or better deal?

Do you expect career to provide?
A step up on the career ladder, more authority at work, your own business, career success?

Do you expect physical strength or beauty to provide?
A quest for health and a longer life, pursuit of strength that cannot be overcome, pursuit of beauty to charm and sway the hearts of men?

Do you expect knowledge to provide?
A greater knowledge and a deeper wisdom to outthink and outwit and outlast life’s competitors?

Do you expect the relationship of family, friends, or associates to provide?
The acceptance and tolerance of friends and family; a relationship with someone of importance, someone of wealth, someone of power?

Men have pursued these and other things to provide confidence and hope to meet the challenges of life’s uncertainties.
And yet...
If financial success is that which provides hope and confidence...wealth is your god.
If position or fame is that which provides hope and confidence...success or power is your god.
If physical strength or beauty is that which provides hope and confidence...your body is your god.
If knowledge and wisdom are that which provide hope and confidence...intellect is your god.

To what or to whom do you turn when conflicts arise in your life? When uncertainties and needs arise, who or what first comes to your mind? Who or what stands foremost in your mind as the reality that can bring about needed changes to solve your problems and fill your needs?

Or, do you, perhaps, simply trust in yourself??

The object in which you place your faith, that which, though perhaps unseen, stands as the reality in your life on which you depend for answers… that is your god/God!

I am the Lord your God...

You shall have no other gods before Me.

--Exodus 20:2-3

Mark Stinnett

July 21, 2024

Always Saved? ("Yes" and "No")

The book of 1 John assures Christians of their salvation in Christ. However, some have taught that a Christian is always saved and can never lose their salvation. Turning to the book of 1 John, let’s answer an important question: Is a Christian always saved?

“Absolutely, Yes!”

John wrote his first letter to Christians who must have lacked confidence in their salvation. He offered convincing truths to build their confidence. Consider the following statements in John’s letter:

If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses from all sin.

--1 John 1:7

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

--1 John 2:1

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

--1 John 2:25

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

--1 John 2:28

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

--1 John 3:18-21

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

--1 John 4:17

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

--1 John 5:13

Christians were being deceived about their salvation (2:26). John wanted to bolster their confidence by ensuring them that they would not lose their salvation. We are encouraged that God has not and will not abandon his children. The children of God have confidence that God will never change his mind or makes new requirements for salvation. He will honor all his promises regarding salvation.

So, in that respect we can confidently say, “Absolutely Yes!” Once a person has been saved, he/she has confidence in God’s promises. They will never lose their salvation.

“Absolutely Not!”

Some say that a Christian cannot fall from God’s grace. John also gives us insight into this claim in his brief letter. Remember that John was addressing those who were already saved (2:12-14). In the first chapter He reminded them of their fellowship with God through Christ. Then in the very next chapter he boldly stated:

I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father….(2:1)

John’s intent was for Christians to avoid sin. Yet in the same verse he acknowledged that a Christian might sin, but that there is a remedy for sin for the Christian: confession of one’s sins. However, if anyone refuses to confess his sins, or if he returns to a life of sin, then he walks in darkness and has no fellowship with God.

John takes it a step farther saying that anyone who hates (rejects) his brother walks in darkness. The one who hates his brother is “of the evil one” (3:7-10). So, the Christian who hates his brother has returned to a path of darkness. He no longer walks in the light and consequently forfeits his fellowship with God.

For that reason, we must answer, “Absolutely Not!” Salvation is conditional. A Christian must not adopt a casual attitude toward sin and return to his former way of life. In doing so, he will no longer have fellowship with God and will forfeit his salvation. It is important to see that, in this case, God has not abandoned his child. Rather, the child has abandoned his Father.

Conclusion

John’s letter was written to bolster the confidence of Christians. Our confidence is rooted in our salvation through Jesus. However, confidence in one’s salvation is not a license to sin.

Because of our changed nature sin is no longer our way of life. For that reason, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from sin. And yet, the blood of Jesus does not cleanse those who are opposed to God. It does not cleans those who return to their old life in spiritual darkness.

God will keep his promises. The question is whether YOU will faithfully hold to Christ and His promises.

Mark Stinnett

July 7, 2024

God's Performance Record

In my previous article I used King David as an example of dealing with life’s anxiety. Even though pursued by an enemy, he was able to “lie down and sleep” because of His dependence on God. So, how do we draw from His example? How do we actually place our worries and anxieties into God’s hands? How??

A man pleaded with Jesus to heal his demon-possessed son. He said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22) Look at the exchange that followed.

And Jesus said to him, “’If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

You might say that the man had a degree of belief, but also a degree of unbelief. He brought his son to Jesus, but he seems to have been apprehensive, as if to think, “I’m not really sure if Jesus can do anything, but it’s worth a try. Nothing else has worked.”

Do you ever feel that way about God?

You can say, “God is able,” because the Bible says as much. But when it gets down to the grind of daily life, you wonder; you doubt. It is as if the Bible teaching is a doctrinal position, a kind of ideal, but the reality of life is different.

On one occasion my middle daughter sat outside after a school activity waiting for me to pick her up. The moms of some of her friends offered her a ride. Her coach, the last one to leave, offered her a ride. She declined each of their offers saying, “My dad is picking me up.”

I had forgotten her on that occasion! My wife called and reminded me. I was very late. I apologized to my daughter and asked her if she was concerned. “No, I knew you’d come.”

She knew I would come because I had always come before. Even though I was late that time, I had a good track record. For that reason, she was confident that I’d come.

When you read the Bible and consider God’s track record, He always shows up. He provides when we ask. He provides when we do not ask. And yet, He sometimes says, “No,” and He sometimes disciplines us. In all of this, however, God has never failed.

Consider the occasion in which God refused Paul. Having prayed three times for God to remove his thorn in the flesh, Paul was told by God, “My grace is sufficient for you.” It was God telling Paul that He was providing all that Paul needed. He did not need to remove the thorn in the flesh for Paul to be effective in accomplishing His will. (Read it in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)

Sometimes, when the answer is not, “Yes,” we are tempted to think that God did not show up. However, that is to evaluate God according to our personal timetable, i.e., according to our personal will. When we look at God’s record in accomplishing HIS will, He has a spotless record. The difficulty that we may encounter is that we are dissatisfied with God's track record in accomplishing 'my' will.

HOW do we “lie down and sleep” when experiencing life’s turmoil? 

We pray and then we do the best with our plans and activities. 

The reason we can sleep is because God’s will is more important than our personal will. He will accomplish it. If God does not help us, it is because He knows that, like Paul, His grace is sufficient. That means that He knows that we can endure the difficulty. 

Our faith (or lack of it) is not what makes God powerful. When God identified Himself to Moses saying, “I am who I am,” it had absolutely nothing to do with you and me. So, we rest in His power and His wisdom by aligning our will with His saying, “Your will be done.”


Mark Stinnett

June 9, 2024

Never Shaken

Have you ever experienced an earthquake so that you lost your footing? Have you ever lost your footing on a steep incline and actually fallen off the path? Have you ever tripped on a staircase with nothing to grab hold of? These are images of what the Psalmist calls shaken. Being shaken is the idea that you have lost your footing but there is nothing to help you keep or regain your balance...so you fall!

Of course, the Psalmist is not talking about literal earthquakes and tripping. Rather, he has in mind those events in life in which we are shaken to the point of near catastrophe spiritually. It may be that our faith is weak and we wonder if God will help, or we wonder if God really cares, or we just no longer see the use in trying.

God never promised that there will be no earthquakes in life. He does not guarantee that the path of life will always be smooth, wide and even. He does not assure us that there will be no obstacles, no enemies, and no temptations. However, he does promise that we will not be shaken. In fact, to the righteous his promise is greater:

He who does these things will never be shaken.

—Psalm 15:5

The literal Hebrew text reads, “He will not be shaken, forever.”

While it is true that God will extend his hand to help us when we fall, He is also the one who can make us surefooted so that we do not fall at all. It may seem to be an unattainable ideal, but the Psalmist assures us that God will help us so that we are never shaken, so that we never fall.

So, how is it that we can have this kind of surefooted assurance in our lives?

• It is because the Lord is my counsel; he is always in my thoughts; he is next to me. (Psalm 16:7-8)
• It is because of the continual love of the Lord for me and my trust in Him. (Psalm 21:7)
• It is because God is my strength, my rest, and my salvation. (Psalm 62:6-8)
• It is because God’s attention is trained toward the righteous. My righteousness does not keep me from stumbling, but God remembers his righteous ones, and he will make them surefooted. (Psalms 15:5; 55:22 and 112:6)

In the first Psalm David declared blessings from God for the one who avoids the path of sin and evil. He declared blessings from God for the one who meditates on the instruction of the Lord.

He is like a tree

   planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in season

   And whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

—Psalm 1:3

We each need to be that deep-rooted tree that withstands the storms of life year after year. To have such strength we must, send our roots deep into the refreshing word of God...

...Learning the value of trusting in the Lord;

...Gaining confidence in his strength;

...Experiencing his kindness, his rest, his salvation; and

...Growing in His righteousness.

Then when the storms and earthquakes of life occur,

          We will NOT BE SHAKEN…

                                                           FOREVER!

Mark Stinnett

May 19, 2024

Pulling Back the Curtain

Most folks enjoy watching a skilled magician or illusionist. We wonder in amazement, “How did he do that!?” Of course, we are also aware of the magicians’ code, that the secret must never be revealed. And yet, we have a natural craving to know, to see for ourselves how things work.

Many people approach life in the same way. Every mystery must be unveiled. Many seem to have adopted the motto from the State of Missouri, “Show Me.” Or, like Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz, they simply must pull back the curtain to see what there is to see.

There is nothing wrong in wanting to see and understand, in wanting to unravel the mysteries of life. However, when it comes to our Christian faith, we must recognize that God did not reveal everything. In fact, he expects us to live by faith.

Now, this is not a made-up faith, that is, a faith based only on what you want to be true. It is not blind faith, that is, an imagined faith that has no basis in reality. Rather, it is faith based on God’s revelation and his promises.

We must be careful not to identify too closely to Thomas who openly declared, “Unless I see I will not believe.” You might feel as if you can relate to Thomas at some level. However, he refused to believe his fellow apostles who were eyewitnesses of the empty tomb and who had seen the resurrected Christ.

A brazen Show Me attitude can result in scoffing at God’s promises.

The person who demands that the curtain of mystery be drawn back may, like Thomas, question the resurrection of Christ.

A person who demands to satisfy a how-did-he-do-that curiosity may deny the presence and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

When difficulties come, we may be tempted to ask, “Why?” when we do not understand. We instinctively believe that good things should happen to good people, and that bad things should happen to bad people. While that is not unreasonable, we also understand that life is filled with inequities. Life simply is not fair!

Even so, we often want to know...

• Why did God allow that to happen to me?
• Is God testing me?
• Is Satan tempting me?
• Is my difficulty simply an unfortunate event in the natural course of life?

Now think for a moment...
What if God did answer our question, “Why?” What if we discovered the source of our difficulties in life? Do the answers really change the way we should respond?

Jesus allowed Thomas to pull back the curtain by seeing and touching his scars. Yet He also rebuked the disciples who did not believe those who were eyewitnesses. (Mark 16:14)

We can be glad for the testimony of Thomas (the first Missourian?), but let’s not be like him. It is not seeing that makes one believe, but believing that gives one true insight!

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. 

 —Hebrews 11:6

The Bible is God’s testimony about Himself. He has given us a witness for Himself so that we can believe the promises of unseen things yet to be fulfilled. In many ways and on many occasions, God has already pulled back the curtain to reveal Himself to us. We can believe!

Mark Stinnett

April 14, 2024

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

You are in Pursuit of What?

After God had delivered Israel from Egypt, Moses asked God to personally lead Israel. God agreed because Moses found favor in God’s sight. Then, almost as a childlike request, Moses blurted out, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” In other words, Moses asked to see God face to face. (Exodus 33:12-20)

Abraham was called an “alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob.” He was faithful to God because “he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

David was chosen by God to be king over Israel after Saul. God declared His reason for choosing David: “The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart….” (1 Samuel 13:14)

Not only was David in pursuit of God so he could be like God, he wrote, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4-6)

Jesus and his disciples stayed in the home of Martha. “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations….” (Luke 10:38-40)

Peter kept his eyes focused upward “looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)

The Apostle Paul revealed his inner desire “that I may know Him [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

I find it illuminating that none of these people of faith expressed a desire to be reunited with a family member in the afterlife or sit and converse with Noah or quiz God. None of them brought the things of God down to man’s plane of existence. They all reached upward to God, upward to Christ. In one way or another they all revealed their pursuit of the divine.

What about you??

Men and women of true faith had their gaze set on God. They looked forward to heavenly things. Those who had the privilege of being part of the new covenant had their eyes fixed on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

These people were not concerned about their retirement. They didn’t focus on their houses and property and possessions. As much as they loved their family members, they understood the temporal nature of this life, including family.

They were not like Lot’s wife who could not bear leaving her home of Sodom and was compelled to look back when it was destroyed. The promise of an eternal city captured their imaginations. With unwavering faith they endured hardship. They accepted injustices from those who could not understand their faith. Death was understood to be a necessary doorway passing from this life to eternity.

The Apostle John was given a view of the eternal city of God. It is immense in size offering shelter and all the necessities of life. God is the light. There is the river of life (water) and the fruit-bearing tree of life (food). All will wear clean robes. In the afterlife true LIFE is found.

What are you pursuing??

Mark Stinnett

August 20, 2023

The Proud, The Lowly and The Blessed

In the course of a conversation with his boss, my friend was asked about his loyalty to our school Superintendent. My friend then asked a clarifying question, “Are you asking me if I would lie for the Superintendent?”

Regardless of how the question was asked, my friend recognized that loyalty to the established hierarchy had been elevated above morality. He looked for another job.

When you think about my friend’s conversation with his new boss, the question was not really about loyalty, but about control. The boss was trying to discover if he could control my friend.

Throughout the ages mankind has attempted to take control. Men and women have coveted positions of authority. Lacking authority many have turned to strength or the use of money.

If you don’t have authority or strength or money, beauty and charm may work. For others, intellect is a sure bet. Just think about the use of statistics. After gathering all kinds of information it is processed and analyzed and then used to predict future outcomes. Decisions are no longer based on chance or ‘gut feelings’ but statistical probabilities...and statistics don’t lie!

Mankind is interested in anything that will give him greater control over his circumstances, and that includes control over people. Those who prize control often exploit weaknesses in people, loopholes in legal code, and even popular opinion in order to manipulate others.

Solomon wrote about all this…

Pride goes before destruction, 

   and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor 

   than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

 —Proverbs 16:18-19

The one who thinks he can take control of his life is naïve. He is full of pride.

So, is the proverb a natural truth, like gravity? Is it the case that those with a haughty spirit will fall because that is God’s design, just like gravity is God’s design? Or is it more the case that the prideful person will eventually fall as a result of divine judgment?

Both views are relevant. There are cases in which the prideful person is destroyed as a matter of how things work in this world. Yet, it is also true that ultimately God will condemn those who are full of pride regardless of their experience on earth.

Those with a lowly spirit are compared to those who “divide the spoil” (or plunder). This refers to those who overpower and take material wealth through immoral activity.

Solomon said it is better to reside with the humble. The idea is that it is better to choose righteousness and be content with poverty, than to obtain wealth immorally.

So, why would a person turn to immoral activity to obtain wealth? Isn’t it a matter of faith? Either they do not believe God can/will fill their needs or they do not think God will fill their needs to their satisfaction. Lacking faith, they pridefully take control of life’s circumstances! Yet, God opposes the proud. (James 4:6)

Finally, Solomon does not just denounce pride, he points to the way of life:

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, 

   and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. 

 —Proverbs 16:20

The Lord’s way provides real confidence in life. The blessed will walk by faith, not by sight.

Mark Stinnett

June 11, 2023

Honest Faith

On one occasion Jesus’ authority was questioned by some Jewish leaders and He replied to them with a question. If they would tell him the source of John’s baptism (whether it was from heaven or from men), He would answer their question. With man’s wisdom, “they began reasoning among themselves.” (Read about this in Matthew 21.)

This article is not about the wit and wisdom of Jesus. Nor is it about his ability to think quickly on His feet. Rather, it is about the value that God places on simple honesty and genuine faith.

Negative examples of our day teach our children how to hide truth through rationalization, how to deceive without using lying words; how to twist meanings of words, how to dodge a question by answering a related but different question. Consider how the media has participated, how politicians have made it their profession, and how many adults have played the same games.

A husband is asked, “What made you late from work?” Or, “What happened to that money in the checking account?”

And he begins to reason . . .

A teen is asked, “Where will you be going?” “Who is going with you?” “Will there be parents there?”

And she begins to reason . . .

A friend is asked, “I thought you were going to attend; what happened?”

And he begins to reason . . .

A parent is reminded, “You said you would take us kids to the park.”

And he begins to reason . . .

The Jews were trapped. If they admitted that John’s authority was from heaven, Jesus would rebuke them for not responding to John. Yet, if they said that it was from man, they feared the people. So, they rationalized. Their answer was not truthful, and yet, it was not a blatant lie. They began to reason and cleverly responded, “We do not know.”

We might be impressed or even turn a slight grin with Jesus’ response, a refusal to answer. It is almost like a punch line to a joke. But wait! The parable that follows IS the punch line and it is meant for us!

In the parable that followed, two sons were asked to work for their father. One agreed but did no work; the other refused but later regretted his answer and did the work. Jesus explained how their actions proved to be their true answers. He applied the parable to the people of his day by indicating that those who were hated by society would enter the kingdom ahead of the religious elite. But, why?

The first son represents the Jewish leaders who questioned Jesus. They claimed to do God’s will but did not do it. The second son represents the sinners whose lives were opposed to God at first, but who ultimately turned to do God’s will. But there is more….

The Jews tried to trap Jesus, yet they were trapped themselves. They believed in the power of their own intellect and reasoning. In their unbelief they refused the “way of righteousness” when John came. Then, when they were confronted with Jesus they rebelled with rationalizations in order to hide their unbelief. They began to reason....

In contrast to the Jewish leaders, the sinners, when confronted with Jesus, acted in faith and turned from their former rebellion. The faith of both made an honest response toward God. The leaders had no faith and rejected Jesus; but in honest faith the sinners turned to Jesus.

The reasoning of man tempts the lips with lies. Yet an honest heart needs no words; it responds to God and His word in faith.

We are all asked by God, “Will you trust Me?”

How will you respond? 

   Do you feel trapped by the question?

   Do you know the answer, but don't want to admit it?

      Will you begin to reason? 

          Will you speak at all?

Ultimately your actions will tell the truth and will reveal your faith!

Mark Stinnett

April 30, 2023

Salting the Oats

You’ve heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” (Chuckle) Someone added, “But you CAN salt the oats.” (Hahaha!) Applied to people the saying suggests that a person might be presented a good choice, yet refuse it. And yet, there are ways to help them make that 'good' choice (by 'salting the oats').

Many churches have used this strategy to draw people in. They recognize the declining interest in church and respond by adding salt to the oats. In other words, they manipulate people by attempting to create a thirst for church. That thirst is created through playful preaching, music ministries, service programs, children’s programs, pageants, plays, block parties, family activities and all kinds of feedings.

The salt in the oats creates thirst in the horse, but the thirst is manufactured. The horse is manipulated in a way that will produce a desired behavior. Take away the salt and you’re back where you started...a horse that is led to water but will ot drink, not because he’s stubborn, but because he not thirsty.

Applied to churches, it is a kind of bait-and-switch manipulation. It is as if a small committee met in a dimly lit room and worked out an ingenious plan: “We’ll offer them all the things that appeal to them. Then, when we’ve got them all together, we’ll give them Jesus!” It is a manipulation, false advertising.

Jesus rebuked a crowd of people who were following because He had fed them (John 6). He knew that they were following their stomachs. They stopped following Jesus when the gravy train stopped. Why? Because there was no genuine love for Jesus; no genuine faith in Him and His word. Jesus showed that by removing false incentives a person’s faith would be revealed.

In and of themselves, made-up ministries and programs and activities may be fine. Yet, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32) Made-up ministries and programs and activities do not produce faith. Remove the incentive and people return to the way they were.

My mind keeps returning to the crowd of followers in John 6. Jesus taught the people and, out of compassion, he fed the people. Yet, Jesus knew their hearts. So, through His teaching He placed them at a figurative “Y” in the road. He confronted them with the truth of their desire by placing in front of them true food, His body, and true drink, His blood. He was using a figure of speech to refer to spiritual food, but the people did not understand and were repulsed.

Jesus offered true spiritual food. 

The crowd was only interested in belly-food.

Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Jesus was not good at marketing. He practically invited them to leave! And yet, He forced His disciples to face the same “Y” in the road. His question was a faith question: “Are you hungry like all the rest? Will you follow only if I keep providing belly-food? Or, are you spiritually hungry?”

Will you follow only if…

• ...there is a youth/women’s/men’s ministry?
• ...there is a Christmas/Easter extravaganza?
• ...there is an exciting music ministry (band)?
• ...there is an eloquent, humorous speaker?

We are not in the business of filling our church pews just to create the illusion of faith. Rather, we must lift up Jesus, our crucified Christ, our risen Savior, our King eternal.

Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Reflecting on your life, what are you lifting up???

Mark Stinnett

November 13, 2022

Faith or Fear?

Legs dangling off the edge of the roof, his dad urged him to slide off the roof into his arms. The distance from the boy’s feet and his dad’s reach was no more than a foot, but it might as well have been a mile. “Just drop off the roof and I’ll catch you,” his dad kept saying. The boy was unable to climb up, but too afraid to drop.

Minutes passed and he finally pushed through his fear and dropped off the roof...into His dad’s arms. Fearfully vulnerable; ultimately confident.

Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is one of the greatest obstacles to faith. The Bible is full of testimonies of faith, but faith is sometimes misunderstood.

For some people faith is a belief conjured up in the mind with no reason to believe other than desire. It is as if to say, “I want to believe, so I will believe.” It is the boy with legs dangling, but only imagining that someone will catch him.

Faith in God is not that way.

In the book of Joshua a number of remarkable faith events are recorded:

• Encamped a few miles from Jericho, the Israelites were instructed by God to circumcise all the males, the sign of the covenant between God and Israel’s forefather Abraham. Yet, Israel’s army would be incapacitated. Vulnerable!
• Afterward, Israel was instructed to celebrate the Passover which was followed by a seven-day feast; a celebration while unprotected and in full view of the enemy. Vulnerable!
• Israel traveled to the heart of enemy territory, out in the open and unprotected, to hear a proclamation from God. Vulnerable!
• The Israelite tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh wished to settle in the desirable land to the east of the Jordan River. The arrangement was agreeable, but only if their fighting men would join forces with their fellow Israelites against the enemies in Canaan. The conquest of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership took 5-7 years and there is no indication that the men of the tribes east of the Jordan went home to check on their families. Their families: Vulnerable!

Why? Why did Israel comply with the circumcision, with the Passover, the public reading of the blessings and cursings? Why did the men of the tribes to the east of Jordan leave their families behind for 5+ years? Why did Israel leave themselves vulnerable time after time?

Faith. But what kind of faith did Israel possess?

Israel did not enter Canaan with a made-up desire to believe. They were not motivated by blind faith. They followed their God in faith.

The voice of God that left them in what seemed to be extremely vulnerable situations was the same voice that had commanded the plagues of Egypt; the same voice that commanded Moses as he parted the Red Sea; the same voice that commanded the destruction of the army of the Pharaoh of Egypt; the same voice that provided food and water in the wilderness for forty years; the same voice that defeated the Amorite kings east of the Jordan; and the same voice that parted the waters of the Jordan.

Israel believed in the voice of God who had been their protector and provider. He had kept His promises to them and their forefathers.

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 

—1 John 2:25

Fear turns our hearts to the world we see; faith keeps our eyes focused on His promise. When you feel vulnerable and cannot see, trust His voice. He has promised!

Mark Stinnett

May 8, 2022

Help My Unbelief!

Have you ever wondered about the miracles of Jesus, really pondered the miracles?

I’m not talking about occurrences in our day that people sometimes claim to be miracles. (Birth is not a miracle; it is the natural way that God created for mankind to reproduce. Extraordinary, but not a miracle. Other modern miracles fit into this same category.) I am talking about the laws of nature being suspended so that something that simply cannot happen, does happen.

Extraordinary would be setting a world record for the largest pumpkin ever grown. Yet, planting a seed one day and then harvesting from the same plant the next day...miracle. Extraordinary events seem impossible; miracles are impossible in nature. Miracles indicate the presence of the divine.

The miracles that Jesus performed were a testimony to His true identity. The Old Testament prophets told of the Messiah who would perform miracles. Jesus did. He was the Messiah.

News of Jesus, the miracle-worker from Galilee, spread throughout the land. People did whatever they had to do in order to find Jesus so that he could heal them or heal a loved one.

On one occasion a man approached Jesus asking Him to heal his demon-possessed son. He had asked Jesus’ disciples, but they could not help. Jesus asked the gathering crowd what was going on. The man stepped forward and explained about his son. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. He told the man to bring his son to Him and the demon threw the boy into convulsions. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The man responded and Jesus still did not heal the boy, not yet.

The man said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Jesus responded, “’If you can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

The boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Jesus then healed the boy. 

(See Mark 9.)

I think that describes us at times. We believe, truly believe, yet God’s word flies against the conventional wisdom of our day. It contradicts things we have been taught: perhaps even things taught by our parents or other respected individuals. We believe God and trust His word; we know we should. Yet, sometimes it is really difficult to believe. We might even hear our hearts cry out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

In the miracle of the healing of the demon-possessed boy, there are two important elements that should encourage us.

First, Jesus did not get in a hurry to heal the boy. I don’t know why, but it does tell me that Jesus will not become frantic just because you are frantic. Jesus understands your pain and He knows whether the situation is urgent or not. When we pray to God and do not get an immediate answer, we should not panic. The way that God assists us may not be on our personal timetable. So, we should resolve to be content and be patient regardless of the circumstances.

Second, although the father sensed his own unbelief, he had some level of faith. The man’s request that started, “If you can…” was not a picture of confident faith like some. Yet, he had the faith to bring his boy to Jesus, and Jesus was patient. So, even if our faith is weak, we must turn to Jesus. He will be patient with our weaknesses. He IS our hope.

Mark Stinnett

April 10, 2022

When You Just Don't Understand

“We should not evaluate God, as if to stand in judgment of God and His word.” That is an overall summary of last week’s blog. So, does that mean that we can never ask God a question?

You might remember two devout Jews who were surprised at God’s word. Both questioned.

Zacharias was serving in the temple in Jerusalem when an angel of God told him that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Reminding the angel that he and his wife were old Zacharias responded in doubt asking how he could be certain of the angel’s word.

The angel identified himself as Gabriel, who stood in the presence of God. Then he told Zacharias that he would be unable to speak until John was born “because you did not believe my words.” (Luke 1:5-20)

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would bear the son of God. She was surprised and asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel then explained that this would be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:26-38)

So, why was Zacharias muted by the angel for his question, but Mary was not?

The question that Zacharias asked, along with his explanation of their old age, revealed doubt. Like a typical Jew, Zacharias asked for a sign. It was as if to say, I won’t believe you until I see a sign (a miracle) to confirm what you said. (He did receive a sign, but not what he expected!)

Mary did not ask for a sign. There was no doubt concerning the angel’s word. Yet, she did not understand how she could possibly bear a son when she had never had intimate relations with a man. She did not doubt God’s word; she just didn’t understand how things would work.

So, what about those times when, like Mary, we just don’t understand? The Psalms may help.

Most of us feel that we can identify with the psalmists as they cry out from their weakness, from their doubt, from their humanness. But do we always relate to their bold conclusions?

In Psalm 109 the psalmist calls out to God pleading, “Do not be silent!” Yet, his perception is that God IS silent. Then, he goes on to explain his troubles. He asks God to deal with his enemies and also to show him kindness.

Most can relate to the psalmist. Difficulties in life loom and it seems like God is silent and His promises are not true. We don’t understand.

Then, the psalmist described his need saying, “My knees are weak from fasting.” It is as if to say, “I have prayed with fasting regarding my situation until I am physically weak, yet with no answer.”

That is the moment of truth. In his darkest hour will the psalmist give up on God? And there lies the question to us: Will we give up on God?

After pleading and explaining the psalmist ends:

With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him. For He stands at the right of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

The pain was real, the darkness long, but greater than his suffering and uncertainty was his faith. How do we know this? He was weak from fasting because he never gave up on God. And then, he gave thanks and praised God before the Lord answered his prayer.

So, ask God your questions, but without doubt or disrespect. 

And remember, God is greater than your circumstances. 

So, trust and give thanks. 

Mark Stinnett

April 3, 2022

That's Impossible!

Stunned that the fig tree withered right after Jesus cursed it, the disciples asked how the fig tree withered all at once. Jesus replied:

Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

—Matthew 21:19-22

When Abraham was 99 years old God spoke to him and restated His covenant promises. Then God spoke of Sarah, Abraham’s 90-year-old barren wife…

I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her.

—Genesis 17:1-16

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

Moses stood with the nation of Israel at the Red Sea after they had been delivered by God from Egyptian slavery. The army of Pharaoh had pinned them down with nowhere to go. Then, God said to Moses:

As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.

—Exodus 14:1-16

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

God told Joshua to have the army of Israel march around the city of Jericho once each day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, He had them march around the city seven times, blow trumpets and give a loud shout, after which…

The wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead. 

 —Joshua 6:5

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

God told Gideon that his army was too large, so 22,000 men were sent home. Still too large, God whittled it down to 300 men. Israel victorious over the Midianite army of 135,000 soldiers? Do the math. That’s 450 Midianites to each Israelite! (Judges 6-8) The odds were not good...no…

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

Young David stood in the valley of Elah opposite the Philistine warrior hero, Goliath, a giant measuring 9 feet, 4 inches. David called out…

You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.

—1 Samuel 17:45-46

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

The angel Gabriel came to a virgin girl named Mary and told her that she would bear a son and call Him Jesus. He would be the Son of God.

THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!

So, Mary asked how that could be…and Gabriel replied...

For nothing will be impossible with God.

—Luke 1:26-38

Stunned with the strong teaching of Jesus about those with great wealth, the disciples asked, "Then who can be saved?"

Jesus responded...

With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

—Matthew 19:16-26

When men follow their research they are sure to achieve predictable human results. Yet, over and over, God has done the impossible. I think it’s time to spend less time researching and more time praying to God.

Mark Stinnett

March 6, 2022

Ignorance by Choice

Faith is a tricky thing. For many people, perhaps for most of us, there are areas of life in which we simply choose to believe. Evidence is ignored for various reasons, or for no reason at all and a faith stance is chosen.

Let me give you a few examples. There are people who truly believe that the moon landing was a hoax. There were, and perhaps still are, people who truly believed in a flat earth. Some people simply do not believe that dinosaurs existed. You may laugh because there is ample evidence to consider. But some people have what you might call a ‘Thomas Complex.’ Thomas was the apostle who rejected the eye-witness testimony of the other apostles and boasted that he would not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead unless he could see and touch the scars on the living body of Jesus.

Today, there are no resurrection eye-witnesses. Yet we would be foolish to ignore the evidence.

Science:

Some scientists are guilty of ignore-ance, that is, a conscious choice to ignore existing evidence. Pick up a high school science textbook and you will find that modern science is based on the ‘Thomas Complex’: Only those things that can be examined with the human senses yield truth. So, things like God and angels and the biblical creation account are intentionally ignored. (How can you examine someone that exists outside the boundaries of the physical universe???) So, things that are not subject to scientific inquiry are dismissed by many scientists.

Of course, without God there is no Creator and no divine revelation. By extension, there is no divine standard of morality. There is no hope. Love becomes an arbitrary concept. Mankind is reduced to nothing more than a highly developed animal that defines morality himself. Religion becomes a system for weak-minded people who need something greater than man.

Biblical Scholarship:

Some biblical scholars are also guilty of ignore-ance by consciously choosing to ignore the internal evidence in the Bible. They assume that the Bible was a product of humans and therefore treat it with no greater regard than other ancient religious writings, ancient mythologies or cave scribblings.

Their willful ignorance generally results in their denial of miracles, denial of the fulfillment of prophecy, denial of the existence of non-physical entities and the afterlife. In their examination of the Scriptures they are quick to correct the inspired writers by suggesting words that should have been used, and by tossing aside questionable verses and debated passages. Some even pride themselves in being able to correct the thinking of the biblical writers.

To these, the Bible is little different than a book that might lay next to it on a coffee table. Yet...

All Scripture is inspired by God…. 

—2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB95)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 

—Romans 1:18–19 (NASB95)

Whenever you are overwhelmed by the truth of God’s word or you hear yourself think, “How can a person not believe?” remember, some people choose ignore-ance. We, on the other hand, embrace divine revelation, something more absolute than human research.

Mark Stinnett

October 24, 2021