Response to a Debate Request

A Preacher’s Response to a Debate Request

Question: Dear church of Christ preacher; would you be willing to defend your apparent views of the necessity of baptism for salvation’s sake in open public debate with another local church leader from, say the Baptist, or some other local church?

Answer: No; I would not be willing to defend “my views” on that or anything else. Why should I want to defend or have anyone accept “my views” on anything? After all, I am just a lowly sinner saved by grace. And my humanistic, personal viewpoints are just as pointless as the Pope’s, Martin Luther’s, John Smyth’s, or anyone else’s, unless, unlike so many of their views, they are completely rooted, grounded in, and absolutely validated, without contradiction, by Scripture (II Tim. 3:16-4:5).

However, I would be absolutely delighted, honored, and very humbled to defend the gospel (Phil. 1:7) in any well-structured, public debate with any local church leader in order to present/discuss the crystal clear truth of exactly what God’s Word emphatically reveals to us about the Biblical essentiality of baptism for the forgiveness of one’s sins in order to be saved, and it’s inherent inclusion in the God-given instruction regarding “saved by grace salvation.”

But please be advised, while I would welcome nothing more, I humbly doubt it will ever happen; in decades past many great debates have often occurred between our brethren and some of our denominational friends and neighbors; and the end result was quite often that many, many people – sometimes almost whole congregations of those denominations – were Biblically converted to Christ and became members of the Lord’s church… certainly not because our brethren were any smarter or anything like that, but simply because the Scriptures have not changed (Psa. 119:89), and true seekers will always be able to easily see said truth once pointed out upon the printed, sacred page.

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Heart of the Matter: “Have To”

We’ve all said it before, sometimes without ever considering the underlying message: “Get ready, we have to go to….” The words “have to” oftentimes send a message to our children that this may not be something we “want to” (or get to) do. Not too many children would ever say “we ‘have to’ go to an amusement park.” Their joy and desire would change their demeanor and language to exclaim, “We get to go to an amusement park!” Our attitude and vocabulary are extremely influential in how young people view things. So what is the verbiage we use when we discuss the Church, prayer, worship, mission works, giving, singing, and even Heaven? Is it something we “have to” do, or do we remind our children that these are things we “get to” do?

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about “having to” vs. “getting to” and the power of attitude.

Unfortunately, there will always be things in life that we don’t look forward to but we still “have to” do them. For instance, I have to clean out the garage, or my car won’t fit! I have to take out the garbage on Sunday nights, because our pickup day is Monday. But when it comes to Christianity and serving our God, these are things we should want to do—things we look forward to. That’s why on Sunday morning you hear your mom and I say, “Get ready, we get to go to Church today.” Or why before we eat we will often remind you “we get to pray” instead of “we have to pray”.

Anytime you begin to approach your Christianity with a feeling of “have to,” I want you to stop and remind yourself who you are and Who God is (Psalm 46:10). Spend a few minutes in the Psalms to help refresh your memory of the power of our Creator (e.g., Psalm 19). David wrote, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4, emp. added). When we approach the Church with an attitude of “have to” then it tells me we have forgotten Who God is, how powerful He is, and ultimately what He did for us. How can anyone read John 3:16 and consider attending worship something we “have to” do?

The temptation may arise during your life in which you view your life as important or too busy–and thus church is one more thing you have to fit into your schedule. But remember, without God you would have no life or schedule to fill. Never view worship or spiritual matters with “have to” attitude. Joyfully make the time to praise His name and thank Him for all your blessings.

Throughout God’s Word, we see people with both the “have to” and “get to” attitudes. Consider the difference in Jonah’s life if he had viewed God’s initial request to go to Nineveh as a “get to” opportunity (Jonah1:1-17). Do you think Paul viewed going to Macedonia as something he “had to” do? The text says, “Now after he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:9-10). Do you think those who were convicted in their hearts on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-41) were thinking, “Oh man, now I have to get baptized to have my sins washed away?” Or rather, did they gladly receive the Word and were baptized?

Before you were born, your mother and I had the opportunity to do some mission work overseas. On one occasion, the building that we were supposed to hold a meeting in had been chained and locked by local authorities and local orthodox priests. But that didn’t stop those in the area who wanted to hear the Truth. These people possessed a deep “want to/get to” attitude toward God and His Word. Do not let the cares of this world affect your attitude toward God and His Church. When it comes to giving, mission work, worship, singing, praying, and ultimately getting to Heaven, these should be things we look forward to—things we want to do.

Lionel Richie sings a song titled “Easy Like Sunday Morning.” In a few years you may have children running around the house and you will realize the falsehood (and utter ridiculousness!) of this song. Many Sunday mornings are downright hectic and crazy as we search for the right socks or bows. But I pray if you ever find yourself telling your own children, “Come on, we have to go to church,” that you will stop and remember this simple lesson on the power of your attitude.

Love,

Dad

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Unity With jesus

Unity Between Jesus and Paul

A new Christianity Today article called “Jesus vs. Paul” looks at the current debate among evangelical New Testament scholars (and their students) who seem to be divided into two main camps: those who emphasize Jesus and the kingdom, and those who focus on Paul and justification by faith. Stan Guthrie, who wrote our Bible study of the same name says, “While this seems to be a knotty problem, unprecedented in church history, such theological turf wars are all too common. As Paul disapprovingly told the Corinthians, ‘One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?’ (1 Cor. 1:12-13). For Paul, it’s all about Jesus.”

“So how do we bring Jesus and Paul together, while doing justice to both? How do we hold to the doctrine of the full inspiration of Scripture, allowing Paul and Jesus to speak for themselves rather than fitting them into our preconceived theological categories? Which gets priority? Which comes first—kingdom or justification?”

Consider this:

The above two paragraphs appeared in Christianity Magazine recently apparently seeking to unite Jesus and Paul as if there were some question about the unity of doctrine espoused by Paul or by Jesus.

In the first place there is no reason to consider that Paul taught or intimated that there was ever any conflict between the teaching of Jesus and his teaching. The only conflict that we find in the early church between the Apostles of Christ was between Peter and Paul over the matter of racism (i.e. Gal 2:11-17 – 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face , because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, lives after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (KJV).

Consider This:

The Major roadblocks to Christian unity of God’s people resides in the theological concepts that have been introduced by theologians that do not exist in the texts of the New Testament. The concepts that have divided those that sought the true unity for which Jesus pleaded in John’s Gospel {e.g. John 17:6-22 – 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 21 That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.  (KJV)

The division that exist in the religious world today exist because of false interpretations and false assumptions regarding the meanings of selected passages of Scripture by individuals who are bent upon causing schism in the church. The individuals who are responsible for schism in each generation will find some passage or passages of Scripture and place an interpretation upon that passage or passages that meet their particular point or understanding and then create more schism which eventually brings into existence another church with some new name that  God will surely bring to naught; even if the person or persons initiating the division are/were honest in their commitment and zeal for their particular doctrine –

NOTE … concerning God’s attitude toward schism or beginning a new denomination … Rev. 22:18-19 – 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV) 2 John 9-11 – 9 Whosoever transgressed, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

CONCLUSION:

Yes; the Lord built but one church; but man has built many churches with many different names and many different doctrines. These will surely answer for their apostasy – “SOMEDAY”

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Jesus Christ Has All Authority

Jesus Christ has ALL Authority in religious matters today. From the very first sin of man in the Garden of Eden, God had promised to send a deliverer, a messiah to bring about the complete reconciliation of man to God. Jesus of Nazareth was that promised Messiah. The Hebrew word, Messiah means, “anointed one.” This Hebrew word is found 39 times in the Old Testament. Most often it is translated as “anointed” in a general sense, however, it is twice translated as “Messiah” in Daniel 9:25-26 and applied directly in prophecy to the coming Savior. In the New Testament, the same concept is from the Greek word “christos” translated as “Christ.”

Jesus came in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies pertaining to the coming “Messiah”. The time of his arrival was prophesied in Daniel 7:25-26. He was previewed as the Messiah by the prophets. (Psalm 2:1-12). John the Immerser, who was the last of the prophets, affirmed that Jesus was the Messiah. (John 1:29. His Father in Heaven affirmed that Jesus is the Messiah. (Mark 1:9-11). Jesus affirmed that He was the promised Messiah. (John 4:25-26; Mark 14:61-62). His disciples became convinced that He was the Messiah because of His miracles and teachings. (Matthew 16:13-17). Even some who witnessed His crucifixion came to believe that He was the Messiah. (Matthew 27:54).

All men must accept the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. As the Anointed of the Lord God, Jesus has ALL Authority! God has delegated His authority to Christ in all things. Therefore, we must recognize the truth that the authority that Jesus has is God-ordained; and from that fact make the necessary applications. Virtually all the realm of “Christendom” accepts the fact that Jesus has all authority in religion. Verbal agreement to this fact is one thing, but proper application of this fact is another thing all together.

What does the fact that Jesus has all authority imply? The word “All” used as it is in this statement as an adjective can carry the meaning of (1) the whole  mount or quantity of; (2) the whole number or sum of ; (3) any whatever. The fact that Jesus has ALL authority, implicitly dictates that there is NO authority in religion that is not His!  All authority is entirely consumed by Him, leaving none for anybody else! To whom else shall we turn, if to Christ? (John 6:67-69).

In Matthew Chapters 5-7, Jesus preached His famous, “Sermon on the Mount.” This glorious sermon contains some of the greatest teachings ever presented unto man. As the sermon came to a close, the people were astonished at the way He presented Himself in His teaching. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes…” (Matthew 7:28-29). “Not only were they emotionally stirred by the message that Christ had presented them, they were impressed by the authoritative way in which He taught.”

As His teaching suggested, Jesus was the authorized prophet of God alluded to by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Peter clearly stated that Jesus was this prophet of whom Moses spoke, “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23). “For Moses truly said” – in other words, Moses, long ago, prophesied concerning this man called Jesus saying that He would be a prophet; one raised up by God to be His spokesman unto men. This phrase “raised up” has specific reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. When God raised up that prophet “Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you…” In other words, no longer are we to listen to Moses; for, when God raises up the prophet Christ, we are to hear Him in all things whatsoever He says unto us. Moses, himself, recognized and prophesied concerning the supremacy and superiority of Christ.  Truly, Christ has all authority in matters religious – a position given Him by His Father in heaven.

It should be further emphasized, that not only was Jesus the sole authorized prophet while He was here in the flesh – He is God’s only authorized spokesman for this age. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds…” (Hebrews 1:1-2). God now speaks to us thru His Son. The phrase, “these last days”, refers to the Christian age. He may have spoken thru Moses and Elijah in times past, but today He speaks unto man by His Son – a Son who has been made heir of all things. Today we must hear Christ in all matters religious!

As the only authorized prophet of God today, Jesus is the head over all things to the church. “And [God] hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:22-23). “And hath put all things under his feet…” This language here is reminiscent of that used when a ruler had won a great military victory over an enemy and would literally place his foot upon his surrendered enemy as a sign of his having dominion over his defeated foe. Christ has won a great victory over sin and death. The redeeming power His blood has defeated the power of the devil over death. “And gave him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” Just as the head exercises authority over the body, Christ exercises his authority over the church, which is His body. The church is the body of Christ. Both church and body are singular. (Ephesians 4:4-6). There is one head over one body therefore there is one Christ over one church.  Jesus Christ has all authority over His one church and that church is the one we read about in the pages of the New Testament. Jesus alone is the head of the church.

Jesus has preeminence in all matters of authority. “He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence…“ (Colossians 1:18). Webster’s Dictionary defines preeminent this way: “having paramount rank, dignity, or importance.” Simply put, it means supremacy or superiority.      The teaching and doctrine of Christ is “superior to,” or “reigns supreme over” ALL other sources of authority. “When we speak of Jesus as our Lord, we are saying in essence, ‘Master, Ruler, Chief’ – the one who in all things has the preeminence. Yes, Jesus has been given supreme authority in matters religious.”

Finally, let us note what Jesus said to the apostles just before He ascended back into heaven, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…” (Matthew 28:18). The word translated as “power” is from the Greek word “exousia” which in other places in the New Testament is translated “authority.” (E.G. John 5:27 “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man…”)In speaking on the subject of His authority, Jesus said “I have it ALL – I have ALL in Heaven and I have ALL on earth.” The extent of His authority, therefore, is ALL – it is Complete, Full, Total, Lacking Nothing.

To our Lord is all authority now committed, that He should be Prophet, Priest, King, Mediator, Intercessor and Savior of His people, and Judge over all created things. “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” John 5:23. His authority remains still on earth – it has not dissipated. His authority is just as great now as it was when He ascended to Heaven.

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False Teachers!

In Deuteronomy 18:9-22, Moses gives an account  of the distinction of a prophet. In the first section  (18:9-14), he discusses the false prophets of diviners,  observers, enchanters, witches (or sorcerers), charmers,  consulters, wizards or necromancers. All of these  descriptions modify one who chooses to seek knowledge  of the invisible world and the realm of God apart from  divine revelation. Without divine revelation, how else  could one find knowledge of the invisible world except  he try to use practices of the occult? Through Moses,  God reminds the Israelites that these “ are an abomination  unto the Lord .” He wants them to trust him (faith) for  their divine revelation.

Then in the latter section (18:15-22), in contrast  with the false prophets who claimed knowledge they did  not really have, God foretells of Jesus being a prophet  as Moses. Moreover, in this discussion, He gives the  mark of a true prophet—“ he shall speak unto them all  that I shall command him…whosoever will not hearken  unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will  require it of him ” (18:18-19). “ And if thou say in thine  heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord hath  not spoken?’ When a prophet speaketh in the name of the  Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the  thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet  hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid  of him ” (18:21-22). This well describes the history of the  Jewish nation who later persecuted the prophets because  they did not want to listen to the word of God (cf. Matt.  5:12).

Today, we are living in a time of false teachers— those who want to try to persuade people away from the  word of God. Since the Old Testament is for our learning  today (Rom. 15:4), what can we learn from this passage  in view of the false prophecies and false doctrines today  inside and outside the church of our Lord?

First, we must be aware of the fact that there  are false teachers today. Jesus warned us to look out for  “ false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,  but inwardly they are ravening wolves ” (Matt. 7:15). Paul  warned the elders at Ephesus “ that after my departing  shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the  flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking  perverse things, to draw away disciples after them ”  (Acts 20:29-30). The time has already come, and still  is, when “ they will not endure sound doctrine; but after  their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,  having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears  from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables ” (2 Tim.  4:3-4). Thus, the background for false teaching today  is in Deuteronomy 18, where false prophets will either  speak that which God has not revealed or teach by some  other authority.

Second, they fall into the guise of presuming “ to  speak a word in my name ,” but rather, it is not according  to the name of God at all. We must always be on alert  to compare the teachings of teachers and preachers with  the word of God (myself included!) to see if they are  actually speaking according to the authority of Christ  (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17).

Third, we learn that there is indeed something in  a name. God wanted His prophets to speak by His name,  not according to the name of any other god. We should  never allow the denominational world to distract us by  succumbing to their false doctrine that there is nothing  in a name. According to Deuteronomy and the rest of the  inspired revelation, there is everything in a name (Acts  4:12)!

Finally, that prophet shall die. Is this a serious  thing with God? He says it is a capital offense! Peter  says they “ shall receive the reward of unrighteousness ”  (2 Pet. 2:13).

Never take for granted what anyone teaches,  but always be alert to be sure that the teachers who are  teaching in the church of our Lord are doing so according  to the word of God!

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