December 10, 202

     Have you ever spent time around someone with bad breath? It happens to all of us from time to time especially if we like food that is well seasoned. However what tastes great going it is not always as pleasant wafting out. If you want to feel even worse than you do now imagining bad breath google: “what causes bad breath”. The usual culprits include: food that gets stuck in your teeth, tobacco, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, oral infections, normal mouth bacteria, stomach gasses escaping and a few other things. 

     We all know how bad it can be and most of us actively take steps to avoid it. If you don’t your friends probably wish that you would. 

     There is however something much worse that can come out of our mouths. Jesus says from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. To me it sounds like the cause of our words being bad or hurtful is much worse than anything we could possibly have eaten. 

     Paul uses a phrase in Ephesians 4:29 to describe improper speech.  He says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth…”  That word “corrupt”. Is an interesting word it is from a Greek word meaning “to cause to decay”. The Greeks used the word to describe what offends the sense of sight and smell, but it came to describe even offensive sounds as an ancient fragment from Theopompus Comicus used the word to describe the “unpleasant sounds of flutes” (CAF, I, 746). They used the word to describe bad vegetables and rotting fish.

     Having considered Jesus words and the description given by Paul we can reflect on the impact we can have on those around us through what we say. Unlike the description given above Paul says our words should be gracious seasoned with salt. This is not to suggest that we should be dishonest or manipulative in what we say. Rather we should speak the truth in love. 

     On the other hand we should be careful not to use language that is profane or offensive. Knowing that the words that come out of our mouth have the potential to be much more off-putting than the worst garlic or coffee breath.

     There is a principal that we use to help teach firefighters and ski patrollers do a better job when speaking on the radio. The principle is simple just before you speak take a moment to collect your thoughts and consider the best way to get your point across. Even though we are not using a radio in day to day life many would still benefit to apply this principle.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

December 3, 202

Like many others who strive to practice Christianity as described in the New Testament I am sometimes asked questions about belief and practice. People notice differences between New Testament Christianity and mainstream denominationalism or “popular Christianity”. When they notice they often ask why? What’s the deal with such and such. It may be weekly observance of the Lords Supper, or not fund raising, it may be baptism for the remission of sins, it may be acapella singing. The question is always the same: Why? Why do you weirdo’s at the church of Christ not have fund raising campaigns? Why don’t you have a piano? (Can’t you afford it?). My answers like the questions are always the same. Because we love and trust God. This way of answering is helpful for two reasons. First it doesn’t usually upset anyone, and second it allows for further conversation. I can usually go on to explain that love and trust means that we worship, live, believe, and teach according to the New Testament. 

     The wise man said a gentle answer turns away wrath (Prov 15:1) and wise that is. By responding with love and respect for God first and the questioner second doors can be opened rather than closed. The truth can be shared rather than told. Friendship and respect can be fostered rather than frustrated.

     Anyone who dares to be different can expect questions, as much as we claim to be an enlightened, tolerant, open minded, reasonable people it’s just not true. If you do something different than what the majority is doing they are not going to like it. Your differences will be appreciated even less if you have sound reasoning behind them. Giving some thought to how you’re going to answer when people ask questions is key.

     So the first reason to respond to people’s questions about our differences by pointing to our love and trust for God is it doesn’t usually upset anyone. The second reason is equally important. It gives an opportunity for further discussion. When someone says “why don’t you have a piano” and you respond “because we love and trust God” it’s almost inevitable that the next question will be “what do you mean by that”. Now I am able to teach, I can explain that the only musical worship found in or authorized by the New Testament is singing. I can explain that worship is meant to glorify God. I can explain that Jesus said “If you love me you’ll obey my commandments”.

     So when I am asked about different practices and beliefs that make churches of Christ stand out a little from what’s expected I always answer with “because I love and trust God”. Religious practice is the easy part though. There is a deeper more difficult question. What about when we’re not at church? Do we look different in our relationships, finances, marriages, workplace than the people around us? When asked about your Monday through Saturday practices could you still say I do that because I love and trust God? Religious tenants and practices are basic the bigger question is are we applying the above principle to our every day?

~ Kevin Cleary

 

November 26, 2022

     We hear a great deal about safe spaces these days. Some mean by this a space free from any triggering (upsetting) speech or imagery or ideas in general. This is far from safe, rather it sets people up for failure. Competition between ideas is critically important. It’s not comfortable, and no one wants to do it but learning to challenge our beliefs and test them against other beliefs is critical. 

     The most common place to find these “safe spaces” is on college campuses. This is somewhat ironic considering that college is the place where we should be challenged the most. It is the place where our ideas should be challenged and where we should learn to question our biases and apply reason and careful logic to our overall understanding of the world. To make colleges and universities a “safe space” is perhaps the greatest disservice we could do to young people. It completely fails to help them develop a skill set which will aid them through life and career.

There is however another kind of safe space. Related to but not exactly what has been implemented on college campuses. It is a space where we will not be castigated or ridiculed for not being perfect. A place where we can be open about our weaknesses and shortcomings so that we can find camaraderie and accountability. It is deer season and so many are sharing pictures of the deer they have harvested or their efforts at harvesting. I have noticed a troubling trend with these images. Whenever a hunter shares something many are quick to criticize. The blind construction the firearm, bow, or crossbow used, the hunting style and location are all subject to ridicule.

     I have often benefited from the wisdom of others and for that I am deeply thankful. However, I will quickly add that I have not benefited much from insults or ridicule. I suspect the same is true of you. We need to be able to have conversations especially about things we disagree about. However we need to remain civil and even loving. Paul instructs Timothy who is dealing with brethren who are in error, to correct your opponent’s gently in hopes that they will be corrected and return in faithfulness. This must be our goal as well.

I am not suggesting that we allow compromise in our worship assemblies or disinformation to be shared by a preacher or teacher. However, I am suggesting that we should foster an environment where people can ask questions and share ideas which may be wrong and then find correction. Where those struggling to remain faithful can find encouragement when struggling with sin. I am reminded of Apollos who was shown the way of God more accurately. We can be thankful that he was and for his contribution to the young church. I do wonder if the same is possible for us today or are we to critical and exclusionary for this to take place. 

We must also consider the admonition to bear one another’s burdens. How can faithful Christians carry out this act of love and service if we have created an environment where people are ashamed to admit they have any burdens? 

     With this in mind I would suggest we create a real safe place, where the body of Christ can do the work of Christ who came to call “not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” I am no doubt in need of repentance and maybe you are too, my prayer is that my brethren carry out this work for me as I will endeavour to do for them. 

~ Kevin Cleary

 

November 19, 202

Have you ever watched a hockey team with many talented players struggle to win games? This is especially typical of younger very talented players who have noticed that they are better than many of their peers. They have no doubt been coached to know that they need to play as a team and are likely working hard at doing it. They may even be doing well at it until they face a difficult opponent. That’s when the problem comes. They start to think they are the only one who can deliver the win, who can score the go-ahead goal, who can lead the team back from a sure loss. They forget that even the best players can’t win alone. They start playing as an individual instead of as a team.

If you are in the stands, you can see the open players being ignored, the great plays being missed. It’s when things get hard that we need to work together the most but often it’s at those times when we allow old habits to come back. When we allow our ego’s or our frustration with others to push our focus inwards. 

The Church like other teams is made up of many talented people, People who know they should work together, encourage and support each other. However when we face problems as individuals or as congregations, it’s easy to forget what we know and focus inward. We start to want to go it alone, we doubt our fellow church members, we start to think to much of ourselves. 

When churches can’t co-operate, things only get worse not better. 

A preacher named Lance Cordle recently made a list of the good things that happen when churches work together I have shared his list in effort to encourage all of us to consider the value of building one another up.

When the church works together…

– There will be less bickering and more forgiveness (Philippians 4:2).

– There will be less criticism and more encouragement (Hebrews 10:24).

– There will be less excuses and more evangelism (Acts 2:46, 47).

– There will be less selfishness and more selflessness (Philippians 2:3,4).

– There will be less discussion of personal preferences and more Bible study and seeking to know the will of God (Ephesians 5:17).

– There will be less worrying about the future and more prayer for the strength and courage to face the future (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

– There will be less dissatisfaction with worship and more concentration on God himself within our worship (John 4:24).

– There will be less individual glory and more glory to God (Matthew 5:16).

With the great need that exists all around us for God’s love and grace lets make sure it’s found in abundance among his people.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

November 12, 202

I often hear people talk about a person or an experience as Spiritual. Songs which are particularly emotion driven are referred to as spirituals. And of course many Christians, myself included,  want to be more Spiritual. As we ask how to achieve this we often seek out experiences, places, and books which stir something inside of us, which make us feel a certain way. What we don’t want is to be unspiritual. However we are confused about what it means to be Spiritual or unspiritual. Spiritual is not something you feel (what you feel is called emotional) instead it’s what you do. Following is a list of things that are called unspiritual notice that many of them are highly driven by feeling rather that truth.

Unspiritual

• Division, jealousy, and strife are not Spiritual I Cor 3:1
• Doing that which hurts Christ’s Church is not Spiritual I Cor 3:16
• Associating with evil is not Spiritual I Cor 6:19
• Misrepresenting Jesus is not Spiritual I Cor 12:3
• Pursuing the desires of the flesh is not Spiritual Gal 5:16
• Bitterness, anger, wrath, clamour, slander, malice, are all not Spiritual Eph 4:30-32
• Causing division of the Lords Church is not Spiritual Jude 19

When we try to determine what is Spiritual and how to be more Spiritual we need to make sure that we are using the right means of measuring Spirituality. The right means is not our own emotional response to a thing but what God through the Holy Spirit says about it in the Bible which He inspired.

     On another occasion we will consider a similar positive list of what behaviours and characteristics the Bible calls Spiritual. 

~ Kevin Cleary

Note: There are other actions and behaviours that could be added to the list because they are directed by God but I wanted to restrict the list to those things mentioned in the context of the Holy Spirit’s influence.