Posts by John Staiger (Page 64)

In this day when many congregations struggle to find enough willing preachers and Bible class teachers, James’ caution to, “Let not many of you be teachers,” might seem a little redundant. However, it is in such an environment that this caution is most needed, but sadly, least heeded. It is when congregations find themselves encouraging teachers to ‘please get involved’ that some who are stepping-up who should instead be staying-back. James is not talking about Bible class teachers with strange…

When Jesus spoke, people listened. The exorcisms and healings drew many to him, however, it was his voice of authority that kept them hanging off every word. But that which gripped the crowds infuriated the Scribes and Pharisees. Their powerless platitudes were being exposed by this uneducated preacher from Galilee—he had to be cut down to size. Teaching with authority is the goal of every Christian teacher. It is never to be substituted with greater talent or superior learning. For…

False teachers ride up in bright flowing robes on beautiful black stallions. With a slash of their sword, they clean away all things old, and with a wave of their hand, they usher in all things new. Well, that’s the way they come across to those who hang off their every word, anyway. False teachers are, and always will be, the scourge of the church. Sadly, they do not come with a “Beware, I’m a false teacher” sign hanging around…

Good teachers are vital to the cause of the Gospel. I am not speaking here of the ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’ kind (as vital as they are), I am speaking of those who teach the Word of God. In my youth Peter Craig spent every Thursday night for three months teaching me the Gospel in his home. On the Sundays in-between I visited the Otumoetai Church of Christ and listened to Ian Mostert teach the adult Bible class and preach…

A few years ago, I made a Facebook post that read: “Playing with your cell phone in worship is like forsaking the assembly without having to leave the building.” Much to my surprise it was ‘Shared’ 800 times worldwide (nothing compared with some, but eight times more than any before or since). The accompanying comments were predictable. They ranged from the supportive, “Amen!” to the stinging, “You know that people use their phone as their Bible in church, don’t you?”…

What is so bad about reality that so many people choose to distort their perception of it? I have never taken mind-altering drugs. In fact, I have not even had as much as a drop of alcohol since my youth. But the mind is altered by more things than drugs. Our desires, coupled with the circumstances of life, sends the mind in all sorts of directions. We cannot act as if our minds are not being affected by what goes…

If you live in a developed country, you are, as a rule, surrounded by supermarket food laced with salt and sugar. Add to this the readymade meals of the fast-food outlets, and you can safely assume that large swathes of the population are imbibing too much salt and sugar. The number of men over fifty being greeted by their medical doctors as automatic candidates for high blood pressure and high cholesterol medication, confirms the obvious. As one who previously ignored…

When I met Christians in my youth, two things immediately impressed me: Firstly, they wanted me to do well, and secondly, they looked to the future with optimism. It remains a powerful scene to behold to this day. Your view of the future says everything about your present. The last thing young people want to think about is the brevity of life. Life is to be an experience, not a setup for sorrow and regret. They look to role models…

They used to say, “Never discuss politics or religion in polite company.” Now, the ‘they’ who used to say this used to fill their hours with little else but talk of politics and religion. One would have to conclude that the wise admonition was designed to make sure that you didn’t insult a guest holding a different opinion. Nowadays, Christians are taught that ‘Religion’ is something a true believer must avoid – no matter the company. It is said to…

Politics can be a dangerous game for the Christian. I may not have lost friendships over politics, but I know that I have severely strained one or two of them. To my shame! Some Christians are convicted that voting is a right, privilege and responsibility placed into their hands by God Himself. Yet, other Christians are convicted that believers should distance themselves completely from all political affairs. Who is right? Voting is something that Western countries take for granted. Thus,…