Fruit Has a Root – Part One

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4: 30 – 32

        The subject of this post is one on which I was reluctant to write until I heard a speaker refer to it as the most common of sins among Christians. If it is, it is expedient to deal with it and gain a victory over it. What is it? It is bitterness.

        Do you know any bitter believers?  Have you ever been bitter?  Are you presently harboring any bitterness?

        In the New Testament the word comes from the Greek word “pikria.” It refers to a person who has become cynical, caustic, sarcastic, hostile, or resentful. It manifests itself by the person becoming negative, unhappy, and critical. Does that remind you of anyone?

        We become bitter when we feel God, circumstances, or someone has wronged us, and we can’t do anything about it. We get angry and refuse to forgive. By harboring this anger, we become bitter. Dwelling on this past injustice, we develop a negative and critical outlook. Soon everything and everyone seems wrong and worth criticizing. Bitter people build a mental dossier on the failings of others. This outlook causes the bitter person to look for little things about which to make snide, cutting comments, sarcastic remarks, and unkind statements.

        Often bitterness is felt toward God. When it is, most frequently it is expressed indirectly. Maybe as a child something traumatic happened that you prayed would not happen. Anger toward God arose. Over a period of time bitterness sprouted. It is hard to get your hands on God and exercise vengeance against Him. Therefore, the church becomes the target. Maybe it is even God Himself and the reaction of bitterness is expressed in a denial of His existence.  

        The AKJ translates Hebrews 12: 15 as follows: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”

        Did you catch who is troubled by the root of bitterness? “You.” Bitterness deteriorates the personality, destroys healthy emotions,  and drains spiritual vitality. has hurtful or negative experiences. It is up to the individual as to how to react. 

        You are a marionette on the strings of the person with whom you are bitter. Your every action is manipulated by the one who is the object of your bitterness. Don’t let any person be your master.

        There are two different and dissimilar Greek words in the text, both of which are translated “forgiveness.”  One refers to releasing of charges against a person and exempting that one from punishment.  The other speaks of aggressive action to regain the heart of the adversary. It means to show grace to a person. To give them unmerited favor. Both meanings are contained in what Christ did for us.

Heaping Coals of Fire

Some passages of Scripture are so clear they need no commentary. Romans 12 is such a passage. Therefore, rather than me commenting on it I want to encourage you to read it in a modern English version and then in the version you normally read the Bible in. To help you accomplish this a copy of the “Holman Christian Standard Bible” follows below. If you have a modern version you may prefer to use it.                  

ROMANS 12

        “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith; 7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

        Only the last part of verse 20 needs a bit of an explanation. In the Bible time there were no fire starters. If a household was without one they went next door and asked for a coal. Generosity prompted them to give them so many they needed a bowl to carry them on their head. Thus, they heaped coals of fire on their head.

        Go heap some coals of fire on the heads of some needy persons.

Go Share a Little Lagniappe

“….whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two “ 
(Matthew 5: 40)

        In teaching His followers to show generosity and do more they are expected to do He drew on the law of His day. By law Jews were required to take the items a Roman was carrying a mile. Having fulfilled the law they were free to put it down and walk away. As a show of compassion they could voluntarily carry the load further than required.

        The teaching today involving all things is to always go beyond what is expected. Whether in school, athletic training, business, parent/child relationships, husband/wife relationships, friendship, or any transaction.

        It is generosity in action.

        Among the Cajun population of Louisiana they speak of lagniappe, something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure. 

        The classic example is when purchasing 12 donuts and getting 13. The 13th one is lagniappe, a little something extra.

        Are you a second mile person, do you have a lagniappe disposition?

        I met the most fulfilled person in Bermuda. He was John James Randolf Adolphus Mills, known as Johnny Barnes. He was a Bermudian entertainer who waved to passing traffic at the Foot of the Lane roundabout in Hamilton, Bermuda, from roughly 3:45 am to 10:00 am every workday. A Bermuda institution mentioned in several guidebooks and profiled in two documentary films, he was known for waving and saying “I love you, God loves you,” to passing commuters during the morning rush hour into Hamilton. He did more than he had to.

        Society is hungry for second mile acts, and lagniappe deeds. Little kindnesses result in big uplifts. They build up people.

        As Christians, we often seek guidance from the Bible on how to live our lives. The Scriptures are filled with verses that encourage us to take action, serve others, and make a difference in the world. Whether it’s helping those in need or sharing kindness, the Bible teaches us the importance of doing good in our everyday lives.

        Freedom in Christ carries the responsibility to serve others selflessly. The Bible encourages and motivates us by a sincere desire to uplift others rather than seeking personal gain.

        “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

        Go walk a second mile with someone needing a pick-up. Give someone a little lagniappe. 

Upon This Rock

        This is being respectively offered to explain why non-Catholics don’t believe Peter was appointed Pope by Jesus. It is based on Matthew 16: 16- 18. My Catholic friends will not like this interpretation, but it is based on an understanding of Scripture. Indeed, I hope our different understanding of the text won’t strain our friendship. I cherish every Catholic friend I have and they are a number.

         “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16: 16-18).

        So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

        Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16: 16- 18). New King James

        What does the original Greek text mean by what was said? Note, You are “Petros,” the proper name of Peter. It was often used of a small movable stone.

        Next Jesus follows with “upon this Petra” which is feminine and refers to a large boulder that could not be moved..

        The play on words indicates Jesus is not saying, “Peter, I am going to build my church on you personally.” There is no indication that Peter or any of the apostles thought that was what He meant.

        The Petra, the large stone on which Jesus proposed to build His church, was the confession of Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That is what the church is built on, not Peter.

        People of that time understood this analogy: “ the gates of Hades (hell) shall not prevail against it.” The gates of a city were a gathering place where the leaders of the city formed a council and met to discuss issues facing the city. Jesus was saying, “Let the devil get all the demons of hell together and seek to devise a plan to prevent me from building my church and they would not be able to do it.”

        Jesus used another analogy when He said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The power of heaven is released on earth by God’s word.

        The sacred scrolls were kept locked in a cabinet. The senior priest would unlock it, take the scrolls out and teach the younger priest. When the student learned the meaning of the scrolls the younger priest was given a key to the cabinet and could open and close the cabinet. If he removed the scroll, took it out, and taught the people the power of heaven was released on earth. If he left the cabinet locked and did not take out the scroll and teach it, it was bound in heaven and on earth.

        The foundation of the church is not a man, but the truth articulated by a very special man, Peter, who said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That truth is the foundation on which the church is built. It is a reference to Jesus Himself.

Can People in Hell See People on Earth?

        In considering this topic the text regarding a person in hell seeing people on earth must be considered. Luke 16:19-31 records the story of the rich man in hell appealing to Abraham in heaven to send Lazarus just to cool his tongue.

        First, the account does not say he saw anyone on earth. That is an assumption of the reader. The clincher regarding the story is that it is not a literal account, it is a parable. A parable is an illustration, not an actual event. This one illustrates what hell is like. The rich man in hell had no window facing earth. The Bible enables us to understand the gravity of this eternal reality and its significance to our lives.

         There are no indications (explicit or implied) in the Bible that people who are separated from God after death can see people on earth. None. 

        I believe in hell because Jesus believed in it. He believed it so conclusively He warned people not to go there. He believed in it so fully He died to prevent people from going there.

        A recent survey showed 54% of those interviewed said they were certain of a definite place of future torment. Jesus was 100% sure there is such a place.

        God doesn’t send anyone to hell, they earn the right to go there. God made hell for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25: 41) and not even they enjoy it. God had to have an alternate place to heaven. There has to be a place where persons who have rejected Jesus on earth can go. They would not fit in heaven, their nature would corrupt it.

        The Bible speaks of the fires of hell. If God wants them to be literal there is not a reason for them not to be . If they are not it is because they illustrate something far worse.

        The real hell of hell, that is, the worst part, is the absence of God’s love. If the love of God were removed from heaven and the streets of gold and gates of pearl were to remain that would be hell. Again, the real hell of hell is the absence of God’s love. Without it the conduct of those there would be hellish.

        A feature article on the front page of “USA Today” noted hell is used in locker rooms, on golf courses, board meetings, and party settings, but use it in the pulpit and the minister is said to be harsh, and attempting to frighten people.

        Therefore, it is neglected in the pulpit.

        Former President Harry Truman said, “If there were more hell in the pulpit there might be less in the pews.”

        Know God’s will. “It is not His will that any perish, but that all come to repentance” (II Peter 3: 9).

        It is further stated, “…God our Savior, who desires all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.”

        If any person goes to hell it is against His will.

        If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, pause and praise Him from a thankful heart.  If you haven’t, pause and affirm your faith in Him now.