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"Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
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THE FENCES ARE BEING TORN
DOWN!!!
Our minister, Odis
Duncan, shared a lesson with the congregation recently in which
he masterfully illustrated how the fences built by Christ and His
apostles are being torn down.
We are living in a time
where everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. This is
not new, for the record tells us that in the days of the Judges,
“In those days there was no king in
Israel, but every man did that which was right
in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6). With many today the Bible has
become “God’s suggestion book”. If people do not like what they
read in God’s word, they will say, “that is alright, God will
accept what I desire.” For example, Christ is clear on the
subject of marriage and divorce, but that is not what many want.
Jesus plainly stated as recorded in Matthew 19:3-9 “The
Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him,
Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every
cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye
not read, that he which made them at the beginning made
them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man
leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they
twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more
twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,
let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses
then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her
away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the
hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but
from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for
fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and
whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
In this passage Jesus
strikes down the idea that one might choose to marry someone of
the same sex. He stresses that marriage is between a male and a
female. And if it wasn’t so serious it would be humorous to think
that someone could just decide to be what they are not. I
recently heard of two teenage girls that decided they were cats,
and the school put a sandbox in the bathroom for them to use. On
the other hand, that not humorous; it is just plain ridiculous.
The writer of Proverbs wrote in chapter 30, verse twelve, “There
is a generation that are pure in their own
eyes, and yet is not washed from their
filthiness.”
God’s word warns about
lowering the fences. There are wolves on the outside ready to
devour the flock. Paul wrote in Acts 20:27-30, “For I have not
shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I
know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall
men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them.”
While it is the duty of
the elders in the congregation to “watch for our souls”, that is
a task that every Christian must undertake for himself. “And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation
20:12).
God gave us His word so
we would have strong fences against the wolves that desire to
scatter and destroy the flock. When we choose to ignore the word,
we are lowering the fences, or in some case, just taking them
down. The world loves this. They do not want us following God. They
don’t want anyone doing that which is right. But Isaiah wrote in
Isaiah 5:21, “Woe unto them that are wise in their
own eyes in, and prudent in their own sight!”
The wolves also have a
way of herding the sheep away from the safety of the sheep fold.
Jesus spoke of this when he said, “And someone said to him,
“Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to
them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I
tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once
the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you
begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord,
open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you
come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in
your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will
say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from
me, all you workers of evil!’” (Luke 13:23-27).
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Feature Two: an article by R.
C. Oliver
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ANSWERING A QUESTION
ABOUT:
THE LORD’S SUPPER
A young minister asked a
question concerning the observance of the Lord’s supper. He
writes, “Is the ‘breaking of bread’ to always be identified with
the Lord’s Supper so as to make it a commandment to observe it
every Lord’s Day?” Certainly the expression, “breaking of bread”
or, “to break bread” is not, nor was not, limited to the Lord’s
supper, rather, it was a phrase common among those of the time of
Christ to denote ordinary eating for refreshment. An example of
this may be seen in Acts 2:46, which incidentally our young friend
also points out where it is written: “Daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat
with gladness and singleness of heart.” This breaking of bread
occurred daily, and certainly does not refer to the Lord’s supper.
However, such is not true in the case of Acts 2:42. Here when
speaking of the piety and devotion of the early Christians, Luke
says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.” In this passage the breaking of the bread is
definite and not indefinite as in the case of Acts 2:46. Luke is
specific here when he calls it “the breaking of the loaf”, and in
view of the fact that he speaks of other acts of worship here,
this particular loaf is explained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:16
when he says, “The loaf which we break, is it not the communion
of the body of Christ”. Therefore, though the breaking of
bread does not always refer to the Lord’s supper, yet in these
places where it does we conclude from what is said there that it
is a weekly obligation as well as a privilege that is to be
observed by all Christians. How dangerous therefore it is to
remain identified with a church that does not offer to you this privilege
each first day of the week!
This
minister seems not to realize that God has three ways of teaching
men, namely, by a direct statement, by a necessary inference, and
by an approved precedent or example. Regarding the importance of
the Lord’s supper it is directly stated: “For I have received
of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord
Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took
bread: And when he had given thanks, he
brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body,
which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After
the same manner also he took the cup, when he had
supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of
me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). We know from this direct
statement that we are to observe the Lord’s supper. But someone
asks, “How often must we do this?” The answer to this question is
not to be found in a direct statement; rather, it is to be found
in an approved example. We read in Acts 20:7 the following: “And
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them….” It is
of interest to note that where it is here rendered “to break
bread,” the Syriac renders it: “to break the eucharist.” We
conclude that it was an established custom among the disciples,
whose customs or practices, were an outgrowth of the teachings of
the apostles as the Holy Spirit guided them into all truth (John
16:13) to meet upon the first day of each week to break bread or
observe the Lord’s supper as the Lord, through the Holy Spirit,
had commanded. For this reason, those of us today who neglect to
observe the Lord’s supper each first day of the week reject the
teachings of the Holy Spirit of God.
In
that the practices of the church were an outgrowth of the teaching
of the apostles through the Holy Spirit, we conclude that what one
church did they all did. The Holy Spirit does not teach one thing
in one place and turn around and contradict Himself in another and
different place. What the church did in Troas, the church did
everywhere, and in order to be right we must continue that same
practice today.
Of
Acts 20:7 and its context the minister said, “Some who use the
term of ‘breaking of bread’ for the Lord’s supper also use Acts
20:7 as proof that the apostolic church observed the Lord’s supper
every Lord’s day…however, in verse eleven of the same chapter we
read, ‘When he therefore was come up again, and had broken
bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day,
so he departed.’ The young minister said, He broke bread
after midnight making it definitely the second day of the week in
this case. This preacher, as usual, is wrong again, for what is
spoken of Paul in verse eleven is not the same as is spoken of the
whole body of disciples in verse seven. In verse eleven he that
eats is in the same number with him that breaks a loaf. Therefore,
the bread of verse eleven is not the same as that of verse seven,
and vice versa. Paul as not therefore doing in verse eleven what
the whole body of disciples assembled to do in verse seven.
Why,
I wonder, is it so hard to get people to see the need of observing
the Lord’s supper each first day of the week? After all, if one
who believes we ought to observe the sabbath, the seventh day of
the week, should ask our friend why he observes the first day
instead of the seventh. I venture to say that he would direct his
attention to this and other related texts to show that we are to
meet upon each first day of the week. Furthermore, if one should
enquire as to why he takes a collection on the first day of the
week, he no doubt would turn to 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. In other
words, when it comes to taking your money, he can easily
understand 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and other related passages, but
when it comes to the Lord’s supper, he just can’t seem to
understand that. Isn’t that strange? Or is it?
Let
me make it just a little more personal. Does your church take up a
collection on each Sunday? Why? They tell you it is because the
Bible teaches us to do it that way, do they not? Why, then, don’t
they serve the Lord’s supper each first day of the week also,
seeing the Bible with equal clearness teaches that this ought to
be done also? Could it be that they are more interested in your
money than they are in your soul? Indeed, friends, you had better
examine your preacher and your church too, for it is written: “For
the leaders of this people cause them to err;
and they that are led of them are destroyed.” (Isaiah
9:16). Why don’t you ask your preacher why he takes your money on
the first day of the week but doesn’t see to it that you have the
privilege of observing the Lord’s supper? Those who follow the New
Testament will observe the Lord’s supper upon the first day of
every week.
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Feature
Three: Sandy's Women's Corner
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Editor's Note: You can read weekly
articles from Sandy at the following Web
site: abiblecommentary.com "Blog for Christian
Women"
CHILDREN CAN DO PERSONAL
WORK
During Vacation Bible School
this summer, we had three little girls come from the community. Two
of them were in my class, and one was in a younger class. They
loved VBS and expressed a desire to come to Bible study. We made
contact with the mother, and she was agreeable to having someone
pick them up every Sunday and Wednesday.
These girls had been
attending a denominational church with their mother before the
pandemic, but they had not returned since things opened up. They
seemed to love class and worship, and we have been hopeful that we
could get the mother and father to start attending.
Because the children are
from a blended family, there has been the interruption of other
family members wanting to do things with one or more of the girls.
School has started, and that has interfered with their Wednesday
evening attendance. As you might guess, they have stopped coming.
Mom wants them to attend, but we haven’t been able to get her to
come with them.
My precious little great
niece knew the younger girl, and she did everything to welcome her.
She sat with her in class and during worship. One day I told her
that what she was doing was personal work. She was surprised that
she could do personal work, something she thought was just for
grown-ups.
One of the girls in my
class is friends with one of the other girls, and she has been
disturbed by the fact that the girls have quite attending. She told
me a few weeks ago that she asks her often why she doesn’t come
back. The girl tells her that she is ok even if she doesn’t attend
all the time. She says as long as she believes in Jesus, she is ok.
I was very proud of the answer from her friend. She said, “Oh, no!
You have so much to learn. There are so many more stories in the
Bible we need to know. You need to come to class so you can learn
them.”
What a great start these
two girls have on being personal workers. They both love Bible
class, and they love the Bible. They want others to love those
things too. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had that attitude
about seeking the lost and inviting people to worship with
us?
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Feature Four:
Honor to Whom Honor
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“But he that is greatest
among you shall be your servant.”
Matthew 23:11
Danny Collins
When I first became an elder
I grew to love my fellow elder, Danny Collins. He became my mentor
in many ways. I often went visiting with Danny, and was always
impressed with his love for the brethren. I saw him almost in tears
trying to convince erring members to return to the Lord, and often
they came back. When I think of the eldership as being shepherds,
Danny is always the first person that comes to my mind. He taught me
much. We shared much about the Lord’s work over coffee with him
giving me helpful instruction about the true work of the elder. He
taught me to keep my eye on the spiritual side rather than the
physical side. But as a true teacher, he not only shared his
insights verbally, I saw him live what he taught. He “fought a good
fight” and has now “finished his course”, but his work still follows
him.
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Feature
Five: Bible Question
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May a Christian use
Marijuana in a state where it is legal?
While attending the 2022
Polishing the Pulpit in Sevierville, Tennessee this year I heard one
of our preachers, Melvin Otey, who is also an attorney, address this
subject. He said that federal laws outweigh state laws. While
several states have legalized marijuana, the federal government has
not. It is a federal crime to possess marijuana in any state. While
the federal government is not in a position to police marijuana and
some states refuse to honor federal law on this subject, it is still
a crime. Christians are to obey the law of the land according to
Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God.Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation.” Federal law considers marijuana
possession and/or use to be a federal crime in every state.
Therefore marijuana use by a Christian is a sin no matter what the
state might say.
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“While working for an
organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to
take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was
unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age,
particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her
staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced
myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned
and whispered, “The tooth fairy will never believe this!”
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