TCN's Biblical Journey November 9th

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Acts 28 & Romans 1-3

Romans is despised by many people because of Paul's very clear rejection of the gay lifestyle in chapter one. Some have tried to say Paul was talking about the forced sexual relations that took place in the temples and not the modern gay relationship but you really have to twist the scriptures to make that fit. The problem is Paul isn't making a treatise on sex but on the condition of humanity

Paul though isn't pointing out the gay lifestyle as the only example of people who have rejected the knowledge of God (verse 28).  He goes on and list other examples, "being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them" (verses 29-32). Paul isn't picking on those in the gay lifestyle but all version of sin. For Paul (and God) being unmerciful is just as much a sign of rejection God as any sexual sin or murder.  

Paul goes on and points out that we would like to point out the sins of others but in truth, we are doing the same thing, rejecting God's authority. I would argue that some sins have a greater impact (though the list in God's mind is different from ours, I am sure), the problem is that they all end in the same place rebellion to God. Dying from being poisoned by a sleeping drug might be less traumatic than murder by being thrown to the lions but in the end; you're still dead. This is the point Paul is trying to make. Some people were thinking they were better than others but the truth was they were all dead spiritually. 

TCN's Biblical Journey November 8th

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 24-27

There are times it would be so easy to get out of a fix. Just bind the rules, give a little extra, okay let's say it, BRIBE them. This is what Felix was hoping for and repeatedly went to talk to Paul (I doubt it was talking as it was trying to extort). Yet we don't see Paul or the other disciples giving in. They didn't do business as usual according to the Romans. They keep their integrity, even though it meant staying in jail. Often times sticking to our principles cost us in the short term, but the eternal rewards are infinite. 

TCN's Biblical Journey November 7th

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 20-23

“And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:22-24)
It’s going to be bad, very bad. Okay, let’s go!
This isn’t the normal conversation most people have. Usually, if something bad is coming to the smart thing to do is get out of the way. I don’t think God is against that idea. God isn’t impressed if we put ourselves in harm's way and then expect Him to bail us out. Scripture does say, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty” (Proverbs 22:3;27:12). I am not impressed with those who take out a large mortgage, marry poorly, or overeat and they expect God to fix it. This isn’t where Paul was.
Paul was warned but he felt compelled to go. This wasn’t God saying don’t go. This was God warning Paul the road was going to be hard. It reminds me of the latter part of Isaiah 6 when God warned Isaiah that at the end of his ministry it would look like all was lost. For Isaiah, though the cities and nation would be desolate there would be a remnant faithful to God. For Paul, it was the promise of finishing his course and testifying to the truth of the Gospel.
Jesus never promised that everything would be easy for us there are times when we will have to face adversity, but if we are faithful God will work it for good (Romans 8:28)

TCN's Biblical Journey November 6th

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 16-19

Paul defended the Gentile believers rights more than any other apostle that we know of. He made it clear that circumcision does nothing for your salvation. Yet here Paul circumcises Timothy. Paul we know said that he became all things to all men(1 Corinthians 9:22). As brash as he sounded at times in his letters, in person he wasn't. He tried to keep the peace as long as it didn't compromise the message. 
My thought here is about Timothy. Timothy was a young man, but he was a man. Circumcision is very painful for an adult. Yet we see Timothy submitting to Paul's plan. Since we know later Timothy became a pastor, I doubt he was a pushover. He had internal strength and had his own mind. So though this scripture is talking about what Paul did, I don't think it was Paul's decision alone. Here was a young man, who in his desire to work for the kingdom willing did what was not necessary so that he wouldn't offend the Jews. 
How different from a few that come into ministry and say this is who I am. It isn't sinning so if your offended that is your tough luck. 

TCN's Biblical Journey November 5th

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 12-15

“Sometimes you just must keep on knocking.”  

This little phrase came to mind when I read the story of Peter standing at the door of his friend’s house after miraculously being delivered from prison by God. God opened door without being touched but now Peter is standing at the door waiting for his friends to acknowledge the miracle.

This is how it is in our lives. God has done a miracle, but others aren’t ready, for whatever reason, to open the door and celebrate the miracle with you. All you can do is to keep knocking, either they will let you in or God will lead you somewhere else. You can’t make anyone open the door to their heart. You can’t make someone see the miracle you do, no matter how convincing it truly is. All you can do is knock.

TCN's Biblical Journey November 2nd

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 8-11

The church was scattered but they weren’t silent (Acts 8:4). The church (not the apostles/leaders) of Jesus ran to protect their families when severe persecution broke out. There are some who believe you should never run or get out from underneath persecution, but here God doesn’t condemn the church for leaving. It does seem that God used it to spread the message of Jesus.

The other side of this was as they left they didn’t stay silent about their faith. The safe or prudent thing to do might have been to keep quiet about what they believed. After all, it was their faith which caused them to be persecuted in the first place. The church though left to find a safe place but continued to share the faith they believed was salvation for the world. I see this as God isn’t against finding a safe place to immigrate to, but he is against denying the faith so that you will be safe (Matthew 10:33).

TCN's Biblical Journey November 1

Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey

With Pastor Charles Areson

Today's reading is Act 4-7

The verse in Acts 4:32 has been claimed by many as proof that Christians should be socialist. The verse talks about the disciples held all things in common. So much so that I have heard it said that in the New Heaven and the New Earth socialism will be the economy of that age.

As a capitalist, I happen to agree. In the age to come, we will be as they were at this time “one in heart and mind.” Today though, we are not of one mind and one thought, so socialism doesn’t work the way it promises (capitalism doesn’t work perfectly either, but that is a discussion for another time).

So how should we live in this time of imperfection? As if everything belongs to God. This is after all how the church responded here. It wasn’t that they had communal ownership, but when needs were made known those that had supplied the funds to those who were responsible to see that they were distributed correctly. They lived as if they were family.

On a side note, the verses here don’t say that they were taking care of all the poor, but those who were among them. This causes me to believe that the church that doesn’t take care of its own is missing the mark if they are helping others.