This sermon explores the fact that judgment, mercy and faith is one of the main themes of the Bible. We learn from Zechariah 7:14 that one of the main reasons Israel went into captivity and were scattered among the nations was because they did not exercise judgment, mercy and faith. Moreover, failure to exercise judgment, mercy and faith remains today one of the main problems of God’s people today. The importance of obeying this commandment is duly noted throughout the sermon.
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Today I want to speak to you from the heart, from the head, and most importantly, from the scripture. The topic today is one of the major themes of God's Word, Cain, from Cain and Abel to the present day. This may be the most important theme in the Bible, because if you do not live by these principles, you will not be in the kingdom of God. Living this theme is required for you and I to walk together in a reconciled position with God, Christ, and each member of the body of Christ.
Living this theme is required for you and I in order for us to fulfill the two great commandments. What are the two great commandments? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, or life essence, and the second is life unto it, and the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Living this theme is required for you and I to fulfill the ministry of reconciliation that has been committed to us. More about that later. This ministry is required of each one of us. Israel refused to obey the three aspects of this theme and the three main reasons why God scattered them among the nations. This theme is what you'll see from scripture. So the title of this sermon is, Judgment, Mercy, and Faith, the Waitier Matters of the Law. Judgment, Mercy, and Faith, the Waitier Matters of the Law. In taking the critics of his day to task for the gross hypocrisy, Jesus gave the basic requirements for living by the Word of God. So what are the waitier matters of the law? If you will please turn to Matthew 23 and verse 23. Matthew 23 and verse 23. Easy to remember because it's a duplication of chapter and verse. Matthew 23, 23. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of men and anise and coming, and have omitted the waitier matters of the law. Judgment, Mercy, and Faith, these ought you to have done and not to leave the other undone. Note carefully these three requirements. Judgment, Mercy, and Faith stem from the law of God, God's immutable spiritual law. Jesus's instructions are basically a restatement of Micah 6-8. So if you would turn to Micah 6-8. Micah 6-8. Let's note now the inspired words of the prophet Micah. As I said, it's basically a restatement, or Matthew 23, 23 is basically a restatement of this verse found in the Old Testament. Micah 6-8. He has shown you, O man, what is good and what does the eternal require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. So in essence, it's covering judgment, mercy, and faith. To walk humbly with your God requires all three of these, judgment, mercy, and faith. Living by and doing the way near matters of the law is the key to unity and peace among each member of the Church of God. And that is no small statement. Exercising judgment, mercy, and faith is the key to unity among the members of the Church of God and the churches of God extended that believe according to the scripture.
Unity that is built on a type of forced unity, apart from God's instructions on unity, is no unity at all. Any kind of trying to twist the truth to make it sound like that's the key to unity. That is not what is acceptable. What is acceptable is to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and to obey the scriptures. Unity is not achieved by just saying, be you unified. In order to be unified, people must exercise judgment, mercy, and faith. This unity must be based on truth, the truth of God's Word. Let's note why Israel was scattered among the nations. I said the bold statement up front that according to the Bible, one of the major reasons, and depending on how you interpret this scripture, it was the main reason why Israel was scattered among the nations. It is one of the main reasons, one of the main things, one of the main behaviors that has hindered the church of God from time immemorial. In Zechariah chapter 7, we'll begin in verse 8. Zechariah 7 and verse 8.
Zechariah 7 verse 8, And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy, and compassion every man to his brother. Opress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as adamant stone, lest they should hear the law. Remember, judgment, mercy, and faith stems from the law. But they turned the shoulder, hardened their hearts like stone, that they would not hear the law, the words which the Lord of hosts had sent in his spirit by the former prophets. Former prophets. Of course, Zechariah is a part of what we call the minor prophets. Here we have that term, minor, major, or former, and major, or minor. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.
Before it has come to pass that as he cried, and they would not hear, so they cried, and they would not hear, says the Lord of hosts. But I, I, who did it? God, I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned, for they laid the pleasant land desolate. And of course, there were several waves that came against Jerusalem, and there be a mighty wave as described in Zechariah chapter 12, the first few verses at the end of the age. So how do you practice judgment, mercy, and faith in your life? The application of judgment, mercy, and faith begins with being convicted, being convicted by the Spirit and the Word of God. The two great convicting agents are, I've said it a thousand times, the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Jesus states in John, the Gospel of John, John 16 verse 7 through 8, very important scriptures. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you. It is very beneficial. I would say you could even put the word necessary. It is necessary for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you, and if I depart, I will send him or it unto you. Now in John 14, 26, the comforter is described as the Holy Spirit. The comforter and the Holy Spirit are synonyms that can be used interchangeably. And when it is come, it will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Yes, Judgment Day is coming. Like the old spiritual says, the Judgment Day is coming, and it's going to be quite the day, the day of the Lord, Judgment Day.
Now we want to look at, consider John 16 verse 13, just a few verses down from where you are in verse 8. How be it when it, the Spirit of truth, is come, the Spirit of truth, the Word of God, it will guide you into all truth, it shall not speak of itself, but whatsoever it shall hear, that shall it speak. Well, what does it hear? The Holy Spirit hears the truth. That's what it speaks, and it will show you things to come. So we have a lot of prophecies. Some have been fulfilled. I'd say well over 50 percent, and we have some 50 percent yet to go. I don't know about how accurate my terminology there is. So the Word of God must be proclaimed. It must be by word of mouth, or by print media, electronic media, or whatever medium is available, the Word of God must be preached. God raised up the church to preach the Word of God throughout the world. And time after time, we have emphasized that from the days of yore to the present day that this gospel must be preached to all of the world. And we have basically reached nearly all the world with some type of media, either electronic or print. So let's notice now the words of the Apostle Paul in chapter 10 of Romans, and we'll begin with verse 14. Romans 10 and verse 14. This is why God raised up the church through Christ. I will build my church upon the big rock. The church is built upon Christ. What other foundation can any man lay that is lain and that is Christ? That is from 1 Corinthians 3. I don't know exactly which verse. So in Romans 10 verse 14, How then shall they call on him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report. And here, of course, is one of the greatest scriptures in the whole Bible. And it ties in with a verse I quote so often from John 6, 6, 6, 3, The words I speak, they are spirit and they are lives. So this one, so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. And so you can easily deduct from that that to read and study the Word of God is one way of at least having your mind renewed every day and increasing the Holy Spirit. And I don't want to get into the argument of some who say you can't increase the Holy Spirit. You can just use what's been given to you when laying on of hands. But that's another subject. The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy. And this is in 2 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 4 and verse 1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing. Note when his kingdom starts at his appearing. Preach the Word. Be instant in season, out of season, reprove. And that word reprove can be translated as convict, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching years, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. And the airways are absolutely filled now. You can't believe how many podcasters are so-called preaching the gospel. You can't believe all the things that are going on in the name of preaching the gospel. It's everywhere that you turn various media, various print sources, and I hope the nation wakes up, and maybe it will, but we have a tremendous political battle going on in the country, and the country is gravely divided, as you know. So we see that it is the Spirit of God and the Word of God that convicts us of the truth of God. After being convicted, we have an urge, a weight placed on our mind, a tugging at our conscience that we should do something. And first of all, we must judge ourselves and confess our sins and cry out for God's mercy. So we judge and see judgment, mercy, and faith. We judge ourselves. We judge ourselves by the Word of God. And there's a great example of that in the Bible, as we shall see Jesus as we shall see judgment, mercy, and faith must be exercised personally, individually, in order for you and I to be reconciled to God and Christ and each member of the body of Christ. In being our brother's keeper, and from Genesis to Revelation, it is clear that we are to be our brother's keeper. Of course, that's another weak spot. And almost all of us have been weak in that area one time or the other. And being our brother's keeper, we need to help our brothers and sisters come to the point where we all exercise judgment, mercy, and faith in our lives. Let's first of all take the steps of personal reconciliation with God and Christ. We judge ourselves, as I have said, that God's immutable spiritual law. So the prime example in the Bible is given to us in Luke 18, Luke, the Gospel of Luke, verse 18. Luke 18, and we'll read verse 13. Luke 18 and verse 13.
And the publicans standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner.
So he judged himself. And then later in the scripture it says, which one did you think was justified? Of course, it was the publican who judged himself. And then God extended mercy, and he was to go walk in faith. The apostle John writes, this is 1 John chapter 1 verse 9. 1 John chapter 1 verse 9. In 1 John, 1 John chapter 1 and verse 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. So if we do sin, we judge ourselves, we go before God's throne of mercy, he extends our mercy, he extends his mercy to us, forgives our sins, and then we go walk in faith. And God says, go walk in faith, go and sin no more. Note the words of James in chapter 2 and verse 10. Here's an understanding that we need to understand. Very critical. James chapter 2 and verse 10.
For he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. How does mercy rejoice against judgment? In order for God's ultimate mercy to be extended, a true judgment has to be rendered. I have sinned. Or you could say, he has sinned or they have sinned, whatever. But mainly, you're focusing on yourself. I have sinned. And you cry out to God, just like the publican did. He forgives you of your sins and he says, go and walk in faith and walk humbly before your God, as Michael says. And of course, God knows your heart and whether or not you're sincere or I am sincere. He knows. Now, some confuse long suffering with mercy. Time after time, especially with students at the college we would run into, I know God has forgiven me, why can't you? But even though God extends mercy, sometimes there is a penalty that must be executed. And there are certain rules that if you break, you will be punished for breaking those rules. And in some cases, it says in the Proverbs, I believe it's Proverbs, it says it's God's glory to pass over a transgression. And so all of us are sinners and all of us are of the flesh, but we have a new nature within us. We have the Spirit of God, which gives us a new nature, a new conscience, a new knowing within. And we can walk according to that new conscience and that new knowing within, which we have gleaned from the Word of God, from sermons, from print, from electronic, from whatever source, that the truth is being expounded. So some confuse long suffering with mercy. And once again, mercy cannot be extended until true judgment has to be rendered. Then ultimate mercy can be extended after the judgment is made.
Just because such and such is happening, that does not necessarily mean that God is blessing you. God is blessing those who obey Him, who give their hearts and lives to Him. Let's note the example of Jesus administering judgment, mercy, and faith as recorded in John chapter 8. John chapter 8, beginning in verse 3. And it goes through verse 11. I'm not going... I'm going to paraphrase what is contained there, but you have it, John 8 verses 3 through 11. You have it there. A woman was caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus. They said, the law of Moses commands that she should be put to death. But what did you say, trying to tempt Him? And you know the story. Jesus writes on the ground twice, and they leave being convicted of their own sins. Then He turns to the woman and asks, where are your accusers? And she says, they have left. And Jesus says, neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. The judgment is clear. She had broken one of the Ten Commandments, undoubtedly. And the judgment was, you have sinned. You have broken the law of God. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6, 23. But Jesus discerned in her a repentant heart, and He extended mercy and said, go walk in faith, or actually said, go and sin no more, which is the same as go walk in faith. So this is a clear example of exercising judgment, mercy, and faith. The same process must be followed in reconciling with brothers and sisters in Christ and the world extended. It is incumbent upon each one of us to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith in our relationships with one another. This is one of the most neglected matters historically for God's people in the Old Testament and the New Testament. These actions could have been avoided. What actions? The actions of, and the Old and New Testament are filled with this, envy, jealousy, deceit, murder, conspiracy, assassination, and more, and a host of other things as well. It could be named a yes. These actions could have been avoided, and a lot of them. We have already noted that Israel was scattered among the nations. We noted that from Zechariah 12 verses 8 through 14. noted that Israel was scattered among the nations for their refusal to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith.
Now let's know what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5. 2 Corinthians 5, more on this reconciliation and the key to it. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5 that God has committed, and that word committed literally means placed in sacred trust, the ministry of reconciliation to us. He writes, and all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. I wonder how well we are doing with our ministry of reconciliation. To know that God was in Christ, reconciled the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and have committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. Seems like we had an institution named, and we still have Ambassador Bible Learning College. We now change the name to Ambassador College at the home office.
Now we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God. And he has committed his place in sacred trust. He is precious truth in us. Are we doing what is indeed needed to live and fulfill the ministry of reconciliation and preserving the precious truth that has been committed to us? In fact, there is a commandment to that effect.
My Bible is open right to it. 2 Timothy 2, verses 1 through 4. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit, place in sacred trust, you two faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. You therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.
And so the metaphor of a soldier is used for one who is living the Christian life. In short, we are challenged to live by the word. In the church, we have often shrinked our responsibility with our brothers and sisters in Christ by telling someone else in authority and putting it off on them to deal with it. This is not what the scriptures instruct us to do. We're all familiar with Matthew 18, which says, if you find ought against your brother, go be reconciled to your brother, then come your offer, your gift.
That's in Matthew 5. In Matthew 18, it says, go to your brother, and if he won't hear you, have people in the church hear it out, hear the case or the cause heard, and then if you still know reconciliation, then you can treat him as if he's not a brother.
In the church, we have often shrinked our personal responsibility with our brothers and sisters in Christ by telling someone in authority, putting it off on them to deal with it. It happens, I guess, just about every day, every week, for sure every month. This is not what the scriptures instruct us to do. We must live the ministry of reconciliation and be our brother's keeper. When we talk about how to deal with being mistreated, we seem to emphasize bearing it patiently.
Let God take care of it. Don't go to anybody. Don't tell anybody. This is obviously part of how we need to deal with trials. We need to resolve it. We need to be at liberty. We need to be clear. God does not remove the responsibility from us to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith with those who have sinned against us. And don't confuse long suffering, once again, with responsibility for facing what you need to do. We need to administer judgment, mercy, and faith in such a way that the little ones are not mistreated.
Jesus states it is better for a person to have a meal song hung around a person's neck than to offend one of these little ones. Our goal should be to administer judgment, mercy, and faith in such a way that we walk in a reconciled position with one another. Now I would like for us to go to Leviticus chapter 9, and I shall now meddle instead of preach in Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 50.
This is a difficult one that we all have trouble with. We shall not do unrighteousness in judgment. I think that's one of the things we're talking about. You shall not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go up and down as a tail-bearer among the people. Neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the Eternal. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall in any wise rebuke your neighbor and not suffer sin upon him.
The Apostle John expounds on this in 1 John 3 and verse 12. You see, going back to Leviticus 19, it says very clearly that we are, once again, our brother's keeper, and we have to confront that which might lead one to the pits of spiritual suicide. If I don't make it into the kingdom of God, it's because I have committed spiritual suicide. And if you don't make it, it's probably the same thing you could say.
In 1 John 3 verse 12, and this is another very hard saying in the one sense, depending on how you look at it, because it comes on the heels of Leviticus 19.
And the last part I think I misread Leviticus 19, the last phrase, you shall in any wise rebuke your neighbor, not bear sin for him. I don't know if I did or not. In other words, if you don't do it, then the Scripture says you're bearing sin for him, which we have enough sins ourselves to deal with. Now we have 1 John 3, note this, verse 12. In 1 John 3 verse 12, not as keen who was of the wicked one and slew his brother. And wherefore, why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous, marvel not, my brother, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death and in life because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. Whosever hates his brother is a murderer. You can read that several times. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby we perceive the love of God because he laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But who so hates the world's good and sees his brother have need and such up as vows of compassion from him how dwells the love of God in him. My children, my little children, let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth. You have to do it. To assassinate a person's character is murder inside of God. It says it very clearly that whoever hates his brother is a murderer. In Matthew chapter 5, Matthew chapter 5, we hear these words and we see these words. Start in verse 20, Matthew 5, 20.
Matthew 5, 20. For I say unto you that except your righteousness exceed, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You heard it was said by them of old time, you shall not kill, and whosoever kills shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of THE judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother Recha, that is, you fool, shall be in danger of the council. One of the main reasons for this to call someone a fool is because we are made in God's image. It says clearly in Genesis 1 that we are made in the image of God. And to blaspheme someone who is made in the image of God is no light thing.
So whosoever does this, Recha calls his brother Recha, shall be in danger of the council. That's the Sanhedrin, the 70 members, but we're interested in the judgment at the end of the age. But whosoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire, yet a fire. That's the second death. Yet a fire is the second death, from which there is no resurrection. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has ought against you, leave there your gift before the altar, go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. And of course, prayer and communication with God is a great sacrifice. To do good and communicate not is not what God wants. To do good and communicate, God is well pleased. Fair to obey the words of Christ will result in our prayers being hindered, not answered. The same process is applicable at all times in all relationships, especially the relationship between husband and wife. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. Always be reconciled before you close your eyes and sleep. That's one of the great keys to a successful marriage. The Apostle Paul writes, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth to his neighbor. This is Ephesians 4.25. I'm sorry. Ephesians 4.25. Starting at the beginning, Ephesians 4.25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor. For we are members one of another. This is another concept may be difficult to grasp. When I criticize the body of Christ, I'm actually criticizing myself because I too am a member of the body if I have the Holy Spirit. We're going to read this. Where put away lying every man truth in his neighbor. For we are members one of another. Meet you angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him steal no more. But rather let him labor working with his hands the things which is good that he may have to give to him that needs. So we are members one of another through the Holy Spirit. The same spirit that is in God's and Christ is in us. 1 Corinthians 4, I believe is verse 6 says it's very clearly. There is one spirit. In Romans chapter, well let's read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 first. 1 Corinthians chapter 12 in verse 25. In 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 25, it's another scripture that says essentially the same one, partly what Ephesians 4, 25 through 28 said. For we are members one of another through the Holy Spirit. No, I didn't make it up. That's what it says. The same spirit that is in God is in Christ. By one spirit are we all baptized into one body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all members suffer with it, or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular. So how are we members of one another? It is through the Holy Spirit. Now I'm going to read Romans chapter 12 beginning verse 4. For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office, so we, being many, are one body and every one members one of another. And what is this? That we're members one to another in different places.
So we are to always exercise the judgment, mercy, and faith. As noted in the introduction, humanity's failure to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith is why the world is where it is today. Our failure through the ages, through the ages to exercise judgment, mercy, and faith, to do the weightier matters of the law, fulfill the ministry of reconciliation, the ministry that God has given by commandment, is why the world is where it is today. As we noted, God is in the reconciliation business. God is in the restoration business. We have had a ministry of reconciliation committed to us. We're to be in the restoration business. We're to be in the reconciliation business, not in the business of categorizing, labeling, in order to gain advantage over someone. Well, you know, He's always that way. She's always that way. You can't really talk to them, and so on it goes. I want to say a few words. Note the words to the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6.1.
Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tested, tried, tempted. So are we wise? Do we recognize that we should receive the word within grafted word of truth with a perfectly teachable heart? Let's go to James. How are you supposed to receive the word you've heard here today? Well, James tells us.
It is with a perfectly teachable heart.
In James 2, 2.
Was that Abraham, verse 21, was that Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he had offered his son upon the altar, seeing you have faith joined, I would use the word joined, or wrought with his works. And by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled that Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. It was laid to his account. It was reckoned in the sermon I gave on faith. I said, God does not pull off his faith and give it to you. You have to act. So Sarah and Abraham came together and they were able to conceive and bear Isaac. Now, how do we receive all of the word of God in verse 23 of James 1? For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholds himself and goes his way in straightway, forgets what manner of man he is. But whosoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and if we exercise judgment, immersion, faith, we will be as free as the breeze, as they say. And continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed. So he who receives the word, not forgetful, but with a perfectly teachable heart, is one who will do the things that are given in the scripture. So, brethren, here we are at the end of what I have to present today. Peace is a weightier matter of the law. And James also writes, Who is a wise man and a dude among you? Let us show out of good conversation his work with meekness. That word, meekness, is difficult to translate into English. It means a perfectly teachable heart. But if you have bitter end being and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth, this wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly sensual devilish. But where end being and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil word. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure than peaceful, without partiality, without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Peace is made by obeying the weightier matters of the law, by exercising judgment, mercy, and faith. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.
Before his retirement in 2021, Dr. Donald Ward pastored churches in Texas and Louisiana, and taught at Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also served as chairman of the Council of Elders of the United Church of God. He holds a BS degree; a BA in theology; a MS degree; a doctor’s degree in education from East Texas State University; and has completed 18 hours of graduate theology from SMU.