Telling The Good News In The Motherland

If it be the Lord's will, I will be on an airplane over the Atlantic just nine days from now. Along with my wife, Kelly, and our personal evangelism minister, Bill Snell (and his wife, Jewell), I am scheduled to spend three weeks on "the Emerald Isle." Two of these weeks will be spent in an intensive evangelistic effort in Northern Ireland. We will be working with Colin Graham in the town of Bangor, just east of Belfast. Colin and his family have been serving the cause of Christ in Northern Ireland for many years, and we hope to be a boost in whatever way we can to the churches of Christ in that part of the world.

During the first week, Bill will conduct an evening hours personal evangelism "how to" seminar for those who are already in Christ. The daytime hours will be spent making personal contacts and passing out literature and invitations to the gospel meeting that is to be held during the second week. Colin has suggested a theme of, Bible Names for that meeting.

Inasmuch as Colin knows the Irish people and their spiritual needs far better than I, this will be precisely the course we will pursue. The evenings of Sunday through Wednesday will be dedicated to studying Bible Names For God, Bible Names For The Gospel, Bible Names For Christ, and Bible Names For The Church. For those of us who have been part of God's kingdom for many years, these topics will surely sound very rudimentary. However, when one considers the religious landscape and political history of Northern Ireland, these studies that Colin has suggested seem to be precisely what these people need to hear.

Gone (for now) is the tumultuous life of fear and terror that once characterized life in cities such as Belfast and Derry. Cease fire agreements and treaties have brought an end to what was some of the most devastating violence to be found anywhere in the world during the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. The I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) has been virtually silent since "The Belfast Agreement" (as it is commonly known) was signed in 1998. "The Troubles" (as the locals have dubbed these former times) were a result of religious division mingled with political resentment. During these times of peace, this may be a supremely advantageous time to expend our efforts in reaching a people still very confused from a religious standpoint.

Since I was just a wee lad, I have harbored a fervent desire to visit Ireland, since my ancestry is overwhelmingly Irish. My fourth great grandfather grew up in and around Belfast in the mid-1700's before he emigrated to the Colonies. He would fight alongside many other Irishmen in the Revolutionary War who held great disdain for the British Army. My father's side came from County Leitrim in the northwestern part of what is now known as the Republic of Ireland. Somewhere along the line, one of my relatives dropped the "O" from our surname. What started as "O'Rourke" became just "Roark."

Why am I detailing all this information? Simply to say this: I am as excited as any man can be about anything at the prospect of telling the good news in "The Motherland." For the soles of my shoes to tread the same soil upon which my great grandfathers and grandmothers walked while doing the work of the Lord thrills my spirit beyond my ability to tell. I hope this is just the first of many such trips I make.

Your prayers for safety and success would be very much appreciated. I will be keeping a regular travel blog up to date (that is, as long as technology cooperates). If you would like to keep up with what's going on, bookmark this site. We're scheduled to leave on Monday, July 21st with a return date of Monday, August 11th.


P.S. -- If you notice the heading on the travel blog site says, "The Baron - Ryan Roark," that's because I had to specify a user name. When I was a wee lad of just three, my uncle dubbed me "The Red Baron" because of my shiny red hair that everyone loved to rub for "luck." He even had a little t-shirt custom made for me to wear around with "Baron" emblazoned across the back. Just wanted to explain the history on that!

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Steak Knife Salvation

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

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The Lord's Merciful Offer

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18, ESV

It is remarkable to me that the same God that the same God who declared unto us the transcendence of his ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) makes this offer to such a feeble minded people -- an offer to reason with us! His offer of sin-cleansing grace -- sufficiently powerful to remove any trace of iniquity -- is given when we humbly accept the offer to come and reason with him.

The Lord of heaven is a God who desires our service from unabridged minds, devoting conscience, emotion, volition, and intellect to his purposes. In so doing, we benefit our own souls while glorifying God in the process. It is, after all, "for his name's sake" that he "leads us in right paths" (Psalm 23:3).

Can you think of anything more important that accepting the Lord's merciful offer yourself? The only thing that can even compete is telling others of that same offer once you have accepted it yourself.

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Preach At The Pump

A Xenia, Ohio church has decided to promote its special Easter services by paying 25 cents of the price of every gallon of gas purchased at a local station.

Wesley Miller says by offering the deal, his church can promote its Easter services planned for the following weekend while helping those squeezed by the high cost of gasoline.

Miller says the church doesn't mind if people show up purely out of greed, because his congregation would like to reach them, too.

One wonders what it might take to retain anyone "converted" by this free gasoline. Hybrid cars for everyone who attends at least one worship service per week might be in order.

The day after Jesus and his apostles had fed 5,000 people, the Lord said to a group of disciples,

Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
John 6:26-27, ESV

Christ knew some were following him for no other reason than to fill their bellies -- to gratify a carnal desire. When churches get into the business of quite literally competing for members to fill up the pews, this is the natural result. Carnivals, car raffles, free gas, and virtually every other scheme the human mind can imagine has been used to lure men and women who have no inclination toward spiritual living.

Some might say, "That's why we're trying to get them in the door! We can show them how important spirituality is." Do we really believe gratifying a man's every whim and desire with material gifts is going to somehow flip on his "spiritual switch?" If so, we are sadly mistaken and greatly deceived.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8, ESV

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Eight-Ball Evangelism

A good friend sent an eye-opening story via email earlier this week. The piece from the Nashville Tennessean highlights the use of billiards by a young preacher at a middle Tennessee church of Christ (you may click here to read the article in its entirety).

According to this young fellow, "if God has blessed you with five talents, he wants you to use all of them." So, by employing this line of reasoning, if a preacher should happen to have a talent for mixed martial arts (see Ultimate Fighting Championship), he should schedule a fight for one Sunday evening and quote Bible verses between rounds? And since I have learned to play the brutally-beautiful sport of rugby, should I invite my team to demonstrate proper form in rucks, scrums, and mauls as I quote verses from the Scriptures?

The point here is this: Where do we get the idea that God wants us to use all our talents in the proclamation of his word? Using illustrations that engage the mind of the listener is one thing; creating a "side-show" atmosphere during the preaching of the gospel is another thing entirely. God has chosen preaching as the method for imparting the good news of salvation to mankind (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). To alter that blueprint is tantamount to the poor judgment used by Nadab and Abihu...and many of us remember the outcome of that ordeal (Leviticus 10:1-2).

The young man highlighted by this article makes a good point in saying that he can go to pool halls and talk with them about Christ because of his gift. Hopefully, we can all find creative ways to communicate with our neighbors as we fulfill the "great commission." The problem lies in creating a "showtime" effect in worship. God seeks those who will worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

For those who have been, as one church member puts it, "re-energized" by the pool-playing interspersed with preaching, just what is it that has caused this re-energizing? Is it necessary to supplement the gospel message with entertainment? If so, to what are we being converted -- the message of Christ, or the splendor of spectacles? And if it takes trick billiards shots or anything else under the sun to "re-energize" us, what will it take to keep us energized?

My friend, it's the same old thing that has been attempted thousands of times in hundreds of varying ways...and it never works. There is no staying power in gimmickry. Converts made by carnal means will not remain converted for long.

What was the explanation God gave in this vein through his apostle?

And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5, ESV

What happens when someone is converted by "Billiards Evangelism," and places their membership at a congregation where the preacher is not a pool shark? If being "wowed" by trick shots did indeed play a significant role in their obedience to the gospel, that soul will almost certainly be headed for lukewarmness and, eventually, outright unfaithfulness.

So, the question must be asked: What are we hoping to accomplish when preaching the gospel? If it is conversion and dedication to Christ, the gospel contains sufficient power to to the job (Romans 1:16)! To wrap it in gimmicks and hoopla only diminishes the might of God's only prescribed method for saving a lost human race.

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Isaiah: A Pattern For Soul Winners

Isaiah was one of the most evangelistic prophets of the Old Testament. The God-breathed message he composed is comprised of 66 chapters. Many familiar hymns have been written based on certain sections of Isaiah's prophecy.

For example:

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet, by Fanny J. Crosby; cf. Isaiah 1:18)

And another:

"O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm." (Shelter In The Time Of Storm, by Vernon Charlesworth; cf. Isaiah 32:2)

And perhaps one of our most well known "evangelistic" songs:

"Here am I, Lord, send me; Here am I, ready at thy bidding, Lord, send me." (There Is Much To Do, by M.W. Spencer; cf. Isaiah 6:8).

When Isaiah responded to the Lord's request for a messenger by saying, "Here am I! Send me," it was the result of a process designed by God to show Isaiah the proper mindset in soul winning. Observe...

• Isaiah saw himself as God saw him (Isaiah 6:5a)
• Isaiah saw his own need (Isaiah 6:7)
• Isaiah saw the needs of others (Isaiah 6:5b)
• Isaiah was given the call to teach others (Isaiah 6:8a)
• Isaiah willingly responded to this call (Isaiah 6:8b)

The message preached by Isaiah is encapsulated by these words:

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV

Backing up to verse one in this same chapter, we find this invitation issued by Isaiah to anyone who would hear:

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isaiah 55:1, ESV

My friend, let's get our own lives in order that we may, like the prophet Isaiah, be used by the Lord in rescuing souls in peril.

"Here am I! Send me."

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Strengthening The Souls Of The Disciples

The 13th and 14th chapters of the book of Acts details the travels of Paul and Barnabas as they made their way preaching the gospel throughout Asia Minor. They had preached to and converted a notable number of individuals in cities throughout the region, including Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

Persecution of the saints of God was fierce at that time. A mob of Jews that had followed Paul and his fellow laborers from Antioch and Iconium persuaded some of the citizens of Lystra to aid them in stoning the evangelists. There, they dragged Paul out of the city and left him for dead (Acts 14:19-20).

After departing from Lystra, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Derbe (v. 20-21a). The gospel was preached to the people of Derbe, and many obeyed the Lord and became His disciples. From Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities where they had previously preached -- Iconium, Antioch, and Lystra (v.21b). Yes, the same Lystra where Paul had been stoned within an inch of his life!

What was the purpose? What could have been so important that it called for such a risky move on the part of this apostle? Verse 22 gives us the answer:

...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22, ESV

Paul realized how crucial following up with recently converted disciples was in doing the work of an evangelist. Truthfully, at what point can we say a disciple of Christ is no longer in need of such encouragement? Does the need cease after one has been a Christian for five years? Ten years? No, my friend. We all need to be strengthened on a regular basis -- whether we have been a child of God for one year or 50 years!

A handful of observations here:

1. We sometimes place all the emphasis on how many baptisms a preacher, missionary, or congregation has to their credit. No doubt, baptisms are important; but what are we doing to keep them "encouraged and in the faith"?
2. I have heard of preachers who say something to the effect of, "I'm tired of preaching to the saved." To one who has such a mindset, I would simply say that the saved need to hear the gospel every bit as much as the unsaved!
3. Life has peaks and valleys. If we will immerse ourselves in the word of God before we get to those valleys, we will be more likely to "continue in the faith." It may be too late to encourage someone with the gospel by the time they are standing in the midst of that valley.

Let us never lightly regard the importance of teaching the gospel -- to the unsaved so they can be saved, and to the saved so that they can remain saved!

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Discovering He Was Dead Could Have Killed Him

Gheorghe Stirbu, a 61-year-old Romanian retiree, went to authorities last week to have his identity card reissued because the old one had expired. His request was denied by virtue of the fact that he was dead. That's right...dead.

He was handed a death certificate showing that Stirbu himself had expired on March 3, 1999, from breathing difficulties, and been buried the same month.

"When I saw it I couldn't believe it," Stirbu said. "How can someone who is fully alive be declared dead?"

Stirbu's daughter said the shock of hearing that he was officially dead could have killed him.

"At first I laughed because I though it was a joke and then I realized how serious it was," she said. "He could have had a heart attack. He didn't sleep for days when he found out the news."

Stirbu has prepared papers to prove he is still alive.

I do not suppose this sort of thing happens all that often -- someone finding out he or she has been dead for eight years. Quite simply, it is a physical impossibility to read one's own legitimate death certificate.

However, it is quite common throughout the world for men and women to learn that they are dead on another plane, while yet they live. If a man lives in sin and apart from Christ, he is dead in those sins. He is a spiritual corpse...a dead man walking, if you will.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh...
Colossians 2:13a, ESV

When a person finds out a vital part -- yea, the everlasting part -- of his or her being is lifeless and doomed to destruction, it may very well result in a period of shock and denial. But friend, the souls who are dead in their trespasses need to know!

They need to know the bad news before they can accept the good news.

...God made alive together with him [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses.
Colossians 2:13b, ESV

In what action was this resurrection with Christ accomplished? Back up one verse...

...having been buried with him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12, ESV

Rescue the perishing! Preach Christ to all the lost, boldly proclaiming the truth about the inseperability of salvation and baptism.

The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" has never saved a single soul, nor will it ever. The world needs to know!

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Where Are All The Preachers?

Reports in recent years have revealed an increasing dearth in preachers among the churches of Christ. Multiple studies have concluded that pulpits are being vacated far quicker than men are being trained to fill those same pulpits.

I suppose we could list any number of possible causes for this trend. Irrespective of the reasons, the body of Christ simply must make it a greater priority to train young men to preach.

Some of our pulpits are being filled by well intentioned men who have little to no formal training. Certainly, I am not alleging that it takes a degree to preach God's word. However, like anything else, preaching is a skill that ought to be honed through education and study whenever and wherever possible.

How can the preacher shortage be remedied? Consider just a few suggestions:

1. Encourage those who are but small boys now to be aspiring preachers. You never know how planting that little "seed" of encouragement early on can blossom at a later time!
2. Be careful how you speak of preachers and elders, particularly in the company of children. How many young men will want to go to school to be trained as a preacher when he grew up hearing mom and dad badmouth the preacher and elders?
3. Support one or more preacher training schools in your monthly budget (we have several schools doing a fine job).
4. Remember that no preacher is as great as some brothers and sisters think, nor as bad as others think. The respectable preacher is one who sees himself as one among many humble servants of God, laboring alongside every member of a local body of Christians.

In an address at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky, Edgar DeWitt Jones said...

The preacher for this day must have the heart of a lion, the skin of a hippopotamus, the agility of a greyhound, the patience of a donkey, the wisdom of an elephant, the industry of an ant, and as many lives as a cat.

Friend, we need better men for better churches. Inspire today's children to dream of preaching the gospel; support and encourage those presently being trained and schooled; and work willingly alongside those who even now address the saints from time to time with messages from God's own word.

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The Only Work That Lasts

Aren't you thankful for the hard working people of the world? In large cities and small towns throughout America and around the world, industrious men and women strive diligently toward effective goods and services. The word of God commends such people:

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.
Proverbs 22:29, ESV

One of life's greatest challenges is to balance the work tied to this world with our labor tied to the world to come. Elders, deacons, and preachers ought not be the only ones working in the vineyard of the Lord. We are all "ministers" (servants) in the kingdom of the Savior. Do you want to contribute something to eternity? Then you must involve yourself in the only work that lasts. Listen to the words of the anonymous writer:

"Teach us, O God...

If we work upon marble, it will perish.

If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust.

If we work upon brass, time will efface it.

But if we work upon the minds and hearts of men and women,

Teaching them the love of God and their fellow man,

Then, and only then, will we have contributed something to eternity."

How have you contributed to eternity?

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Don't Lose Sight Of The Positives!

Is the church of Jesus Christ facing threats from within? Certainly. Influential individuals and entire congregations have introduced doctrine and practice over the years that have sought to move what should be a body without schism (1 Corinthians 12:25) toward an organization that mirrors the concept of the church in the denominational order of things.

However, great effort must be made not to lose sight of the multitude of positive, Biblical works ongoing in the kingdom of God today. If we are not careful, we can become so "wrapped up" in keeping tabs on those weighing the church down that we overlook or even refuse to see those who are doing great things to build her up! I speak from experience.

The more brethren I meet from across our nation -- yea, across our world -- the more I am encouraged and convinced the church is strong and very active in carrying out her mission. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Polishing The Pulpit seminar in Birmingham, Alabama. I met men and women from all over our own nation, and several who are doing the Lord's work on other continents. We have an abundance of talented people who are serving the Lord and his church in mighty ways. Let us remember to unceasingly pray for the church around the world, and to be active supporters of as many workers for the truth as possible.

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 5-8

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The Flock Of One

An objective study of the Bible leads one to understand the deadly nature of sin. Transgression of God's law is that which drives the proverbial wedge between a man and his Creator. There is no doubt that God gives ample space in the Scriptures to warning mankind of sin's devastating consequences.

If the people of God have any interest whatsoever in faithfully proclaiming the good news of salvation contained in the gospel, they will not water down the truth about sin and its eternal penalty. Those who preach the increasingly popular "Social Gospel" stay away from addressing anything that might be construed as even hinting at an allusion to something that might resemble the most vague reference to the concept of sin. For in doing so, they know the thousands who have "itching ears" will continue to pour into converted basketball arenas and gleefully place their offerings in the coffers.

That being said, if we are not on our guard, we can easily fall into the extreme at the other end of the spectrum. What if -- in our zealousness to convince the world of the poisonous effects of sin -- we treat sinners as the Pharisees and scribes did in the time of Jesus' earthly life? In Luke 15:1-7, we see representatives from both of these groups grumbling about the fact that Jesus was eating with sinners. Jesus taught them a parable about a single lost sheep. In hearing these words, they (Pharisees and scribes) and we ought to learn some important points:

1. God is concerned about the lost, and seeks them.
2. The Lord loves us individually.
3. People wander away from God through neglect.
4. The lost sheep may have known it was lost, but did not know its way home.
5. The path back to God is traveled through repentance.
6. Self-righteousness will deaden our concern for the lost.

Being a disciple of Jesus means having the same care and concern for a lost soul as Jesus, our Savior. Are you not glad He so regarded you?

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