In the Steps of the Savior: Divine Doctrine or Human Precepts

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Authority, Subject Index by Osborne, Harry

The teaching of Jesus continually directs our attention to a single question by which we evaluate any teaching: Is the doctrine of divine origin or human invention? To the leaders of the Jews who had rejected the baptism of John, Jesus asked, "The baptism of John, whence was it — from heaven or from men?" (Matthew 21:25). Baptism following repentance had been taught by John as a commandment, not a suggestion. When a teaching is lawfully advanced as a matter of mandatory faith and practice, it must be of divine origin. If we teach human tradition or even personal conscience as mandatory or impose such as tests of fellowship, we incur the condemnation of God (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

Nowhere is the binding of human tradition condemned in clearer terms than by Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees for doing that very thing. Notice the situation as recorded in Mark’s account (Mark 7:1-13, ASV):

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In the Steps of the Savior: Giving Thanks

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Thanksgiving, Prayer, Subject Index by Osborne, Harry

In Luke 17, the Bible tells us of a time when Jesus came to a village near the border of Galilee and Samaria while on His way to Jerusalem. As he came into the village, ten lepers were shouting to Him in the distance. They pleaded with Jesus to heal them saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

Jesus responded by commanding them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." No doubt this gave the lepers great cause for hope. Under the Old Testament regulations regarding lepers, there was no reason for a leper to go to the priest unless some change had occurred in his status. Leviticus 13 and 14 detail the tests for leprosy, the quarantine associated with it and the sacrifices to be given in the case of cleansing. The same trust that led them to seek healing from Jesus led them to do as He said and go to the priests. The text shows how their hope became a reality in the following words:

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Contending for the Faith: Baptist Homosexual Dilemma

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Denominationalism, Homosexuality, Baptist Church, Calvinism, Subject Index by Hafley, Larry Ray

Under the headline, "Pro-homosexual Church Withdraws from CBF," the following article appeared www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=11536, August 17, 2001.

    "University Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, has notified the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) that they are pulling out of the national group because of its policy against homosexuals, according to a report in The American-Statesman.

    "The CBF’s policy prohibits the hiring of non-celibate gays and lesbians, bars them from missionary work and does not allow the organization to give money to homosexual groups or causes.

    "’We most deeply regret the condemning message you have sent in the name of Christ to all gay and lesbian persons by your action,’ wrote the Rev. Larry Bethune in a letter from the church Aug. 16. ‘Because it is God’s call for our congregation to minister with gay and lesbian Baptist Christians and their families, we cannot in good conscience support an organization which discriminates against our brothers and sisters in Christ … any more than we could do so if the CBF discriminated on the basis of race or gender,’ Bethune wrote.

    "This isn’t the first scrape University Baptist has had over its policy of welcoming homosexuals. The Austin Baptist Association voted to oust the church in 1995 after University Baptist ordained a gay deacon. The Baptist General Convention of Texas’ executive committee voted to end its affiliation with University Baptist in 1998. University Baptist is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., a Baptist denomination that continues to debate whether to take a stand on churches that allow non-celibate homosexual members."

Candid Comments

First, how does the average Baptist regard the spiritual status of "the Rev. Larry Bethune" and the "University Baptist Church in Austin"? Are those who endorse and sanction homosexual behavior, such as they do, still in a saved state before God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)?

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Contending for the Faith: Pattern Authority, Pattern Worship?

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Worship, Authority, Subject Index by Hafley, Larry Ray

The following requests and questions (in italics below) were submitted to me for comment. We trust the responses will be helpful and will gender study and reflection, not strife and recrimination.

    "For those of you who believe in a "patterned" and prescriptive "worship", would you please supply the following for me?

    (a couple of stipulations….Do it FROM the New Testament ALONE. Do it by PROVABLE Authorial intent)

Reply: Why should we be forced to follow a pattern in reply? Since it is obvious the querist does not believe in a pattern, how can he demand that we follow one?

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Walking Worthy: The Bias Against Baptism

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Baptism, Redemption, Salvation, Subject Index by Smith, J.S.

In a recent exchange between a Christian evangelist and a Baptist "pastor," the latter stated that anything one needs to do in order to be saved is a work, and thus nullifies grace.

His Calvinistic "faith only" doctrine is coming back to bite him. Surely, he will admit that one needs to believe in order to be saved. Is belief a work that nullifies grace? Some of Christ’s followers asked him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?". Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent’" (John 6:28-29).

But the Calvinist will also agree that a little confession is good for the soul. He submits to Paul’s teaching in Romans 10:9 which demands that oral confession precede salvation: "[I]f you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus … you will be saved." The minimal effort required to articulate such a confession as the Ethiopian eunuch made in Acts 8:37 is a facet of faith, the Calvinist argues and thus is not really a work. Oh?

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Walking Worthy: Reaping Another Whirlwind

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Liberalism, Apostasy, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Smith, J.S.

“They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up” (Hosea 8:7).

The minor prophet was excoriating the false religions which Israel dallied with in their temptation of God so many centuries ago now. Such false religions plant something without substance and produce something destructive. Their adherents are without moral compass, for false religion offers either none or one inferior to God’s and thus the challenges of the world and the worldly overcome them in time.

The prophecy bears some resemblance to Christ’s parable of the sower in Matthew 13. There also, three of four souls touched by the gospel did not endure in the faith because of persecution, trial or apathy. Today, so many churches of Christ are sowing the wind in their instruction of the young that we are nearly reduced to standing back and waiting for the whirlwind when the next, untaught generation assumes pulpits, pens and presbyteries.

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White Unto Harvest: "Along the Border"

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Evangelism, Evangelist, Foreign Evang., Subject Index by Berkley, Warren

A Brief Tribute to Glenn Rogers

The Rio Grande Valley of Texas is that area along the US-Mexico border, from Rio Grande City at the upper end to Brownsville on the coast. The "Valley" includes Mission, McAllen, Edinburg and Harlingen, Texas (and several other small communities). In this region there are two English speaking churches not involved in institutional cooperatives arrangements and associated innovations (Laurel Heights in McAllen & Pendleton Park in Harlingen).

But in this same region there are dozens of Spanish speaking churches and local preachers. I know of at least six congregations on this side of the border. Moving to the other side of the border, there are that many congregations just in Reynosa, Mexico - just south of McAllen. There are many second and third generation Christians here, making it obvious that a great deal of work was done here in the 50’s and 60’s. Much of this work was done by Glenn Rogers, accompanied by his wife & faithful helper, Loyce.

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White Unto Harvest: Fulfilling the Great Commission

Posted on November 2nd, 2001 in Evangelism, Foreign Evang., Subject Index by Wallace, Steve

Christ’s giving the Great Commission is a natural consequence of his mission while on earth. He gave it after he had conquered man’s two greatest enemies, sin and death (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20). The commission aims at the spreading of this wonderful news to the lost of this world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). What is involved in carrying out the Great Commission?

Overcoming Contrary Emotions

In reading the accounts of the giving of the commission, the transformation that took place in Jesus’ disciples is sometimes overlooked (Cp. Mark 16:14; John 20:19). They went from being full of doubt, unbelief and fear to bold proclaimers of Jesus’ words (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:10-12; Acts 2-3). Everyone who endeavors to teach others will undergo a similar change. This is so in a special sense for those who would preach in another country. At least, I found it so.

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Associate Editorial: Sermon Charts on the Church of Christ

Posted on November 1st, 2001 in Church, Associate Editorials, Subject Index by Fain, Larry

The Church Of Christ

The Church And Salvation
What The Church Is Not
What The Church Is
The Work Of The Church
The Lord’s One Church

The Church Of Christ

One Cannot Be Saved
Outside The Church

Ephesians 5:23
Acts 2:47
Ephesians 1:22-23
2 Timothy 2:10

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The Simple Gospel: Ex-Christian Association

Posted on November 1st, 2001 in Unfaithfulness, Apostasy, Subject Index by Roberts, Tom

It is not unusual these days to see a bumper sticker with some message indicating that the owner is an alumnus of some college, or member of a fraternal order or church group. Recently I saw one indicating that the driver of the car was an "ex-Ranger," probably a past member of the Rangers baseball club. This triggered a thought about the possibility of forming an association, complete with bumper sticker, of those people who used to be members of the Lord’s church and calling it the "Ex-Christian Association." Surely there are enough people around who qualify.

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