An expert in the law of Moses who questioned Jesus about eternal life knew the command of Leviticus 19:18, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” However, he thought he had a way around the obligation to carry out this command in his dealings with all people for Luke 10:29 reads, “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” He was satisfied in not loving those different from him in terms of race, status, gender, education, etc. by redefining the word neighbor to mean only those predominantly like him. Jesus answered his question with the story of the Good Samaritan to show that even this mixed race—with the bitter hatred that often existed between them and Jewish people in the first century—were included in God’s command to love neighbors (Luke 10:30-37). We should be on guard against narrowing the application of God’s word by redefining the terms, lest we fail to do what God has commanded. We tend to evade our responsibility to follow God’s commands by limiting the scope of application so that it excludes our situation. In regard to the primacy of this command even for us today under the New Testament, the inspired apostle Paul wrote, “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Rom. 13:9).

Consider the command, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). Does “bearing witness” imply only a judicial application—that I may lie if I am not in a courtroom setting? No. Consider passages like Ephesians 4:25 and Colossians 3:9-10 among many others. False charges and insinuations made in private conversations still harm others. Slander robs a man of his good name, which is more valuable than great riches of silver and gold (Prov. 22:1). The cowardly spread falsehoods in private about an individual they don’t like, but will never confront the individual nor make the same accusations in public under judicial oath. Yet, God clearly condemns such cowardly liars (Rev. 21:8).

Does the word neighbor imply that I may lie to enemies (since I don’t consider them neighbors)? Some propose it does. Frame wrote, “The requirement to tell the truth is conditioned on a relationship, that of ‘neighbor.’”[1] However, neighbor is not intended to give us license to lie to certain people, but rather to show the most hateful example—in harming the person next to you—in the whole category of the sin. God did this with the positive command, “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex. 20:12) in that it is a situation of respect that is easiest for us to accept. That command does not mean we don’t respect other rightful delegated authority in our lives (such as civil government). The tenth commandment is, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17). Would it be all right to covet your enemy’s house or wife since you don’t consider him a “neighbor”? Certainly not. Just as Jesus rightly extended the application of “neighbor” in Leviticus 19:18 to one whom the Jewish lawyer would consider his enemy, so we must do with these moral commands from God.

Let us be on guard against attempts to sidestep the application of God’s word to our own hearts and lives when it becomes difficult. Some commands of God may be qualified, but that is a discussion for another time. For now, let us resolve to do—rather than dodge—God’s commands.

-Mark Day

[1] John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life: A Theology of Lordship (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008), 839.

Many in the world would agree that life is a struggle. Usually, what people mean by that is suffering and difficult times are part of life. However, when the apostle Paul described the Christian life as a struggle, he meant something other than the fact that life can be hard. The inspired apostle wrote:

 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

As Christians, we struggle against sin. We discipline ourselves in order to obtain the imperishable crown of glory. Athletes train, eat right, and get enough sleep in order to qualify for the Olympics and win the gold medal. Similarly, Christians exercise self-control in their road to heavenly glory. There is a natural desire a person has to eat a sugary dessert, but the disciplined athlete abstains in order to win the prize. When friends invite them to a late-night party, they may decline in order to get enough rest. Likewise, as Christians we must forgo sinful activities and deny certain desires. We cannot take the easy course and be self-centered if we wish to grow spiritually and go to heaven.

            Each time Christians take the easy way out by sin, they forfeit an opportunity to grow and instead become more self-centered. It is sad to see those who were baptized years ago, but instead of remaining true to their commitment to die to self and live as Christ, they have grown smaller of soul, less able to empathize with others, and unwilling to sacrifice their own comforts. You may have attended worship services of the church for years, but that does not necessarily mean you have grown to be more like Christ during that time.

The context of 1 Corinthians 9 is the instruction of giving up one’s rights in order to further the gospel. Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 to speak of Israelites who were baptized into Moses at the Red Sea but through unfaithfulness died in the wilderness instead of inheriting the promised land. However, he resumes giving up lawful things that are not helpful in 1 Corinthians 10:23. Paul’s athlete comparison is sandwiched between these two subjects. The struggle of the Christian life not only involves abstaining from sin (1 Corinthians 10), but also sacrificing one’s own preferences for the good of others (1 Corinthians 9). We may make decisions that are not sinful per se, but they certainly are not helpful to other Christians.

            Let us resolve to go through some growing pains and be bigger people. Let us become mature Christians like the apostle Paul and be willing to “endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12). We should follow Paul as he followed Christ, the ultimate example of sacrificial love for the good of others (1 Corinthians 11:1).

-Mark Day

I could not help myself; I had to select this topic as my final bulletin article here at Flatwoods. As Amber, Roman, and I prepare to transition to our new work in Kittanning, PA the conversation of how much we will deeply miss each of you has been discussed in great length. The genuine, Christian love that we have witnessed at this congregation will never be forgotten and we hope that our family has touched your hearts as much as you have touched ours. What has brought our family solace in these stressful and exciting times is that we know we will see those of you that are in Christ someday soon (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Whether we see each other again in this world or in the next, we will meet again.

What unites this Church family and keeps us together? Our love for Christ and being a part of Christ’s Church is the glue that binds us as one. When a Church is not united nor focused solely on the Lord, it becomes a dysfunctional family that cannot be pleasing to God (1 Cor. 1:10-15). Notice with me all the similarities a Christian should have with His brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul wrote, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6). Did you notice all the “ones” mentioned in that verse? We may have personal differences, but when it comes to doctrinal things, we must be united! There is only one Gospel of Christ and there is no room for division (Gal. 1:6-10). Those in Christ have a lot in common and at the center of our lives ought to be our risen Lord. When we contact the saving blood of Christ through baptism, we give up our old lives and live a new life in service to Him (Rom. 6:3-8). Have you considered what that means for all Christians? We should be living the same life; a life dedicated to serving Jesus. The reason this congregation is a cohesive family is because those that meet here put the Lord first; may that always hold true.

Since the Church is held together by a common love for Christ and Christians have put Him on in baptism, we also share a common hope of living with our Savior one day (Rom. 6:9-11). I can genuinely say I love each of you and it will bring me tremendous joy to see this group once again physically, but the joy we will have when we are together with Christ in Heaven is much greater and incomprehensible (Phil. 3:20-21). This congregation has battled through a devastating pandemic that has affected each of us more than we would care to admit, but one day we will be reunited at a place where there will be no death, sickness, nor tears (Rev. 21:1-4). All obedient and faithful Christians have this glorious eternity to look forward to and I long to be there with many of you (1 Cor. 15:20-28).  The only sad reality about this joyous and blessed truth is that those outside of Christ will not be there and they will have no one to blame, but themselves (2 Thess. 1:8-9).

If you are outside of Christ’s body and you considered me a friend while my family labored here, do you not realize that you could call me brother if you only obeyed Christ (Matt. 12:46-50; Gal. 3:26-29)? As a friend, I care deeply about your soul and I want you to know what awaits you in eternity if you perish in a lost condition (Rev. 20:11-15). I can think of no greater joy than if I were to hear that a friend of mine who was lost, decided to come to the Lord (Lk. 15:1-7). Give up being my worldly friend and instead become my brother or sister in Christ Jesus.

-Brandon Foresha