THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 27, AUGUST 4, 2002

THE WORLD AND ME  
PART 2  

            As Christians, we are to be spiritually minded, not carnally minded.  We are to mind “the things of the Spirit” and not “the things of the flesh.”  Obviously, in order to understand this, we must understand what the word “mind” means.  Some have defined it as “to be intent on.”  If we “mind” the things of the flesh, it means that our interests are controlled by the appetites and the desires of the flesh.  The intention or the chief focus is on the satisfaction of the desires of the flesh.  

            Think about this for a minute.  What is it that attracts our attention?  What are the kinds of things that we find interesting?  What are the types of things that we enjoy for recreation or entertainment?  What kinds of things do we talk about and think about?  

            In Galatians 5:19 – 21, Paul wrote, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations (or bitter resentment), wrath, strife, seditions (or divisions in the church), heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  

            A lot of the “works of the flesh”  sound like an advertisement for a hit movie, a best-selling novel, or perhaps a hot prime time drama on television.  For that matter, much of it sounds like the moral conduct of many of our business leaders and national political characters.  Are these the kinds of things that attract our attention, that fill our minds and our discussions?  

            I believe we can recognize that immoral, ungodly things happen.  I believe that we can recognize that immoral and ungodly things serve as the basis for much of what is called entertainment in our world.  However, being aware of it and knowing that it is out there is a lot different from taking delight in it, or making “the works of the flesh”, the subject of my thoughts and intents.  I don’t want to know anything about the salacious details of daytime soap operas.  I don’t want to know about “Sex and the City”, “The Sopranos”, “The Shield”, “NYPD Blue”, or any other ungodly television programs or movies.  I am well aware of the fact that many of our national leaders have demonstrated that they are immoral – even amoral.  I know that, but it is not going to be fodder for conversation in my life.   It is just not right for me as a follower of the Lord to focus my attention upon that kind of stuff.  Our interest cannot be controlled by “things of the flesh”.  As Christians, we are supposed to have left those things behind, and quite frankly, the more spiritual we become, the less we will even want to think about or talk about those kinds of things.   

            As spiritually minded people, our interests are to be controlled by things of the Spirit, not of the world, and that takes work.  It is not something that magically occurs when we rise from the waters of baptism.  The old desires and passions are not just miraculously gone at that point, but we can certainly learn to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  How are we going to do that if we keep filling ourselves with worldly things?  The answer is, we won’t!  

            Paul told us what to think about and what to talk about in Philippians 4:8.  He wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  

            I may not be able to keep myself from hearing and seeing some of these worldly things, but I sure don’t have to invite them into my home and I know I can keep myself from taking delight, or even interest, in them.  

                                                                        Greg Litmer

HOW LONG IS TOO LONG, HOW SHORT IS TOO SHORT?

             The story is told of a well known preacher who was preaching in a meeting in Nashville , Tennessee .  His little granddaughter went with him one night.  He preached a little longer than usual.  The next day he asked his granddaughter, “Honey, are you going to go with me tonight?”  Her response was, “Paw-Paw, you preached so long last night, you about quit me from going to church.”  

            Reminds me of another preacher who preached a long sermon, only to have a man stand up and start walking out the door.  The preacher called out, “Brother, where are you going?”  The man replied, “To get a haircut.”  “Well, why didn’t you get one before coming to services?” the preacher asked.

            “Because I didn’t need one then” was the response.

I was holding a meeting in Dublin , Ireland , several years ago and Vicky and I were staying in the home of Steve Kearney, the preacher there.  He has a little daughter, Noel, who was about 4 at the time.  We were staying in her room while she stayed in her mom and dad’s.  Long about Wednesday Vicky asked her how she was enjoying the meeting.  She said, “I don’t like the preaching!  And I don’t like the question and answers!  And I want my room back.”

            Oh well, can’t win them all.