How do we know what to believe?

Never used to be a problem for me. I’d simply ask the pastor what we all believed after I joined. Then I wondered why the enthusiasm didn’t last very long.

On the other hand, I normally had plenty of confidence navigating my occupation, having the necessary knowledge in that realm I could base information on. And I loved acquiring that knowledge.

So, is there any way for Jesus Christ’s disciple to validate what he hears?

I could confirm much of what’s said about the Bible by simply corroborating parts of the Old Testament with the New Testament—especially what the apostle Paul wrote because, believe it or not, not everyone just took him at his word:

“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” [Ac. 17:11] [my emphasis]

[προθυμία, (prǒ-thū-mee’-â) willingness, readiness, eagerness, zeal]

Of course, at that time, Paul didn’t have quite the reputation he has now. Even so, the reliability of God’s written word is substantiated in the text of this passage—along with evidence of the audacity some people are willing to demonstrate just to be sure about what others tell them.

So, is it really that simple? Is truth available to me if I’m just willing to read the Bible inductively?

I’m convinced it is. Not unlike a job, a big part of discipleship is about attaining enough knowledge to be able to discern between truth and lies.

The Bereans knew what the Scriptures said because they loved them.

And they were determined to know the truth.

Something inside of me always suspected that gruesome, morbid festivities were inherently inappropriate.

But somehow, celebrating a day known as “Halloween” got a pass. I could dress myself and my kids up like zombies—all for a few laughs and some free candy. Then, later, when that tiny sense of errancy began to raise its ugly head , I’d raise my bar accordingly, allowing only costumes which were “cute” or “innocent.”

Gotta love that word.

Innocence is the absence of blame. It defines a condition vindicated from guilt. It can also be considered a virtue. But it was never intended to be an excuse for vacuous behavior.

For years, I attempted to justify using my child’s true innocence to protect my ignorance—and eventually, my obstinance about participating in Halloween activities. I was okay with enrolling my sacred trust from the Lord into what is the greatest folly of the darkness of this world.

But I never considered the consequences.

The world loves Halloween. But if I’m truly a disciple of Jesus Christ, I’ll allow the Spirit to guide me, because I can’t get a little bit pregnant: 

“Come out of her, My people, so that you will not participate in her [Babylon] sins and receive of her plagues…”  [Rev. 18:4a]

Moms, dads, grandpas and grandmas, Halloween is your opportunity to shine:  

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them, for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”    [Eph. 5:11-12]

Be bold.  Remember Jesus.  Remember Charlie. 

If I ask what a husband is today, the definitions could vary considerably, depending, of course, upon what kind a day a wife is having…

This English word is derived from a combination of the Scandinavian words “hús” and “bóndi.” Húsbóndi meant “house occupier.” I actually have a college degree in Animal Husbandry but, for over fifty years, I never felt so inclined to investigate the morphology of this term. That happened only after I learned that the true Biblical meaning of the word “husband” was much more encompassing than a dictionary or a certificate of learning could ever suggest.

In fact, being a husbandman is one of the primary characteristics of a godly man.

But how does he do that?

Perhaps by first understanding what husbandry actually is. Efficiency is the key. A husbandman builds upon what he has and makes it better. He takes his extensive knowledge of something and combines it with a passion to make it thrive and prosper for him and those who depend on him.

Jesus’ parable about being productive with resources [or talents] provides a comprehensive model of effective husbandry. [Matt. 25:14-40] A successful husbandman seeks to understand his domain well and strives to learn how to connect, cultivate and invest in it wisely. But it isn’t limited to his relationship with his wife.

It might also include a cornfield or a mission field. Or maybe a herd of cattle or a flock of the Lord’s sheep.

But, whatever it is that he does, he does it for his Master since he understands that, while redemption is wholly unearned, the reward of an inheritance in the coming kingdom is based on works. [Col. 3:23-24]. The true husbandman is focused more on the welfare and fertility of his domain than he is on personal status.

The Lord’s mandate for man to work was both defined and demonstrated consistently in form and function. [see: Gen. 2:5-15] His realm of responsible husbandry extends well beyond that of his occupation, wife and family to include everything in his domain.

He acquires. He sows. He cultivates. He guards. Then he reaps.

There’s nothing like hearing it from the horse’s mouth.

For example, when it came to raising the dead, Jesus was very straightforward explaining exactly what He intended to do and when:

” …I have come down from the heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that, of every [thing] that He has given Me, I lose nothing of it, but raise it up on the last day. For this [also] is the will of My Father, that everyone who is observing the Son and believing in Him shall possess eternal life, and I Myself shall raise him up on the last day.” [Jn. 6:38-40; see also: Jn. 6:44]

So then, what would be the reason for “raising” someone if part of him wasn’t actually dead?

And what is the actual significance of being raised up on the last day?

Plenty. According to the apostolic authors, this event coincides with Jesus Christ’s return to the earth when He not only raises the righteous dead [see: Ac. 24:15; Lk. 14:14], but also inaugurates the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom. [see: 1Thes. 4:13; 1Cor. 15; Rev. 19,20]

The goal of the Christian life is to live in the age.

However, most Bible translations today use the word “forever” where the Greek idiom, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, is found in the text. Literally, this phrase means, “in [or into] the age.” Unfortunately, these translations often turn the meaning around to fit the traditional bias’ of the translators. But Jesus never needed to explain what it meant.

Because everyone understood that in order to “live in the [coming] age,” they’d first need to be raised back to life:

“I am the living bread that came down out of the heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live in the age…” [Jn. 6:51]

“He who is eating My flesh and drinking My blood possesses eternal life , and I shall raise him up on the last day.” [Jn. 6:54

“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who is eating Me, he also shall live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the [manna the] fathers ate and died. He who is eating this bread shall live in the age.” [Jn. 6:57-58]

These words Jesus spoke are conditional in context.

Eat well, Brothers.

I’d like to think I could never separate myself from the Lord.

And the apostle Paul reminds us that nothing can ever separate us from His love. [see: Rom. 8:38-39] But even if I unwittingly choose to “…grieve the Spirit,” I’m pushing the envelope. [see: Eph. 4:30]

I am, after all, a man originally created with an inherent nature to sin. [see: Rom. 7:14-25]

The problem is, that dog still hunts in every man still drawing breath in this age. But it seems that every second I allow the Spirit to lead me, it’s impossible for me to grieve Him. [see: Rom. 8:5-10]

King David developed a similar pragmatic attitude about his faith and obedience to the Lord. While he was certainly a man after God’s own heart, he never pulled any punches about his imperfect nature. Nor did he ever persist trying to make excuses for his abhorrent behavior.

During the short time he tried to dance around his illegitimate affair with his best friend’s wife, he was slamming the door in the face of the Holy Spirit—over and over again. Remember also that he was about as “saved” as a man could be at that time.

The Lord had set him apart by anointing him King of His people.

Yet in spite of his conduct, he revered God. The Scriptures record no evidence that he sought any resentment or vengeance for the Lord’s judgement upon him. Instead, David demonstrated the epitome of repentance and contrition:

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” [Psa. 51:12] [my emphasis]

But then, could he have known instinctively that “sustaining” salvation required a prophylactic approach?

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. “ [Psa. 139:23-24] [my emphasis]

The Lord keeps His faithful train on the track.

Who are we supposed to be?

Where is the actual paradigm for masculine conduct? If I ask ten different men I’m likely to get ten different answers. Indeed, some will claim the Bible provides the model.

So why, then, are some men who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ not demonstrating righteous virility in their lives?

[virile (virəl) adjective; having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive (typically used of a man); having or characterized by strength and energy]

Disobedience could be a reason. But perhaps ignorance is the real culprit.

Because if I’m trying to envision the archetype of the Godly man through the lens of an effeminate culture prevailing in our congregations today, then I’m not seeing the pattern I need to see.

But if we men will just open our eyes, we’ll see a vacuum being filled as a result of our passive, malleable presence. And it’s all on us.

I cannot convey Biblical virility by being amenable for the sake of peace in Christ’s ecclesia. This is one of most effective maneuvers in Satan’s toolbox. If he can overwhelm the otherwise faithful disciple with a voracious appetite for sports, leisure and pornography, then that man will have no problem surrendering his God-ordained office of headship in both his family and his congregation.

And he’ll also unwittingly forfeit the opportunity to demonstrate responsible leadership and virile behavior in every dimension of his life.

Perhaps many of us who claim to belong to Jesus Christ aren’t aware that we were created to be saviors of the world just like our Master. We were made to lead, protect and reflect the essence of masculinity that’s conducive to the Lord’s standards of human male conduct.

But righteous virility isn’t a commodity available for purchase. It is, in fact, a vital male attribute already existing in each of us, accessible only by the will of the Spirit.

Only through the Spirit can I seek and learn to be what I was meant to be.

One of the first Bible verses my friend suggested I memorize confounded me:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” [Jn. 15:5] [my emphasis]

[μένω: (mê’-nō) intransitive verb: to remain, stay, abide, live, dwell, last, endure, continue; transitive: await, wait for]

“…apart from Him I can do nothing?”

How could I have been apart from Jesus if I was already saved?

At that time though, I didn’t understood what being saved actually meant. But I’d also never considered the very personal nature of His appeal to remain in Him either, having never contemplated any type of relationship with Him to be closer than arm’s length.

It was a Presbyterian thing in my mind. They never talked about “being in Jesus” or Him “being in them.” He was up there. We were down here. Everything revolved around rote liturgy and life-lesson sermons. So, until I learned to read the Bible inductively, I never realized that being a disciple of Christ actually did have a cost.

I can perform a lot of great works for Jesus and never miss the opportunity to gather to worship or pray in His name. But if Christ is not in me, sustaining me with enough spiritual sap in my branches to resist the real battle against the lusts of this age, then I don’t belong to Him. [see Rom. 8:9-11; see also Matt. 7:21-23]

As a result, my ability to persevere and overcome in faith will atrophy. My lifeline to the Source of the vine will dry up.

This passage confirms the functional essence of discipleship in Jesus Christ. It’s not a spectator sport. It demands active participation.

But if I intend to remain in anything, I have to actually be there first.