A WELL- BALANCED SPIRITUAL DIET

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been overseeing America’s food since the agency’s formation in 1862. The My Plate program is the USDA’s most recent dietary guideline for a well-balanced meal. These guidelines have changed through the years (under different titles) since they were first published in 1894. The My Plate program features five parts of a daily well-balanced diet---grains, vegetables, fruits, protein and dairy.  

All born-again believers are commanded to worship God (Psalm 29:2; 95:6; John 4:24). But worship is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of the modern evangelical church. In some instances, worship has been reduced to a relative term---what worship is to me may not necessarily be what worship is to you. The great theologian A W Tozer called worship the missing jewel of the evangelical church. Today in many instances, worship is either neglected or over-emphasized, thus knocking the church completely out of balance.

But what is worship? The word worship is used 188 times in the Bible. Genesis 22:5 is the first mention of worship and provides us with the best definition of it; it is the Hebrew verb “shachah” meaning to bow down, or prostrate oneself before a superior; to humble yourself before God.

Just as the food parts of the My Plate program, consider the four distinct parts that make a well-balanced church---worship focuses exclusively on the Lord; instruction/edification focuses on the individual believer; fellowship focuses on the collective body of believers; and evangelism focuses our attention on winning the unsaved around us. All of these elements are like a well-balanced meal and essential to the spiritual well-being of the church. Think about it.

GOD IS NOT A DIVINE VENDING MACHINE

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

After fifty years there is little I remember of my first trip to New York City in the 1960s. But one image remains; the Automat, a massive store of vending machines selling practically any kind of food or drink imaginable. Even though the Automat would close some ten years after I was there, to an 8-year boy, I thought it was neat watching someone insert some coins and pull out a sandwich, a salad or a piece of pie.

It’s an understatement to say that God is the most misunderstood Person in the universe. Much of the world form false images of God based on faulty theology of who He is and how He works. Simply stated, God’s greatest passion is to be known (through salvation) and understood (Acts 17:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:12; Proverbs 28:5).

Consider three misconceptions about God believed by many. 1) The Cosmic Kill-Joy Myth – that God never wants us to have any fun. Some look at the Bible as Book of “dos and don’ts.” 2) The Invisible Force Myth – Star War’s “May the Force be with you” notwithstanding, some see God as nothing more than an invisible force like magnetism or mysticism, and 3) The Vending Machine Myth – the belief that God and spirituality is as simple as “pay, push and wa-lah, the prize” like the Automat.

But God is none of those myths and misconceptions. Benevolence is one of the fundamental aspects of God’s divine character. God is good (Psalm 25:8; 33:5; Nahum 1:7). His goodness is a gift of His grace toward all, extending to all He loves (John 3:16; Psalm 34:8). Always remember---God is good all the time; all the time God is good. Think about it.

WHEN CLARENCE GOT HIS ANGEL WINGS

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

The movie It’s A Wonderful Life has become a Christmas holiday classic since it first aired on television over forty years ago. Frank Capra’s 1946 touching story of George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) and his search for significance as he wonders how the world would be better if he never been born. But the heart-felt story has a secondary plot line---that of Clarence Odbody (played by Henry Travers), the bungling apprentice guardian angel and his quest for wings. In the end, George Bailey finds himself and Clarence the angel earns his wings.

Angels are spoken of throughout the scriptures, mentioned 273 times in thirty-four books of the Bible; 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New, although, interestingly their role in each reference seems somewhat incidental. The church through the centuries has swung from a preoccupation with angels bordering from a worshipful veneration (Colossians 2:18) to a casual ignorance of their role and function.

The study of angels is called angelology; they are supernaturally created spirit beings (Psalm 104:4; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:7), whose massive number is known only to the Creator (Job 38:7; Psalm 68:17; Hebrews 12:22). Angels are also eternal, meaning that they cannot die (Luke 20:36), possessing vast knowledge, but are not omniscient like God.

The subject of angels is often misunderstood. One such misunderstanding is that of guardian angels. Some believe that every born-again believer has at least one guardian angel based on a couple of scriptures which seems to allude to these special creatures' watch over believers (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14). However, Clarence Odbody notwithstanding, theologically, the Bible does not specifically tell us that each believer has a guardian angel. It’s A Wonderful Life is a great movie, but not exactly theologically correct.  Think about it.

UNCHANGEABLE IN A WORLD OF CHANGE

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

In many places in the northern hemisphere October and November demonstrates another of God’s wonders of creation. By now the leaves on the trees have changed color and many have fallen from the branches. The God created-miracle of photosynthesis is the change agent responsible for the process of leaf color change in the fall (Isaiah 1:30).

I occasionally find it humorous when I hear preachers say that they will never change. I know what they mean---that they will never change their doctrinal beliefs, convictions and/or their particular version of the scriptures. As much as I can appreciate those sentiments, the irony is that we as humans are always changing----physiologically and in many other ways.

There is a theological concept involving God, man and change. Humans are ever changing---from conception to death; we are in a state of either growth or deterioration. God, on the other hand never changes (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). And because He has no beginning or end, it is impossible for Him to change (Psalm 102:27; Hebrews 13:8). This is what is known as immutability---the inability to change (Hebrews 6:17-18).

The immutability of God can be seen His description as a rock (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 62:2); steady and stable and yet active in our world. So, in a world of constant change, we can be thankful for a God who can never change. Think about it.