Liberty

The Proper Use of Both Spiritual & National Liberty

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, opened his famous Gettysburg Address with these words, “Four-score and seven years ago, (now 230 years ago) our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…” President Lincoln was referring, of course, the birth of our great nation.

On July 4, 1776, The United States of America was born. As Americans and as Christians, we have been blessed by God to live here. We have freedom from tyranny and the constitutional right to worship God “in spirit and in truth…” (John 4:24)

Most people in this world do not have this same privilege – true freedom of religion. We often take for granted that which our brethren throughout history have never had. It was not until the Constitution of the United States (June 21, 1788) and the Bill of Rights (December 15, 1791) was adopted that a nation of people had complete freedom of religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution states,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble….”

Before this (even in some parts of the United States), there was the concept of an official state religion. For instance, the official church of Great Britain was the church of England (Anglican church); in Italy, France and Spain, it was the Roman Catholic church.

Many of those who opposed the religion of their respective homelands and were persecuted for it, (such as the Puritans) came to this continent and established colonies where they could practice their religion freely. The descendants of these religiously persecuted people wanted a guarantee that no single denomination or religious body could be declared an official religion of the United States. They wanted to insure that the kind of religious persecutions their forefathers had endured in Europe would not take place on American soil. It was out of this constitutional freedom that the American restoration movement was born, resulting in the restoration of the Lord’s church.

We often take for granted that which many of our brethren in other countries do not have – freedom from religious persecution! Even still today, many members of the Lord’s church live in countries where they have no constitutional right to practice their religious beliefs. What a struggle they must face each and every day of their lives!

Even though some do not have religious freedom, all Christians, from the First Century to the present have had spiritual freedom and liberty in Christ Jesus. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed…” (John 8:32, 36). “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” (Galatians 5:1) With His own blood, Christ bought for us freedom from bondage in sin (Revelation 1:5; Acts 20:28), freedom from the burdens that a life in sin brings and freedom from the sentence of spiritual death in sin. (Romans 6:23)

In this country, all men and women enjoy national freedom. By our constitution, all men and women have the legal right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. While Americans are a nationally free people, but by and large, are not a spiritually free people, in the sense that Christ meant.

Members of the Lord’s church who live in this great nation have two types of liberty, spiritual and national. We should never allow either type of freedom to be used as an excuse in forsaking doing the will of the Father or to use it for an excuse to do what is wrong. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh….” (Galatians 5:13a) Yet that is what so many people in our nation today have done with their lives. Rather than in freedom serving their fellow man, many today use that “liberty for a cloke of maliciousness…” (1Peter 2:16a) Read Romans 1:18-32 and see what results when a people turn away from God! “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).

1Peter 2:16 and Galatians 5:13 implicitly state, that rather than serving the flesh or in otherwise sinning, we must use it “as the servants of God” and “by love serve one another.” Our country today has a spiritual sickness; a disease that has no political or physical cure; an ailment that no medical doctor, lawyer or politician can alleviate. Only the Christ has the answers to the problems besetting this country. It is up to Christians, as servants of God, to lovingly, compassionately, teach the gospel to a lost and dying world, that all men might come to know the healing that only the Great Physician can give. In carrying out this commission, we truly “by love serve one another.”

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Is the Light On?

“A City That is Set on a Hill Cannot Be Hid.”

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said,

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 Notice some observations from this text.

Jesus is the ultimate source of light. John would record concerning Jesus as light,

 In him was life; and the life was the light of men…And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. [John 1:4; 3:19-21]

Darkness stands for sin, ignorance and evil. On the other hand, light represents righteousness, knowledge and good. Even Jesus himself claimed,

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life…He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness (John 8:12; 12:44-46).

The Bible is our light. The Psalmist would write, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 119:105; 19:7-8). We come to receive our faith in God, experience the new birth, inherit spiritual immortality and enjoy light in the gospel all by the word of God. Peter explained,

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. [1 Pet. 1:22-23]

A true disciple contains the light and shines it brightly in the darkness. Paul was a light to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47). The wise man wrote, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Prov. 4:18-19). Just as the passage of consideration affirms, we are lights of the world (Matt. 5:14-15), walking “as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth): Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:8-11). Just as a light that does not work is useless, a Christian whose light does not shine is useless to God.

Our light will not work if we do not remain connected to the source of power. Electricity or alternate sources of power (such as batteries) are necessary for light to function—consider the many people in the last weeks without electricity in the northeast due to Hurricane Sandy. Are our lights working? Do we all have relationships with Jesus that urge us to live for him daily and shine our lights everywhere we go (cf. Gal. 2:20)? When Saul of Tarsus saw “the light,” he was baptized (Acts 22:12-16). To make the world a better place, we need to be in Christ, free from sin and shining gloriously.

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You Must Decide to Make Decisions

Why Many Take that Position: Forced to Decide by Circumstances.

Many people I have known over the years have made decisions about Biblical concepts such as baptism, fellowship, Faith only, marriage, divorce, adultery, elder’s qualifications, mechanical music, institutional practices, Herald of Truth operations, and etc. I have seen some good brethren and sisters publicly sweat as they listened to Biblical teaching on some concepts that they were considering. Indeed, the ability to make choices that we possess is often a great burden, most of the time we make the right decisions but those rare times when outside and close ties are at stake [i.e. family, money, fame, position, etc.] we may stumble while making the choice between truth and error. This thought I have presented is absolutely true, many good men and women that I have known have given up the sound position [i.e. the truth] for error because of extenuating circumstance or family ties or some other pressure that was just too great.

The Bible is full of examples that show God’s people have made wrong choices many times in past history also.

Actually our first parents [i.e. Adam and Eve], had to make a choice between following God’s instructions or not. They choose to reject God’s instruction for selfish reasons. Eve wanted to know, wanted to be pleased, apparently longed for more than “PARADISE” — I have often wondered where the phrase, “Paradise Lost” came from, I think I know after considering Eve’s fall from good relationship with God and leading her husband into sin too. Then there is Aaron, who while Moses was upon Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments he fashioned a golden calf for the Israelites to worship instead of Jehovah. Now Aaron had a choice but the people pressured him and he gave in to the pressure.

How sad is this person who turns from the truth to a false way especially later when he/she comes to their senses and weeps bitterly over their failure. The human ties that we possess may undo a lifetime of faithful service to God because it is just too devastating. Man is often influenced too greatly by friends, loved ones, or desires to hold on, he gives in to sin and then seeks to justify his sin through human reason. We must be faithful even when it is inconvenient, even when our family objects, even when we know that it will sever relationships that we have with other people; yes we must hold on to the truth — 1 Cor 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.”

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What to Do About Homosexuality

Homosexualism and lesbianism is an ever growing discussion in and out of the church. It is to the point where some never speak of it and others support it. However, when these individuals move next door to you what do you do?  In the Old Testament, hospitality was as important then as it is today. We can read that when hospitality was extended to those of same sex practices, violence was executed by homosexuals according to Gen. 19:1-4 and especially in Jdgs. 19:22-26 whereby, since they could not take the men, they took a man’s concubine and used, raped and abused her all night long until the morning because they were refused their desires of the man.

Now, this is not to say that we should be in any danger of those who are engaged in homosexual behaviors. But, to see how the past reacted to such behavior is to notice in the days of the Assyrians when homosexuals were castrated for their behavior. In addition to this, America in the 1800’s decreed that if a man was found to be a homosexual he was killed.

Now, I do not believe that it should go to such extremes because homosexuals are still human beings. However, the Bible clearly shows that homosexuality is sinful because it rejects the created order that God made for male and female and that procreation is to be within the confines of the marriage between husband and wife. Furthermore, Rom 1:18-32 speaks of women and men who leave the natural use and indicates to the world that they that practice such things are shameless acts. This is further seen when we read about cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah which were both destroyed because of such wickedness. (Gen. 19:24) Henceforth, Homosexuality and Lesbianism is an abomination (Lev. 18:22) Therefore, what should we do? Do we stay or leave our homes?

In the church, Christians often devote themselves to be politically correct instead of defending God’s view on homosexuality. We are to hate and abhor sin, but love the sinner. (Rom 12:9; Eph. 5:11, 12) However, when a Christian family lives next to this type of public behavior, we must see who is being influenced by it. While it is true that Christians should treat everyone with kindness and respect possessing a genuine love deep in our souls for those who disobey God, it is very often easier said than done. And this becomes especially hard when you have children, friends, or family around when right next door they witness two boys kissing and massaging one another in the front yard or conducting homosexual parties. Should we expose our children to such things? Furthermore, what if right next door to you there was a major drug house where people sat around the yard influencing our children and their friends and others to do drugs, would this be acceptable? No, because this is against the laws of the land. Therefore, those who abuse themselves with drugs and those who abuse themselves with homosexual actions may not be seen the same regarding the laws of the land, but both are seen as illegal and soul destroying in the eyes of God. Both violate his will and this does not mean that we should be subject to this kind of view. There is only one word and one word alone that describes what we should do: keep away from sin lest you fall into the same pit. (2 Pet. 3:17)

Homosexual behavior is sin and unfortunately today, anyone who speaks out against their lifestyle are looked upon as uncaring and inconsiderate. But, these individuals who lead such lives within the homosexual cult seeks to destroy that which God created for them. Therefore, Christians must take a stand against such behavior. Taking a stand not against the person, but the behavior because it is sin and rejects Christ’ authority and directions. But Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:44). However, this does not mean that we go looking for trouble. But, if your conscious bothers you or you see that you, your family, friends, and relatives are being influenced by it . . . living next to homosexuals should be avoided at all cost which may include moving from your home.

For we must learn to look at all things Biblically and not tolerate immoral behaviors which the scriptures say is wrong. However, when anyone speaks out against or criticizes the things that the homosexuals are doing, right away they are accused of being homophobic. This simply is not true. Christians are not to fear or hate anyone. We are to love all people, yet despise and hate sin. Paul states, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1 Cor. 8:9) This verse was in reference to idol meats. However, if we cause another person to stumble, then we are wrong in the action. Likewise, if we live next to those who publicly practice homosexuality and we stay just to stand our ground, while others around us suffer and are weakened by it, then it is wrong to live next to them. For, “when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.” (1 Cor. 8:10) Therefore, It would be unwise having a clear conscious to live next to those who practice such wickedness for fear that they may corrupt us, our families, or those who come to visit at our Christian homes.

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Though There Be Opposition…

Hidden Influences in the Life of Paul and in Yours

The church had scarcely begun before it was challenged by its enemies. The closing verses of Acts 2 speak of the growth of the church and those who were being added to it every day. It would have been a remarkable time to have witnessed the enthusiasm of those early Christians. The opening verses of the next chapter tell of the results of Peter and John healing of the lame man at the temple. The city was amazed and “all the people ran together” (3:11) to the see these two apostles. Peter’s sermon that day changed those who assembled.

Then, for the first time, opposition arose as the temple guards and the Sadducees came to arrest Peter and John and put them in custody. However, they could do no more than threaten them and release them “because of all the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done” (4:21).

This opposition did not stop. The church continued to grow and multitudes from the cities surrounding Jerusalem were taught (5:17). The opposition became even greater and, the highest Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, brought greater punishment against the church. It imprisoned all the apostles. When Peter and the apostles addressed the council “. . . they were furious and plotted to kill them” (5:33). It is at this point we first meet Gamaliel who had great impact on the church.

Gamaliel, a highly respected member of the Sanhedrin, addressed the council. He urged them to be cautious with these words of wisdom. “If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it” (5:38-39). There is so much truth in what he said.

What significance does all this have? Consider the fact that though Paul was born in the area we know as Turkey he was reared in Jerusalem and was taught by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Those who taught us have a tremendous impact on us throughout all of our lives. It is possibly, perhaps likely, that Paul heard these very words spoken by his teacher. Gamaliel was a Pharisee who taught strict allegiance to the law, and Paul became one who was “zealous toward God” (22:3). It is obvious that Gamaliel influenced Paul. Gamaliel said to the council, “Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do,” and Paul said to Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:16).

Our lives, like Paul’s, are touched by all those around us. We are shaped by people and circumstances every day we live. God was able to use all of the events mentioned above to bring glory to His name. Who has influenced your life? What circumstances have molded you? Rejoice that God is able to use all of these to help us become like Him. Rejoice. Our amazing God sits on His throne and works all things for our good!

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