A FORCED RELIGION

by Larry Fife

A mother and child returned from worship and were subjected by the husband and father to verbal abuse and mental cruelty. He does this regularly because he is of a different belief. His attitude is to make them so miserable in their devotion to Christ and the church, that they will set aside their convictions and attend a man-made church with him. What is happening here? It is an example of forced religion, a religion as worthless as the paper it is written on.

A companion tells her spouse that she will not live with him if he is going to be an active member of the church of Christ. Do you want to guess why this is? You are right! It is an example of a person using the threat of separation to force their religious beliefs. A teenager attends a gospel meeting and obeys the gospel. When she returned to her home, she was happy now that she was a Christian. Her parents, who were not Christians, told her that she would have to leave home because of what she had done. Were the parents right? Absolutely not! Even parents have no right to force their religious beliefs and practices upon their children if those beliefs do not align with the Bible. The apostle John wrote of those who were forced to deny Christ, lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 9:22).

Some religions are forced at the point of gun, others by social, political or economic considerations. In contrast, true Christianity is a taught religion. It is taught by word and deed. To try and force Christ and His teachings upon another is an exercise in futility.

Saul of Tarsus was very zealous for his own religion and very bitter against Christ and His church. He used physical force, even murder to advance his beliefs. He later admitted his error (Acts 26:4-31).

If your religion is valid, it can be defended with the Bible. If what you believe and practice cannot be defended with the Word of God, it is not of God. Think about it.

Larry’s Bio: Larry is the pulpit minister for the Fayette Church of Christ in Fayette, AL. He is also the director and host of the television program Bible Talk. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Larry attended the University of Tennessee at Martin majoring in wildlife biology. Larry is also a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching.

Links:

www.fayettecoc.org

www.bible-talk.org

A WAKE UP CALL FROM JESUS

by Scott Shifferd

“Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation”, said Jesus as He returned from prayer in the garden (Lk 22.46). Jesus told His disciples to pray that they not enter into temptation, but now, an armed crowd came to arrest Jesus. When is an inopportune to time to listen to Jesus?

Many people do not listen to Jesus, and they think they are heaven bound. They reason that good people go to Heaven. If good people go to Heaven, then who needs Jesus and who needs God? Regarding being good, Jesus said, "No one is good but One, that is, God" (Mk 10.18). He also said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mk 2.17b). If we have not been sinners, then we do not need Jesus. Jesus was asked, "Lord, are there few who are saved?", and to which Jesus replied, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Lk 13.23-24).

If we need to repent, then we need Jesus. Do our consciences tell us that we need to be relieved of guilt and regret? Jesus said,

“What comes out of a person, that defiles a person. For from within, out of the heart of people, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, extramarital sex, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, cursing, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mk 7.20-23).

Are we innocent or guilty? If we not guilty of some sin and evil, then we do not need Jesus. Christ said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (Jn 8.34). He also stated, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn 8.32).

No one wants to believe that God would send us to Hell, but those, who are guilty, are condemned (Jn 3.18-20). Jesus stated,

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13.41-42).

Jesus was clear about those, who practice lawlessness, saying,

“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 'And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mt 7.21-23).

Jesus stated, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Lk 12.5, cf. Mk 9.43).

See, Jesus taught, "The Son of man has come to save that which was lost" (Mt 18.11, cf. Lk 19.9-10, Jn 3.17, 12.47). For Christ prayed,

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17.1-3).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, cf. 10:9).

Jesus tells of what must be given for eternal life saying, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (Jn 12:25), and Christ said in Mark 8.34-35, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and the gospel's will save it” (cf. Lk 9.24ff, Mt 10.37-39). Therefore, Jesus wants us to be like Him. Jesus showed the world the greatest act of love as Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (Jn 15.13).

Do you truly believe Jesus Christ? Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Mt 10.32-33). Jesus said that He would build His Church on the confession that He is the Christ (Mt 16.18). Therefore, Jesus instructed that one must believe that He is, who He says that He is, the “I am” (Jn 8.24, 58, Is 9.6, 48.16).

Do you truly love Christ? Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (Jn 14.21). Jesus warned of dying in sins saying, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13.3, 5). Therefore, Jesus taught, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn 3.5). Jesus spoke of being born of the water and the Spirit when He said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk 16.16, cf. Mt 28.19).

Knowing that Jesus said that all can be freed from sin by the Truth, that Truth is God's Word (Jn 8.32, 17.17). Therefore, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (Jn 8.31). The disciples of Christ within His Church can be clearly seen. Jesus preached, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Mt 5.6-8). Jesus also stated, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13.35, cf. 1 Jn 3.16). Concerning man-made worship and the worship that David brought to Jerusalem, Jesus said,

“believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father […] the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn 4.21-24).

These are characteristics of Christ's followers, who form the Church that He built.

When is an inopportune to time to listen to Jesus? “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, unless you enter into temptation”. Listen to Him now. Christ warned and instructed,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt 7.13-14, Lk 13.23-24).

Jesus invites you,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt 11.28-30).

~Scott Shifferd

Scott’s bio:  Scott Shifferd is a native of Montgomery, AL. He has served as a minister for 12 years, and for 6 years been ministering by preaching at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL. Scott married Rachael Christine Sullivan of Tallahassee, FL after they met in Jacksonville and dated at Freed-Hardeman. They have a daughter and two sons. Scott has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Faulkner University. Scott has written hundreds of articles for his website for over 7 years at GodsBreath.Net that reaches 18,000 readers a month from around the world.

Links:

http://godsbreath.net

http://www.deanroadchurchofchrist.org

THE OLD BIBLE

By Nathan Franson

There is a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch titled The Old Violin that describes the fate of an old violin up for auction:

'Twas battered and scarred,
 And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
 To waste his time on the old violin,
 but he held it up with a smile."What am I bid, good people", he cried,
 "Who starts the bidding for me?"
 "One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
 "Two dollars, who makes it three?"
 "Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"But, No,
 From the room far back a gray bearded man
 Came forward and picked up the bow,
 Then wiping the dust from the old violin
 And tightening up the strings,
 He played a melody, pure and sweet
 As sweet as the angel sings.The music ceased and the auctioneer
 With a voice that was quiet and low,
 Said, "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
 As he held it aloft with its' bow."One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
 "Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
 "Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
 Going and gone", said he.The audience cheered,
 But some of them cried,
 "We just don't understand."
 "What changed its' worth?"
 Swift came the reply.
 "The Touch of the Masters Hand.""And many a man with life out of tune
 All battered and bruised with hardship
 Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
 Much like that old violinA mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
 A game and he travels on.
 He is going once, he is going twice,
 He is going and almost gone.But the Master comes,
 And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
 The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
 By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

In the mind of the casual observer the violin was a tattered and dusty instrument that had obviously been used many times over the years.  On the surface it was not attractive by any means. Then something remarkable was realized. The instrument’s worth significantly swelled when used for how it was purposed. How could anyone have overlooked this remarkable piece?

How often are people so distracted by the appearance of something that they fail to really see its value? While listening to a preacher one day, I noticed the old Bible that he used. The cover was worn, the binding was weak, a number of pages were ripped in addition to the writing scribbled on each of them. As he opened it, he suggested how maybe it was time to retire and replace “this old bible.”  If only he could have seen the value of what he held through the eyes of the students in front of him.    

Its tired condition came from years of being carried around and used by a Gospel preacher.  Its binding was weak from the countless times it had been opened.  Its pages were ripped from being handled, examined, and turned many times over; and all of the “scribbling” were notes from thorough study and annotations from the many sermons by other great preachers of the word. How many times had it been read and its content closely analyzed? How many sermons and bible studies had been conducted using it? How many souls had been saved while turning to the applicable passages within its exhausted body? 

What is the value of a bible?  For some it may be the new expensive edition with the fancy goatskin cover. For others it may be the one with the extended concordance and all the charts. Or maybe, it is the one whose owner appreciates it enough to realize that “the old bible” is worth the most when it is used.

Nathan’s Bio: Nathan Franson has been preaching for the church of Christ in Kissimmee, Florida since June, 2009.   He is a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching.  Prior to preaching he lived in Los Angeles, California working as a special makeup effects artist in the motion picture and theatre industry.  He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where he spent his first twenty years in the Mormon Church before studying his way out and has taught and written much about their religion.  He has spoken at gospel meetings, lectureships, and has written numerous articles along with a tract. He currently lives in Orlando with his wife, Katy and son, Micah.

Links:

www.mormonstudy.net

www.kissimmeecofc.org