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Jesus Is Pro-Church, And You Should Be, Too!

Someone observed,"Many people have nothing but praise for the church, especially when the collection plate is passed around." Praise is not what some people have for the church. Poison would be more like it. An article about popular author Stephen King posted at rare.us reported that he was "raised Methodist," but went on to say he "ditched organized religion in high shcool, but still has a close relationship with God." The article was entitled, "Stephen King: Religion is dangerous, but I still believe in God." It was posted on 10/30/2014, and reported on an interview King did with Rolling Stone mag’ to promote his latest work. The article said King "condemns organized religion, noting that faith can be used to manipulate others, calling it, ‘a very dangerous tool that’s been misused by a lot of people.’ " When King and other well-known or not so well-known people slam "organized religion," just insert "the church" – or at least their perception of the church. Another example is author Anne Rice whose gothic fiction, including her best known and most popular series called The Vampire Chronicles, has sold over a 100 million copies. Rice, once a Roman Catholic, later distanced herself from "organized Christianity." Rubel Shelly, himself a controversial author in churches of Christ, quoted Rice in his 2011 book with the weird and provocative title, I knewJesus Before He Was a Christian, and I Liked Him Better Then. On pages 64-66 Shelly talks about Rice’s disillusionment with "organized religion" and "the church." He includes quotes from her Facebook postings where she wrote that she left the Roman Catholic church at age 18 because she refused to be "anti-gay, anti–feminist, anti-science, anti-artificial birth control, anti-Democrat . . . I quit being a ‘Christian’ or part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to ‘belong’ to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group." Rice followed up with this posting: "My faith in Christ is central to my life . . . But following Christ does not mean following His followers." Not exactly what you’d call praise.

My point in this little piece is not to deny Christianity and the church are unattractive to many people, and that sometimes "Christians" are not very Christ-like. Nor am I denying that "the church" has what are in far too many cases glaring faults and flaws. I am not endorsing Catholicism or the splintered, divided, denominational view of the church embraced by millions. I am not endorsing all Shelly has to say in the book referred to. But to Shelly’s credit, he affirms, "I am pro-Jesus, and also pro-church." He rightly points out that the Bible presents the church as a body over whom Christ is Head – and that "the body may need splints, stitches, or even major surgery at times. But it can’t be severed from the head. You can’t attack the body and affirm the head. They go together." So they do. Christ was pro-church. He built her (Matthew 16:18); purchased her with His own blood (Acts 20:28); loved her and gave Himself for her (Ephsians 5:25); nourishes and cherishes her (Ephesians 5:29-30). Tell me some "Christians" are hypocrites, and that the church has flaws and needs revival. But don’t tell me Jesus is not pro-church. The cross will shut your mouth every time. Jesus is pro-church, and you ought to be pro-church, too.

 

 Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

He Didn’t Stay Dead!

Somewhere I read the following story. A man was walking down a city street when he noticed in a store window a painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He stood transfixed looking at the painting for the longest time but then realized a little boy was standing beside him. He patted the little boy on the head and said, "Son, what does this mean?" The boy said, "Don’t you know? That Man on the cross is Jesus, and the woman crying is His mother Mary, and the men below are Roman soldiers. They killed Him." The man just smiled at the boy and started walking away. After a few seconds he heard the sound of footsteps running to him from behind. When he turned he saw it was the little boy. Almost out of breath, the lad fairly shouted, "Mister, Mister – I forgot to tell you – He didn’t stay dead."
Jesus died – but He didn’t stay dead – that’s the message the New Testament announces again and again! Now, the New Testament is silent as the tomb about the religious holiday of "Easter" with all the practices and ceremonies now packaged with it. Search and see – the early church, under the inspired guidance and teaching of the apostles, never singled out one Sunday per year over the other 51 to remember Jesus’ death and celebrate His resurrection. No, they did both every Sunday (see 1 Corinthians 11:23ff; Acts 20:7). To insist Easter is not found or authorized in the New Testament as a religious holiday to be celebrated in church with elaborate services and activities is considered weird by many people, and some equate it with not believing in Jesus’ resurrection. But that is simply not true. No genuine Christian or gospel preacher would ever say the New Testament is silent about the resurrection of Christ! Quite the contrary, for its pages and preaching are saturated with bold declarations that Jesus died – but didn’t stay dead! That claim began at the very tomb where Jesus was buried after His death on the cross. Matthew 28:1ff relates that some women came to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. Mark’s account says they came with spices "that they might anoint Him" (Mark 16:1). They fully expected to find Him in the tomb, still dead. Mark further tells they stressed over "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" (Mark 16:3). But Matthew writes that when they got there, an angel of the Lord had arrived and already rolled the huge stone away from the door – not in order to let Christ out, but to let the disciples in! And, as if to add an exclamation point, the angel sat on the stone (Matthew 28:2)! Oh that we would hear, not just with our ears but with our hearts, as the Lord’s angel announces for the very first time, but far from the last, in Matthew 28:6, that those who are looking to find Jesus in the tomb are looking in the wrong place! Hear it – "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." I remember the story about the boy whose pet bird fell into a can of varnish and drowned. The boy said, "It was a sad way to die, but he sure had a beautiful finish." For two thousand years disciples of Jesus have been preaching a similar message. Jesus died, but He didn’t stay dead! That’s the church’s story. God help us proclaim it, not one day a year, but every day.

    Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Free Bible articles

Watch your behaviour among non-Christians

The following Scriptures offer so much for us to learn and apply as we live in the world, though not of the world. Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 9:19-22; 10:31-33; Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 4:5-6; Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 2:11-17; 3:8-17.

“and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

To reach the world we must go into the world without becoming part of the world. This will mean learning to relate to them without unnecessarily offending them or being transformed by them.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Why don’t you get involved in your own Bible study by examining the Scriptures in the opening paragraph? You’ll find that personal Bible study rewarding.

What they didn’t ask Jesus and what Jesus couldn’t have told them

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:1-14

Jesus has promised the disciples that he will come back to take them to the place he has prepared for them in His Father’s house. Then he immediately suggests they know the way to where he is going.

Does that sound odd to you? Just when you think Jesus is going to tell them when this will happen, or just when you expect the disciples to ask when it’s going to happen, Jesus deflects their thinking with this “And you know the way to where I am going”!  It’s as if Jesus expects them to ask “when”, and so, anticipating this, he changes the thought.

Now, as we learn later – just before his arrest and trial – Jesus says he doesn’t know when he’s going to return!!!

But as for that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32.  So had they asked him when, he wouldn’t have been able to tell them! It’s a bit like Acts 1:6-8. “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Yes, it is not for us mortals to know these things, but why keep it from the Lord of the universe?? Jesus seems to know everything that will happen in the future, but he doesn’t know that one! The one thing his Father has not revealed to him. Now look at Matthew 11:20-27. The Father has revealed all other things to the Son. Why does God withhold this piece of information – seemingly very important to us, when he will guide them into all truth? John 16:12-15.

Perhaps this is one of the ways God felt he could have his Son identify with us – that like us, there was something Jesus was in the dark about! And maybe, now that he is our brother, advocate and High Priest, this is still an important point of connection with us. See Hebrews 2:10-18; Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 3:21b-23. Since we are not to know the day of His return, then neither is He. [John 16:13-30 re disciples knowing and desiring to know.]

But what about the Father knowing the day of Jesus’ return and the judgment of all people?

scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:3-10

God has good reason for delaying the final coming of Jesus: he’s giving more people the opportunity to repent and partake of eternal life! And not knowing precisely when keeps us always on our toes – spiritually prepared.

But the longer God delays His coming, the many more souls will be destroyed in hell, since of the extra people who live during the extension of time, most will not be believers! Clearly God must think that it is worth it to have one extra soul in heaven for eternity even though one hundred more souls will also be lost in hell! But if destruction in hell is torment for eternity, does that sound like the God of love, mercy, grace and justice that we know: a few years of sin warrants an eternity of pain? “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. Our sin warrants death - not an eternity of pain! God doesn’t want us to forfeit life by perishing. John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9. Think about it. God is giving us a choice and we know the options: we can believe in his Son and live forever, or we can forfeit this gift of living forever with God and forever lose the gift of life in hell when God destroys unbelievers. Matthew 10:28.

Fight the good fight of faith

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 which He will bring about at the proper time — He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen. 1 Timothy 6:12-16

Outline:

This is one of those passages of Scripture that takes your breath away with its depth, its power, and its credibility. Could such words be said of an invented faith? It covers who God is, and what God wants from us for all time. There is nothing uncertain or timid or fake about these words. Though directed primarily at a preacher, the command pushes all of us into the fray with not the slightest doubt about the reality it announces.

Its threefold exhortation is inspiring:

I.     Fight the good fight of faith.  It’s a good fight that must be fought by faithful Christians, but not just any fight; no, the fight of faith.

II.   Keep the commandment without stain or reproach. God’s commands never change; never become irrelevant; never need updating or improving.

III. Honour the King in His eternal dominion. “Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.” We honour the King in word but also in deeds of service.

1 Timothy 6:12-16 neatly falls into a 10-point preachable outline

1.         Fight the good fight of faith

2.         Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called

3.         You made the good confession

4.         God who gives life to all things

5.         Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate

6.         Keep the commandment without stain or reproach

7.         Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ

8.         He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

9.         Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.

10.       To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.

At the service of God the King.

Long live the subjects of God the King.

We bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords who grants life eternal to His faithful subjects.

Discussion:

In a recent essay, I quoted this same Scripture, remarking:

Just as Jesus confessed to his being King, when questioned by Prefect Pilate, leading to his death in crucifixion, so the disciple confesses his faith in Christ when questioned by his gospel teacher, leading to his death with Christ in baptism. Romans 6:3-11. “Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, raised from the dead? If so, “what are you waiting for, arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16

When we make our confession of faith that leads to our salvation, do we understand the new direction to which we have committed? The new Master? The new people? The new priorities? The new values? The new meaning and outcome of a life lived in the service of the God-King of the universe?

No less a figure than God himself has called us to take hold of a new life – eternal life. It was not forced upon us,

but when we accepted it we joined the people that included the prophets and apostles of old. We are rubbing shoulders with Abraham, Isaiah and Daniel, with Paul and Barnabas, with Mary and Martha, with Onesimus and Timothy, with Peter and Epenetus … the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Our faith is an historical faith. When we read Bible names, and see their contexts, does this not awaken in us a sense of abiding greatness: that what God spoke to those faithful long ago, he also speaks to us; what God promised them, he promises us?

The good fight we fight is the same fight they fought. The victory they won is the same victory we will win.

In moments of trial we are tempted to throw it all away. To quit. To desert the battle. But to do so is to betray all those people of God who have gone before us and “have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith.”

And it is to turn our backs on God and all He has done for us and promised us.

We face opposition. So did they. We face ridicule. So did they. We become unpopular. So did they. We risk losing jobs, reputation, friends and even family. So did they.

Jesus said something very similar to what Paul said to Timothy in our text:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26

Father and King, I thank you that you stooped to call me into your kingdom. I thank you that it is a call that demands we fight a good fight, using the weapons you have provided: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Truly your full armour O Lord!

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Adam and Eve were Aborigines. Every human being is our relative.

I knew I’d get your attention! The word ‘aborigine’ is actually Latin: ab origine, which means ‘from the beginning.’

Aborigines are the first inhabitants of a region – any region. For example, in Australia, some indigenous groups are: Anangu, Bama, Koori, Murrawarri, Murri, Gunggari, Noongar, Yamatji, Nunga, and Palawah. In Alaska, the aborigines or indigenous people, comprise Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures. All regions on earth have their own aborigines.

Adam and Eve were the earth’s aborigines - the first humans on earth. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” At the start, at the very beginning. The beginning of creation had no living animals or people. By the sixth day, God had created the original human inhabitants – Adam and Eve. The earth’s aborigines.

Acts 17:26 says: He made from one every nation of men to dwell on the face of earth. Compare Genesis 1:27; 5:2; Mark 10:6. Many Greek manuscripts have the added the word ‘haimatos,’ blood; hence various translations have either “from one blood” (Young’s Literal), or something similar: the Latin Vulgate has one genus; ESV has ‘from one man’; Weymouth has forefather; NEB has ‘one single stock’ William Barclay has ‘one single stock.’ Genus in Latin means "race, stock, kind; family, birth, descent, origin." So, ‘Blood’ may or may not have been used by the Holy Spirit/Luke/Paul in Acts 17:26 depending on the manuscript evidence. Wayne Jackson (commentary on Acts) remarks that textual critic, Bruce Metzger, said the Revisers omitted haimatos with “some hesitation.”

The following explains it:

The Bible does not even use the word “race” when referring to people; it describes all human beings as being of “one blood” (Acts 17:26; KJV). This means we are all related, from one family - the descendants of the first man and woman. We all need to treat every human being as our relative. We are of one blood. All of us are equal in value before our Creator God. (Paragraph by Ken Ham from “One Race, One Blood,” Answers in Genesis, edited)

Charles Darwin’s theory led him to racist views. Here are two quotes from Charles Darwin:

1.At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla. (Descent of Man, p.178)

2.The difference between a Tierra del Fuegian and a European is greater than between a Tierra del Fuegian and a beast. (Voyage of the Beagle, Journal entry, 1832).

Harvard University's staunch non-racist, evolutionist, Marxist, Stephen Jay Gould, stated: "Biological arguments for racism may have been common before 1859, but they increased by orders of magnitude following the acceptance of evolutionary theory. Ontogeny and Phylogeny, Belknap-Harvard Press, 1977. pp. 127–128.

God has taught us clearly that all humans sprang from the aborigines, Adam and Eve. Skin colour, education level and language does not mean superiority of race. God sees all people as His offspring. Acts 17:28-29. Our first ancestors were Adam and Eve. We are all of that one blood. “He made from one blood every nation of men.”

--David Carr