Historical Posts
No Divisions
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:10, wrote a passionate plea, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” The situation at the church of Christ in the ancient city of Corinth was this: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). The church had become divided into four disparate groups, each pledging their allegiance to some faction. The congregation lacked unity. It was in danger of breaking apart. Paul was inspired to write the book of First Corinthians in order to avoid that outcome.
Unity, solidarity, and loyalty are keys to the success or failure of every congregation of the Lord’s people. In the Lord’s prayer, recorded in the book of John, Jesus prayed for the apostles, and then He prayed for us — “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). It is our responsibility to carry out the Lord’s wishes. Are we helping to make the Lord’s prayer a reality, or are we standing in the way of that goal?
These Scriptures all beg the question: “How can this be possible?” How can so many different people, with different opinions and different points of view “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment?” Some would argue that such a feat is impossible, but the Bible reveals the answer. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). If we will all agree simply to obey the will of the Lord, then we need not be divided into various sects. We can stand united, if all stand upon the will of Jesus Christ. It is the only solid foundation upon which religious unity can be based. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17).
When we abandon the will of the Lord, in favor of our own will, or the will of some other human being, then the church begins to fracture and divide. Such division is sinful and shall provoke the wrath of God against us (1 Corinthians 12:25). Sometimes, it is necessary for there to be division in the body of Christ. When Christians behave in an ungodly manner, it may be necessary for the church to withdraw its fellowship from those who will not repent and change their ways (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15). When preachers preach false doctrine, sound brethren are to “mark” and “avoid” them (Romans 16:17-18). Christians have an obligation to uphold the unity of the church, but not at the expense of doctrinal soundness!
That is why it is important for every Christian to understand the difference between religious issues, which are matters of opinion, and those which are matters of faith. The Lord’s church ought never to be divided over a matter of opinion. It is only natural that there will be conflicting opinions in a large group of people, but how we respond to those conflicts makes all the difference. Jesus taught us to “deny” ourselves (Luke 9:23). That means that, when things don’t go our way at church, we DON’T set out to try and split the church! As a preacher, my own “tongue-in-cheek” view of such conflicts has always been: “Sometimes, you just have to let the brethren do some stupid things.”
When it comes to matters of faith, it may be necessary to draw a proverbial “line in the sand.” It is the duty of every faithful Christian to insist upon sound preaching and teaching, as well as religious practices that are in harmony with God’s will. If we see or hear something that is unscriptural, then we must sound the alarm (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If we do not deal with false brethren in the church, then there is no telling how much damage they might do. As Paul put it, in 2 Timothy 2:16, “their word will eat as doth a canker.” Literally, they are a “cancer” in the body of Christ, which needs to be removed.
In October of 1986, a group of about 150 Christians split off of our congregation to form another church to compete with us for the souls of our community. No one asked them to leave us. They were not “kicked out.” Some of them have claimed that they left because of a “personality conflict.” If so, then they are guilty of having divided the body of Christ for no good reason. Others claim that they left so they could be free to teach and practice things that are contrary to the New Testament. Either way, they are guilty of sin and they need to repent. We hope and pray that the day will come when they will repent and rejoin the Lord’s body (2 Peter 3:9).
What is the Essential Mission of the Church?
The mission of the church has been the subject of many heated discussions between brethren in the Lord’s church since the early days of the Restoration Movement. Our ancient brethren had a crystal clear understanding of the essential mission of the church, which is why the New Testament is hardly overflowing with debates about the issue. This, however, does not mean that the New Testament cannot enlighten us about the answer to this question. It is a matter of applying sound Biblical hermeneutics to the problem.
Most members of the churches of Christ will concede that the three major aspects of the essential mission of the church are:
- Evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Edification (Hebrews 3:13)
- Benevolence (Hebrews 13:16)
But, the brethren sometimes disagree about the definitions of these three things. Some think that evangelism is simply about getting people to “come to church”, while others insist that it’s about converting people from the error of their ways. Some think that edification is about keeping people entertained, while others insist that its about enabling people to grow, spiritually. Some think that benevolence is about showing the world that we care, while others insist that it must be about making a substantive difference in their lives. While Christians may dispute these things, the Bible holds the answer.
After His resurrection, but before His ascension into Heaven, Jesus said to His disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). We call this divine imperative the “Great Commission;” and we typically mention it in the context of discussions about evangelism. But, let us not fail to recognize what the passage says about teaching. The Lord commands His disciples to “Go…teach…baptize…and…teach.” That is the essence of what the Savior instructs all of His disciples to do. Note that there is teaching, which comes before baptism, and then teaching, which comes after baptism.
Teaching is the biggest part of the Great Commission!
What we teach the lost matters.
If we are too timid to tell them the truth, then we may see them in the pew every Sunday, but we won’t see them in Heaven, because they were never “converted” (Acts 3:19). Jesus, Peter and Paul said things that made some people want to stone them to death! But, they stood their ground courageously and told people the things that they needed to hear. In many cases, they knew that they were risking their lives, but it was more important for them to tell the truth, and not to soothe people’s sensitive consciences with veiled references and vague generalizations (Acts 18:9-11). Our task is to tell people what they need to hear, and then let them decide how they will respond to it (2 Timothy 4:2).
Whenever I hear brethren talking about their efforts to reach out to the “unchurched,” it always makes me cringe. They, of course, are talking about their efforts to reach out to people with no religious affiliation, who do attend any church, anywhere. To be sure, this is a noble effort, and the “unchurched” tend to make good prospects for Christ, but what about the millions of others out there who are members of denominational churches? Are their souls not just as lost? Are they not worth the effort it takes to reach out to them? Did the Lord not teach us to cast a wider net, when fishing for men (Matthew 13:47-48)?
In their efforts draw in as many people as they possibly can, some elders and preachers may be perverting the message that is preached, setting aside the standard of Scripture for religious authority, and depending upon cheap theatrics and gimmicks to boost their numbers. In reality, church growth has little to do with the number of people who show up for Sunday morning worship. It has much more to do with the number of souls that have been persuaded to put their proverbial “hands to the plow,” without looking back (Luke 9:62). Evangelism starts with an invitation to “come and see,” but it does not end there. We must talk to our friends about the Bible, their attitude toward it, what it says, their response to what it says. Evangelism is about starting a dialogue, which results in the salvation of a lost soul. Courage is required to get that dialogue started.
“Edification” is an old word, which refers to the process of building something, or reinforcing a structure that is already standing.
In the Bible, it is a term that is applied to the souls of men, and to the Lord’s church, itself. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” It is every Christian’s job to build up and to fortify the church, as a whole and on an individual basis. “Exhortation” is how Christians edify each other. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” If we can exhort one another, then we can edify one another.
Edification is about positive reinforcement and criticism, which is designed to be helpful, rather than hurtful. There is absolutely nothing wrong with one Christian complementing a good job done by another. Jesus may have taught His disciples not to seek out the praises of men (Matthew 6:1-4), but He never taught them to withhold praise from one to whom it was due (1 Peter 2:17). In fact, Jesus praised the poor widow who cast her two mites into the treasury; holding her up as an example for others to follow (Luke 21:1-4). Preachers, elders, deacons, Bible class teachers, and others engaged in the work of the Lord need to hear that they are doing a good job. I know that, whenever I receive a heartfelt complement from one of my brethren, it gives me strength to carry on with the work! When was the last time you built up a fellow Christian by paying them a complement for a job well done?
Criticism is also part of the work of edification, but not the kind of criticism that is intended to be mean. If you can see that a brother or a sister is struggling with some spiritual issue, Jesus says that you must go to that person and “tell him his fault between thee and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). It is not supposed to be a confrontation, but rather a private talk between brethren. Most of the time, there will be no need to take it any further. If brethren can only talk to each other, in a spirit of love and compassion, most problems in the church would never grow any bigger (Galatians 6:1-2).
When we think about edification, let’s not just think about social get-togethers, but rather the development of deep and meaningful relationships. The more we love and support one another, the stronger we will be, as the body of Christ. Weakness in the Lord’s body is often the result of failure to connect with one another in more than just a superficial way.
“Benevolence” is a fancy word that refers to the work that Christians do to help those who are in need.
In Galatians 6:10, we are instructed to take advantage of every opportunity to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Some think that Christians are limited to helping only other Christians, but Jesus taught us, in the parable of the “Good Samaritan” that anyone who needs help deserves our help, no matter who they are (Luke 30-37). Throughout history, it has always been the case that there is never a shortage of those who are in need (Mark 14:7).
Some churches are quite proud of all the programs they have, which are designed to help the needy. In many cases, they simply throw their financial and sometimes personal support together with denominations that are doing the actual work. The Bible teaches us not to have fellowship with denominations (Ephesians 5:11); even when it comes to works of benevolence. Is the Lord’s church powerless to help the needy on its own? By working together with denominations, are we not suggesting to the community that we are just another denomination, ourselves? These efforts may be backed by the best of intentions, but they are diluting the distinctiveness of the church of Christ.
When we think about benevolence, we typically think about flood, earthquake, or tornado relief. We think about BIG projects in far away places. But, benevolence is also about small acts of kindness, which take place right here, in our own community. Once, my mother said to me, “I wish the church had a program to give groceries to needy families on holidays like Thanksgiving.” I said to her, “Don’t wait for the rest of the church to do it. Do it yourself.” When she started collecting food from other members of the church, they wanted to help out, and before long, the entire congregation was in on the project. Sometimes, even one Christian, acting on alone, can make a big difference!
Abuse of Our Freedoms
Last week, one of my brethren gave me an old church bulletin, in which there was printed a short article titled, “The Four Freedoms Abused.” Although the material in it was a bit dated, I thought that the points it made were very much needed at this time. I would like to present that article, along with some additional points of my own.
We have ‘Freedom From Want’
…and use it to eat ‘junk food,’ drink liquor and beer, and walk around half-clothed (or less). We are a part of an affluent society, rich by worldly standards, pleasure mad, our stomachs lavishly fed, and slow to learn that ‘man does not live by bread alone’ (Matthew 4:4)
People who live in second and third-world countries, who come to the United States are almost always amazed by the massive availability of food, clothing and other essential items. Our children have access to educational opportunities that are simply not available in many other parts of the world. Even the poorest Americans enjoy a lifestyle that is unimaginable in much of the world. As one immigrant put it, “The United States is a place where you can shape your own destiny and rise above the circumstances into which you were born.” This is a freedom that most Americans take for granted and fail to appreciate.
We have ‘Freedom of Speech’
…and use it to curse, lie, backbite, tell filthy jokes, to protest against law and order in the land, speak disparagingly against civil government ordained by God (Romans 13:1-7), to cry out for ‘Civil Rights’ and ignore ‘Human Rights,’ and give ‘lip service only’ to the living God of the Universe.
Freedom of Speech has been used as an excuse to subject our society to all kinds of filthy language lewd behavior. It is a big part of the reason why our land has been flooded with a tidal wave of sexually explicit language and imagery. Christians must be on their guard at all times, in such an environment (1 Peter 5:8).
We have ‘Freedom of the Press’
…and use it to print filthy magazines, obscene literature, horror and moronic ‘comic books,’ atheism, infidelity, communism, and anti-American books, to conduct ‘gossip columns’ about someone’s fifth wife or husband separating in Hollywood, and the vicious sex crimes being committed (Galatians 5:19-21).
We are now living in what is being called the “Information Age,” which is characterized by the widespread availability of all kinds of information. This is both a blessing and a curse, because so much of the information available on the Internet, on television and in printed media is inaccurate, or downright false. On the one hand, it is a great blessing to live in a country where the government is not allowed to censor the information that is available to the masses, but on the other hand, it is a curse to live in an age when unscrupulous people will publish anything they want to—whether it is true or false. Now, more than ever before, Christians need to “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
We have ‘Freedom of Religion’
…and use it mostly as freedom from religion. We make a feeble effort to practice James 1:27. We ‘forsake the assembly’ for our own pleasures. We withhold from the Lord by refusing to ‘give as we have been prospered’ (1 Corinthians 16:2). We use Sunday evening for relaxation and pleasure and Wednesday evening for TV (Hebrews 10:25). Some will fight wars for ‘freedom of worship’ and refuse to worship when they return home.
Of all our freedoms, this is the one that we abuse the most.
Most of the first Europeans who came to America did so because they were looking for a place where they could worship God without the looming specter of persecution they faced in their home countries. Thus began America’s long and rich heritage, as a nation of people who sought, above all else, to live in harmony with the will of God. There was no other place on Earth where the movement to restore New Testament Christianity could have been as successful as it was here. As one of my former instructors used to say, “Gentlemen, we are warming ourselves by fires build by other men.”
Today, it seems that so many of us have forgotten our religious heritage, or have simply taken it for granted. Although we have the freedom to worship and serve the Lord, as the Bible teaches, the majority of Americans are uninterested in exercising that right. Although this freedom was purchased and defended with the blood of many legions, many Americans seem to think that it is worthless. Even though we are presently engaged in a struggle against powers that seek to take all of these freedoms away from us, we go on abusing them anyway.
When shall we learn to value the treasures we have?
Hopefully, we will not wait until they are all gone.
(By Russell M. Kline based on an article by J.T. Marlin)
The World Our Children Will Inherit
When my wife and I adopted our son, I experienced the same epiphany that hits most first-time dads. I thought about all the trials and tribulations that I experienced in growing up. I thought about the fads and trends I had seen come and go in the world. I remembered how my parents had worried about how morality had declined in society; how music, movies and television were influencing the next generation. I realized that they were right. Morality had declined and was declining still. Music, movies, television and now the Internet were exerting a profound influence upon the next generation. I wondered what the world would be like, when my son was old enough to be as worried as I was.
Seventeen years later, I was reminded of that epiphany, as I watched the unfolding results of the recent election cycle. I was surprised, as one commentator observed, that in spite of the billions of dollars that had been spent in campaigning, we ended up with essentially the same government we had before the election. But I was not nearly as perturbed about that as I was about some of the other news I heard on election day.
First of all, the voters of the states of Maine and Maryland approved ballot issues that would pave the way for them to join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, as states in which homosexuals may legally be joined together in marriage. What is remarkable about this news is that it was the first time that such a measure had ever been approved by a popular vote of the citizens of any state. States that already had such laws on the books had them because of legislators and judges who enacted them in spite of the will of the majority. The approval of these ballot issues has emboldened homosexual advocacy groups, which are now more resolved than ever to bring their quest to every state in the union.
In the second place, voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot measures, which pave the way for the legalized regulation of the sale of marijuana for the recreational use of adults over 21 years of age. These laws still have many legal hurdles to clear, but with the federal judiciary becoming more liberal every year, supporters of this movement are confident that a legitimate marijuana industry shall one day “grow” and flourish in the United States. These two bits of election day news are what concern me the most.
It seems that the world my generation is going to leave behind is one in which the sin of homosexuality is going to be granted a special status. The stigma that once was attached to homosexual behavior no longer exists. The same is also true of heterosexuals who commit adultery and fornication. How long will it be, until society no longer frowns upon incest and pedophilia? Many question why Christians are opposed to homosexuals being granted the legal right to marry each other. The answer is that God created marriage and defined it as being a relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24). Jesus affirmed this definition, in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Marriage is an institution that is created and defined by God. Even if every state in the union legalizes homosexual marriage, God will never recognize it!
Also, it seems that the world my generation is going to leave behind is one in which dangerous drugs like marijuana will be sold alongside equally dangerous drugs like alcohol and tobacco. In the ancient world, alcohol was the only such drug that was in widespread use, and the Bible has many negative things to say about it. In Ephesians 5:18, the Scripture warns Christians against allowing themselves to be overcome by the excesses of this dangerous drug. In Romans 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 6:12, Christians are forbidden from allowing themselves to become addicted to sinful behavior, even if it is legal behavior. Even if laws are enacted to regulate the sale of opium and cocaine to the masses, it will never be something that God approves!
The world is a dangerous place for Christians. We are constantly being bombarded by influences, which are designed to tempt us to compromise our faith, in order to slake our lust. My generation grew up in a gauntlet of evil influence and temptation. My son’s generation has had to deal with the proliferation of evil influence and temptation, which have come at him in ways that were unimaginable to me. The expansion of evil influence and temptation that is on the horizon is terrifying to me. But my faith in God comforts me.
I am confident that Christians will be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In order to do so, we must strengthen our own personal faith and commitment to serve the cause of Christ. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Furthermore, we must educate the next generation about the dangers that lie ahead of them. “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We must set a good example and use our influence to persuade others to follow the same path we are following. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Whenever the opportunity arises, we must raise our voices in protest against ungodliness in our society and we must go to the polls and vote in defense of a Biblical worldview.
The situation may seem hopeless, but the future is always full of hope, because it has the potential to be whatever we make of it. Let us apply ourselves to making the future the very best that it has the potential to be. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
Questions Without Answers
Human beings are naturally inquisitive. Of all the creatures that God created, we are the only ones on Earth who are capable of reason, logic and profundity of thought (Isaiah 1:18). In our long history, humanity has made many important discoveries and advanced his knowledge of the world by leaps and bounds, yet there are still some great mysteries, which elude all efforts to solve them.
In an article posted on lifeslittlemysteries.com, Natalie Wolchover made of list of seven questions for which science has not yet provided a satisfactory answer. One such mystery: “Why do cats purr?” It is known that cats produce an amazing range of vocalizations and there are logical explanations for almost all of them, but purring is yet to be understood. Cats purr while doing many different activities and it seems to serve no useful purpose at all. Evolutionary scientists can’t figure out why such a behavior would ever come about. Creationists tend not to worry about it.
Another unsolved mystery: “How do bicycles work?” Scientists have long suspected that gyroscopic motion, combined with “trailing” effects are what keeps bicycles travelling forward and upright, even when no one is steering them (“Look mom; no hands!”). But engineers who have studied the problem discovered that bicycles still work, even when they deliberately countered the gyroscopic and trailing effects. The supervisor of the experiment stated that we may never come to understand how the laws of physics apply to how bicycles work. Most ten-year olds are just glad that they do.
Another conundrum: “Why do people favor one hand over the other?” Biologists suspect that the neurological “wiring” in our brains causes us to favor either our right hands or our left. But why favor either hand, at all? The best evolutionary model would be for humans to be ambidextrous, but it is exceedingly rare for human beings to be just as comfortable with their left hands as with their right (which is why “switch hitters” are so valuable in baseball). Also, why are there so many more “righties” than “lefties?” Right handed people are no better off in the world than left handed people, so why are there not roughly equal numbers of both? Questions like this cause evolutionists to shrug their shoulders and bite their lips, but creationists don’t mind them so much (Psalm 139:14).
Other burning questions like, “Why does lightening happen?” or “Why are moths drawn to lights?” or “Why is yawning contagious?” and “What causes static electricity?” pose further puzzles for scientists, who shall grapple with them for years to come. These may seem like boring and mundane questions to ordinary people, but to people who can talk all day long about relativity and string theory and quantum mechanics, they are daunting mysteries, which defy explanation. The point of all this is that there are still many things that science has yet to explain. We think that we live in an age in which humanity has a perfect understanding of the world and how it works, but the truth is that our understanding is incomplete. Also, there is this question to consider: “How much of what we think we know now will be proven false in the future?”
In 1900, an esteemed British scientist, Lord Kelvin, famously said, “There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now. All that remains is more precise measurement.” Just a few decades after making that statement, Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity opened up new frontiers in the study of physics, which led to even more innovations in the field. Today, some scientists are predicting that the so-called “Unified Theory of Everything” is within our grasp and that, in time, our knowledge of the cosmos will be indisputably complete. Such bravado! Such self-assuredness!
The consensus of these same scientists is that, when our knowledge of the cosmos is complete, religion shall become extinct. But, knowledge of the world and how it works does not satisfy man’s need for God. The serpent promised Eve that if she and her husband would defy God, “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Just as Adam and Eve thought that they would be better off without God, so many today think that humanity would be better off without Him, too. But, the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).
All the knowledge in the universe cannot give our souls what they need. Science answers many of the most important questions of life; but not all of them. Only the Bible complete our knowledge.
Kepler’s Courage
Kepler spent many years of his life trying to prove a hypothesis
Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer, born in 1571. He lived in a time when astronomy and astrology were merged into a single field of study and he excelled prolifically, in both disciplines. From the time of his boyhood, he was educated to be a member of the Lutheran clergy, but instead he found work as a teacher. During one of his classroom lectures, it occurred to him that the orbits of the six planets (only Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were known at the time) were spaced in just such a way that there seemed to be a geometrical relationship between them. He thought of the five “regular” or “platonic” solids (discovered by ancient Greek thinkers, like Pythagoras and Plato) whose sides were regular polygons and theorized that these were the invisible support structures for the solar system.
Kepler spent many years of his life trying to prove his hypothesis. He labored for countless hours to construct three dimensional models of the spheres of the six planets nested within the five regular solids, but it was all for naught. He was not able to make his theory work mathematically with the available data on the orbits of the planets. He sought the most precise data available in his time from Tycho Brahe, a Danish nobleman, who was the Imperial Mathematician in the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, but even the most precise observations of the motions of the planets did not help. His problem was that he, along with every other astronomer of his time, assumed that the planets orbit the sun in a perfect circular motion. After many more years of painstaking observation and calculation, Kepler discovered that the orbits of the planets are elliptical, rather and circular.
He had the courage to admit when it was proven to be false
The thing about Johannes Kepler that impresses me is that, even after he had committed the majority of his professional life to one specific idea, he had the courage to admit it, when it was proven to be false. As a gospel preacher, I talk to numerous souls about all kinds of matters pertaining to religion. I have found that most everyone I talk to has their own ideas about God, the church, salvation, and so forth. But, few people have the courage to admit it, when their own pet theories about religion are proven wrong. People will cling to false doctrines and practices, like a drowning man clinging to a piece of his shattered boat— afraid to let go and grab the lifeline rescuers have thrown him. What a tragic situation!
We must not fear the truth
We must not be afraid of the truth, no matter what the truth may be. If God’s Word says something that contradicts what we have always believed, we must abandon our false beliefs post haste, lest we fall victim to vain religion (Matthew 15:13). Whenever I begin a new study with one who is not a member of the church, I usually say something like this: “At some point in our studies together, we are bound to encounter something in the Bible, which contradicts things that you have always believed. At that point, you will have to make a decision: are you going to do what you think is right, or are you going to do what you know the Bible says is right?” People of the modern era have a problem accepting the authority of the Bible. Most of the time, that is the first thing you have to discuss with them.
Another thing that impresses me about Johannes Kepler is his general attitude toward scientific discovery. He was not an atheist, like many modern scientists, but rather he believed the Biblical account of creation and he saw his mission as a scientist as being one of seeking to understand the mysteries of God’s creation. In his Mysterium Cosmographicum, Kepler wrote, “We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens…The diversity of the phenomena of Nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.”
Do we pause to give God the credit for our blessings?
Kepler went on to calculate the elliptical pattern of the orbits of the planets and establish three laws of planetary motion, in the waning years of his life. Although some viewed his work as heretical, Kepler viewed his discoveries as being guided by the providence of God. What a wonderful attitude! How many times do we pause to give God the credit for all the blessings we have in our lives? Kepler thanked God for the privilege of making the discoveries he made in his lifetime. Let us not neglect to thank God for all of the great that we have done with our lives. As Paul put it, in his sermon on Mars’ Hill, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). It is a worthy goal for us to strive for curiosity, courage, and conviction, in this life.
How the Bible Authorizes – By Necessary Inference
How The Bible Authorizes
By Direct Statement - By Approved Example - by Necessary Inference
By Necessary Inference
What about those things with which the Bible does not deal directly? How can we know that it is sinful for Christians to smoke cigarettes, or abuse drugs like morphine, when such things did not exist in the first century and are not mentioned in the Bible? In order to know what the will of God is, when there is no direct statement or approved example to settle the matter, we must turn to necessary inference.
Necessary inference is a conclusion that is demanded by the available evidence. For example, there is no verse in the New Testament, which says, “Thou shalt not smoke cigarettes,” but there is a verse which says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Put that verse together with First Corinthians 6:19-20, and you can argue that smoking is sinful, because it is an addictive habit that destroys the body. The same argument could be applied to the abuse of alcohol, morphine and other drugs.
This is where the application of logic comes into play in our study of the Bible. God is a rational being and He deals with humanity in a rational way (Isaiah 1:18). It may not always be easy to understand the Lord’s logic, because it is so much more complex than man’s (Isaiah 55:8-9). But God, who created the human mind, is perfectly capable of communicating His will to humanity in a way that is logical, straightforward and within the grasp of our understanding (Ephesians 3:4).
The thing about necessary inference is that it is a conclusion which is demanded by the available evidence. It is not a conclusion which is contradicted by the available evidence. That is the kind of logic employed by false teachers (Mark 7:7). Every teaching and practice that is done in the name of religion must have authority from the Bible to back it up (Colossians 3:17). Whether it is a direct statement, an approved example, or necessary inference, there must be Bible authority for what we teach and practice!
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3:17
Lies Men Have Told About The Bible
|
What Does the Bible Say?
When it comes to religion, there is no shortage of opinions on the subject. In our community, there are dozens of denominations, each one teaching and practicing different things about salvation, worship and faithful living. Is every denomination right? How can they all come to different conclusions about what is written in the same Word of God? Is it God’s will that there be so much confusion in religion?
The Bible says that God "is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the problem must lie with man. Much of the confusion in the modern religious world stems from a lack of understanding of how the Bible authorizes. If we are going to preach and practice with the authority of the Lord to back us up, then we must learn to ascertain Bible authority (Colossians 3:17). In the final analysis, it is what the Bible says that matters most of all, for it shall be the Word of the Lord that judges us, in the last day (John 12:48).
How the Bible Authorizes – By Approved Example
How The Bible Authorizes
By Direct Statement - By Approved Example - by Necessary Inference
By Approved Example
What makes an example an approved example? There are a number of examples of tradition and practice in the New Testament, some of which are imitated by the modern church and some of which are not. How can we know which examples we ought to imitate and which we ought not?
For one thing, we must understand the difference between actions which are determined by local custom and tradition and actions which are part of the regular practice of religion. Jesus showed His disciples how to partake of the Lord’s Supper and then encouraged them to do so on a regular basis (Luke 22:19-20). It is an example that the Lord intended for Christians to imitate on a regular basis (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). This, obviously, is what we would call an approved example.
In John 13:1-17, we find that, on the same evening that Jesus instituted His Supper, He also washed His disciples’ feet. Jesus did for His disciples what would have been the job of the lowest ranking servant in any house. He made the point to His disciples that they all must be willing to serve one another, if they desire to be “great” in the kingdom of Heaven. When Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15), He was not instructing them to make the washing of feet a part of their worship, like the Lord’s Supper. Instead, He was calling upon His disciples to follow His example of selfless service (1 Peter 2:21).
Understanding the difference between practices that were customary and practices that were part of a regular pattern of divinely authorized religious exercise is essential!
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow his steps” – 1 Peter 2:21
Lies Men Have Told About The Bible
|
What Does the Bible Say?
When it comes to religion, there is no shortage of opinions on the subject. In our community, there are dozens of denominations, each one teaching and practicing different things about salvation, worship and faithful living. Is every denomination right? How can they all come to different conclusions about what is written in the same Word of God? Is it God’s will that there be so much confusion in religion?
The Bible says that God "is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the problem must lie with man. Much of the confusion in the modern religious world stems from a lack of understanding of how the Bible authorizes. If we are going to preach and practice with the authority of the Lord to back us up, then we must learn to ascertain Bible authority (Colossians 3:17). In the final analysis, it is what the Bible says that matters most of all, for it shall be the Word of the Lord that judges us, in the last day (John 12:48).
How the Bible Authorizes – By Direct Statement
How The Bible Authorizes
By Direct Statement - By Approved Example - by Necessary Inference
By Direct Statement
At first glance, this may seem to be the simplest of all the ways in which the Bible authorizes. After all, if the Bible says that a thing is so, then it is so, right? Well, it must be acknowledged that not every direct, propositional statement in the Bible is binding upon us today.
One must take into consideration who made the direct statement in question. In John 9:34, Jewish authorities said that a man whom the Lord had healed was born in sin. Their statement may have been quite direct, but that does not mean it was accurate. Ezekiel 18:20 makes it clear that people are not born in sin, but are responsible only for the sins they commit in their lifetimes. Direct statements like those in John 9:34 cannot be used as evidence to teach what the Bible clearly denies.
In order for a direct statement to bear authority, it must come from one who possesses divine authority. In Matthew 17:5, God, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” This is a simple, declarative statement, which establishes that God wants us listen to what Jesus has to say. Since it came from the Father, Himself, there can be no doubt about the weight of its authority. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” This is a simple, declarative statement, which establishes that baptism is absolutely essential for the salvation of every soul. Since it came from the Lord, Himself, there can be no doubt about the weight of its authority.
Another source of divine authority is found in the words of those who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak and write. In declarative statements made by the apostles and by others who were under the influence of inspiration, we find that there is an abundance of Biblical authority. As the process is described in 2 Peter 1:21, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” That is why Peter’s declaration about baptism for the remission of sins in Acts 2:38, Philip’s declaration about the confession of faith in Christ in Acts 8:37 and Paul’s declaration about the need for all men to repent in Acts 17:30 are considered to be absolutely authoritative.
This is not an issue that is too complicated for us to understand. When it comes to ascertaining Bible authority, a little common sense goes a long way!
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” – Mark 16:16
Lies Men Have Told About The Bible
|
What Does the Bible Say?
When it comes to religion, there is no shortage of opinions on the subject. In our community, there are dozens of denominations, each one teaching and practicing different things about salvation, worship and faithful living. Is every denomination right? How can they all come to different conclusions about what is written in the same Word of God? Is it God’s will that there be so much confusion in religion?
The Bible says that God "is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the problem must lie with man. Much of the confusion in the modern religious world stems from a lack of understanding of how the Bible authorizes. If we are going to preach and practice with the authority of the Lord to back us up, then we must learn to ascertain Bible authority (Colossians 3:17). In the final analysis, it is what the Bible says that matters most of all, for it shall be the Word of the Lord that judges us, in the last day (John 12:48).
Home: As God Designed It – Children
Home as God Designed It
Husbands and Fathers - Wives and Mothers - Children
Children: An Heritage of the Lord
There is no doubt that children are a special blessing in any family. For the first seven years of our marriage, my wife and I struggled with the painful frustration of childlessness. We knew all too well the feeling expressed by Rachel, when she said to Jacob, in her desperation, “Give me children or else I die” (Genesis 30:1). But, when we adopted our son, sadness immediately turned to joy and we have always felt like we have had a special appreciation for the sentiment in Psalm 127:3-5.
If there is a role for children to play in the home, it is to be obedient to their parents and to learn all that they can from them. Ephesians 6:1-3 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” The concept of children being obedient to their parents is described in the text as inherently “right.” In the natural world, the young look to the old for guidance and for a proper example of how to behave successfully. Parents owe it to their children to set a good example and to guide them in following the way of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Also, children are directly commanded to “honor” their parents, which goes to the concept of respect. Parents are owed respect from their children simply because they are the parents. A wise child learns to respect and appreciate his parents at an early age. If we take our parents for granted, we will find that they are gone from our lives much too soon.
In an almost instinctual way, children are prone to push their parents to the limits of their patience, but parents must not be faint of heart. It is only natural for children to test the boundaries of acceptable behavior and it is up to parents to keep those boundaries clear and consistent. Children must understand that most parents are not trying to ruin their lives, or take all the fun out of everything. Parents tend to want only what is best for their children. Kids would do well to keep this in mind.
“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them”
– Psalm 127:3-5
Is God Part of Your Family?
Families everywhere are in crisis. The integrity of what was once considered an “average” family (husband/father with wife/mother and children all living together in one house) is under assault from numerous adversaries. Many have given up on the ideals of marriage and family life, in favor of modern sensibilities. But, we don’t have to settle for anything less than the Biblical model of what “home” is all about. If you want a truly Christian home, then the first thing you need to do is make God part of your family. This happens when families make God’s Word the central focus of their lives. When the Bible is read in the home, obeyed in the home, and reverenced in the home, then the home will be as God designed it. The problem with modern families is that they are not based on God’s design for the home. Let’s all dedicate ourselves to making God part of our families. Our lives will be better for having made the effort.Home: As God Designed It – Wives and Mothers
Home as God Designed It
Husbands and Fathers - Wives and Mothers - Children
Wives and Mothers
The woman’s role in the home, as wife and mother, is frequently maligned in our society, to the detriment of families everywhere. Many regard a woman’s life to be wasted, if she foregoes a career, in order to raise her children and attend to her family. While a woman has every right to pursue her ambitions and leave her proverbial mark on the world, it must be recognized that there is nothing wrong with a woman who wants to devote her life to being a wife and mother. Some may argue otherwise, but the woman’s role in the home is of paramount importance.
The Bible says that the woman is the “keeper” of the home (Titus 2:4-5). This denotes the idea of her making the home a safe haven from the world for her husband and children. In this way, she is her husband’s “helper” (Genesis 2:18-25). It is her responsibility to follow his Godly leadership and to support him, as he watches out for the best interests of the family. Also, she is responsible for keeping her family on the right spiritual path (2 Timothy 1:5). If her husband will not lead the family in the right direction, she must do so, herself (1 Peter 3:1-4).
The Bible does not say that Christian women have no choice about how they may live their lives. In the Bible, we read about Godly women who had careers (like Lydia; Acts 16:14,15). Also, we read about Godly women who devoted their lives to serving others (like Dorcas; Acts 9:36-41). The point is that a Christian woman can be whatever she wants, as long as she does not neglect her duties as wife and mother. When a woman chooses to get married and have children, she takes up a mantle of responsibility that she cannot put down. She must take her commitment seriously.
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” —Ephesians 5:33
Is God Part of Your Family?
Families everywhere are in crisis. The integrity of what was once considered an “average” family (husband/father with wife/mother and children all living together in one house) is under assault from numerous adversaries. Many have given up on the ideals of marriage and family life, in favor of modern sensibilities. But, we don’t have to settle for anything less than the Biblical model of what “home” is all about. If you want a truly Christian home, then the first thing you need to do is make God part of your family. This happens when families make God’s Word the central focus of their lives. When the Bible is read in the home, obeyed in the home, and reverenced in the home, then the home will be as God designed it. The problem with modern families is that they are not based on God’s design for the home. Let’s all dedicate ourselves to making God part of our families. Our lives will be better for having made the effort.Home as God Designed It: Husbands and Fathers
Home as God Designed It
Husbands and Fathers - Wives and Mothers - Children
Husbands and Fathers
The man’s role in the home, as husband and father, is frequently misunderstood in our society. God has ordained that men and women must fulfill specific roles and responsibilities, in order for the home to function properly. It seems that men struggle more than women with understanding and playing the roles that God has appointed for them, in every household.
In Ephesians 5:22-23, the Bible says, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.” The husband’s role as the “head” of the house is one that is the most misunderstood. It does not mean that he is a dictator in his home, or that his wife is bound to obey his every command. It does, however, mean that he is the spiritual head of his family, and that it is his God-given responsibility to make sure that everyone in his home is on their way to Heaven (Ephesians 6:4). Many husbands in our society are unconcerned about spiritual things and are certainly not leading their families in the pathway of righteousness. If a man wants his wife and children live Christian lives, he must lead them in doing so.
Furthermore, as “head” of the house, it is the man’s God-given responsibility to provide for the material needs of his family, as well as their spiritual needs. First Timothy 5:8 Second Thessalonians 3:10 make it plain that any man who is able to work and support his family, but refuses to do so, is failing to fulfill his duty toward them and toward the Lord. For many years people have bemoaned the sad condition of our society, in which fathers abandon their families and spend all their time and resources in selfish pursuits. This sort of behavior is intolerable in a Christian home.
In Ephesians 5:33, the Bible says, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” It is the wife’s duty to “submit to” and to “reverence” her husband. This means that she is to respect his judgment and be supportive in his guidance of the home. But, a husband who fails to lead his house in the right direction is not deserving of respect or support. A woman will respect a man who behaves as a man should, but she will not have respect for a man who is derelict in his spiritual and material responsibilities.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” – Ephesians 5:25
Is God Part of Your Family?
Families everywhere are in crisis. The integrity of what was once considered an “average” family (husband/father with wife/mother and children all living together in one house) is under assault from numerous adversaries. Many have given up on the ideals of marriage and family life, in favor of modern sensibilities. But, we don’t have to settle for anything less than the Biblical model of what “home” is all about. If you want a truly Christian home, then the first thing you need to do is make God part of your family. This happens when families make God’s Word the central focus of their lives. When the Bible is read in the home, obeyed in the home, and reverenced in the home, then the home will be as God designed it. The problem with modern families is that they are not based on God’s design for the home. Let’s all dedicate ourselves to making God part of our families. Our lives will be better for having made the effort.Galatia: Churches Besieged by the Old Law
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Galatia: Churches Besieged by the Old Law
Galatia was a geopolitical region located in the central portion of what is today the country of Turkey. The apostle Paul is known to have visited Galatian cities like Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra on more than one occasion, where he experienced great success in the face of great opposition. According the narrative in the book of Acts, the Jews in Galatia vigorously opposed Paul’s activities there and there is little doubt that such opposition continued in his absence, as well.
In A.D. 57, while Paul was travelling through Macedonia on his third missionary journey, he wrote an epistle “unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2). In it, he addressed them as his spiritual children (Galatians 4:19-20) and reminded them of how he brought the gospel to them (Galatians 1:8,11). He had begun to work among them while he was suffering from a physical affliction (Galatians 4:13), but his preaching was fiery and focused on the crucified Christ (Galatians 3:1). He confirmed his preaching with miracles performed in their midst (Galatians 3:5) and they received it with great enthusiasm (Galatians 4:12-15; 3:26-27). They were fiercely loyal to Paul (Galatians 4:14-15) and they willingly suffered persecution for their faith (Galatians 3:4).
After Paul had left them, false teachers came into their midst and tried to convince them to blend certain aspects of the Law of Moses with the Law of Christ. These teachers attacked Paul’s apostolic authority (Galatians 1:11 -2:14) and demanded that Gentile Christians be circumcised (Galatians 5:2,11; 6:11). They were on the verge of gaining the upper hand among the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:9; 5:3; 4:16).
Paul was greatly disturbed by these developments (Galatians 3:1; 1:6). He feared that all his hard work among them would be laid waste (Galatians 4:11). He urged them to reject the false teachers and to hold fast to the teaching they had received from him (Galatians 1:7-9). He expressed his confidence in them, that they would do the right thing (Galatians 5:10). Still, today, we must stand opposed to false teaching.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:6-9
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
The origin of the church in Laodicea is obscure, to say the least. Some theorize that it was established while Paul was teaching in Ephesus and “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10). It is possible that Epaphras may have been instrumental in the origin of the church in Laodicea, as well as in Colossae and Hierapolis (Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13). The city, itself was a center of wealth, commerce, learning and religion for the Roman province of Asia. The church in Laodicea was quite prosperous, but as the book of Revelation reveals, it was not without its own problems.
Laodicea was one of seven churches to which the Lord directed a series of brief epistles in the second and third chapters of the Revelation. It has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the seven about which the Lord had nothing good to say. Chief among its problems was that it was “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:14- 17). The members of that church were not really on fire for Christ; neither were they spiritually cold and dead. They were simply going through the motions of religious life, just getting by. Some may say, “What’s wrong with that? At least they weren’t completely dead, spiritually.” But, the problem with the church in Laodicea is that being spiritually lukewarm is not enough. Christians must be zealous and “on fire” for Christ all the time (Galatians 4:18). If our zeal fails, and we end up just “going through the motions” of religious life, then we are no more pleasing to God than if we were stone cold dead in our spirits. Jesus advised them to “be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). So should all who are spiritually lukewarm.
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:14-16
Rome: the Imperial Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Rome: the Imperial Church
David Lipscomb, in his commentary on the book of Romans, wrote that, “Nothing whatever is said in the Scripture concerning the origin of the church at Rome, and we have no means of knowing at what precise time the gospel first gained a footing there.” He, like many other commentators on the subject, theorized that the church in Rome had its origins in the “strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes” who were in attendance at Jerusalem on that famous Pentecost chronicled in the second chapter of the book of Acts. It is logical to assume that those who obeyed the gospel in Jerusalem on that day took it back home with them, when they returned to Rome some time later. A quote from the Roman historian Tacitus (page two) seems to support this theory. Also, evidence from within the book of Romans suggests that the church there had been established for quite a while before Paul wrote his epistle to them in A.D. 58 (Romans 1:13; 15:23).
When Paul did write his epistle “to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints,” He indicated that the church there was of substantial size and vigorous industry (Romans 1:7). He commended them for their faith, which was “spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8) and for their obedience, which was “come abroad unto all men” (Romans 16:19). He expressed a keen desire to come and visit his brethren in Rome, but he had been hindered from doing so on more than one occasion (Romans 1:13; 15:23). He would, however, have a chance to visit Rome, when he was arrested at Jerusalem and jailed in Caesarea, from whence he invoked his right to appeal his case directly before Caesar, in Rome. His journey to the imperial capital was a perilous one, but he successfully arrived there in the early A.D. 60s, according to the account in the latter chapters of the book of Acts.
The church in Rome was an important and influential congregation, in its time. It bore the brunt of every persecution imposed upon the churches of Christ by Roman authorities. There were numerous times when it had to operate in secret, for fear of annihilation. The book of Romans is a masterpiece of inspired literature. It deals with such important themes as grace, law, faith, works, sanctification and justification, just to name a few. Paul is the only apostle who is known to have visited Rome. Uninspired sources report that he was beheaded there in the late A.D. 60s. Rome was a focal point of world history and the history of the Lord’s church.
“The churches of Christ salute you.” – Romans 16:16
Ephesus: the Church That Left Its First Love
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Ephesus: The Church That Left Its First Love
During the return segment of his second missionary journey, the apostle Paul made a quick stop in the city of Ephesus (Acts 18:19). He preached in the synagogue there and his fellow Jews wanted him to stay longer, but he had to press on to Jerusalem (Acts 18:20-21). He left Aquilla and Priscilla in Ephesus, where they remained for a very long time, as they were instrumental in building the Lord’s church there. While Paul was away, Apollos came to Ephesus and Aquilla and Priscilla helped him to know the way of the Lord more perfectly and he was thus able to continue his travels to Corinth, where he proved to be a capable preacher (Acts 18:24-28).
On his third missionary journey, Paul returned to Ephesus, where he remained for a period of three years, the longest he ever stayed in any one place in his preaching career (Acts 19:1-12). From Ephesus, brethren who were personally taught by Paul ventured out into neighboring cities, until the whole province of Asia had heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. The work that Paul did there was some of his finest!
During the return segment of his third missionary journey, Paul stopped near Ephesus and had a meeting with the elders of that church (Acts 20:17-35). It was a sorrowful meeting, since Paul informed them that it would be the last time they would see his face (Acts 20:36-38). From his imprisonment, in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus, in which he expressed his great love for the brethren there and offered them some valuable instruction.
By the time of the Revelation, the church in Ephesus was still going strong, but they were showing some signs of weakness (Revelation 2:1-7). The Lord said that they had “left thy first love,” leading many to believe that they had been neglecting fundamental aspects of the faith. They were told to “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” Even a church like the mighty one in Ephesus can go astray.
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake has labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” – Revelation 2:1-4
Thessalonica: the Confused Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Thessalonica: the Confused Church
When the apostle Paul left the city of Philippi on his second missionary journey, he travelled next to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). There, he preached to his fellow Jews in the local synagogue, where he had much success in evangelism (Acts 17:2-4). But the Jews that would not obey the gospel caused an uproar in the city and Paul and Silas were forced to leave and go to Berea, a short distance away (Acts 17:5-10). Paul did not get to spend as much with the newly formed church in Thessalonica, as he would have liked. From Berea, he went to Athens and from Athens he went to Corinth. From there, he wrote his first epistle to the church in Thessalonica, which may have been his very first inspired letter to anyone. Soon after that, he wrote a second epistle, while he was still in Corinth.
In his first epistle, Paul dealt with some issues that had arisen among the brethren, because of their incomplete training. First of all, the brethren there did not have a proper view of the second coming of Christ, so Paul explained it to them in more detail. Second, persecution had broken out and Paul needed to encourage the brethren to be strong in their faith. Third, they were in danger of backsliding into their old heathen ways and Paul wanted to stop them from going in the wrong direction. In his second epistle, it is evident that the brethren in Thessalonica were confused about what Paul had told them about the second coming of Christ and needed to be reminded that, while they needed to be ready for Jesus to come at any time, they also needed to take care of their families and live their daily lives in faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8
Philippi: the Beloved Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Philippi: the Beloved Church
In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul witnessed a vision of a man from Macedonia, who beckoned him to “Come over into Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). At the time, Paul and his party were still in Asia, but “immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia” (Acts 16:10). Crossing the Aegean Sea, they landed at Neapolis and then headed up the Gangites River to Philippi, a city of importance to both the Greeks and the Romans.
Philippi was founded by Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The Romans made it the capital of the province of Macedonia and gave land in and around it to veterans of the legion. This was done in many provincial capitals to ensure that the cities would remain loyal to the empire, Roman law would be upheld, and taxes would be paid.
The Lord’s church in Philippi was the result of evangelistic efforts conducted by Paul and his travelling companions, on his second missionary journey (Acts 16). The earliest converts in the city included a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple garments, who was originally from the Asian city of Thyatira (Acts 16:14,15), and the local jailer, whose name we do not know (Acts 16:23-34). Paul developed a very close relationship with the church in Philippi. Eventually, he wrote an epistle to the brethren there, in which he had nothing critical to say about them. He expressed his great love for them (Philippians 1:3), encouraged them to continue in faithfulness (Philippians 2:12), invited them to join him in opposing false religion (Philippians 3:17-19) and thanked them for having supported him, in his mission work (Philippians 4:14-18). It is abundantly clear that Paul’s relationship with the church in Philippi was one that he cherished and strove to preserve.
To his brethren in Philippi, Paul wrote about the joy of living a faithful Christian life (Philippians 4:4). He taught them not to worry about anything, but to put all things in God’s hands, and trust in His power to make a difference (Philippians 4:6). He told them how to tap into “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). He exalted Jesus Christ, as the source of his strength (Philippians 4:13). Paul was imprisoned, in Rome, when he wrote to the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:12-14). He sent to them greetings from their brethren in Rome “chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). The gospel of Christ had gotten even into the house of the emperor!
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” – Philippians 1:3
Antioch: the Mission-Minded Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Antioch: the Mission-Minded Church
In the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, we read of the beginning of violent persecution against Christians in the church at Jerusalem. A gospel preacher named Stephen was the first to be martyred for the faith, and there would be many more to follow. In Acts 7:58, we read of a young man named Saul, who held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen to death. In Acts 8:1 and 3, we find that Saul went on to become a zealous persecutor of the Lord’s people and that the resulting persecution caused Christians to become dispersed throughout the region.
These events are believed to have resulted in the establishment of several congregations of the Lord’s church in Judaea, Samaria, Galilee and Syria. In ninth chapter of the book of Acts, We read of a congregation that already existed in the Syrian city of Damascus, where Saul was baptized and began to preach the gospel. At about that same time, the Lord’s church in the Syrian city of Antioch was established (Acts 11:19-21). The apostles sent Barnabas to work with the church in Antioch, and it became a home congregation for him (Acts 11:22-24). Then, Barnabas sought after Saul, that he might join him in the work at Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Saul began to use the name Paul in Antioch, and he and Barnabas did an outstanding work in that place.
It was suggested, in time, that Paul and Barnabas ought to launch out from Antioch and go on a missionary journey to preach the gospel and establish church in places where Christianity had not yet gone before (Acts 13:1-3). All three of Paul’s epic missionary journeys would begin and end in the city of Antioch. The church in Antioch would become a kind of home congregation for Paul, but he would spend much more time away from it than he would working with it. It would be the church in Antioch that would call together the council of apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss the “problem” of the Gentile converts to Christianity. It was a mission-minded church, to be sure.
“Then departed Barnabas to <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.biblemap.org/#Tarsus”>Tarsus</a>, for to seek Saul: and when he found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” – Acts 11:25-26
Corinth: the Troubled Church
Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia
Corinth: The Troubled Church
Paul, in the middle of his second missionary journey, was forced to leave Thessalonica for his own safety, when the Jews there became homicidal toward him (Acts 17:10). They pursued him to Berea, so he was then sent away to Athens, where he would be beyond their reach (Acts 17:14-15). But the evangelistic prospects were not very good in Athens, so Paul decided to move on to the city of Corinth, where he had a great deal of success in establishing a church and evangelizing the population (Acts 18:1ff.). Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half, longer than he had stayed with any other church in his journeys, so far (Acts 18:11).
However, when Paul left Corinth, there began to be trouble in the church there. Apollos was the next evangelist to work with the church in that city (Acts 18:27), and he built upon the foundation that Paul had laid (1 Corinthians 3:6). But, the church became troubled with division, problems with church discipline, the Lord’s supper, spiritual gifts and giving, just to name a few. Paul wrote two epistles to the church in Corinth, which are preserved for us in the Bible. In them, he tried to help the brethren deal with their problems and to better their spiritual condition.
What is most impressive about the church in Corinth is that Paul never gave up on the brethren there. Even though they were overwhelmed by their spiritual problems, Paul never seemed to lose faith in the prospect that they could come back and be strong again (Galatians 6:1). Even when spiritual problems overwhelm us, there is still hope.
“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” – 1 Corinthians 1:11