Author Archives: Rhonda J. Smith

Practice Teaching Good

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Teach good things—standards from the Bible—so there will be peace with God and peace with men. That’s too simplistic, was what I suspected the naysayers would say about the premise of what I wrote on Wednesday. I can understand how they would say that, looking at the complexity of issues the world faces today, understanding and recognizing man’s sinful nature and acts, understanding and recognizing their own sinful nature and acts, and seeing that the mess of a world we live in was not created in one day. This type of reasoning is easy to understand when we only focus on the mess we see and not focus on the God who can redeem the mess. He is where our focus must be. Otherwise, we are defeated before we even begin to teach anything good.

God is all powerful, all knowing and all seeing. His power resides in believers of Jesus Christ, and being obedient to His Word effectuates His power through us. His power is what created the universe, parted the Red Sea, raised Jesus from the dead, keeps me from abusing my children and cussing out my husband and restrains me from other sinful desires. We must recognize His power in us. Otherwise, we are defeated before we even begin to teach anything good.

So go forth in confidence to model what you want mimicked. We know that if we are around anyone long enough we pick up on each other’s characteristics. There was a season where my friends and I laughed alike, not because we were cultish, but we subconsciously influenced each other, constantly being together. And there are times when I wonder where my children get the phrases they say; then I find my husband and me saying them and realize they have picked them up from us. So do and say what you want repeated:

1) Exhibit the 10 Commandments.
2) Display the Fruit of the Spirit.
3) Develop practical lessons based on the 10 Commandments and Fruit of the Spirit and teach them. Have bible study with your children. Share your findings with your friends. Offer to host a Bible Study with neighbors or coworkers. Get an accountability partner to encourage your walk. This is doable.

These provide a good starting point because they are the basics and the basis for expected Christian behavior. You will be copied whether you want to or not, and even those who are skeptical about the power of God’s Word will pause to see how your life is different and think twice about their doubts. They may even decide to want Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and join you in the fight to bring about peace with God and peace with men.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Why Teach Good?

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Love God and love your neighbor as yourself is how Jesus summed up the 10 Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). The two greatest acts we can fulfill are to love God and others. Sometimes we don’t know how to do this, but the 10 Commandments give us a framework. We are given such a framework so that we will have peace with God and peace on earth. The whole Word of God focuses on our relationship with God and one another. When we don’t know God’s Word, we can’t do God’s Word and we certainly can’t teach it. And we must teach it because every time man failed to teach God’s Word division between God and man and man and man ensued. Check out Psalm 78, particularly verses 1-11.

Here we learn that the Psalmist warned the Israelites to teach their children God’s Word so that they and the following generations wouldn’t become “a stubborn and rebellious generation” like their forefathers. These rogue Israelites, in spite of God’s provision for them in Egypt and the wilderness, didn’t have their heart (mind, will, emotions, passions) on God nor did they trust in His salvation (v. 8 & 22). As a result, they didn’t (couldn’t) follow God’s Word (v. 10). They not only ignored God’s commands, but they also forgot all that He had done for them (v. 11). They complained to God and did whatever they wanted, including fight each other (Numbers 16). There was no peace with God and no peace with men. The same is true today.

When we know God’s Word, we know what He requires so He sees us as righteous and not just another rank sinner (Romans 4:23-5:2, 10:9-10). When we know God’s Word, we are able to teach others so God sees them as righteous and not just another rank sinner. When we know God’s Word, we are able to live God’s Word and be in proper relationship with Him and others. But as we see with the Israelites, a teacher of God’s Word needs more than knowledge of His Word; there has to be an experience with God that remains in the forefront of the teacher’s mind that cements His Word in the teacher’s heart so the teacher is passionate about God, trusts in His salvation and wants others to know. This passion is contagious and students are bound to replicate their teacher’s life. So I urge you: Know God’s Word. Live God’s Word. Teach God’s Word so there is peace with God and peace with men.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Teacher of Good

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I don’t think most Christian women who want to do God’s will set out to teach their children or anybody else something wrong, yet Scripture commands for us to be a “teacher of good things” (Titus 2:4). Why would God take the time to command this? As with the patterns of other scriptures (think the 10 Commandments), it seems God knew our tendency would be the opposite of the command. He had to tell us not to worship any other god beside Him because He knows we’re prone to idolize things. We are told not to covet because our desires often fall on others’ stuff instead of with what He gives us. Our tendency is to seek what we want. We like self-gratification and what better way to be gratified than to see yourself and what you like to do in another person? Admit it. You may even get pleasure out of those who hate on you by trying to be you. Whether through imparting similarities or someone trying to be like you, it’s like having a double portion of your desires manifested. God wants replication, but He just wants it for the right reason (to give Him glory) and according to the Bible (His direction).

Some good things He tells women to teach are what I will discuss in detail in coming blogs (Titus 2:3-5). Let me add to that the basics that I think we’ve gotten away from: The 10 Commandments which are summed up in two: love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the focus this week. This, I believe, is what we need, and not self-styled mini-me’s.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Practice Sobriety

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Wine has the power to make you talk rough and alcohol makes you walk tough, causing you to argue and fight people (Proverbs 20:1). Remember, I told you that in an earlier post. And this is the case whether you’re a Christian or not. Alcohol doesn’t discriminate. To curb illicit behavior, the world says to drink responsibly by not drinking and driving and limiting the number of drinks you have. But with Christianity, being responsible with alcohol means don’t get drunk or don’t drink at all because in either case you promote spiritual development. Practicing sobriety for some may not be easy, but it is necessary. Here are some points to help you:

1. Remember how consuming alcohol

    a. Affects you—In addition to talking rough and walking tough, drinking alcohol may destroy your Christian testimony (See ‘b’ below), cause emotional, relational and physical anxiety, cause memory lost, and cloud your judgment (Proverbs 23:29-35, 31:1-9).

    b. Affects others—If non-Christians and Christians who aren’t as mature in the faith see you drink, they may get the wrong impression about your walk with Christ and Christianity. One, non-Christians may think that Christians aren’t any different from non-Christians. Two, if you get drunk, non-Christians may think that drunkenness is an acceptable part of Christianity. Three, non- and immature Christians are likely to dismiss anything you try to teach them about Christianity; you’re no longer credible in their eyes. Four, immature Christians may think your drinking gives them license to drink and they are unaware of the parameters, like not getting drunk and not drinking at all so they won’t cause a person younger in the faith to stumble.

    c. Affects God—God showed great wrath to the Israelites for getting drunk (Isaiah 5:11-16, 22-25, 28:7). Scripture doesn’t detail for us consequences of our alcohol abuse, but we are told the general consequences from God—that He will destroy our bodies (2 Corinthians 3:16-17).

2. Pray

    a. For God to help you remember items in #1.

    b. For strength to abstain.

    c. To want what God wants for your life more than what you want for your life (Matthew 26:42).

If you keep in mind the consequences of consuming alcohol and pray that God’s will be done in your life, expect a great outcome. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Understanding Sobriety

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The world tells us to drink responsibly: Don’t drink and drive and don’t let anyone younger than 21 purchase or consume alcohol. But for the Christian, handling alcohol properly goes beyond drinking and driving and being a certain age. We have to consider the spiritual implications for ourselves and others:

1) Being sober enables us to do what God wants. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). When you’re drunk with wine or any intoxicating drink, you’re under its power. Christians should always be under the power of the Holy Spirit so we can a) clearly hear from God; b) understand proper actions; and 3) have the strength to do what we have heard and know to be right. If you don’t do what’s right, you bring judgment upon yourself (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). And what good is being a Christian if you aren’t able to follow God’s commandments?

2) Not drinking helps others to do what God commands. “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:21). Though we have freedom as Christians to consume fermented drinks, we are told that everything we do is not helpful (1 Corinthians 6:12). So if drinking in front of others causes them to disrespect you, misunderstand Christianity or drink more than they should, you should not drink. And if you do drink, you’ll have to be so much on the down low that they won’t find out because whether you drink in their presence is really not the issue. It’s just knowing that you drink that may cause them to make improper judgments. For me, being a down low drinker is not worth the hassle. I’ve just given up drinking altogether.

So can a Christian drink alcohol? Yes. Should a Christian drink alcohol? No, if 1) you will get drunk; 2) you want or need alcohol to control you; or 3) doing so causes others to make improper judgments about you, Christianity and how they can relate to alcohol. Truly, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, not just for physical safety but also for spiritual guidance, understanding and protection. This is a big job, but we are called and equipped to do it.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith