“BAD-MOUTHING”

“BAD-MOUTHING”

By Keith Bellamy

“Bad-mouthing” is a popular pastime even for Christians. If you aren’t careful you can do it without realizing it. Someone said confession is good for the soul. And it is. That’s why I will readily admit it when I goof up. Sometimes though, we need to be corrected when we get caught up in the game of “Bad-Mouthing”.

Years ago, I misspoke, and someone came to me and asked if I had said thus and such concerning a preacher. Instead of being honest I jumped all around the subject. Had I been honest I would have said, “Yes, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, but I did.” And then the next thing I should have done was go to the individual who misunderstood me and then apologize for any harm I may have caused.

That’s what Jesus said to do in Matthew 5:23, 24. "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” He also had this to say in Matthew 18:15-17, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”

Thankfully that preacher and I ended up being very dear friends. And the reason we became friends is because we put into practice what Jesus said.

I was at a dinner a while back and the “bad-mouthing” started again. I got up and left. I didn’t want to be around it.

Do you “bad-mouth”? Why? I am trying to not listen or participate in this game. What about you?

TAKING A STAND IS NOT POPULAR

Someone suggested that area preachers get together and have a summit and tell the world we are not going to take it anymore. Can you imagine the early church doing that? I think not.

We don’t know what real persecution is, do we? As I read the book of Acts, I notice the Apostles and others being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Thankfully we have not experienced that. However, I know of some in other countries who have been persecuted and imprisoned because of their faith in Christ. Some have been put to death.

The early church did not lead in protests or uprisings. In fact, they did just the opposite. They were taught to honor God by honoring the dictator of Rome or whoever else was in power (1 Timothy 2:1, 2; Romans 13:1).

Today there are many who have taken a stand and they have not renounced their faith.

I only know of one man personally who was imprisoned because he stood for Christ. But because of his Christ-like attitude, even the prison guards started letting him serve Christ in spite of the rules imposed by his persecutors.

Never did Jesus Christ or His disciples advocate overthrowing the government. They did not advocate rebellion.

It’s not popular to take a stand. However, I cannot back down when the Word of God calls something a sin. I am to follow God’s Word. That’s why I must insist that the Bible be my guide. 2 Timothy 3:16, says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (ESV).

Notice the words of Peter, one of His Apostles.

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you” (1 Peter 2:12-15, NLT).

D-Day (Operation Overlord)

D-Day (Operation Overlord)

By Robert Johnson (edited)

This past Thursday, June 6th, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the decisive battle for the War in Europe. During that night, an armada of ships and over 150,000 soldiers crossed the channel from Great Britain to Normandy. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history, requiring extensive planning. By daybreak, 18,000 British and American parachutists were already on the ground. At 6:30 A.M., American troops came ashore at Utah and Omaha beaches.

At Omaha beach, the US First Division battled high seas, mist, mines, burning vehicles, and German coastal batteries, including an elite infantry division, which discharged heavy fire. Many wounded Americans ultimately drowned in the high tide. British divisions, which landed at Gold and Sword beaches, and Canadian troops, landing at Juno beach, also met with heavy German fire, but by the end of the day they were able to push inland. By the end of June, 1944, about a million Allied troops had reached France.

The price of liberty was high, not just on D-Day, but throughout the War. World War II took more lives and caused more destruction than any other war. What a great sacrifice was made for the sake of liberty and freedom! We should never forget those who offered themselves for liberty for us. Sometimes the passage of time lessens the importance of such sacrifices to some, but its magnitude is not diminished.

So it is for us spiritually, with the sin that condemns us, and the price paid for our eternal liberation. No suffering compares with that which the Son of God endured on behalf of all humanity, for all time. Even though He was the Son of God, He freely offered Himself; “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). He did not suffer for Himself, but for us; “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians. 5:21). The benefits of the cross reach backward and forward, still offering forgiveness today; “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Hebrews. 10:14).

Never let the passage of time lessen the importance, the meaning, or the love Christ demonstrated for us in His death. Always cherish His sacrifice for our freedom from sin, shown in how we live for Him each day. Never let the truth of the gospel go untold to those you know and love, for it is the hope of spiritual liberty for each generation.

Thank you Robert.