Some church people are quick to quote scripture, proving what they say, and that is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:4-5; Acts 18:27-28). But there is a such thing as using scripture out of context, and that is why one must be careful (2 Peter 3:15-18). First, study the quoted scripture yourself, consider who is speaking, what is being spoken about, and to whom (John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). Once again, the context is important because it is the manner in which the scripture is to be applied (Acts 8:26-35).
Yes, there is a lot of false doctrine based upon using scriptures in the wrong way. One example is the Jehovah’s Witnesses belief that having a blood transfusion violates the scripture, “the eating of blood.” This scripture is not talking about having a blood transfusion, but about eating blood like vampires (Leviticus 3:17; 1 Samuel 14:30-34; Deuteronomy 15:23). Jehovah’s Witnesses have missed medical care because of this doctrine, and that is too bad (Matthew 15:13-14; Isaiah 9:14-16; Jeremiah 23:13; 2 Peter 2:1-3). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services I went to a funeral and saw things that shouldn’t have been done.
For example, the people who gave speeches pretty much preached the dead man into heaven. Whether a person is going to heaven or hell is not decided by what the living say, that is decided God, and it is best that we leave that to Him (1 Corinthians 4:4-5). Some of the people didn’t spend time with the man while he was alive, yet they felt they had to come and spend time with his dead body. This is hypocrisy; give the flowers while the person can smell and see them (Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 25:35-36). Next, the family wanted his funeral at a church, when the dead man didn’t go to church while he was alive. Now a dead body carried into a church location means nothing to God; but a living person faithfully going to church does (Hebrews 10:25; John 4:23-24; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-4). And finally, people said that the dead man was looking down and smiling at everyone. The word of God teaches that dead people don’t know what the living are doing (Ecclesiastes 9:4-6) (Funerals included). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services Sometimes it takes huge inconveniences to get mankind to slow down and consider that the world doesn’t revolve around our every move. The ash from that volcano last week made that perfectly clear by stopping mankind in his tracks—world leaders, businesses, and everyone else came screeching to a halt.
And guess what? A slow down will occur again, by another natural or man-made disaster, or the granddaddy of them all; the day of Judgment! (Acts 17:31). On that great day, all men will stop their busy lives to stand before Jesus Christ and be judged for the deeds done in life (Romans 14:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46). So that volcano taught us much, and we need to reflect on the fact that nothing keeps going uninterrupted (not even those batteries on television). We need to think about these things (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; James 4:13-15; Luke 12:16-20). 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 supposed 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. Having a good time being critical of someone who has sinned? Read John 8:1-11.
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” 11 She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. I’m not interested in excusing hypocrites because God condemns such deception (James 3:17; Matthew 6:5,16; Matthew 23:1-39; 1 Peter 2:1). However, when I hear someone refusing to visit church because of the hypocrites they claim are in it, I challenge them to tell someone in that church about the sin (Numbers 32:23).
Inconsistency can be found in the lives of these accusers because they will not refuse a blood transfusion if hypocrites are working at the hospital. If drowning in the sea, they will not refuse a life raft because there are hypocrites on board. Neither, will they refuse to work at a job, live in a neighborhood or shop at the mall with hypocrites. Seems like people just want a excuse not to go to church. God looks at the heart of man and not the outside (1 Samuel 16:7). However, that doesn’t give man the right to attend church looking like he is ready to feed the hogs or mow grass. When going on a job interview, date, party, wedding, funeral, etc, people dress up. Now dressing up doesn’t have to be a tux or evening dress but it does involve preparing. The same attitude should exist toward church services. It is a place of reverence, so it is special and people should prepare themselves for such an occasion (Matt. 18:20; Exodus 19:10-15). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services Saturday once stood for “the Sabbath”, a day of rest that was commanded by God. In Genesis 2:1-3, the Lord took a personal Sabbath, resting from His work of creating the world. When the Israelites left Egypt, God taught them to keep the Sabbath, and they did so until Christ took it away by His death on the cross (Exodus 20:8-11, 31:12-17; Colossians 2:13-17).
We, however, are writing about the first day of the week which is Sunday. In the Bible, this day is called the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). It is the day when the saints come together to worship God, observe the communion, and give into the treasury of the local church (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). It is to be a day when men do what God expects and not use it exclusively for selfish pursuits. Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Getting along with others is vital, and here are some pointers. Refuse slander because it’s infectious and only contaminates (Proverbs 15:18, 26:17-22). A person’s mouth must be used for encouragement not destruction (James 3:8-12; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; Luke 4:22). When people do you wrong, don’t resort to violence. Physically attacking someone is based upon wrath and such actions never work righteousness (James 1:20). Don’t be a walking time bomb because such people are always in trouble and apologizing because of their tempers. The Bible teaches, “wrath rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
Look at the example set by Jesus. He was slandered and suffered many wrongs, yet He didn’t repay evil for evil (1 Peter 2:21-23; Romans 12:17-21). When issues arise, men must settle them honorably (Philippians 2:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Col. 3:13). Being friendly toward others cannot hurt—a smile requires a few face muscles, while a frown demands more. So if you are feuding with someone and would like to work toward peace, give them a sincere greeting. If the person has the right spirit, he will respond in a positively. If not, you have done what you could, so move on (Proverbs 14:7). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. The trumpet which will announce the end of the world will be a shocker! I cannot imagine what the volume of the blast will be like, but be assured it will be loud because the sound will be heard around the world! (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:7-11).For those who don’t have a clue to what I’m talking about allow me to tell you.
Regardless of what atheists say, count on hearing a trumpet from the heavens announcing that the world is ending and for all to stand before God and be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10). Also on that Day the dead will be raised and they too will be judged (John 5:28-29). To anyone who hasn’t been taught about God and life after death, this might sound like fiction. But ask yourself, “Don’t you think men must pay the Piper?” (Hebrews 4:13). Man lives on God’s green earth soaking in His goodness and not have to face Him one day? Fiction is believing the opposite—that one can live and enjoy something that doesn’t belong to them and not have to answer for it. Yes, that is the real fiction. Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. There is quite a bit of wrong doing occurring in homes, and that has been proven by the bad behavior of high school students. When you have students beating up other students and going on downtown rampages, somebody hasn’t had the proper home training. The students' first steps are the home (maybe church if the parents go), the school, and the public. When you see a high school student, you are looking at the product of a home. In the home, a child is to be loved, fed, and taught how to be of good behavior. When you see respectful students doing well, you are looking at children from a home where sound teaching and discipline prevail (Proverbs 20:11).
Yes, parents share the blame and even if a son or daughter is rebellious, those parents must take the right steps to make sure their child doesn’t mislead or be misled (1 Timothy 3:4-5). The buck starts and ends with the parents, and they need to do their job because God will hold them responsible along with the child (Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 10:1; Colossians 3:20-21; Psalm 78:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. |