"No Need for Amendments"

“No Need for Amendments”

 

The United States Constitution is likely the greatest political document ever written. It has stood the test of time as our nation’s standard since 1789. However, the myriad of changes in every area of life over more than two centuries has necessitated its being amended to clarify, correct, and update procedures and policies. Of the thousands of possible amendments which have been suggested only 27 have been adopted. (The last one, ratified in 1992, has to do with congressional salaries.) Our founding fathers possessed amazing wisdom in crafting such a treatise that would serve its constituency so well for so long.

As effective and enduring as our Constitution may be, it’s not perfect—if it were no amendments would ever be needed. Why is it flawed? Because it was fashioned by fallible human beings and therefore prone to error. There’s only one document of which this isn’t true: The Bible. Why? Let it speak for itself: “…No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves…It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.” (2 Peter 1:20-21, NLT); “Every word of God is flawless….” (Proverbs 30:5). Look at it in another way: would our Holy God Who cannot lie (Titus 1:2) give us a written message that’s not completely true and trustworthy? Think of the implications if He did!

Even though God makes it clear that there’s no need for amendments to His Word He knew some would try to spin it to further their own agenda. But His warning is clear: “Don’t add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6). What’s already perfect doesn’t need changing so it’s futile for anyone to try to do so—they’ll lost every time. We must accept and obey what God has said: “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Following the Crowd"

“Following the Crowd”

 

The late Ron Luciano was a colorful American League umpire for many years. Once while working at first base in a game in Minneapolis a visiting player hit one into the stands down the right field line that was barely foul and Luciano made the correct call. The Twins’ first-baseman, Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, asked how much it was foul by and Luciano answered, “Oh, by about 50,000 fans!” It was, of course, a joke (Luciano was one of the most respected umps of his era) but it does suggest to us something about the power of public opinion.

This story got me to thinking about some instances of crowd mentality in Scripture. In 1 Samuel 8:5 Israel’s leaders weren’t satisfied with God’s leadership through those He’d chosen and said to Samuel, “You are old…appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” God acquiesced to their wishes, Saul was anointed, and the nation set itself up for decline by allowing its pagan neighbors undue influence. In the early days of the church, Stephen was stoned by an out-of-control mob when he said what the crowd didn’t want to hear (but needed to)—read about it in Acts 7. But the greatest example surrounds the arrest and crucifixion of Christ. Many of those who cried, “Hosanna!” (John 20:13) less than a week later, when “…The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.” (Matthew 27:20), shouted, “Crucify him!” (Verse 23) and Pilate handed Him over. Unjust as this was, “…This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold…saying that his Christ would suffer.” (Acts 3:18), and “…Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18).

It can be hard to resist listening to the masses and stand for right when wrong is popular (not to mention politically correct). But God needs His people (you and me) to “Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT). May we be His followers, not the crowd’s.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"When Not to Recycle"

“When Not to Recycle”

 

One of the godly leaders in our first church in the Finger Lakes region of New York was a retired plumber and general “Mr. Fix-it” around town. He had a three-bay garage with a full walk-out lower level. There was room for his pick-up truck but the rest of the building was filled with odds and ends from every conceivable trade. (His wife inwardly groaned whenever he went to the local dump as she knew he was likely to come home with his truck fuller than when he left.) The townspeople chuckled at his accumulation of “junk” but they also knew where they could find what they needed for a project or repair. He was the classic illustration of “One man’s trash is the next man’s treasure.” I guess he was a recycler before it was in vogue.

Recycling plastic, metal, and other items is a good practice to conserve resources for future generations. Our present city provides each home with a receptacle to make it easy to do, as evidenced by the blue containers lined up along the streets in our community on Monday mornings. I believe it’s also good stewardship of what God has made and provided for us.

While recycling is a good thing there’s one area in which “picking the dump” is to be avoided: our past sin, failures, and difficult experiences. Our tendency can be to relive these events leading to self-pity, negativity, and self-condemnation. To be sure, there are valuable lessons to be learned by looking back (“…Everything that was written [in the Scriptures] was written to teach us….”—Romans 15:4) but we can’t so dwell on the past that we live in fear of the future. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “…I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead….” (Philippians 3:13, NLT). He knew that (revisionist history notwithstanding) he couldn’t change his past as an enemy of Christ but he poured even greater effort into his service for Him (“I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.”--Colossians 1:29, NLT).

So let’s keep on recycling those bottles and cans, but stop “picking the dump” of what needs to be left buried at the foot of the cross.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Green Stamp Theology"

"Green Stamp Theology"

 

From the 1950’s through the ‘70’s many grocery chains and other retailers gave trading stamps with purchases which could be redeemed for various household articles and other “treasures.” While there were a number of different firms in this short-lived industry the largest and likely best known was Green Stamps, the popularity of which was enhanced when the ‘60’s quartet “The Brothers Four” spoofed the traditional English song “Greensleeves” with “Green Stamps.” In our early years of marriage Karen and I turned in who-knows-how-many-books and obtained  several items in return. Maybe you remember some “gifts” you received too.

The stores that used this marketing technique were trying to provide motivation for people to buy from them rather than their competitors by giving something back, a tactic still practiced today. Trading stamps are now ancient history, but the “We’ll-give-you-this-if-you-shop-with-us” gimmicks continue in newspapers, through snail mail, and on line. (Just be sure to read the fine print!)

As God’s people we must be careful not to fall into the “Green Stamp Theology” trap when it comes to serving Him and giving to His work. We honor Him not for what we think we might get but out of love because of what He’s done for us. In Romans 1-11 The Apostle Paul describes how God has provided His gift of salvation to us and calls for our response: “And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1, LB). Bill and Gloria Gaither expressed it well in a song: “I will serve Thee because I love Thee.” This is biblical, not Green Stamp, theology.

God has promised His blessings to those who honor Him (“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”—Proverbs 3:9-10), but they’re to be seen as fringe benefits, not motivating factors. Let’s keep our theology straight by leaving Green Stamps out of it.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan