ANNOUNCING ANNOUNCING ANNOUNCING...
We are happy to announce a new feature presented by the Online Bible Class. RISE UP O MEN OF GOD! is a devotional written by men who are members of the church of Christ. Please reply and let me know if you would like to receive these messages. Any men who are interested in writing, please contact Paul Ditoro and he will send you the guidelines for prospective writers. You will find his address at the bottom of this message.
The Online Bible Class presents
RISE UP O MEN OF GOD!
Keynote
Paul Ditoro
One of the challenges of beginning an effort like this is, "What do you call it?" Of course we want to make it sound attractive and challenging. We want it to be useful. We want it to speak to a need. I was tempted to call these messages THE CHURCH IN CRISIS, which would have reduced us to discussing all of the negatives that are tearing at the Lord's church. Instead I thought it might be more productive to see if I could cajole our writers into writing on those things that would strengthen the church. If we could concentrate on things that would strengthen, that would help to alleviate the crisis. RISE UP O MEN OF GOD!, while raising a stirring cry to the people of God, in and of itself points to what I believe to be the major flaw among us, that being the woeful lack of courageous male leadership in the congregations. There are men of ability who have been sitting in the pews for years who have never worded a prayer, taught a class or won a soul to the Lord. Many babes in Christ have done more. Many of our women have demonstrated more "manly courage" than the men. They are to be honored. Acknowledge them. Thank them. Pray for them and that their husbands would wake up.
The army of Saul was encamped before the Philistines whose champion Goliath had taunted them and caused them to tremble. It was a very young man who came into their midst, and when chided for being where no young person should have been, the young man said, "Is there not a cause?"(1 Samuel 17:29). If the cause of the Lord was great enough to stir up the boldness of young David, is not the cause of the Lord today even greater?
One factor that appears to hinder many men from coming forth to lead is a lack of love for the Lord and His Kingdom. This problem right down on the fundamental level is, in itself, a violation of the prime directive of the Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)
Another problem which stems from the above mentioned weakness and hinders many men from coming forth to lead, is a lack of knowledge. The people of God were being destroyed because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Many should be teaching considering the length of time they have been in the church (Hebrews 5:12). But if men do not love the Lord they will not want to learn of Him either.
The above two blights on the body of Christ have resulted in a flood of unrighteous behaviors on the part of many men, even some of note, in the form of adultery, fornication, pedophilia, vulgar communications in the internet chat rooms, addiction to internet porn, etc. Dare I go on? And if some of these things are found among those who stand in our pulpits, among men who are supposed to KNOW better, what must be going on among those in the pew who are sitting at their feet? Homes are being torn apart, children are being deprived of godly families, and the church has been weakened because of a lack of leadership, and that precious blood bought body has lost its zeal for soul winning.
There is a cause, therefore RISE UP O MEN OF GOD! It is my prayer that these devotional messages will serve to strengthen us. May you all have a wonderful day in the service of our Wonderful, Righteous God.
ac
"RISE UP O MEN OF GOD! is a part of the Online Bible Class sponsored by the St. George Church of Christ, St. George, Utah. Visit our Web Site and view the Bible study opportunities that are offered! "
Reply to <mailto:pjditoro@hotmail.com>