Aggressive, unchecked liberalism is dangerous because it takes man away from where he ought to be (Colossians 2:8; Ephesians 4:14, 17-19). We have those who are so determined to have their beliefs established that they work hard to change the truths which God has established for the betterment of man (Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:29).
For example just look across America. We have people saying that marriage can be changed to same sex. We have people advocating that there should be no mention of God in the public schools or government. There are those who deny the existence of God and the inspiration of Bible. There are those who advocate that babies can be aborted, and that all kinds of religious beliefs are good. Parents are criticized for using their right to discipline their children. All this is distressing, and it is not good for any nation (Proverbs 14:34; 11:11; Psalm 33:12; Gen. 6:5-6; 18:20-21). What we need to do is start reading the Word of God and doing what it commands, and then we can have better lives upon this earth (2 Chronicles 34:14-21; Deuteronomy 28:1-68). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. “Say a prayer for me!” Those are the words of some, as they observe others going to church. But those going to church should say, “How about you coming with me, and saying the prayer yourself?”
Allow me to say that I agree with that statement. Why ask someone else to pray for you when you can pray yourself? People should pray and go to church—so why shun the duty that one is suppose to do? (Luke 18:1; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). But here is a note of caution; God doesn’t listen to those who enjoy sin (John 9:31; Psalm 66:18). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Here are some reasons people give for not going to church: “It’s not necessary.” “I’m not interested.” “I don’t want to go to church.” “I’m too busy.” “I don’t believe in church, God, heaven, or hell.” “I can worship God without assembling with others.” “The church always asks for money.” “The preacher preached at me.” “There are too many rules.” “None of the churches teach the same doctrine.” “Church is boring.” “There are too many hypocrites in church.” “This is 2008, not ancient times.” “I don’t have clothes fit for church.”
Some of those reasons aren’t without merit, and some need clarification, but there are others which are ridiculous. Space will not permit answers for all that has been said, but allow me to say this: Jesus built a church (Matthew 16:18). The Bible teaches that God adds the saved to that church (Acts 2:47). Jesus will save the church from the fires of hell (Ephesians 5:23). The members came together on Sunday to give of their money and observe the communion (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Acts 20:7). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Centuries before Columbus and Magellan explored the seas, defying the myth of sailing off the edge of a flat world, Isaiah the prophet said that the earth was a circle (Isaiah 40:22). King Solomon, in writing about the creation of the earth, said God established a circle above the depth of space (Proverbs 8:27; Job 26:7). Now just think about it for a moment, how did these men know about the shape of the earth? The world at that time had no space travel nor pictures by satellites.
In the 20th century, medical science announced that life exists from the blood, but centuries before that, the Bible said life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11-14; Deuteronomy 12:23). In other research, medical science found that the happier the patient, the quicker he heals. So hospitals began to add more of the comforts of home to help the recovery process. But centuries before, the Bible stated that a merry heart serves as good medicine for the body (Prov. 17:22). Now once again, how did the Bible know things which were later confirmed by our science? I’ll tell you why—God! Jehovah is the Creator, and since He knows all things, He guided the writers (2 Peter 1:20-21). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. There are polls in which people voice their feelings about future of this country; and let it be clear that a poll is simply the thoughts of people and not authority of what is right or wrong (Proverbs 12:15, 14:12; Isaiah 55:8-9). And if the majority rules, that still doesn't constitute right, because if so, most people would be going to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14).
Now I would like you to consider some polls that were taken in the Bible: Most thought Noah was a fool for building the Ark (1 Peter 3:20). Most thought Jesus deserved to die (Matt. 27:15-26). The homosexuals in Sodom and Gomorrah thought Lot was wrong because he wouldn’t permit them to molest the men who were his guests (Genesis 19:4-14). The Egyptians thought the Israelites should be slaves (Exodus 1:8-14, 5:20). The Jews thought Samaritans were worthless low class people (John 4:9). The conclusions of those polls showed that people were wrong every time. Remember polls are thoughts of people and not authority (1 Kings 5:11; Joshua 9:14). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Charisma isn’t all it is cracked up to be. The word means a quality or power attributed to those who secure devotion and large numbers of followers. Sounds pretty good, but there was a great man in the Bible who didn’t have charisma. Noah built the Ark and preached to the people of his day, and the only lives saved were the eight souls of his own family (1 Peter 3:20). So charismatic, Noah was not, but he still found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8, 7:1).
In the New Testament, we read of Theudas and Judas, proclaiming themselves special leaders and attracting many followers. But they were killed and their disciples dispersed; so charisma did them no good. Now think about these things the next time you hear of a preacher attracting great masses with rock star appeal. You just might be observing the blind leading the blind, right into the ditch (Matthew 15:13). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Complaining appears to be something that many do very well. I mean they complain about the weather, their neighbors, their family, their pay checks, the price of gasoline, food, and their sports teams, etc. I’m not saying that these things might not need attention, but there are things that are worse. People forget that we have men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with missing limbs, blinded, and suffering from post war-mental stress, which will be with them for the rest of their lives. Aren’t these things much worse than a co-worker who won’t pull his fair share of the work at the office?
Doesn’t that make our complaining somewhat insufficient with that being the case? There is an old saying, which goes like this, “I cried because I had no shoes, but I stopped crying when I saw the man who had no feet.” Please take the time to read what the Bible teaches about complaining (1 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9; Jude 16; 2 Kings 5:10-13 Numbers 11:1-6; 2 Cor. 9:7). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. When visitors come to a church, the members should make them feel welcome. There are people who would visit the church, but they might not know anything about church doctrine, or the people, so they feel apprehensive. But the members of the church must realize that it is their duty to walk over and introduce themselves and make the visitor feel relaxed because no visitor should ever have to introduce himself. The church members shouldn’t smother the visitor with too many questions, nor should church members pressure visitors for phone numbers or addresses.
The church may mention that visitors cards are available, but a visitor cannot be pressured nor made to feel obligated to fill out one. If a visitor wishes to become a member of the church, he should continue to visit in order to get to know the church members and find out what is taught. So yes, there is no need to be afraid to visit, just come on in, and you will find potentialfriends (Micah 4:1-2; Psalm 122:1; 1 Corinthians 14:23-25; Genesis 28:16-17). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. “My way or the highway.” “I’m right but you are wrong,” etc.
Most don’t like those who hold such views. But is this consistent? Think about this for a moment. Suppose there are persons who teach that America should embrace the gay lifestyle, and others say, we shouldn’t. Aren’t both sides saying that the other is wrong? Aren’t both sides saying “it’s my way or the highway?” They sure aren’t saying “we both are correct.” There is truth, and there is error, and we are standing on one or the other. There is no reason to get upset with a person defending what he believes to be the truth of a matter. However, when the standard by which truth is confirmed has spoken, one must either admit wrong or be guilty of hanging onto an error after being exposed. The standard could be a dictionary, if two are debating the meaning of a word; or it could be the Bible, if two are debating what God demands. Either way, the standard will settle the matter if men will allow it. Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Two weeks ago in Hartford, Conn., an elderly man trying to cross the street was injured by a hit and run driver. The unbelievable thing was, a street camera caught people observing him lying in the street, and they just passed by and did nothing. It is incredible that others can see someone in need and feel no responsibility to help. But in about five minutes, someone finally stopped and gave assistance to this poor man. The story made headlines on several major TV and cable news shows, and it just proved how self-centered man has become.
In the Bible, Jesus told of a man who also suffered in the same way after he was attacked by muggers on a road to Jericho. That man was beaten, robbed, and left lying on the road, ignored by other travelers (Luke 10:30-35). But the lesson Jesus gave us from this account of the “Good Samaritan" is to not be self-centered, but to go and give help if you can, and where you can (Luke 10:36-37). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. |