"Benevolence"

“Benevolence”

I write this with mixed emotion and motivation. While I would love to hear input on this subject, it also comes as a bit of a confession. I confess, not only to the fact that after 30 years of ministry I still don’t know how to deal with “benevolence,” but also that I feel guilty. Guilty, that I get so frustrated in dealing with “beggars.” Guilty, that I cross-examine them to find out the truth of their stories. Guilty, when my heart is soft and I give away and wonder if I was a good steward of the resources God has entrusted to me. Guilty, that I helped with money, lodging, and service; but they walked away without learning to make better choices, or worse, without knowing my Lord.

Now, let me say that this article does not flow as one from random thought. Last night I began to go about my Wednesday night “church activities” with a bit of a heavy heart upon hearing of a member’s hardship and their request for help. In the discussion of the leadership to determine the best way to help, we were reminded of the perspectives from Scripture. That we are to “share with God’s people who are in need” (Rom. 12:13). That the early Church took care of one another to the extent that “there were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:32-35). That we should “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10). That we should “excel in this grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7) as we do in any area of our Christian walk. That “we must help the weak” for Jesus taught that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and by doing these good works we bring glory to the Father as we shine the light of Jesus in the world (Mat. 5:16).

And yet, we are also reminded that Scripture plainly teaches that “if a man will not work he shall not eat” (2 Thes. 3:10). And we certainly know that in our efforts to try help our brothers and our sisters we need to teach them to discipline themselves, be good stewards and make wise godly decisions.

So with this on my heart, I go to the auditorium only to be stopped by a sister informing me that “there is a man over there who wants to meet with you.” You guessed it – A BEGGAR! A stranger in need – a benevolence call! I had worked with him before just a few weeks ago. His story didn’t make sense then, but he had received help and now he was back. I began the cross-examination again. I felt frustrated and challenged his inconsistencies and grew angry with his lies, and grew angry with myself that I was getting angry for he certainly needed help, even if his story was fabricated. Eventually, with the help of my dear faithful compassionate brother Larry, we put the man in my car and took him to the hospital, eventually to a motel and got him something to eat. You ask, “Why? He was not being completely truthful with his story, why help him?” Now, here’s the rub, I am not completely sure. Except, guilt! Guilt, that I did not feel I was being like Christ, if I didn’t give him some help in the name of the Lord.

That was last night, today, I’m back to deal with the brother in need. Not a stranger, but a member of our church family. I must deal with this benevolence also in the name of the Lord to be like Christ. I must help, but with my brother I have an ongoing relationship that includes teaching him to help himself so he might not be a burden to the church (2 Thes. 3:6-15) and that he will be able to help others in need in the future (Eph. 4:28). So what do I do? I can’t send him on his way telling him that I am praying for him, be warmed and filled. True Christian love and discipleship are demonstrated in my serving the needs of my brothers and sisters (John 13; 1 John 3-4). So what now?

Am I the only one who struggles with practicing “benevolence” in compassion with wisdom?

David Bearden

The Secret of Giving Thanks

The Bible says that to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48). But what about those who have very little? The Apostle Paul once said, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content (Philippians 4:11)." In the same manner we are called to be thankful regardless of our circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

At a time when our mailboxes are stuffed with flyers and shopping seems to be the addiction of consumer economy, it is important to remember that those who have the most toys are not the happiest people in life. Since whatever we have comes from the Lord, our responsibility is to simply use it for the cause of the kingdom. How we each makes those decisions is completely up to each individual. But, rest assured, someday there is an accounting that each one will have to give to the Lord.

Make this week a time of reflection, repentance, and new beginnings. Spend time in prayer and search out God's will in the scriptures. Encourage one another. Share your blessings with those in need. Most importantly, take the time to acknowledge with gratitude and praise the blessings given to us by Almighty God.

Last Wednesday evening a small number of us gathered on the 4th level at the building for small but intimate praise service led by Mike Runcie. One of the readings Mike chose was the following:

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100


May the Lord bless you as you seek to expand the borders of his kingdom this week!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Pilgrims, Indians and turkeys are the hallmarks of our Americana tradition of Thanksgiving; but, many have no idea of what a "Pilgrim" stood for in the context of religious freedom. The "Pilgrims" were known as "Separatists" as they had separted themselves from the Church of England. William Bradford, the narrator of the history of the Plymouth colony, writing of the early Separatists, states: "The truth is their condition for the most part, was for sometime very low and hard. It was with them, as it should be related, would hardly be believed. And no marvel. For many of them had laid long in irons and then were banished into Newfoundland, where they were abused, and at last came into the Low countries, and wanting money, trades, friends or acquaintances, and languages to help themselves, how could it be otherwise."

The English crown was more concerned about what to do with the stubborn Separatists than it was about disposing of the Catholics or Presbyterians. The Separatists were the real radicals. They considered themselves wholly independent of the state in matters of religion. They felt impelled to resist the state's intervention in religious affairs. The authorities regarded the Separatists as social radicals who were subversive and deluded. The stern Act of 1593 called for imprisonment, banishment, and even death for anyone persisting in this obnoxious course of action after the first offense. There was no toleration for their point of view in England. As a result, many migrated to Holland in search of freedom for their beliefs. Henry Ainsworth, a Separatist leader in Holland, stated: "We are but strangers and pilgrims, warring against many and mighty adversaries"; and, from that time on the Separatists thought of themselves as "pilgrims".

On September 16, 1620, 101 passengers with little or no money, some indentured servants and a crew of 48 sailed from Plymouth, England bound for a new world. Miles Standish came as a soilder, and John Alden, who later became a Separatist, boarded the ship as a cooper. When the ship made land in New England, they had to face the fact that their land patent was for settlement south of 41 degrees North. But, they could not round Cape Cod to proceed south. Therefore, they put ashore and founded the Plymouth colony on Cape Cod.

The "Mayflower Compact" was drafted by the Separatists before they disembarked to assure their retention of power over those who joined them, as they were not all Separatists. It was not intended to be a constitution for a new type of government, but was rather "a perfectly simple extension of the ordinary form of church covenant". The Pilgrims chose their governors as they chose their ministers, by vote of the whole body of qualified persons. Those who began this venture felt they were to be a city set on a hill which was to become a light to the nations. Their calling was to be the "body of Christ" on earth, while recognizing that this world was not their home. But for their desire to find a place to worship as they felt the Bible instructed them, America today would be a different nation. This Thanksgiving we need to remember the hardships they suffered for the sake of their faith.
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On a different note; but, not entirely unrelated, check out the blog of Josh Graves at: http://joshgraves.blogspot.com/ for a powerful witness on helping those who are in need. While many of us sweating the extra caloric intake of the day, this makes for sobering reading.

Thankful for Family

As I think about Thanksgiving, I have a number of things to list. Of course, my spiritual blessings and my wife and daughters would be at the top of the list. I would also have to include my church family, as well. I miss my Sunny Hills church family back in California. One of our Elders and his wife from Sunny Hills came to visit us this weekend and it was so special to be with them. It made me again give thanks for such a loving family that helped raise our children and mature me in my relationship with the Lord. It also made me appreciate even more my Maryland Heights church family where I served the Lord earlier here in St. Louis back in the eighties. From time to time someone from Maryland Heights will venture over to the McKnight Rd. church, were I currently minister, and it is so great to see them. It is like seeing family again, because it is! And then there is my new family here at McKnight. What a blessing to be here and get to know this great group of people! I am so blessed by my church family! All over the world, I have family! It is hard to explain it to people who haven’t experienced it, but it is so great to be a part of the Body of Christ! Paul said to the Philippian church, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:3-6 NIV) He was thankful for the memory of his brothers and sisters in Christ, for their partnership in the Gospel. It brought him great joy to think of what they had experienced together in the Kingdom, even when it was in great hardship. And he was thankful that they had the same purpose and goals, and confidence in the same ability to achieve them through Christ! I know what he was feeling, and this Thanksgiving as I spend it with my parents for the first time in eighteen years, I will thank God for them, and for family members all over the world with whom I will spend “thanksgiving” for eternity.

David

Veterans without Honor

I was honored to be involved in the memorial service for Gerald Watkins last week. He was a Vietnam War Veteran and a St. Louis Police Officer. Gerald proudly served his country in the U.S. Army fighting on foreign soil and after the war continued to try to keep the world safe here at home. He also witnessed the impact that the controversy of the Vietnam War had on our nation’s attitude toward its veterans. It broke his heart that veterans of Vietnam were not given the same honor as veterans of WWII. He knew that it was not really due to a lack of respect for their sacrifices as military personnel, but rather that it was due to questions about the appropriateness of America’s involvement in the war. However, it still hurt him to see the lack of positive responses to returning soldiers due to the fact that the war itself was not supported by many Americans. He felt our nation is experiencing a similar situation today in our current political controversy over Iraq. It seems there is something to be learned from Gerald in this, to find some way to honor those who answer their call to duty, even when the conflict itself is being questioned. How can our nation prevent repeating the negative that Gerald and his comrades in arms experienced after their return from Vietnam? And I wonder as a minister if there is some way that a church that has members with wide ranging views on the war in Iraq can play a role in honoring today’s veteran without it being interpreted as supporting a particular side in a highly controversial and hotly debated political conflict?

David

Most Quoted Book

Whose sermons are quoted most in the Bible? The answer may surprise you. Just as the New Testament epistles are our primary interpretive commentary on the historical narratives (the Gospels and Acts), the most venerated portion of the Old Testament - the Torah - has, within it, its primary commentary in the form of three sermons by its principal author, Moses. Moses was eminently qualified to speak for God. He was more than Israel's human Lawgiver: he was the founder of Israel's religion; he was the mediator of the covenant at Sinai; he was Israel's first prophet. (Though God called Abraham a prophet, Israel did not then exist as a nation.) Through Moses, God set such a high standard for the people that all subsequent prophets lived under his shadow, never attaining to it, until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not surprisingly, the New Testament authors mentioned Moses more frequently than any other Old Testament person. His concluding remarks after a 120-year lifetime have been handed down to us as the Book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy is essentially a series of sermons by the greatest Old Testament prophet. Jesus Himself quoted more from Deuteronomy than from any other portion of the Old Testament. (In a sense, Deuteronomy is the "Book of Romans" of the Old Testament.) The Hebrew title of the book is 'elleh haddebarim ("these are the words") in keeping with the Hebrew custom of often titling a work by its first word(s). The English title Deuteronomy stems from the Septuagint's mistranslation of Deuteronomy 17:18, "this repetition of the Law." The Septuagint translated those words deuteronomion (deutero means "two" or "second," and nomion is "law"; lit., "second Law"), which were rendered Deuteronomium in the Vulgate, Jerome's fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible. Moses' words were addressed to all Israel, an expression used at least 12 times in the book. Its frequent occurrence emphasizes the unity of Israel which was brought about by God's mighty deliverance of the nation from Egypt, and by her acceptance of His covenant at Sinai. They were uniquely God's people, the only nation on earth that had as its "Constitution" the Word of God.

Sometimes very crucial progress occurs at an excruciatingly slow pace. From Horeb to Kadesh Barnea was only about 200 miles. The Israelites turned an 11-day journey - from Horeb (another word for Mount Sinai) to Kadesh Barnea, the first site for entering into the Promised Land from the south - into a 40-year wandering in the wilderness before they came to their second potential site for entering the land. It took only three days to get Israel out of Egypt; but it took 40 years to get "Egypt" out of Israel! As Stephen pointed out centuries later, the Israelites had always been slow to believe God. Moses' review of the Law includes many crucial issues such as the legitimacy of war, the role of capital punishment, divorce, as well as the proper forms of worship, keeping the Sabbath, etc. But the surprise for many are the prophetic aspects of this foundational book: the future history of Israel-including an astonishing prediction of the Holocaust, etc. However, all Scriptures are Christ centered, so perhaps most challenging for the dedicated students are the "types" and "macrocodes" throughout the book. We find them in the roles of the goel, the Kinsman-Redeemer, the cities of refuge, the levirate marriage, and the many calendar issues. God has not changed since then. Man has not changed since then.

God's primary message through His servant Moses was Love. Not a list of do's and don'ts, not legalism, but relationship. And, of course, the ultimate consummation of all these things was, and is, fulfilled in our Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. God always rewards the diligent student, and a careful review of this foundational book is guaranteed to be life-changing!

The Impact of the Fall

The “fall” I refer to is not “The Fall,” as in the Garden of Eden Fall, but the fall of Ted Haggard, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of the 14,000 or so member New Life Church in Colorado Springs. At first he denied the drug and homosexual activity allegations that were brought against him, then he later admitted to some indiscretions. Finally the church board of overseers concluded that he had been guilty of sexual immorality and accepted his resignation. In his farewell letter to the New Life Church, Pastor Haggard wrote, “I am sorry for the disappointment, the betrayal and the hurt. I am sorry for the horrible example I’ve set for you.” What is the impact of this fall?

Some of the church members interviewed stated that although this was very disappointing and they are concerned for Pastor Haggard and will pray for him; the church will not be hurt by this for Christ is the head of the church not a man. Some said his sin was very upsetting, but he is human and has confessed his sin and should be forgiven; then the church can move on. Others said this is terribly upsetting and that it will hurt the church for years to come, maybe it will never recover.

But the impact, according to some, expands beyond just the New Life Church, it impacts the whole Evangelical Movement in America. Some say that it will set back the evangelical political efforts for years. While some say that it will bring a new balance in the political warfare on “gay issues.” Some say in the big picture the ruin of one man will not hinder the political momentum that the evangelicals have mustered in recent years.

And then there is the impact that it could have on non-Christians, especially those who are skeptical of the sincerity of the big churches and their impact in America. Some may feel that their view of hypocrisy in Christianity has been validated by Haggard’s example. Some will say that it illustrates how wrong conservative Christians have been about homosexuality. Some who have had an interest in Christianity may let this push them out the door for good thinking that if you can’t trust a leader like Ted Haggard, there are no ministers that can be trusted. On the other hand, there may be some seeking non-Christians who saw in the response of the New Life Church to their pastor’s sin a respect for the Bible as their guide in expecting morality and integrity in their leadership, and while condemning sin, they were also forgiving as they followed Christ as the Head of the Church.

What do you think? What will be the impact of this fall? How much impact should it have? Other powerful Evangelist have fallen in the past, what impact did it have? Will this be different? And what lessons are there to be learned by this fall?

David Bearden

Sunday School Teachers

Every Sunday we have scores of our members who prepare and teach lessons from the cradle roll through adult Bible school courses. But, the folks who are really in the trenches are the ones teaching the children. I can remember my grandmother Lois teaching from the Bible as early as the age of four. My 5th and 6th grade teacher was a dear sister by the name of Wilma Sterrett. Wilma took us through the book of Judges and the stories of Saul, David and Jonathan, Ab'salom and Solomon and the kings of Israel and Judah. I never realized how much the stories stuck until years later. Those stories teach us lessons about how to make choices in life. Without them we are like chaff in the wind. At McKnight Road we have many who have taught scores of children for years. Steve Haupt has educated every junior high student for the past 20 years. There are people like John and Christy Cole who pour their heart into Kid's Community.

How about you? Are there some stories about Sunday school teachers who have touched your life? Tony Martin is always looking for teachers. If you have a desire to teach, there is no calling more noble than instructing little ones in the way of the kingdom. If you do, your life will be blessed.

Marriage Thinking

Marriage has been on my mind a lot this week. It was the foundational illustration for my sermon on “Faithfulness Is a Call to Covenant.” It was the subject of discussion by the woman I sat with in the hospital who told me of her first husband’s debilitating illness and eventual death as we sat waiting for the outcome of the operation on her current husband. It was on my mind as I prepared for a premarital counseling appointment and met with a married couple that found themselves in serious disagreement. “Marriage and Divorce” was the subject of one of my favorite writer’s blog this week, and a subject discussed as church leaders met to pray. I found my heart touched deeply as a very dear brother shared with our men’s class the commitment of marriage that would day after day care for his wife that is slowly forgetting who he is. And then that night one of our daughters called and told us that a date had been set for their wedding. It was with this backdrop that I could not sleep, for although I was excited for my daughter and her future husband, I found myself thinking about what I would tell her if I had the chance to share with her the things that I feel makes a marriage work. I decided I would have to include these ten:

1. Love – not just an attraction and affection, but real agape love lived as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
2. Commitment – to a binding covenant relationship that simply will not be broken (Mat. 19:4-6).
3. Forgiveness – that would imitate how God forgave in Christ (Eph. 4:32).
4. Friendship – to the point of laying down one’s life for another (John 15; Eph. 5).
5. Mutual Submission – from love and respect for one another as compared with the relationship of Christ and the Church (Eph. 5:21ff)
6. Seeking the best for each other – daily living the Golden Rule (Phil 2:1-5; Mat 7:12).
7. Communication – always speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15).
8. Sharing – giving of oneself first and everything else will follow (2 Cor. 8:5).
9. Trusting – like a baby trusting her mother (1 Thes. 2:7)
10. Faithfulness – of a shared relationship of two people’s faith in God at the core of their faithful relationship with each other (Malc. 2:13-16)

I don’t know that this is anywhere near all inclusive, but it is a good start on a great marriage. I pray this for my daughter and for every marriage I can influence. And I am so thankful to experience the development of these in my marriage as it has grown stronger and more meaningful and fulfilling through the years.

David