Huntington Church of Christ

People are funny. In every congregation I have labored, after some particular lesson, someone will eventually say "you preach on too many negative things" while at the very same time others are telling me "you preach on too many positive things." On several occasions, when accused of being a bit too hard or "negative", the complainants offered the same old cliche, "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar", and I, in turn, rebut with my same old cliche, "That's true if you want to catch flies. I'm interested in the souls of men!"

The Bible is a combination of both positive and negative teachings. For example Jesus said:

"Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind...Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-40)

What a sweet and lovely thought; we like reading about love! But Jesus also said:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27)

Such words are bitter and distasteful to the hypocrites of this world. One must not lean too heavy in either direction, but rather teach the Word of God as it is set forth. Paul wrote Timothy:

"Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2)

He was told to preach to the needs of the people and not to their itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

VINEGAR: Sin is bitter; breaking God's word is not good. Therefore, it must be exposed and condemned. Thus the bitter taste of vinegar. Jesus said the sinner would not want his sins to be exposed, but reproof is necessary so corrections can be made.

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God". (John 3:20, 21)

No doubt this is uncomfortable. Although not pleasant, there are times we must be made to taste the bitters. No one likes bad news. The Physician doesn't enjoy telling his patient about a serious life threatening disease, but he does so that treatment can be quickly dispensed and a terminal condition diverted. The patient swallows the bitter medication or endures the uncomfortable treatment with the hope of regaining his good health. The sinner must recognize his sin, and the condition of his soul, before he can repent of it. He must realize the torment and destruction that awaits him. The Jews who were assembled on the first Pentecost following the death and resurrection of Jesus were made to taste the vinegar of their sins.

"Ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay...Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that god hath amde him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucifed." (Acts 2:23, 36)

This "negative" message "pricked" their heart and caused them to surrender themselves to Christ (Acts 2:36-47). "So then am I become your enemy; by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16)

Let me also add this thought: "Vinegar" may at times have to be administered in a blunt and forthright manner, as Peter addressed the sins of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3-11) or Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:20-23). But never forget the manner in which Aquilla and Priscilla took Apollos aside and corrected his teaching (Acts 18:25,26) or the words of Paul:

"Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to hyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

Let us learn to be tactful, gentle and kind. As a parent lovingly adminsters the bitter medication to his child, let us do our best to show our love and concernfor the souls of those we teach.

HONEY: The good news of Jesus fills the pages of the Bible. The Psalmist wrote that God's Word was "sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb." (Psalms 19:10) The Bible is sweet and rich!

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalms 119:103)

After all of the bitterness of sin, the taste of honey is gladly welcomed. A sip of the cool refreshing water of life removes the bitter vinegar.

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." (John 4:14)

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)

The foul taste of bitters is quickly removed with a bite of "heaven's bread."

"Our fathers ate the manna in the winderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:31-35)

"I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

Jesus offers eternal rest and help "come unto me, and ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28,29) Honey is an incentive. Come to Christ and taste His sweetness!

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ