The Purpose and Power of the “Amen”, or, Offsetting Political Correctness
1 Corinthians 14:8, 16 (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? …..(16) Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
The word “Amen” is a Hebrew word which means sure, most assuredly, firm, or truth. It is a word used 78 times in the Word of God. It is used in the Bible as a person’s approval to a statement and the affirmation to a prayer.
The term “Political Correctness” has very little to do with a political party. Merriam-Webster Dictionary dates the origin of the term back to 1936.
They also write the term means:
“conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend should be eliminated.”
In other words, if the Bible clearly addresses a wrong action of people and it “offends” them, then the wishes of created humanity, takes precedence over the will of the Creator, God.
Political Correctness says many things which oppose the Word of God and vice versa, but let us as the people of God who serve as the salt of the earth and the light unto the world never waiver from two facts,
- Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure , making wise the simple. (8) The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Notice the connection between the “Amen” and “Political Correctness”. When the word of God is heard by the unlearned there will be things expressed which are strange to their ears.
If God says, and He does, mankind is a sinner, or, all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or any other portion of Scripture that “steps on our toes”, we are forced to answer a question to ourselves. “Do I need to change to conform to God, or, does God need to rewrite His Book and conform to me?”
The “Amen” confirms to the world what is being said is true and sure; it says, we are in agreement with the message; it also says to the world, you would do well to heed the message. The pulpit preaching of the Word of God accompanied by the “Amen”, prayers from the pews, with the presence of the unquenched and ungrieved Holy Spirit of God will have a very powerful effect.
Notice what will happen in the following verses of the same text: 24-25, …and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Isn’t that what we are attempting to achieve?
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1 Timothy 2:7-8
It is necessary to understand what the Holy Spirit was saying when the apostle Paul penned the words in verse 8. There has become confusion even among those who wear the Baptist name concerning the practice of lifting holy hands. I believe without any reservation that our line of faith and system of doctrine can be traced back 2000 years, beyond the book of Acts, into the gospels that reveal the work of Jesus our founder. When Jesus said in Matthew 4:19,…Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men, He was calling out from among the disciples of John the Baptist the materiel He would call His church in Matthew 16:18. Jesus himself took the same group and commissioned them twice, in Matthew 10 to go to Israel, and Matthew 28:18-20 for them to be continuously going throughout the world to make disciples of Him.
The apostle Paul’s purpose in writing this letter to Timothy is found in 3:15,…how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The subject of 2:8 is prayer, the inner posture of prayer. In America, the source of this confusion is comparatively recent. Lifting up holy hands originates from charismatics. A charismatic is not a denomination but more of a philosophical position. They can be found among the Catholics, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, and Baptists by name. In the charismatic circle the lifting of hands is often accompanied by clapping, speaking in tongues, shouting, dancing, and the laying on of hands. Also, charismatic circles children are taught in classes how to speak in “angel talk” and “prayer language”. As I have observed, no obedient child needs to be taught how to talk to their loving Father.
In the mind of Timothy, he understood when the men of the church prayed, lifting up holy hands, it meant they were to be pure, honest, and without any concealed agenda as they approached God. Paul further stated that men were to not have any wrath or doubting in their heart but to pray boldly and confidently. The one and only time in the New Testament that refers to lifting up holy hands, the context was the posture of the heart and not the position of the hands.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship