Nip It In The Bud

Fans of the classic television show “Andy Griffith” might be interested to know that the character Barney Fife has a unique perspective on what to do with the problem of sin. His suggestion is simple. Nip it in the bud!

At least that is what Christian comedian and pastor Dennis Swanberg thought. When Swanberg was a young boy, a preacher posed the question, “What should we do with sin?” The young Swanberg’s first reaction was to stand up and mouth the words, “I don’t know. You don’t know. We don’t know. God knows. Ask Him.” When the preacher repeated the question, Swanberg stood up once more, and in the middle of the service, loudly imitated Barney Fife’s catch phrase, “Nip it in the bud!”

Underneath the story lies truth and practical actions that believers can apply to serious situations. Ask God. Nip it in the bud! This is true even when situations seem to be daunting.

Think about the religious landscape across the Balkans and the hostility towards Christianity. Professing faith in Jesus in areas with strong Islamic influence can come with varying degrees of hostility. The hostility often takes the form of ostracism by one’s family or social circles.

Ines, a viewer of Albania 7 television show “Time to Talk,” shares that she was bullied by her peers because of her faith in Jesus. Mushi*, believer from Albania who listens to the Radio 7 program “Sipas Fjales” (According to the Word) shares that her family rejects her because of her faith. In both of these cases, following Jesus has come at a high cost. The same is true for many more Christians.

On the surface, it may appear to be a religious or cultural problem. It’s deeper than that. But we know as believers that the root of all life’s problems is sin. From the time the events of Genesis 3 occurred, when Adam and Eve sinned, until the present day, sin has wreaked havoc on mankind. Sin is what makes people rebel against God. Sin is what causes a person to hate another person. Sin is what leads to an eternity separated from God. Sin is the problem.

What should we do about the problem of sin? Ask God, then nip it in the bud! In practical terms, this means we should pray, asking God to give us gentle spirits and humble hearts, and to follow through with actions that show Jesus’ love to others.

The Tide ministry is earnestly committed to doing something about sin by working in partnership with Radio 7 Albania and local pastors to produce and air Christian radio programs in the Albanian language. Each broadcast is an invitation to experience the life-changing power and love of Jesus. Thanks to faithful supporters, there are many testimonies like these:

“Listening to Radio 7 Albania filled my heart with God’s truth that Jesus will never reject me, and I will forever be in His family. I remember there were many days that I didn’t have any strength to get out of bed. But through the radio, God always had a message for me. I’m so very thankful for the Albanian pastors who have been teaching me how to depend on God.” – Ines

“The testimonies on ‘Time to Talk’ have helped me a lot, not only spiritually but with practical advice on how to stand for my faith.” – Mushi

What should you do with sin? Whether the sin is in your life, around you, or across the world, ask God. In humility, pray and seek His counsel. Then, nip it in the bud by taking action that draws you and others closer to Him.

*A pseudonym has been provided for this believer.