So you decided to stop serving the Lord? Perhaps the elders made a decision you didn’t like, and your decision was to quit serving the Lord? Maybe the preacher preached too harsh, too negative, a sermon that made you think “he’s preaching that sermon at me,” so in response, you decided I’ll stop serving the Lord? Or perhaps, you saw “hypocrites” in the church, and being tired of the “hypocrites” you decided I’ll stop serving the Lord. Maybe a family member or a long-time friend mistreated you and you decided, I’ll stop serving the Lord. What do all these responses have in common?
One, these responses indicate a focus on the wrong individuals.
Two, these responses indicate a fixation on “taking it out” on the wrong person—the Lord. But wait, “I still love the Lord, I just don’t like some who claim to be His people, and for that, I’m justified to be absent from Bible Study and worship. I’m justified not to visit those who are struggling with sickness, sorrow, and sin.”
Three, these responses indicate a failure to recognize that “what I do only hurts me” is a bunch of nonsense because in reality it also hurts the very One who suffered for you—Christ (Hebrews 6:6). Please consider for a moment, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Perhaps if we spent more time being focused on the Master than on the mistreatment from others our responses would be different, and our lives would be more faithful and fruitful.
Further, “consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3). I dare say that none of us have been as mistreated by so many as Christ was. Yet, imagine if Christ would have quit on the world because of the world’s mistreatment of Him?
When we contemplate the mistreatment suffered by Christ, what mistreatment have we suffered that is such that we have the right to quit serving Him?
When we consider Him, truly consider Him, we have not been so mistreated, and especially by Him, that we are justified to stop serving Him. Thus, may we Consider Him, and faithfully serve rather than considering the 10,000 “reasons” to forsake Him. (Author Unknown)

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Cor: 13:14

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47

Jesus’ blood is thicker than water. There should be nothing that creates a tighter bond than sharing in the eternal grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Nothing should create more comradery than sharing the mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost. Nothing in this life should speak Jesus louder to the lost and dying world than the inseparable fellowship of Christ’s church.

Tonk Talk  

Mother’s Day can be a challenge for many.  After all, some mothers do not want to be mothers but are one anyway.  Some mothers have aborted their babies and regret it and others have disowned their children and do not care.  Some women want to be mothers but for one reason or another cannot be one.  Sometimes a woman becomes a mother and loves being one very much, but sometimes children are taken away from them by circumstances beyond their control or a child is lost to an early death. 

                   Then there is the difficulty of children who want to honor their mother on Mother’s Day but because of abandonment, abuse, or even death, this is not possible, because a mother is not there.

This reminds me of little Johnny who was only 4 years old when he brought a baby chicken to his father’s study.  The chick had strayed from a neighbor’s farm.  The father said, “John, take that chicken back to its mother.  It has no mother replied Johnny.  Well, Johnny’s dad said well then take it back to his father.  It has no father either, it has nothing but an old lamp.

                   An electrical lamp will hatch the egg and preserve the chick until it is old enough to face life, but that is about all.  A child can sleep in a warm bed, receive nutritious meals, and nice clothing but still, fail to have the companionship and nurture that only a mother can provide.

Regardless of the situation, Mother’s Day can be a challenging and difficult day for some. If Mother’s Day is a difficult day for you, let me point you to two passages of scriptures for some encouragement.

Notice Luke 8:19-21, “Then his mother and his brothers came to him [Jesus], but they could not reach him because of the crowd.  And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”  But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” 

And then, Luke 11:27-28, “As he [Jesus] said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”  But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” 

Did you notice that Jesus points to those who hear the word of God and do it as a true family!  Now Jesus is not belittling his mother, after all the scriptures tell us nothing but good about Jesus’ mother, Mary.   But Jesus understood that human mothers and families for that matter were limited, many of us know this often too well.  But Jesus teaches us that those who hear the word of God and keep it, are truly family.

There are all kinds of reasons why mothers, fathers, and children let us down and even disappoint us, but as Jesus teaches us those who hear the word of God and keep it will have a family better than any physical family can offer.  In fact, we will even be blessed when we hear the word of God and do it. 

Who is your mother?  Be God’s Mark T. Tonkery

Tonk Talk

            Did you know that the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court; one can see near the top of the building a row of the world’s lawgivers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full-frontal view—it is Moses, and he is holding the Ten Commandments.  As one enters the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.  As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments. 

The Ten Commandments still today, is the most influential legislation on earth. The constitutions of forty-seven of the forty-eight continental states of the U.S.A. specifically recognize this code as the basic law of the land. For centuries, it has been inscribed upon decorative panels for courts, schools, cathedrals, and church buildings.

But this is changing; in the past few years, the Ten Commandments have received a lot of press, schools, public parks, and courtrooms have been made to take down the Ten Commandments from public view. 

When I hear this, I always think it is kind of ridiculous for a country that has a high rate of murders, theft, lying, and adultery to put out of the public’s view a list like the Ten Commandments that remind people not to do evil.

                   After all, think about how society would be different if everyone worshipped the same true and living God in spirit and truth (Ex. 20:1-7; John 4:24)?  Think about how our families would be different if children honored their parents (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4).  Think about how life would be different if people were reminded to not murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony, and not covet, (Ex. 20:13-17; Rom. 13:9-10).

                   Understand that we do live under the New Covenant and Col. 2:14 reminds us, “by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Christ took the Old Testament out of the way, nailing it to his cross.  But the Old Testament still has teaching value for us today.  Rom 15:4, states, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

                   There is a lot we can learn from the Old Testament Scriptures.  In Mat. 22:37-39, Jesus teaches us that the whole Old Testament law can be summed up with two commands which are to “Love God and love our neighbor”.

A few years ago, a police officer came and spoke to our congregation where I was preaching.  His lesson was on this passage and pointed out that much of the stress of his job was due to people not loving God and not loving their neighbor.

What if today we would love God and our neighbor a little more than we did yesterday?  How much would our world change?  our neighborhoods? And our families?  It all begins with you and I loving God and our neighbor.

Written by Mark T. Tonkery for the Camden Ave. church of Christ

Tonk Talk

Heb. 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

                   In the life of each congregation of the Lord’s church, it is essential that we continue to appoint men who will lead the congregation as shepherds or elders.  1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 both give the qualifications of the men who are to fulfill this function of leadership in the church.  As important as it is to find men who are mature Christians who meet the Biblical standards of leadership, one must keep in mind that this is only one part of what helps a congregation function as God design.  Another part of having a faithful congregation is having faithful followers. 

                   Heb. 13:17 points out that the congregation must be one that faithfully follows godly leadership.  This passage teaches members of a congregation that they are to follow in such a way that they help their elders enjoy their job as shepherds.  This is done in part of being good followers.

                   I am sure we have been in a situation at one time or another, such as at school or at work, when it seemed that there were “too many coaches and not enough players.”  In situations like this, nothing can get accomplished, the same is true in the congregation.  If the congregation did not have leaders to lead and followers to follow the congregation would debate every idea and situation that came along, and nothing would be accomplished.

                   Although it is true wise shepherds are open to suggestions, and advice, after all, Pro. 15:22 tells us, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” But with all the counsel and advice elders may receive, they still need to make a decision and give direction to the congregation.  Sometimes shepherds must make the hard choices, (like how to deal with the pandemic).  It is during difficult decisions elders need the understanding of the congregation and “good followership”; Heb. 13:17 puts it “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  Of course, Heb. 13:17 is not talking about following an eldership that wants to deviate from God’s Word of truth, and lead people away from God but as an eldership follows Christ, the congregation should follow them.

                   Being good followers helps the church to function with unity, with a single mind, and helps the whole congregation to function in brotherly love (see 1 Cor. 1:10). 

                   It is essential to have godly men shepherding the congregation, but it is also essential that we have faithful members following Christ and our elders as they strive to help each member on their journey to Heaven. 

Written by Mark T. Tonkery