THE AMEN CORNER

One morning I was having a confrontation with our grandson Michael concerning removing garbage from the kitchen to the trash cans outside. My wife although in full agreement with my directive, just stood there and said nothing. As soon as Michael disappeared out the back door, I proceeded to suggest to her that every parent and grandparent needs an AMEN corner. Then I proceeded to explain what I meant.

 I told her about the old Baptist preacher who deliberately placed about a half dozen of his best supporters in a corner of the log cabin church. The mission of these sympathizers was to echo agreement when the preacher would make a real good point. Both individually and collectively they would say, "AMEN!" This was called "the AMEN Corner."

 She smiled! And, I continued, to make my point. Suppose an army captain is addressing a fighting platoon. He says, "Men, we're going to take that hill from the enemy and we're going to do it regardless of the cost. Good luck!" Then the first sergeant saluted the Captain and immediately turned to face the group saying, "Hey you guys! You heard the man. . . let's get moving!" I said to her, in this case the first sergeant is the AMEN Corner.

Another example! Think back to the old John Wayne cowboy movies. Picture a cattle drive from Tucson to Albuquerque about to begin. We can almost hear the Duke saying to all the cowboys just before the drive begins, "Men, it's going to be rough and we've got a long way to go. We may see Indians and some of us aren't going to make it. But, we've got to get these cattle to Albuquerque in 45 days. We've got a job to do and we're gonna do it."

Then I reminded her of the Walter Brennan type character who would spit out a chaw of tobacco and say, "You heard the boss! Let's get crackin'." I said Walter Brennan is John Wayne's AMEN Corner. 

Then she reminded me of an old TV series entitled "Rawhide." She said she remembered a character named Rowdy played by Clint Eastwood. She said he was called the ramrod of the outfit.

I said, that's exactly what I'm talking about. The ramrod is the AMEN Corner. And in a family both parents need reinforcement from each other. So when I say to Michael, "You must take out the garbage." Then you need to back me up, be my AMEN corner and say, "Michael, your grand daddy is absolutely right. You heard the man, now get with the program and take out the garbage."

It occurred to me that lack of parental support, one parent for the other can be one contributing factor to a dysfunctional family. Often all that's needed to put a family back together again is a simple "amen corner" where the wife amens the father and the father amens the wife. What child can stand against not one but two adults? What a powerful and unified force! He has to conform.

What does Amen means anyway? Perhaps the best definition is found in Bakers Dictionary of Theology. The original Hebrew word meant "reliable, sure, true." But, the related verb "Ah Mane" means, "to support, sustain, or to prove oneself; steady, reliable, loyal, etc. Perhaps better known to most of us are the English words "so be it." Or maybe "Yes indeed!" Professor Strong assigned the number 539 to the verb "Ah Mane." And Strong agrees with Baker on the definition, which is to "build up or support."

And we sure want to point this out. This may shock you a little. It did me. But AMEN is pronounced the same in Hebrew, Greek, and English. And in all three of those languages AMEN means the same exact thing.

 The word AMEN is used in over 150 verses for a total of nearly 200 times in both the old and new testaments. And, without exception it is used in the sense of "Yes, indeed" or "Believe, for these words are true." Or "Complete agreement with what another is saying." And WHO is God's AMEN? Who always AMENS God the Father? We find the answer in Revelation 3:14. Here our Lord Jesus Christ identifies Himself as "The Amen., the Faithful and True Witness." So with this thought in mind, we can easily see how Jesus Christ is God's AMEN corner.

Now in just a moment we want to make three main points. But before we do there is a negative aspect to AMENNING. Maybe some of you will remember a talk we gave a few years ago on the subject of "Toe Tapping." We pointed out that there are those who may be in agreement with what another party is saying. But at the same time the listener may choose to remain silent, even anonymous. The reason for this silence may be that they are SECRETLY in agreement but don't want to speak out. We called this behavior "toe tapping" like someone does when they hear music played or sung. They may not be singing but they may be tapping their toes to the music, in this case, the subject matter of the speaker.

Actually, a "Toe Tapper" is just the opposite of an "Amener." An "Amener" is one who by saying "AMEN" is not only agreeing with the speaker, but in addition he is sticking out his neck too. This is how an "Amener" is just the opposite of a toe tapper. A toe tapper does not stick his neck out even though he is in agreement. It's like a form of cowardice.

Jesus called himself "The Amen" for He amened everything the Father said. He called himself the AMEN in Revelation 3:14. He said, "I am the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."

When Jesus selected His disciples, they became His "amen corner." They not only agreed with everything our Lord said, but by doing so they stuck their own necks out. In fact, some of our Lord's disciples were actually beheaded because they "amened" our Lord Jesus Christ.

These faithful followers were quick to sing His praises and echo His words and to teach that which they were taught. There were certainly no toe tappers there.

The book of Acts is replete with examples of how the apostles "amened" both our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. There are many examples of individuals who amened our Lord. Now, please keep all this in mind as we consider three points. Point Number 1, the family AMEN corner.

Mother says, "Jamie Boy needs to start his homework." Dad says, "He doesn't need to do that right now. He is watching his favorite TV show."

It's this sort of thing that teaches young Jamie Boy that his parents are divided on what action he is required to take. One says, "Start the homework NOW!" The other says, "No he doesn't need to do that right now. . . he can wait a while.

Oh, you say, no harm is done. Maybe not from just one episode, but let's go to the next day. Mom says, "Jamie Boy, I want you to clean up your room." Dad says, "Now honey, you know how boys are. You should have seen my room when I was his age."

Hey, what's happening here? If we were to analyze these statements and hundreds of others like them we would learn that Jamie Boy is getting an entirely different message from the one intended. He hears one parent bossing him around and telling him to do certain things right now.

From his Mom he discerns a sense of urgency in her demands. The room, the homework, she wants it done now. And since Jamie Boy doesn't want to do it now, maybe not even at all, he sees his mom as an opponent to his freedom, while dad comes across an ally, someone in his corner; someone who is amening his feelings, his desires, his wishes.

One parent says, "YES", the other says "NO". One says, "OK", the other says "Maybe". Is this oneness? Of course not. Oneness is complete agreement in action, word and deed. What one does the other will do the same way. Jesus said He and the Father are One. And He also said a man and wife are ONE.

This kind of thing can start off simple, but it can get out of hand. Agreement must take place. A husband and wife must be one. To disagree on what brand of tooth paste to buy and that sort of thing is not the issue. Two tubes can be bought or compromises can be made on such simple things. But the main issue is AMEN agreement, oneness. 

Then there's the lessons taught by so called parental guidance. Let's say both parents are watching a movie that's unfit for Jamie Boy. It's unfit for Jamie Boy because of its language or nudity or violence. The movie makers would have us believe that it's OK for adults to watch such as this but that children shouldn't.

But the lesson taught to Jamie Boy is that the content of the movie is OK the only problem is age. So it will be OK for Jamie Boy to watch nudity violence and hear profanity just as soon as he gets old enough. 'Therefore, he longs for the day when he will be old enough to see these OK things.

What about his parents! How do they handle such nudity and violence and language? Invariably we find words creeping into their vocabulary that are heard on the silver screen. Do we see more sexual promiscuity among adults than in past decades? Certainly since both parents are watching the movie, they are in AMEN agreement with each other on this issue. But, wouldn't it be better if Mom and Dad didn't watch certain movies at all, not only for Jamie Boy's benefit, but for their own as well. In this way, the intended message would come across properly.

It would have been better if they had amened the lessons throughout the Bible which teach, abstinence, purity of thought, raise up a child in the way he should go, etc. etc.?

Now do you think I am naive enough to think for one moment that TV sets all over town owned by those in this room will suddenly be silenced? NO indeed! And that's not what we're saying anyway. What we are saying is "Don't be a hypocrite. Don't teach one thing to your children and do the opposite thing yourself."

And, in addition we are saying that to be in AMEN agreement on the wrong things is just as wrong as NOT being in AMEN AGREEMENT on simpler things like homework, etc.

I honestly believe that if a list could be made of all the problem areas in the home, in the family, etc. this issue of AMEN agreement would come very close to the top of the list. It may be triggered by financial hardship, or entertainment, or something else, but it's incompatibility anyway you put the pencil to it. When there is no AMEN there is no oneness. When there is no oneness there is no compatibility. When there is no compatibility there is a dysfunctional family, one headed for problems, trouble, and maybe even dissolvement.

Number 2. God's AMEN Corner.

We've already pointed out that Jesus declared that He was THE AMEN. THE Amen! This implies that our Lord Jesus Christ is the AMENER of AMENERS. He is the one who always supports the Father in every way. Jesus said many times words to the effect that He does what the Father taught Him to do. He does the Fathers will, He is in agreement with the Father. "Whatsoever my father says do, that I do."

There can be no question just how and to what extent Jesus is THE AMEN. The Faithful and True Witness. But, one may wonder, "Does God have any other AMENERS besides Jesus? Certainly He does for everyone who amens Jesus is Amening God. So who AMENS Jesus?

Certainly the Apostles head the list. There is no question that they were in our Lord's AMEN Corner. And so were the rest of His disciples. For after all what is a disciple if he is not an AMENER?

Jesus supported God and the Disciples supported Jesus and Jesus supported the apostles in return. It's like a full circle, isn't it?

And one more quick point. Keep in mind the Scripture that says clearly that the Holy Spirit of God is an AMENER. Consider Romans 8:16 in this light. It says:

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

Here we see the Holy Spirit doing an AMEN.

But what about those individuals of the Church? What about you and me? Do we amen our Father? Remember that the only way to Amen the Father is to Amen His Son.

So, do we Amen Jesus when we shake a fist at a traffic light when someone fails to stop just right? Did out Lord ever shake His fist? I don't think so.

Do we Amen our Lord when we try to get even with someone who has wronged us. Suppose your next door neighbor has a big oak tree that dumps leaves all over creation. Then the wind blows them all over in your yard. 

And to make it worse, he does absolutely nothing about it. You know that if those leaves get raked up, you are the one who will have to do it.

How do you feel about this? You don't like it, so you stressfully and angrily get those leaves up. And all the time you are raking these leaves you are secretly harboring inside of you a special kind of anger for your neighbor. Is this attitude; is this feeling of yours, a proper AMEN to our Lords command to love thy neighbor as thyself?

At work, do we Amen our Lord when we say terrible things about the boss. Suppose the Boss says, "Everyone in the office or plant, including me, has to work Christmas day." He explains that certain new procedures must be installed before the next business day that can't be installed until after Christmas EVE.

Would you say ugly things about him to coworkers during the next coffee break? Would you really cut him down when you got home when trying to get the family to understand why you won't be home on Christmas day?

Maybe, just maybe....someone above him (his boss) had made this decision and your boss was merely AMENING his boss. Certainly one can have respect for this, can't we.

Jesus addressed a situation like this when he said if someone compels you to go one mile, then go with him two miles. To which we add the thought go those two miles without complaining. Do we really AMEN our LORD on a regular basis? 

Look, we're not talking sin here....we're talking about being in amen agreement with the AMEN. We are saying that we must AMEN our Lord Jesus Christ who always AMENS the Father.

Jesus asked us to be his disciples and to follow Him. And He said that where two or three are gathered together in His name there he is also.

To my way of thinking, Jesus was saying that one person cannot AMEN himself. But, when TWO are gathered together in His name (And Jesus is THE AMEN), and if they are in agreement with each other, then the Lord Jesus Christ is there too, for He is the AMEN.

Our Lord said it so plainly in Matt 18:19:

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree (AMEN) about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."

AMEN indicates Appreciation! AMEN indicates Support!

Yes, Jesus Christ is THE AMEN. He has always been the AMEN corner for GOD the Father. And we are the AMEN corner for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Point #3 -- The AMEN corner for the Church.

Now in the old Baptist Church where the amen corner originated, the idea was to build up or support. To "amen" was the same as saying, "You're right preacher, and we want to go on record as not only agreeing with you but hopefully our influence will help others to see the point you are making.

The idea is one of support; to defend, back-up, foster, strengthen, stick up for, to second, to uphold, reinforce, sanction, favor, substantiate, corroborate, attest to; and finally to encourage.

But, remember we are dealing with individuals because the Church is composed of individuals. Unfortunately there are so many in every Church in every city that are toe tappers. All too often a would-be champion AMENER is only a toe tapper. Maybe he lacks courage to speak up.

In Psalms 106:48, David said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord."

David was asking the congregation to agree with him that the God of Israel who is from everlasting to everlasting is worthy of praise. And he asked them to agree with him by saying "AMEN."

There are many references in our Bible giving examples of how both small and large congregations AMENED the word of the Lord.

In Ezra 10:12 we read, "Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do." That's an amen corner, anyway one puts the pencil to it.

According to the prophet Nehemiah in chapter 5 and verse 13, we read of how the congregation agreed with the Lord's reprimands. Nehemiah told them that God would shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep the promise they had just made. He said, "So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.

In I Chronicles 16:36 it says, ". . . Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the Lord."

II Corinthians 1:20 says:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him, the "Amen", is spoken by us to the glory of God.

In order for any congregation of the Lords people to be pleasing to the Father there must be a certain amount of unity.

Now by unity, we're NOT talking about a small AMEN corner composed of one or two with deep penetrating voices that seem to carry a lot of weight.

And neither are we talking about a congregation of Toe Tappers; that is, those who may agree on some things, but are afraid to speak out. So they just tap their toes to the music, so to speak.

And neither are we talking about the BENCH WARMERS. A bench warmer by my definition is one who goes to Church primarily to be seen, not to actively participate.

He wants others to say I saw you in Church. He wants to be able to say he went. And for these, just the act of going to Church gives the bench warmer a special cleansing.

No, UNITY is something else entirely. Church members should never forget that the elders, trustees, ministers and other church officials have been duly elected by the congregation. Yet, the congregation includes that small group of loud mouth AMENERS, as well as the toe tappers, and "bench warmers."

Unity is something else. So if things are not going to suit you, first of all make sure you yourself have the right heart attitude. Make sure that you yourself are in AMEN agreement with Jesus Christ. Are you, in fact, AMENING our Lord. If you can say yes to these things, then by all means proceed to make your points in a positive way in the congregation.

Remember the words of our Lord Who said:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Mat. 7:3-5).

Can we say AMEN to that?

And can you say AMEN to the absolute necessity for AMEN agreement in the home?

And what about the need for oneness in the Church; agreement with those whom you place in charge? If you agree with this, please give me one more AMEN.

May the Lord add His blessing to our study of His word.

Charles Aldridge

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