Historical Posts
Educating Our Young
More than twenty-four hundred years ago Socrates said, “Could I climb to the highest place in Athens, I would lift my voice and proclaim: ‘Fellow-citizens, why do ye turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth and take so little care of your children to whom one day you must relinquish it all?'”
I am constantly amazed at how relevant the past seems to be. More than two thousand years have passed and still people seem more interested in accumulating wealth than in caring for their offspring.
Christians are, or ought to be, a different breed.
Children are a gift from God, a blessing to be valued, not abused (Psalm 127:3-5). They are to be loved and cared for by parents who see in them their greatest work. What could be more important than molding young lives to be productive citizens and godly men and women?
Educating our young is a tremendous work.
We should want and demand the best in this regard. Those who educate our children should be the best and brightest among us. They are, after all, engaged in a great work. But, this work can never be completely successful if we expect them to do the job alone.
The real work of educating the young begins at home.
- It is here that a hunger for knowledge and learning must be instilled.
- It is here that morals and values must be enforced.
- It is here that love of God and country must be taught.
When the home does its job, the school will have a much easier time.
The problems in the public schools of America today are the direct result of failures in the home. We, as parents, would do well to take to heart the admonition of Moses, when he said to the Israelites: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Reasonable Justification
We seldom have much difficulty knowing the difference between right and wrong. Most things are pretty clear. However, we don’t always like what we see. If we find something appealing, right or wrong, we look for all manner of reasons to justify it.
Benjamin Franklin recognized this trait in himself and others. Concerning his first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, he writes: “I believe I have omitted mentioning that…our crew employed themselves in catching cod, and hauled up a great number. Till then, I had stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had had life; and on this occasion I considered, according to my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, nor could do us any injury that might justify this massacre. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had been formerly a great lover of fish, and, when it came out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanced some time between principle and inclination, till recollecting that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, `If you eat one another, I don’t see why we may not eat you.’ So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have since concluded to eat as other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”
Franklin was right. Men are reasonable creatures.
We find reasons for whatever we want to do, no matter how wrong the thing may be. As a result, men have sought to justify all manner of sin including abortion, euthanasia, gambling, homosexuality, and alcoholism. How does it work? Abortion is justified by the woman’s right to choose. Euthanasia is the loving and merciful response. Gambling revenues can finance education and programs for the aged (who aren’t going to need any programs if the euthanasia advocates win out). Homosexuality is a discrimination issue. Alcohol abuse is a disease, don’t ever use the sin word.
How does a Christian respond to all of this?
Christians are to be more concerned with doing what God demands than what others want. Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 5:30). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).
All of the reasoning in the world will not make right wrong or wrong right! God, alone, makes those determinations, and we must accept them.
There is no reasonable justification for sin.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Divided Assemblies
A growing phenomenon in the modern religious scene is the notion that, in order to appeal to young people, churches must divide their worship assemblies into smaller groups, which cater the perceived needs of specific ages. Some “small groups ministries” involve the formation of a “children’s church,” which meets somewhere else, while the grownups are meeting in the main auditorium. Others subdivide the kids into special groups for teenagers, adolescents and smaller children, which have their own activities apart from the worship of the adults. Still, others divide the adults into smaller groups, which meet in the homes of other brethren, or in nursing homes, and other institutions. These divided worship assemblies take place mostly on Sunday nights, but they are also known to be part of the Sunday morning routine, in some congregations.
Many brethren raise nary an eyebrow to this practice. To them, it is “no big deal.” But, what does the Bible say about the worship assemblies of the church? Did the ancient church ever divide its worship assemblies along the lines of age? Is there any precedent in the New Testament for such a practice? Do divided worship assemblies really produce the results that people anticipate?
What’s wrong with having divided worship assemblies?
An Absence of Biblical Authority
The greatest problem with “children’s church” and “small groups ministries” is that there is no authority granted for such practices, in the New Testament. When the ancient church assembled for the purpose of worshipping God, all the members of the local congregations were expected to be present (Hebrews 10:25). Even when a worship service took place during the evening hours, there was never any indication that some were excluded from being part of the assembly (Acts 20:7). Sometimes, it is argued that such a practice is no different than when the church divides into smaller groups for the purpose of Bible study. Indeed, there are many examples of small groups of people meeting for the purpose of Bible study, in the New Testament (Acts 5:42). But, when the church assembled to worship God, everyone was supposed to be included (1 Corinthians 11:20-34). Divided worship assemblies do not just remove children from the main group of worshippers, but also adults who are overseeing the children. Instead of worshipping with their brethren, they are babysitting in another location. Some may argue that this practice is no different than what goes on, when a parent takes a crying baby into a nursery, or a training room. But, the difference is that, in most cases, they can still follow along with what is going on in the assembly of the saints. They do not have to exclude themselves and their children from worshipping God.
A Lack of Indented Results
Divided assemblies are not only wrong from a Scriptural standpoint, but they are also wrong from a practical standpoint. For many years, the Stop Nine Church of Christ, in Byesville, Ohio had a huge youth group, which existed virtually independently from the rest of the church. They had their own worship, their own Bible studies and their fellowship activities – separate from everyone else. After a while, the elders began to notice that most of the youth who came up through this system tended not to worship with the adults, when the time came for them to do so. After some checking, they found out that their young people felt out of place in the main assembly of the church, because they had always been excluded from it. They were accomplishing the opposite of their intended result!
When youth groups “skip church” to go to hockey games, or have super bowl parties, or play basketball, what lessons are they learning? When little children are excluded from the worship services of the church, so they can go somewhere else and play, what are we teaching them? It just stands to reason that, if we want our kids to value and appreciate worship, we must not exclude them from it. Children need to see that church is important to their parents, in order to learn that it is important to them. Don’t take your kids to church with the intention of getting rid of them for an hour. Take them to church with the intention of worshipping God with them!
Consider also the needs of adults in a local congregation. They are supposed to know and care for one another (Romans 12:10). How can they do so, if they are divided from one another on Sunday evenings? How are visitors at these assemblies supposed to meet the elders of the church, if they are away with one of the small groups? Indeed, how are the elders supposed to oversee a flock that is scattered in various locations?
Content by Russell Kline
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The Right Amount of Salt
Sodium chloride, also known as salt, is a very important compound. It is used to season and preserve food. Just the right amount can be useful; too much or too little can cause all kinds of problems. We must use this, like other things God gave us, to serve Him.
Lot’s wife found out the hard way that too much salt can be a bad thing. God said not to look back as Sodom and Gomorrah were being destroyed. Lot’s wife disobeyed God and did look back, and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:17-26). Just imagine how much salt she turned into!
On the other hand, we have an example where just the right amount of salt is required. God told the priests, “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt (Leviticus 2:13).”
In the New Testament, salt is a vital part of the Christian life! Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men (Matthew 5:13).” Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (Colossians 4:6).”
Let us give the world a great flavor by spreading the gospel of Christ (Mark 16:15-16)!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Searching in all the Right Places
It happens all too often: we “know” where something is, only to find out we’re wrong.
- We’re sure our keys are hanging on the key rack, but instead we left them in our pocket.
- That restaurant was on the corner; now, it has relocated to the other part of town.
- The bread was in aisle 3; now, it’s in aisle 1.
In the religious world people look for the right things, but in the wrong places.
Eternal life is something that everyone needs, and should want! Where do we go to find it? Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (John 5:39).”
The first place to look is the Bible! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and His word abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). When we study the Scriptures we learn to find eternal life, where it really is; in Jesus Christ!
John writes, “And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:11-13).”
Now that we see where eternal life is; let’s come and get it!
Content by Richard Dillon
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I’m Dead
Yes, the words, “I’m dead!”, can be spoken by a living person. For example:
- A student may say this upon taking a test not studied for
- A player may say this when the opposing team looks bigger and stronger
In most cases, these words are used in a negative sense.
When a person does wrong or is not heard from, he may be considered “dead”. The prodigal son of Luke 15 went out and lost everything he received. Upon his return, his father said, “my son was dead and is alive again (Luke 15:24, 32)…” His father was very glad when he became alive again.
On the other hand, the words “I’m dead!” may be a good thing!
- Paul says we are to be dead unto sin (Romans 6:2, 11)
- He tells the Galatians that he is dead to the law but alive unto God (Galatians 2:19).
- Peter states, “…we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24)…”
Just as the prodigal son was dead and then came alive when he returned home, God wants us to be alive at home with Him in Heaven.
Only by remaining dead to sin are we spiritually alive and able to be at home in Heaven with Him!
How are you dead, spiritually or to sin?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Parenting Pitfalls
Even with almost two decades of experience, raising a son, I hardly feel qualified to offer any advice at all on the subject of parenting. The material in this article is compiled from many sources, both in print and on the Internet. The solutions to the problems mentioned are entirely Biblical. As I have said many times before: I am not a counselor, but I can tell you what the Bible says about whatever challenge you are facing.
Over Praising
It has been reported that many young adults enter the workforce with a profound sense of entitlement. They expect success, even if they have done little or nothing to earn it. Some assume that they will be quickly promoted, even if they have not yet mastered their job. Others think that they are special and deserve to be treated that way. They all become dejected when they find out that the world does not share their view.
Sometimes, this sense of entitlement can be traced back to how one was raised. Many parents have bought-into the idea that, if a little praise is good for a child, then a lot of praise must be even better. The modern crusade for self-esteem has taught parents that children must never be made to feel bad about themselves—no matter what. So, many parents lavish a constant flow of praise on their children and never admonish them, when they do something wrong. They teach their kids to feel good about themselves, instead of teaching them to accomplish things they can feel good about.
The Bible teaches that praise is appropriate when it is deserved (Matthew 25:19-21). But failing to teach children humility is depriving them of an essential ingredient in their character. “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3). It is no wonder that the Bible says, “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die” (Proverbs 23:13).
Over Protecting
It has been reported that many young adults enter the workforce with no ability to cope with adversity. Some a devastated by the slightest criticism. Others are finicky and will only accept jobs that meet their highest expectations. Some believe that this is the result of overprotective parenting. It is understandable that parents want to protect their children, but some take this desire to extremes. Your daughter failed a test? Demand that the teacher raise her grade. Your son received a traffic ticket? Pay the fine for him. A failed romance? Lay all the blame on the other person. These things will leave a child ill-prepared for the real world.
The Bible teaches us that adversity is a natural part of life. A wise man once said, “I returned and saw under the sun that – the race is not to the swift, nor that battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). We must teach our children to emulate the example of Paul, who wrote, “for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11-12).
Over Providing
Go to the local high school and ask any young person what their most important goal in life is. Most of them are liable to say, “Getting rich.” The problem is that people who focus on the gain of material things are much less happy in life. They suffer a much higher rate of physical and mental illness.
This phenomenon can be traced to children being raised in a materialistic environment. From a desire to make children happy, some parents simply buy them whatever they may happen to want. This may make kids happy for a while, but it is not long before they will want something else. For this reason, many young adults bankrupt themselves in an attempt to acquire a lifestyle it took their parents a lifetime to achieve.
The Bible warns us against the desire to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 28:22). We owe it to our children to teach them that love of God is vastly more important than love of money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). Instead, we must teach our children to be content with having the necessities of life and to be generous with what God has provided them (1 Timothy 6:8-9; Galatians 6:10).
Content by Russell Kline
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Have You Got the Right Directions?
Technology of the modern world can be both a blessing and a curse. When everything works as it should, it’s a blessing – when things go wrong, it’s something else. Take, for example the bizarre case of Sabine Moreau, a 67-year old woman from Belgium, who recently went on a two-day, 900-mile odyssey because her GPS receiver gave her the wrong directions.
She had intended to travel only 90 miles, to pick up a friend in Brussels, but she ended up driving all the way to Zagreb, Croatia, through Germany, Austria and Slovenia. Her friend found an alternate means of transportation and her family reported her missing after she was gone for 24 hours. Interpol found her by tracking gas purchases on her bank card.
Of course, this is not the only instance of GPS technology run amok. Last March, three Japanese tourists vacationing in Australia found themselves stuck in several feet of water, when their receiver directed them to drive into Moreton Bay to reach their destination on an island. In August, a man drove into an Alaska harbor, when his receiver directed him to “turn right.”
All of this has me convinced that I ought to just stick with the good old map and compass.
These stories have got me thinking about how much trust people invest in technology and how that trust is sometimes misplaced. Getting from “point A” to “point B” sounds like a simple enough task, but as we have already seen, it can go drastically wrong, when you don’t have the right directions. Getting from Earth to Heaven is equally challenging. It sounds like a simple task, but you can end up someplace you DON’T want to be, if you’ve got the wrong directions.
Man has devised many different ways he thinks will get to Heaven.
The problem with man’s ways of getting to Heaven is that they won’t get you to where you want to go. Jesus lamented, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). In the very next verse, He went on to point out that those who were “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” were also guilty of “laying aside the commandment of God.” When we disregard God’s Word, in favor of our own ideas, we make a mistake that is every bit as absurd as those who seem to disregard common sense and blindly follow their GPS receiver into a body of water, or a foreign country.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The only way to get to Heaven is the Lord’s way. If we are looking at any source, other than the Bible, we will not find the right directions. Instead of Heaven, we will arrive at the wrong destination!
Some may think that salvation by “faith only” or salvation by “works only” seems like the right way to go. But, as the proverb reminds us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). The only way to be sure about the spiritual path you are taking is to compare it with what the Bible says. As the apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.”
The Bible teaches us how to be saved from our sins (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9,10; Acts 2:38). It teaches us how to worship God (John 4:23,24; Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15; 11:23-26; 16:1,2; Acts 20:7). It teaches us how to live faithful, Christian lives (Hebrews 10:25; Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 6:13-18; Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
Do not deviate from the path that God has set before us.
“And whatsoever things 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).
Content by Russell Kline
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A Reason to Believe
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to everyone that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Is faith a reasonable thing? There are those who would have us believe that our faith is built around a fallacy. The Bible, they argue, is not the word of God. Our world was not created, it just happened. Jesus Christ, if he lived at all, was nothing like the picture painted by today’s preachers.
TIME (April 8, 1996) focused on the debate. Jesus made the cover. In the past the magazine had drawn attention to the liberal claims of the Jesus Seminar (a self-appointed panel of so-called experts who deny any measurable historical content to the New Testament). This time, however, they offered at least a token response to the outlandish claims of this Seminar, and it was about time!
Is there any real reason for us to question the validity of the Biblical record, and especially the New Testament account of Christ and His church? Frankly, research into the past is not as easy as we would like. There are no old newspapers, file footage of events, or tape recordings to be consulted. It is impossible to verify the gospel story with these modern methods. Obviously, we cannot go back and interview the main participants in the saga. There is not that much extra-biblical material from that period to be examined. But, what does exist in no way destroys the creditability of the Scriptures.
Among the earliest believers, however, there would have been opportunity to consult with eyewitnesses, to verify facts, to determine truth. And, there is no doubt that such was done. The writers of the New Testament claim to have been eyewitness of the things which they describe. Peter wrote: “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). John said much the same thing (1 John 1:1-3).
The antiquity of the Bible, and in particular the New Testament, is undeniable. Given the age of Scripture and the events described, who would be in a better position to accurately represent the true Jesus, His contemporaries, or a group of self-appointed liberals in the twentieth century with an agenda to destroy the credibility of the Bible and Christianity?
Be assured, there are many, many highly educated, scholarly men and women who accept the historical reliability of the Scriptures. Our faith in Jesus Christ is built on a solid foundation. Those who take the time to learn the facts, if they are fair minded, will have no trouble accepting the fact that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that the Biblical record of His life and ministry is true!
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a field of research which has shown a link between the brain and the immune system. Research seems to indicate that:
- contact with others contributes to health and longevity
- sharing your feelings may also have positive benefits
- optimism is a strong health factor
- loving relationships may help to keep us well
Of course not everyone is a believer. Many scientists remain skeptical. But, to the student of the Bible, none of this is very surprising.
Solomon wrote: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13). “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15). “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
How we think does have a bearing on how we feel.
We may not completely understand the relationship between attitude and good health, but it does exist. It was also Solomon who advised: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
In the New Testament, Paul wrote: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
How we think determines how we feel and how we act.
We would all be better off if we began each day as the Psalmist advised. He wrote: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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No Big Deal
Do you remember the story of Kelly Flinn? If not, Kelly Flinn was the Air Force’s first female B-52 pilot. She was the “poster woman” for women in the military, but her career came to a crashing halt when the news broke of her impending court-martial for:
- Adultery
- Lying
- Failure to obey orders.
In an effort to avoid court-martial, Flinn sought and received a general discharge from the Air Force.
Some thought she got off too easy.
They believed she should have been court-martialed. Others argued that she was unfairly singled out because she was a woman. And, many on both sides seemed to think that too big a deal had been made out of her adultery. There were calls from many to rewrite the standards regarding sexual conduct.
It was a sad commentary on the state of morality in our nation.
Far too many people in this nation were neither bothered nor troubled by what she did. Adultery, lying, and insubordination are relatively minor things, they argued. Everybody does it! Why pick on poor Kelly Flinn?
This cavalier attitude toward morality is the result of decades of indoctrination in:
- Evolution
- Atheism
- Agnosticism
- Humanism
In the minds of many people, there simply are no moral standards any more.
Anything goes. Who are we to say that anything is necessarily right or wrong? This thinking reaches into the highest levels of government and the media. I am grateful the Air Force understood the difference between right and wrong, but I can’t help but wonder if that would still be true today. So many things which were once acknowledged to be sinful are now openly embraced, including adultery, homosexuality, abortion, and gambling, to cite just a few examples.
Right and wrong are not arbitrary issues.
The Bible offer clear guidelines from the Creator as to acceptable and unacceptable conduct. We all suffer when those rules are ignored.
Isaiah wrote: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). We would do well to heed his warning.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Passing the Buck
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
Will Rogers once said that there have been three periods of American history, “the passing of the Indian, the passing of the buffalo, and the passing of the Buck.”
We are living in the third period.
No one wants to accept responsibility for mistakes We do our best to pass the blame to someone else. As a result, offenders are never guilty. Parents, teachers, poverty, society or the church are at fault. God forbid we should hold a person responsible for his choices.
The same thing happens in the home. Wives never make mistakes. It’s the man’s fault. Men do the same thing. As one poet put it, “He wrecked his car, he lost his job, and yet throughout his life, he took his troubles like a man and blamed them on his wife.”
It’s an age old problem.
When Adam was confronted in the garden, he replied, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (Genesis 3:12). There is even a fable which tells of Adam and his son, Seth, hiking one afternoon when they came upon a beautiful valley. Seth said to his father, “Dad, why don’t we live there.” Adam replied, “We did, son, until your mother ate us out of house and home.”
What did Eve say when questioned about her sin? “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” (Genesis 3:13). In other words, “It’s not my fault!”
God did not accept their excuses. He will not accept ours either.
He has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness. When that day comes there will be no “passing of the buck.” We will each give an account of our life. If we are lost, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
It’s time to take charge of your life
Accept responsibility for your decisions, and stop blaming others when you mess up. God will understand our mistakes and forgive us when we repent, but He will not accept our excuses.
- Read your Bible.
- Believe it!
- Obey it!
- Live it every day.
Stop making excuses!
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What Do We Have in Common?
No two people on this earth are exactly alike. However, friendships are often formed between people who have things in common. We may enjoy similar activities, eat at the same restaurant, or find the same events interesting. As God’s people, there are some things we must have in common – love, faith, and salvation.
In the first century church, “all who believed were together, and had all things in common (Acts 2:44; 4:32).” Thus, they shared all that they had to help each other in a time of need. Do we have that love today?
Consider other things Christians have in common: salvation and faith! Jude 3 states: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” We are all saved one way – God’s way! Thus, we must contend for the faith that we all have in common.
There is one faith (Ephesians 4:5), and it comes from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17). Paul even called Titus his “true son in our common faith (Titus 1:4).”
Do we truly have love, faith and salvation in common?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Non-Denominational Christianity
We are very accustomed to choices.
A casual stroll down the aisles of a local supermarket will quickly illustrate this point. I am amazed at the variety of options available when it comes to something as simple as pork and beans, potato chips, or peas.
In just a few weeks many of you will begin planning for this year’s garden. Again, choices abound. What kind of corn will you plant? What kind of tomatoes will you set out? What kind of beans? The choices seem almost endless. And, everyone has his/her favorites!
Looked at automobiles lately? There are so many makes and models. They come in a multiplicity of colors and with all kinds of options. There are so many choices to make, but that’s the way we like it.
We have become so accustomed to variety that we have incorporated the concept into religion.
Almost daily we encounter the message: “Worship with the church of your choice this Sunday!” This idea is at the heart of denominationalism. But, the concept is completely foreign to the New Testament.
It is not the church of our choice, but the church of Christ’s choice that we should seek.
The apostle Paul rebuked the Christians at Corinth for failing to understand this. The church was in turmoil because of the denominational spirit which had developed. He pleaded with them not to divide, but to unite (1 Corinthians 1:10).
We would do well to listen to the Lord’s prayer.
He cried out to the Father, “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). That’s our prayer as well.
Let’s abandon all denominational ties and unite in Jesus Christ.
How can that be wrong?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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A Confident Faith
Jesus indicted the Pharisees saying: “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:3-4). The rules they made for others were much stricter than the ones they made for themselves. That is often the case with religious men.
D. R. Dungan, in his book, HERMENEUTICS, observed: “I knew a man who had a hobby on marriage. He was of the opinion that no man could marry twice without being a polygamist–in heaven, if not on the earth. His wife might die, but that had nothing to do with it; if he married again he would be guilty of polygamy. You could not talk with him five minutes without having his hobby brought out and made to canter in your presence. But his wife died, and in less than a year from that time his theology changed on that point. Almost anything that men want to do, they can find some text of Scripture that will sound like giving it support. And it is exceedingly difficult to make any man see that he has been preaching that which is not true. He has posed before the people on the subject, and is not willing to incur the humiliation of saying, ‘I was wrong, and my opponents were right.'” A man’s wishes sometimes blind him to the truth.
Why do men draw such varied conclusions from the Scriptures?
I think the answer is found in their approach to Bible study.
- Some people go to the Bible to discover what God has revealed on a particular subject
- Others go to the book in search of proof for what they want to believe
Conclusions should not be formed and then Scriptures sought to validate them. We should look to the Scriptures and form our conclusions based on what is revealed in them.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Paul admonished, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
It is only when we do this that we can have confidence in our faith!
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What I Learned from the 52-Week Challenge
One year ago, I announced in the church bulletin and on my Facebook page that I was going to try an experiment in evangelism called, “the 52-week challenge.” Everyone who talked to me about this effort was very positive and encouraging. I want to thank everyone for their support. Quite simply, the 52-week challenge was an effort on my part to invite at least one person to come to church with me, in every single week of the year. It was hardly a monumental effort. In fact, it seemed to me like an absurdly simple task, with not much “challenge” to it, at all. Yet, it was, in the end a very rewarding experience, and I would like to heartily recommend that every Christian take up the 52-week challenge in the coming New Year.
As the year is drawing to a close, most people are asking me, “How many did you invite?” That’s actually pretty hard to say. I didn’t keep a running tally of how many souls I invited to come with me to church. Sometimes, I forgot to keep up with weekly postings on Facebook, but I can assure you that I did not fail to invite at least one person to come with me to church, in every week of 2013! In many cases, I invited the same people to come to church several times, during the year. In other cases, I invited complete strangers to come to church, whom I have not seen again. The results of this effort, however, were very surprising to me, and learned some valuable lessons along the way.
One of the first people that I invited to come to church, in the early days of the 52-week challenge was a woman I ended up baptizing a few weeks later. She still has her spiritual struggles, but she doing the best she can to fight the good fight of faith. I must say that I never expected a result like that so quickly!
Another interesting case was the week that I invited the men who worked on the roof of my house to come to church—and two of them actually showed up. They have not been back to church since then, but I never thought they would come in the first place. It just goes to show that it pays to ask.
I thought, when I began the challenge, that I might have to look high and low for people to invite, but I found that I didn’t have to. Opportunities to invite people to come to church were everywhere. Once I was actively looking for opportunities, it wasn’t hard to find one every week. Sometimes, I would get down to Friday, or Saturday, and would think, “I’ve gotta find somebody,” but then I would go to the store and find a friend, or an acquaintance, or even a total stranger and invite them to come to church.
I thought, when I began the challenge, that I might have to force myself to inject an invitation to church into my conversations with others, but as time went on, I found that it was a very natural thing to wrap a conversation with someone by saying, “Hey, why don’t you and your family come to church with me, this Sunday?” I found that it also helped, if I kept plenty of business cards or tracts on hand to give to them.
Evangelism is the most important activity in which a Christian can engage. The words of the Savior, in Matthew 28:19-20 should inspire us all, “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.” It is easy to take it for granted that someone else will do the work of the Lord and invite people to “come and see” what the church of Christ is all about. But, who is going to reach out to your friends, your family, your co-workers? There are people out there who’s only exposure to New Testament Christianity is you. Will any of them utter the chilling words of that old song, on the Day of Judgment: “You never mentioned Him to me?”
As for me, while I will not be reporting it on my Facebook page anymore, I do plan to continue to invite at least one soul to come to church with me, in every single week of next year, too. Once again, I would like to invite you to join me, in this effort. Think of the difference we could make, if all of us were committed to such a challenge! While most of the people we invite may never come to church, some of them will. While most of those who come may never come again, some will. While most of them might never be baptized, some will. What if we all persisted in hard work and each of us converted one souls to Christ in every year? There would be no limit to the results!
Content by Russell Kline
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Are You Forgetful?
It has often been said that the older a person gets, the more forgetful he or she is. Do you feel that way?
- Have you ever lost your car keys?
- Have you misplaced your cell phone?
- Can you name all your children or grandchildren?
- What happened yesterday?
If you have trouble answering any or all of these questions, you may feel that you are forgetful and are thus embarrassed.
It may seem like a bad thing to forget, but sometimes forgetting can be a good thing!
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If we dwell on the bad things others have done to us, or the things we have done to others, we will make ourselves miserable! However, we serve a loving God who is willing to forgive us our sins and remember them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). Likewise, we must be willing to forgive others, forgetting what has been done (Matthew 6:14-15).
As God, in forgiving, forgets what we have done, we must too!
Becoming a Christian means we put off the old person, put on the new, and walk a new life (Romans 6:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Everything in the past must remain in the past; we cannot go back and change it. Paul said, “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).”
Let us forget the past, and focus on getting to Heaven!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Christmas MythBusters!
(originally published in December 2012)
Now is the time of year when people all over our land pause to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is not necessarily anything wrong with taking time out to focus on a particular event recorded in the Bible, but the Christmas holiday is one that tends to get blown way out of proportion. At the Madisonville church of Christ, you will find that we do not make any special observance of the Christmas holiday, as part of our spiritual lives. There is no Christmas tree in the building, or any special decorations. We do not have any special worship services, pageants, or cantatas. That is because we honor the Savior on the first day of every week, in accord with the practices of our brethren in the ancient church (Acts 20:7). We choose not to “buy in” to the myths that have been perpetuated about Christmas, and we want to encourage others to do the same. That is why, in the this week’s edition of the church bulletin, I want to “bust” a few popularly held myths about Christmas.
Jesus Was Not Born on December 25
It is amazing to me that, in this age of unlimited access to information, so many people still believe that the 25th day of December is the birthday of Jesus. The simple fact of the matter is that we have no idea which, of all the days on the calendar, is the day upon which the Christ was born. Evidence found in the accounts of the birth of John the baptizer and Jesus suggest that He was born in either February or August; with August being the most favorable time of the year. How did December 25 become associated with the Lord’s birth? Tradition! In the fourth century, the church in Rome began an annual tradition of a special worship service, or “mass” to commemorate the birth of Christ. It was held on December 25, because of that date’s proximity to the winter solstice, which was a major pagan holy day. The date sometimes bounced around the calendar, and the tradition was sometimes neglected, but December 25 was the date that stuck—and it’s still with us, today.
The Wise Men Visited Jesus on the Night He Was Born
An iconic image of Christmas is the baby Jesus lying in a feedbox (“manger”), surrounded by Mary, Joseph, some shepherds, and the three wise men (with a “little drummer boy” thrown in for good measure). But the Bible says that the wise men visited Jesus in a “house,” and that Jesus was, by that time, a “young child” (Mat. 2:11). Some scholars suggest that it might have been days, weeks, or even months after the birth of Jesus. If the star that guided these ancient astronomers appeared on the night in which the Lord was born, it would have been a very long time before they could have made the arduous trek from “the east” (Matthew 2:1-2). It should also be noted that the Bible does not specify the number of wise men who came to see Jesus. It is assumed that there were three, because that was the number of gifts they brought (Matthew 2:11). How did people get so mixed up about this part of the story? Ignorance. People just don’t know what the Bible says. That’s how the Christmas holiday got started, in the first place.
Christians Are Supposed to Celebrate Christmas
There is not a single passage, anywhere in the New Testament, which compels Christians to make an annual observance of the birth of Jesus Christ. There is no evidence that the ancient church ever practiced anything more or less than a weekly offering of worship, in which the life, death and resurrection of Christ was celebrated. In fact, it seems that ancient Christians were not compelled to observe any annual holy days (Colossians 2:16).
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not arguing that Christians should not make any kind of an observance of the Christmas holiday. I like to deck my halls, exchange gifts and spend time with family, just like everyone else, on December 25. The Bible gives me the option to do things like that, if I so choose (Romans 14:5). So, I have no problem at all wishing everyone who reads this a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I just do it with full knowledge of the facts—and I hope you will, too.
Content by Russell Kline
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Must We Be Baptized?
Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom…Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 5, 7).
Peter said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “Once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20, 21).
Ananias said to Saul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Paul wrote: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3, 4). “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4, 5).
The question of whether or not we must be baptized was answered by the Lord and His disciples twenty centuries ago. Will we accept their answer and obey? That is the real issue today.
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Is God Seen and Heard in Us?
Parents need to be very careful around children.
Little eyes are watching and little ears are hearing everything—yes everything! How many times has a child repeated something the parent wished had not been said? How many times has a child acted like a parent to the embarrassment of the parent? Most parents agree that this happens more often than it should. On the other hand, when has a child made his or her parents proud by saying something or doing something good? This should happen more often!
How would God feel about His children?
After all, “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).” As God’s children, are we trying to be like Him? Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, “…suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21).” Yes, God was proud of Him (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). He always did those things that pleased His Father in Heaven. He even told Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9).”
When the world sees and hears us, is God seen and heard?
Are we doing a good job of following the example of Christ? Remember the words Paul told the church at Ephesus: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1).” Let us be proud to be God’s children, and let God be proud to be our Heavenly Father!
Content by Richard Dillon
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