The Jehovah's Witness "Bible" in my nightstand

Last year I was teaching through a series on cults in our church on Wednesday nights. Through the series we looked at Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-Day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses. When I started to prepare for the lessons on Jehovah's Witnesses I started to round up my books and remembered that I had let someone borrow them. I had two really good resources, "So what's the difference?" by Fritz Ridenour and "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Dr. Walter Martin. (Both I would recommend for a deeper understanding of the differences between Christianity and other belief systems.) So I contacted the lady I had lent the books to and she had some bad news for me. She had borrowed them so she could discuss with her boyfriend, who was a Jehovah's Witness, about some of the beliefs Jehovah's Witnesses held that were different from what she knew to be true. She told me after she discussed some stuff with him that he threw the books in the trash after she left the house. I thought it was ironic that my best material about Jehovah's Witnesses were thrown in the trash by a Jehovah's Witness but nevertheless I was without some good resources. The lady offered to pay for the books and I refused but she did offer something that I immediately took her up on. She offered me a copy of the Jehovah's Witnesses "Bible" called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Once I had it I highlighted a few places in it, made some notes, and stuck it in my nightstand beside my bed. 

Now to some it may seem odd that I'd jump at the chance to have one of these books, much less that I would put it in my nightstand. Well my reasoning is rather simple. If I am to reach a Jehovah's Witness with the true gospel of Christ then I cannot do it by starting off with my Bible. Regardless of the translation I cannot reach them first with a Bible because they are taught not to read or use materials other than their own scriptures or Watchtower articles. The key to leading a Jehovah's Witness to Christ is in showing them the error of their doctrine from their own scriptures (Who Jesus is, the Trinity, and salvation by grace not works are just a few of the areas of difference between JWs and Christians). That is why I highlighted and made notes in the copy given to me. But why stick it in my nightstand. Well for me it was a place I knew it would not get misplaced and I could easily find it when it was needed. 2 Timothy 4:2 says "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction" (NIV). Not if, but when a Jehovah's Witness shows up at my door, I need to be prepared to share the gospel with them. By keeping that book in a place I know it will be in, then I can follow Paul's instructions to Timothy.

We should always be prepared to share the gospel, regardless of the situation. If you know how you will share the gospel then you have half the battle won. If you don't know how you would share the gospel if the opportunity presented itself to you, then you need to figure out how you feel most comfortable doing so. Because if you aren't prepared, you won't share it. It's that simple. So be prepared, in season and out of season, to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

*There is more to effectively sharing the gospel with a Jehovah's Witness. If you need some help in this regard, then email me at pastornick@northcatawbabaptist.com and I can get some resources into your hands to help you out.


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A Fresh Start

Quite possibly my favorite time of the year is the spring planting season. To me there is nothing like walking barefoot through a newly tilled garden. There is something about the drone of the tiller and the feeling of the dirt between your toes that is euphoric. In years past I've had a garden that required a lot of work and attention. When it came to planting time there was something therapeutic about working in the garden. Tilling, laying off rows, planting, weeding, watering, weeding, fertilizing, weeding and eventually harvesting all made for hard work but a great time of reflection. I could reflect on a fresh start as I watched those small plants start to peek out of the soil. There was so much potential for those plants all they needed was the right combination of circumstances for their fresh start to be a full blown success.

From time to time a fresh start is needed in life. One aspect where a fresh start is most beneficial is in our spiritual life. To follow our gardening example, if we aren't careful we'll find ourselves covered in weeds that choke the spiritual life out of us. What we need to do is take time to till or turn over the dirt in our spiritual garden. We need to take time to turn things over to God that would keep us from focusing on Him. We need to allow Him to weed our spiritual garden of those things that do not benefit us. It won't be easy on us and it will be hard work but in the end it will be well worth it. For our fresh start to have maximum impact on our spiritual garden we need to be watered from above. We need to seek God's direction and ask for His blessings to be poured out on us as we follow Him. We will find our selves dry, parched, and wilting without God's direction in our lives. One final thing we need for a fresh start is a little fertilize. Organic or man-made, fertilize has one objective. To make things grow! If we want to see our spiritual garden grow to it's full potential we need to throw the fertilize to it. We need to be in God's Word allowing Him to develop us from the inside out. We also need to spend time in prayer so He can prepare our hearts and minds for the growth He plans to bring. Finally, we need to fertilize our spiritual garden with a healthy dose of worship. If we follow God's gardening plan we can experience a fresh start spiritually that will be like looking over a newly planted garden.

The best way to see this fresh start take hold in your life is to be part of a church. Be sure, if you aren't already a part of a church, to find a church where you and your family can worship God together, be fed spiritually together, and serve God together. If you're in our area and looking for a church where you can do all of that visit us at North Catawba Baptist Church. You can find directions at www.northcatawbabaptist.com. 


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Time to get off our butts.

"It's time to get off our butts and do what the church is supposed to be doing." I very vividly remember this statement being made in a sermon by a man I consider to be the closest thing I have to a little brother. But not just any sermon, his first sermon to beat it all. I remember sitting in the audience that day thinking, "I've never heard anyone say the word 'butt' from the pulpit before." Then I started thinking about what some of the older folks in the church were thinking about what he'd said. But (no pun intended) he had a very valid point that fit in with his message. We, the modern-day church, the collection of born again believers, must "get off our butts" and be about our Father's business.

Having grown up in church, having helped pastor one church, and now leading a church as the Senior Pastor, I've noticed some things about folks in the church. There are plenty that want to be involved. Those that want to see the church thrive and succeed. Those that want to see the church reaching unbelievers for Christ. But there are some categories of folks that need to get a copy of my little brother's sermon and pay close attention. Here are a few of those types of folks.

The Meddler
These are the folks that seem to be busy around the church and involved in all sorts of things but the only agenda they hope to accomplish is their own. They try to control areas of the church or ministries in the church just to satisfy their own desire for power. They will even go so far as to stir the pot with gossip and slander. In the end, the areas they meddle in don't help accomplish any Kingdom goal and most likely hurt the work of the church.

The Consultant
These are the folks who don't lift a finger to help with any ministry or activity but feel free to criticize those doing the work. They know how to do it better but won't help. They can tell you why your way won't work but they aren't willing to assist you. They may even show up only on Sunday mornings but tell you how all the other services and ministries need to be done differently. In the end, they just grate nerves and cause those doing the work to be frustrated and discouraged.

The Pewsitter
These are the folks that seem to only want to keep a place on a pew warm during a morning worship service. They show no initiative in wanting to help the church accomplish it's vision. They do not volunteer. If asked to help they hem and haw and don't give a straight answer. In the end, the most activity you will get from them in helping the church is them passing the offering plate down the row.

Hear me out before you send me emails about me being judgmental and condemning people. I didn't invent the personality types or encourage them not to participate in the church. I'm just sharing personality types I've witnessed in the church. That being said, if you're a Meddler, Consultant, Pewsitter or some other problem personality, I have some pastoral advice for you from a dear friend of mine. It's time for you to get off your butt and do what the church is supposed to be doing. Not serving your own agenda. Not criticizing the work others are doing. Not sitting watching everyone else do the work. God has called His children into this unique fellowship called the church. We are to do life together, serve together, rejoice together, grieve together, and reach unbelievers together. If you are doing anything else other than pulling alongside your fellow church members then you are hampering the work God is trying to do in your church. Don't be a problem for the church be a problem solver.

For those that aren't Meddlers, Consultants, Pewsitters, or any other problematic personality, I say keep working your butts off. Lead the way so others see what needs to be done. Encourage others to get involved with you. Keep working for the Kingdom as you help your church accomplish it's vision.


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Which type of hunter are you?

I'm not much of a hunter. I've been dove and squirrel hunting and I've even taken my boys squirrel hunting. My only claim to hunting fame is killing 6 squirrels with a single shot 20 gauge shot gun in about a minute. My dad still says they were deaf squirrels, but at 14 years old I took no mercy on them! Personally, I prefer fishing. But I do enjoy seeing what my hunter friends have killed. Whether it's deer, turkey, or some other wildlife I like to see the pictures and talk to them about what they've killed. Recently I was checking out some pictures on Facebook where a couple of friends had killed turkeys. I started thinking about the different types of hunters and how they relate to our primary responsibility as Christians.

Its safe to say that your primary responsibility as a follower of Christ is to tell others about Jesus and what He's done in your life. Your own story is the greatest and most effective witness to the power of God and the life-changing redemption Christ has ushered into your life. That witness is what God uses to bring unbelievers to faith in Christ. No matter our age, socioeconomic status, race, gender, or education level, we are responsible to tell people of the change Jesus has made in our lives and ask them to do the same. Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses and to do so by sharing the gospel and making disciples for Him. Whether you are good at it or not, its your responsibility. Whether you are currently practicing this or not, its still your responsibility. With that being said, we can look at our responsibility through the scope (sorry bad pun) of a hunters analogy.

The Sitter
When hunting most game the hunter will sit very still and wait for the game to come by so they can shoot it. Sometimes they're in a tree stand and other times they are in a blind. But they are sitting still waiting on the game to arrive.

I would dare say that nearly all Christians are "Sitters" when it comes to hunting down the lost to share the gospel. We sit in our lofty perch of a tree stand (the church) or we camouflage ourselves in the world and wait for the lost to come to us. We don't make a move when they are around for fear they may see that we want to talk to them about spiritual matters. We may even wait on them to climb into the tree stand with us and beg to be hunted. But In the end they often times walk right through our sights and we don't take the shot. We sit and watch people slip into eternity without taking the time to share with them about the One who can change their life.

The Stalker
Some hunters stalk their game. They have to quietly approach their game while trying to avoid scaring it off. It can be a challenge depending on the environment they are in. Some even hunt using dogs to track down raccoon or bear. Nevertheless, they are approaching their game and taking the initiative to track it down.

There are fewer Christians who hunt for the lost as a "Stalker." They have a desire and a tenacity that supersedes the fear of rejection. They bravely pursue unbelievers with a singular focus that impresses others. Sometimes they stealthily creep up on an unsuspecting unbeliever and other times they chase them down with the fervor of a dog that has treed a raccoon. Regardless, they have a determination to succeed at bagging the big game and that is a soul that is destined for hell.

It's pretty clear from the hunting analogy that we have two choices as to how we will approach unbelievers to share the gospel. We can sit as they go by or we can pursue them. It doesn't take much common sense to know that we should be pursuing the unbelievers in the hopes they will put their faith in Christ. If you find yourself letting the lost go right by you, what do you need to do differently to share the gospel with them? What do you need to change in and of yourself? Whatever it is seek God's help in making the change and He will help you succeed. Because in the end He wants you to bag as many souls for Him as you possibly can.


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Directions for Giving Up on God

Over the past 10 years of ministry I have witnessed some fairly unbelievable things. I've seen God answer prayers in ways that seem impossible. Like the time we prayed for an approaching storm to bypass the church we were painting in Vermont and God parted the clouds like the Red Sea. I've seen widows, parents, and families in their deepest moments of grief and despair praising God for the life of the loved one that died. Like the time I walked into a room in the Emergency Department of a hospital with a family seconds after their loved one died. There are plenty of other things I've witnessed over that time, both good and bad, that causes one to reflect on different aspects of life. But the one thing that confounds me to this day, and probably will the rest of my life, is when someone gives up on God.

Now I'm not talking about people who are atheist or agnostics who have denied the existence of God. I'm talking about a person who has come to the realization they are a poor, wretched sinner in need of God's grace, who has accepted that grace, enjoyed that grace, and then turned their back on that grace. It can easily confound a person when you think about it too much. Don't hear me speaking from a platform of judgment and condemnation. I have had those moments in my own walk with Christ where I pushed Him just to the tips of my reach where I could pull Him back at a moments notice. Yes, I can fully relate to the words of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing when it says "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love." But the thing that I do not understand is the person who completely abandons God altogether.

The reason a person might give up on God varies from person to person. For some it may be that they were disillusioned with God because they were mislead into thinking God was a genie to grant their wishes. Maybe God didn't answer a prayer they pleaded with Him over. Or maybe it was something else. I think the reason many people give up on God is simply because they wander from His path and forget about Him. They wander so far from God that when they need Him or think about Him they are embarrassed to throw themselves at His feet again. And like the song by Casting Crowns says "It's a slow fade" further and further from God.

So the directions for someone seeking to give up on God are simple. Ignore Him, turn your back on Him, do not read His Word, do not pray, do not think about God, and do not allow the Holy Spirit to stir your heart. Not that anyone would probably follow those directions but there they are.

More importantly, what are the directions for getting back to God when you've wandered so far you can't see Him anymore. The answer is this, run. Run back to God and seek His forgiveness. Throw yourself at the feet of Christ and seek the grace you've experienced before. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and lead you where you need to go. All you have to do is ask for His forgiveness. God even tells us in 1 John 1:9 that He will forgive us no matter what we've done. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (NIV). Whether it's a nearly inaudible whisper or an ear-splitting shout, all you have to do is ask. If that's you, why not take the first step back towards God today? You won't regret it.


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Take Aways from the Tomb

Yesterday our message at church was similar to most every other message preached across the world on Easter. In some form or fashion most every sermon had something to do with the empty tomb (or should have). Without it there is no Christianity. Without Christ resurrecting from the dead Christianity is another world religion with a dead leader. But Christianity is different in that regard. We serve a risen and living Savior.

So what can we take away from the empty tomb found by Jesus' followers on that first Easter morning? There are in fact 3 things we can take away from the empty tomb. 

Take Away #1: The Power of God

What we see in the resurrection of Christ is the power of God on display. God shows us He has the power to overcome sin, death, and the grave. He shows us He is omnipotent, all-powerful, that He has power without limit. 

The power He used to resurrect Jesus from the dead is the same power He uses today to change the lives of men and women, boys and girls. That is the same power He wants to use in your life today to either bring salvation into your life or to free you from the grip of sin. The question isn't is God willing to do it or can God do it. But the real question is will you allow Him to work that miracle in your life?

Take Away #2: The Hope of God

The women, the disciples, and everyone else who knew Jesus had no hope on Saturday night when they went to bed. On Sunday morning that all changed. The resurrection of Christ brought joy and hope out of their pain and grief. 

Through the resurrection you and I have a hope for the future. The resurrection is a reminder to us of the fact that this world and all its trappings are temporary and fleeting. Simply put they are passing away. Through the resurrection we are reminded that we can have a relationship with Christ that brings hope for today and hope for eternity. 

Take Away #3: The Forgiveness of God

Two words in Mark 16:7 sum up the forgiveness we experience through the resurrection. Those 2 words are “and Peter.” The last words Peter spoke in the presence of Jesus was his 3^rd and final denial of knowing Jesus. Peter above anyone would have had no hope for making his relationship with Jesus right again.

But Jesus shows us through those two little words that He will forgive us of even the worst of sins. If Jesus was willing to forgive Peter and restore their relationship what do you think He’s willing to do for you? Jesus is willing to forgive you no matter what kind of life you’ve lived or no matter how far you’ve wandered from Him…all you have to do is ask for it. 

Without the resurrection Jesus’ life would have came to a sad, grief-stricken end. But through the resurrection we are able to witness the power, hope, and forgiveness of God. Today you are able to do more than witness those things. Today you can experience it in your own life. Simply seek God's forgiveness and watch Him bring you hope as He exercises His power to change your life.

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Jesus' Four-Letter Word

There is a four-letter word that describes Jesus. This same four-letter word is the reason Jesus came to earth. This four-letter word explains why Jesus stayed on the cross when He had the power to save His life. This four-letter word is love.

As Christians, when we think about the cross we can become desensitized to the facts of what Jesus endured during His crucifixion. See the pain the human body endures during crucifixion is unbelievable. It's practically unbearable. It was so bad that they didn't even have a word to describe the anguish and pain someone went through during a crucifixion. They had to develop a new word meaning “out of the cross.” We know it as excruciating. Excruciating describes the pain Jesus endured during His crucifixion. When Jesus was being prepared for His crucifixion, His arms would have been dislocated at the shoulder and stretched 6 inches beyond his normal reach (fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 22:14). Then while His arms are pulled outward, 5-7 inch tapered spikes would have been driven through His wrists to keep him from falling off the cross. Another spike would have been driven through His overlapped feet. Those spikes would have destroyed nerves in the feet and wrists. Those destroyed nerves would have caused a permanent sensation much worse than but similar to the pain when a person hits their “funny bone.” During crucifixion the body is placed in a constant position of inhalation. Jesus would have to push His body upwards to exhale and lowering His body would be able to inhale again but forced to move up again to exhale. He did all of this as His back, mutilated from His scourging, rubbed against the cross. He did it while pulling against those spikes driven into His wrists and pushing against the one in His feet. And finally, His heart would have beat erratically and He would have known when He was at the moment of death. This would allow Him to say “Lord into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46) and "It is finished" (John 19:30) just before suffering cardiac arrest and dying from exhaustion and suffocation.

But why go through the gory details of what Jesus endured while He was on the cross? First off, so we don’t forget and take for granted what Jesus did for us on the cross. If we are a Christian then when we sin we take for granted what Christ did for us. When we sin we make a mockery of Him as badly as those standing at the cross on that day. Secondly, to remind us of the love He showed us on that cross. Jesus could have easily saved Himself and came down off of the cross. But He didn't come down from the cross. He didn't because He wanted to show us His love. William Barclay once wrote “Jesus came to tell people of the love of God; more, he was himself the incarnate love of God. If he had refused the cross or if in the end he had come down from the cross, it would have meant that there was a limit to God’s love, that there was something which that love was not prepared to suffer for men and women, that there was a line beyond which it would not go.”

There was no drink to ease the pain or ridicule from His enemies or fear of death that could get Jesus to come down off of that cross. Why? Because His love for you was greater than anything else. His desire for you to have a relationship with God meant more to Him than His own life did. He died on that cross as a sacrifice for you so that your sins could be forgiven, so you could have a relationship with God and spend eternity with Him in heaven. That’s why He stayed on the cross. That’s why He endured the pain. That’s why He became sin for you and me. It was all because of Jesus' four-letter word. L-O-V-E.

If you're a believer in Christ and have wondered from God, then take time right now to seek His forgiveness and turn back to Him. We call it repentance. He'll gladly take you back.

If you've never heard before that God loves you and that Jesus died on the cross for all the wrongs you've ever committed, then I encourage you to seek His forgiveness. God is willing to forgive you of your sins. All you have to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead. If you believe that all you have to do is ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life as your Lord and Savior. If you have more questions then check out northcatawbabaptist.com/Salvation or email me at pastornick@northcatawbabaptist.com.

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Don't be a Church Baby!

Back some time ago, after dealing with a difficult situation at church, I tried to give my boys some helpful advice for when they are older. As we rode down the road I gave them this sage advice. I told them, "When you grow up don't be a problem for your pastor. Be a help to him." Without missing a beat, Cooper, our wise cracking smart aleck, says "What has [Chairman of Deacons name] done now?" I started laughing and told him I would tell that person because Cooper likes and respects him. Cooper was only joking about our friend but my advice to the boys was no joke. 

The longer I am in ministry the more I see that churches really aren't all that different from each other. They may have a different sign out front and some differences in the way they do things, but for the most part you have the same personalities with different names and faces. One personality that can drain the life out of a pastor, church leadership, and the church is the church baby. I'm not talking about the adorable newborn that is passed around during the service. I'm talking about the grown adult that acts like a baby. Think about how baby's act for a second. They're selfish, wanting their way all the time. If they don't get their way they let everybody know about it! They leave a mess wherever they go. Sometimes its toys, other times its food, and sometimes its remnants of an overflowing smelly diaper. They have to be petted and coddled. You have to make sure you keep them happy or they'll throw a temper tantrum. We've all seen babies in action. They can be holy terrors sometimes. You get the picture, right?

The church is not immune from such "holy terrors." You will find people who do the same thing in the name of "the church" or a particular ministry. They have to have their way all the time. When they don't get their way they let everyone know about it. Everyone from the pastor to the church gossip gets an earful. To avoid a tantrum like this many in the church will seek to coddle the church baby. We give them their proverbial pacifier and hope they calm down. We then look at each other and use everyone's favorite line, "Well, that's just the way so and so is." What we usually find in the wake of the church baby is a mess that no one wants to clean up. We find disunity, hurtful remarks, and other actions that are far from Christ-like. So what do we do?

We treat this grown adult like a grown adult Christian should be treated, with love and grace. That doesn't mean we coddle them and side step the issues. It means we speak plainly and lovingly yet tactfully with them about the issue at hand. If they are not mature enough to see you treating them in a Christ-like way, then you have little hope of them ever being spiritually mature enough to grow from this difficult situation. The best thing for the pastor, church leader, or membership to do is to stand their ground. It's just like dealing with a real baby. If you continue to give in you eventually end up with a spoiled child. Lovingly stand your ground and help this brother or sister in Christ see their need for maturity through your actions.

If you're not a church baby, as a pastor, I thank you. Be a help to your pastor not a drain on his time or energy. If you are a church baby, I say this as lovingly as anyone can, "Grow up." It's not all about you, what you want, or getting your way. Its all about Him, what He wants, and Him getting His way in your life and in the church. 


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Dealing with Homosexuality.

Over the last few weeks we've taken a look at some more of the areas of culture and life that are more hotly debated. We've already looked at Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage, Politics, and Divorce. Today we look at another. Please understand this isn't about condemning anyone or passing judgment on anyone. It's about a brief look at what the Bible says on the topic and how we should deal with it. So let's get started!


There isn't much more of a hot topic issue in our culture anymore than issues surrounding homosexuality. Whether its LGBT groups seeking legalization of same-sex marriage or seeking city ordinances for transgender restrooms we regularly hear about it in the news and media. We constantly hear about a push for acceptance and equality for those who live a homosexual lifestyle. Our TV shows, movies, and other media have sought to desensitize us to homosexual relationships over the past 20 years to the point that no one questions it when its presented anymore. But the question we ought to ask ourselves isn't what society says about it. It doesn't matter what our friends, family, or co-workers "think" about it. Like every other area of life our basis should be what God says about it in His Word. So here's some brief direction for us on this topic from the Bible.

Homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible.
Sin is “the condition and activity of human beings that is offensive to God” or a “revolt against holiness and the sovereign will of God.” When we go against God's will, regardless of what it is, we sin against Him. He tells us in His word in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that homosexuality, along with many other sins, will keep a person spiritually separated from God. That means a person who practices sin and has not received salvation from God will not enter heaven after death. If they are a follower of Christ and struggle with the sin of homosexuality, then they need to seek God's help to deal with the temptation.

Homosexuality is a choice not genetics.
Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we all make the choice to sin. It is difficult to resist temptations to sin but God gives us His strength, through Christ, to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13). When it comes to homosexuality some will claim that God created them as a homosexual and that it is biological. That statement is partially right in the sense that God did create them and their sin nature is biologically passed from Adam and Eve's original sin. But God did not create anyone homosexual. The choice is up to the individual and they must decide whether to sin against God or resist the temptation to sin. In the end it's a matter of taking responsibility for our choices.

All sexual relationships outside of marriage are forbidden by God.
As I discussed in my post on same-sex marriage, God's original design for marriage is one man and one woman for life (Genesis 2:24). God's original design for sexual relations was for it to be enjoyed inside the marriage relationship between that one man and one woman. Anything outside of that is forbidden by God as being sinful. That means homosexuality, fornication (sex between two unmarried persons), and adultery (a married person having sex with someone other than their spouse) are all forbidden by God. There is no room for acceptance or approval for any of these sexual sins in God's eyes.

Homosexuality is no worse than any other sin.
My sin of pride, cursing, or lying is no different than another person's homosexuality. Many in the history of the church have tried to vilify homosexuality as being a "major" sin like adultery or murder, as if some were worse than others. But when we look back at how sin was defined earlier, there is no distinction between the severity of different sins. All sins separate us from God. All sins tempt us to turn our back on God. All sins lead to spiritual death unless salvation is received from Christ. When we do receive salvation from Christ then we seek to please God by resisting the temptations to sin and pursuing His holy standards for this life.

The Christian response to homosexuals.
Love. In one word that is the response that followers of Christ should have for those who struggle with the temptation of homosexual sin. We should love the individual as a person not labeling them by their sins. Don't get me wrong we should not approve or condone a homosexual lifestyle anymore than we would that of any other kind of sexual sin, but we must show the same love, grace, and mercy that we've been shown by God. What any sinner needs is forgiveness from God and a loving environment to grow in their faith and understanding of God's Word. The church should be a place where a person struggling with homosexual sin can receive both. 

I'll close with this. My desire with this post is not to be judgmental or criticize a person for the life they've chosen to live. My desire is to share the truths of God's Word with people in the hope that they will pursue the standard of holiness in their life that God desires for them. If you are struggling with homosexuality or any other kind of sin and need someone to talk to feel free to email me, pastornick@northcatawbabaptist.com. I will be glad to talk with you and go more in-depth with you than I can in a blog post.


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Dealing with Divorce.

Over the next few weeks we'll take a look at some more of the areas of culture and life that are more hotly debated. We've already looked at Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage, and Politics. Please understand this isn't about condemning anyone or passing judgment on anyone. It's about a brief look at what the Bible says on the topic and how we should deal with it. So let's get started!


Divorce is an unforgivable sin. Those that get divorced should be shunned from churches and treated like lepers. Divorcees should be looked down upon and treated like second-class citizens. Those are some of the unwritten rules that some people have held about divorce over the years. Whether inside or outside of the church those views were propagated by people for so long that many believed them to be true.

From my perspective as one who has never experienced divorce but has ministered to families considering or experiencing it, divorce is hard. It's probably much harder than I realize. No one goes into a marriage expecting it to end in divorce. They expect their marriage to last. They expect it to grow stronger as the years go by. But that isn't always the way things happen. There are plenty of emotions that occur during the time leading up to separation, during the separation, and once the divorce is final. Those emotions are best dealt with in a counseling type atmosphere rather than a blog. But one question that those emotions can bring up, at least for the Christian, is "How does God feel about my divorce?" Well here are a few things to consider from the Bible when it comes to divorce.

Divorce is not God's plan for marriage.
God's plan for marriage does not involve divorce. God's original design for marriage is one man and one woman for life (Genesis 2:24). Unfortunately, as we all know too well, man does not always follow God's plan. 

God hates divorce.
Yes, God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Why? Because it goes against His divine plan for marriage. Notice He doesn't hate those that get divorced just the action of divorce for what it brings into the lives of His children.

Allowances for divorce.
God gives two allowances for divorce in the Bible. One is when a non-Christian spouse deserts the other spouse willfully and permanently (1 Corinthians 7:12-15). The other is a spouse's sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9). People are divorced for other reasons beyond these two allowances given in the Bible and God still loves them and cares for them.

Divorce requires forgiveness.
The Bible tells us throughout it's pages how man goes against God's will in every way of life and that is how man sins against God. The only solution for sin is the forgiveness offered to man by Jesus' death on the cross. Like any other area of our life where we step outside of God's will, divorce requires we seek God's forgiveness. Once we seek His forgiveness and have a right relationship with Him, we can then rightly relate to others, including a future or former spouse.

There is a cure for divorce.
Philippians 2:3-4 gives us the cure for divorce. It says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (NIV). If everyone lived up to the counsel given in these verses divorce would never occur. If both spouses desired to put the other's needs before their own and to do nothing out of a selfish heart then we would see marriages last. If couples showed each other the love of Christ in every part of life then marriages would become stronger rather than weaker. It's not an easy process, and it requires daily dying to one's self, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

A Christian response to a divorcee.
The key is not to get hung up on divorce being some black mark on a person for the rest of their life. Divorcees deal with enough emotions during and following a divorce that they do not need unnecessary judgment and condemnation from others who should be supporting them and loving them. As Christians we are called to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39). For our brothers and sisters dealing with divorce, love that reflects the heart of God is exactly what they need.

These are just a few of the facets of divorce that we could discuss. There are plenty of other aspects that could be addressed and be helpful to people. As divorce is a difficult situation for any person, be sure to be in prayer for those you know who are dealing with divorce.

* For this particular blog post I did refer to the Billy Graham Training Center Bible to help supplement my own work. The topical resource in that Bible on divorce is a great resource for those going through or having experienced a divorce.

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