A Divine Guide

One of the great obstacles to true unity is the great variety of religious sources of authority. The problem of unity has always been a desired status, even our Lord desires unity, cf.  John 17:20-21, “20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.” (ASV)

Philippians 2:2, “ make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;” (ASV)

Acts 2:46, “And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,” (ASV)

Acts 4:24, “And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:” (ASV)

The above, inspired writers of the New Testament, all encouraged their hearers and readers to submit to the authority of God

NOTE:  Peter and the apostles declaration to the doubters on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:14-17, “14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke forth unto them, (saying), Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is (but) the third hour of the day. 16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:” (ASV)

Jesus Christ claims “all authority” now, cf. Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying, all authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” (ASV)

This declaration by Christ after he had risen from the dead is the same authority that we are willing to accept today. This is the authority that insures us when we believe and obey the gospel  that we are saved from our sins –cf. Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV) Indeed, whatever Christ has said and whatever He has caused to be written is our religious authority today. To suggest that there are other acceptable religious authorities is to deny the authority of Jesus Christ and bring upon man a condemnation from God Almighty.

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Divine Guide

Count Your Blessings

“Count Your Blessings.” In the twenty-third Psalm David wrote of the vastness of God’s blessings when he said, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” The idea of counting our
every blessing is an intriguing one to be sure. We certainly give it plenty of lip service
and we even on occasion sing about the bountiful blessings of God. It is because what
David said is true, that our cup does indeed run over, that it is certainly not possible to
sit down and count every blessing. However, though it may an exercise in futility, it is
profitable for us to stop frequently to consider the many blessings God has bestowed
upon us. Not only that, but it is also our duty to meditate upon the goodness of God.

“Name Them One By One.” Some think of their blessings only en masse, in the
abstract; with broad general strokes we thank God for them. There is however an
urgent need in our lives to begin thinking of God’s blessings more specifically. We need
to particularize our blessings in order to fully understand the graciousness of God. This
will also allow us to come to a fuller understanding as to our utter dependence upon
Him. It is He who holds all things together and upholds the universe by the power of His word (Colossians 1.17; Hebrews 1.3).

“And It Will Surprise You.” In Malachi 3.10 God says, “…put me to the test.” If we will
not only be truly thankful for all that we have and rightly give God the glory for the
blessings in our life, He will bless us beyond compare. This means that I must first give
myself to Him (Luke 14.26; Matthew 16.24; 2 Corinthians 5.8). The wealth of His
blessings will astonish us if we give to Him (physically, spiritually, and thankfully) as He
has prospered us (Luke 6.38; 1 Corinthians 16.2). “Oh that men would praise the LORD
for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107.8)!

“What The Lord Hath Done.” Remember the glory belongs to God! What has God done
for you in this life? How blessed are we both physically and spiritually? God has given
you life! He has blessed you with the fullness of the earth. He has cared for us
spiritually and given us the hope of eternal life in the sacrifice of His dear Son. The
problem for so many of us is that we hold on to all that we have as though it is ours by
our own power. We fail to see that it is God who has shared with us what belongs to
Him. We give ourselves praise, honor and glory for what we have, not Him. There
needs to be a change in our attitude toward the blessings of God. And when there is,
how wonderful will be the vision, when the haze of selfishness and pride is lifted.

First of all if you are not a Christian today, take a good hard look at what God has
already done for you. Especially for His love and mercy! Love Him in return by being
obedient to Him (John 14.15). Hear the Word of God (Romans 10.17); believe on the
name of the Lord Jesus, the Christ (Mark 16.16); confess Him as the only begotten Son
of God (Matthew 10.32-33); repent of your sins (Luke 13.3); be buried with him in
baptism in order to be saved and added to the church (Acts 2.38; Galatians 3.27; 1
Peter 3.21). Then be thankful and be faithful!

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Count Your Blessings

Tips on Practicing (Not So) Random Acts of Kindness

Is there anyone who hasn’t heard the phrase “Random Acts of Kindness”?  The phenomenon became popular in American culture in the 90’s and has since spread globally, inspiring movements, school projects, even a movie.  Buying the coffee for the car behind you at the Starbuck’s drive-through, giving someone your parking space at the mall, or leaving an encouraging note at a restaurant are small gestures that can mean a lot to the recipient and foster a sense of community among our fellow passengers to the grave.

But the concept of doing kind works is not new.  It’s as old as, well, creation.  God tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  So, if we were made to do good works, does it make sense to relegate the performance of such to the category of “random”?  How about instead of just committing random acts of kindness, we commit Godly acts of kindness?  What, you may ask, is the difference?  The difference is that random implies that we perform random acts of kindness out of the goodness of our own hearts.  Godly acts of kindness are committed out of the kindness of God’s own heart.  Christians shouldn’t do good works because of our own innate goodness or for our own glory.  In doing good works we are sowing the seeds of righteousness.  As God admonished Israel through the prophet Hosea (10:12) “Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”  Christians “sow” good works for the sake of the glory of God and His kingdom.  So even if an act of kindness is completely spontaneous and random, our intent makes all the difference in the world.

The variety and number of good works you can perform are limited only by your imagination and commitment to obey God’s command to love (or show) kindness as Micah concisely states in Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”  That is not to say doing Godly works of kindness doesn’t take planning or resources.  Sometimes it takes a lot of planning to do something “randomly.”  Here are a few tips to incorporate Godly works into your everyday life.

1.  Make a list of prospects.  You probably know lots of people who would appreciate a nice slice of kindness.  We are admonished in Galatians 6:10 to “do good unto all, but especially those of the household of faith”, so start with your local congregation or a sister congregation.  Do you know a struggling college student?  How about a widow(er) living alone for the first time in 30 years?  New mom?  Young couple?  Teenager?  Retirees?  Preacher and his family?  Sometimes we overlook opportunities in our own backyard, while we are gazing over the fence.  By the way, add to the list as often as you can.

2.  Identify true needs.  It doesn’t have to be big hairy need, just a need.  Hold the door for the lady with the stroller.  Share your umbrella with an elderly person walking to their car.  The next time you are making meatloaf, make a mini one for the widow next door.  Needs are everywhere.  We simply need to keep our eyes and ears open.

3.  Go for meaning over money.  Godly works don’t have to be a budget buster.  Expressions of affection or gratitude can be among the most meaningful and memorable of all Godly acts of kindness.  Whenever I end a phone call with my mom I always say, “Love you Mom.  I’ll talk to you later.”  All too infrequently, I take a few extra moments to say something like, “Mom, I just want you to know how much I appreciate the sacrifices you made for us kids growing up.  Now that I’m a mom I realize how much you love us because that’s how much I love my own kids.  I hope I can be as great a mother as you are.”  These conversations invariably end up with both of us getting a little weepy and my son rolling his eyes at me.  Double bonus!  A phone call just to say hi, a friendly wave, a few extra minutes of your undivided attention.  These gestures are free, but deeply valuable.  In essence, you are giving the gift of YOU.

4.  Put together a “Godly Act of Kindness” tool kit.  Just because an act of kindness is random, doesn’t mean it has to be spontaneous.  Equip yourself with the tools you need to seize the moment.  Some handy items are blank cards, pens in assorted colors, stamps, single-serving containers for cooking and carrying food, stickers, bookmarks, and finally, candy, in case you get hungry.

5.  Set Goals.  Using your list of prospects, write down some realistic and specific goals about the number and types of Godly acts you want to perform.  Your goals will also help you determine items you need in your Toolkit.  Be careful not to over commit your time or resources or you may get burned out.  You are trying to develop a lifelong pattern of Godly works.  Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

6.  Make it a group activity!  There are several great reasons to enlist others.  It’s a great way strengthen your sisterly bonds and make new friends.  You can take advantage of each other’s skills and abilities. You can hold each other accountable.  And finally, it’s fun!

7.  Take some cues from the Bible.  Just a few of the kind acts seen in the Bible are: making clothes, providing food and drink, carrying a load, hospitality, and words of encouragement.  Of course, the most important is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Word of God inspires, guides, and admonishes us toward good works.  Go to it often.

In our busy lives it can be difficult to look outside of our own schedules, families and obligations.  It takes more than good intentions to begin a lifelong pattern of caring for others.  It takes deliberate discipline, planning and godly instruction.  This may not sound as thrilling as “random acts of kindness”, but we’re not in it for the thrill.  We’re in it for the enduring joy of being a doer, not just a hearer of God’s word. (James 1:21-23).  What can be better than that?

This article was written by April Main.

Posted in Guest Authors | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Tips on Practicing (Not So) Random Acts of Kindness

The Bride Who Forgot Her Wedding Dress

Only those who have experienced it can comprehend the vast amount of time spent in preparation for a wedding. From the time the engagement is announced and likely even before then, hardly a day passes without the bride making plans for the upcoming event. The amount of energy expended by everyone involved can hardly be measured.

There is a spiritual lesson in this which must not be overlooked. The Bible describes our relationship to the Lord as being His bride (Eph. 5:25-32). Paul told the Corinthians that he has “espoused them to one husband” (2 Cor. 11:2) so that they might be presented as a chaste virgin to the Lord. The seriousness of that preparation must exceed that of the preparation for any earthly marriage.

The new Jerusalem is described as one “made ready as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:2). Whether this refers to the church today or to its future abode does not diminish the point of preparation. She was adorned for her husband. Every bride, including His, prepared herself for her husband.

What is the nature of that adornment? There are those “garments” she can never wear which are described as the works of the flesh—“sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Gal. 5:19-20). There are those “garments” she must wear which are described as the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,  self-control . . .” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Perhaps no other passage so succinctly describes the attire we must wear as His bride. Take a look at that list of “wedding attire” and think of how He wants us to appear before Him. Look at yourself and see those areas where preparation has not been properly made. Are you ready for the coming of the bridegroom?

Israel’s relationship with God was described as a marriage (Jer. 3:20; 31:32; Mal. 2:11). Jeremiah reminded that nation of her espousal to the Lord in the wilderness around Mt. Sinai (Jer. 2:2). Then Israel changed and forgot their “wedding.” The prophet cried out to that nation, “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten me days without number” (Jer. 2:32).

Some brides make great preparation for the wedding and then forget the vows they made. Have you forgotten the vows you made to Him?

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Bride Who Forgot Her Wedding Dress

Church of Christ

Did the church of the first century disappear after the first century and resurface out of the Protestant movement when Alexander Campbell left his Presbyterian roots to go only by the Bible in the 18th century?  There is no doubt that when the Lord came to establish the church during the Roman Empire, that trouble was soon to follow. Around the time of the Roman Emperor Nero (65-68), Christians were being burned alive just 40 years later, no more apostles remained which meant that the church was no longer under their purity and guidance which led to perversions and changes within the church (Acts. 20:28-30). However, this did not cause the church to disappear.

Between A.D. 100-150, the apostolic fathers (those who knew apostles) continued to keep the purity of the gospel even though Gnosticism (which relied upon man’s wisdom and not God’s) had broken out among the church. But, false teachers did not stop church growth even between A.D. 150-250, when Christians were forced to worship in secret and in underground Christian cities because Roman Laws declared the Church of Christ as an illegal church. In A.D. 260-311, Christianity was legalized and were given free rights to worship God, but it was not until A.D. 292 that persecutions stopped. This later made easy access for the Catholic Church to be born incorporating paganism into the worship of God while claiming that they are the church of A.D. 33.

This opened doors of the 1,000 year reign, sinful babies, infant baptism, Celibacy, Easter Celebrations, and many others, but the church survived. In A.D. 469, when the Saxons invaded Britain overthrowing Christianity, they killed the Christian king Arthur the Great who was known and written about to only go by the Bible. Even during the Crusades of 1073 to gain Jerusalem back from Mohammad and the Muslims, Christians such as Gundulphus 1025, Berengar of Tours 1088, Pierre de Bruys 1140, Henry of Toulouse 1150 and several others were still found being persecuted as recorded in the Catholic church records of persecutions for preaching the whole council of God. Furthermore, in 1166 Christians are seen persuading Henry II and teaching autonomous congregations, practicing baptism for the remission of sins (which no other church did) and called themselves the true church of Christ. This church as well as the Church of Christ in Oxford 1157, the Hill Cliffe Church of 1357, the Wales church of Christ in 1417 and many others were established before Martin Luther in the late 1490’s, John Calvin 1500’s, the continental Anabaptist movement of 1525, before the reformation of 1517, and before the English separation from the Catholic church in 1596. Also a Catholic priest Abraham 1428, Thomas Begley 1431 from London, Richard Wick 1439, Brabram 1499 were all charged with heresy for preaching the whole council of God and burned alive by the Catholic church.  The fact is that restoration of the church established by Christ has always been in motion.

Now, in the 1600’s denominations such as Presbyterians, Baptist, Quakers and many others fled to America after the Catholic church tried to destroy them all during 8 civil wars. But, while they were fighting, a famous preacher for the Lord’s church emerges in the middle 1600’s in England, Henry Denne. Also, a book entitled ‘Believers Baptism from Heaven and of Divine Institution’ was written in 1691 by Hercules Collins, a minister of a church of Christ in Wapping, England who stated that the church of Christ had been practicing baptism for the remission sins for the past 2 centuries which was before the catholic church labeled the Anabaptist who rebelled against the church because of their differences in baptism. Now, In 1701 a picture is seen labeled the church of Christ in Monksthorpe, 1653. Other churches of Christ would include the church of Christ at Loughton (1663) and the Wall End church of Christ 1662 who still worships there today. Also, John Milton who wrote ‘Paradise Lost’ left his Presbyterian religion and became a member of the Lord’s church in the 1600’s.

But, during the 1600’s the Lord’s church was labeled as and independent, separists or dissenting church.  Also, many confused it to be part of the Baptist movement or under other such names.  However, none of these congregations practice what Baptist or others denominations practice today.  In fact, it is completely opposite.  Now, all of these churches that are mentioned is well documented in believing that: the body of Christ is the universal church, that it was founded by Christ and must wear a name that honors him, Christ is the only creed (the bible) and must be scriptural in organization, each congregation is autonomous and partake in the 5 commands of worship, no clergy laity allowed and that Gospel preachers wear religious titles, water baptism was the final act of the new birth of water and spirit, faithful local churches encourage members to live godly loves upholding biblical standards for morals, plead for complete obedience to Christ and seek unity based upon the apostles teachings including stopping religious error from flourishing. Now, this sounds exactly like the teachings of Churches of Christ today.

As to Alexander Campbell as well as others in the early 18th century, they did much work for the church, but this obviously is not the restart of the kingdom? In 1755, Robert Sandeman began to restore NT Christianity and by 1763, he established the Lord’s church in Boston, Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Danbury, Connecticut. Now Thomas Campbell did not arrive until 1807 and while Alexander Campbell believed it was possible to restore the church of the New Testament by using the Bible as a blue print, he did not come to America until September 29, 1809.

Now, when the Campbells’ came to America, they found men already involved in pleading for the complete restoration of the first century church of Christ, to speak where the Bible speaks, to be silent where the Bible is silent and renounce the practice of calling themselves names after their earthly leaders, that everyone obeying the Scriptures should be called “Christians.” (Acts 11:26), and would be, by the Lord, added to His church (Acts 2:47) in baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). So they did contribute to the cause of Christ, but so does everyone who is a Christian today. Also, there is tombstone evidence that shows William Rodgers joined the church of Christ in cane ridge by 1807, 2 years before Alexander Campbell came to America in 1809. Likewise the Old Philadelphia church of Christ in Mississippi began in 1804, in Arkansas state records for Davidsonville County have registered a church of Christ in 1806 as well as another church of Christ in Randolph county, Arkansas, 1806.

Matt. 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So, the church has never disappeared and was never restarted by Alexander Campbell. It has always been here and it is proven in several documents, photos, church records and many other writing throughout history.

 

Posted in Robert Notgrass | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Church of Christ