restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations

Silent Sufferers

 David Alan Black  

During World War II two men met in London to transact business. One of them was full of the story of how the train in which he had traveled had been attacked from the air. He couldn’t stop talking about the danger, the excitement, the narrow escape. The other man listened in silence, but in the end he said quietly, “Well, if you don’t mind, let’s get on with our business. I’d like to get away fairly early because my house was demolished by a bomb last night.”

The one thing I have noticed about the church in Ethiopia is how it is content to suffer in silence, and alone. We who have suffered so much less should follow their example. Below are the remains of a hut that was burned down by Muslim agitators. It was destroyed because its owners were Christians. The most extraordinary thing about this picture is that we would have had no information about this terrible experience had we not made enquiries. I complain about the smallest inconvenience, but the Ethiopian church makes no parade of its sufferings.

No amount of opposition will break the Ethiopian church or make it turn back. This is the work of all-sufficient grace. It is the glory of suffering that it is in our weakness that we find this wondrous grace, for man’s extremity is always God’s opportunity.

In the early days of Christianity the man who chose to follow Christ chose to face trouble. It is so today in Africa. There might well come a time in America when persecution will descend upon the church from the official powers. Then it will be a costly thing to be a real Christian.

If and when this happens we may be sure that God will not leave us to face this trial alone. When the perilous persecution comes, the Christian can say, as Polycarp the aged pastor said when they bound him to the stake, “I thank Thee that Thou hast judged me worthy of this honor.”

October 23, 2006

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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Sidetracked by “Issues”?  

 David Alan Black  

God’s people are easily distracted today. And politics plays into this distraction. We can become so obsessed with our political views, we can become so upset over world conditions, that we forget to preach and live the Gospel. We can spend so much time exposing filth that we come to bear the smell of it. Some of it always rubs off. If we keep digging around in the garbage and gossip of the day, we may end up as nothing more than rubbish collectors.

When we try to expedite the work of God by human expedients we always get into trouble. God’s work must be done God’s way. How much of our work is done in a worldly manner! We resort to stunts and tricks and showmanship to advance the kingdom. The whole thing is a pitiful substitute for God’s plan – working through consecrated people filled with the Spirit.

I am not suggesting that we should dodge the issues. The apostle Paul met them head-on, and there were plenty of them in places like Corinth and Rome. But we do have to deal with them from God’s standpoint and not leave our base. The problem with politics is that we follow all manner of human devices to “speed up” God’s work. The whole thing is an admission of failure, a cheap replacement for God’s way of working, which is the cross. Christ is what really matters. Everything is else is to be judged in light of Him.

Today the church is busy with politics to deal with this or that problem or to correct something or another. Well meant as all this may be, we are overlooking or purposely avoiding the real issue. Our Lord spoke of “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” as being of major importance. If the church of Jesus Christ today repented, submitted to the Lordship of Christ, and became Spirit-filled, the power of God would remove obstacles that all of our political might and power cannot clear.

Today the church has become a private cult, and a selfish one at that. Rather than offering a radical alternative to the status quo, a third race that is neither pagan nor Jewish, it backs the Establishment. The earliest Christians were enthusiasts for Jesus, and they couldn’t wait to share that enthusiasm with others. Their love and fellowship broke down the natural barriers between races, between social classes, between the sexes. One cannot fail to notice the priority of those early Christians as they shared their faith with others. Political associations meant nothing to them. Yet their message had political implications, if primarily negative and corrective. No worldly ruler, no Caesar, is the supreme Lord. That title belongs only to King Jesus!

Politics offers no hope. Heads of state give grand speeches and draw up noble documents and confer at distinguished summits, but all their proposals become nothing but scraps of paper. Politics tries to carve a durable brotherhood out of the rotting wood of unregenerate humanity. We have pinned our hopes on mere men, looking for them to sit down at tables and work out the formula for peace and justice. But the grandiose schemes of politicians and ecclesiastics who would build the kingdom of heaven without the King will come to nothing. Jesus alone is the Blessed Hope.

Someone has said that you cannot pick up the sword without putting down the cross. If I bear the sword today, it will be the sword of the Spirit, the precious Word of the cross, which is sharper than any sword of man. I will gladly lose my life if necessary to take this Word to the ends of the earth. I am done with ideological Christianity – whether of the New Right or the Evangelical Left. I will take my stand on the eternal, not on the transient and the temporary. No drummed-up theatrics will do.

God is not mocked. His way is plain: “If My people … then will I” (2 Chron. 7:14).

November 9, 2006

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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Show-Casing the Sovereignty of Our God

Examples from Our Recent Trip to Ethiopia

 Becky Lynn Black  

There are few situations in life that showcase the sovereignty of our God as much as mission work.  Living on the edge, either here or abroad, brings His sovereignty into clear focus. And if we have eyes to see, His glory is magnified and our trust in His care is deepened.

On our recent trip to Ethiopia, this was impressed sharply upon me.  Let me give you some examples.

·        Just prior to our departure, we got an urgent request from the clinic. “Please, bring us post-treatment for rabies!” In my research, I discovered a price tag of about $3,000 per 150-pound patient! In the sovereignty of God, however, we were able to link up with a Catholic clinic about 5 hours’ drive from our clinic. And they led us to the only source of the vaccine in Ethiopia! So now we are able to collect this vaccine in-country, at a reasonable cost, and it has proven successful in curing all patients who receive the treatment within 2 weeks of the bite. Praise God with us for this answer to prayer!

·        Also, our clinic nurses had asked for snake antivenin. The only source of antivenin for Africa’s poisonous snakes that I could find comes from South Africa. But through this Catholic clinic, I was introduced to a special stone that seems to have some sort of magnetic properties that pull out the toxins, if it is placed on the fang bites soon after the bite. The cure rate is reportedly very high. I’m still doing more research. But in God’s sovereignty, I was introduced to this stone and to those who have been using it effectively in the Ethiopian setting.

·        Lufthansa misplaced one of Dave’s suitcases. It contained very important things. We had no choice but to delay our trip down to Burji. Little did we know that the additional day spent in the capital would allow us much-needed rest, and also supply the oxygen meter that we had been searching for! We had located the oxygen tank; we could fill it with oxygen, but there were absolutely no meters in any of the supply stores. Why? No one knew why. The only possible source of a meter was on the street. In the providence of God, He brought someone off the street to us, asking us “Do you need some oxygen equipment?” Wow! The man had exactly what we needed!

·        I had heard that Bogalech’s daughter was not growing well. But her home was high in the mountains. Travel to her home was impossible. Because of the rains, the road was impassable. But in the sovereignty of God, she was brought to me and we “happened” to meet in the clinic. We had just brought a dying woman to the clinic, and as I turned around from praying with her, there was Bogalech with her little infant daughter! This was God’s sovereignty in arranging our lives and ministries!

·        Two years ago, He arranged for me to meet an Ethiopian doctor in North Carolina so that I could have just the right person to help me with a sick evangelist named Melesse! He arranges His work from place to place, from person to person, and from year to year. There are no restraints or limitations with Him!

·        And there are no government rules limiting His hand. With the upcoming elections in Ethiopia, new rules have been placed that prohibit meetings without prior government approval. That rule saved the life of an evangelist in Alaba who was being interrogated by an angry group of Muslims. As he phoned to a church elder, alerting him of the situation, the church elders rushed in the vehicle (that God provided through us several years ago), in time to defuse the tension with a warning about the illegal gathering. God uses government rules for His purposes.

God’s sovereign reign over the affairs of man is unquestionable. He has the power to do whatever is in His heart to do. 

And it is in His heart to save mankind….one person at a time, one situation at a time, on all continents, in all time zones, among all tribes and peoples and nationalities.

Praise God with me for His sovereignty….and for the love with which He exercises His sovereignty!

Read Isaiah 43:1 to Isaiah 44:6 to catch a glimpse of His sovereignty exercised in love for our salvation!

April 15, 2010

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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Should Christians Tithe?

 David Alan Black 

“Before the Word, everyone must give way.”  – Martin Luther

When most Christians think about supporting their churches financially, they think about giving ten percent of their income. After all, they have been told that this percentage of their income “belongs to God.” Yet the New Testament knows nothing of the tithe. In contrast to our man-made ecclesiastical traditions, the New Testament teaches that all of our income belongs to God, and that the percentage we give in our offerings is up to the individual Christian’s conscience.

If the New Testament fails to teach the tithe, then why do most of us continue to believe it is Scriptural and therefore binding? Perhaps one reason is the support tithing receives from pastors. To cite but one example, here’s a quote from a booklet I recently received from David Jeremiah of Turning Point (whose ministry our family supports):

Why should we tithe? We should tithe because if we don’t, we are disobeying God. God has given us everything we have, but He wants us to be obedient and give 1/10 of it back to Him. He doesn’t need our money, but He does require our obedience (see Malachi 3:8-10).

While I love Dr. Jeremiah as a dear brother in Christ and greatly appreciate his ministry, what he has written does not square with the New Covenant teaching on tithing. There is not one word in the New Testament to suggest that Christians ought to tithe.

Some will say, “The New Testament is vague on the topic of giving.” That is not true. The New Testament is as clear about giving as it is on any other doctrine. The Old Testament tithe (altogether amounting to about 23 percent) was not adopted by the New Testament church. Christians were encouraged to give liberally (Rom. 12:8), but the New Testament never gives a percentage as a required standard for our giving. Instead, it says, “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Notice that believers are not told how much to give. Paul does not give them a fixed percentage as a standard. He simply tells them that they should give whatever they have “purposed in [their] heart,” that is, whatever they have decided to give beforehand. He insists that we should be faithful to follow through on what we have decided to contribute to the Lord’s work, but the amount is up to us. There is to be no compulsion whatsoever in our giving; the amount must be our own decision.

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul adds: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” Here Paul instructs the church in Corinth to give proportionately to how they have been prospered by God. Again, no mention is made of the tithe. Believers are simply instructed to give proportionate to their prosperity.

Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians 8:3-4: “For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints….” Here Paul emphasizes the fact that the churches of Macedonia gave “of their own accord.” Nobody twisted their arm. Believers are always to give voluntarily. God wants us to give because we want to do so. Our gifts should be “generous” (2 Cor. 9:5) and given with “liberality” (2 Cor. 9:11), for God will see to it that the generous giver will not suffer want.

Finally, what should our attitude be when we give?  Note again 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving is a joyful privilege, not a joyless duty. God wants us to give from an attitude of cheerfulness, not out of a sense of obligation. It is interesting that the only passage in the New Testament that describes the mind-set with which we are to give describes it as joyfulness! Such cheerful giving is the appropriate response to God’s “indescribable gift,” His own Son (2 Cor. 9:15).

In short, whereas the Old Testament tithe was required by the Law, the New Testament emphasizes the complete voluntary character of giving. This is exactly what Abraham did before the institution of the Law, and it is what Christians are to be doing today. We are free to give any amount we choose – whether it is 10 per cent as Abraham did, or 50 per cent, or 90 percent, or any other percentage.

If the ideas presented in this essay are true, isn’t it obvious that many of our churches have departed from the teaching of Scripture? How can we claim to take the New Testament seriously and yet turn a deaf ear to the clear, undeniable pattern that marked the early apostolic church? If we are to see revival in our churches, we must speak out against false traditions and begin to conform all of our practices to the New Testament patterns. As John Stott has said (“Basic Stott,” Christianity Today, January 8, 1996):

The hallmark of an authentic evangelicalism is not the uncritical repetition of old traditions, but the willingness to submit every tradition, however ancient, to fresh Biblical scrutiny and, if necessary, reform.

December 12, 2004

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com. He is the author of Why I Stopped Listening to Rush and numerous other books.

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Shopping List for the Galana Clinic in Burji, Ethiopia

Becky Lynn Black  

This clinic is far from civilization. Getting supplies is extremely difficult. For example, there are no mops or buckets in any store within a 6-hour drive, and if you can find a vehicle to take you 6 hours to the nearest town, the quality of merchandise is horrible. So we had to go all the way to the capital city to find mops and buckets of any quality for Mariam to clean the new flooring that we installed in June. Such a simple matter, and yet so difficult in Ethiopia!

In talking with the staff there are some things that are much easier for us to bring from the USA. Many of these things I am getting off the internet or in our big stores. But as word of the clinic is expanding, people are asking us, “What can we gather for you?”

So, here is the portion of my shopping list that you can help with. Perhaps your children’s Sunday School class, or VBS group, or women’s missionary group would like to gather these things. Our next trip to Ethiopia is in December, God willing. 

Items should be mailed to our home: 2691 White House Rd., Nelson, VA 24580.  Please email us if you have any questions….dblack@sebts.edu.  God bless you for your generosity to the poor.

Pregnancy tests…  Many times the bodies of Ethiopian women are exhausted.  They come to the clinic complaining of fatigue, etc. We must test for pregnancy; since they have no birth control knowledge, they are often tired because of pregnancy. Also, we must know if they are pregnant because many drugs for malaria, typhoid, etc. cannot be given to pregnant women. So the clinic uses many pregnancy test kits.  (These tests are available at Dollar Tree for $1.)

Prenatal vitamins…The diet of the people around the clinic is very poor, and women are almost always either pregnant or nursing. So these pre-natal vitamins are very important to the health of the woman and the infant.

Children’s vitamins…Malaria and amoebic dysentery (diarrhea) are the big killers of Ethiopian children under age 5. Malaria destroys the red blood cells, and amoebic parasites (gotten from poor water) destroy the digestive system. If we can give children vitamins, then it will help their bodies to fight these diseases.

Iodine tablets…Iodine is critical to the human body; it helps to regulate the thyroid gland. Lack of iodine in the diet results in large goiters, fatigue, and poor regulation of basic body functions. Iodine comes especially from fish. There are no lakes or fish of any kind in the Burji area; their diet is completely devoid of fish. Goiters are normal, commonplace. Iodine tablets are extremely difficult to find in Ethiopia. We need these to give to people who are showing severe iodine deficiency.

Iodized salt…Here in America, we routinely use iodized salt in order to get our iodine, but in Ethiopia, there is no such thing as iodized salt. We would like to take some iodized salt to give to families that are showing early signs of iodine deficiency.

Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D and Magnesium…This is available at Wal-Mart.  Please do not send calcium carbonate, since it is poorly absorbed.

Over-the-counter medicines…Fungal creams, triple antibiotics, Zantac 150 mg, eyedrops/moisturizers, benedryl gel, midol, laxatives, Immodium AD, hydrocortisone cream, Naprosyn, AandD oint, decongestants (we have enough Tums). I know that these things are expensive, but if a family is able to get just one item per week when doing grocery shopping, it adds up!  Think about your own medicine cabinet; how would your life be if you had nothing in that cabinet.  I can safely say that no Ethiopian family in Burji has a medicine cabinet…the items just are not available! But if we can share our blessing, then they will have the laxative that they need, the cream for a skin condition, the decongestant for a cold, the heartburn aid, etc. And those little things will ease their discomfort for a time. And they will know that the Galana Clinic has the things they need, so they will come and then they will hear about the Gospel!  So as you are buying these things, consider it evangelismJ

Clothes and good-quality soap…These items are distributed by Chaplain Solomon to the poorest of the poor. We need men, women, and children’s clothes. They do not need to be new, but they should not have tears or big stains. Also, they must be very modest; no pants for women or girls. And they must not have anything that displays our American culture…like pictures of cartoon characters, the American flag, etc.  Soap should be long-lasting.

Guard clothes…We need a heavy coat for the night guard, and also 2 pairs of sturdy tennis shoes, size 12-13, and some socks.  Again, they do not need to be new, but they should be in good condition for future use.

July 27, 2009

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Shoes, Oxen, and Birds

Becky Lynn Black  

We just returned from a nice anniversary supper at Ruby Tuesdays.  Since we live out in the country, it was an hour drive to the restaurant.  En route, I gave Dave an “audio” anniversary card.  Instead of buying a card that someone else wrote, or typing my card in a word doc, I tried to express my thoughts to him about our marriage and what God has made us into over the past 36 years. He asked me to put my audio card into a guest blog to share with yall. If I were to put our marriage now into pictures, it would be in 3 pairs of things. 

First, a pair of old shoes. Old shoes are those shoes that we are reluctant to throw out.  They are comfortable.  They have molded to our feet.  They speak “home” and “relaxation” to us.  They aren’t high fashion or flashy, but they go to the heart.

After all these years, we are no longer trying to impress the other.  We aren’t demanding our rights as a spouse.  We’re not trying to play the role and fulfill our obligations.  By now, we’ve just molded into each other.  We automatically reach for each other, fitting together like a pair of old shoes.  We prefer each other to any other, because we fit together.

Second, we are like a pair of oxen. God has appointed us a field to plough.  We aren’t looking inward, content with our own little world in our home, but God has given a view of work to be done in His Kingdom.  He has linked us together for that work.  I’m not ploughing one field and he another; we are joined by a yoke that fits, and by orders from the One who united us.

Within that yoke, we operate as individuals: each has his/her own strengths and weaknesses.  Turning the curves, he might be the anchor; his strength keeps us from flying off course.  Sensing danger from a snake or a pothole, I might communicate caution.  We view the field together; we know our assignment and our boundaries…and we work together, within the confines of our personal strengths, weaknesses, giftedness to accomplish the Work we’ve been appointed.

Thirdly, we are birdies.  We are caring for the next generation. … the next generation of Kingdom Christians.  Our spiritual children.  We are learning to redefine “family.”  Long ago, we accepted Christ’s teaching as He defined “adultery” (to extend to the heart of lust) and “murder” (to include anger)….but now we are learning to accept His redefinition of “family” to be those who are obediently following Him.  I suppose many at our age in life rethink this, as they consider their passing from this life, and what inheritance they are leaving.  We want to follow our Lord whole-heartedly, not picking and choosing those parts of His teaching, according to our culture or upbringing or emotions.  We want to be fully obedient. And there are many, many teachings of Christ and the Apostles about our obligation to assist the next generation in the Kingdom way.  This includes financial assistance, counseling, modeling, living Life in tandem.  It means being intentional.  It means sacrifice.  It means focus.

Like birdies, we sometimes teach the next generation of Jesus followers where to find the worms; sometimes we actually bring the worm to the needy; sometimes we just cheer them on.  The point is that at our stage in life, God has given us a focused ministry upon the next generation of Kingdom-believers, or Christ followers.  And we do that as a couple.

Shoes….Oxen….Birds.  

This takes time.  It takes the Lord’s grace.  It takes the Spirit of God.  It takes willingness to surrender to His word and His leading.  It takes sacrificial living. 

God is the God of Redemption…at all levels.  Marriage is a picture of the Gospel.  As with our personal salvation, in the early years, we are self-centered in marriage…. “What is God going to do for me?  I want peace, joy, security, Heaven….”  And we think we know all about it!  We are wise in our own eyes. Pride keeps us from understanding that His ways are not our ways. So in the early years of marriage, we are looking for self-fulfillment.  “What is my spouse going to do for me?  Financial security, home, emotional satisfaction, good sex….”   And we’ve read all the books, and think we know how this marriage thing is going to meet our expectations.  But as God works in our hearts, to remove that deep self-centeredness and pride, our marriage becomes more centered on serving our spouse, instead of being served.  And in that service, the shoes’ rough edges soften, and gradually they become the comfortable old shoes that we could never throw out.

God’s heart is for the world.  Many voices are calling for making marriage and the immediate family into an end-all and be-all of life.  It essentially becomes a “god” to us.  Our identity, our security, our purpose, our salvation is said to be wrapped up in this family institution.  But God is calling us to use this institution to touch the world with the Gospel. This means getting out of our comfort zone, and working “out there.” Sweating, sacrificing, giving up comforts, daring to be different, daring to accept risk. I can tell you that in working for the Kingdom, there is great, great joy and satisfaction and peace and joy.  The One who appointed the field to be ploughed has said,

In the same way, any of you who does  not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33).  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29).

For many years in our marriage, we sought the American Dream…career success, houses and lands, retirement savings, the “perfect” family.   This thrust was not at the total exclusion of Christ, but it was in addition to Christ.  We fell for that great delusion of the Evil One — that compromised living, that serving 2 masters, is a viable option. Praise God, He brought us through that delusion.  We cannot serve both the American Dream and the Master who gave Himself for us.  Christ did not live his own life and also try to win our salvation.  He followed the Father in 100- surrender and obedience….and it was that decision on His part that made our salvation possible.

It is a great treasure when God opens our eyes as a married couple to the purpose of our marriage to reach the world with the Gospel…to plough the field we’ve been appointed…to plough in tandem, using our individual gifts and abilities for the purpose of the Kingdom.

And the joy to looking to the future…beyond blood, beyond memories, beyond the “rules” set by society or the Church…to see the future in terms of the Kingdom.  Jesus said “I will build my church, and nothing will prevail against it.”  That is an eternal proposition.  It is a guaranteed return on investment.  We cannot lose when we invest our time, our resources, our abilities, our wisdom, our energy in those who are eagerly learning the Kingdom way, and who are learning the joy of obedience to the Master.

To invest in His “retirement” plan by passing along the spiritual treasures He has taught us is such joy and security!  And how thankful I am to Him for sending us couples and individuals who say “Will you be my spiritual Mom?”  What an honor!  What a privilege!  What joy and satisfaction!  As Paul to Timothy and Titus…passing the Kingdom to those eager to learn…this is great blessing and joy in our marriage.

So, my dear friend, consider your marriage.  God can and does redeem us for His purposes.  I encourage you to think beyond your “needs” and learn to serve your spouse…watch the hard shoe turn into a soft comfortable one.   And lift your eyes to the purpose of marriage as an avenue of the Gospel to the world. Accept His field of work; work together, yoked with your personal strengths and weaknesses and giftedness for the salvation of others.  And then redefine “family” to match Christ’s definition, so that you invest in the future generation of the Kingdom; don’t waste your time, resources, energy, wisdom on those who are not committed to Christ’s way, but are indulging themselves in self-centeredness, demanding their rights, following the American Dream, living the compromised life.  Pour yourself into supporting and encouraging and training “faithful” young people, as Paul instructed Timothy. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).

September 12, 2012

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Shock and Awe

 David Alan Black

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

He was in the office of a friend who had had his picture taken with a number of famous people. As he observed these photos on the office wall, he saw a picture of his friend standing next to President Bush. He was amazed.

“You had your picture taken with the President,” he said.

“Yes, I did,” his friend replied.

“I’m amazed,” he commented.

“You should be,” said his friend.

“You mean, you really had your picture taken with the President of the United States?” he exclaimed incredulously.

“That’s right,” he said.

“You mean to tell me that you know George Bush?” he asked.

“Yes, I do,” was his friend’s reply.

“Then I’ve got a question for you,” he said. “Does George Bush know you?”

Jesus said there will a lot of people in the last days who will claim to know Him. They’ll say, “Why, Jesus, don’t you remember us—we had our picture taken with you. We cast out demons in your name; we preached in your name; we healed in your name. Surely you remember us, don’t you,” they’ll exclaim.

And Jesus will look at them, and He will look at the Book, and He will look at them, and He will look at the Book, and He will look at them, and He will look at the Book. Then He will say, “Depart from me—I DON’T KNOW YOU!”

At church on Sunday many people “play Christian.” They go through the motions, believing they are genuine Christians, unaware that they are only pretending. Jesus used the word “hypocrite” to describe such people. They felt insulted to be called that, and so would we. They attended church, prayed in public, lived “good” lives, separated themselves from the world around them. Only one problem: they did not truly believe—it was only make-believe. Like playing an April Fools Day joke.

The worst thing about it is that one day these people will get the shock of their lives when they confront the risen Christ and He will say to them, “I know you claim to know Me, but I NEVER KNEW YOU! Now depart from me!”

No wonder we are warned, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” Playing king doesn’t make one a king. One must be born into the royal family. Phony royalty will lead only to eternal damnation.

Talk about shock and awe.

April 1, 2003

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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Shining in the Darkness

 David Alan Black 

In New Orleans, the situation is desperate. Just to pump the flooded city will take a minimum of 30 days. Then the drinking water system will have to be flushed to clean out the contaminates in it. The power grid will take weeks, perhaps months, to repair. The stagnant water contains deadly chemicals and the remains of countless animals and humans. Most residents will not be able to get back to their homes for months.

Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to come to pass, then look up, for your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). “These things” does not refer to a great spiritual revival upon earth. Rather, “…signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, and upon earth distress among nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men’s hearts failing them for fear…” (Luke 21:25-26).

The New Testament has a lot to say about the future, and it nowhere indicates a glorious finish to this age. Rather, false doctrine and abating love, earthly disasters and perilous times await us. But when the outlook is bleakest the uplook is brightest. While men’s hearts are failing them for fear our Lord says, “Be not afraid; be of good cheer.” The Lord Jesus is not building a world church. The popular and prosperous church, which today is on such good terms with this age, is in league with Caesar. Yet one day God will establish His kingdom, and when He does the Lamb will be on the throne.

New Orleans is America in microcosm. It stands for commercialism and money-making and ease and worldly pleasure. Into this darkness shines the light of Christian testimony. As thousands of Southern Baptists and many other Christians make their way to the stricken states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama they will expose the unfruitful works of darkness, not by denunciation, but by letting their light so shine before men that they will see their good works and glorify their Father who is in heaven. These are men and women whose field is the world, and they realize that the corn of wheat must die if it is to please God and bear fruit. They say,

Come ill or well, the cross, the crown/The rainbow or the thunder,/I fling my soul and body down/For God to plow them under.

They remind us that the Christian life is not a vacation but a vocation, and that we all need to be “with God on the go.”

Let us, then, do all we can to support them. And may their tribe increase.

September 1, 2005

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com. If you would like to know more about becoming a follower of King Jesus, please feel free to write Dave.

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Shewalem

 Becky Lynn Black  

Her name reflects her birthplace; it is the old name for Addis Ababa. She was born after her mother lost two sons. She was born in Ethiopia when I was expecting our first child in California, USA. Her father was a follower of a witchdoctor; mine was a follower of Jesus. Her father stumbled about in darkness while raising his children; mine served the Lord Jesus as a missionary, bringing light to the southern regions of Ethiopia.

When I was 23, I was finishing nursing school with my bachelor’s degree, and I was looking forward to marriage. When she was 23 years old, she was caught in a traffic accident.  Her back was broken. Although she was living in the most modern city in Ethiopia, her health care was rather primitive. They tried to wire the pieces of her lower back into place and then sent her home.

Almost 2 years after her accident her father, drowning in despair, committed suicide. Shewalem was plunged into despair herself. Her friend, also a follower of witchcraft, came to her. “I had a dream,” she said. She then described a dream of horrors. She predicted that Shewalem would die a horrible death.

Can you imagine her condition at this time? Can you imagine the horror of living in primitive conditions, paralyzed in both legs, with both father and mother gone, having the responsibility of 4 younger siblings, dealing with a prediction that was void of any hope? Who could help her?

God could help her. The Lord Jesus could redeem her, buying her back from the Evil One, giving her hope, restoring her body, providing for her in every way.

In His wonderful sovereign grace, He sent a different friend to Shewalem. This friend knew the Lord Jesus. This friend introduced her to the Saviour. Can you imagine the joy of hearing the Good News…the Evil One has been conquered! Love is available! There is hope! We can be made stronger than our circumstances! God loves us!!!

She readily accepted the love of Jesus, and her whole outlook has changed. No, her circumstances have not changed. She is still largely paralyzed. She still is alone in caring for her 4 younger siblings. She still lives in a small little room in the city of Addis. She has crutches; she has a potty chair. Her room has a bed off the floor and a window. Somehow she gets some physical therapy several times a week.

But she is smiling. Jesus shines in her.

Just days before we left for our last trip to Ethiopia, we got an urgent email from one of our “sons.” “Please,” he wrote, “please, can you get this medicine for Shewalem. It isn’t available here in Ethiopia.” What was the medicine? It was something that has been used for many decades here in America, that is readily available, that is relatively cheap. It was a medicine that could keep her legs from spasm…a medicine that would make all the difference in terms of function, and would reduce her pain! In the mercy of God, I was able to get this medicine and it has worked marvels! Praise God that an unbelieving doctor (on a weekend!) was willing to help me get this medicine.

But she still cannot walk.

The doctors in Addis Ababa have said that they do not have the medical capability of doing the surgery she needs. She needs to have a re-working of the lower vertebrae, with anterior approach. They do not have the instruments, the knowledge base, the expertise, the anesthesia, etc. to do this. They have advised her to look beyond Ethiopia for the help she needs. In the developed world, this is a common surgery, done by most hospitals with an orthopedic unit.

So we are laying this situation before you as her brothers and sisters in the Lord. But for the grace of our Lord Jesus, the life circumstances between you/me and her could have been reversed. The Gospel is about helping people. The Scriptures say we are to work with our hands to meet our own needs and the needs of others (Eph. 4:28). 

So I ask you: Are you a doctor willing to facilitate her care? Are you an orthopedic surgeon willing to help her? Are you associated with a hospital willing to connect her and streamline the bureaucracy? Do you have some coins in your pocket or funds in the bank or investments that have been blessed by God that you are willing to part with for her benefit? Are you willing to commit yourself to prayer for her? This will be a huge undertaking, but our Lord is able to perform what is in His heart if we are willing to be obedient.

We do not know what God will do for her. We do not know what person He wants to bless through helping her. This is His work. He knows what He wants to do. Is he calling you, burdening you on Shewalem’s behalf? According to Ephesians 2:10, we were saved “unto good works.” The salvation He’s given us is not an end in itself…it is for the purpose of doing good works that glorify the Saviour. These good works have been appointed to each of us.

All we ask of you is to please pray about her situation and ask our Lord if this is one of the “good works” that He as appointed for you from before the foundation of the world.  If you sense His Spirit confirming this work for you, please contact us. If not, then we ask that you continue to lift her in prayer as the Lord lays her upon your heart.

Joyfully, in His service,

BeckyLynn

July 28, 2007

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   restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations

Seven Who Changed the World

 David Alan Black  

In sixteenth century Switzerland a renewal movement was launched that would change the face of the church forever. Anabaptism was born, and with it the beginning of the modern “free” church movement.

A group of young radicals, disciples of Ulrich Zwingli, insisted that, as far as believer’s baptism was concerned, no compromise with the Word of God would be tolerated. Conrad Grebel (pictured below) emerged as its leader and spokesman. By the end of the year 1523, their number would total seven. In addition to Grebel there were Andress Castelberg, Felix Manz, Heinrich Aberli, Joannes Panicellus, Hanns Oggenfuss, and Hanns Huiuf.

What was it that set these bold pioneers apart from their erstwhile leaders, including Zwingli? Above all it was their concern to follow Scripture. As Grebel put it, “We were listeners to Zwingli’s sermons and readers of his writings, but one day we took the Bible itself in hand and were taught better” (Blanke, Brothers in Christ, p. 14).

Nothing demonstrates more vividly the clear distinction between the Magisterial Reformers (such as Zwingli) and the Anabaptist “radicals.” Both groups affirmed sola scriptura. But what does that mean in practical terms? It means being obedient to the simple commands of Christ. It means holding our traditions up to the pure light of the Bible. It means being willing to go against the grain of accepted thinking when the Word of God requires it.

We need a refresher course today in church history to straighten out our inadequate view of the Reformation. It might be distressing but it would reveal the need to say, along with the Seven, “Once we were listeners and readers of men’s writings, but now we take the Bible in hand and are taught better.”

The kingdom of God is no place for people whose faces are pointed in one direction and their feet in another. Students, may I challenge you to ask yourselves whether or not you belong to a radical minority whose greatest concern is to be followers of Jesus in simple obedience? Please listen to me. It is possible to enjoy justifying grace and to stand in uncompromising orthodoxy without walking as Jesus walked. One sure mark of revival is that it weans people from the words of men (including mine!). Without a firm commitment to the Word of God we are nothing but shorn Samuels on a treadmill.

The men and women of the Swiss Anabaptist Movement were set on fire by the Scriptures. They refused to dodge issues or to be diverted by politics. Neither did they wash their hands of the world’s troubles by piously saying, “I am of Christ.” Their aim in all they did was firstly to have God’s approval, and then to act in such a way that when their methods were examined by others they had no need to be ashamed.

Students, the church today needs its Scriptural Seven, its Conrad Grebels and its Felix Manzes. To fail in our fidelity to Scripture is to fail completely in our witness to the world. As someone once put it, “Is your life a Bible or a libel?” I urge you to say with the Anabaptists of old, “Our devotion to the Word of God takes precedence over our loyalty to any word of man!”

August 29, 2010

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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