| JOHN WADDEY, EDITOR
Published by the Church of Christ, 12213 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374 Volume 1, Number 2
October 1, 2001 |
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Table of Contents: 1. DOES AMERICAN NEED JEHOVAH?
For 50 years incessant war has been waged in our country against
Christianity. A largely successful attempt has been made to drive the influence of and respect for Christianity, its founder and its God from the public life of the nation. Leading the attack has been groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Citizens for the American Way. They have been eagerly backed and supported by secularists of all stripes and kinds plus other non-Christian religious groups who benefit when Christianity is relegated to the back streets of American life. Many of those who have used their influence and power to push the Christian God out of public life are themselves members of our governing and judicial systems.
Now terrorists have succeeded in attacking and destroying the World Trade Towers, in damaging the Pentagon and inflicting massive casualties, many political leaders, and TV commentators are urging us to pray for God's help in this hour or crisis. Perhaps it is time for those who have labored to be free from any Christian impulse and to keep such influences out of public life to decide if in fact we need to ask Jehovah for help in this hour of need. If, as they say, open expressions of faith in God in public institutions are bad and undesirable, how do they justify this exception?
The fact is America desperately needs Jehovah. We need more than the National Anthem at a ball game and a reference to God on our money, more than hollow words by politicians who are running for election. We need nationwide repentance and return to Jehovah. Consider these reasons why we need God back in the heart of our national life: "The kingdom is Jehovah's and he is the ruler over the nations" (Ps. 22:28). "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men" (Dan. 4:17). God raises up kings (rulers) and removes them (Dan.2:21). "Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah" (Ps. 33:12).
Nations that forget God will be turned into hell (Ps. 9:17). Nations as well as individuals reap what they have sown (Gal. 6:7). "Except Jehovah keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Ps. 127:1). God expects his people to offer up "supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings...for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life..." (I Tim. 2:1-2). We can be sure that the fervent prayers of the righteous can and will avail much (Jas. 4:16).
In times like these the nation does not look to the Larry Flynts, the Hugh Hefners; the magnates of Wall Street, the Spielbergs and Streisands of entertainment? They look to God and they want Christians to respond to the need with their compassion and prayers. Those who curse and despise God in good times are on poor footing to call upon Him in a crisis. Those who fight against God, and seek to make our nation secular, have no ground to call upon
Him when their secular world crumbles beneath their feet. While the secularists wring their hands and gnash their teeth God's children can sing with David, "Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?...Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident" (Ps. 27:1-3). JHW  |
2. BEWARE THE REVISIONISTS
In recent years we have witnessed the deceptive work of historical revisionists who have rewritten certain areas of history in order to inject their personal views into the words and deeds of past leaders. By this dishonest method, they seek to exonerate the guilty and condemn the honorable. They make good evil and evil good (Is. 5:20). Revisionists have succeeded in dishonoring and belittling the founders of our nation. They are disguising Japan's brutal aggressions in World War II. Now the aims, purposes and goals of our Restoration Movement are being revised by some of our own preachers and educators.
As I read and listen to our revisionist preachers offer their critiques of the Lord's church my reaction varies from disbelief to disgust. It is clear that many of them see no value or benefit, much less scriptural necessity, for restoring New Testament Christianity. Many of them see nothing sinful or wrong with the denominational variety of Christianity prevalent in our world.
It is evident that many of them have little knowledge of the genesis of the Restoration Movement. Certainly they have not done much reading in original sources such as the biographies, sermons and gospel papers of the first 150 years of our history. Most of them share an obvious and pronounced dislike for the preachers and publications of our brotherhood prior to c.a. 1960.
Few if any of them have ever done pioneer work, planting churches in difficult mission fields where they had to do battle with error and wrest souls away from malignant error. Rather virtually all of them live handsomely and comfortably off the labors of those older pioneers whom they despise.
Our revisionists can find serious flaws in the best of our past leaders that discredit them, while finding only admirable virtues in liberal heretics and denominational leaders. When they tell the story of our beginnings on this continent, they use carefully crafted, partial truths that are designed to convince the unknowing that our pioneers were attempting to do something different than our brethren were trying to do in the 20th century. One such brother's eyes twinkled as he boldly proclaimed that our earliest pioneers were all actually denominational preachers, not bothering to explain that they all chose to leave their denominational connections behind them.
Let every Christian remember that in interpreting the past as in interpreting the Scriptures, only truth can make us free (John 8:24). If these men had a modicum of integrity, they would simply renounce the Churches of Christ and their goal of Restoring New Testament Christianity, embrace the denominationalism they love and abandon their attempts to revise our history.
JHW3. WHY WE HAVE NO PIANO
Dear Editor:
Most churches have a piano or other instruments of music to assist in their song worship. Why you have no instrumental music with your worship? R. U.
Dear Friend: - It's not a matter of finances. We could afford a piano if we wanted one.
- It's not that we lack musicians to play for us. Many of our people have musical skills.
- It's not that we don't like instrumental music. Most of us enjoy it as well as anyone.
- It's not that it's against our tradition. Human traditions play no part in our church.
- It's not that we are against progress. We enjoy modern conveniences like other folks.
We have no instruments in our churches because we find no authority in the
New Testament of Christ to do so. We know the early church did not use instruments of music. Christ insists that we obey all things whatsoever he has commanded us (Matt. 28:20). Through Paul he teaches us to "sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord (Eph. 5:19). In our quest to be New Testament Christians we gladly limit ourselves to the guidelines set forth for us by Jesus the founder and head of the church (Eph. 1:22). That's why we have no piano. JHW 4. THE MANLY JESUS Some men feel that Christianity is OK for women and children but real men don't need it. They have mistakenly concluded that Jesus was a weak, feminine fellow to whom masculine men would not give the time of day.
Perhaps they have been deceived by the artists' portrayals of Jesus, many of which depict him as frail, weak and feminine. The artists probably were trying to portray his youth, innocence and gentleness. But the Jesus revealed in the gospels is not the weak, timid, trembling soul of the artists. Many years ago Bruce Barton wrote a wonderful book, The Man Nobody Knows. In it he demonstrated that rather than being weak, Jesus of Nazareth was indeed, a masculine, strong and courageous man. - He worked in a carpenter's shop (Mark 6:3). There was no power equipment, no motorized transportation. Every aspect of that work was heavy, manual labor. Those who engaged in it grew physically strong.
- Being from a poor family, his diet, dress and social life was Spartan; no dining on luxurious food, or sporting of fine raiment. He was a working men.
- During his brief ministry, Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine. Only once do we read of him riding, and it was on a borrowed beast (Lk. 19:35).
There were no litters born on servant's shoulders, no fine carriage in which to ride. He walked. Only a strong physical constitution could endure such rigors. - The manliness of Jesus is seen in those who became his disciples: tough, hardworking fishermen, like Peter and Andrew; hotheaded young men like James and John (Mk. 3:17); hardened revolutionaries like Simon the Zealot (Luke 6:15). They adored and served him and willingly died for his Cause.
- It is seen in the multitude of women who followed Jesus (Lk8:3). Women are not attracted to weak, fearful and feminine men.
- His manliness was demonstrated in his ministry. Twice he walked into the
Jewish temple and drove the money changers out (John 2:15; Mk. 11:15-19).
Read the report and notice that no man stepped forward to challenge his action. They were intimidated by his manly strength and fortitude. He fearlessly rebuked the powerful leaders of Judaism, openly, calling them hypocrites and a generation of vipers (Matt. 23:29-33). They could only gnash their teeth or slip away in embarrassment. - When the band of soldiers came to arrest him, unarmed, he bravely stood up and confronted them. They melted in fear (John 18:6).
- When he was flogged (John 19:1) and physically abused, he endured their wrath without tears or cries for mercy. Only after hours of abuse did he collapse under the weight of the cross (Mk. 15:21). This tells us that he was extremely robust and strong.
- When the heartless soldiers drove the iron spikes into this hands and feet, he did not beg for mercy, rather he forgave them for their ignorance (Lk. 23:34) and expressed concern for the welfare of his mother (John 19:26-27).
When, after six hours of agony, he expired, they had not succeeded in killing him. "He yielded up his spirit" (Matt. 27:50). As creator and Lord, the power of life and death were his (John 10:18).
This is the Jesus preached by the apostles. To this manly Jesus millions have committed their lives and for him multitudes have died. Men of every rank have respected and honored him, loved and served him as their Savior and
Master. With this clearer picture of Jesus before you, don't you think you too should kneel before Jesus, as did Thomas, and confess him as "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28)? Never has there been a more manly man on the face of this earth. JHW "No revolution that has ever taken place in society
can be compared to that which has been produced
by the words of Jesus Christ" (Mark Hopkins). 5. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Capital punishment is a front-burner issue today. Should convicted murderers be executed for their crimes? Those opposed to this aspect of justice make much noise. Frequently they appeal to the Bible to justify their contention. Their arguments contain much thunder and little lightening.
The God who created man spoke to this issue over 5,000 years ago. To Noah he said, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Gen. 9:6). Under the Mosaic system God commanded his people not to kill (Ex. 20:13), and then set forth the death penalty for those who dared to murder their fellowman (Num. 35:16). He was careful to exclude those guilty of manslaughter or unintentional killing (Num. 35:11).
No one could be executed in the absence of two or more witnesses (Num.
35:30). The murderer was never to be spared because of ransoms or bribes (Num. 35:32). The prohibition against murder did not prohibit the Hebrew from serving his nation in time of war (Num. 21:1-3).
The New Testament of Christ recognizes and reaffirms this ancient tool of justice by reminding Christians that God has endowed civil governments with the power of the sword which they hold, "not in vain," which is to say, they have the sword of execution and the right and power to use it (Rom. 13:1,4).
It is amazing how many moderns feel they know more than God about punishing murderers. We often hear it called a barbaric practice from the dark ages.
Wrong! Capital punishment is not barbaric, but allowing murders to live to kill again is. Making the murder victim's family wait for 20 years before executing the murderer is barbaric. Is it not strange to see folks working tirelessly to save the life of a
cold-bloodied murderer with little or no concern for his victims and their suffering loved ones? |
6. ACTORS AND ACTING
Acting is a legitimate profession. Although many professional actors live shameful lives, some are noble, honorable people. A Christian might properly be professional actor but there is one type of acting God forbids; in fact, he hates and despises it. That is, the person who plays at being a Christian. The Greek word, hupokrites describes the Greek and Roman stage actors who spoke behind masks. Jesus took that legitimate word and used to describe the dissimulation and pretense of the religious leaders of the Jews of his day. "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" (Matt. 23:29). From that day to this, to be called a hypocrite has never been a compliment.
Unfortunately, hypocrisy is commonly found in churches, wrong though it may be. The funny thing about hypocrites is they think no one can see the "real them" behind their mask of righteousness. For a child of God to sin is not hypocrisy. To pretend that you do not, is! To be a weak, imperfect Christian is not hypocrisy, but to pretend to be the best Christian is.
The best prophylactic against hypocrisy is open confession of ones sin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8-9). Since we are all in the same boat, sinners, saved only by the grace of God, let's not play games. Forget the mask, just do your best to be a disciple of Jesus. JHW Christianity: Then and Now
Church of Christ
12213 West Bell Rd. Ste. 211
Surprise, AZ 85375 |
