LET GOD BE TRUE

By Henry Morris, Ph.D.

            “For what if some did not believe?  Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written.  That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:3-4)

             Many Christians are so intimidated by the arrogant unbelief of the supposed intellectuals of the world that they either reject or compromise or ignore the difficult teachings of Scripture.  This is a grievous mistake, for all of God’s “sayings” are “justified” and He will surely “overcome” all those who presume to “judge” Him and His Word.

            The only reason to believe in evolution, for example, is the fact that most such intellectuals believe it.  There is no real evidence, either in the Bible or in science, for evolution or any other form of unbelief, yet many professed believers in Christ seem to have “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43).  Therefore, they assume that God does not really mean what He says in His Word, thereby making faith in His Word “without effect.”

            God’s truth is not determined, however, by taking a vote, or by the opinions of skeptics, or by metaphysical speculation.  It is determined by God Himself and none other, “for the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4).

            Therefore, as our text commands:  “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”  The very criterion of truth is the Word of God.  It is good to explain God’s Word to those open to its truth, but never to explain it away by some compromising accommodation to current scientism.  “Thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever” (Psalm 119:160).  The Lord Jesus confessed, unreservedly, “Thy word is truth” (John17:17), and so should we.

            Heavenly Father, keep us mindful of Your Word at all times, and at those times when we allow the frustrations and hardships in our life to cloud our vision, we ask that you guide us back to Your Word, where we can find Your grace and mercy.  Please send caring Christian people to help comfort and guide us, and grant us strength and wisdom to be the same to others in our daily path.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

--Norman Baldwin, Board of Elders

WORK TOGETHER – MEET THE CHALLENGE

At the Annual Meeting, the Voters’ Assembly approved the 2012 church budget.  It totals $615,152, which is a $35,000 increase above 2011.  This increase is due to staff salary and benefit increases, increased operating expenses, and the decision to add the part-time Ministry Assistant position.

So how will Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church meet the challenge at hand?  Well, without question, this challenge will require teamwork.  Each one of us will need to do our part as we strive to carry out the ministry that the Lord has blessed us with in our community.  Remember, stewardship is not about equal giving but rather equal sacrifice.  As each of us makes sacrifices, God will work among us to provide for all the needs of our growing church. 

We kindly ask you and your family to prayerfully consider how you might help our church meet the challenge that God has presented to us.  This might mean giving up some “fast food” or a trip to Starbucks and giving those funds as an extra donation to our ministry.  It might mean volunteering to help scoop snow, mow the lawn, set up tables, trim the bushes, teach Sunday School, or the like.

God has richly blessed us.  He has entrusted us with time, talents, and treasures.  As we work together to serve Him, the growing needs of our congregation will be met.

May God richly bless your family and the ministry of Beautiful Savior in 2012!

--THE BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP