The World Has Gone Completely Crazy

The World Has Gone Completely Crazy

The world has gone completely crazy. If you don’t think so, just switch on the news for a second or two. Whether it’s someone who decides they don’t like their doctor’s prescription so they’re going to shoot him and anyone else who stands in their way; someone who decides to tauntingly murder a classroom full of innocent schoolchildren; some dictator who decides to invade and level a foreign country simply for no other reason than his own personal ego; or someone who wants to remove guns from the hands of law-abiding citizens, while at the same time, seeking to make secure through law, that abortionists are able to both legally hang onto and unleash their deadly weapons of mass destruction daily (which have, by the way, taken the lives of more than 63 million innocent pre-born people over the past five decades), the world has, as I said, gone absolutely nuts.Crazy World

But this is precisely what happens when you deny God’s existence and remove His wisdom from the masses (Psa. 2). This is also exactly what the Apostle Paul described by divine inspiration to the first-century church of Christ (Ro. 16:16) that worked and worshipped together in Rome, saying of such: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known” (Romans 3:13-17). If that doesn’t describe what’s going on in the news today, I don’t know what does. Paul also said it would get worse and worse as people would become more and more “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, [and] lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”(2 Tim 3:1-4). No question about that!

It is against this backdrop, in such a world gone mad – with so many satanically-intoxicated by their own self-serving and sinfully exaggeratedsense of self-importance – that I am so very grateful, to be a blood-bought, fully forgiven, and hope-filled New Testament Christian. One who can experience peace every day, despite whatever is going on around them (Isa. 26:3; Jn. 14:27, 16:33; Rom. 5:1-11, 8:6; Phil. 4:4-9). One who is part of a world-wide family that – totally unlike the world around them – is devoted to unconditionally loving, serving, accepting, and working together with one another, no matter what; and even directly in spite of our many different backgrounds, perspectives, talents, and opinions at times (Ro. 12:3-21, 14:1-19, 15:5-7; Gal. 3:26-29, 5:13-6:2; Eph. 4:1-6, 29-32).

It is learning, loving, living, and exhibiting this type of Christian love, unity, family, and acceptance – so distinct and opposite from the world around us – that sets us apart;both from the terrifying madness, as well as the eternal destination, of those engulfed in and swept away by such evils and atrocities. Now; aren’t you glad to be a Christian?

 

 

 

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We Have Switched to a New Host

We Have Switched to a New Host

After 11 years of hosting at yahoo, we have finally moved to a new host – Bluehost.  This has been done for a number of reasons, but primarily to ensure less server downtime and secondarily for the support Bluehost provides for WordPress.  Hopefully, time will show this was a wise move.

For 10 years prior to starting Church of Christ Articles, That Christian Website provided audio/video lessons.  When we ended that timeframe and started Church of Christ Articles, the focus changed to information that could be used more quickly and printed out.  That focus is not changing now, but we are going to incorporate the use of video once again on a limited basis at Church of Christ Articles.  It is hoped that this will help meet some of the needs that have been expressed by our users.

As always users of this site are welcome to use our material in their congregations and on their websites as long as they provide information stating they obtained the material from our site.

Thank you for your many visits and  encouragement over two decades plus that we have been attempting to share the gospel online.  May our efforts continually bring glory to God.

Travis Main

 

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A Scorner Seeketh Wisdom, and Findeth it Not

Proverbs 14:6 – A Scorner Seeketh Wisdom, and Findeth it Not

“A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.” (Proverbs 14:6 KJV)scorner

A scorner is a person who speaks arrogantly, boasts of himself, mocks, and derides the Word of God. The scorner has an overinflated sense of his own self-worth. He does not recognize his proper place regarding the Lord – he elevates himself and his ideas above God and His word. Consequently, he does not taker God’s Word seriously. He seeks wisdom from the wrong source – he follows his own ideas or the ideas of worldly people. He is the type of person who goes to God’s Word to prove a point or to justify his actions. He believes that he can interpret the Bible in whatever way suits him and his interpretation changes according to circumstances.

A person like this can never achieve true godly wisdom. Just ask Solomon! He tried it and failed. He penned the book of Ecclesiastes detailing his journey toward wisdom along with his blunders along the way.

In contrast to the scorner, the person who “hath understanding” is one who can discern the will of God, because he is fair-minded toward His word. He does not arrogantly try to insert his ideas or thoughts into God’s Word. He is humble and meekly accepts God at His word. To this person, true knowledge comes swiftly – and by comparison to the scorner’s empty searching – easily. Knowledge of God’ Word leads to Wisdom, and one cannot have genuine knowledge of God’s Word unless he is humble enough to accept and obey.

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Psalms 1:1-6; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:1

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Guide, Guard, and Direct our Paths

Guide, Guard, and Direct our Paths

It is remarkable how often we use the same phrases as we pray. There is nothing wrong with repetition, as long as it is not vain repetition (Matt. 6:7). Over the years I have heard others pray that the preacher might “have a happy recollection of the things he has studied.” I heard it for years but was unable to know what a happy recollection was. I sometimes wondered if the person praying those words knew what he was saying. Another phrase I heard as a youth (it often preceded the words about asking all this in the name of Jesus) was that God would “guide, guard and direct our paths.” It is very possible that those who said these words thought God would whisper in their ears or give them “holy hunches” about whether to turn left or right at the next intersection.

We do need to rely on God to direct our paths but not in the way many think. One passage which helped me to understand how God “guides, guards and directs us” is found in the book of Proverbs. It appears that Solomon literally has his children in mind as he writes this book. The phrase “my son” is found 21 times in this book. It is found 15 times in the first seven chapters. The wise king is trying to impart wisdom to his son.

In chapter six, he tells his son to remember his father’s commandments and his mother’s law. He uses the words “lead” and “keep to” in the way many once prayed using the words “guide, guard and direct.” “When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you…for the commandment is a lamp and the law a light” (Prov. 6:22-23).

Think of how these words about listening to the father apply to us listening to our Father. We ask our Father to guide, guard and direct us, and His commandments become a lamp and a law to direct our paths.

Now note one other admonition Solomon gave his son regarding his teachings. “Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck.” The father’s words can never guide, guard and direct the son if the son does not remember. Wherever the son went, he took his father’s words with him to lead him in the right way.

Isn’t this a beautiful picture of how God can guide us and lead us in the paths of righteousness. “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psa. 19:7-8). So, as you ask God to help you walk close to Him, realize that when we bind His words on our hearts and tie them around our neck these very words become a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Letting Him guide, guard and direct demands Bible study.

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Inspiration Reaches Every Word Choice

Inspiration Reaches Every Word Choice

When the Bible speaks of inspiration it includes both testaments—both are inspired. It includes all sixty-six books of the Bible. It includes every chapter, every verse, every sentence, every phrase and every word. It all is inspired for all the scripture is inspired—God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17). One should never read the Bible without realizing how inspiration reaches to the choice of every word.inspiration bible

Another way of emphasizing this truth is to look at the order in which the words of the Bible express heavenly truth. When we fail to do this and get those matters discussed in the wrong order, we create problems in our lives. Look at the following examples of the order in which God places His eternal truth.

When Luke described the life of Jesus, he wrote it down in a particular word order. Luke said, “Jesus began both to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1). He first did it! What a contrast this was with the leaders of that day. They knew the will of God, and they were so strict when they taught it. Jesus never condemned them for this action. What was their problem in trying to make converts to Judaism? “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say and do not do” (Matt. 23:3).

Another place where the order in which items are placed is found in a verse familiar to so many. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Christianity is a taught religion and that is why the previous verse said that the gospel was to be preached to every creature under heaven. First there must be teaching, then believing, then baptism. A failure to understand this has brought about the sprinkling of millions of infants and by that action making them part of “Christianity.” The order is wrong. Those infants were not making a commitment to Jesus—they did not even know it happened.

A third illustration, and one that Christians today must remember, is found in the words of Peter on Pentecost. “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for them remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Both repentance and baptism are for the remission of sins. However, we seek to get others to be immersed without first teaching them that immersion without repentance cannot save them. Over the years young women have said to their future mates, “I will not marry you until you are baptized.” The change those mates should first make is to repent, to change their lives!

As you read His word, read it slowly enough to see the order in which God has placed His truths. There are great treasures awaiting those who do this.

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