Conversion Examples

To be converted to someone or something basically means “to turn to, return to, turn back,” etc.  Biblical conversion always involves a person turning to the Lord from the heart and is manifested through faith and obedience (Rom. 6:17; Heb. 5:9; cf. Jas. 2:14- 26).  The book of Acts is rife with examples of those who were converted to Christ. While it is not possible to discuss all of them in this article, it is important to notice some facts about them.

What can we learn from those conversion examples? Well, for one thing, no one was ever converted to Christ without first hearing the gospel preached (Acts 2:14-41; 8:12, 35-39; 10:44-48; 16:30-34; etc.). Accordingly, no one was ever converted to Christ without believing the gospel (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 8:12, 35-37; 16:30-34; etc.). “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Furthermore, repentance was required if one was to be converted to Christ (Acts 2:38; 3:19; cf. 17:30; 26: 20).  Also, confessing Christ was openly involved in one’s conversion (Acts 8:37; cf. Rom. 10:10; 1 Jn. 4:15).  And of course baptism into Christ (via water – Acts 8:36-39; 10:47-48; cf. 16:33), which was commanded (2:38; 10:48), was vital.  In fact, one could not be converted without it (22:16; cf. Gal. 3:26- 29).

Based on these examples, have you been converted Christ, friend?

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Satan’s Dream Society

Satan’s Dream Society

I recently listened to a sermon that put forth the question, what would a society look like if Satan were completely in control? The immediate answer that comes to mind would look something like a modern Sodom and Gomorrah. Pornography would be plastered everywhere, homosexuality would be rampant, abortions would be available on every corner, violence and theft would be regular occurrences in every neighborhood, and the Bible would be completely absent. While that’s one possible answer and it’s not necessarily wrong, the preacher offered a much more frightening possibility.

Rather than achieving a society completely absent of morality and anything good, many times Satan operates in another way. He offers comfort and a false feeling of safety. Therefore, this alternate society would be one in which homosexuality, pornography, and abortion aren’t really an issue. The family isn’t under attack. Atheism, secular humanism, and postmodernism have no real influence on society. That sounds pretty good, right? The catch – the Gospel is not truly preached within the church buildings and the transformational power of Jesus’ blood has little to no effect on lukewarm Christians. It doesn’t permeate their lives.

Which one of those would we choose? Undoubtedly the second, but each is equally dangerous. Quite frankly, the second scenario was not unlike what we had here in America in the last century, and it was that comfort that led to the first situation described. That brings up the question – what is our aim? What are we hoping to accomplish as a counter-cultural, Christ-preaching, Bible-living church?

While society continues to deteriorate, many of us who are located in the Bible Belt live in communities not unlike the second one described. Are we content to have “good” people around us who haven’t been reached by the Gospel? In most cases, yes. However, just because they aren’t trying to persecute us for being anti-homosexual or for believing in God doesn’t mean we can continue to operate in an “I’m ok, you’re ok” manner. We must view the world the way God views it – either for Him or against Him. Paul described himself and his readers as former enemies of God (Ephesians 2:3, Colossians 1:2). Those good, nice people who make up our neighborhoods, schools, and work environments have been an excuse for Christian stagnation and silence for far too long, and it’s time that changed.

Where does that change start? In our hearts. We can’t look at ourselves as mostly good people who needed a little forgiveness for small, insignificant sins. We need to view ourselves as wretched, worthless sinners who were bought by blood. Once we have an accurate grasp of the cost of just one sin, we can begin to see our comfortable, upstanding communities as they truly are, desperately in need of God’s healing power. We all come together to cry out against media silencing of Phil Robertson, the Benham Brothers, and other public figures who have been labeled hateful because they teach the Bible. Once that storm blows over, though, we go back to our comfortable silence. Until we view the world as a daily battlefield for hearts and minds the way God does, nothing is going to change.

Are you comfortable living in a “good” community that is yet to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord? As long as the answer to that question is “yes,” Satan may just be doing his best work yet.

 

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The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is as follows: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). If we will just read our local newspapers or watch our local television news programs, then we can see a need to practice this principle in our treatment of others.
In learning how to treat our fellow man, divine wisdom teaches many things about human relations. We always need to base the manner that we treat our neighbors with compassion. However, through the temptation of Satan, humanity has chosen other means to deal with neighbors, resulting in uncompassionate condemnation of the righteous and commendation of the wicked.

Solomon wrote, “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace” (Prov. 11:12). Proper human relationships towards our neighbors dictate that we will not despise others, but will hold our peace when necessary. We should not ever show contempt or despise those around us, but know the precious value of silence—something difficult for many of us (cf. James 1:19).

Again, Solomon wrote, “Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work” (Prov. 24:28-29). We should not possess the evil attitude of revenge. It is disturbing the number of children and teenagers that quickly develop this disposition. Jesus shows the true heart of his disciples (Matt. 5:39).

Even many Christians have a hard time understanding the principle of talking with others about problems rather than with someone else (Prov. 25:9-10), which finds its application in Matthew 18:15-20. Jesus said that we are to first “tell him his fault between thee and him alone.” Only after such action fails do we mention it further to others for reconciliatory purposes, and not for slanderous, gossiping purposes.

God has not made any creature with which He is not concerned (Matt. 6:26; 1 Cor. 9:9-10; Deut. 25:4). Therefore, we are to use this principle in supporting others and caring for our neighbors. Since God created the world, He is interested in everything that He has created—we are to respond in the same manner toward our neighbors. Jesus emphasized this when He gave the second greatest commandment: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:39). James commented, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well” (James 2:8), which James quotes from Leviticus 19.

One does not have to be a licensed counselor to help people with their problems, especially in dealing with other people, if he will simply use the divine revelation God has provided in the Bible (James 3:17).

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Church of Christ Visitor

There is a principle taught repeatedly throughout the Bible about how we should treat others. Simply stated, it is that we should: (1) put ourselves in the place of those around us, (2) ask ourselves how we would want to be treated, and (3) treat them in that way. Before the exodus, the Jews had been strangers in Egypt. As they left the land of bondage and headed for the Promised Land, God spoke of the strangers who would soon live among them.  “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 23:9). Because they had once been strangers, they had “the heart of a stranger” and were able to know how to treat others.

In view of the many visitors who come our way, we need to put ourselves in the place of visitors. Having the “heart of a visitor” we must treat others as we would have them treat us (Matt. 7:12).

If I were a visitor, I would want to be welcomed from the time I got out of my car. Every week, greet every person you see as you walk toward the building. If you do not know them, introduce yourself, and let them know you are so glad they have chosen to come to visit.

If I were a visitor, I would want to be welcomed from the time I entered the foyer. There is that awkward moment when anyone enters a new building and is overwhelmed by the fact that so many “belong” in the foyer and are so happy to see each other, while the visitor has no sense of belonging. Every week, but especially next week, have the “heart of a visitor” and make them feel comfortable and sense they are in a place of warm Christian friends.

If I were a visitor, I would want to be welcomed from the time I entered the auditorium. Those Christians, who demand their “end pew seats” and force visitors to climb over them to sit, send a silent message to visitors. Those Christians who readily move and give up their seats also send a silent message. Jesus rebuked those who “love the chief seats in the synagogue,” and many Christians fail to listen to Him.

If I were a visitor, I would want to be welcomed and greeted before and after worship. Letting visitors know with friendly words and warm smiles we are glad they have come is so important. Before spending time visiting with each other, we must spend time with those we do not know. This is a vital part of having the “heart of a visitor.”

Great opportunities surround us. God help us to do all we can to touch the lives of those who enter our services. How we treat them can make an eternal difference!

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Denomination? Church of Christ?

Is the Church of Christ a Denomination?

The church that the Lord built, the church of Christ, is a unique and different institution from all other religious bodies on the face of the earth. One of many ways it is different is that it is not of protestant denominationalism. Other times when we claim that the church is not a denomination, people generally ask, “What do you mean that the church of Christ is not a denomination? Is it non- denominational? Like a community church? What is it and how is it different?”

This is the way that many see the church of Christ today: just another denomination or calling it a non-denominational community church. Even today, some church members have become confused if the church is or is not a denomination. I know that I have refused to join any denomination and have chosen to be just a Christian. Can one be a Christian without joining a denomination? Surely he can. But, if one becomes and remains a Christian only, is he a member of any church? And if so, whose? The answer of course is Christ’s church and his church is not a denomination.

When Christ said that he would build his church (Mat. 16:18), did he have in mind a denomination or a federation of denominations with their own organizations, their own creed books and their own ideas of how the church is to be? When reading passages such as Romans 16:16, do we perceive that they were all denominations? Were they not simply local congregations of people who had become Christians only? If one in the first century could be just a Christian before there were any denominations, why can’t one be just a Christian today in the 21 st century without being a member of any denomination?

Now some may make the accusation saying, “I thought a man by the name of Alexander Campbell was the one who started the church of Christ?” However, the truth is that Alexander Campbell was almost 1800 years too late to establish the church of Christ. Campbell was born on September 12, 1788. But as was already noted, the churches of Christ existed back when the book of Romans was written by the hands of the apostle Paul. Thus, Campbell was not the founder. He simply took on the name used in the first century as does every church of Christ today. The fact is that many back in the 1700-1800 in various denominations concluded that they should abandon human names, human creeds, human traditions and human religious bodies and return to the New Testament as our authority of religion. Campbell, like many others, withdrew themselves from the denominations which they had been raised in and preached in and began to free themselves from all human interferences and hindrances and became free to preach the Gospel as it is in the New Testament. This drive of individuals began to speak where the Bible speaks and remained silent where it is silent. Many desired to be Christians only without being affiliated with any denomination and thus members of the one spiritual body of Christ, the church. Alexander Campbell and others did not seek to make a new denomination, but to be part of the body of Christ that already existed in many other places during that time.

It is wonderful how men are able to pick up God’s guide book, the Bible, and start working toward restoring the original church founded by Christ. This is what the men of the restoration did which was far more glorious and significant than the reformation movement of the 1500-1600’s who out of that did start all the major denominations that we see today.

Today, it is possible for one to hear of Christ, believe on him as the son of God, repent of all sins, confess faith in Christ and be baptized in the water for the remission of sins just as people did in the first century. This is not a great mystery, nor is it impossible to achieve. Yet, such actions will make the same thing today as it did 2,000 year ago, simply a Christian, a member of the Lord’s church. All today who do this in a particular geographical location make up the church of Christ in that location. If they remain true to New Testament teaching in doctrine, worship, practice and daily life they continue to be, even in this complex century, simply a church of Christ, but without being a denomination of any kind. Indeed the church of Christ is not a denomination, but simply Christians following the uniqueness of God’s Word as should all mankind.

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