Historical Posts
Jesus and Basketball
I had never thought of Jesus as a basketball player, but Mark Eaton, center for the Utah Jazz, did. He said: “I think Jesus would have been a great basketball player. He would have been one of the most tenacious guys out there. I think he’d really get in your face – nothing dirty, but he’d play to win” (USA Today, March 17, 1992).
I must confess, I have difficulty seeing the Lord in a basketball uniform, but I don’t believe Jesus would be opposed to the game. (He might, however, think that some of the salaries border on the vulgar.)
I doubt the Lord’s idea of a great basketball player and ours would be the same. We judge a man’s ability on the court by the way he jumps, passes and shoots. If he’s aggressive and physical all the better. He must be intense. Once in a while he may even explode and punch someone. Or, he may intentionally step on an opponent while he’s down. We really don’t care what kind of person he is as long as he puts points on the board.
Jesus, on the other hand, is less impressed with how many points a player scores. He doesn’t measure a man’s height, but his heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The winning team, in His eyes, would not necessarily be the one with the highest score at the buzzer. The real winners would be those who played fairly, showed good sportsmanship, and conducted themselves in a way befitting God’s people.
The point is, folks, the real winners are not always those who score the most points, command the highest salaries, or get the most press. A man can do all those things and still fail miserably at life.
I don’t know what kind of basketball player Jesus would have been, but I know what kind of man he was. We can only be successful when we imitate Him. That’s true on the basketball court, in the classroom, at home, and on the job. Our goal is to be like Him, to attain unto the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Will you join with us as we seek to follow His lead?
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Why are they quitting?
Forty years ago I accepted my first full time position with a congregation, and I have been at it ever since. Many of those I graduated with are no longer involved in full time ministry. Some have even left the church. Over the years I’ve seen many others enter the ministry, either after finishing a college education or completing studies at a School of Preaching, preach for a short time and then return to secular employment. I’ve heard it said that every year more men leave the ministry than enter it. I appreciate anyone who preaches the truth, even for a short time, so I’m not interested in belittling those who no longer preach. I am, however, interested in why so many men leave full time ministry, and what steps we might take to stem the tide.
Some leave for financial reasons. No one with any real understanding of the church and a preachers’ life, enters ministry believing that it is the path to financial independence. Entering ministry thinking that preaching is an easy job with a good salary and benefits is an open door to disappointment, discouragement, and eventual desertion. One must not preach for monetary rewards. That having been said, the fact is that many congregations do not provide adequate support, not because they can’t but because they choose not to.
Preachers are willing to make the kinds of sacrifices preaching entails, but it is hard to stand by and watch one’s family suffer because brethren are unwilling to provide a decent wage. It is hard to fault a man for seeking secular employment which will enable him to meet his responsibilities to his wife and children. Continuing to preach, in spite of the financial hardship, takes a tremendous toll on the preacher’s family. This is a problem easily remedied if congregations would show their preachers how much they value their efforts in the same way that companies demonstrate appreciation to trusted employees with fair raises, decent benefits, adequate time off, and help with retirement. Preachers don’t expect to be the best paid members of the congregation, but they deserve adequate compensation. Clearly the church has a responsibility to provide for those who labor in the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:3-3; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18).
We could retain many of our young men in ministry if we simply provided better financial support for them.
A preacher’s family has the same needs, desires, and expectations as other families in the congregation. Because the financial rewards of preaching are often inadequate, many young men have been drawn back into secular employment in order to meet those needs. The Bible is clear regarding the financial obligations a man has as a husband and father (1 Timothy 5:8). The church’s responsibility toward preachers is also clear (1 Corinthians 9:7-11; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18).
Others have abandoned the pulpit because of discouragement. A young preacher has many critics. Satan does some of his most effective work through the words and deeds of well-intentioned saints. Preachers, regardless of their age, are imperfect creatures just like the people to whom they preach. Preaching is an especially difficult job for a young man, and nothing will discourage a preacher more quickly than constant criticism.
Preachers almost never receive credit when the congregation is doing well, and are the first to be blamed when it is not. The typical response to church problems is to fire the preacher, and young men are particularly susceptible to this knee-jerk response. Yes, there are times, because of false doctrine, immoral conduct, or a complete disconnect with the congregation, when a change may be in order. But, to assume that any problem can be addressed by changing preachers is good for no one but the moving companies.
God does not judge success or failure by human standards. If a young man is living an upright life, faithfully preaching the WORD, and standing firm for truth, God will judge him successful (Isaiah 6:9-12). Attendance and contributions are the standards of the world, not those of the Lord. There are many ways to boost attendance and increase contributions, but only one way to win souls and that is by faithfully living and proclaiming truth. The preacher’s job is to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
We would make great strides in producing and keeping preachers if we adequately supported them, and lovingly encouraged them. That doesn’t mean that we never offer constructive criticism, but it does mean that we will compliment them when they do well, forgive them when they fail, encourage them when they are discouraged, pick them up when they are down, let them know that they are appreciated, and love them for their works sake.
Young men sometimes leave the ministry because of financial restraints. For others it is because of discouragement. Nothing discourages more quickly than constant subjection to criticism. A young man soon begins to doubt himself and to wonder if he can do anything right. At that point it is easy to turn to secular employment and leave the preaching to others.
For some the expectations of brethren are overwhelming. Although it is seldom stated, it is generally implied that when the congregation acquires the services of a young man, his wife is part of the package. She is expected to be involved in the Bible school program, often teach a ladies’ class, take the lead in fellowship activities, visit with the preacher, and a dozen other things. In what other position would a young man find an employer with similar demands on his mate? A preacher’s wife is no more an employee of the church than any other member’s wife. Yet, she often feels the pressure to do it all, to be at every shower, prepare food for every sick member, dress immaculately, entertain constantly, and do it all on a limited budget.
In addition, the preacher’s kids are held to a higher standard. Children of preachers are under special scrutiny. They are expected to be well-behaved, set a good example, be good students, relate well to all ages, and in a sense, be different from the brethren’s kids. The reality is that we ought to all be held to a higher standard because we are children of God. It can be especially frustrating when the preacher’s kids are not allowed to do many of the things that the elders’ and deacons’ children do. It can place a terrible strain on the family and has caused some to abandon the pulpit altogether. It is unfair to hold the preacher and his family to a standard of conduct that others are not held to, and often is unattainable.
Further, when problems arise in the congregation it is the preacher who will be blamed. Marriages fail, immorality raises its ugly head, people fall away and the preacher becomes the scapegoat. He didn’t preach enough on the home, didn’t take a strong enough stand against sin, wasn’t active enough with the young people, or was just too negative. Frankly, we have blamed the failures of the home on elders and preachers for far too long. A seasoned preacher knows that these things are going to happen, but for a young man doing his best it can be devastating to discover that it is not enough to preach the truth and live an upright life, he will also be held responsible for the failures of others.
We could retain more of our young preachers if we had more realistic expectations for them and the work they do.
We are losing preachers, especially young ones, for a variety of reasons. It may be the lack of adequate support, constant subjection to criticism, or unrealistic expectations, but clearly men are leaving the pulpit in record numbers. The problem does not lie solely with the church. Preachers must share part of the blame. They often enter the ministry with unrealistic expectations and a lack of proper training.
Some young men do not understand the nature of the work. They may have grown up seeing the preacher in front of the congregation on Sunday and Wednesday, and at the center of fellowship activities, but they were never exposed to the day to day work of a gospel preacher. “Everyone knows that preachers only work one day a week.” We have all heard it, and sadly some believe it. A young man who views the work of the preacher as a glamorous position involving minimal time and effort will soon find himself frustrated and overwhelmed. Rather than knuckle down and do the work, it is easier to walk away. As a rule of thumb, the young preacher, at a minimum should work as many hours each week as the average member, plus an additional amount of time equal to what elders, deacons, Bible school teachers put into the work, After all, these folks are all working forty hour weeks, and then often doing many hours of additional work in the Lord’s church. Young preachers need to understand that ministry requires long hours and hard work. The preacher is “on call” twenty-four/seven.
It is not necessary to have a college degree or a diploma from a school of preaching to be an effective evangelist, but proper training is absolutely essential. Ezra “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10 ESV). Preachers must prepare themselves. They must know the truth and live the truth before they can effectively preach it. That can be accomplished through personal study, or through formal training (a school of preaching or college education), but it must be done. Entering ministry unprepared will inevitably lead to a bad outcome.
Congregations could make a positive impact on the training of preachers if more of them would have their own training programs. If we allowed young men to work along side seasoned preachers for a year or two, it would prove immensely beneficial both to the young man and the congregation. It is hard to beat on the job training. Didn’t Jesus do that with the Twelve? Wasn’t that the approach of Paul with Timothy and Titus?
We need to do all we can to encourage, train and keep young men in ministry. Individually and collectively, we can make a positive contribution to the Lord’s church by encouraging and supporting those who want to preach and are willing to prepare themselves to do the work of an evangelist and fulfill their ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What Can We Do? (Part 2)
(return to part 1)
The question really is, “How do we stem the tide of falling interest and declining numbers?”
The last decade saw the rise of the mega church movement. Some churches now boast Sunday morning attendance figures in the thousands. How are they doing it?
John F. MacArthur, Jr. has written an excellent book that really speaks to our question. The title is: Ashamed of the Gospel (When The Church Becomes Like The World). Obviously, I would not endorse everything in his book, but there is much of value in it. On its pages the author decries the trend toward pragmatism. That means that churches should pay far less attention to doctrine, and far more attention to what people want.
MacArthur writes: “Traditional methodology–most notably preaching–is being discarded or downplayed in favor of newer means, such as drama, dance, comedy, variety, side-show histrionics, pop-psychology, and other entertainment forms. The new methods supposedly are more “effective”–that is, they draw a bigger crowd. And since for many the chief criterion for gauging the success of a church has become attendance figures, whatever pulls in the most people is accepted without critical analysis as good. That is pragmatism” (pg. xiii).
Clearly affluence, numbers, money, or positive responses have never been the biblical measure of success in ministry. If these things were what was really important some of God’s greatest servants, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, would be judged abject failures, but God certainly did not see it that way.
Paul wrote to Timothy: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
As MacArthur correctly points out in his book, Timothy was commanded:
1) to be faithful in his preaching of biblical truth;
2) to be bold in exposing and refuting error;
3) to be an example of godliness to the flock;
4) to be diligent and work hard in the ministry;
5) to be willing to suffer hardship and persecution in his service for the Lord (pg. 27).
Dale Jenkins said it quite well in a recent chapel talk at Freed-Hardeman. We advertise “the get without the give, the gain without the pain.” Real discipleship demands real sacrifice. We will never be the people God calls His church to be until we are more interested in how much we can give, and not how much we can get. Faithful Christians will not demand “serve us”, but they will consecrate their lives to service. We still believe in the sovereignty of God, the power of the gospel, the authority of Scripture, and the salvation (not entertainment) of souls.
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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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).
Content by Russell Kline
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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!
Content by Russell Kline
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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)
Content by Russell Kline
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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).
Content by Russell Kline
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A Christian View of Death
For most people, nothing is more frightening than the thought of dying.
Is it the end? Does it hurt? What about eternity? Do we cease to be? What happens when we die? These and a myriad of other questions flood our minds when we contemplate death. Are there answers? The Christian argues that there are. We turn to the Bible for the answers to our most pressing questions. Here we find both comfort and hope.
According to the Bible, death is not frightening.
The Psalmist described it as a “precious” event (Psalm 116:15). God’s people do not face death alone. David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). The journey is made easier because we do not make it alone. It’s a new road for us, but we travel it with someone who knows the way.
Death, for the Christian, is not foreboding.
It is not a portent of evil. The New Testament speaks of death as victory, not defeat (1 Corinthians 15:57). It is not loss, but gain (Philippians 1:21). It brings rest from our labors and relief from our pain (Revelation 14:13). It is the gateway to a better place (Revelation 22:1-6).
Death is not final.
We do not cease to be when we die. Paul wrote, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). We are made in the image of our eternal Creator. At death the body returns to the dust from whence it came, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). In fact, for the Christian, it is not the end but the beginning of a richer, fuller life where all the burdens of life have been lifted and all the obstacles have been removed from our path. It is the beginning of life with God.
I must caution, only as a Christian can we look at death this way.
For those outside of Christ it is both frightening and foreboding. The good news is that you can prepare for death and the life which is to come. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Will you repent of your sins and be baptized that your sins might be washed away by His blood? Will you live for Him daily?
Are you ready to die?
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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He is Alive!
In my work as a gospel preacher I have been called upon to conduct many funerals. I have tried to keep accurate records for each individual including date of birth, date of death, and place of burial. Without a great deal of difficulty, I believe I could locate every grave. Why? Because they are all still dead, and I know where they are buried.
But, what about Jesus?
John’s record says that there was a garden at the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb. It was there that Joseph and Nicodemus placed the body of Christ. Can the place be identified with certainty today? Is the body of Jesus still there? What would we find if we visited the tomb?
The exact location of Christ’s tomb is unknown.
There were no markers or monuments. Even if we visited the precise tomb where the body of Jesus was placed, we would discover it empty. Mary Magdalene had just such an experience. Going to the tomb early Sunday morning, on the third day after His execution, she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She burst out in tears because she thought others had stolen his body (John 20:13). But grave robbers had not taken Him away. Neither His enemies nor His disciples had anything to gain by stealing the body. There must be another explanation.
What happened that morning? He arose!
Jesus, who had been dead, was alive again. He had conquered death. He had beat the devil. He had triumphed over sin. He would never die again!
There can be no other explanation.
Only the resurrection satisfies the facts. Our Savior is alive. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29 KVJ).
Resurrection is assured.
But, will it be a resurrection to eternal life or death? That is the question we face each day. The answer is found in our response to Jesus.
Thank God, He is alive!
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What Can We Do? (Part 1)
I have been blessed to be a part of this church (Sixth and Washington Street Church of Christ) for more than a quarter of a century. You have treated me and my family with love, respect, and the financial support that has made it possible for me to work in full-time ministry. For that I will be eternally grateful.
Throughout the years you have permitted me to be away a few weeks each year to conduct gospel meetings. My first year here I had ten meetings scheduled, and honored those commitments, but since then I have tried to limit that number to no more than four or five a year. Those times away afford not only opportunities for me to reach others with the gospel, but also provide time for me to write, to plan the sermons for the coming year, and to do some reading that I often don’t find the time to do when I am home. Because of your understanding and generosity I have had the opportunity to impact many more souls for Christ.
Almost everywhere I go these days, with rare exception, numbers are declining. I am asked repeatedly, “What can we do?” This is not a problem unique to us. Churches up and down the valley and beyond are experiencing the same thing. And, it is not just our fellowship. Rolls are declining among most religious bodies.
Now, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, one in five adults have no religious affiliation. “The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.”
“Further, in the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).”
The world has changed dramatically from the 1950’s and early 1960’s when we were the fastest growing religious group in America. And even when we look back to that period in our history, though we were statistically the fastest growing church in America, other religious movements were also experiencing significant numerical growth. Today that is no longer the case.
Now, even among congregations where numbers are increasing, with rare exceptions, we are not seeing growth, but swelling (this is the phenomenon where people leave one congregation for another). Growth is not the result of souls being added to the kingdom, but the result of people switching churches. And, yes, there can be times when that is the right thing to do.
The situation is certainly not hopeless. We do, however, need a more realistic view of the world and what we are facing. There is a certain element of society that will never find the gospel appealing (1 Corinthians 1:26). And the masses will not choose to “walk the strait and narrow” (Matthew 7:13-14). But there are still honest hearts among us, and we must continue to sow the seed (Luke 8:11). If we plant and water, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). We cannot surrender simply because the battle is difficult (2 Timothy 2:3).
–Roger
(continue to part 2)
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Have You Been Baptized?
I doubt that there is anything more clearly stated in the New Testament than the command to be baptized. John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, commanded it. In fact, for nearly two thousand years, he has been identified as John the baptizer. Jesus, himself, was baptized. He sent his disciples out to preach and baptize (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
Every account of conversion in the book of Acts culminated in baptism.
Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) was asked, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16 NIV).
If there is one thing Christendom agrees on, it is the fact that water is the element used in baptism. However, that’s probably where the agreement stops. The religious world is divided on what action constitutes baptism.
- How much water is required?
- Must a person merely have some water poured or sprinkled upon him, or must he be completely immersed?
- Is it really essential to one’s eternal well-being?
Although perfectly acceptable, many “believers” would argue that it is not essential to salvation. Further, who exactly should be baptized? Are infants proper candidates for baptism?
Why is there so much disagreement regarding this matter?
Is the Bible really unclear on the issue? Quite frankly, the Bible could not be clearer. The confusion stems, not from any failure on the part of the inspired writers to communicate clearly, but from an unwillingness to accept what the Bible teaches.
From the Scriptures one can readily see what constituted baptism, who was to be baptized, and why they were baptized.
The confusion stems from a failure to accept what the Scriptures clearly teach.
Baptism was an immersion in water. A complete burial was involved. There is not one single account of infant baptism in the text. Not one! And, the purpose is clearly stated.
- Baptism was for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
- It washed away sins (Acts 22:16)
- It put one into Christ (Galatians 3:27)
- It saved (1 Peter 3:21)
What the Bible says about baptism is not confusing.
The confusion comes from trying to reconcile what the Scriptures say with what men say on the subject. That’s not possible because many “believers” do not believe what the Bible teaches on the subject.
Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NIV).
The devil says, “Whoever believes and is not baptized will be saved.”
Who are you going to listen to?
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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A Matter of Interpretation
It is rather commonplace for those who come in conflict with the scriptures to go on the offensive. They usually charge that the Bible is outdated or irrelevant in their case. Further, they argue that those who oppose their view have a warped interpretation of the word of God. Then they proceed to show that commonly held beliefs are based on a misinterpretation of the Bible. Their interpretation is more in line with the teachings of Jesus, and therefore, we must not be judgmental. This is precisely what the homosexual community does.
The Bible is very clear on this matter. The Old Testament is explicit. “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable” (Leviticus 18:22). The New Testament is equally clear. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10).
Someone will usually respond, “But Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality!” Some have even sought to portray Him as a homosexual.
But Jesus never sanctioned sexual immorality of any kind.
- Not adultery!
- Not fornication!
- Not homosexuality!
What should our message be?
When the adulterous woman was brought to Jesus he had compassion on her. He did not, however, sanction her sin. He sent her away with these words, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus loved and forgave her, but He still demanded change. She was told to cease her sinful ways. The message is the same for homosexuals. There is forgiveness in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11).
No, Jesus would not, and we do not sanction hate crimes against homosexuals, or anyone else. Christians must treat others with love and kindness, but we cannot and will not approve of that which God has clearly condemned. Homosexuality is sin. Homosexuals, like adulterers and fornicators, must repent and live chaste lives.
It is the sin and not the sinner which is detestable.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Do You Believe?
A little boy visited Sunday School for the first time. There he heard about Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
Back home that afternoon, his mother asked him what he has learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom,” he said, “Our teacher told us how Moses whipped the Egyptians at the Red Sea.” “And how did he do it?” his mother asked. “Oh, it was easy,” came the reply. “The Egyptians chased Moses all the way to the Red Sea. Moses had to build a pontoon bridge across the Sea to escape. When all the good guys had crossed the bridge, Moses called in his diver bombers and blew up the bridge killing all the Egyptians!”
His mother, rather startled by the account, asked, “Is that really what your teacher told you?” Realizing mom was not exactly pleased with his account of the story, he replied, “No, mother, but if I told you what she said you would never believe it!”
A recent article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, and quoted in The Columbus Dispatch (3-14-92), argued that the biblical account of this event could have happened precisely as the Bible describes it. According to the article, “a moderate wind blowing constantly for about 10 hours could have caused the sea to recede about a mile and the water level to drop 10 feet. That would have left the land dry in the area where many biblical scholars believe the crossing occurred.”
It has become fairly popular in today’s society to deny the historical nature of the biblical account and to belittle any who might believe in it. The story is sometimes told of a teacher who was telling her class that the biblical account of the crossing of the Red Sea was not anything like what actually occurred. She said, “We now know that they actually crossed the Reed Sea, not the Red Sea. The Reed Sea was a body of water only 4 or 5 inches deep.” At that moment, a student in the back of the class shouted, “Praise God for the Miracle!” “What miracle?” the teacher demanded. “Why, God drowned Pharaoh and all his army in only 4 inches of water,” came the reply.
The Bible is filled with miracles. To deny them is to deny God. We can be confident that they are true, or God, who cannot lie, would not have permitted them to be included in the biblical text (Hebrews 6:18). There is no need to question the accuracy of the biblical record. Those things of a miraculous nature described in the Bible can be accepted with confidence. The Bible is true. It is not too fantastic to believe.
John wrote of Jesus, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:30,31).
Will you believe and obey?
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Never Give Up
Haddon Robinson tells the following story. I hope you appreciate it the way I did.
It was New Year’s Day, 1929, and Georgia Tech and UCLA were battling it out in the Rose Bowl. Georgia Tech fumbled the football late in the first half. Roy Riggles recovered for California. Picking up the fumbled ball, Riggles became confused and ran 65 yards in the wrong direction. Benny Lom, another UCLA player managed to tackle his teammate before he scored for Tech. Now, with the ball deep in Georgia Tech territory, UCLA was forced to punt. The punt was blocked, and Tech scored a safety, which, as it turns out, was the margin of victory for the Yellow Jackets.
Riggles went into the locker room at halftime a very dejected young man. He sat down in a corner, head in hands, and cried like a baby. UCLA’s coach, Nibbs Price said little in the locker room that day, perhaps not knowing what to say. Finally, just before leaving the locker room to return to the field, Coach Nibbs said, “Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second.”
The players headed for the field, all but Riggles. “Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that started the first half will start the second.” “Coach,” he said, “I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you. I’ve ruined the University of California. I’ve ruined myself. I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.” Then Coach Price put his hands on Riggles’s shoulder and said, “Roy, get up and go on back. The game is only half over.” Riggles returned to the game and played like he’d never played before.
I’m not a big football fan, and not terribly impressed with the conduct of most coaches today, but I like Nibbs Price. He gave Roy Riggles a second chance, and Riggles made the most of it. He may have wanted to quit, but he couldn’t, and Coach Price knew that!
All of us have run the wrong direction at one time or another in our lives, and God knows it. But, His message is the same. Don’t give up, get back in the game. What’s done is done. We cannot live in the past. Let’s put our mistakes behind us and go on to finish the game.
Paul wrote: “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). We would do well to follow his example. Never give up!
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Do You Believe In God?
Most acknowledge faith in a Supreme Being.
If the statistics can be believed, more than ninety out of every one hundred Americans believes in God or some higher power. When asked, most folks are quick to acknowledge faith in a Supreme Being. But, the life they live frequently betrays the faith they profess.
Folks often talk a much better religion than they live. The apostle Paul described his situation in his second letter to the young preacher, Timothy. In it he condemned those who have a “form of godliness,” but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). The AMPLIFIED BIBLE does a good job of conveying Paul’s meaning. It reads, “For (although) they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it—their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession.”
There is more than one kind of atheist in our world.
Sure, there are folks who deny the existence of God and belittle those who believe, but they do little harm to the cause of Christ. The real damage is done by those who claim to believe, but live like unbelievers.
The Bible makes specific demands upon those who follow Christ.
We must “follow after peace and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Paul challenged Christians to be different from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17), and urged them not to conform to the world’s standards (Romans 12:2). Everyone who follows Christ must depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). We cannot live like the devil and still be a child of God!
Do you believe in God?
You will never win the world for Christ if your preaching is contradicted by your living.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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As Good As His Word
Do not swear at all.
Jesus taught, “…you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ be ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33-37).
Oaths were common in our Lord’s day.
So common were oaths that they had become worthless. Two serious problems arose in connections with them. First, there was the practice of frivolous oaths. They were used for the most insignificant matters, and therefore became meaningless. Then there was the more dangerous practice of deceptive oaths. The Pharisees (a leading Jewish sect) were especially gifted in their use. Jesus strongly condemned them for their deception (Matthew 23:16-22).
Jesus’ disciples were not to use oaths.
He expected them to always be true to their word. Christians tell the truth, keep their word, and honor their promises. When they say “Yes,” they mean “Yes,” and when they say “No,” they mean “No.” A man is, after all, only as good as his word!
Here is a message our world desperately needs. Speak the truth!
Honor your word! Do what you say! There is not a segment of society which does not need to be reminded of this. Politicians, preachers, and people from all walks of life need to rediscover the importance and power of the simple truth.
Reputation is destroyed by being loose with the truth
Many a man’s reputation has been destroyed because he was loose with the truth and unwilling to keep his word. Often, financial or material gain is the motive for such deception. But, remember the words of Solomon, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
Are you interested in developing a good reputation?
No man can have a good name if he is not true to his words!
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Moral Integrity
A. W. Tozer has written: “One of our great tasks is to demonstrate to the young people of this generation that there is nothing stupid about righteousness. To do so, we must stop negotiating with evil. We Christians must stop apologizing for our moral position and start making our voices heard, exposing sin as the enemy of the human race and setting forth righteousness and true holiness as the only worthy pursuit for moral beings. I have no doubt that historians will conclude that we of the twentieth century (should the Lord tarry) had intelligence enough to create a great civilization but not the moral wisdom to preserve it.”
There are only two approaches to ethics and morality.
Either we believe that right conduct is based on some authoritative standard, or we believe that morality is entirely relative — that there are no fixed standards of right and wrong.
If we do not accept some standard as authoritative in regard to moral and ethical issues, then we are put in the position of making those decisions for ourselves.
The Bible describes this attitude when the historian wrote concerning the period of the Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). As you might imagine, chaos was the result.
For the Christian, the Bible is our standard for right and wrong.
On its pages we discover what is authorized, approved, and desired by God in the heart and actions of His people. Some things are always right and some things are always wrong!
Right and wrong are not determined on the basis of what is easiest, brings the most pleasure, or feels best in a given situation. Proper moral and ethical conduct is prescribed on the pages of God’s word. With the Psalmist we should exclaim, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The Bible offers the only basis upon which we may make morally and ethically sound judgments.
We would encourage you to examine it carefully, believe it fully, obey it completely, and live it daily. Your life will be richly blessed.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Can We Still Believe in Jesus?
Around the middle of the 19th century Bruno Bauer, a German theologian and historian, concocted the notion that Jesus never lived. According to Bauer, Jesus was entirely mythical. He argued that Christ was simply a mental invention of a few second century Christians who drew their concepts of their “Messiah” from Greco-Roman philosophy.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), a more recent German theologian and medical missionary, acknowledged the existence of a “Jesus,” but asserted in his book The Quest of the Historical Jesus (1906) that the real Jesus of history was so different from the Christ revered by Christians that the Lord Jesus of New Testament fame could not really be based upon historical fact.
Rudolf Augstein, publisher of the German Der Spiegel (Germany’s equivalent to our Time magazine), wrote a book titled Jesus, Son of Man in which he claimed that it is impossible to believe that Jesus was God the Son.
Believers in Jesus are often saddled with the reputation of being very gullible.
Christianity reminds some people of the scene in Alice in Wonderland when Alice asks the queen, “How old are you?” The queen responds, “I am a hundred and one, five months, and a day.” Alice shakes her head, “Oh, I can’t believe that.” The queen assures her, “Can’t you? Shut your eyes, hold your breath and try again.”
Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is not some blind leap into the dark.
The identity of Jesus is based on an historically reliable document (Luke 1:1-4). We can know with certainty who He was, what He did, and what He expects of us. Our faith is not based on hearsay testimony, but on eyewitness accounts of His life, death, and resurrection (2 Peter 2:16; 1 John 1:1-3). The events and characters in question were not removed from the mainstream of life and society, but were open to the closest public examination. As Paul said to King Agrippa, “These things were not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26).
Those who investigate Jesus are stuck by His amazing appeal. He speaks to the issues that concern us. The words of Jesus offer comfort and challenge to us:
- In the hospital
- At the graveside
- In the comfort of our own family room
The alternative, disbelief, offers nothing.
There is not the slightest reason for us to question the biblical record concerning Jesus.
We can be confident that the record is true. Our faith is not misplaced.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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No Cancellations
“And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Approximately every twenty-two seconds someone in this country dies. In the time it will take you to read this brief article more than two hundred deaths will have occurred worldwide.
Death is one appointment we will all keep. There will be no cancellations.
We are going to die, and it could happen at any time. It could be soon, or it could be years from now, but one thing is sure, there will be no escape. Yet, most of us live as though death only happens to others.
Death is not just a possibility, it is a certainty.
Our preparation for it should be of the highest priority. As a matter of fact, there isn’t anything more important than our preparation for death. There is a sense in which we cannot really live and enjoy life until we are ready to die.
What the skeptics believe
However, the skeptics would have us believe that this life is all there is. Their philosophy of “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” is followed by millions. They bow at the altar of evolution and worship the gods of humanism and modernism. They would have us believe that this is it. “You only live once, so you better grab all the gusto you can get!” Those who subscribe to this philosophy live for themselves and die without hope.
Jesus Christ came to offer something better.
He came that “we might have life” and that we “might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He came to show us the way to God (John 14:6). He came to tell us that there is life after life, that God’s gift is eternal life through Him (Romans 6:23). He offers salvation to all them that obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). He gives us a reason to live, and hope in death. With Paul, we can say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Are you ready to die?
Death is certain, but so is eternal life for all who are prepared. Study God’s word! Believe it! Obey it! Live it! Death has no hold on those who are ready to die.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Whatever Happens in the Election
Introductory Comments
1. When you walk into the voting booth, remember…
a. It was not a Republican who died for you.
b. It was not a Democrat who died for you.
c. Neither a Republican or Democrat will be sitting on the Judgment Seat on the day of judgment.
2. Place your allegiance in Christ and not any certain political party.
3. As Christians, when there is a clear and discernible moral divide, vote on the basis of Christianity.
4. Do not worry about the letter that is after the name.
5. May this article help you keep a Christian perspective.
Whatever happens in the election…
Whatever happens in the election, God will still be on his throne, for “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 4:25 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, the Bible will still be true in all it says, since “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, Jesus will still be the only way to heaven, for he is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, good and evil will still be defined by the Lord, and government will still have the duty to function as a “servant, of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, for protection our military will never be as powerful as morality, since “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, citizens will still be obligated to work in such a way they are “dependent on no one” (1 Thessalonians 4:12 ESV), which means government ought not foster a culture of dependency.
Whatever happens in the election, America will still not be as important as the church of Christ, for it was “obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 ESV).
Whatever happens in the election, every American is still supposed to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37), remembering “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV).
In the church of Christ in the United States, we are thankful to be Americans, but even more grateful “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20 ESV).
(This article used by permission from biblicalnotes.com)
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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