Church of Christ at Hagerstown

What is it that makes a society of people productive, fulfilled and happy? Why are some communities, towns, and countries better places to live than others? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand these questions.

People make up communities, that are either good communities or bad communities, depending on the homes that produce the people. Homes with good moral standards and good work habits, product after its kind. Homes with bad moral standards and bad work habits, produce after its kind. It’s just that simple.

It’s the homes that produce the future generation of leaders. It’s the homes that establish good core values and character. When the home is no longer responsible for the off spring, a society is domed.

At the root of good homes are good churches. It’s the church that should teach good moral standards and how to live in harmony in the community. Because of good churches you have good schools, good business people, good civic organizations, and just a good place to live.

The government can not do what the home must do. A free society must police and governor itself. Democracy is every bodies business. Evil runs free because we want protected from ourselves. A government driven by freed and selfish ambitions is the product of break down of the home and church in the past. Remember, we know the Biblical teaching, “we reap what we sow”.

We in America need a new vision for the future. It must start at the grass roots of our nation. It must start with the family. Parents must be responsible for the actions of their children. The churches must preach truth and good moral living. Everyone in each community must be responsible for safety, health, and good stewardship of our land.

Our information and education has not made us better people. We are driven by success and selfish ambition at the cost of the home. We are busy but bored. We are wealthy but poor. We are educated but ignorant. We are religious but unspiritual. We are married but live alone. We are parents, but not in control. We are a society of loners who are only fooling ourselves.

Disasters pull us together and then success drives us apart. The problem is that our country is in a crisis but no one will admit it. We need delivered from ourselves.

The solution is simple yet complex. We need leadership that may not be popular but will do what needs to be done. In one year’s time each town could clean up corruption and evil that exists among them. Put the law back in the hands of the local people. Speed up the court system and bring back the public stocks. There is no fear or shame today for wrong doing. Without severe, swift punishment, crime goes on as usual.

The homes must be able to discipline and punish their children. The schools must become able to discipline and punish wrong doing. The churches must become more than a social gathering. Without the fear of God, there is no true faith and discipline.

You wonder if all this is possible? Yes, America could be great again if we do what made America great in the first place.

See ya in church,
Bud

Jesus last command to His disciples was “go and make disciples.” Math 28:19

It was a serious command for the disciples of His day and for the disciples of today. But I have a question. Can you truly be a disciple if you are not making other disciples? Are you really following this command if you are only a disciple in name? Can a church be the church without making disciples?

You can not be a Christian until you become one. You can talk about it, read about it, fellowship with Christians, but until you become a Christian you are not a biblical Christian.

Disciples are made not born. Yes, they are born again, but you know what I mean. A boy born on the farm is no guarantee he will be a farmer. The son of a doctor does not mean he will be a doctor. And just because a person confesses Christ as Savior doe not mean they are automatically disciples. Discipleship is to go into training. Trained in the Word, trained in self-discipline, trained to have a quiet time, and equipped to train others.

Paul’s words in II Timothy 2:2 states it perfectly. “And the things you have heard me say in the presents of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Jesus said, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40. Growing spiritually is not automatic but premeditated. There must be desire, commitment, and finally, fruit.

There is an old saying, that information without expression brings frustration. I believe many professing Christians are frustrated and backsliding today, not from the lack of information, but the lack of expression. They can’t put what they learn and hear into everyday life. They have not been trained for the warfare and battles that Christians receive from the world.

We go to church and sing beautiful inspiring songs, have prayers of compassion, hear wonderfully prepared sermons, yet lead ugly unchristian lives. The church is blighted with every sin in the world and we call it normal. But, it is not normal. We are to live victorious lives above sin and temptation. If we are no different that the world, why call ourselves Christians at all?

God is calling the church to get back to the very basics of Christ’s teaching. We must come back under His authority first. There needs to be much repentance for our past conduct and surrendering to His will for our lives. Then, and only then, is true discipleship possible. Discipleship is not just teaching lessons but holding each other accountable for actions. There in lies the problem. No accountability.

Discipleship is not a program but a process. The process of transforming the useless to useful. The process of going from Savior to Lordship. The process of building the Kingdom, not the ministry. The process that Jesus taught and used when He was on this earth. We don’t need new ideas, but new inspiration and dedication.

See ya in church,
Bud