Author: Richard Bargas

Why Do the Wicked Succeed?

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“Righteous are You, O Yahweh, when I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would speak matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked succeeded? Why are all those who deal in treachery complacent?” (Jeremiah 12:1, LSB)

As a pastor, it can be quite frustrating and even depressing when you are trying to be faithful in your ministry and yet it seems as if the work you are doing isn’t having the effect that you hope it would have in the lives of the people to whom you are ministering. This frustration is exacerbated when your church is located near an unbiblical church or a cult that seems to be swelling in numbers and influence.

Several years ago I remember having a conversation with a member of our church over a similar situation. He came from a megachurch that had a large and influential ministry in the area. Although the teaching was evangelical in nature, the heart of the church was very sick and the church leaders were very abusive and manipulative, as was attested to by several former members. On the day of our conversation, this brother in Christ expressed his concern as to why his former church was so large and wealthy, and yet they failed to practice biblical church discipline, were unkind, even cruel to staff, and were almost cult-like in the way they had formed their leadership structure. On the other hand, he had grown to love our small church, seeing that what we attempted to model was from the New Testament, and that we had a warm and welcoming body that exemplified what he always felt was how a Christian church should act–even if imperfectly.

In his worldview, the larger church had been blessed by God, and that was why it was large. Our church, which was much smaller, struggled in all the ways smaller churches often struggle–with limited resources and staffing. We weren’t always able to do what we felt God called us to do on the scale we wanted to in order to reach others for Christ. If our heart was right and we were trying to be conformed to the New Testament model of a Christian church, why was it that God wasn’t blessing us with more people, financial resources, and other visible “blessings?” What the Bible says and how it played out in real life was puzzling to this sincere brother.

Since we live in a world where our eyes can deceive us, it is easy to default into a popular view that the Jewish people often held in the Bible. It was the idea that in this life, God blesses us when we are good, and God punishes us when we are bad. Although this idea is simple and clean (and is often true, but not always), it doesn’t always work out that way in real life experience and it can become very disorienting when the righteous are seemingly not blessed and the wicked seem to succeed.

Asaph wrote a psalm voicing his struggle with this very issue (Psalm 72). He began to feel as if all his striving to walk in obedience to the Lord was a wasted effort, ““Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;” (Psalm 73:13, LSB). Essentially, Asaph wondered aloud, why bother if in the end, the righteous end off worse than the wicked? There are a lot of problems with this sort of thinking, and that is another subject for another time, but here is the reality that sobered up Asaph:

“When I gave thought to know this, It was trouble in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cause them to fall to destruction. How they become desolate in a moment! They are completely swept away by terrors!” (Psalm 73:16–19, LSB)

The moment Asaph walked into the presence of God he was immediately reminded of the eternal realities his eyes could not see in the moment of his confusion about his present realities. This world is not all there is. Jeremiah needed this reminder as well. The fall of Israel and Judah were not the end. The wicked that the Lord used as His instruments of judgment would not be eternally exonerated. And the church that throws off how the Lord desires to be worshipped in exchange for a spirit of entrepreneurial showmanship will eventually reap what they have sown. The cultists, false teachers, and those that treat the church as a money-making or power-grabbing enterprise will reap what they have sown eventually.

You see, some seeds take longer to bring their harvest. Sometimes we see the fruit of our efforts in this life–good or bad. But other seeds, and these are often the most important ones, we will not reap the harvest until we stand before our Creator God. We need to be focused upon faithfully sowing the right seeds, and worry much less on what the other guy is doing. By keeping our hands to the plow and working the vineyard the Lord has given to us, we will find that we are more content and filled with joy when we see the harvest, big or small, that the Lord brings through His powerful gospel.

Drinking and Spiritual Leadership

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It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

Proverbs 31:4–5 (LSB)

I’ve noticed with increasing frequency that not only are more pastors and even Christians in general drinking more openly, there seems to be a growing number that are using social media to promote their newfound freedom, with some even encouraging others to join in.

Now, before someone makes a comment about drinking not being a sin, and that taking a position of abstaining from alcohol is “legalistic” and is yet another troubling result of fundamentalism, I want to be clear that I understand that drinking alcohol is not a sin, per se. I also understand that there are some that add to the Scriptures and state that all drinking of alcohol is sin, and not simply to be drunk. I don’t agree, even though I do not personally drink alcohol.

I am specifically addressing the issue from a place of wisdom, and in particular, as a spiritual leader. I, of course, mean pastors and elders, but I also am speaking of those men that lead their homes as well. There are other types of leadership—at work, school, etc., but I am thinking primarily of the higher levels of leadership in particular where many others may be influences either by our example or by our decisions—and often by both.

In Proverbs 31:4-5 we have a good reason for any spiritual leader to think seriously about his use of alcohol because of the fallout that might occur if he does so. When the Bible addresses leaders, particularly those such as kings who functioned in judicial as well as civil matters, we must understand that alcohol is not presented in as neutral a place as some would suggest.

Along with foreign wives (and multiplied wives) that will bring ruin to a king, the authority and influence we wield is to be taken seriously by leaders, particularly in regard to consumption of alcohol. Leaders are to be servants to those they lead, and must do so fairly and carefully.

All too many leaders see those they lead as servants who exist to meet their needs. The godly leader works for those he serves. This means he must be able to think clearly and biblically, even sacrificing freedoms and liberties that others enjoy in order to be a better servant leader. To be intoxicated blurrs the ability to do so, and could lead to injustice against those that depend upon the leader.

I want to be a good father and husband, as well as a friend, pastor, and neighbor. I want all those who speak with me and look toward me as an example to be able to trust that I am sober in every way, and that my counsel, words, and actions are uninhibited and clear in any given moment. Strong drink can muddy the senses and can easily slide into sinful drunkenness.

Wisdom says that kings should abstain so that they can be good servants to the people they lead. Yes, in my Christian liberty I am free to drink as long as I don’t get drunk. But I am also free to not drink, and therefore not find my mind hampered, my example followed into disaster, my tongue slipping into sinful speech, or my body craving something that I simply don’t need. I have enough battles in my life to face in my journey to holiness. Why would I choose to invite something into my life that I can do without and thus far have not missed?

I know there are a lot of Christians that would disagree with me because they feel they are free to drink and not sin. I don’t disagree. But I have seen the affects of alcohol on too many friends, family, and those who have testified as believers saved out of a life of drunkenness to see any benefit for drinking. For me, it is a matter of conviction, and from the above passage and others in the Bible, I am personally convicted that it is unwise for many—including myself, to drink.

You Need More than a Chiropractor for that Stiff Neck!

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“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” Proverbs 29:1 (LSB)

The stubbornness of this foolish person is seen in the example of the prophet Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas, who were warned repeatedly, both by the general public, as well as by Eli himself (1Sam 2:12-3:11). They had become so brazen in their sin that they thought themselves to be above the law of God, and even above God himself, having no fear of his judgment. And as the proverb says, their judgment came upon them swiftly and like a pot smashed, was irreparably destroyed.

What’s the moral of the story? listen to those who bring to you correction. Don’t make excuses, shift the blame, play the victim, or get mad. See the grace of God in this friend who is loving you through correction.

Don’t Blame God

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“The folly of man subverts his way,
But his heart rages against Yahweh.” Proverbs 19:3 (LSB)

Beware of blaming God for your own foolish actions. The consequences hurt, but they should be used to teach us, not as an excuse to blame others.

A Good Problem to Have

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“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4 (LSB)

I remember hearing a pastor say that he had to fire the church custodian because he was constantly complaining about the messes people were leaving in the church. He complained when they left bulletins in the pews, and paper towels in the bathroom trash, and when he had to constantly vacuum because their shoes tracked in dirt and grass. In his discussions with the pastor that led up to his eventual firing, the pastor continuously reminded this janitor that the whole reason he had a job was because the people were leaving these little messes!

Some of you might remember the days when grandmothers used to cover the couch with plastic to preserve it for “company.” They had special china, special towels, and special silverware. It was like they were expecting the President of the United States to pop over and have coffee, and they wanted to be ready! If you visited anyone’s house that had this sort of mindset, or you lived in such a home, then you understand that it was like visiting a museum—nice to look at but you wouldn’t want to live there!

Unfortunately, some people can have a similar attitude about their church. They liked the orderliness when there weren’t any children running around. They liked singing the same old hymns of their youth. They like the hush and echo of a solemn sanctuary. And then the church begins to see new people!

These new people bring in children—who are okay if they only behave and stop acting like…children! And then they want to change everything—the music, the carpet that was installed in 1976, the signs out front… Soon the church is ringing with noise and filled with messes! “Oh pastor!” they say, “I remember the good old days when we didn’t need to worry about all these people and we could just worship God in the old-fashioned way—as God meant it to be!”

Hear Solomon’s words: Yes, when there were no oxen in the stable, the pens and manger were clean. That is because there is no longer life on the farm. And is a farm without animals even a farm? And if there are no oxen, then there can be no plow to turn the soil. Which means there can be no or very few crops. And if no crops, then is it a farm? And if there are no crops, then how can the farmer hope to feed any other animals? How can he survive?

It is a wonder that so many churches cut off the life of the church and drive away new people through their denial of any change, and then are astonished that their pastor leaves when he cannot feed his family with what they pay him. No oxen, no crops, no food and no feed al amount to no life. The church pews and steeple may be pretty to look at. The church bell may have rung out in an earlier generation, but now sits silent. And still, there are churches that say to themselves, “This new generation doesn’t care about God anymore.” Perhaps there needs to be some more mediation upon the words of Solomon.