Being realistic, Jesus knew that there would be wolves who would enter in among the flock with ulterior motives. However, Jesus made sure that the security of the individual was preserved, as well as the integrity of the group, for He knew men then to overact to a threat.
We can sympathize with people who are offended when they discover that all are not religious who make a profession, but that is no excuse for ruling out God or His Church. Does the sheep despise its fleece because wolves have been known to dress in sheep’s clothing? Who blames a crystal river because some melancholy men have drowned themselves in the stream? Who will refuse an opiate because some have wantonly poisoned themselves with it? God rejects only those who reject His authority. We must do the same.
In this parable, the problem occurred because while Jesus’ disciples “slept” His enemy (Satan) came and sowed tares among the wheat (13:45). Tares are weeds that look very much like the wheat when they are growing. Some elders are careless about who is sowing and what is being sown in their classrooms, pulpit, and periodicals. One day they wake up and find that they have a congregation that is full of tares. They get excited and begin trying to correct the situation by running through the congregation grabbing tares right and left and throwing them out. Unfortunately, the wheat and tares look alike. It takes an expert to know the difference, and these elders and preachers have already demonstrated that they are not experts at the job. How that “ounce of prevention” would have helped here!
Jesus is not talking about ignoring the unruly and immoral in the congregation. We may have to assume that all who are among us are a part of us, but we cannot allow any of us to bring reproach upon the rest of us by immoral living or by dividing us into factions. He gives us the rules for handling such offenders. (Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6), etc. We may not be able to tell wheat from tares, but we should be able to smell when either has become rotten!
How inconsistent for the people of the world to judge the church by its hypocrites. They will go to work with hypocrites; be in political, social and service organizations with them; go to ball games and movies with them; and even live in the same house with them, but they refuse to go to church with them. I dare say you will find fewer, proportionally, in the church than you will in most of these other fellowships! But the church’s ability to continue to fellowship some questionable adherents, as long as their conduct is not incompatible, is a compliment to the love and concern that motivates this fellowship of Christians. This is “going the second mile!”
Let us go then about our business of preaching the Word, building up the church, developing personally, and portraying Christ to the world. Leave the “tare-pulling” to the Lord. But let each of us be careful to examine ourselves to make sure that we are “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
--Bill E. Smith
PSALMS 23
(with comments)
The Lord is my Shepherd
(That’s Relatonship!)
I shall not want
(That’s Supply!)
He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures
(That’s Rest!)
He leadeth me beside the
still waters
(That’s Refreshment!)
He restoreth my soul
(That’s Healing!)
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
(That’s Guidance!)
For His name sake
(That’s Purpose!)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
(That’s testing!)
I will fear no evil
(That’s protection!)
For Thou art with me
(That’s faithfulness!)
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
(That’s Dicipline!)
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
(That’s Hope!)
Thou annointest my head with oil
(That’s Consecration)
My cup runneth over
(That’s abundance!)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
(That’s Blessing!)
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
(That’s Security!)
Forever (That’s Eternity!)
“Meditate upon these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself, and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:15,16
IT KEEPS ON GROWING
One thing about mowing grass is that it never ends. Oh, it slows down for a few months, but come spring, the grass starts growing. No matter how often you mow, it grows, and needs care. The church is like that. We would be satisfied sometimes if things would just stay the same and never change, but they always do. New Christians are brought into the family, new families move in, new needs arrive as the demographics of the congregation change. You just can’t stop it from growing.
Along with these never ending jobs comes a huge responsibility—growth of mature Christians. Paul is telling Timothy that he would always need to keep on growing in order to handle the responsibility of preaching in the Lord’s Church. He could not slow down, or be satisfied, he had to keep on growing. Paul also says that this dedication to the things that would cause him to grow would be “evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15). When one puts in the time to know the Bible and use it in daily life, it will show.
Like grass that needs an experienced caregiver, the church needs mature Christians caring for the tender plants (new Christians). Timothy is told that in order to do this he needed to give attention to “the doctrine” (4:16). Isn’t that interesting? Paul didn’t say, “Timothy, you need to travel to the nearest community church and get all the cutting edge ways to ministry that they are using.” There is plenty of this going on in the church today. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we can’t learn from people who are not New Testament Christians, but that is not the answer to the care and growth of the church. Paul says that the church needs people who are well versed in the doctrine of Christ. Programs, committees, enhancements, and playing around with worship is not helping the church. Teaching God’s doctrine to the church will.
There are all sorts of lawn mowers available today, but the bottom line is that grass has to be cut. While there are all sorts of people in the Lord’s church, they all need one thing—teaching. Without good Christian doctrine, they are doomed to spiritual death. When we heed these wise words, we will save both ourselves and those who hear us. Keep on growing!
Tommy Haynes
