Historical Posts
Do Not Lie
A certain woman, preparing to entertain guests, went to a small neighborhood grocery store to buy food. She stopped at the meat counter and asked the attendant for a large fresh chicken. He reached down into the cold storage compartment, grabbed the last chicken he had, and placed it on the scale. “This one weighs four pounds, ma’am,” he said. “I’m not sure that will be enough,” the woman replied. “Don’t you have a bigger one?” The attendant put the chicken back into the compartment, pretended to search through the melting ice for another one, and then brought out the same bird, discreetly applying some finger pressure to the scale. “Ah,” he said with a smile, “this one weighs six pounds.” “I’m just not sure,” the woman said with a frown. “I’ll tell you what-wrap them both up for me!”
It was Oliver Wendell Holmes who said, “Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.” And, Abraham Lincoln is credited with the observation, “No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.”
A lie is the weapon of choice in Satan’s arsenal
From the Bible it would seem that a lie is the weapon of choice in Satan’s arsenal. It was certainly effective in the beginning (Genesis 3), and is still the cause of much sin and spiritual disease today. Jesus went so far as to say that Satan was “a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
Do not lie to one another
One of the things which should distinguish Christians from all others is their absolute devotion to truth. Solomon admonished, “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). Those sentiments seem to be echoed by the Apostle Paul when he cautioned Christians: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:9-10). Lying, deception, and falsehood are all found in the devil’s tool chest.
The truth will set you free
To the very best of our ability, we must be honest and truthful in all our dealings with one another. We cannot alter the truth to spare feelings. The Bible doesn’t distinguish between white and black lies. We must always be kind, but truthful. There are going to be times when the truth will hurt, but lying will ultimately hurt even more. Jesus message still resonates: “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
— Roger
MAY 13, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Headed Our Way
Legalize same-sex marriage?
If I’m not mistaken, nine states and the District of Colombia have now legalized same-sex marriage, and if the Ohio Freedom to Marry Coalition has its way, Ohio will be added to the list. An effort is currently underway to secure enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot in 2013. Then, if enough people can be persuaded to vote for the change, it will become law.
Proponents of same-sex marriage argue that this is a civil rights issue
In their judgment, religion should play no part in the matter. Further, they say that politics or personal views on morality are also irrelevant. They argue that all American citizens should be entitled to the same rights. Correct me if I am wrong, but don’t we all have the same rights already. Every man has the right to take a wife, and every woman has the right to take a husband. The fact that a small segment of our population wishes to demand an additional right to a union contrary to nature, is not a civil right but a moral matter.
Morality is not on the minds of many people
A sizable portion of the electorate, without giving serious consideration to what is at stake, will no doubt accept the civil rights argument. Sadly, morality is not upper most on the minds of many people. They reason, as long as it doesn’t affect them personally, who are they to tell someone else what they may or may not do? I can’t help but wonder at what point society will say “enough is enough!” Once same-sex marriage is embraced, the floodgates will open. The proponents of plural marriages will assert their civil right to multiple marriages. Others will assert their civil right to marry their cat. Another will claim it their civil right to marry a child. Yes, some will say that this is all nonsense, but advocates for these ideas are already out there.
Homosexuality is not a civil rights issue, but a moral issue
There is no homosexual gene. No one is compelled to engage in homosexual activity any more than they are compelled to engage in heterosexual activity. Adultery and fornication are just as sinful as homosexual activity. And, yes, homosexuality is clearly condemned in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10). I understand that the world places no value on the word of God, but surely Christians do!
God has spoken with clarity and force
Please understand, I have no animosity toward homosexuals or anyone else, but God has spoken with clarity and force regarding this issue. Homosexual conduct is sinful. No amount of human reasoning can change that. If asked to sign a petition or given the opportunity to vote on the matter, I would hope we would stand for what the Bible teaches, even though it is counter to modern culture.
— Roger
MAY 6, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Threats of the Postmodern Culture
The sheltered environment of the past is no more
My heart goes out to the parents of young children. They face challenges I never anticipated a few years ago. Technology has made us instantly aware of events in the remotest corners of our world. Social media makes it possible to reach millions in milliseconds. Media that could be beneficial are often used in nefarious and malicious ways. They becomes avenues for bullying, gossip, character assassination, pornography, and the spread of misinformation. The sheltered environment of the past is no more!
Stars died so you can live?
What got me thinking about all of this was something I read about a former Disney star trying to shed her squeaky clean image. Miley Cyrus has been in the news a lot of late for behavior, dress, and statements completely out of character with her former image. She recently got herself in trouble with some of her fans for a tweet which included a photo of Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist, and a quotation attributed to him: “You are all stardust. You couldn’t be here if stars hadn’t exploded, because the elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, all the things that matter for evolution) weren’t created at the beginning of time. They were created in stars. So forget Jesus. Stars died so you can live.” Her tweet included the caption “Beautiful.”
Young minds are impacted in very negative ways
Ridiculing faith, advocating atheism, and defending evolution is becoming ever more popular with stars and starlets. It doesn’t matter that most of them know very little about such things. Their position gives them a platform to spout off their liberal leanings, and sadly impressionable young minds are impacted in very negative ways as a result.
Indoctrinating our kids at an earlier and earlier age
Entertainers, educators, judges, and politicians with a liberal and postmodern mindset also want to undermine the moral fabric of our nation with their anti-christian, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, anti-marriage agenda. And, they are seeking to do this by indoctrinating our kids at an earlier and earlier age. Children raised in a Christian environment who believe that homosexuality is sinful are accused of hate speech and bullying for expressing their views. Judges arbitrarily set aside laws which restrict marriage to a man and a woman, and protect the life of the unborn. This is done with total disregard for the will of the people!
Faith is always under assault
Christians are subject to frequent ridicule. We are often labeled as uneducated, unenlightened, superstitious people out of step with the times. As Christians this shouldn’t surprise us. It is how the devil works. Faith is always under assault. We must prepare ourselves and our kids to meet those attacks head on. In the end, truth will always triumphant over error. We must bring our children up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and prepare them to face this postmodern assault with an unswerving faith in God, Christ and the Bible.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What About Alcohol?
Indictment of the misuse of alcohol
In our Sunday morning study of Isaiah we have noted more than once the prophet’s indictment of the misuse of alcohol (Isaiah 5:11, 22; 28:1, 7, 8; 56:12). As one reads the prophetic material it seems as though he was describing modern society.
What is the evidence?
In defense of alcohol consumption it is often argued that scientific studies have proven that people who take a couple of drinks a day live longer than either teetotalers or those whose intake exceeds two drinks (two shots, two beers, two glasses of wine). Naturally, this made the liquor industry very happy, and it was perceived as good news by those who sought to justify social drinking. But, were the scientists correct in their assumption? The evidence would indicate that they were not!
According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, May 1989, by the middle of the last decade the earlier findings were beginning to be questioned. It was determined that the methods used to examine the connection between drinking habits and mortality were not sound enough to yield air-tight conclusions. In this new finding it was determined that the apparent benefits from moderate drinking were a by-product of the research methods rather than a real finding. No one argued that heavy drinking was good for health. But an important question was left unanswered. Is tee totaling unhealthy, and could teetotalers prolong their lives by swigging a couple of beers every evening? According to a study from England, the answer is no!
From 1978-80 British investigators recruited nearly 8,000 men between the ages of 40 and 59. These men were followed for an average of 7.5 years, during which their deaths and causes of death were monitored. The study showed that moderate drinkers did not benefit from the use of alcohol!
There is no real justification for the consumption of alcoholic beverages
When will we wake up to this fact? In recent years our society has seen the detrimental effects of smoking, and we have mounted a campaign to encourage people to stop smoking. When will we take similar steps in regard to alcohol? I’m tired of the commercials which encourage people not to drink and drive, the message ought to be, DON’T DRINK! It is impossible to measure the grief, misery, death and suffering caused by alcohol. It is a blight on society. When will we face up to this fact?
Alcohol is the most abused drug
It’s may be too late to reach many of the older generation, but we can reach the young. They need to know that the most abused drug in America today is alcohol! Young people, drinking is not cool, it’s stupid! “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Threefold Nature of Salvation
Salvation has been offered to every man
God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He would have all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). His desire for our salvation moved Him to give His Son for us, and in that gift He extended to every man an invitation to eternal life (John 3:16-17). But, God’s offer of pardon (salvation) may be rejected.
Salvation is acquired by man through obedience to Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9)
Those who say that man must do nothing to be saved beyond faith do not know what the Bible teaches. The words of Jesus are very clear: “…for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). “I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33-34). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). All of the preceding statements were from the lips of the Lord Himself. Each emphasized a different aspect of obedience. Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are man’s response to God’s offer. Thus, salvation is acquired by man when he meets the conditions set forth by God. Sadly, many want to omit one or more of those conditions. To do so places one’s soul in jeopardy. God has extended the offer, and He alone has the right to set the terms!
Once salvation is acquired, it must be maintained.
The idea that once a man is saved he can never do anything to be lost did not originate with God. Jesus said: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). For our salvation to be maintained we must “walk in the light, as he is in the light” and in so doing, “we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If we accept God’s offer and obey His Son, but then turn away from Him, we will be lost.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Christ and His Kingdom
Not of this world
“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36).
The kingdom of Christ is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the New Testament. Literally millions of people are expecting the return of the Lord to establish His kingdom upon the throne of David in Israel. This, they argue, will begin His millennial reign upon the earth, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Jesus reject an earthly kingdom
It is usually argued that because the Jews rejected Him as king our Lord’s plans for the kingdom were delayed and the church was substituted until God’s plan for the kingdom could be carried out. But, the fact is that the Jews did not reject Him as an earthly king. John says they (the Jewish people) sought to take Him by force and make Him a king, but Jesus rejected their efforts (John 6:15). It was Jesus, not the Jews, who rejected the concept of an earthly kingdom. In a passage which many people apparently have overlooked our Lord said specifically that His kingdom was not “of this world” (John 18:36).
The kingdom is a reality now
When the New Testament came to a close the kingdom was a reality, not a distant event. Jesus was the “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). To be a king one must have a kingdom. Christians were delivered from the power of darkness and translated “into the kingdom” of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). One cannot be translated into something unless that thing exists. Furthermore, the epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the early disciples “receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved” (Hebrews 12:28). Obviously, these New Testament writers understood the kingdom to be a reality, not a future promise.
The Church and the kingdom are the same
Jesus taught that the church and the kingdom were the same (Matthew 16:18-19). The church, the kingdom, and the body of Christ are all synonymous terms for God’s spiritual family. Citizens of the kingdom and members of the body wear the name “Christian” (Acts 11:26).
Jesus next coming is to judge, not establish the kingdom
Those expecting Christ to come to establish His kingdom in Israel are going to be sadly disappointed. Jesus is coming again. We know not when, but we do know why. It will be to judge the world in righteousness, not to establish His kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). If we are not citizens of His kingdom when He comes, we never will be!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Biblical Morality
Our postmodern culture argues that the Bible is an outdated, irrelevant text
Our culture, therefore, argues that it is wrong to appeal to the Bible as an authoritative standard for morality. Robert Williams, in his book, Just As I Am: A Practical Guide to Being Out, Proud, and Christian, offers the following argument in defense of homosexuality: The point is not really whether or not some passage in the Bible condemns homosexual acts; the point is that you cannot allow your moral and ethical decisions to be determined by the literature of a people whose culture and history are so far removed from your own. You must dare to be iconoclastic enough to say, “So what if the Bible does say it? Who cares?” (page 128).
People have a problem with authority
Sadly, Mr. Williams echoes the sentiments of a lot of folks when he dismisses the moral relevancy of Scripture. People have a problem with authority, especially Biblical authority. Folks want to be religious, but they also want to be free to do as they choose. This is not something new. It was said of the children of Israel in the days of the judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
For the iconoclast truth is whatever he wants it to be
An iconoclast is somebody who challenges or overturns traditional beliefs, customs, and values. For the iconoclast truth is whatever he wants it to be. Anything in the Bible which is objectionable is declared to be culturally irrelevant. The argument is generally framed as follows. The Bible is thousands of years old. The fastest Moses, Jesus, Paul ever traveled was five or six miles an hour. Today, we can board a plane and fly anywhere in the world at six hundred miles an hour. How can the Bible possibly be relevant in our modern, highly technological world? The answer is pretty simple. A man can lust, covet, or slander his neighbor at six hundred miles an hour just as easily as he can at six miles an hour. Make no mistake, our world is far more technologically advanced than the world of the Bible, but people are still the same.
Is any truth in the Bible no longer true?
The Bible anticipated the iconoclasts and their attacks on the integrity and relevancy of Scripture when it asserted: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Is there a part of the Sermon on the Mount that doesn’t resonate today with the honest reader? What truth in God’s ancient book can be demonstrated to no longer be true?
Either the Bible is the word of God or it isn’t
It claims to be inspired, authoritative, all-sufficient, and by implication inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Those claims can be defended. Therefore, to reject what the Bible says about morality or any other matter is to reject the authority of the Creator Himself. Biblical morality may not be popular, but it is right!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Words or Deeds
In the ninth century before Christ, the Syrian army, under Benhadad, invaded Israel. Benhadad demanded of Israel’s king all of his silver and gold, as well as the best of the king’s wives and children (1 Kings 20:5). Believe it or not, King Ahab agreed.
The next day Benhadad increased his demands. He would send his representatives into Samaria. They would search the palace of the king and houses of the leading men of the city. Anything of value would become the property of the Syrian king. This was more than Ahab could stomach. He refused.
Benhadad was enraged. When he was done with Samaria it would be so thoroughly destroyed that it would not be possible to give each of his men a handful of the dust from the ruble of the city. It was then that Ahab replied, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off'” (1 Kings 20:11). Sure enough, Benhadad would have to eat his words. With God’s help, Israel defeated the Syrian army. Only Benhadad and a few of his officers managed to escape on horseback.
Actions speak louder than words
It is easy to boast, but it can be very difficult to perform as promised. Actions speak louder than words. One does not prove his valor in time of war with words, but with deeds of heroism. One does not establish himself on the field of competition with words, but by deeds. It’s not the one who talks the best game, but the one who plays the best game that comes out on top.
It is not enough to just declare our love
There is a spiritual application. It is not enough to declare our love. Love, to be validated, must be demonstrated by deeds. John admonished his readers: “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). The real proof of our love is not in what we say but what we do!
It is also not enough to say, “I believe!”
James asked, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
What about our relationship with God?
Remember, words without deeds are worthless.
— Roger
MARCH 18, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What Then…
The day of the Lord will come like a thief
Peter wrote: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:8-10).
Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842-1933), commenting on the words of Peter, observed: “With God one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day, which is to say that there is no calendar and no timepiece in the divine experience, no aging, no getting away from the beginning, nor approaching toward the end.” We, however, are time bound creatures. We are born. We age. We die. It is unavoidable, inescapable, absolutely certain. The time of our death is unknown, but the reality of it is undeniable (Hebrews 9:27).
Yes, God is eternal, but we are not
He has always been, and He will always be. We, on the other hand, are different. We had a beginning. We were born into this world, and we will someday be taken out of it. Yet, we are destined for an eternity of our choice. God’s desire is our salvation. He longs for us to be with Him, but He will not force Himself upon us. He yearns for all men to come to a knowledge of the truth that they might be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). The depth of His desire is demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16).
Life is all about choosing
No clear thinking man would choose to be lost eternally, but we operate under the false premise that we will always have tomorrow to prepare. If the Bible teaches one thing with absolute certainty about life, it is the uncertainty of it all. Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow may never come, today is all we have. If we fail to use it, we may never get another chance.
When it’s over, what then?
When it’s over, and that day is coming for all of us, what awaits on the other side. For Christians there is nothing frightening, foreboding, or final about the grave. “For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Do you have that hope, and if not, would you like to have it? Remember, the clock is ticking, time is running out, eternity is just around the corner. What then?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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I Wonder
“God will not permit man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if man had a foresight of his prosperity, he would become arrogant and careless; and if he had an understanding of his adversity, he would become listless and despairing” (Saint Augustine of Hippo).
For many years I have kept a log of my daily activities
I log things like where I’ve been, who I’ve seen, and what has happened in relationship to my work. Every now and then I review the record. As I get older, I find myself revisiting the past with greater frequency. I also find myself wondering about the future. What lies ahead?
You may wonder why I keep revisiting the past
The answer is that it helps me stay focused on the present and prepared for the future. Who among us will not be here in another year? Who will face declining health, a financial setback, or the loss of a loved one this year? Who will be blessed by the birth of a baby? Who will experience the joy of wedded bliss, or the heartbreak of divorce? Who will move into our community, and who will move away? I can’t answer any of those questions, and yet I know they are all part of what the future holds.
How will we respond to what lies ahead?
Only time will tell! James wrote: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).
It is not wrong to think about the future, but we must not exclude God from it
He is in control. We are not. It is only when we understand His sovereignty and power that we can face the future with hope and confidence. This life at best is brief. Whether blessings or burdens come our way, neither stay for long. Therefore, we will not boast of our blessings or bemoan our burdens. We will acknowledge the hand of God in all, and simply say, “Your will be done!”
Leave the future to God
It was George Macdonald who wrote: “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to him, and mind the present.” Good advice! I wonder how many of us will heed it.
— Roger
MARCH 4, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Christianity is Not a Holiday Religion
Not a holiday religion
Today, December 25, the world will pause to remember, amidst the gifts, the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ. He is what Paul called God’s unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). I am always thankful when men are reminded of Jesus and what He means to humanity. At the same time, I am saddened to know that so much of the spirit of Christ will be forgotten when the season has passed. I know that is not what our Lord desires. His is not a holiday religion.
Aristides wrote of Christians (125 A.D.): “They walk in all humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them, and they love one another. They despise not the widow, and grieve not the orphan. He that hath, distributeth liberally to him that hath not. If they see a stranger, they bring him under their roof and rejoice over him as if he were their own brother: for they call themselves brethren, not after the flesh, but after the spirit of God: but when one of their poor passes away from the world, and any of them see him, then he provides for his burial according to his ability: and if they hear that any of their number is imprisoned or oppressed for the name of their Messiah, all of them provide for his needs, and if it is possible that he may be delivered, they deliver him. And if there is among them a man that is poor and needy, and they have not an abundance of necessaries, they fast two or three days that they may supply the needy with their necessary food.”
Has Jesus made an impact on you?
If Jesus has not made the kind of impact on our lives that causes us to be kind, considerate and caring the year round, He really hasn’t made an impact at all. Open your heart to the hurt of others. Be responsive to their needs. Give yourself. The love and compassion of Christ are as needed in July as they are in December. He cared; so must we!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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We Can Be Sure!
Jesus is not fantasy or fiction
“Once upon a time in a land far, far away…” may be an appropriate introduction to a fairy tale, but not to the life of Christ. The story of Jesus is not fantasy, and it is not fiction. It is fact! Luke’s gospel begins with these words: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:1-4).
I know that Jesus lived, died, and rose the third day
It is not speculation, wishful thinking, or blind faith upon which I make that statement, but the facts concerning his life and death! Faith rests on the testimony of eyewitnesses (1 John 1:1-4). Peter stated it plainly when he wrote: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
Not done in a corner
In Paul’s defense of Christianity before Agrippa, regarding the death and resurrection of Christ, he said: “This thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26). His ministry had been public, his miracles open to close scrutiny, his death a public spectacle, and his resurrection a verifiable fact! Not one valid charge can be leveled against the New Testament record. There had been no deception, and no effort was made to exclude the multitudes from a close examination of all that he taught and did. There was no misrepresentation, and no scandal to mar the record. We can have the utmost confidence in the biblical narrative.
Will we accept the facts?
There is not one valid reason for a man to reject the truthfulness of the Bible concerning Christ, or any other matter. “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12), do you?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Two Kinds of Atheists
Men have forgotten God
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn made an astute observation when he wrote: “I heard a number of older people offer this explanation for the great disasters that have befallen Russia: `Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.'” He went on to say, “If I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: “Men have forgotten God.'”
Whenever men forget God disaster is inevitable.
The apostle Paul wrote of this ruinous sin in his letter to the church at Rome. He attributed the Roman decline to the fact that men “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Romans 1:28). Men had forgotten God.
What happens when men forget God?
They become wicked, greedy, evil, envious, murderous, malicious, gossipers, slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, disobedient to parents, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful (Romans 1:29-31). It’s not a pleasant picture to contemplate, but it is clearly where atheism leads, and we are rapidly going in that direction.
George Gallup, Jr., readily recognized as one of America’s leading pollsters, has observed that “We want the fruits of religion, but not the obligations…That we revere the Bible, but don’t read it…We believe the Ten Commandments to be valid rules for living, although we can’t name them.” We may claim to believe in God and revere the Bible, but most of those who profess to be Christians don’t know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, can’t name one Old Testament Prophet, and almost never read the Scriptures. We, too, are in danger of forgetting God. The warning of the prophet Hosea bears repeating. He wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Specifically, they had forgotten God!
Almost a century and a half ago Abraham Lincoln wrote: “We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in number, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand that preserves us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior virtue and wisdom of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us… it behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
Little difference
There are two kinds of atheists in our world. The first make no pretense of believing. They foolishly say, “There is no God!” The second profess to believe, but live as though He did not exist. In reality there is little difference between the two. Both have forgotten God!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Book
Theodore Roosevelt said: “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” For Christians the Bible must always be at the heart of our preaching, teaching, and way of living. If the Scriptures do not guide our lives, we are lost. No other book compares with THE BOOK.
Woodrow Wilson advised: “Give the Bible to the people, unadulterated, pure, unaltered, unexplained, uncheapened, and then see it work through the whole nature. It is very difficult indeed for a man or for a boy who knows the Scriptures ever to get away from it. It follows him like the memory of his mother. It haunts him like an old song. It reminds him like the word of an old and revered teacher. It forms a part of the warp and woof of his life.” He also said, “We have deprived ourselves of the best there is in the world if we deprive ourselves of a knowledge of the Bible.”
What makes the Bible so very special?
- First is its origin. It claims to come from the Creator (2 Timothy 3:16), and the evidence confirms the claim.
- Second, it definitively answers the pressing questions of life regarding origin (Genesis 1:1), purpose (Ecclesiastes 12:13), and destiny (2 Corinthians 5:1).
- Third, it speaks to the longings of the human heart providing hope, peace, comfort, and joy even when life comes crashing in around us (Philippians 4:10-13).
- Fourth, it provides a remedy for man’s greatest problem (sin) through God’s only Son (Romans 6:23).
- Fifth, it offers a road map for life enabling us to live abundantly (John 10:10).
- Sixth, it removes the sting of death, casts off fear, and fills the heart with love (1 John 4:17-18).
- Seventh, it reveals the glorious future of the redeemed (Romans 8:34-39).
The Scriptures are under constant assault
The devil will do every thing he can to undermine it’s credibility and destroy its influence. At the moment it may appear that he is achieving his goal, but he is not. He will fail, and the Bible affirms his ultimate defeat (Revelation 20:11-15). The world declares the Bible an outdated, irrelevant text of ancient legends and myths, but the world is wrong. Christians know that the Bible is the word of God. Therefore, we handle it reverently, read it prayerfully, study it carefully, obey it cheerfully, and teach it faithfully. The hope of our nation and the salvation of our souls depend upon it!
Sir Walter Scott observed: “The most learned, acute, and diligent student cannot, in the longest life, obtain an entire knowledge of the Bible. The more deeply he works the mine, the richer and more abundant he finds the ore; new light continually beams from this source of heavenly knowledge, to direct the conduct, and illustrate the work of God and the ways of men; and he will at last leave the world confessing, that the more he studied the Scriptures, the fuller conviction he had of his own ignorance, and of their inestimable value.”
We must never forget
As Christ’s church, may we never forget the place of THE BOOK in the hearts of His people, for if we do we will cease to be His church.
–Roger
NOVEMBER 13, 2011
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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On Mother’s Passing
Sometime ago I read Roland H. Bainton’s book, Here I Stand, A Life of Martin Luther. In it Bainton recorded the following regarding Luther’s daughter Magdalena.
When Magdalena was fourteen years old, she lay upon her deathbed. Luther prayed, “Oh God, I love her so, but thy will be done.” And turning to her, “Magdalenchen, my little girl, you would like to stay with your father here and you would be glad to go to your Father in heaven?”
And she said, “Yes, dear father, as God wills.”
And Luther reproached himself because God had blessed him as no bishop had been blessed in a thousand years, and yet he could not find it in his heart to give God thanks. Katie (Luther’s wife) stood off, overcome by grief; and Luther held the child in his arms as she passed on. When she was laid away, he said, “Du liebes Lenichen, you will rise and shine like the stars and the sun. How strange it is to know that she is at peace and all is well, and yet to be so sorrowful!”
I have conducted hundreds of funerals, been at the bedside of many a dying person, and often sought to comfort grieving families. I’ve felt the pangs of sorrow as others wept for a loved one called home all too soon. But nothing has affected me like the passing of my own mother. Mom had a long and good life. She and dad were married for more than 62 years. Until the onset of Alzheimer’s, she had been blessed with good health. In recent months the effects of the disease had become more pronounced. Still, she was at worship and Bible study each week, and though she slept a lot, was happy in her waking hours. Dad, my brother, and especially my two sisters, were attentive to her every need. The past year had been notably difficult for them, but they made certain that mom’s every need was met.
As a family we were exceedingly blessed. It could have been so much worse. Now she is gone. The struggles are over. Her mind is clear again. As I have often said to others, for Christians death is not frightening, foreboding, or final. I know that to be true of mom. Yet, there is a sense of sadness at her passing which I have never experienced before. I find Luther’s words to be expressive of the sentiments of my own heart: “How strange it is to know that she is at peace and all is well, and yet to be so sorrowful.”
To each of you who called, sent a card, came to the funeral home, or kept us in your prayers, I extend our deepest appreciation. Mom left us with the greatest gift a mother can give her family, the knowledge that she died in the Lord.
When our time to go the way of all earth arrives, I pray those who are left behind will find the same comfort which we now find in Christ. Yes, we sorrow, but not as others which have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
–Roger
OCTOBER 30, 2011
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Trust in the Lord
Trust involves confidence and reliance
The motto on our money reads: “In God We Trust,” but do we? Trust involves confidence and reliance. Quite honestly, for many, the motto would be more accurate if it read, “In Thee (money) We Trust.”
Materialism is a roadblock
Materialism has been and continues to be one of the greatest roadblocks to spiritual growth and maturity. Jesus had more to say regarding this sin than any other. In the Sermon on the Mount He said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:19-21, 24).
The love of money
The apostle Paul offered a similar warning: “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Money is not inherently evil, but the love of money is!
Set your hopes on God
The apostle went on to say: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Money is not the true measure of a man
It never has been, and it never will be. Thus, Jesus warned: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
Men are fallible, not always dependable
Men also have a tendency to place their confidence in other men, only to be greatly disappointed. Because men are fallible, they are not always dependable. God, on the other hand, will never let us down. This led the Psalmist to observe: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).
Trust Him
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). We must put our trust in HIM, and HE will never let us down!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Living with Guilt
Guilt can be good or bad
Guilt (self-reproach and feelings of responsibility for an offense) can be a good thing, or a very bad thing. It’s good when it leads to repentance and reformation. It’s bad when it prevents us from moving forward, overcoming our failures, and experiencing the joys of a saving relationship with Christ.
Unfortunately, many become overcome with the burden of guilt
I spend a great deal of time with people who are overcome with the burden of guilt. Much of what I hear has to do with regrets over things not done: parents who failed to spend adequate time with growing children; husbands/wives who failed to show proper love and appreciation for a spouse; children who failed to attend to the needs of an aged parent. This list could be much longer. The remainder of guilt is generated when people do things they know in their own hearts they should not do. In some cases, but not all, these wrongs can be righted. When possible, that is what must be done.
But, we cannot go back and right every wrong
We cannot undo all the damage we have done. However, we can move forward with the determination to help others avoid the same mistakes. Carrying a heavy load of guilt over these matters will only retard our spiritual progress and destroy our inner peace.
If God could forgive Paul, He can forgive you
The story of the Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) is extremely helpful when confronting guilt (1 Timothy 1:12-16). Paul acknowledged his guilt. He had been a blasphemer, persecutor, and a violent man toward Christians. He had been as bad as they come. He called himself the “chief” or “worst” of sinners, but still, he found forgiveness. If God could forgive him and lift his burden of guilt, He could do it for anyone.
What did Paul do upon obeying Christ (Acts 22:16)?
- First, he put his past behind him (Philippians 3:13). He would learn from past mistakes, but he would not dwell on them.
- Second, he accepted the forgiveness provided through the grace of Christ (1 Timothy 1:14).
- Third, he changed his life and became a new man in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- Fourth, he forgave himself, and vowed not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
His focus was not on what he had done, but on what he could do! It worked for him, and it will work for us!
Jesus Christ can free us from the burden of guilt
No matter how great the burden of guilt we carry, Jesus Christ can free us from it. Follow the example of Paul. Turn to Christ. Obey His commands. Become a new creature. Forget the past, and move forward (Philippians 3:13, 14). Guilt is a heavy burden to bear. It saps life of peace, hope and joy. But, it’s a burden none of us need to bear. Jesus Christ can take the guilt away. Will we let Him do that for us? That’s the question we need to consider now!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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A New Life
Jesus Christ can provide a fresh start
No matter what may haunt a man from his past, Jesus Christ can provide a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. That’s really what conversion is all about. When a man looks to Jesus as savior, surrenders his will to the will of Christ, repents and is born again, he really is given a new life.
We should walk in newness of life
Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome: “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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:3-6).
Baptism marks a new beginning or new birth for a Christian
The old life with all its sin is renounced. A new life begins. It is a life patterned after Jesus. We are no longer controlled by the devil. We have become children of God. We must behave like God’s children. We are specifically charged to put off the old man with his corrupt deeds and put on a new man made in the image of the Creator (Colossians 3:9). We must rid our lives of all that is wicked and vile, and fill the void with what is good.
We must become what god wants us to be
The problem is that many find the promises of Jesus very appealing, but are unwilling to accept his demands. They want the blessings of a relationship with Christ without any of the responsibilities. That’s not possible. Yes, there is forgiveness, but there must also be reformation. We must become what God wants us to be. That’s why he gives us a fresh start, a new beginning, that we might become a new man. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Would you like to be a new man?
Read your Bible. Believe what it says. Repent of your sins. Confess the precious name of Jesus. Be baptized! Christ will add you to his church, and you can become the person he wants you to be.
–Roger
SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Sound Advice
What shall we do?
The people came to John the Baptist asking, “What shall we do then?” (Luke 3:10). He answered them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). The publicans (tax collectors) followed suit, asking, “Master, what shall we do?” John replied, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you” (Luke 3:13). The soldiers followed with the same question, “What shall we do?” To them John said, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).
Three lessons
What did John tells these folks? Three fundamental lessons on life are offered. We would do well to listen.
First, if you have wealth, share it
Paul admonished Christians to work that they might have to give to those in need (Ephesians 4:28). Wealth is not to be hoarded, but to be used. The tragic story of the rich man was told by our Lord to reinforce this lesson (Luke 12:16-21). No man is truly rich who leaves God out of his life and ignores the needs of his fellow man (1 John 3:17-18).
Second, if you are in a position of trust, honor it
Tax collectors were notorious for the abuses of their office. They were in a position of trust and service, and not one of privilege and personal gain. Many politicians and preachers need to take heed. As Christians, we have a solemn charge from God to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). Positions of trust must not be misused for personal gain.
Third, if you have power, do not abuse it
Although clearly directed to the military, this principle has application in every area of life where men have authority over others. Stories of abuses of power abound in the military, law enforcement, government, and even the home. Such abuse is never justified. It is not the use of force which John prohibited, but the abuse of it which he condemned.
The same answer applies today
If we were to ask the same question today, I suspect the answer would be the same. It’s sound advice. We would be wise to listen and learn.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Tragedy of Ignorance
You know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God
In an encounter with the Sadducees, Jesus said to them: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). I can’t help but wonder if He would not say the same thing to many believers today!
Ignorance is a dangerous thing
There are many things we do not need to know, but when it comes to the Scriptures we cannot afford to be ignorant. Hosea wrote: Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land (Hosea 4:1). My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children (Hosea 4:6). And of Ephraim he said, I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing (Hosea 8:12).
Conditions today are not that much better
Pollster George Gallup Jr. has long referred to America as a “nation of biblical illiterates.” Only four in 10 Americans know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. A majority of citizens cannot name the four Gospels of the New Testament. Would those in the church do any better?
Which of the following is found in Scripture?
- Cleanliness is next to godliness.
- God helps those who help themselves.
- Confession is good for the soul.
- We are as prone to sin as sparks fly upward.
- Money is the root of all evil.
- Honesty is the best policy.
Many things the Bible does not say are widely embraced as Scripture
If you answered that none of them are in the Bible, you would be correct. Many things the Bible does not say are widely embraced as Scripture, while much of what it does say is denied. One survey of mainline Protestants revealed that barely half of Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians believed in the devil, but 56 percent of Lutherans and 49 percent of Methodists believed in UFOs. And, while nearly three-fourths of all Americans believe in hell, hardly any believe it to be their likely destination for eternity.
The consequences of religious ignorance are devastating
Nations crumble, lives are destroyed, and souls are lost out of ignorance of God’s word. We need to be far more conscientious in our study of the Bible, and our commitment to living up to its demands. Biblical ignorance in the world is demoralizing, but in the church it is reprehensible. His word must be a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:105).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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