God’s people ought to be a purposeful people. Men like David, Ezra, Nehemiah, Paul, and many others were very deliberate in the service they rendered to God and their fellow man (cf. 2 Sam. 7; Ezra 7:10; Neh. 1:4-11; Rom. 15:20-21). Scripture tells us that the men of Issachar, “understood the times, and knew what to do” (1 Chr. 12:32). If Christ’s church in 2003 is going to be a people of purpose, we also must anticipate potential challenges to faith in the months and years to come. While I do not claim to be a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, it seems to me that every conscientious believer and congregation of believers ought to be preparing for these challenges in the 21st Century:

The Challenge of World Religions — There was a day and time in our country when the majority of people believed the Bible was the exclusive word of God. In the past four decades, however, society has shifted its thinking. For example, in the Dallas Morning News Religion section today you can find advertisements and meeting locations for nearly every major world religion including Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Ba’hai and Judaism to name just a few. If Christ’s church is going to preach the “unsearchable riches of Christ,” we need to understand our times. Debating the necessity of baptism is fruitless when you are talking to someone who does not believe in the God of Christianity. We must first find common ground! What are we doing to prepare for the continuing influence of world religions in our society? Will we, like Paul, be able to find common ground and preach the glory of Jesus Christ in such an atmosphere (cf. Acts 17:22-34)?

The Challenge of Homosexuality — Our world is increasingly hostile toward those who hold the view that homosexuality is sinful (Rom. 1:18-32). Unless there is a major reversal in thinking, it is only a matter of time before this issue begins to directly impact churches of Christ. What will we teach about homosexuality? What will (indeed, what DO) we tell our children when they see this issue treated as a societal norm on nearly every television program they watch? How will the church at Edgewood respond when this issue is brought to our doorstep (and sooner or later, it will be!)? May God always help us to, “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

The Challenge of World Missions — In the last 15 years the political world has been radically reconfigured with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fragmentation of many nations abroad. I often wonder if we are missing some of the greatest opportunities for evangelism that God has provided in 2000 years! We hear reports from nearly every inhabited continent that people are starving for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His marching orders have not changed (Matt. 28:18-20). Where are the courageous men and women who will “launch out in faith” and take the word of God to the far corners of the globe? We ought to be encouraging individuals right here in Edgewood to, “dream big” where God’s will is concerned!!!

The Challenge of Future Leadership — It seems that many congregations have lost a sense of the need to train young men and women to be leaders in Christ’s church. How will we have elders in 20 years if we are not training younger men today? How will we have Bible class teachers if we are not encouraging that in each other now? Where will God’s servants come from if they cannot see service modeled in us, right now? Mark these words: we make it difficult for future generations to be what they ought to be when we fail to make Christ the focus and center of our lives right now (Phil. 1:21). A crucified life is God’s working model for leadership. What kind of life are you living? —JB

Difficult as it may be to imagine, they were laughing at Jesus. The Jews who had assembled to weep and wail at the death of a young girl had turned their attention to mock the only One with the power to bring her back from the dead. He had told them that she was not dead, but merely sleeping (Mark 5:39), and, “they laughed Him to scorn.” Jesus was often the subject of ridicule because of the things He said, and He made many enemies because He told the truth (cf. Gal 4:16).

I wonder what went through the Lord’s mind while those people mocked Him. Righteous anger because of their ignorance and stubbornness (cf. Mk 3:5)? Pity for those who were so blinded by pride that they refused to see (cf. Jn 9:41)? Maybe it was sincere grief because He knew that their rejection of Him was the rejection of hope itself (cf. Mk 3:28-29). Whatever His reaction, it’s important to emphasize that Jesus never allowed the ridicule of ungodly people to turn Him away from His purpose.

Even today this world will often, “laugh Him to scorn,” when God-fearing people dare to say and do what is right! Have you noticed the mockery?

People laugh at Jesus when they reject His teaching on salvation. He Himself said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16),” and yet countless thousands rush headlong toward eternity without obeying His will on this matter. He said, “except you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3),” and yet we find those whose only desire seems to focus on being worldly in their thoughts and conduct.

People laugh at Jesus when they fail to respect His authority in matters of worship. He said, “the words that I have spoken will judge you at the last day (Jn 12:48),” and yet so many seem to be focused on ignoring His wishes as they, “spice up,” the Lord’s pattern for New Testament worship with mechanical instruments of music, drama presentations, unbiblical preaching, and other human innovations for which there is no authority.

People laugh Him to scorn by refusing to accept His will on proper roles and relationships in the home and in the church. Jesus has given men and women very specific roles (see 1 Cor 14:34-40; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 2; Titus 2; 1 Peter 3), and He is glorified when we humbly accept His will in these matters. The world calls Jesus, “archaic,” “oppressive,” “insensitive,” and “insecure,” and people laugh Him to scorn as they rush to place women in pulpits and in unscriptural positions of leadership within the church. They laugh Him to scorn as they encourage the breakup of families and homes because of what they call, “irreconcilable differences (see Matthew 19:3-9).” Have we forgotten what He taught on these issues?

With a mixture of pity, righteous anger, and sincere grief, we acknowledge that others are laughing at the Savior. Brethren, people desperately need to know both what He said and what it means to them! Let’s be ready to answer those who ask a reason for the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15).

John Baker

One of the most erroneous teachings being passed off as truth these days is the doctrine of premillennialism. The premillennialist believes that Jesus will one day rapture all the saints before or during a period of great tribulation on the earth. During this tribulation, an, “Antichrist” will rise to political power and amass great armies that destroy everything in their path. At the end of this seven-year tribulation, the premillennialist believes that Christ will return and lead His armies to victory against the Antichrist at the battle of Armageddon. Christ will then supposedly re-establish the throne of David at Jerusalem (the kingdom of God), where Jesus will reign in peace and harmony for a thousand years.

While this is admittedly an exciting and intriguing doctrine, it simply does not harmonize with what the Bible says. First, the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus will return only once, and that this world will then be consumed in a fervent heat (cf. Heb. 9:28; 2 Thess. 3:9-14). Second, when John uses the term, “antichrist” in his writings, it always refers to an attitude or doctrine, not a specific individual (cf. 1 John 4:1-3). Third, the Bible clearly states that the political throne of David came to an end in Jeremiah’s day. Let’s consider this truth in light of premillennial teaching:

Who was Jehoaichin? — Jeremiah 22 records the fates of four of the last five kings of Judah. You will remember that in prophecy, Judah was the tribe of royalty, the tribe from which the Messiah would emerge (cf. Gen. 49:10). Jehoaichin was the second-to-last king of Judah. He sat on the throne of David a mere three months before being taken captive to Babylon. Notice what is said of him: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Write this man down as childless… none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah’” (Jer. 22:30). Jehoaichin (also called Jeconiah or Coniah) was doomed to live out his days in chains, and Jeremiah prophesied that none of Jeconiah’s descendants would return to a national rule of Judah. The age of political kings from the tribe of Judah saw its end with the captivity of Jehoaichin.

What became of David’s descendants? — God had promised David that his seed would one day give rise to the Messiah (2 Sam. 7:12-13). With the removal of Jehoaichin from power, it looked as if there might be no Messiah after all! In the midst of people’s despair, however, God inspired Jeremiah with one of his most important prophecies: “I will raise to David a BRANCH of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth” (Jer. 23:5). Despite the fact that David’s political throne was no more, God still promised a King for His people!

What kind of King is Jesus? — Matthew 1:11 records that David’s bloodline did indeed continue through Jeconiah until Jesus. Interestingly, although they had the right credentials, Joseph and Mary did not have any political power in Israel (fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy). Joseph was a simple carpenter from an unpopular corner of Israel called Nazareth. Still, Matthew 1 fully demonstrates that Jesus had the credentials to be the kind of political King that David was. Jesus had a different kingdom in mind, however: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). You see, Jesus fully intended to establish a kingdom, but He NEVER intended to claim the literal throne of David and reign on earth, as premillennialism teaches. Those who have obeyed the Lord in faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are, “transferred into the kingdom of the Son” (Col. 1:13). May all men repent, for the kingdom is HERE, and the King is already on His throne! — John Baker

Due to the events of September 11, much attention has been focused on the Muslim religion. Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world, and for the past several years it has been making tremendous inroads in American society. Islam was founded by a man named Mohammed in the year 622. Islam claims that all the prophets mentioned in the Bible are true prophets of God, but Mohammed claimed to be the greatest of all God’s prophets. As Christians, it is important to, “prove all things, and hold fast what is good (1 Thess 5:21).” Let us then ask the question, “Why not be a Muslim?”

The Qur’an denies the Divine nature of Jesus — The Bible teaches that Jesus is God’s Son (cf. John 1:1-14). In contrast, the Qur’an (the Islamic holy book) teaches that Jesus was an inspired prophet, but He was not God. Note the following quote from the Qur’an: “The Messiah the son of Mary is only a prophet; prophets before him have passed away (Sura 5:79).” This statement, if true, makes Jesus a liar for He Himself said, “I and My Father are one (John 10:30).” If Jesus was truly an inspired prophet of God, as the Qur’an teaches, how could He have made such a blasphemous claim? To the Muslim mind, Jesus is merely an inspired man just like Ezekiel, Amos, and Jeremiah. Mohammed, of course, is regarded as the last and greatest of the prophets of God. If Islamic teaching is correct, Jesus sinned, and the Bible is inaccurate (1 Peter 2:21-23).

Islam provides no atoning sacrifice for sin — The Qur’an says that all the prophets of God were inspired: “Verily, we have inspired thee as we inspired Noah and the prophets after him, and as we inspired… and Jesus (Sura 4:162).” The Biblical prophets, however, prophesied about and emphasized Jesus’ sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53, Mark 10:45). By reducing Jesus to the rank of Old Testament prophet, Islam also denies the power of His sacrifice for us (Phil 3:10)! Fact is, the Bible clearly teaches that all men need the sacrifice of Christ to make salvation possible (John 3:16). Islam seeks to give sinful men a direct access to God, and yet the Bible teaches that God can have nothing to do with sin (Isaiah 59:1-2; Hab 1:13). Any religion that ignores or denies the necessity of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for the sin of mankind (John 1:29) greatly distorts what God said through all prophets in the Bible.

Islam teaches submission to an unreliable god — This may surprise some, but Muslims worship a very different god (Allah) than do Christians. Certainly, the claim is made that Islam is based on inspiration from the same God we read about in the Bible, but Allah is very different in character and nature than is our God. Allah is seen as all-powerful, and the Muslim mind understands this to mean that there is nothing Allah cannot do — he can even condemn the righteous! The Bible teaches that our God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), He cannot forget His promises (2 Tim 2:13), and He cannot look favorably upon sin (Hab 1:13). Islam teaches that Allah can do all these things and more, if he so chooses. An educated Muslim scholar once wrote, “Though I have been faithful to Him, I fear that at the end of life, Allah will choose to condemn me anyway.” The hope that Christians have in Christ is based upon the witness and oath of God Himself (Hebrews 6:17-20). If God could change His mind concerning His promises, how utterly hopeless we would be!

The Qur’an teaches that “Holy War” is acceptable to God — Consider the following quote from the Qur’an: “Fight in the cause of God those who fight you… slay them wherever you catch them… Such is the reward of those who suppress faith… Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression (Sura 2:190-193).” In other words, those who teach that the Islamic system is not of God are viewed as opponents worthy of persecution. The perceived enemy of Islam does not necessarily have to be “armed” to be considered dangerous, and to incur their bitterness. The Qur’an also says, “Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth [Islam], (even if they are people of the Book [Jews or Christians], until they pay the Jizya [a tax for those who do not accept Islam] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued (Sura 9:29).” Thus, Muslims believe it is their duty to fight against and subject non-Muslims to persecution in the cause of Allah. While some Muslims may deny this, they cannot be faithful to Mohammed without eventually acknowledging the above statements (among many others) from the Qur’an. In contrast, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews (John 18:36).” Nowhere does the Bible teach that it is permissible to persecute and kill the enemies of Christianity! Rather, the Bible teaches that vengeance on the ungodly belongs to God alone (cf. Romans 12:17-21). Christians are to repay evil with good and strive to live peaceably with all men. The Bible demonstrates quite a contrast from the warlike teachings of the Qur’an!

The Qur’an adds to the Gospel of Christ — Beginning in about 610 and continuing for several years, Mohammed claimed to receive a series of Divine revelations from the angel Gabriel. These revelations were later compiled to form the Qur’an, the Islamic holy book. We have already seen that the Qur’an contradicts many of the teachings of the Bible, but what is to be said of Mohammed’s claim? What if Gabriel really did appear to him? The Bible gives the answer in Galatians 1:8: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Thus, the Bible plainly teaches that not even the angel Gabriel has the right to change the message of Christ.

The purpose of this article has been to provide Christians with some insight and understanding of the Islamic religion. We have attempted to compare the claims of the Qur’an with the claims of the Bible, and in so doing have shown that men must, of necessity, choose one or the other. Every man now living can be confident that if he is honest and sincere, it is possible to know the truth (John 8:32). Let’s make sure that we are both honest and sincere in seeking God’s will, and let’s be sure we are doing our best to, “speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15)!” — John Baker

“Be careful little eyes what you see…” The words of this familiar children’s song need to ring in our society’s ears like never before. Recent advances in technology and communications, while beneficial in many ways, have nevertheless created means for the forces of evil to wreak destruction in the lives and souls of men. Perhaps no subject better demonstrates the current social and moral climate in our society than the issue of pornography. Through the cruel workings of Satan, pornographic material has found its way into almost every telecommunications advancement made in the last century. Pornography can now be seen in theaters, on television, on the Internet, in various books and magazines, and for a fee, one can even dial a phone number and listen to explicit conversations for purposes of arousal and gratification. Our God has much to say concerning the issue of pornography. Consider:

It influences our relationship with God Himself! — “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Amos asked, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Fact is, pornography is a much bigger problem among Christians than most realize. At a recent denominational gathering, fifty percent of the men present admitted to viewing pornographic material in the past week.1 If such is true among the denominations, can anyone reasonably deny the fact that pornography is a serious problem in the Lord’s church? How can a Christian claim to draw near to God (James 4:8) when his life and thoughts are worldly? How can we, “set our minds on things above,” (Col 3:2) if our hearts are lustfully meditating on pornographic material? Those involved with pornography need to repent of this behavior before it is too late (Luke 13:3)!

Lustful thoughts are not harmless! — 1 Timothy 6:17 states that, “God has given us all things richly to enjoy.” Included in these blessings is the imagination and creative ability of each individual human. Certainly, our creative abilities can and should be used to God’s glory (1 Cor 10:31), but pornography robs God of glory that is due Him because it causes us to use our imaginations in sinful ways. Society claims that illicit lustful thoughts are harmless.2 Interestingly, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day apparently believed the same thing. They seemed to think that merely abstaining from the act of adultery justified them according to the Law of Moses. Jesus addressed this misconception when He said, “whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:28). The simple fact of the matter is this: when a Christian uses his imagination and creative abilities in sinful ways to satisfy his own lusts, he has dethroned Christ from his heart and enthroned himself. Our imagination is to be used to meditate upon the laws of God (cf. Psalm 1:2), and to seek Him with our whole heart (cf. Psalm 119:11). We can be creative in finding ways to glorify Him, but we are not to use our imaginations simply to find ways to gratify our own desires. Such behavior will lead to eternal destruction.

It harms our consciences — Conscience can be a useful thing, but there are times when conscience is not a safe guide. Paul said of his previous life that he had persecuted Christians in all good conscience (Acts 23:1). If we do not teach our consciences what is right, there is little chance we will find the way to be right with God (cf. Prov 14:12; Jer 10:23). Pornographic material does not teach us anything about righteousness and godliness. Instead, pornographic material teaches us that the fulfillment of lustful desires is the real way to happiness. And herein lies the real danger: when we constantly tell ourselves that the end-all, be-all of human experience is the satisfaction of our lustful desires, our conscience will adjust itself accordingly! If we stop listening to God’s word, our conscience will become an unreliable guide. The Bible talks of people who were “past feeling” (Eph 4:19) and had their consciences seared (cf. 1 Tim 4:1-3). As we willfully continue to disobey God’s commandments, our consciences will eventually begin to soothe us, rationalizing excuses so that we can continue in our sinful behavior.

The effects are devastating — Sin isn’t through with you just because you’re through with sin! Scientists have conducted studies that show the dangerous effects of pornography in a very dramatic way. You see, when the human brain encounters erotic images, the brain releases a hormone that permanently burns that image into our memory! These images recur at will, and the unrestrained human mind begins to track only one direction — toward the satisfaction of its lustful desires. The consumer of pornographic material becomes a hollow shell of himself, wandering through life seeking only the fulfillment of the lust that has taken hold of him! No wonder James uses such vivid imagery when he says, “when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:15). Instead of spending his time glorifying God, the pornography addict spends most of his time fantasizing about the perceived joy he will have when his lust is satiated.

The Bible is clear: we are to abstain from fleshly lusts (cf. 1 John 2:16-17), and we are to be, “transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2). Pornography is much more insidious than many would have us believe; it reaches to our very souls and causes us to crave things to which we are not entitled. Consider the warning of the wise man in Proverbs 6:32: “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does so destroys his own soul.”

— John Baker

Footnotes:

1. Hall, Laurie. “An Affair of the Mind.” Focus on Family Publishers, 1996.

2. Laws, Jim. “Sexual Revolution (Pornography).” Paul Sain, editor. “Truth in Love Lectureship — The Christian Home.” Pulaski, TN: Sain Publications, 1998.

When he has seen the tip of an iceberg, the experienced sailor knows that grave danger lies just beneath the surface.

Such is the case with God’s church in these present times. In the past few decades, our society has witnessed the re-definition of “tolerance” and its subsequent pronouncement as a chief virtue in society. In its classic sense, “tolerance” referred to one’s ability to recognize differing beliefs, even though he or she might strenuously disagree with those beliefs. More recently, “tolerance” has taken on a different meaning — now it refers to the unconditional acceptance of every differing point of view. Additionally, “tolerance” now means that one must acknowledge the validity of all beliefs, practices and philosophies, even when they contradict one another!

To give but one example: the Bible teaches homosexuality is wrong (Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). In the old definition, “tolerance” meant that those who believe the Bible could allow that some would inevitably practice homosexuality, but we would still be free to disagree and to speak out against it (Eph. 4:15). In the new definition of “tolerance,” homosexuality can neither be condemned nor spoken against. “Tolerance” today means that we must accept homosexuality as a valid “alternative lifestyle,” and that we must not pass judgment of any sort upon those who practice it.

The implications of this redefinition can hardly be overstated. Satan is hard at work eroding the very convictions upon which the Lord’s church is founded. Here’s how:

Distorting God’s teaching on judgment — “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:1. A few well-meaning brethren who are seeking to be “tolerant” have adopted this verse as a credo of sorts. These misguided souls believe (in accordance with the “tolerant” viewpoint) that Jesus forbids us to speak out against anything. Such could not be farther from the truth! In the first place, Jesus is here describing a harsh, negative, fault-finding spirit that will not examine itself first (cf. Matt. 7:1-6). In the second place, did not Jesus teach men to, “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24)? If Jesus forbade us to condemn sin, either publicly or privately, then men such as Steven are lost (cf. Acts 7:51-60). In an effort to be “tolerant,” some have forsaken clear Biblical teaching on how we ought to respond to sin!

Creating a sense of shame in Christianity — Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Advocates of the new definition of tolerance have had great success with applying shameful terminology to Christ’s followers. Words like, “hate,” “fanaticism,” “discrimination,” and “phobia” have been variously applied to Christian behavior in recent years. To fend off the sting of these words, some have begun to move toward “more comfortable” positions. In reality, those who are ashamed of the church are steering their ships directly toward the iceberg of “tolerance.”

Elevating “feeling” to “fact” — We are commanded to, “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). To many, it seems Christianity has become something, “better felt than told.” Phrases such as, “I think,” and “I feel” are common among Christians who should instead be echoing the prophets of old: “Thus saith the Lord.” When what we feel becomes my way of determining our behavior, we have taken a giant step toward embracing the milktoast, “tolerant,” point of view.

Satan is hard at work eroding the beliefs that make Christ’s church distinctive. In a desire to appear tolerant, many Christians have expressed a sense of shame at the convictions God intended to make us different from the world. What God’s people need most is the restoration of conviction!

Jesus Christ was not afraid of controversy. As a matter of fact, Jesus was the most controversial person who has ever lived. Imagine — someone who always told people the truth (1 Pet. 2:21-23)! Jesus did not seek out controversy, but neither did He hide His convictions when His trust in God was challenged. Read John 7 and Matthew 22 to get just a sample of the controversy that always seemed to swirl around the Savior. When it comes to standing for Biblical truth, may all Christians recognize the need to be like Jesus. After all, what do we have to be ashamed of?

We wear a controversial name — Christians bear the name of Christ: “they were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Even today, the name of Christ stirs hatred in the minds of some (cf. John 16:33). However, there is no valid reason to be ashamed of being called a “Christian” — such a name glorifies Christ and brings honor to God.

God’s people are a minority — “Follow not a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). With only two exceptions (Adam and Noah), God’s people have always been a minority. Why do so many Christians try to find comfort in what “most people” are doing? Fact is, most people are wrong (read Matt. 7:13-14)! Our convictions might be stronger if we thought more about the reality that faithful servants of Christ will always be a minority.

We are not to go along with the world — Amos asked, “can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The children of Israel wanted to be, “like other nations,” and ended up losing their identity as people of God (1 Sam. 8:20). James says that a friend of the world is hostile to God (James 4:4). Jesus says that we are, “not of the world… and the world hates you” (John 15:19). We may be ridiculed for faithfulness to Godly convictions, but we should never be ashamed.

God’s people may be thought judgmental — You cannot go backstage in a man’s life and see his intentions. Jesus warned us not to judge the motives of individuals (Matt. 7:1-6), but in the same context He made it clear that we need to discern (read: judge) the fruit of false teachers (Matt. 7:15-20). In the world’s view, “tolerance” is a supreme virtue and “judgment” is a pejorative term. Christians, however, ought never to be ashamed of speaking out against sin, even if the world accuses us of being “judgmental.”

We cannot promote unity at the expense of Bible doctrine — Along with tolerance, unity is another cardinal virtue of today’s world. Unity is extremely important; so much so that Jesus prayed and died that we could be united in Him (John 17; Ephesians 2). The Bible also teaches, however, that we cannot be united according to man’s agendas. Rather, we are commanded to, “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Romans 16:17 commands Christians to, “note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” We should never be ashamed of teaching the truth, even though some will inevitably reject it.

Satan has been working to erode the convictions of God’s people for many years. What about you? What are you committed to? What will you be unwilling to give up when you are ridiculed for your faith? Eternity waits for your answer. — JB

Merely thinking we are right with God does not make it so (cf. Matt. 7:21-23). By His words, God has given us a measurable standard by which we may examine whether our lives are truly what He desires (Jn. 12:48). In fact, God commands us to continually examine whether we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).

In matters of salvation, only a faith that works through love can save us (Gal. 5:6; James 2:14ff). It’s not enough just to believe the truth; we also have to live the truth in order to be right with God. Examining our faith is a matter not just of hearing, but of doing. It’s not just information, but action that’s important (James 1:22).

Do you obey the truth that you know? Consider several Biblical cases where men were required not just to believe, but to obey:

Israel and the Red Sea — In Exodus 14, the children of Israel were in an impossible situation: the Red Sea blocked them on one side while the chariots of Egypt pursued them from the other. They cried out to God for deliverance, and God commanded Moses to stretch his staff over the waters (v.16). Notice, when the waters were miraculously parted, it was not enough just to believe God would deliver them, but the Israelites had to obey God and cross through the sea. Their faith in God had to be put into action.

Moses and the Bronze Serpent — When “fiery serpents” were killing the people of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-7), God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole (v.8). Anyone who was bitten by one of the serpents was required to look at the bronze serpent in order to be healed. Notice again, it was not merely enough to believe that God would heal them, but obedience was also required.

The battle of Jericho — As Israel entered the land of promise, the first city they were to conquer was Jericho (Joshua 6). God gave careful instructions to Joshua and the Israelites about how they were to “conquer” this city. The instructions included strange “tactics” like marching around the city and blowing trumpets. Again, it was not enough for the Israelites to just believe that God would deliver the city to them. They were required to obey the voice of the Lord.

Naaman commanded to dip in the Jordan — Naaman the Syrian general was stricken with the horrible disease of leprosy, and he sought a cure from the God of Israel (2 Kings 5). The prophet Elisha did not come out and greet him, but merely told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan seven times to be healed. At first, Naaman was enraged at what he thought was an insult, but when he believed the words spoken by God’s prophet and obeyed what was commanded, God delivered him from his disease (2 Kings 5:14).

Obeying the Gospel — Scripture teaches that one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He alone is able to deliver from sin (John 3:16), but as we have seen above, belief alone has never been enough for deliverance (see James 2:19). God has commanded us to receive His gift of deliverance by obeying His commands. We obey Him when we confess that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9-10), and when we repent of our sins (Luke 13:3). We receive salvation at the point of baptism (1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 6:3-6). Just like Naaman was cleansed of a physical malady, we arise out of the water cleansed of our spiritual malady — sin.

Faith is much more than good intentions. Saving faith believes God and subsequently obeys what God has commanded. Are you a hearer and a doer of God’s word? —JB

The Ten Commandments were given to Israel as a standard for living as the people of God. The fifth of these commanded the Israelites to, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving to you” (Exodus 20:12). Strong family units are not built without honor. In strong families, God must be honored (Deut. 6:4-8), marriages are to be held in honor (Heb. 13:4), and parents are to be honored (Eph. 6:1-2). God evidently knew that strong families are the building blocks of strong nations (something America, as a country, seems to have forgotten).

Biblically speaking, “honor” means to, “weigh another down with worth, prestige, respect, and value.” Often, we burden other people with criticism and negativity; but what if we “burdened” them with respect and prestige? To do so would be to honor them. Let us consider the implications of honor for our lives:

Honor is a duty — Scripture is clear that Christians are to be concerned with honor. God, government, employers, teachers, elders, marriages, and parents are all subjects associated with the word in various passages. In other words, honor is the duty of all serious disciples of Jesus Christ. Some seek to escape their duty to honor others in the name of righteousness. The Pharisees, for example, wanted to appear “super-spiritual” so they neglected their duty to take care of their parents under the pretense of giving more time to God (Matt. 15:4-6), a practice which Jesus condemned. When it comes to weighing others down with respect, prestige, worth, and value, God will accept no substitutes. Christian, your duty is to honor those God has commanded you to honor!

Honor shapes character — But someone will ask, “Why is honor so important?” The answer, in a word, is character. God places various systems of authority over us from the day we are born until the day we die. Parents, teachers, governments, employers, and many others all exercise some kind of authority over us at different times and under different circumstances, and all authority is intended by God to mold and shape our character into Christlike maturity! God gave Israel the Fifth Commandment so that Jewish children would grow into mature, responsible adults. Likewise, as Christians willingly and humbly submit to God by honoring those in authority (even authority that is sometimes difficult or inconsistent), our character becomes more like Christ’s.

Honor is a priority — Civil disobedience is often advised when authority seems abusive or wrong. However, disobedience to any authority for the sake of righteousness is always to be a last resort for Christians. For example, what if a mother told her Christian daughter she could no longer attend church services? The daughter needs to keep in mind that Ephesians 6:1-2 is still in the Bible without compromising her commitment to the Lord. Several questions need to be considered here. For example, has the daughter displayed a rebellious attitude toward her mother previously? Contrition and asking forgiveness may go a long way toward changing the mother’s mind. What are the mother’s intentions in commanding her daughter not to attend services? Is there any alternative that would honor those intentions without compromising the daughter’s faith? The point is that honoring others is a priority with God, and we should not be too quick to excuse ourselves from that commandment. Do you weigh others down with respect, prestige, worth, and value? Do you truly honor authorities in your life? The answer may well decide your eternal destiny! —JB

Science has identified a variety of methods for judging the age of the Earth. Curiously, however, only those methods consistent with current scientific theories are held to be “reliable.” Here are a number of methods that could “scientifically” judge the earth’s age:

Cosmic Dust on the Moon – The earth and the moon are constantly bombarded with dust from outer space. On earth, the dust is either burned up in the atmosphere or eroded by wind and water. The moon has no atmosphere or water, so scientists have speculated that if the earth/moon system is 4.5 Billion years old, there should be around 50 feet of dust on the surface of the moon! This was a great concern to NASA at the time of the Apollo Moon Landing Program in the 1960’s. In reality, the dust is only a few inches thick, suggesting that the earth/moon system is less than 10,000 years old.

Shrinking Sun – The sun has been shrinking at the rate of 5 feet every hour. At this rate, the sun would have been large enough to touch the earth only 20 million years ago. Obviously, nothing on earth could have lived under such extreme temperatures. Therefore, the earth must be far less than 20 million years old.

Erosion – Given the present rate of erosion by wind and water, every continent on earth will be under water in just 14 million years. If the earth is 5 billion years old, why has erosion not already submerged every continent?

Human Population – Assuming that humans have been around for just one million years, the estimated human population of the earth should be about 105000 people! That’s a 1 with 5000 zeroes behind it! Assuming that humans have been around for 6000 years (closer to a Biblical view), there should be only 4.34 billion people alive today… much closer to the truth.

Radiometric Dating – Science typically refers to these methods as a “sophisticated” way to judge the age of fossils, rocks and dirt. We can observe certain elements “breaking down” into other elements, and so it is assumed that these processes have always been this way. Scientists attempt to determine the age of a rock by jumping to unwarranted or unnecessary conclusions.

Please note that every modern-day attempt to determine the age of the earth is based on an ASSUMPTION that the world has always worked the way we see it working today! If the earth was CREATED, then none of the methods used to date the age of earth are reliable. God’s word indicates the earth is around 6,000 years old.

— JB

Sources Referenced:

McLean, Glen, Roger Oakland, and Larry McLean. The Evidence for Creation. Eston, Saskatchewan: Full Gospel Bible Institute, 1989. 24-45.

Thompson, Bert, and Wayne Jackson. A Study Course in Christian Evidences. Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press, 1992. 75-85.

The church of Christ in the first century was plagued by false teachers known as “Judaizers.” Generally speaking, the Judaizers believed that Christians were required to keep the Law of Moses in order to be part of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. Judaizers commanded Gentile Christians to be circumcised (Gal. 2:3-4), kept observance of Jewish feast days (Gal. 4:10-11), and in effect denied that Jesus was necessary for salvation (Gal. 5:4-6).

One sees tremendous similarities between the Judaizers of the first century and those who are preaching false doctrines today. Jesus said that His disciples would know false teachers by their fruits (Matt. 7:15-20), and Paul warned the elders at Ephesus that false teaching was a perpetual danger to the Lord’s church (Acts 20:28ff). Can things be so different today? A wise man once pointed out that, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9-10). What are some common characteristics of false teachers?

They Twist the Truth — Every false doctrine has a kernel of truth. Judaizers looked to God’s promise to Abraham for salvation (Gen. 12:7; Gal. 3:16), but they believed that the promise was fulfilled in Moses’ Law, and not in the cross of Christ (Gal. 3:17-18). Make no mistake: this was a very appealing teaching in the first century church — it took God and the Old Testament seriously, and undoubtedly many sincere people were drawn away by it. We would do well to recognize that dangerous teachings nearly always find their root in some misapplied or distorted Scripture (cf. 2 Pet. 3:16; Matt. 4:1-11)

They Act Out of Pride — False teachers are nearly always motivated by pride — they seek the praise of men more than God. Pride is an exceedingly dangerous sin because it blinds us to reality (Jer. 17:9; Ob. 3). Pride made it easy for the Judaizers to dismiss Paul as an “illegitimate apostle” despite the Divine origins of his message (Gal. 1:11-12). Pride makes it easy for individuals to say, “I know what the Bible says, BUT…” Let us all beware the sin of pride — it can blind and deceive even the most sincere (Matt. 7:21).

They Look for Strength in Numbers — Funny thing about pride is that it always seeks applause. The proud look for an audience to impress, and that is exactly what the Judaizers did. They assembled for themselves a “circle of friends” in which they sought comfort, praise, and reassurance. While there is nothing inherently wrong with friendships, there is something perverse about gathering with those of like mind in order to plot against others and advance some ungodly agenda (Gal. 2:4, 12).

They Attempt to “Divide and Conquer” — Judaizers used their “circle of friends” to create factions in churches. Once established in a local congregation, the Judaizers would systematically seek to either assimilate Christians (as when they pressured Titus and Peter, Gal. 2:4,12), or failing that, to destroy them (as when they attacked Paul’s apostleship, Gal. 1:11-24). Let the church of the 21st century be warned: factions in a local congregation are both an abomination before God and a sign of real spiritual danger (1 Cor. 1:10ff; Jn. 17:20-22).

They Often Use Bullying Tactics — When a false teachers come to an impasse with those who love truth, they will often resort to a “bully” mentality to manipulate their opponents. Judaizers were “name droppers” (Gal. 2:12) and character assassinators (Gal. 1:10ff). They also exerted “peer pressure” on those who were concerned about what people think (Gal. 2:11ff). God’s people desperately need to affirm a love for truth so that the modern-day counterparts of Judaizers will have little success in Christ’s church. —JB