Your Voice

Light shines brighter in unity, not division

By Pastor Michael J. Brooks
Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Ala.

Alabama writer Rick Bragg told about speaking to a group of Southerners, mentioning that the South was wrong on the Civil War and on civil rights.

One man rose from his seat and noisily left the lecture, his displeasure obvious. Bragg remarked that the 60s had been so long ago, he was surprised the man was still angry.

“Oh, no,” one of the man’s friends said. “He’s still mad about the war.”

The Apostle Paul found himself amongst two angry women in Philippi: Euodia and Syntyche.

After founding the church in obedience to his call to Macedonia, Paul wrote a letter to encourage the congregation.

Philippians has been called “the joy letter” since his preeminent talking point is joy. This is even more striking when we realize Philippians is one of the four prison letters.

It’s not often we find joy in jail. Nevertheless in encouraging the church, the writer felt compelled to identify these two women who weren’t getting along, insisting their discord was affecting the entire congregation.

It’s not like Euodia and Syntyche were evil women. They probably sang together in the church choir. But we remember them today because they were angry enough with one another to merit a “shoutout” from the church’s founder.

Since the letters of Paul were read aloud to the congregation, and then became circular letters shared with other churches, it’s interesting that the pettiness of these women became known to their church, other churches in the area and to us 2,000 years later.

We don’t know the nature of their disagreement. Paul didn’t mention the cause and may not have known it. Perhaps Euodia and Syntyche themselves had forgotten what they fought about.

I’ve heard a number of stories over the years from people who were angry with someone in their church. And often the explanations seem so inconsequential.

One lady told me another family was displeased when her son won an award in high school rather than their son. This alleged slight occurred 20 years before. I’m not sure how she knew this or why it mattered after so long. But it’s amazing how trivial some of the things are that separate us from one another.

In the same letter, Paul wrote, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that you may be blameless and harmless … in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14–15).

Our light is brighter when we learn to leave the hurt behind and live together in harmony as sons and daughters of God.

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Lauren Grim
Creative services manager

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Copy editor

I purchased a multi-year subscription for my grandmother. She first became a subscriber when I was interning with TAB but forgot to renew it when it expired. She told me all the time how much she missed getting it. So this year, for her birthday, that was one of my gifts to her! I appreciate the multi-year subscription offer because it helps me to not have to worry about renewing it each year (and saves money)!

Hannah Muñoz
Digital editor

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Letters to the Editor

Caris Snider’s “Anxiety” article in the Aug. 27 issue was meaningful to me in a special way. I thank you. I tore it out and will use it as a bookmark. While the column will not be read often, when I do need it again the special meaning and refreshing will be there.

Tony Berry
Foley, Ala.

Thank you for the helpful article about QAnon (published on tabonline.org). I shared it on Facebook. Some of my friends liked it and shared it; others questioned it. As always, The Alabama Baptist supported the truth.

Steve Stewart
Decatur, Ala.

My Rashionale, Sept. 17, 2020 — “Four ways to make a difference as we await Nov. 3” — is on point and just what I and others, I suspect, needed.

I want to thank you for making TAB more relevant and interesting than I ever remember it being.

Thanks so much for all you do.

Lynn Graham
Clanton, Ala.

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We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

Oswald Chambers
Author, “My Utmost for His Highest”

God makes a most unreasonable and outlandish declaration: “I will cause your red stained sins to be like white snow, like pure wool.”  Such a response to sin is not reasonable. Sin should bring punishment and condemnation. God’s goal is to redeem and restore, not condemn and punish. This makes His invitation to be cleansed and forgiven perfectly fitted to His purpose in our lives.

Bob Adams
Retired pastor

As I was reading the Book of Genesis recently, the Holy Spirit directed my attention to a key verse:

“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and watch over it” (Gen. 2:15).

God created rhythms of life. Man was neither intended for idleness nor for workaholism. Work and rest are both gifts from our Lord. God “worked” for six days and then rested on the seventh. In this example, God teaches us life principles that He intends for us.

Rest is important. Through rest, God revives our souls. Rest is a reminder that we are not the sole providers. We are not God. In rest, I glorify God — the One who is my provider. However, too much rest leads to laziness.

We are also called to work, to action, to productivity. We are called to labor in a garden that is not our own, in one that we did not plant, and in one that we do not control. Yet we are called to faithfulness in our work. We glorify God by being faithful in the work of the garden where He placed us and in the rest that coincides with our work.

May we faithfully pursue the Lord in both our work and our rest!

Stephen Hall
Executive pastor
NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville

This is a moment when Christians must be fearless. We are not for sale, and our message is not irrelevant. We have good news for the whole world.

President Ronnie Floyd
SBC Executive Committee

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From the Twitterverse

@MarkRicht

My thoughts and prayers go out to Coach [Bobby] Bowden as he has tested positive for COVID-19. Coach led me to a saving faith in Jesus Christ in 1986. Thank you, Coach Bowden. I love you, Coach!

@jburnham549

What is the answer for exhaustion? God’s strength and continued presence. Yes, Lord (Ps. 105:4)!

@louiegiglio

Is your confidence rooted in who God is? “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of our Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7).

@brocraigc

“Learn to trust Christ’s word, whatever sight may say. We live in dark times.” — Robert Murray M’Cheyne

@DrPaulChitwood

Today is the last day of the @IMB_SBC fiscal year. Today I’ll report to our trustees that Southern Baptists have given OVER our budget. In 2020. In a global pandemic. Southern Baptists love the lost among the nations and want to see them saved, of that I am certain.

@timkellernyc

Jesus asks for far more than you ever thought but offers more than you ever dreamed.

@drtonyevans

Idolatry is when loyalty to the creation is greater than your loyalty to the Creator.

@MattMason3

Christian, be wary of reading (what appear to be) fortuitous circumstances as divine guidance. You have a Bible to keep you from being blown around by preferences dressed up as providences.

@SpurgeonMBTS

“Though we do not know … why an infinitely gracious God permitted sin and suffering to enter the universe, yet we may at least encourage this practical thought — God will be glorified in the overcoming of evil and its consequences.” — Charles Spurgeon

@trillianewbell

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). We can’t be responsible for everyone else, but we can ask ourselves if we truly love or [if] we just like the attention of being a noisemaker.

@garyfenton07

To love is to desire God’s best for people and work to make it happen.