Tag: truth

The Truth Sells like Broccoli Hotcakes!

On May 6, 2022

In Bible & Doctrine, Christian Productivity

As someone who has owned a business, made various television appearances, lived a life out “in the world”, and, of course, been a member of the Lord’s church, I can tell you one thing that I have learned along the way. It is that promoting the truth is not the way to fame, fortune, popularity, and worldly success.

In my fitness business I tried to tell people the “secret” to getting in shape – unfortunately it involved hard work and discipline. While this helped many of the people I came in contact with, it also pushed away countless folks who were looking for an easier way.

The same happened on my local television appearances (NBC, ABC, CBS). Though I put my phone number at the bottom of the screen for each of these appearances, I only ended up with one phone call (in around 40 appearances). What was my message to the masses? Well, that there is no “easy” way to get in shape, but it can indeed be done with some dedicated work and some caloric reduction. Needless to say, this message did not “sell like hotcakes”, well, maybe like “broccoli hotcakes”. However, the problem remains. The truth is the only thing that works, and in the case of the gospel it is the only thing that saves.

As a member of the Lord’s church I see the same trend in national “Christianity”. Only 1-2% of the population is a member of the Lord’s church (a sad number indeed). As cultural truth is pushed farther and farther from the “absolutes” set forth by the Bible this number has continued to decline. The number of church of Christ congregations in the United States is dwindling, dropping 9% in the last three decades according to a National Directory published by 21st Century Christian.

What did Jesus say about this? Did he say that truth should produce the most Christians? Did he say that the truth should have people coming to us in droves? No, in fact he predicted our very situation:

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad isthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

So, does this mean we should give up? I do not believe it does. I believe it means we need to evangelize more than ever and work to engage the culture (and the young people growing up in said culture). I believe that the media is leading many astray and that we need to step up and “call out” those who are promoting false doctrine. Do I mean false gospels? Yes, but I also mean the doctrine of evolution, materialism, relativism, and the like.

Jesus wants us to spread the gospel to as many as possible, because indeed progress can be made. Some will accept the message and be saved, and our job is to maximize the number of saved individuals by telling them about Christ:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

When should we start? Well, as the old saying goes the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is right now. Let us all strive to begin pushing back against the darkness that is enveloping our society, let us all strive to evangelize and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Where are Your Dreams Directed?

By Jay

On December 11, 2021

In Bible & Doctrine

I’ve been thinking a lot about “dreams” lately. I’ve had many of these fantasies in my life, and, let me tell you, I’m very glad that most them did not come true. The truth is that if many of these aspirations came to fruition they would have led me further from God (and thus further from eternal life).

Still, when these “dreams” crash and burn it can seem humiliating, deflating, and (sometimes) even embarrassing. It can really seem as if your life is coming to end, or at least that you are a wretched and miserable failure.

Thankfully, Christianity can protect you from the disappointment of your “dreams not coming true”. Jesus tells you that your identity doesn’t have to be centered solely in yourself, it can be located outside yourself (in God). When you put your identity in God you begin to realize the immense pressure that you have on you when you attempt to “make” your own identity.

I, for one, believe that America is going through an identity crisis, and I think this is largely because Americans are told that in order to be happy one must “look within themselves” and “follow their heart”. Doing this puts all the pressure on you, and oftentimes it is a pressure that no human can live up to. Besides, following your heart only works if what you are aspiring to is currently “trendy” and not looked down upon by society. Nothing takes the air out of “being yourself” more than others thinking the “self” you have chosen is unacceptable.

So, the question is, why should you take on all this pressure? Why should you be responsible for designing the “perfect you”? If it is going to be enjoyable on any level at all then you will have to design a “you” that adheres to the whatever the current society deems trendy and in vogue. And many things that are fashionable today are downright morally reprehensible.

You shouldn’t have to be responsible for that. That’s why you should look to the Bible, the Word of God for your identity. If you do, then all of the identity pressure will be removed and you will finally be free.

You might ask, “How will I be free if I have to follow a rule book like the Bible? Won’t that make me less free?” It might seem like that on the surface, but I assure you that following the design God has laid out in the Bible will allow you to finally find freedom, not lose it.

If you put yourself in God’s hands and allow Him to direct your life (through His Word and will) you will finally achieve the freedom you were looking for all along. Don’t define your identity by earthly standards because whatever you choose to “go after” could be taken from you at any moment by illness, misfortune, or death. Put your hopes in things eternal and place your identity in the hands of your Creator. I’ll end this blog with one verse that sums this up better than I ever could:

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

For Your Audience or For God?

By Jay

On November 13, 2021

In Bible & Doctrine

I have not posted a blog in quite some time and apologize to either my readers or to the ether (more likely to the latter) for my neglect. If things are not on my mind I typically choose not to write – but I’m breaking this cycle today. I really don’t know what I will write but I believe that it will have something to do with the title of this essay.

I think it does a person well to ask themselves if they are living life for an outside audience (those of flesh and blood) or if they are living life for God. If one is living life for an outside audience I believe that one should be ready to stifle their assertions and tone down their message. This especially applies when one is discussing the controversial topics that God puts forth at truth.

For success delivering messages in this world:

Only reveal truths that people will like, can handle, or will tolerate.
Make it exciting and full of hope (even if the topic isn’t really so full of hope after all).

If one were to follow these two guidelines then I am quite confident that they would have “worldly success”. However, worldly success is like a vision of island vapor oscillating in the desert heat – it lulls but fails to satisfy. Still, so many trade their honor and integrity for such an illusion. In fact, they often trade their very souls for such a vacuous mirage.

Didn’t Eve (and Adam too) trade the Garden of Eden for such illusory power? Did they not partake of that forbidden fruit only to turn to one another reviling their nakedness? Too often today we see those promoting truth (that of Jesus our Savior) pushed to the wayside for the glory of a promising mirage…

Alas, the journey to the mirage is one of carefree and impetuous whim – no worries, only castles in the air. But will the charade be so full of glory when one dips their head to the shimmering aquatic hallucination and receives nothing aside from a mouthful of dry sand? Such it will be in the day of judgment and such we should seek to avoid.