Historical Posts
Personal Bible Understanding
Christians are to be careful Bible students and gain personal Bible understanding.
Like Timothy we are to study to show ourselves approved before God (2 Timothy 2:15). We should be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures daily to make certain that what we are taught is what the Bible teaches (Acts 17:11). Our failure to know and do what God’s word demands will lead to disastrous consequences (Hosea 4:6).
I am reminded of the story of a Mexican bank robber in the days of the Old West. He terrorized small towns all along the Texas-Mexico border. Finally, a town appealed to the Texas Rangers for help. Sure enough one crafty Ranger tracked the robber down and cornered him in a saloon where he was retelling the clientele of his latest escapades.
Cornered and helpless the once-proud robber cowered at the gun-toting lawman. “I’ll give you one chance,” said the Texan. “Where did you hide the gold?” Since the Mexican spoke no English a local translated the statement to him. Beaten, the robber spilled his guts to his translator. The gold was hidden at the base of the old dry well just outside of town. With this the translator turned to the Ranger and said, “He’s a proud man, Ranger. He’ll never talk! You might as well shoot him!”
There are those who argue that we are incapable of Bible understanding without expert assistance. According to them the average man on the street is no more able to understand the Scriptures than that Ranger was of understanding the robber’s confession. They are wrong. We have the word of God in our own language. Its message is not shrouded in secrecy, but clearly and concisely set forth. The vast majority of the Sacred Text is not the least bit difficult to understand. There are some difficult passages in the Bible, but not many and those which are most difficult are least important to our salvation.
There are two reasons why many find the Bible a strange book. First, they spend no time with it. Convinced that they Bible understanding is beyond them, they don’t try. Second, they go to the text only to discover that what they have been taught is contradicted by what the Bible says. They assume the problem is an inability to understand, when the real problem lies in an inability to reconcile false beliefs with the truth.
I urge you to study the Bible.
Spend time with God’s Word. You can read it yourself and gain Bible understand that will bring you to salvation!
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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In the Name of The Lord
“Do All in the Name of the Lord”
“What-e’er you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord; do naught in name of man or creed, do all in the name of the Lord. Do all in His name, do all in the name of the Lord; in word or deed, as God decreed, do all in the name of the Lord.” These words were penned by Austin Taylor in 1916, and are still sung today. They are taken from Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
First, we do in word in the name of the Lord Jesus by:
- Letting them be acceptable in His sight (Psalm 19:14).
- Letting our lips show forth His praise (Psalm 51:15).
- Being justified, and not condemned, by our words (Matthew 12:37).
- Letting our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6).
- Being nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed (1 Timothy 4:6).
Next, we do in deed in the name of the Lord Jesus by:
- Looking into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work (James 1:25).
- Loving in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).
- Fully preaching the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:18-20).
Christ did all in word and deed! He did not sin, nor was guile found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:21-23). He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). By following His example, whatever we do, we “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Antiquated or Outdated?
Is the Bible Outdated or Antiquated?
Times have changed since Jesus walked the paths of Galilee. How could his message be relevant in a modern, technological society? The Bible is outdated! You’ve heard the arguments before. At first these assertions sound plausible, but look more carefully. Is the Bible outdated?
Things aren’t that much different.
Sure, we’ve made enormous technological advances, but people are still the same, and we still have the same problems.
- From an Egyptian letter dated 256 B.C., someone wrote:
“I am in difficulty both summer and winter about my salary.” - Cicero, an astute Roman statesman (106-46 B.C.) observed:
“The first of June and nothing done by the Senate.” - Socrates (470-399 B.C.) complained:
“Athletics have become professionalized.” - And, one of the most interesting comments of all was made by Emperor Diocletian when he wrote:
“Who has not seen with his own eyes the present spirit which forces up the price of commodities to such a degree that human language cannot find words to express the transaction?”
The Bible is a book about men, not machines.
The Bible is a message from God to man. It addresses the one problem that has plagued every generation since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. That problem is SIN! Science and technology cannot solve it. But, Jesus offers a solution. He was “made to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The world may have changed since Jesus traveled the roads of Palestine, but people are still the same.
As we enter a new age of technology in the 21st century, man must still confront the “age-old” problem of sin. The only solution will still be Jesus. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Some may ask, “If the Bible is still relevant, why is there so much sin in the world, and why does it seem that religion has failed?” The answer is quite simple. The solution to a problem will only work when it is followed. The message of Christ is ignored by millions. Many of the major denominations make no effort to be governed by the Bible and its authority. They have succumbed to the pressures of compromise, but God’s word is uncompromising.
Christ, His Word, and His Church are as relevant as ever.
He is every generation’s only hope. Today, and every day, we must remember him.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Two-Edged Sword
Use Well Your Two-Edged Sword
A two-edged sword is very sharp. It can be a really useful tool, or it can cause a great deal of damage. It all depends on one’s knowledge and use of the tool.
Consider the impact an immoral woman can have on an individual. Solomon warns of her soothing words and unstable ways of life. He describes her as “sharp as a two-edged sword,” leading to destruction, and advises one to remove one’s ways far from her (Proverbs 5:3-14).
On the other hand, the saints of God are encouraged to sing praises to God. The Psalmist says, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment (Psalm 149:6-9)…”
What two-edged sword should be in our hands? “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).” The Bible tells us that vengeance does belong to the LORD (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).
John tells us of this as he describes “One like the Son of Man,” in which protrudes out of His mouth a sharp two edged-sword (Revelation 1:12-16). God’s Word is a powerful tool. If we gain knowledge of it and use it properly, it can save our eternal souls.
Content by Richard Dillon
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You Ought to Know
Two Things You Ought to Know
“There is something you ought to know…” Have you ever heard those words before? Perhaps important information needed to be given to you so you could make a better decision. Perhaps you have also heard, “If only I knew then what I know now…” What if it were possible to know something so you can make a good decision? Well, it is! There are many resources available to do research on a lot of things to help make better decisions. There are at least two things we all ought to know, and we have the resources to know them.
First, we ought to know the truth. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).” By knowing and obeying the truth, we can be made free from sin! Jesus even told us Himself what is true: Himself (John 14:6), His Father (John 17:3), and His Word (John 17:17). If Jesus said or did it, it’s true! God, His Father, is the only true God! The Bible, the inspired Word of God, is all true!
Second, we ought to know we can have eternal life. John wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13).” There should not be any doubt that a Christian has eternal life! Earlier, John stated that eternal life is in God’s Son (1 John 5:11). Thus, if one is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), he has access to all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), including the hope of eternal life.
The truth can be known! We can know we have eternal life! These are things you ought to know…
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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The Wrong Questions
Are We Asking The Wrong Questions?
When disaster strikes, we ask, “Why?” When suffering comes into our lives, we ask, “Why me?” These are the wrong questions. We should be asking, “What can I learn from this?” Or, “How do I deal with it?” No life is free from adversity. It is foolish to think that we can go through life unscathed. Troubles come into life as surely “as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). No one should be surprised by adversity. It is inevitable! How we deal with it is another issue altogether. It can make us or break us, and we really do determine which it will be.
When troubles enter a marriage the first question often raised is, “Should we get a divorce?” But, again, that is the wrong question. What should be asked is, “How do we fix it?” There are no broken marriages which cannot be fixed if both parties want to resolve the problems. At the root of nearly every broken marriage is a communication problem. And frankly, at the heart of this problem is a failure not to talk but to listen. It is not by accident that James admonished, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). When we focus on the symptoms we are asking the wrong questions. If you find yourself in a troubled marriage, start looking for solutions, not an escape!
When religious controversy arises, the question is raised: “Who is right?” That’s another example of asking the wrong questions! The correct question ought to be, “What is right?” If truth is to triumph in the hearts of men there must be a constant pursuit of the truth. After all, it was Jesus who said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We cannot close our eyes to the message because we dislike the messenger. We must not reject the truth because it conflicts with our traditions. We must not let the messenger have more sway over us than the message. This is, however, exactly what happens when we allow “smooth words and flattering speech” to triumph over truth (Romans 16:17-18).
When someone dies the inevitable question is, “How did they die?” Was it an accident? Had they been sick? Did they have a heart attack? But, the more important question to be raised is, “How did they live?” Death is inevitable, and judgment follows (Hebrews 9:27). The verdict rendered at Judgment is not based on how we died, but how we lived? Perhaps we would all benefit from an honest appraisal of how we are living, and whether or not we are prepared for death and what follows!
Don’t get mired in asking the wrong questions. Let’s ask the right questions. Let’s consult the Bible for the right answers.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Foolish Questions
Don’t waste your time with foolish questions.
A young man, seeking to entrap the Scottish preacher, John McNeil, sent the following note to the preacher with the request that it be answered publicly: “Dear Mr. McNeil, if you seek to enlighten young men, would you kindly tell me who Cain’s wife was and where he got her?” McNeil read the note and then responded, “I love young men – inquirers for truth especially – and should like to give this young man a word of advice: Don’t lose your soul inquiring about other men’s wives.” Talk about foolish questions.
Critics of the Bible are always looking for ways to entrap believers with foolish questions. “If your God is omnipotent (all powerful),” they ask, “can he make a square circle? If your God is so great and can do anything, can he make a rock so big he cannot lift it?” Obviously, both are foolish questions that seek the impossible! What is the Christian’s response?
Paul admonished Timothy: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who was taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
We can have great confidence in the Bible and the God it reveals. There is no reason for us to doubt the divine record or anything it says about our God or His Son! The Bible is the most important book ever written. It was not the product of human minds, but the divine mind (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Doubters may wish to throw suspicion upon the sacred text with foolish questions, but it will stand long after every critic has been silenced.
The Bible may not answer every question we ask, but we may be confident that the answers found therein are right. With the Psalmist, we should cry out, “Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).
Would you like to know more? Asking about the salvation of your soul is not on the list of foolish questions.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Is the Bible the Rule Book for the Church?
Thanks to Al Parr, working with the Saline Church of Christ, for the content of this post.2 Thessalonians 3:6 – “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition that he received of us.”
Is the Bible the rule book for the church, or isn’t it?
We see everywhere today the results of the hijacking of churches by agents of change. It’s not entirely the fault of the hijackers! When people begin to teach in the church what was not taught by the apostles and recorded in the Bible, they must be stopped (Titus 1:11). When we make excuses against confronting them, we ourselves become contributors to the apostasy (1 John 1:11) that will surely result from all false teaching and practice.
How much plainer could the rule be?
The sentence includes the words “command,” “you,” “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” “ye” and “every.” It’s not an option; it’s a direct order from your Master, and your response to it will be weighed in the final judgment day.
And how many other souls will be affected by your words and actions?
Al Parr works Confirming the Churches and preaches at the Saline Church of Christ
7300 East Michigan Avenue
Saline, MI 48176
734-429-4319
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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I Hear a Voice
Perhaps you have heard of people claiming that they hear voices in their heads. They do not necessarily see anyone, but somebody somewhere tells them to do (or not to do) something. There was a time when Jesus called upon God to glorify His name. In response, a voice came from heaven and said, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again (John 12:28).”
The people that were with Jesus heard it, but saw no one. Some thought it had thundered; others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” To clarify the situation, Jesus replied: “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake (John 12:29-30).” God did not speak for Jesus’ benefit; He spoke for the benefit of the people, that they would believe He is the Son of God!
We hear the voice of God today, and it can benefit us! Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16)…” The voice of God should be in our minds and hearts, guiding us in the right way. By hearing and doing it, we can live forever with Him. Read your Bible and find out what the voice of God telling you.
Content by Richard Dillon
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I Think…
Solomon admonished: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Later he wrote: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
The prophet Jeremiah confessed, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
On our own we are incapable of charting a course which will lead to God. We simply lack the wisdom and expertise to do it, but that doesn’t keep people from trying!
Over the years I have been involved in numerous Bible studies in which the scriptures have been consulted in answer to some question. And often, the response is, “I don’t care what the Scriptures say, I think…” It is hard for me to understand that kind of arrogant attitude, but it’s certainly not new.
You are probably familiar with the Old Testament story of Naaman. Naaman was a leper in search of a cure. His search ultimately led him to Elisha, a prophet of God in Israel. The prophet, knowing what Naaman sought, did not even bother to meet with the man. He simply sent a servant to tell Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River. The leper’s reaction was not at all surprising. The record says: “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11). However, what Naaman thought was wrong! It was only when he did what was commanded that his leprosy was cured.
What we think about homosexuality, women’s roles, acceptable worship, baptism, or any other matter is not nearly as important as what God has said about it.
Our responsibility is not to do what we think is best, but to do what God tells us in His book! What we think about a matter is irrelevant when God has addressed the subject. The next time you start to say “I think,” remember the correct response should be “the Bible says…!”
Thus, Peter admonished: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11).
If you have questions, the Bible has the answers.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Greatest Author
Growing up, my favorite author was Franklin W. Dixon. The Hardy Boys was my favorite series, and I soon collected the entire set (including the handbook).
Carolyn Keene is just as popular with girls for penning Nancy Drew. Many authors wrote classics, fiction, nonfiction, and biographies that thrill many readers. They create characters and expound upon their adventures.
The greatest author of all, however, is Jesus Christ! Jesus is the author of “eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).”
No one else can create anything as wonderful! He even tells us how to receive it – by doing what He says! In order to come to God, we do so through faith in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6). Thus, Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).”
There is a lot of confusion in the world, especially regarding matters of faith. But, this confusion did not come from God! He is “not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).”
What is your favorite book to read? I hope and pray it is the Bible. After all, God is its author (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Everything you read there is true, and you will be prepared for living now and in eternity.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Why Teach The Bible?
God has given us his inspired word!
Certainly he has the power and understanding to say what he means and mean what he says! To know what God desires go to the Bible, not the teaching that mankind has invented. God warns us that false teachers are coming
- Matthew 7:15 admonishes, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.“
- 1 John 4:1 states, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.“
- 2 Timothy 3:13 warns, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.“
Only the Bible can make us wise unto salvation
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, we are told, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” For salvation, follow the Bible, not mankind.
- Matthew 15:8-9 shows why we can’t follow the doctrines of men – they are vain. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.“
- We have to go to the Bible to find the commandments of God. Mark 7:6-7 repeats this warning! “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.“
Don’t remain ignorant. We need salvation and judgment is coming
- Acts 17:30-31 tells us we can’t remain ignorant, but must come to repentance, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.“
- John 12:48 tells us that the word of God will judge us. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.“
Do you know Jesus? Are you sure?
Some people think that they can’t know for sure. The Bible teaches us that we can in 1 John 2:3-5 , “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” We need the Bible to teach us his commandments.
Why teach the Bible? Look at what it does!
- Makes us wise unto salvation
- Teaches us saving doctrine
- Corrects us when we are wrong
- Furnishes us unto all good works
- Teaches us how to know that we know Jesus
- Will Judge us
Please contact us to arrange a Bible Study and hear more.
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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1 Peter 02:01-02 Christians Must Desire The Word
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(Christians Must Desire the Milk of The Word to Grow)
Text: 1 Peter 2:1-2
Introduction
- Animals, plants, and humans beings, from the time they are planted or born, are expected to grow from infancy to maturity in a specified period. In order for them to grow and mature properly they must receive and digest nutrients from various sources. In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus gives the parable of the barren fig tree that produced no fruit. The vineyard owner was expecting fruit on the fig tree for 3 years and found none. As a result, he was going to cut it down, but the servant requested to work on it, and if it didn’t produce fruit afterwards then to cut it down. God is expecting us to grow as Christians. Are you like this barren fig tree? In John 15:1-2, 6, Jesus teaches, if your not bearing fruit, or growing, you will be cut off, from the vine and be burned.
- The Christian, new babe in Christ must desire and receive the sincere milk of the Word of God, along with exercising or applying what they have learn from the Word of God to grow, mature, and bear much fruit – 1 Peter 2:1-2.
God’s Word is the Necessary Food for Spiritual Growth
- In order to grow, you must have an interest and desire to go beyond the infancy stage to a mature Christian. You must cry out for the milk of the Word of God, just as a baby cries out for it’s mother for milk – John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15. It is God’s Word that causes us to increase and grow – 2 Peter 3:18.
- Sometimes new Christians do not receive enough of the sincere milk of the Word, that they might grow. This one reason why some members of the church do not grow and mature as they should and need to be re-introduced to the milk of the Word of God that they might grow – Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.
- It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a Christian or how mature a Christian you think you are. You always need a daily feeding of the Word of God since we can’t live without it – Matthew 4:4. The Word of God is our light in a world filled with darkness – Psalm 119:104-105.
With the Milk of the Word, Growing Christians Must Exercise Godliness
- Along with feeding on the milk of the Word, the new babe in Christ must also exercise godliness – 1 Timothy 4:7-8. New Christian’s must put into practice what they have learned from the Word of God. The new convert must learn to take time in their daily lives to be holy – 1 Peter 1:15-16.
- The challenge for new Christian’s is to not fall back into old worldly and sinful practices – 1 John 2:15-17. And to not allow worldly friendships to drown out the influence that God’s Word and fellow Christians have on them – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
- Therefore, let us feast on the Word of God and grow. The question is are you a growing branch of the vine bearing much fruit? Or are you a dead branch of the vine ready to be bundled & burned?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
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Do All in the Name of the Lord
Do All in the Name of the Lord – Colossians 3:17
Authority must be granted.
Have you ever acted in someone else’s name? It is quite a common thing for people to be given the “power of attorney” over someone else, so they may act on their behalf. This kind of power may not legally be assumed by anyone, however, without authority being granted by the one in whose name the action is to be taken. In other words, before I can do anything in someone else’s name, I must have their authority to do so.
What we teach or practice in religion must have God’s authority.
This same line of thinking applies in religion. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Everything we teach or practice in religion must have God’s authority to back it up. Without divine authority, it may not be said that a particular religious teaching or practice meets with the approval of the Lord.
The Word of God, which supplies us with authority.
It is the Word of God, which supplies us with authority from God to do or say anything in His name (Acts 4:7-10). Unless there is a direct statement, necessary inference, or approved example from the Bible to authorize a particular teaching or practice, it is simply impossible to affirm that there any divine authority behind it. That is why most preachers in the churches of Christ quote the Bible so many times in their sermons.
The Lord taught that many people will be surprised to learn, on the Day of Judgment, that their souls are lost, simply because they did not “do all in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 7:22-23). Let us all resolve not to be numbered among them!
Content by Russell Kline
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Put Down Your Beer and Open Up Your Bible
It is time to set the record straight.
On our way back from Polishing the Pulpit, my wife and I spent several hours listening to the radio, as we drove. It’s always fun to sing along with the songs we know, as we reminisce about old times and come to appreciate new music, too. We were almost home, when we heard a new country song that we hadn’t heard before. It’s called, “If I Could Have a Beer With Jesus”— that’s right, “If I Could Have a Beer With Jesus”—and it was written by Thomas Rhett Akins. At first, I laughed out loud at the very notion of a song about a good ole boy sitting down in a honky tonk to share a pitcher of brew with the Son of God. But, as the words of the song came pouring out of my radio speakers, my amusement turned into outrage. Songs like this one,—and there are many others—perpetuate a misrepresentation about our Lord that vexes the souls of faithful Christians everywhere. Once again, it is time to set the record straight.
Jesus would even join them in doing the same?
First of all, there is the notion that Jesus approves of our sinful behavior, and the assumption that He would gladly join us in it. Miranda Lambert sings a song about drinking wine with the Lord, called “A Heart Like Mine.” The chorus says, “I heard Jesus; He drank wine. And I bet we’d get along just fine. He could calm the storm and heal the bind. And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine.” Many people live their lives by the assumption that sinners are just misunderstood and that, as long as they don’t commit any of the “really big” sins, God understands, and forgives, and would even join them in doing the same. Back in the 1960’s and 70’s, this was the mantra of the “hippie generation.” Men grew out their hair, fornicated and abused drugs; arguing all the while that Jesus did the same things. It is infuriating to me to hear such vile slander leveled against the Lord of humanity! Jesus did not drink alcohol, He did not commit fornication, and He did not have long hair (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 11:14)!
Learn to be ashamed and put down the burden of sin.
It’s about time that people learned to be ashamed of their sinful behavior and did something about their spiritual weakness, besides using it as an excuse (2 Peter 3:18). Like the people of Jeremiah’s day, we no longer blush, when sin is brought to light (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12). When is somebody going to write a song about smoking a joint with Jesus, or going to the casino with Jesus, or going to a strip club with Jesus? When that day comes, will people think it is sentimental and cute, or will people be outraged by the idea that the Lord would ever engage in such behavior? Jesus wants us to put down the burden of sin, and not drag it around with us for the rest of our lives (Matthew 11:28-30).
Pick up your Bible to find the answers.
Another thing about the lyrics to “If I Could Have a Beer With Jesus” that I find astonishing is the quandary that Mr. Akins seems to be in over such questions as, “Do you hear the prayers I send? What happens when life ends? When you think you’re comin’ back again?” It seems to me that, if this guy would just put down his beer and pick up his Bible, he would be able to find the answers he seeks. The Word of God tells us all that we need to know about prayer, in passages like Matthew 6:5-15, among many others. The Bible tells us about what happens when life ends, in passages like Luke 16:19-31. As to the question of when Jesus will come back again, all that one needs to do is read Matthew 24:36.
Don’t delude yourself into thinking the Word of God is too hard to understand.
People like to think that spiritual questions like this are deep and the answers to them are elusive. But, the truth of the matter is that these questions are simple and the answers we seek may be found in the Bible. If you want to know about Jesus, just “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39). You may not like what you find there, and maybe that’s why some people do not open their Bibles to begin with, but don’t delude yourself into thinking that the Word of God is just too hard for the common man to understand (Mark 12:37b).
We will be judged by the standard that Jesus set.
When I researched the lyrics of this song on the Internet, I was surprised to see so many comments about it that lauded it with praise. Some said that it was such a good song that it made them cry. I makes me cry to think of all the poor souls who are convinced that they don’t need to change their lives to be pleasing to the Lord. Let us never forget that we will be judged by the standard that He set, and not the standard that the world sets for us (John 12:48).
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…” – Romans 12:2
Content by Russell Kline
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Questions and Answers 2010-06-27
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I. Question One – “Is Christianity a religion or a relationship? Or both?”
“A lot of my friends have been saying that Christianity is just a relationship with God. I understand that you need to go through the steps of salvation to be saved but they think you just need to pray, read the Bible, etc. So what I’m really asking is, “Is Christianity a religion or a relationship? Or both?”
A. First, we need to stress that everyone is in a relationship with God whether they realize it or not.
1. Matthew 12:30. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
2. One is either with God or against God. There is no middle ground.
3. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
4. Jesus said…
a) John 8:24. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
b) Luke 13:3. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
c) Matthew 10:32. “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
d) Mark 16:16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
5. If we don’t believe or practice these things which Jesus commanded, do we love him? According to Jesus, we do not!
6. So is Christianity a relationship… I would say that it is a term that describes one’s relationship with God. If one is a Christian, then that one is in a RIGHT relationship with God.
B. Is Christianity a religion?
1. Religion – the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.
2. In the Bible, the word for “religion” as applied to Christianity is threskeia.
a) This word focuses on the external aspect of one’s faith.
b) How one expresses his faith.
c) James 1:26-27. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
3. So, yes, Christianity is a religion.
a) It is a belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.
b) It is an outward expression of that belief in the way we behave.
II. Question Two – “Why did God make the earth?”
A. Wow! What a question!
B. The easiest answer is that God made the earth for us to live on! But I think the one who asked the question maybe wanted to know why God made Us.
C. Why did God make us?
1. Some things we can not know for sure.
2. We do know this. God is love. 1 John 4:8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
a) Everything that God does issues forth from His love.
b) Therefore, I believe that God loved the idea of us.
c) God loved us before He created us.
d) Much like a man and a woman love the idea of having a child.
(1) Even before that child is conceived, they love the idea of it.
(2) Therefore, they decide to bring a child into existence.
e) Remember that God is described as our Father.
III. Question Three – “Why did God give us the Bible?”
A. God gave us the Bible as a guide. Psalm 119:105.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
B. We can’t read God’s mind, so he had to give us a book to tell us what He wants us to know. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
C. The Bible gives us everything we need to be pleasing to God.
1. 2 Peter 1:3. As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
IV. Question Four – “What constitutes worship?”
“Do we need to include the five acts that we do on Sunday for it to be true worship?”
A. The most basic definition of the word “worship” is “to show reverence and respect toward another.”
B. As the question states, God has authorized five ways in which we are to worship Him.
1. Singing. Ephesians 5:19.
2. Praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
3. Bible Study. Acts 20:7.
4. The Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
5. Giving as we have been prospered. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
C. By example, we know that Christians gathered together on the first day of the week to worship. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:18; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
D. However, only two of the acts of worship are LIMITED to the first day of the week.
1. Those two are giving and the Lord’s Supper.
2. We have plenty of examples of singing, praying, and Bible study being performed at other times.
a) Acts 16:25. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
b) 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
E. No, I do not believe that all five acts of worship must be present for one to be worshiping God.
1. On Wednesday evenings when we gather together, study, sing, and pray, we are worshiping God.
2. However, on the first day of the week, we need to have all five acts of worship present to be pleasing to God.
V. Question Five – “A wife is to keep silent in church but ask her husband. If a husband understands or tells her something that is not correct is she lost because of what her husband tells her?”
A. The relevant passage is 1 Corinthians 14:26-35.
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
1. This passage teaches that a woman is to keep completely silent in the assembly.
2. She is not to utter a sound.
3. This would mean that it would be wrong for a woman to sing.
4. Furthermore, what if a woman did not have a husband? She would have no one to ask her questions!
5. We must ask, “Does is passage apply to us today?”
B. I have never attended an assembly like the one mentioned in the above passage.
1. I have never attended an assembly when someone spoke in a language they had never studied.
2. I have never observed on in the process of receiving a revelation.
3. I have never been to a service where there had to be an interpreter present who had the gift of interpretation.
4. Three classes of people are told to keep silent in this passage:
a) One who spoke in another tongue if there was not interpreter present.
b) A prophet who is speaking must be silent when another receives a revelation.
c) Women must keep silent.
5. Silent – sigao. To keep silent. To hold one’s peace.
6. This was an assembly different from any we will come across today.
7. These women who were told to ask their husbands questions at home would have been asking prophets! There was no need for them to worry about getting bad information.
C. Today, women are not commanded to be completely silent but to learn in submission. 1 Timothy 2:11.
Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
1. “Silence” – hesuchia. Quietness. Tranquility arising from within. Causing no disturbance to others. Meek.
2. Does not mean that they are not to utter a sound.
3. A woman is not forbidden to ask a question as long as she is not disrupting the service or taking control of the service in doing so.
4. Furthermore, a woman today has the Bible available to her. Not true for those to whom Paul was writing in 1 Corinthians 14.
VI. Question Six – “what verse specifically tells the wife to love her husband and what Greek word is used?”
“In the Father’s Day sermon you closed saying wives are to respect and love their husbands. Other than the general commands for Christians to agape one another, what verse specifically tells the wife to love her husband and what Greek word is used?”
A. The verse I was thinking of was Titus 2:3-4.
The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…
B. The Greek word that is used is philandros.
1. Comes from the Greek word for love, phileo. Which means tender affection.
2. And from Andros which means man or husband (implied when “wife” is used in context).
VII. Question Seven – “Cursing is wrong. What about euphemisms?”
“Cursing is wrong. What about phrases that most of us use like, “Oh shoot,” “Son of a gun,” “Holy cow,” etc. How can these be ok when you are meaning the same thing just substituting another word?”
A. You have a good question.
B. These phrases are called “euphemisms.”
1. Euphemism – a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt.
2. If you look up the word “shoot” you will see that it is a euphemism for a certain four letter word that also starts with “sh.”
a) Now, the word “shoot” is not wrong when you are using it in any other way.
b) But if you are saying it as a substitute for that other “s” word, then it is wrong.
3. Look up “heck.”
4. Look up “son of a gun.”
5. “Golly”
6. “Darn”
7. “Freakin” (I won’t even say it.)
8. All of these words are merely substitutes for more harsh words.
C. As Christians, we ought to refrain from using euphemisms.
VIII. “Is it wrong for a Christian family to put up a nativity scene at Christmas?”
A. In my mind, the one thing that sets the church of Christ apart from false churches is it’s view of the authority of the Scriptures.
1. Colossians 3:17. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
2. We understand that we must have authority for those things we practice.
3. We understand that the silence of the Scriptures does not authorize.
B. The Bible nowhere authorizes Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus as a special holiday.
1. How can we claim to respect the authority of the Scriptures as a church but then promote a religious holiday that is not authorized?
2. This does not mean that we cannot celebrate Christmas as a simple national holiday.
3. But to attach religious significance to it is unauthorized.
C. Some claim to find authority in Romans 14:5-6.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.
1. It seems a stretch to me to apply this passage to Christmas.
2. Nevertheless, some feel that this passage authorizes them to pick a day to celebrate Jesus’ birth as long as they don’t bind it on other people.
D. Is it wrong to set up a nativity scene?
1. At the very best, I believe it is very unwise.
2. At the worst, it could be sin for promoting an unscriptural holiday.
Content by Ralph Price
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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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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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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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