Before you read this article, take the time to get your Bible and open to Book of Romans in the New Testament, and take the time necessary to read Chapter 14… it is of utmost importance to be knowledgeable of the passage to understand the principles and context to be able to apply it to your life properly today. I trust you will find it enlightening as well as convicting, encouraging as well as correcting, engaging as well as connecting… NOW, that you have read it, ask the Lord to help you understand what His intentions are in having the Spirit inspire Paul to write the Roman Christians, and proceed

Romans 14:1-3  Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion. One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. The person who eats any kind of food must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, and the person who does not eat certain foods must not criticize the person who eats them, for God has accepted him.

Okay – so maybe if you wrestle with heartburn from eating chocolate or coffee keeps you up at night – if you consume either of these too late in the day… you might have some doubts from eating something…. BUT, you and I both know that is NOT what Apostle Paul is referring to.

Paul is actually dealing with a problem, within the Church, of differences of conviction and opinion, about what people participate and partake in. An attitude of judgment and superiority had arose from those fickle folks that presume – that those who take part in things they deem bad are spiritually inferior Christians and are sinning; likewise those individuals – free ones – that recognize that those things are neither bad nor good, but things that can be enjoyed in the freedom of Christ, they also got an attitude toward the persnickety and particular people.

In fact – the free ones were “ridiculing” the fickle ones, and the fickle ones were “criticizing” the free ones… it was a battle of the religious opinions and personal preferences. Now – to clear up exactly what was going on, let’s look at the terms a little closer:

ridicule =          contemptible, despise, least esteemed, set at nought.

criticizing =      distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: – avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think

It is interesting, that the Holy Spirit has Paul specify “criticizing” – even using the same word, taking to task the fickle ones, stating they have “weak in faith” … and that are considering the free ones, judging them literally as “damnable” (see the definition of criticizing again)… That does not let the free ones of the hook for looking down on the fickle one’s weak faith… NO – rather, it means to not cause them to stumble – to be sure not cause them to act outside their faith level… Paul is saying that God considers both His servants – and the grace the free ones exhibit should lead them to give grace to the weak, and the fickle weak should let the Lord determine the judgment of the free ones – even HE will make them to stand, despite the fickle’ s criticizing of the free.

Romans 14:4  Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand. 

Today, though between some Christian groups, certain foods are an issue that causes some conflict…. There are other issues of far greater importance that are causing the same attitudes today. Everyone is tired of hearing about them, but they certainly are causing quite a conundrum and are continuing to present the same fickle weak in faith verses the free in faith fight. You probably guessed it – masking, social distancing and vaccinations – all because of the dreaded COVID-19. Well, at least the virus is getting the blame, but it is revealing the real blame should be placed on our own hearts and minds as the sinful problem.

I guess – one would not have to talk about it if the truth was embraced, and the political agenda were not attached to the COVID-19…. but, that is not the case is it. The truth is fickle fear instead of free faith seems to be winning this whole thing. Practically speaking, eating and consuming and injecting are all things put into the body and partaken in… and all of it end up in the blood stream – the sugars, proteins, nutrients digested and put within the blood for energy, as well as the masking is to keep people from breathing in or swallowing – consuming – the “unclean” virus and thus getting into he body, and even the injecting goes directly into the body and blood… so you see the practical application of Romans 14 is of the same necessity today, as then! Simply, the truth is – In faith we are free! Un-condemned! While some despise those who prefer to partake of these COVID-19 rituals to feel and remain clean; even more judge those who prefer not to partake in them – knowing they are free and clean without them… and this is not just those outside the church; it is within.

WHY THEN DO SO MANY CAVE UNDER PRESSURE AGAINST THEIR OWN MINDS AND CONSCIENCES, BEFORE GOD AND PARTAKE IN WHAT OTHERS IMPOSE? WHY DO SO MANY NOT PARTAKE WHEN AGAINST THEIR OWN MINDS AND CONSCIENCES KNOW THE IMPOSITIONS ARE MEANINGLESS?

Romans 14:5  One person decides in favor of one day over another, while another person decides that all days are the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:7-8  For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 

It is simply fickle fear over free faith – the fearfulness overcomes the faithfulness… and sadly, the condition of the duplicit and double-minded is sinful state of existence while attempting to maintain the mirage of conviction… Paul addressed that in the first century; and the answers need for the twenty-first century are on the Holy Spirit inspired line that follows:

Romans 14:23  But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin. 

Praying All of Us Do Everything in Faith, Fully Convinced in the Freedom Found Alone in Christ’s Grace,                                       

“If Tomorrow Never Comes….” This Garth Brooks song expresses a man’s love of his wife that remains to be shared in contemplation – of “will she know how much I loved her, will the love I gave her in the past be enough to last….”

I personally have wrestled through this sentiment…. Yes, for my own wife, children, family and our congregation – but also for those I have come into contact with from the communities I have been a part of. However, I am not simply self-reflecting on my own inevitable death and departure from this world; I am thinking from a raptured remnant perspective.

God has given all of us, born again believers, alive at this point and time the opportunity to consider “If Tomorrow Never Comes”… OH – we know that one day that will be true, and eternity will be the forever tomorrow we will be stepping into as we leave behind those who we have been called to share the gospel with, to warn of what is coming for those who reject Christ…

NO, there is not much time left – as much as I hope there would be, things are falling into prophetic place in such a pace that the urgency, the necessity, has never been more important. What IF you knew you did not have tomorrow? What if you knew what was next? WELL – you and I do know! Tomorrow is only for those who have reckoned with Rise Lord – that is Jesus!! Where they have trusted and believed in Jesus’ substitute punishment and death – the penalty mankind’s sin laid all upon Him, the death wages paid for your sins and mine…. And since Jesus rose from the grave, since HE conquered the power of death, since Jesus is alive – all who call on His name to be saved, all who believe that He died and rose again will be saved and in exchange for your sins, He offers you His righteous standing before God from atonement with His blood for our salvation…

Now, rest assured – it is on our watch – it is our obligation and duty to share the Gospel Today, to take what the Bible says – what the prophetic Word of God has declared for tomorrow and apply it today – as “NOW is the day of salvation…” for IF today is the day – tomorrow is too late!

If tomorrow never comes…

The remnant will be gone, departed from today

The hearts of those that hardened now, during tribulation will have to bow

It is up to you and me – to share the truth that sets them free

Before tomorrow never comes…

Yet, for those who would believe, those who could and would receive

Jesus offers tomorrow yet today, with a love for sinners to be saved

Rescuing you from being sin’s slave

Before tomorrow never comes…

Raptured away in flash –

we are headed for the sky – we will never die

After tomorrow never comes…

Remember to speak and share today – before it’s too late

Warn the world of what awaits, so they can see heaven’s gates

In Case tomorrow never comes…

If tomorrow never comes…

Will they know Jesus’ love will never pass, that it is His loves that will last?

When tomorrow never comes…

Change In the Air

As I sit down to write my thesis it is quiet in the house, the wind is still… there is “change in the air!” We wait for the spring rain as we wait for “skies of Blue, Red Roses, Too.”  We here in this part of the country are fortunate to have four seasons of change. A time to plant and a time of harvest, a time to plow and a time to rest. But wait, do we really have a time to rest? No, our world has become so affected by change. Our government, our schools, our society, even our places of worship have all changed. “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” Why are there empty pews? Why do we see empty churches, or a church with only a few cars parked in the parking area? People say “It is going to get better,” or “Oh, it has to get better.”

My friends, may I ask you, what does our Bible say is going to take place as time draws closer for Christ’s return? Our community does not understand the change that is taking place, nor do they want to! It’s eat, drink, and be merry, Let the good times roll!

I ask myself, am I wearing holes in the knees of my jeans praying for my family and friends who do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior? Do I wear a smile or a frown when I am out in the work place? I once had an elderly lady in church tell me, “It is not proper to always have a smile on your face in church.” Then she smiled and giggled and gave me a big hug. It made me feel so good! My brothers and sisters, we need to spread more agape, not only to each other, but especially to those on the outside.

My friends, I used to watch old western movies on TV, and even some of my old school books, portrayed the preacher with a bible in one hand and a gun in the other, or at least he wore one on his hip. I am so thankful we have Pastor Daren and his family here with us at FBC. I am thankful for his compassion, love, and concern for his church family and community. So my friends, there is always going to be “change in the air.” I ask myself, how am I going to deal with it, am I strong enough to handle change? Are you? Keep a smile on your face and remember, “I am just an old simmer, saved by grace.”

Steve Jones

Spiritual Ministry Team

Who understands why the church doesn’t make an impact for the Gospel in their communities?

What is the reason Christian’s lives end up in such sinful states that they look no different than non-Christians lives?

When will God’s people start listening to the biblical truth again and leave behind the falsehoods taking us captive?

Why do so many followers of Christ get led away and astray so easily in their personal and public lives?

How can many believers fall prey to the cultural mandates and mores, affirming and approving what God doesn’t?

The answer is found within the Book of Revelation! Chapters Two and Three are devoted to seven specific churches and their characteristics… though they existed in ancient times when Apostle Paul evangelized the Gentile world and established the churches, under direct Divine direction… their characteristics, if you will, are still alive and well today; or as John of Patmos was given Jesus’ own words and thoughts on each: unloving, unrepentant, satanic, sexually immoral, idolatrous, lukewarm and are dead spiritually…

Oh – Jesus had good to say about some, and only good about others; but he had nothing good to say about two of them…

• the first one held to the truth and could spot a counterfeit Christian a mile away but abandon their first love, that is simple devotion and love of Jesus

• the second one was spiritually rich even faced persecution, prison and perishing with faithfulness

• the third Jesus mentions they have not denied faith in Him, but some place stumbling blocks of sexual immorality and idolatry to get others to fall for selfish gain

• the fourth has love, faith, service and endurance, and they do more than ever – but they do something horrible through tolerance of a woman that proclaims to be prophetess and teaches satanic things posing as godly things, even never repenting of sexual immorality and sorcery

• Jesus points out the fifth congregation to has an almost dead faith barely alive, incomplete in its purpose and work and will be left behind when he comes for the whole church if they do not repent

• The sixth is a goodly and godly little gathering of born again believers – not at all insinuating only small churches are godly or that small churches are all good, some alas are like the former mentioned congregations and may be small because of it… but this church is true to Jesus and His Word, and the Lord will make all others admit about them, that they are a tried and true church – quite the opposite of the slander and gossip spread about them

• The seventh and final church; well – nothing good is said about their lukewarm puke inducing nature that Jesus ready to throw up. They are a compromising to the culture church, never wanting to offend anyone, accepting and affirming anything and everything… unrefined and unmoved – indifferent to the things of God and friends with the world… Jesus is even waiting for them to open the door and let Him in

Look again at those questions that are at the top of the page… If we take to heart the condemnation and the commendation of Christ as mentioned personally by Him in The Book of Revelation – We will not be duped, deterred, detoured or dead – rather we will be and become the church God Christian(s) and congregation God means for us to be… If there be anything needed repentance of; do not delay for Jesus’ is coming again, and at that soon very soon – for the He will not delay on that day to bring His salvation and His judgement…

Preparing and Readying, Looking and Longing for His Appearing,

Remember – God Loves You and So Do I,

Pastor D.L. Barnett