VOICE FROM THE PAST
"I Object" by Irvin Himmel
Truth Magazine, Vol. XVI, No. 40, August 17, 1972
God told Moses to choose twelve men, one out of each of the twelve tribes, and send them into the land of Canaan to search out the land (Num. 13). The general plan was for these men to bring back firsthand information about the Promised Land as an encouragement for the people to go up and possess it. The twelve spies returned after spending forty days in Canaan. Ten of them protested the idea of attempting to conquer the land. Admitting that it was a good and fruitful land, they thought Israel was too weak to fight the strong people inhabiting Canaan. They objected because they thought there would be a wholesale slaughter if the Israelites made an attack. Joshua and Caleb, good spies, were powerless to quiet these loudmouth objectors, rebellion broke out, God threatened to disinherit the whole nation and raise up a new nation through Moses, but the punishment finally inflicted was the forty-year wilderness wandering during which time the protesters died.
During the earthly ministry of Jesus, on more than one occasion opposition was voiced to his eating with publicans and sinners (Matt. 9:9-13; Lk. 15). It seems that some of the religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) attributed the worst of motives to our Lord. They imagined that he ate with publicans and sinners because he enjoyed their company. It never occurred to the objectors that Jesus' sole purpose was to teach and save the publicans and sinners. Of course, the scribes and Pharisees wanted to find fault with Jesus, and when one wants to find fault, objections can be invented.
Our Master once attended a supper in Bethany. Mary, sister to Martha and Lazarus, broke an expensive box of ointment and anointed Jesus with the costly anointment. Judas Iscariot, an apostle who later betrayed Jesus, objected to Mary's action. He asked, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" He pretended to have great concern for the poor, but the Bible says he really did not care for the poor but was a thief (John 12: 1-8). Jesus rebuked Judas and commended Mary. Our Lord's remark was, "Let her alone."
Anything that is wrong should be opposed. Whatever lacks scriptural authorization must never be given endorsement. It takes knowledge, wisdom, faith, courage, and love for the truth to stand in opposition to practices that are against the will of God. In this article I am writing about objecting to things which have divine approval, not to things that are wrong.
One who objects to the doing of things that are good and right in the sight of God places himself in the company of the ten evil spies, the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, and Judas Iscariot. It requires neither wisdom nor knowledge to voice opposition to righteous endeavors. It takes neither faith nor love to shout, "I object."
The work of the church is often hindered by faithless men who act as if born in the objective case and the kickative mood! They grumble because the church does not grow but object to every proposal that might pull the church out of its lukewarmness. Let someone suggest a worthwhile undertaking and immediately the objectors begin finding fault. Either the cost is prohibitive or money will be wasted; either the plan will not work or the timing is off; either we have tried it already or else it is too novel; either the congregation is too small for such a project or else a church this size does not need it.
Perhaps we should think about why the chronic objectors follow the path of resistance to a congregation's enlarging its program of work. Why should one voice opposition to more "mission" work, a proposed gospel meeting, remodeling the meetinghouse, increasing a preacher's wages, appointing more elders and deacons, upgrading Bible classes, expanding the personal work program, trying additional avenues for reaching the lost, or whatever the proposal may be? (Bear in mind we are thinking solely about things that are scriptural.)
Sometimes envy is the real ground of an objection [Prov. 14:30]. The critic does not want the preacher to get a raise unless he is getting one, too. He does not want more elders unless he is going to be one of them.
Sometimes greed is the motivating force. The objector does not want the congregation to spend more money because he is stingy [2 Cor. 9:6-7]. He objects to helping a preacher overseas because he does not want to increase his own contribution to make it possible.
Sometimes selfishness shows through when the objection is analyzed [Phil. 2:1-4]. The critic is thinking of himself, not the spiritual welfare of others. He cannot see beyond his own nose.
Sometimes lack of faith is reflected in the objection [2 Cor. 8:3-5]. This was the real problem with the ten spies. Men convince themselves that the church is doomed to be without real success, so they object to everything that would make for success.
Sometimes desire for attention prompts the objector [3 Jn. 9]. Like the child which stands on his head to get the attention of his playmates, one may feel that he can draw attention to himself by making an issue whenever he sees that most of his brethren are in agreement that a work should be undertaken. A critic may wish to impress 'others' that he thinks independently.
Before saying, "I object," think twice! Why do you object? What effect will your objection produce on others? Will it hinder the church while satisfying personal ego, or is it a valid objection based on sound reasoning?
Doubtless some will object to what I have written about objections. Be assured of this one thing: I shall not object to your objecting!
SHORT EXHORTS - Written and/or Compiled by David
J. Riggs
(http://www.public.usit.net/driggs/)
"Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God." (Eccl. 8:12-13)
An Atheist farmer often ridiculed people who believed in God. He wrote the following letter to the editor of a local newspaper: "I plowed on Sunday, planted on Sunday, cultivated on Sunday, and hauled in my crops on Sunday; but I never went to church on Sunday. Yet, I harvested more bushels per acre than anyone else, even those who are God-fearing and never miss a service."
The editor printed the man's letter and then added this remark: "God doesn't always settle His accounts in October." Things will always be well with those who fear God, but not so with the wicked.
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"I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food." (Job 23:12)
The importance of spending much time with something of great value and beauty is illustrated by a quote from the National Geographic magazine about Carl Sharsmith, an 81 year old guide in Yosemite National Park: "Carl was back at his tent quarters after a long afternoon with tourists. His nose was flaked white and red with sunburn; his eyes were watery, partly from age but also from hearing again an old question after a half-century of summers in California's Yosemite National Park. A lady tourist had hit him with a question where it hurt: 'I've only got an hour to spend at Yosemite,' she declared. 'What should I do? Where should I go?' The old naturalist-interpreter-ranger finally found voice to reply. 'Ah, lady, only an hour.' He repeated it slowly. 'I suppose that if I had only an hour to spend at Yosemite, I'd just walk over there by the river and sit down and cry.'"
A whole lifetime is not long enough to appreciate fully the beauty and value of the Bible. Let us as Job treasure God's word more than our necessary food.
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"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?'" (Luke 17:15-17)
A man had posted himself in front of an office building with a tray of shoelaces. One executive made it a daily habit to give the unfortunate man a 75 cents, but never took the laces. One day the peddler, upon receiving the 75 cents, tapped his departing benefactor on the back and said, "I don't like to complain, Sir, but the laces are now one dollar."
Let us truly be grateful for the blessings we have.