ABC Great Rivers Region: Guest Columnist "If...Then" by Dan Cole

Reverend Dan Cole former Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Moline, Illinois. Now ABC Central Region Area Minister

If-Then In mathematics and computer programming (a not so distant cousin) there are such things known as “if-then” statements. These statements set the conditions for what follows. If things do not fit the conditions then they are not apart of the definition or truth. Other sciences and disciplines of life use similar methods for establishing a frame of reference for their realities.

It works like this. Pretend that you do not recognize the objects I am speaking about. Should I want to define the size of a ball in relation to the size of another ball I might say the following. “If a soccer ball is larger than a baseball and a baseball is larger than a golf ball, then a soccer ball is larger than a golf ball.” This process of logic helps us define the things of our world, create standards and identify the things that set the conditions for what is authentic.

Let’s try it again. Suppose I wanted to know, “What is the definition of sacrificially giving and how does it relate to a tithe?” I might use an “if-then” statement. If a person practices giving a tithe (which is ten percent of their available resources) and clearly already belongs to God; then when they begin giving part of the ninety percent that is theirs over which to decide, they have begun to give sacrificially. This definition gives a clear starting place for understanding sacrificial giving. In practice however, it will appear in different forms. In one part of the world a portion of the family’s rice supply used as a sacrificial gift can hardly be compared to an extra $10 or $20 in the offering plate in another more affluent part of the world. So the practice of sacrifice will change but not the definition.

It occurred to me that Jesus and other biblical writers used these same “if-then” statements to give definition to other spiritual principles.

Jesus said, “If you have done it to the least of these my brothers then you have done it to me….”

Jesus said, “If you confess me before men, then I will confess you before the Father…”

John said, “If you say that you love God and do not love your brother, then you are a liar…”

Definitions for spiritual life are not always clear because people live their faith mixed with cultural ideas and old family practices. Folks are often not able to separate the principle from the practice. Even though people attend church, sing the songs of faith and become baptized; they will still consult their horoscope or the Farmer’s Almanac on issues about life and their future. Success in the church may well be an issue of family life, unemployment or even politics.

Perhaps we, in the “postmodern world” are not so different from those in the African churches who consult their ancestors for answers to daily problems. Pastors search the writings of those who have long since died to get insights for their sermons on issues of life and faith. Our church’s success stories are more often measured by economics, organization, and cultural influences than by faithfulness, obedience, and righteousness. It would be good for us to return to the “if-then” statements of the Bible so that the timeless principles of the scripture are passed to the next generation. Uncluttered with our practices they become the foundation for the gospel that we preach to every nation.

Here’s my challenge. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, then he must leave him/her self behind: day after day, take up his/her cross and come with me”.(Luke 9:23)

I’ll let you decide. What is the principle? What is being defined? What is required to be authentic? Remember, if it doesn’t fit the conditions, then it is not part of the definition.

Searching for a clearer gospel to pass to the next generation? Give your life, your family, your church the “if – then” test.

Think on these