The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at New Georgia

Tim Johnson, editor

July 15, 2007

 
In This Issue:
"Let Me Make it Up to You" -- The Principle of Restitution
by Steve Klein

Desensitization
by Jeff May

 

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"Let Me Make it Up to You"

The Principle of Restitution

   Have you ever had someone spread a rumor about you that was not true?  Ever had someone damage your property or steal something from you?  If that person repented and asked forgiveness, it would be your obligation and privilege to forgive him. Jesus said, "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4). 

  In this happy circumstance, would you expect the person who had asked forgiveness to right the wrong they had done to you?  If they had stolen something, would you want them to give it back?  If they'd broken something, would you expect them to fix it or replace it?  If they'd spread a false rumor about you, would you want them to let the truth be known and make every effort to clear your name?  Certainly!  We would all want and expect the one who had wronged us to make it up to us. 

  Now, what about when the shoe is on the other foot?  Are we as eager to make restitution when we have wronged others as we expect them to be when they have wronged us?  We ought to be! Jesus said, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). 

  In the Old Testament, detailed instructions concerning restitution were spelled out for God's children.

  1. The general principal was that if you wronged another, you had to confess the wrong, make full restitution, plus give them an additional one-fifth.  (Numbers 5:6-7). 

  2. If you injured another so that he could not work, you were required to provide for his healing plus pay him for his loss of time.  (Exodus 21:18-19)

  3. If you stole an ox and slaughtered it or sold it, you had to restore FIVE oxen; if it was a sheep, you had to give back FOUR SHEEP   (Exodus 22:1).

  4. If you stole an animal and you were able to return the animal you stole, you were required to return another one with it.  (Exodus 22:4)

  5. If your animal got loose and ate another man's crops, you were required to give that man the best of your own crops. (Exodus 22:5)

  6. If you started a fire that burned grain or field, you had to make restitution. (Exodus 22:6).

  You and I are surely thankful that we do not live under the Law of Moses, with all of its detailed and exacting requirements.  But we would be mistaken to think that the lack of a lot of specific rules concerning restitution in the New Testament means that we don't have to try to make amends to those we've wronged.  As we've already noted, the Lord expects us to do unto others as we want them to do to us.  

  The story is told that many years ago a man named Abe went to an old-fashioned revival and was deeply convicted of his lost condition. He went home and said to his wife, "Mandy, what shall I do? I am lost. I am miserable. But you know we have gained our possessions crookedly and if I get religion, and make restitution, which I will have to do, we will not have a shelter over our heads. The house, the ranch, every cow and sheep will be gone. That is what will take place, if I get religion. And if I don't get religion I will surely go to hell. What must I do, Mandy?" Mandy replied, "Abe, get religion." Well, Abe went back and got real religion. He immediately began to straighten out his crooked life and make amends to those he had wronged. Soon all was gone. Not one thing left. Abe and Mandy were sitting under a tree eating some cheese and crackers. Abe looked across and said, "What about this Mandy?" She immediately and joyously replied, "It beats hell, Abe."

  Repentant Zacchaeus stood in Jesus' presence and said, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."  Jesus responded, "Today salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:8-9).  Yes, salvation comes to those who are willing to make restitution.  And salvation sure beats the alternative.

 -- Steve Klein
 

 Desensitization

  Desensitize. Now that's a big word. What does it mean? It is defined "to reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of person."   A country boy asked me once, "Have you ever seen a pig holding his nose?" He then said, "He's been in the stench so long, he doesn't know he stinks." Now, I've got it. Don't you love the way country folks can shuck it down where anyone can understand?

  Desensitization happens when we expose ourselves to shameful things so long that we no longer respond to it as we once did. The Bible teaches us to keep our senses keen. Our senses are to be "exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). We need to have discernment to make good choices and approve of things that are excellent (Phil. 1:10). But too much exposure to filth has a tendency to numb the senses. Our world is full of people who "having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more" (Eph. 4:19). It is possible for our consciences to become seared (1 Tim. 4:2). I'm reminded of a newly hired construction worker who hit his thumb with a hammer and doubled over in pain. His boss walked by and said, "You know, if you'll do that every day for a while, it'll get to where it doesn't hurt anymore." He's right. All the nerves will be dead. That's desensitization.

  In the days of Jeremiah, things got so bad that Jeremiah said the people did not "know how to blush" (Jer. 6:15). It makes me wonder? Are we there? Have we lost the ability to blush at anything? Are there things that used to bother you but don't any longer? Are you watching things on television that at one time you would not have watched? Are you wearing things that at one time you would not have worn? Are you more silent about things that at one time you would have spoken out against?

  Have we been desensitized when we ought to be holding our noses? Think about it.

-- Jeff May
Via The Exhorter, Oakland church of Christ