Pick and Choose?

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The truth of God’s word is not dependent upon human compliance.

In God’s word are many instructions regarding life and living. Some are more about an individual’s response to God while others lean more to the way we interact with each other. Whatever the instruction, nothing changes in God’s words if you comply or if you rebel. His instruction remains.

Let me show you an example of what I am thinking about with a statement passed around in recent months on social media. I do not know its source although it is attributed to Rev. Benjamin Cremer. I don’t know if this person really exists, and if so, if he actually said/wrote this. Nevertheless, this quotation and ones like it flood the minds of modern readers.

“If you take the Bible extremely literally about human sexuality, but not about feeding the hungry, bringing good news to the poor, liberating the oppressed, forgiving debts, bringing health to the sick, or loving your neighbor, please don’t act like you take the Bible seriously.”

That sounds good, right? It sounds good and right! Surely, anyone who takes the Bible seriously must be serious about those good works. And yet, you might already see the slight of hand the author attempts.

The author of the quotation has isolated two general activities and set them against each other. On the one hand is ’human sexuality,’ which might be placed in the broad category of holiness. It is about one’s moral response to God. We might even say that it is addressed by the first great command, to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

On the other hand there are ‘acts of service,’ which might be placed in the broad category of love. It is about one’s love for one’s fellow man, something addressed in the second great command.

One of the reasons this quotation sounds as if it is the moral high ground is because the Bible contains something similar. In 1 John 3:17 we read...

Whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

However, let’s flip the original quotation upside down:

“If you take the Bible extremely literally about feeding the hungry, bringing good news to the poor, liberating the oppressed, forgiving debts, bringing health to the sick, or loving your neighbor but not about human sexuality, please don’t act like you take the Bible seriously.”

The way the original quotation reads, morality is set against loving service as if service is superior to morality. Yet, in the second modified version, loving service is set against morality as if morality is superior. Reduced down, both versions ultimately present tension between the first great command and the second. In reality, both commands come from God and do not compete. The second command is developed from the first and complements it.

If we look deeper, both commands are rooted in the character of God. God is holy and demands that we live our lives in holiness and purity. At the same time, God is love and He demands that we live our lives in love and service. In God there is no tension between holiness and love. God is holy in all his decisions and actions and, at the same time, He always acts in love.

So, do you need to love others through service? Absolutely. And also, do you need to maintain holiness through purity in your sexuality and all other aspects of life? Absolutely. Christianity is not a pick and choose menu. You are either a disciple of Jesus in every aspect of your life, or you are not a disciple.

Mark Stinnett

April 12, 2026

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

My Grandpa’s Naïve Generation (chuckle)

We both chuckled when I shared some of the game rules my mom had grown up with. My grandpa would not allow his kids to use dice, so they had to make their own spinner when moving game pieces around the Monopoly board. My mom and her siblings were also forbidden the use of 'spot' cards (the kind with spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). Dice and spot cards were the tools of gambling, a practice considered morally wrong by my grandparents. The thinking of my grandpa’s generation seemed naïve. We chuckled.

Then, my friend, looking upward and tapping his chin with his forefinger, paused and thoughtfully said, “You know, those folks were really serious about not sinning.”

I was taken back by his statement because I had only thought of their behavior as uninformed and silly. I had never considered the possibility that they were consciously trying to avoid sin.

My friend went on to explain his understanding of my grandparent’s generation. He told me that their guiding principle came from scripture:

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

—1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

Modern translations have: “Abstain from every form of evil” or “Reject every kind of evil.”

The point is that their generation was intent on following Scripture in order to practice godly living in their daily lives. Even though I personally see nothing wrong with using dice or spot cards, I certainly admire such an attitude toward godly living.

Moral tolerance, soft doctrine, and benevolence are the fashion trends in today’s Christian community in the United States while godliness, holiness and purity have taken a back seat. Topics such as righteousness, truth and sound doctrine are too often thought to generate arguments. For that reason, they are avoided. The result is a religious environment that extends a generous hand to those with physical needs (though not as effectively as secular charitable organizations) while tolerating “every form of evil.”

Generosity, service and benevolence are good. However, godliness, purity and holiness are not to be ignored:

Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. 

--Psalm 24:3-4

You shall be holy, for I am holy. 

--1 Peter 1:13

For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 

--1 Thessalonians 4:7

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

--Matthew 5:6

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

--2 Corinthians 5:21

He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 

--1 Peter 3:11

We must indeed love one another by extending benevolence and service and we must also devote ourselves to God in righteousness and purity and holiness.

And that’s no laughing matter in any generation.

Mark Stinnett

June 15, 2025

That's Enough!

Adam and Eve were tempted to become like God and they ate the forbidden fruit. That’s enough! And God sent them out of paradise and cursed them.

Cain’s jealousy raged and he killed his own brother. That’s enough! And God cursed him and banished him.

In Noah’s day the entire world was bent on evil. That’s enough! And God purged the evil with a great flood.

Abraham asked God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for ten righteous souls. God said, “That’s enough,” but He could not find ten. That’s enough! And God destroyed the wicked cities.

Isaac lay on the alter, his father’s arm drawn back, knife in hand, ready to offer his son as a sacrifice. That’s enough. And God provided a ram.

The Egyptians held the Israelites in cruel slavery. The people cried out for mercy. That’s enough! And God ravaged the evil Egyptians through plague after plague after plague, ten in all. And God’s people safely walked away from their captors with the bounty of Egypt.

The Israelites complained for water at Marah. In the desert they grumbled for food. At Mount Sinai they grew tired of waiting for Moses and built an idol. That’s enough! And God sent a plague on the people, killing thousands.

God gave Israel a law and instituted a system of sacrifices for sin. A sacrifice was offered on the Day of Atonement for the sins of the people…year after year after year after year…

Not enough…

And most of the people lost faith and chose evil…And God patiently waited…And waited...And waited…THAT’S ENOUGH!!!

Then Deity came to the earth in the form of the created. And he lived, and touched, and smelled, and tasted, and heard, and saw just like us…and He was tempted to sin…just like us.

He was perfect, but no one else was perfect.
He showed people how to please God, but no one else could please God.
So, God’s judgment stood against man and his evil, corrupt, unbelieving heart.

But Deity had a plan…

• Jesus, son of a carpenter, human, flesh and blood, just like you and me…
• Jesus, Son of God, equal with God, Deity…
• Jesus, God/man, perfect, righteous, blameless, unblemished...
• Jesus, willing sacrifice...

                    For all mankind...
                            For all time...
                                    For all sin.

And on the day Jesus was crucified, God said…
          ...as he tore the temple curtain …
                    …as he shook the earth and darkened the sky…
                              …as he opened tombs and raised the dead…
                                        …as he accepted that perfect sacrifice…

                                           That IS Enough.

Because that sacrifice pleased God and that sacrifice satisfied God.
___________________

Now, all who appeal to God’s mercy through the blood of that sacrifice, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, will know joy in life, and peace with God, and confidence in salvation, and confidence in the hope of everlasting life. So, for you...
Is that enough!?

Mark Stinnett

April 13, 2025

Pursuing Christ

Folks say that when pursued, there is a natural fight or flight response in animals and humans.

One of my children had hurt one of her sisters. As soon as I was told, I was angry and I immediately sprang to action. I can still hear my thoughts, “Where is she; we are going to deal with this right now!” In this case, I was in hot pursuit.

In a jealous rage King Saul threw a spear at David in hopes of killing him. King Saul’s jealousy stemmed from David’s popularity as Israel’s beloved warrior. David had to run for his life. However, King Saul discovered David’s hideout and took his army to destroy him. He was in hot pursuit of David; the hunter in pursuit of the hunted. (Read about this in 1 Samuel 18-24.)

A word was used in New Testament to describe one who is in pursuit of another: persecutor. Examples from Ancient Greek literature include a hunter chasing after his prey, or someone avenging the murder of another. In a legal context the same word was used for a prosecutor.

When “I” am the one being pursued, the terms persecutor and prosecutor seem quite fitting.

Jesus taught his followers:

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

—Matthew 5:44-45

Enemies are those who are hostile toward you. They may not carry pitchforks and torches, wave swords, or fire guns, but they have turned against you. They may not physically chase after you, but they persecute you. They are in pursuit!

Jesus asked his disciples to do something that was unnatural and difficult. It is easy to make rationalizations and skip over His teaching:
“Love my enemies!?”
“Pray for those who are in hot pursuit of me!?”
“Absurd! They don’t deserve it! I’m the victim.”
“How can anyone be expected to follow through on such a teaching?”

Most of us can think of a time when we could have been described as a persecutor; perhaps like the parent-child illustration. It is my guess that whenever we are the one in hot pursuit, we believe that we are justified in our action.

Now, consider a question:
Is it possible that when we have been persecuted, the persecutor believes they are justified? Even in a fit of jealous rage, it is possible that they just don’t realize what they are doing?

These questions are raised, not to imply that an evil person is not responsible for their sin, but to lead us to the solution that Jesus chose, a solution motived by love:

And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” 

—Luke 23:33-34

Jesus, the Son of God, put into practice the very words he taught. As Christians, we are children of God. For that reason, we ought to have the same attitude as our older Brother, Jesus. 

But how?

When we set our gaze on the cross of Christ, we will be able to see souls instead of the pain we feel from others. We will recognize that the difficulties that our enemies cause pale in comparison to what the enemies of Jesus did. When we die to ourselves and surrender to King Jesus, we will draw strength and courage from Jesus to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. It is ultimately dependent on what we chase in life.

May we choose to pursue the character of Christ.


Mark Stinnett

February 11, 2024

A Handy Guide to Hate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hope that my sarcasm is apparent.

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

What can a Christian say and do?

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

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

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

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

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


Mark Stinnett

November 19, 2023

Where's the Love in That?

By the standard of today’s society, Jesus might be branded intolerant for the way He addressed the Pharisees of His day. For example:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

—Matthew 23:27-28

That was just one of eight ‘woes’ that Jesus spoke on that occasion. And there were other occasions on which Jesus dealt rather harshly with the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Jews.

One reason Jesus sounded harsh is because He called them hypocrites and then described them as lawless. In our day he might be labeled a name-caller and branded for being judgmental.

However, His seemingly harsh-sounding admonition is easily misunderstood. Do you know the meaning of the little word ‘woe’? The English word ‘woe’ and its Greek counterpart convey the idea of sorrow, grief or great distress. When Jesus called out, “Woe to you,” it was a way of sounding an alert for impending sorrow.

Do you like alerts?

Most would answer, “Yes” and “No.” We often set reminders (alerts) by scribbling a note or marking a calendar. Many folks set phone alerts for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events. The alerts help us to remember. We like those alerts.

Warnings that are posted on our streets and highways are welcomed as well. Sometimes, however, the alerts may be considered annoying, such as speed limits.

• We prefer not to be pulled over by a state trooper and warned about speeding.
• We prefer not to get a warning from the bank that funds are low.
• Husbands prefer not to be corrected by their wives...and vice versa.
• Teens prefer not to be corrected by their parents, or teachers, or any adult or friend...or any other living thing.

However, common sense tells us that warnings are good; correction is good. Do we understand that discipline is good, even when it is not self-discipline?

What happens in a parenting situation when a child refuses simple instruction? In general, it is followed by verbal correction. Then, if verbal correction fails, a strong rebuke may follow. If a strong rebuke fails, then a variety of disciplinary measures may be used.

As parents, we understand the purpose of discipline. We do not prefer it; the child does not prefer it; but discipline is used to keep our children from moral ruin, from disastrous life choices and from behaving like wild animals. Discipline is a gesture of love on the part of parents.

The Pharisees had formed a hard shell of rejection around their minds toward Jesus. They had failed to listen to His divine instruction and had rejected Him as the Messiah, the Hope of Israel and the Savior of the world. Though the ‘woes’ sound harsh, Jesus was not pushing the Pharisees away. Rather, He was issuing a warning that was yet another attempt to offer hope by breaking through their harsh rejection of the truth. Say what you will about the ‘woes’; but in them we see ultimately the love of God.

We are to speak the truth in love;

but we are to speak the truth.

Mark Stinnett

January 8, 2023

Which Describes God Better: Love or Holiness??

The Bible tells us about God:

• God is love. (1 John 4:8)
• God is holy. (Leviticus 11:44)

What do you think when you read those words?

I think people are comfortable talking about “God is love.” After all, love is good; love is sweet. Unfortunately, some people have watered down God’s love to fit their own personal preferences. God’s holiness, I think, is not as easily manipulated.

It is important to understand both of these statements about the character of God. After all, God expects His people to love as He loves and to be holy as He is holy.

We should first recognize that we are thinking about God’s nature. To say that God is love means that the very nature of God is love. So, God does not have to think about loving someone or try to love. There is no internal struggle within God when it comes to love. Love describes of the very essence of God’s being.

Holiness is similar. God is holy by nature. He does not have to think about being holy or try to be holy. For God, there is no internal struggle to be holy. Holiness describes the very essence of God’s being.

We should also recognize that God does not balance love and holiness. Balance implies tension, as if love and holiness pull in different directions. Yet, in every thought, in every word and in every action, God is both loving and holy.

We are called to love as God loves!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
—1 John 4:7-8

So what does it take to love as God loves?

God not only communicated His love through creation and through His interaction with ancient Israel; He ultimately communicated His love through Jesus Christ.

On which day did Jesus live for Himself? When did He tell everyone to back off because He was tired of helping people? His alone time was spent in prayer to His Father, not vacationing. The rare moments in which Jesus appeared to refuse someone’s request, He was focused on God’s will...and yet still stopped and helped when He observed genuine faith and humility.

Of course, Jesus’ ultimate act of love was far from soft and fuzzy; it involved beating, mocking, spitting, splinters, thorns, nails and blood.

God is love demands sacrifice!

But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

—1 Peter 1:15-16

Holiness doesn’t get as much press as love. Holiness has to do with morality, purity, devotion and goodness. The Son of God, just like His Father, was holy. He saturated His mind with the word of God. He was completely given over to the accomplishment of God’s will. To be an acceptable sacrifice to God, He had to be pure in His motives and sinless in word and action.

When tempted, He did not indulge Himself. His desire to do God’s will overruled His personal desires. He gave everything to be holy.

God is holy demands sacrifice!

To love as God loves, we must sacrifice.
To be holy as God is holy, we must sacrifice.

Only in sacrifice are we truly like our God.

Mark Stinnett

May 30, 2021

How Can You Know You Are Accepted By God?

Acceptance is important to everyone. Most people love family because families are usually a little more tolerant and understanding, a little more accepting. Yet, when that is not the case, we associate with a circle of friends who accept us for who we are, warts and all.

Acceptance comes through positive affirmation: tangible rewards, special favors, verbal affirmation, overlooking mistakes, ignoring personal weaknesses, etc. We know when we are accepted because of quantifiable affirmations. What I mean is that we can actually refer to something said or done to us or done for us that validates our acceptance. For example:

• A person pays you a compliment.
• A grandparent sends you a birthday gift.
• A friend invites you to a party.
• Coworkers laugh at your witty remark.
• You receive a firm handshake that goes beyond a casual, “Hey, how ya doin’?”
• You get a genuine pat on the back for your efforts.
• Someone goes out of their way to do a favor for you, whether you need it or not.
• Someone stands up for you and supports you when you are at a disadvantage.

And the list goes on and on.

Are you accepted by God? How can you know? How does God give you positive affirmations? Some people live by the thinking that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Yet…

He [God] causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

—Matthew 5:45

And don’t forget Job. He was a blameless man, yet he suffered catastrophic loss.

I think we need a different way of thinking…

• God gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to pay your sin debt. (John 3:16)
• Jesus said that He was leaving to prepare a place for His followers and that He would return to take them home. (John 14:3)

Those are amazing promises of acceptance. Yet, they deal more with the future. What about now? Can I know that God accepts me now?

• Faith: “He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
• Character: The beatitudes of Jesus describe godly character and behaviors for which we are assured divine acceptance and blessings. (Matthew 5:3-12)
• Pursuit of God: By putting God first in life, He has promised to take care of our physical needs in this life. (Matthew 6:25-34)
• Service: When a disciple of Jesus looks after the needs of a fellow believer, he is actually serving the Lord and is assured a reward. (Matthew 25:31-40; Mark 9:41)
• Sacrifice: Those who have sacrificed possessions and even family for God are promised blessing in this life and in the life to come. (Luke 18:29-30)
• Godliness: “Godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

God has made promises. We can respond by adjusting our attitudes and behaviors to conform to His instruction. When we do, we can know by divine promise that we are accepted.

But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. 

—Isaiah 66:2

Mark Stinnett

May 9, 2021

How Do You Love God?

The last four blog entries have been about different aspects of the Greatest Command:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
—Mark 12:30 (NASB95)

As a teen we had a few cliché answers when asked about heart, soul, mind and strength:

• Heart = Emotions
• Soul = Inner being (whatever that is)
• Mind = Intellect
• Strength = Physical

Those associations might carry an element of truth, but they didn’t translate to daily life. I wish someone had pointed us to the example of King Josiah! (See last week’s blog entry.)

Now, did you notice the extreme repetition?

Jesus could have given us the short list: heart, soul, mind and strength. Yet, the repetition of and places emphasis on every single element in the list. Love God with all your heart…
   ...and that’s not all; there’s more...soul…
   ...and that’s not all; there’s more...mind…
   ...and that’s not all; there’s more...strength.

And it is not just that you love God with your heart, soul, mind and strength, but...

• ALL your heart and...
• ALL your soul and...
• ALL your mind and...
• ALL your strength.

So, how does that translate to daily life?

First, love is not a mere emotion. Love is a conscious choice desiring a relationship.

The one who loves God has made a conscious decision to pursue a relationship with God. He will do whatever it takes to initiate and maintain that relationship. It is an intentional decision that becomes the filter through which all perceptions, thoughts, life decisions, purpose, daily choices, speech and behaviors pass. It is a resolute and determined choice that generates a deep conviction that cannot be shaken.

Your love for God governs your relationship with family, not vice versa. God rules in your choice of career and the individual jobs you take, the friends you make, the way you spend your money, and even the way you vacation.

The threat of losing your relationship with God keeps you from being lax about sin. It cools your anger, encourages patience, curbs coarse language, removes envy and jealousy, dampens temptations to lie, steal, cheat, gossip and lust.

Your love for God gives you energy in life. He motivates you to get out of bed, to look at each new day with awe and wonder, to enjoy life in contentment without coveting the lives and possessions of others. Your love for God gives you purpose in your dead-end job, in your unfulfilling relationships, and in your mundane life.

Your love for God turns your listless daydreaming into thoughtful actions for others. Your love for God doesn’t let youth hold you back, doesn’t let the busy years exhaust you, and doesn’t let age wear you down. Regardless of your age, health, income, position, education and all else, your love for God moves you to love others.

Your love for God compels you to bow in awe and to stand in praise. You listen to Jesus because you love God. You embrace God’s people because you love God and they love God. Your love for God defines you, and you don’t worry about what other people think or how you look.

Your love for God gives you insight into this life and a vision of hope that peers into eternity!

Mark Stinnett

April 25, 2921

Loving God With ALL You've Got

At the ripe old age of 18...yes, 18, not 81, King Josiah initiated a restoration project. His father and grandfather had allowed the temple of God to fall into ruins and idolatry to run rampant throughout the land. Josiah commissioned men to restore the temple, sparing no expense.

During the restoration, a copy of the Law of Moses was found, brought to the king and read to him. His reaction was not one of joy but of shock and horror. He knew immediately that God’s people had strayed from the Law and were deserving of God’s wrath.

Through a prophetess God sent word to Josiah that because of his humility and his proper reaction to the reading of the Law, His divine wrath would be withheld during the king’s lifetime.

The king then gathered all the leaders of the people, along with the people of the nation of Judah, and had the Law read to them.

The king...made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

—2 Kings 23:3 (NASB95)

Then King Josiah began a tremendous restoration project, not only restoration of the temple, but also restoration of the relationship between the nation of Judah and God. The king…

• Brought all the vessels and idols devoted to foreign gods and goddesses out of God’s temple and burned them. He ground all that was left into dust.
• Broke down all the high places and altars devoted to foreign gods as well as the housing directly associated with the idolatry.
• Destroyed Topheth, in the valley of Hin-nom, the place where children had been sacrificed to the god Molech.
• Gathered the priests who had served the foreign gods, presumably Levites, and did not allow them to serve at the altar of God, yet allowed them to live among their brothers and eat the food according to the Law.
• Slaughtered the high priests of the foreign gods and removed mediums and spiritists.

Then King Josiah restored the Passover, and it was a celebration unlike any before it, going all the way back to the days of the judges.

Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. (v. 25)

With passion and unwavering commitment King Josiah turned toward God. He loved God with all his heart. At age 18 he stepped forward and, with unflinching determination, carried out a great restoration. He loved God with the very essence of his being; he loved God with all his soul. His restoration was marked by careful planning, with intentional and deliberate actions. His purpose was rooted in what he read in God’s word. He loved God with all his mind.

In restoring God’s temple, there was to be no accounting, that is, no tracking of expenditures. When destroying idolatry, Josiah went so far as to demolish, burn and grind into dust the things associated with idols. Nothing was left to restore idolatry. He loved God with all his might.

Young King Josiah is a picture of the greatest command, to love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength!

Mark Stinnett

April 18, 2021

Do You Love God With All Your Mind?

As kids we were taught to put our hand over our heart when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge was supposed to come from the heart, not the blood-pumping organ, of course.

Mind is much easier—point to your head, right? Or is that your brain? Mind, brain???

What does it mean when Jesus said that you should love God with all your mind?

When younger we got away with saying that Jesus was referring to one’s intellect. That sounded smarter than saying that Jesus wanted us to love him with all our thinking. Still, my friends and I didn’t know what that meant.

It’s true that intellect and thinking are associated with the mind. But what does that mean?

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word heart is translated as both heart and mind. There isn’t really a separate Hebrew word for mind. So, when the word heart appears in the Hebrew text, translators have to decide whether heart or mind makes sense for English readers. (You might find it interesting that an Israelite could have a gut feeling just like we do, only it came from the belly or from the kidneys.)

In the New Testament there is a Greek word that corresponds to the English word mind. As you would expect it describes thinking and understanding.

Paul taught that the church should have the same mind, instead of one person standing out with a haughty mind. Humility of mind is set against selfish conceit.

The Bible describes a depraved mind that is deprived of the truth but also a renewed mind that is transformed by being presented to God as a living and holy sacrifice. The mind can be fleshly but also led by the Spirit.

Paul reminds us in Colossians that we were “formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds.” (1:21) He later described the fleshly mind as “delighting in self-abasement [false humility] and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen.” (2:18) In contrast, he encouraged, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of the earth.” (3:2)

Conviction is found in the mind.

With the mind we sing. With the mind we pray. The mind instructs and receives instruction.

The mind is that part of an individual that is most closely associated with the spirit.

The mind is the part of us that thinks and understands. However, the word Jesus used for mind in His instruction was built off the usual word for mind, yet with a prefix suggesting an active element. It is the same word Peter used in when he encouraged, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action…” (1 Peter 1:13) and in his second letter when he said that he was “stirring up your sincere mind….” (3:1)

When Jesus admonished, “Love the Lord your God with all your mind,” He was looking deeper than mere thought. It was active thinking. It was more akin to the purpose, intent or planning of the mind that results in taking action.

It is the difference between thinking and being thoughtful. Thoughtfulness implies thought that anticipates the needs and wants of others. It suggests movement of the mind toward activity based on the thought.

Loving God with your mind implies intent followed by action.

Do you love God with all your mind?


Mark Stinnett

April 11, 2021

Do You Love God With All Your Soul?

 

Define soul.

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote:

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

 —Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)

That tells me that if I want to learn something about the soul and how it differs from the spirit, I should open my Bible instead of consulting the dictionary. Here are some things I found when trying to better understand soul.

The Hebrew word for soul is often translated with a personal pronoun: I, my, myself, you, yourself, anyone, them, themselves, etc.

In both Old and New Testaments soul is often translated life. This is different than spirit, which is breath or life essence. Soul seems to be more the essence of being.

In the creation sequence (Genesis 1) and in the instruction following the flood (Genesis 9), living creatures were literally living souls, and that includes bugs, birds, beasts and fish.

Next, consider Genesis 2:7.

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.

Literally, “man became a living soul.”

Consider also Leviticus 17:11, an explanation following a prohibition of eating blood:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

Literally, “the soul of the flesh is in the blood” and “it is the blood by reason of the soul that makes atonement.”

I’m not sure that it means that the soul is literally in our blood any more than we think that our emotions are literally in our hearts. Yet, there is a connection between soul and blood!

The soul…

• Experiences bitterness;
• Is knit to another in love;
• Can be troubled, grieved, tormented;
• Gains knowledge and understanding through life’s experiences;
• Has appetite and hunger not associated with the physical body, i.e., good desires and evil desires (lust);
• Rejects and abhors things;
• Can sin, swear, act unfaithfully;
• Bears guilt and receives punishment;
• Can also be purified and saved for eternity.

The soul is the essence of our human being describing our identity. It incorporates our will, intent, desire. The soul is that part of our being that chooses.

In Colossians 3:23 the Apostle Paul wrote:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.

Heartily is literally, from the soul.

God desires your love from the very essence of your being. It is love by choice. It is intentional love. It is love that is resolute, determined, and unwavering. It is by your will that you love.

Jesus said,

Love the Lord your God with all your soul.

Mark Stinnett

April 4, 2021

Do You Love God With All Your Heart?

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is:

You shall love the Lord your God 

     with all your heart, and 

          with all your soul, and 

               with all your mind, and 

                    with all your strength.
                         —Mark 12:30 (NASB95)

When God first gave this command to Israel, He said two things that help me better understand heart. The text is in Deuteronomy 6, and Moses told the people the reason for God’s instruction.

So that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God…. (v. 3)

Not only is fear of (reverence for) God found in the heart, but also fear of enemies and anxiety over life’s uncertainties. Kindness is in the heart, but also stubbornness. Courage is there, along with dread; gladness and also sadness. Pride is in the heart, so also, humility.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (vv. 6-7)

Is God’s word on your heart? 

For that to be true, God’s word must be given the highest level of importance. If God’s word is on your heart, you will be attentive to God’s commands and will actively pursue God’s instruction in obedience.

In the heart a man is stirred to act, strengthened with conviction and filled with integrity.

The kings of Israel were often compared to David, who served God with a whole heart. Yet Solomon’s heart was turned away from God because of his many wives.

The one who loves God with all his heart longs to know God, desires to know His expectations, and follows without apology and without question. It is not that he cannot think for himself or apply reason to God’s word. Nor is it that he has complete understanding. Yet, his convictions are rooted in God’s instruction, and they define his perceptions and attitudes.

God’s instruction is not a goal to achieve, but a path to walk. It is a path walked with awareness, intent, confidence and unwavering commitment. It is a path walked with passion:

• King David could not contain his joy when the ark of the Lord was returned to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:14-16)
• Isaiah was moved in his heart to take God’s message to His people. (Isaiah 6:8)
• Jeremiah could not contain God’s word within his heart. (Jeremiah 20:9)
• The first Christians poured out their hearts through generous gifts for fellow believers who were in need. (Acts 4:32-37)
• Some Christians showed heart by suffering persecution, even death. (Hebrews 11:32-40)

To love God with all your heart is to set Him above all other things in life.

Let us also 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, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

—Hebrews 12:1-3

Do you love God with all your heart???

Mark Stinnett

March 28, 2021

Love Is Really Unfair

Have you ever thought about how unfair love is?

We all want to be loved. We might not expect everyone to love us, but we would really like someone to love us.

Love is one of those words that means so many things to so many people that its meaning gets blurred: 

     I love chocolate; 

     I love my dog; 

     I love my wife.

Yet, the way we use the word tells us what we really mean. I’m thinking about the “I love my wife” kind of love. 

True love requires sacrifice, and that is costly. 

Sacrifice is not about doing what you are supposed to do as a father or mother or child or Christian. Rather, sacrifice is giving up something that you value highly for something of greater importance. 

Parents may sacrifice their personal desires and dreams for their children. That’s love. 

People may sacrifice financially for a worthy cause by cutting out spending in an important area of life. That’s love. 

Children may sacrifice their time for an activity or event that is meaningful to their parents. They give their time as their own choice and with a good attitude, not by force. That’s love. 

True love forgives, and that is costly. 

Forgiveness accepts the pain caused by another without holding them accountable. 

A wife humiliates her husband by telling something personal that becomes public. He patiently accepts the shame and later embraces her without making her suffer. That’s love. 

A friend borrows a tool but returns it broken. Without an angry word you quietly replace it at your own expense and still consider him your friend with no hard feelings. That’s love. 

It’s the people at work/school. They don’t understand my religious convictions, so they say things and even pull pranks. I’m the but of their jokes. I just go my way and let it go. It drags me down, but I know that they don’t understand. I don’t hold it against them. That’s love.

Do you think you deserve to be loved?

Deserve means that you are worthy, fit or suitable for receiving a reward. Parents are supposed to love their kids. Husbands and wives are supposed to love each other. Christians are supposed to love one another. 

Are any of us deserving...really deserving?

Love sacrifices.
Love forgives.

A baby is born and the parents are immediately filled with love for that child. It doesn’t make sense. That child has made no contributions to the family, provided nothing of value, deserves nothing. Yes there is affection, strong affection, but there is also sacrificial love and, in the future, undeserved forgiveness.

I can read all the definitions of love, approximate its meaning with illustrations, and even study it as a Bible topic. Yet, the words of Jesus still mystify me. I understand the words, but I don’t think that I can ever completely grasp...

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son….

Love is so unfair...He sacrificed His Son...for me.
Love is so unfair...He has forgiven...me.
Love is so unfair...He has given life...to me.

A person begins to sound all high and mighty when he says that things are unfair. But do you know what is unfair? 

Love is really unfair!

Mark Stinnett

October 6, 2019

Do You 'Love' Jesus?

I don’t know what you expect to read in a blog entitled “Do You ‘Love’ Jesus?"

There is quite a lot of paper and ink (and pixels) devoted to the biblical meaning of love. Perhaps you have heard/read material that distinguishes between different Greek terms for love in the New Testament: agape (pronounced: a-GOP-ay) and philos (pronounced: PHEE-los). Don’t worry, I’m not planning to go ‘Greeky’ on you, but it is a good idea to understand something about these words. After all, they are not exact synonyms but they are both translated into English as love. (What's up with that?)

Agape is sometimes referred to as a God-type of love. There is nothing wrong with that, but perhaps the following verses provide clarity:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…. 
—John 3:16

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.
—1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Some folks like to completely squeeze emotion out of agape. That is a mistake and not true to its usage. Yet, agape is not rooted in emotion (or intellect), but rather selflessness and self-sacrifice.

A good English word for philos is affection.

Oddly, the ‘kiss’ of Judas was literally, philos. When Jesus said, “He who loves father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37), ‘love’ is philos (affection).

Jesus rebuked the hypocrites who loved (philos) to be seen praying in public (Matthew 6:5); also those who loved (philos) the places of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogue (Matthew 23:6).

However, did you know that God loves (philos)?

The Father loves the Son. 
—John 5:20

The Father himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed…. 
—John 16:27

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline….
—Revelation 3:19

The 'love' word In each of the verses above is philos (affection). How does that strike you that God has affection for Jesus!? God had an emotional attachment to Jesus just like any father would have for his son. He has an emotional attachment to all of his children.

But that's not all. Take a look at this...

If anyone does not love [philos] the Lord, he is to be accursed.
—1 Corinthians 16:22

Christians are to have affection for Jesus. Our love is incomplete without true affection and an emotional attachment to Jesus. We ought to anticipate eternal life with God with the same anticipation as going to Grandma’s house or going on one’s absolute favorite vacation...only far, far more. God is eagerly awaiting your arrival!

Christianity is not a philosophy that people adopt intellectually as if to say, “I prefer the ideas and teachings of Jesus more than those taught by Confucius, or Mohammed (Islam) or the pleasure-seeking lifestyle of hedonism.” Rather, central to Christianity is relationship. Jesus came to repair the broken relationship between God and man, not to organize something, not make arbitrary rules for living.

Organization and rules help our families run smoothly, but families are not built around rules. Families are based on relationships. The same is true of God and His family. God loves you (agape); and God loves you (philos).

Do you love Jesus, and love Him too?

Mark Stinnett

Listen, but Do Not Follow (No. 2)

Jesus told his disciples one of the oddest thing I have ever read.

“Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” 
—Matthew 23:3 (The NET Bible)

That’s how I feel when I hear some of the voices of our day.

One of the banner cries of our current society is, “Tolerance.” Did you know that tolerance is taught in the Bible? It is an attribute of love. Let me explain:

The Apostle Paul instructed Christians:

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 
—Romans 15:1-2 (NASB95)

The simple point is that Christians are at different levels of maturity in their faith. Each one should bear with (tolerate) those who are weaker. More specifically, the word ‘bear’ means to 'help carry the load.' Our task is to help, not just tolerate. (See also Galatians 6:12.)

What about our relationship to those who are not Christians?

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 
—Romans 12:18

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 
—Philippians 4:5

These two verses encourage Christians to treat ALL people, Christians and non-Christians with a spirit of gentleness and with the goal of peace. That certainly involves a tolerant attitude. More specifically, aggressive attitudes that promote anger and encourage verbal or physical combat are not a part of the Christian life.

However…

• Jesus condemned anger (and murder); lust (and adultery); mistreatment of wives; deceit; personal vengeance; and hate (Matthew 5). 
• Jesus condemned hypocrisy (Matthew 6 & 23). 
• Jesus told the woman who had been publicly humiliated for her adultery to stop sinning (John 8). 
• The Apostle Paul rebuked the Christians in Corinth for tolerating an immoral man (1 Corinthians 5). 

Jesus and the New Testament writers clearly stood for love of mankind by promoting: peace, help for the needy, justice for all people, etc. Yet, they also stood strongly for the love of God through lives devoted to God in holiness, godly (God-like) behavior, and moral purity as defined by God. Jesus and His disciples never taught the tolerance of sin, as if to say, ”Let’s just close our eyes to sin, and it will be alright.”

What is all this about???

There are many voices of our day crying, “Tolerance,” claiming that they are echoing the teaching of Jesus. Some who advocate today’s tolerance teaching misapply the love of Jesus to the point that wrong is right, moral impurity is good, and a stance against sin is considered bad or hateful. There are some who use ‘tolerance’ to defend their own personal moral choices and lifestyle which are condemned in Scripture. Then, when someone points out the simple teaching of the Bible, they spew the venom of intolerance and cry out, “You can’t judge me!”

Things can get really confusing, unless...

When people speak the truth I can listen, but I will only follow Jesus. How can I discern truth?

My Bible is completely open...is yours?

Mark Stinnett

I Have To...Do You?

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments.
--Proverbs 3:1

For some people religion is a drudgery. Morality is a duty. Living right is a challenge. ‘Church’ is a weekend requirement.As a result, Christianity is often perceived to be composed of confusing requirements, and do’s and don’t’s that do not even make sense. Involvement in religion and religious activities ends up being something I “have to” do:

• “I have to go to church.”
• “I have to put money in the offering plate.”
• "I have to attend this church function."
• “I have to do good deeds.”
• “I have to be moral (At least when parents or the preacher are around).”
• “I have to be obedient.”

It is unfortunate that many preachers and teachers have presented the ‘Old Law’ in the Bible (The Law of Moses) as a burdensome ‘duty-driven’ law. In other words, it is presented as if, it was the duty of the ancient Israelites to robotically obey the rules of behavior to please God (though a difficult burdensome task):

• Observe the feasts,
• Observe the requirements of animal sacrifices,
• Observe the Sabbath,
• Observe the tithe requirement,
• Observe the food requirements, etc.

It is as if God had handed Israel a legal checklist. Yet, man is not a programmable machine. 

Did God expect Israel to obey the laws and ordinances and precepts and commands in the Law of Moses? Yes! Of course; but not merely out of a sense of duty. His desire from the beginning has been for mankind to respond to him from the heart. He desired His people to intend to please Him, adopt His will as their will, invest emotionally and intellectually.

The Law of Moses revealed the character of God. When God’s people honored Him by keeping the Law they would be like Him and also learn something about His divine nature.

Mechanical worship or robotic obedience is far from God’s desire. In fact, a duty-driven approach to God will invalidate one's offering making it meaningless and unacceptable to God.

The wise Solomon captured the essence of God’s desire as he instructed his son to keep the commandments, not through mere external behavior, but from the heart.Today, God wants those who have a fellowship relationship with Him (Christians) to obey His instruction because they understand something about Him and His character; because they love Him and know His love and compassion for them; because they realize the true benefit of His instruction; because they naturally want to please Him...because He is Creator.

So, I am obedient to his instruction...
...Not because “I have to”...an external response of duty,
...Not necessarily because "I want to"...a response of love and devotion,
...But ideally because “I have to”...a changed nature...it's simply who I am.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 
--2 Corinthians 3:18

Mark Stinnett