"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." -Ephesians 4:29
My dad's birthday is June 19, so it's usually close to Father's Day and sometimes coincides. I called him both days and had some good, convicting conversations with him. It reminded me of the following article I wrote for the February 2008 issue of the MBCLA Chronicle, our church newsletter:
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”-Proverbs 13:20(NASB).This proverb teaches the principle that character is more caught than taught.The emphasis is on walking and companionship, not teaching and scholarship.It is also a continuous action, not a one-time event. Young’s Literal Translation puts it a different way: “Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.”Other Bible verses emphasize the importance of walking with wise and godly friends (Proverbs 2:20, Psalm 119:63) and avoiding foolish and evil friends (Proverbs 1:15, 2:12-19, 28:7, 2 Corinthians 6:14).
The MBCLA Men’s Mentorship program gives mentees an opportunity to walk with wise men and build relationships that probably would not have been formed outside of the program.Much of the learning will be through “osmosis,” perhaps even subconsciously.Additionally, there will be accountability and revealing blind spots (Proverbs 27:6), mutual encouragement (Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24), and perhaps some positive peer pressure.
These elements are already present in the English Young Adult Fellowship small groups, so what’s so special about mentorship?Well, for one thing, mentorship is one-on-one.Shared experiences draw people together.Shared experiences between just two people draw them closer together than experiences among a group, even if it is a small group.When your time and attention is focused on one person instead of divided among many, there is more and better communication.Communication is essential for a relationship.
The experience also feels special, unique, more intimate.No one else will have the identical experience.More privacy facilitates trust and intimacy.Many of the special times I cherish were one-on-one: breakfast dates with Dad, teaching my brother to drive, teaching my sister to drive, long discussions or playing times with a friend, lunch with a close boss, sharing and praying with just one small group brother.
Also important to relationships is regularly scheduled time.People drift apart without continuous interaction.I don’t consider myself a relationship person.I’m content spending time by myself for long periods without human contact, as long as I have some box (whether computer, television, or book) to occupy me.Unless I have to, or I’ve already agreed to, I seldom step outside the house.However, as Rick Warren writes in The Purpose Driven Life, “Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is ‘T-I-M-E.’”This is probably why most people have only 5 close friends, though they know about 150 acquaintances.
I look forward to shared experiences, activities, learning, and a deep friendship with my mentor.We have some shared interests that I’m sure I’ll enjoy.
Regularly spending time one-on-one to build a deep friendship can be done with peers, so why an older mentor?There’s something that an older mentor can offer that peers can’t: life experience.
Though not always the case (Job 32:7-9), wisdom tends to come with age.“A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.” -Proverbs 16:31 (NASB).The elders who served Rehoboam’s father, Solomon, were wiser than Rehoboam’s peers (1 Kings 12:6-11).Experience in a godly Christian’s life brings not just spiritual maturity and strength of character (Psalm 37:25, 34:8, Hebrews 5:14), but practical wisdom for work, finances, family, relationships, and other areas of day-to-day living.
The character, wisdom, perspective, knowledge, skills, resources, and connections that come from experience could be learned from books, most notably the Bible (Psalm 119:99-100), so why do I need a relationship?Interaction and feedback make a personal guide better than just a map and make a mentor better than just a book. We learn better from “show and tell,” not just “tell.” Great pianists didn’t learn piano from an instruction manual.Great coaches make good athletes great.
Whenever you read a law, medical, investing, or tax self-help book, it always disclaims that it’s giving legal, medical, investing, or tax advice and to consult a lawyer, doctor, financial advisor, or accountant.These professionals provide specific advice tailored to your particular situation versus the general information in a book.As for the Bible, God Himself opens our eyes (Psalm 119:18), enables us to understand (1 Corinthians 2:10-14), and reminds us at the right time (John 14:26, 2:22, 12:16).
1) Regularly scheduled one-on-one time to build a relationship, 2) life experience, and 3) interaction make mentorship unique, rich, and effective.For me, there’s another reason to have a mentor.Ideally, your parents should be your mentors.My dad lives halfway across the country.There are some things he can’t do from a distance.A mentor is like a local father, just like the men in my small group are like brothers.“Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.” -Proverbs 27:10 (NASB)
With all that's happened and is happening in the financial news lately, you may have asked questions about the economy: What's wrong with the economy? What is money? Where does money come from? What causes inflation? Why does inflation feel like it's more than the government numbers say it is? What's "the Fed" and what does it have to do with the economy? What's so bad about the national debt? How do bubbles form? How long does it take for bubbles to burst? What causes recession? What does the price of oil have to do with the economy? Do we still need to worry about energy?
If you are wondering about the answer to any of these questions or ever wished you understood the economy, you should watch The Crash Course. If you've never cared about the economy, you should watch The Crash Course to find out why you should care. This entertaining and terrifying three-and-a-half-hour video series can be watched all at once or in more manageable 3-20 minute chunks. You might possibly learn more about the economy in this time than you have in your life. If you spend only three and a half hours of your life learning about the economy, let it be on watching The Crash Course.
Luke 12:15-34 gives some needed perspective after watching The Crash Course: "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Quality of life is not the same as standard of living.
"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Saving is good, but selfish hoarding is not.
"And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Planning is good, but worry is not.
"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Do not set your heart on things that will not last forever. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." -1 John 2:15-17
Be responsible with money, but do not serve it: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." -Luke 16:10-13
I care about many different issues, but practically speaking, I'm a one-issue voter. Abortion is the deal-breaker, so heavily weighted that it alone could tip the scale against the other issues.
Randy Alcorn explains in a couple blog entries why he's a one-issue voter and why he's voting for a less-than-ideal candidate from a less-than-ideal party:
But isn't bread (though not alone) needed to sustain life? True, but life is needed to eat it in the first place. With life, there is at least hope. Practically speaking, somebody's life and liberty are needed to get property. It is an evil when strangers, instead of you, eat what God has given you.
What about Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death?" Again, one must first have a life in order to give it, whether through martyrdom or service to country.
The Mosaic Law was described as the Israelites' wisdom, though it made provision for their hard hearts. We can learn certain principles from it. The Ten Commandments seem to descend in order of importance, first those relating to the Great Commandment, then the Second Commandment. Of the commandments relating to people, after the duty to honor parents, the prohibitions of murder and adultery precede those of theft, perjury, and coveting.
The crimes against God, life, and family, were capital crimes. Theft of property was merely a restitution crime, but theft of liberty (kidnapping) was a capital crime. Perjury was a capital crime if it was attempted murder.
Though any murder defiles the land, child sacrifice is called an abomination along with the sexual abominations in Leviticus 18 that defile the land and cause it vomit out its inhabitants. This makes them more serious than the evils of rebellion against parents, kidnapping, and perjury.
Is capitalism in the Bible?
The Bible assumes capitalism, not socialism. It condemns eating without working (2 Thessalonians 3:8-12). Wages are paid according to agreement, not fairness. Envious eyes that demand fairness leave no room for generosity. Even those in the early church, which had all things in common, gave voluntarily after selling their private property. Ananias and Sapphira did not have to give their property or its proceeds as if they were taxed involuntarily. They were punished for lying, not refusing to give.
God sometimes raises up bad leaders or causes leaders to make bad decisions as a judgment. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demanded a king and received one as a judgment. In 2 Samuel 24, God was angry against Israel and caused David to number the people. Rehoboam's foolish decision was a judgment for Solomon's idolatry.
"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Less than two weeks until election day. I posted a comment on the importance of political involvement, but only briefly touched the issues.
Origin of government
The institution of human government was created by God after the flood. Until then, God had not authorized humans to punish crimes. In Genesis 9:5-6, God commanded man to enforce capital punishment for murder.
Purpose of government
In Romans 13:3-4 and 1 Peter 2:14, government is defined as God's servant to punish evil and praise good. This purpose is most obvious in the justice system, whether criminal or civil, where judges are responsible for just judgment. It also extends to national defense against evil foreign enemies.
Providing for the poor
There were Mosaic laws against oppression of the poor and some provisions for the poor to work for food. (Sloth should not be rewarded- Proverbs 19:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.) The Israelites were commanded to lendinterest-free to their poor brothers; to refuse would be sin. However, these loans were directly from individuals to the poor. Government did not redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor through welfare or other social programs (if anything, property was left in private hands, which could distribute it to those who were better stewards of it- Matthew 25:14-15, 28-29; Luke 19:24-26). The poor were to receive justice, but not be favored.
Alms and generosity to the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers are the responsibility of individuals and the church. Forced giving through taxation is not generosity. Children are responsible to care for elderly parents, not government through Social Security and Medicare.
The irony is that God frequently uses mammon to reward those who choose to serve Him instead of mammon. He links national security and the economy to morality. Israel turned to Baal and Asherah, the Canaanite fertility god and goddess, for agricultural/ economic prosperity. God used foreign enemies, agricultural/ economic disaster (e.g. drought, locusts), pestilence, debt, and exile to punish national sin- e.g. Leviticus 18:24-28, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Judges, 1-2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, the Prophets. Proverbs links immorality to poverty- Proverbs 5:3-4, 10; 6:24-26.
Even if God doesn't materially reward morality, it is better to be poor and righteous than rich and crooked- Proverbs 28:6. Righteousness also exalts a nation- Proverbs 14:34.
Other Issues
Abortion is shedding of innocent blood, which God hates. The Israelites sacrificed their children to the idols of Canaan for the hope of economic prosperity. Today, Americans sacrifice their unborn children primarily to the idols of economic prosperity ("can't afford it") and convenience ("don't want it").
Before medicine proved that life starts at fertilization, the Bible assumed it. Psalm 139:14-16 and Jeremiah 1:5 are commonly used to prove that life begins before birth, but formation of the body and foreknowledge don't necessarily prove life. Adam's body was lifeless until God breathed on him- Genesis 2:7. Luke 1:15, 41, and 44 are better, where John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb and lept for joy in the womb, but some might argue that he was a special case. I like Job 10:18-19 and Jeremiah 20:17, which mention death in the womb. Death must be preceded by life, because lifeless things cannot die.
Needless to say, the pro-choice position is indefensible from a Biblical perspective. Abortion is murder, which government was created to punish.
Homosexual rights, from a Biblical perspective, makes less sense than adulterer rights. Sodomy was not only a capital crime under Mosaic Law, but is one of the abominations in Leviticus 18 that causes a land to vomit out its inhabitants. God judged Sodom before the Mosaic Law, and gave people over to sodomy as judgment in Romans 1:26-27. "Coming out of the closet" is associated with a nation's ruin- Isaiah 3:8-9. Tolerance of immorality is not good, because it affects others- 1 Corinthians 5:6.
Same-sex marriage has no place in a Biblical worldview. God created marriage, has clearly defined it as between a man and a woman from the beginning, and reaffirmed this definition in the words of Jesus and of Paul. Man has no authority to redefine marriage.
A leader's character need not necessarily be perfect. God still used Moses and David, though both were murderers. However, there were consequences for their character flaws, even if they were spared capital punishment.
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