"SUPPLEMENT YOUR FAITH" (Part Six)

Bob Myhan

f we would continue being "partakers of the divine nature" we must "make every effort to supplement…steadfastness with godliness” (2 Peter 1:4-6, ESV). The word for "godliness” signifies, not just good conduct, but "that piety, which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him” (Vine's, p. 502). Godliness may be possessed by the unsaved as well as the saved; Luke uses the adjective form of this word to describe the unsaved Cornelius as “a devout man” (Acts 10:1,2). Thus, godliness alone will not get one into heaven, although one cannot get into heaven without it.

hile mere "good conduct" is not a bad thing, one's motive for his conduct may be improper (1 Tim. 6:3-5). The mere “appearance of godliness” is insufficient (2 Tim. 6:3-5). "A Godward attitude," as Vine puts it, is a constant sense of being “before God” (Acts 10:33; 23:1) and “with God" (Gen. 5:24; 6:9; Micah 6:8); it is that attitude which prays, "Be with me, Lord! No other gift or blessing Thou couldst bestow could with this one compare—a constant sense of Thy abiding presence. Where’er I am, to feel that Thou art near.”

his “Godward attitude" produces conduct that necessarily glorifies God in "whatever you do” (1 Cor. 10:31). It will manifest itself in our eating (1 Cor. 6:12,13), in our clothing (1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3,4), in our service to both God and man (Col. 3:22-24), in our dealings with the lost (1 Peter 2:12), in our relation to Civil government (Rom. 13:1; Titus 3:1), in our recreation (1 Tim. 4:7,8; 1 John 2:15-17) and in our very thoughts (Phil. 4:8).

his “Godward attitude” will be both costly and rewarding. The cost will be in the form of tribulations, afflictions and persecutions (2 Tim. 3:12; Matt. 5:11,12; 13:20,21; 2 Cor. 4:8-10; 11:23-27). The reward will be in the form of deliverance from temptation (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Cor. 10:13}, “great gain"—when it is coupled with contentment (1 Tim. 6:6-8), and both the life that now is and that which is to come (1 Tim. 4:7,8; Mark 10:28-30).

o you, dear reader, possess that attitude of nearness to God, which displays itself in proper conduct in every aspect of your life? Without such, you cannot continue to be a partaker of the divine nature! If you have not yet become a disciple of Christ you should certainly count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:26-33). But, more importantly, you should count the cost if your soul should be lost (Matt. 16:24-26).&

BODY PIERCING?

Guest Writer: Ron Halbrook

eenagers are asking whether body piercing is right. Some things might not be sinful but are very unwise. They may even be sinful because of the way they hurt our influence and example as a Christian, they reinforce worldly rather spiritual values, and they pull us closer into the circle of worldly rather than godly people. Consider these points:

"In multitude of counselors there is safety" (Prov. 24:6).

he strongest Christians uniformly point out this practice goes beyond cosmetics and adorning the body. It crosses a line to mutilating the body. Doctors will tell you there are several health risks involved, as with any mutila­tion practice.

ill this practice increase and enhance our influence for Christ in the world and in the church, or will it hurt and weaken our influence for Christ? (Matt. 5:13-16) Younger people who look up to us will be influenced. Do we want to recommend this to them as a wholesome and helpful practice? (1 Tim. 4:12)

f we saw the strongest Christian we know with his tongue or nose pierced, would our respect for him grow or dimin­ish? In other words, would we think he was glorifying God or being conformed to the world? (1 Cor. 6:20)

rom, what we know about the teaching, life, and example of Christ, would he do this and/or encourage his disciples to do it? (1 Pet. 2:21)

Where did we get the idea of doing this: from worldly people or godly people? (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:18)

f we do this, will it make us feel closer to, and more comfortable with people in the world or people in the church? (Psalm 1; Psalm 119:63; Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33)

 word to the wise: Those who engage in body piercing and who con­tinue to grow spiritually will later decide it was unwise, sinful, or both. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Rather than acting on an impulse, let us pause, think, read God's Word, and pray before making a decision.&

WHY SOME DON’T BELIEVE #2

Guest Writer: Bill Walton

ome people do not believe in God, and Christ, and the Bible because they are unwilling to believe anything that would condemn their ungodly way of living. This is exactly the charge the apostle Paul makes in his letter to church at Rome:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness," etc. (Rom 1:18-22, 24-29).

ldous Huxley, himself an atheist, tacitly agreed with Paul's charge in a bold confession he made on page 270 of his book, Ends and Means: “I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning. And consequently assumed that it had none, and was able without any difficulty to find satisfying reasons for this assumption. For myself, as no doubt for most of my contem­poraries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially a philosophy of liberation. The liberation we desired was simultaneously liberation from a certain political and economic system and liberation from a certain system of mo­rality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual free­dom.”