Will It Be Jude or John? (Calvin That Is!)

The question; “Can a Christian lose their salvation?” is at best semantically confusing and at worst begs the question. The question “implies” that Christians get into some kind of spiritual wrestling match with Satan and / or his minions and, despite the Christians best efforts, have their salvation wrested away from them, become disconnected to God and head screaming straight into hell itself, all very much against their will. The question should be; “Can a Christian SURRENDER their salvation after being in an absolute saved state?”

When theologians approach Scripture allegorically such tail-wagging-the-dog conclusions are not only possible, they are inevitable when begging the “lose their salvation” question. The historically great, yet biblically confused reformer, John Calvin, poured the theory that Christians could never become apostate into theological concrete where it remains until today. Many have been deceived by this doctrine during the last 500 years while the truth regarding the matter, revealed by the Holy Spirit in the book of Jude, has been rejected, overlooked and ignored.

In 180 degree opposite reaction to medieval Roman Catholicism, Calvin formed a theological system now named after him, known as Calvinism. Calvinism is summed up in an acronym, “T.U.L.I.P.”

T otal Depravity – all mankind is conceived and born as sinners doomed to hell unless God “elects” them to salvation arbitrarily
U nconditional Election – some of those “totally depraved” are arbitrarily “chosen” (elected) by God for salvation while the rest are arbitrarily “chosen” (elected) for damnation, humans have no free choice
L imited Atonement – The blood of Christ, shed on the cross, is not sufficient to save everyone, just the so-called elect.
I rresistable Grace – those who have been arbitrarily chosen for salvation cannot resist the grace of God, even though they attempt to do so
P erserverance of the Saints – once those who are arbitrarily elected to salvation have been saved, they cannot never become apostate and therefore “lose” their salvation

Time and space will not allow an examination of all these theories, our immediate concern is the last leaf in the flower, as it were, “perseverance of the saints.” Can a Christian become an apostate? Can one who once was saved reject that salvation at a future point in time and re-embrace damnation? Can one who once “walks in the light as He is in the light, re-enter into “everlasting darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth?” Calvin says, “no.” To “prove” this assertion, Calvinists turn to two Scripture references. [“A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.” – D. A. Carson Sr.] These two “proof texts” are offered up:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. – John 10:28 -29

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
– I John 2:18 – 19

The Calvinist interpretation of these two verses goes like this:

1. Once a person becomes a Christian he / she is in the grasp of the Saviors hand and no one, not even Satan himself, can wrestle that person away from Christ.
2. Since said person enjoys this iron clad grasp in the Savior’s hand, he / she remains a Christian, in the hand of the Savior forever … no matter what sins that person commits, no matter what false doctrine that person embraces or teaches and no matter how much unbelief is spewed from the lips and heart of said person. Once a person is “saved,” that person can never be lost.
3. Thirdly, since it “appears” that one that was once a Christian is now spewing apostasy in word and deed it must mean that said person was never really a Christian anyway!

Now if the Scriptures had nothing else to say regarding this matter, the Calvinist would indeed have a leg to stand on. However, the Scripture has much more to say about it. First of all, salvation is conditional to on going faithfulness, repentance and confession of sins. John says the following:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all 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 just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. – I John 1:5 - 10

Continued salvation is conditional upon our dedication to walking in the light as He is in the light and confession of all our sins. “IF” we walk faithfully and confess our sins THEN we are firmly in the grasp of the Savior’s hand and no man “can pluck us out!” However, the inverse is true as well. “IF” we do not walk in the light as He is in the light and confess our sins, we surrender our salvation and can once again be lost. We can always return but should we die in the apostate state, we can still lose our souls!

Having said all the above, some might still cling to Calvin in the false hope that one can “live like hell and still go to heaven.” That is where Jude comes in. The inspired book of Jude gives us not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE concrete examples of people once saved that consequently became lost when they embraced apostasy. These were not people who were “never really saved,” they were people who were saved by God totally, without question and without a doubt! Here are the five examples and we will rest our case!

1. Jude 1:5 – The Lord SAVED a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe. How many of the Israelites were saved out of Egypt and were “baptized unto Moses” as they crossed the Red Sea? ALL of them! They were ALL once saved but some of them became apostate and were consequently lost. Saved people lost their salvation.
2. Jude 1:6 – There were angels in heaven who did not keep their first estate but LEFT their habitation. Saved angels, living in Heaven, willingly abandoned their positions and deserted to the enemy! Saved angels lost their salvation!
3. Jude 1:7 – The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were once saved by God via Abraham who raised an army from his own house and saved them from destruction as we read about in Genesis 14. Unfortunately, after their salvation, Sodom and Gomorrah “gave themselves over to fornication and strange flesh.” As a result, they lost their salvation and were destroyed.
4. Jude 1:12 – Jude asserts that the apostates of whom he is writing are “twice dead.” What must be true about someone who is “twice dead?” These apostates were once “dead in their sins” but they obeyed the gospel, were buried with Christ in baptism and rose again to walk in “newness of life.” These “live souls” died again when they rejected Christ and embraced apostasy. They were truly “twice dead!” An unrepentant apostate is “twice dead” and will lose his soul, just like those who rebelled in the desert, just like the fallen angels and just like Sodom and Gomorrah.
5. Jude 1:12 – Finally, Jude asserts that the apostates of whom he is writing have been “uprooted.” One must understand that a plant that is “uprooted,” must of necessity, first of all must have been “rooted” previously! The uprooted, and now unsaved, apostate was once rooted and saved – just like those who rebelled in the desert, just like the fallen angels and just like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

One last observation. “IF” Calvin is right and “IF” “once saved always saved” [The Perseverance of the Saints] is a true and wholesome doctrine, then the following also must be true regarding the assertions of Jude:

1. God did not really destroy those who did not believe in the desert, its just a fable.
2. God did not really allow His angels to leave Heaven, it too, is just a fairy tale.
3. God did not really destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, it is just a “Bible story” and did not really take place.
4. Jude wasted his time writing about and warning the church regarding the apostates. After all, God will still save them in the end!

There we have it. We have a choice to make. Will we choose Calvin over Jude or will we choose Jude over Calvin? Upon that choice our souls depend!

© 2010 by Russ McCullough – All Rights Reserved - MCN: C4U9Q-J5SEG-27PHB

For a FREE Bible Study: e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net!

Are There Sinners That God Cannot Save?

There are people dying without Christ every day. Some are dying without Christ because they thought they were “good enough” to get to heaven without God. There are others who believed the lies of false doctrine. There are others because they convinced themselves that there was “no such thing as God.” Still others die without Christ because, though they once were Christians, they were enticed back into the world by its lusts, temptations and desires. Sadly, there is one more category of people dying without Christ every day… people who convinced themselves that their sins were too numerous, too grievous and too ugly for God to save. So sad. So very, very, very sad.

Today, right now, there are people about to pass from life into death. They are about to step into a boat, as it were, that will carry them into the darkness and terror of a devils hell. Why? All because they “think” their sins were too many and too deep for God to forgive. Is it so? Are there sins and sinners that God cannot forgive? Are there some sins and some sinners that are simply unforgivable? Thank God, the answer is NO!

My dear friend, set aside for just a moment all the hurt, pain and guilt you feel because of your many sins. Come with me to the Bible. Come and look at some HEROS of the faith! Come and gaze upon the Saints of God! Who are these people? What kind of lives did they lead? What kind of sins did THEY commit? You say; “God could never forgive me! I’ve _________________ (you fill in the blank). God knows you feel this way and that is why He gave us the letter of Hebrews, chapter 11. Let’s COMPARE your sins to THEIR sins:

• 11:7 – God saved Noah – He was a drunkard
• 11:8 – God saved Abraham – He was a liar
• 11:9 – God saved Isaac – He was a liar like his father
• 11:9 – God saved Jacob – He was the biggest liar and deceiver in his entire family
• 11:11 – God saved Sarah – She laughed at God Himself
• 11:23 – God saved Moses – He was a murderer
• 11:31 – God saved Rhahab – She was a prostitute
• 11:32 - God saved David – He was an adulterer and a murderer

Now, you may say; “I’m a worse sinner than any of these!” Really? Are you a worse sinner than the people who made up the angry mob that murdered our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Did you know that Jesus actually PRAYED for his murderers while he was dying? Did you realize that God heard that prayer and SAVED them? Yes, all that did, indeed, happen!

• “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” – Luke 23:34
• “When they heard this (that they had, indeed, murdered the Son of God) they cried out and said; “Men and brethren, what shall we do?!” Peter replied and said; “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:37 – 38

Jesus prayed for his murderer’s forgiveness while on the cross and God answered that prayer 50 days later at Pentecost!

My dear friend, if you are still very much alive or are about to slip into eternity within a few days, God CAN save you! He WILL save you! Whatever you have done, whatever you have said, whatever you have thought… God CAN and WILL save you! If He can save the murderers of His dear Son, SURELY He can save YOU and ME! When YOU are ready to repent (turn completely away from and go a different direction) of ALL your sins and will submit to water baptism, God will wash away ALL you sins while immersed in the water upon your confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Call me! Don’t go to hell voluntarily! I am ready to assist you BEFORE you go to the other side! I’m praying that you will make the right decision. The angels in heaven are waiting to rejoice on your behalf and Jesus Christ is anxious to greet you at the Door of Paradise when you slip into eternity.

For a FREE Bible study - e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net!

Sometimes the Tail Just Wags the Dog

About 10 years ago there was a movie entitled “Wag The Dog.” It was a political movie with the premise that some wars are created by politicians instead of some unforeseen event. When we speak of “the tail wagging the dog” in terms of things spiritual we mean that someone has taken a preconceived conclusion and then “forced” it upon the biblical text. Theologians call this eisegesis. When this happens, mans will prevails and the Word of God becomes subservient. Of course, it is impossible for us to actually manipulate the Scripture, but many people try and THINK they have succeeded. Unfortunately, these poor souls will discover on the Day of Judgment that they were, in reality, among the tares and not among the wheat. God’s thrashing floor will separate all evil from all good on that great and terrible day. In regards to judgment day, some have attempted to get the “tail to wag the dog,” theologically speaking that is.

One of the most disastrous false doctrines of all time is the “dog wagging” doctrine known as “once-saved-always-saved.” The doctrine dates back to the time of John Calvin who asserted that once a person was saved, he could never lose that salvation…no matter what. This doctrine has led to much false confidence in one’s salvation. It has also led many to live quite the hellish existence while thinking they are on their way to heaven. A byproduct of this false doctrine is the false security that Judgment Day is for non-Christians only, making the so-called “elect” exempt from such a judgment. “IF” once-saved-always-saved is a true doctrine, such an exemption would have to, by default, be given by God to every soul ever claiming to be a Christian. On the other hand, “IF” one can lose their salvation, judgment then, indeed, is for all, Christian and non-Christian alike. God has indeed “given us all things pertaining to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3) and so the Holy Spirit inspired Jude to write an entire book warning of apostasy. Apostasy is the willful renouncement of the truth of God once believed, practiced and embraced. Such a willful renouncement certainly will result in eternal damnation… unless repentance and confession of such sin takes place prior to one’s death. Those who embrace the false doctrine of once-saved-always-saved, must confront the fact that there are those in open rebellion to the Will of God, all the while “claiming” to be “Christian,” attending “worship services” and living any way they wish. When confronted with these facts, they simply say, “Well, they weren’t really saved in the first place!” Really? Can one fall from grace or is such a fall impossible? Jude has the answer.

Jude, while warning the congregation of the dangers of apostasy, gives three examples of SAVED souls who willingly gave up their salvation. (Jude 1:5-7) They did so when they rebelled by choice.

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Here are Jude’s three examples just cited:

1. The Israelites in the Desert – SAVED out of Egypt – chose rebellion and destruction AFTER they were saved.
2. The Angels in Heaven – Left their own habitation and chose judgment AFTER they POSSESSED heaven.
3. The People of Sodom and Gomorrah – Sodom and Gomorrah (and the cities around them) chose destruction AFTER they gave themselves over to fornication. They refused to repent after the pleading of righteous (II Peter 2:7) Lot.

Jude’s examples have very certain and poignant ramifications. “IF” once-saved-always-saved is indeed a true doctrine then:

1. The Israelites in the Desert were NOT saved after all!
2. The Angels in Heaven were NEVER THERE to start with!
3. The account of the destruction of the cities of the plain is nothing more than a FABLE, A FAIRY TALE, AN ALLEGORY AND A STORY!

Jude wrote by inspiration, the examples of apostasy AFTER salvation are true and the doctrine of once-saved-always-saved is a false and dangerous doctrine. We ALL can fall from grace (Galatians 5:1-6) and we ALL must “give an account” on that great and dreadful day for “all the deeds of the flesh whether they be good or evil.” (II Corinthians 5:9-11)

Russ McCullough
Charlotte, NC

Copyright, 2010. All Rights Reserved. MCN: C41EE-4LXKB-BQRSY
FOR A FREE HOME BIBLE STUDY - JUST E-MAIL: RMCCULLS6@BELLSOUTH.NET!

Peter, Paul, Baptism and Calling Upon the Name of the Lord

A unique phrase in Scripture is that of “calling upon the name of the Lord.” It is always synonymous with mans seeking salvation from God. Man began to seek God very early on as we read in Gen. 4:26. Later the phrase takes on an additional meaning, the looking forward to the time when salvation would be more powerful, more available and more clearly understood. The most famous quotation is that from Joel 2:32 [other similar passages are found in Zech. 13:9 and Zeph. 3:9 et. al.], a Scripture that Peter and the other apostles quoted in the Pentecostian sermon in Acts 2:21. The Joelian prophesy was for the Jews exclusively and did not, at the time of Pentecost 30 a.d., include the Gentiles. We know this for Joel makes this contextually clear in:

2:15 – “Blow the trumpet in Zion…”
2:18 – “…the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.”
2:23 – “…Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God…”
2:27 - “…You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel…”

The context of this passage is clearly for the Jew only. In vs. 28fl, we hear that “His spirit is to be poured out on all flesh and YOUR sons and YOUR daughters will prophesy, YOUR old men will dream dreams and YOUR young men will see visions.” Who, then, is “YOUR?” It is Zion, it is His people, it is Israel. It is NOT the Gentiles… at least not in THIS passage and not at this time. Jesus clearly though makes it clear that others beside the Jews were to be recipients of salvation. He makes this abundantly manifest in passages such as John 10:16 where He states:

“...I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

The church of Christ is built upon the rock, which is Christ [I Cor. 10:4] and the confession of that very fact [Matt. 16:18 and John 11:27]. The church of Christ was not build upon Peter but, rather, on Peter’s confession. If we were to look at this as we would a new building, Christ and confession in Him, is the bedrock or the “chief cornerstone [Eph. 2:20]” upon which the foundation sits which then holds up the rest of the structure. The foundation, sitting upon the ROCK that is Christ and confession in Him, transitions that strength to the rest of the structure… the church. The foundation is the “apostles and prophets [“inspired speakers” – Strong’s].” In fact, the early church rested upon this foundation as we learn in Acts 2:42 as they “continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine.”

Peter was given [Matthew 16:19] the “keys to the Kingdom.” He was given to “bind and loose” that which was already bound and loosed in Heaven. When did he exercise this authority? He did it both where and when Jesus instructed the apostles in Acts 1:8,

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

He did it on 3 occasions concurrent with the 3 stages of the message of salvation as we see below:

Pentecostians / Acts 2 / Jerusalem and Judaea

Samaritans / Acts 8 / Samaria

Gentiles / Acts 10 / Uttermost parts of the world

Peter turned the keys of the kingdom 3 times, first in Jerusalem, second in Samaria and thirdly in Caesarea. Each time is was consistent with the time, the place and the people that Christ had planned. Within 10 years, the “gospel was for all!” Each time he turned the keys, the kingdom of God expanded to more people until, finally, it expanded to our Gentile ancestors. All the doors that Peter opened are still open today.

As to the so-called rivalry between Peter and Paul… it did not exist though they did have a brief confrontation as Paul describes in the book of Galatians. Peter turned the keys of the kingdom at Caesarea but did not proceed through that door beyond the household of Cornelius. Why? Because God had decreed that it would be Paul, not Peter, who would enter the house of the Gentiles with the gospel [Acts 9:15-16]. It was God’s will that the gospel be first preached to the Jews, then to the Samaritans and lastly, to the Gentiles. It was Paul’s custom, true to God’s form and fashion, to first go to the Jews in the Synagogue before going to the Gentiles with the gospel as we learn in Act 17:10 and other passages. Peter and Paul were on the same team. There was no competition, no disputing over territory and no self serving agendas.

Finally, what was Peter’s message on the 3 occasions that he turned the keys of the kingdom? It is both simple and profound… they were all to be baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins in order to receive salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. [Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12-16, Acts 10:48] The Holy Spirit fell on those present on all 3 occasions, not for salvation, but as a sign from Heaven that Peter was exercising his “key” ministry. How does one "call upon the name of the Lord?" One "calls upon the name of the Lord" only, exclusively and singularly in, by and with water baptism [Acts 22:16]. The Pentecostians "called upon the name of the Lord" in baptism. The Samaritans "called upon the name of the Lord" in baptism. The household of Cornelius "called upon the name of the Lord" in baptism. Peter preached the same message, the people heard the same message and all the people obeyed the same message... they "called upon the name of the Lord" in baptism for the remission of their sins and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. A little history to finish up our thoughts.

In perhaps the greatest irony in history, both Dark Age Catholicism and Reformed Protestantism came to the same, and yet very wrong, conclusion. They BOTH concluded that man is not responsible for his actions! Catholicism taught a nearly total works only system while Protestaantim taught an equally nearly total faith only system. The Catholic was taught that regardless of the number or seriousness of the sin, said sin could be "forgiven" by the priest by "working acts of pennance" that were characterized by all forms of asceticism, religious pilgramages and the sale of indulgences. People were taught that they could deny the flesh, travel to various places where they could "invest" in religious relics and even purchase the forgiveness of sins past, present or future. One could even purchase the forgiveness of sins of others who had died and were languishing in Purgatory. It was said that, "when a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs." Forgiveness of sin became nothing more that a business, a function of the marketplace that favored the rich and the powerful. One wound up in heaven or hell based solely upon works of piety, available to the highest bidder. Reacting to such corruption and falsehood came those who protested all of this. They were thus called "Protestants." They wanted to "reform" the Roman Catholic Church and became known as "reformers." These "reformed protestants" wheeled around 180 degress, rejected works religion and embraced salvation by grace or faith "alone." One could never do one single solitary thing to "earn" their salvation. "Works" were rejected in totality. "Faith alone in Christ alone" became a slogan. Reformed Protestantism taught that once saved, a person could live any kind of life whatsoever and still inherit eternal life. This kind of radical hypocricy culmanated in the totally corrupt life of King Henry VIII of England who established the Church of England simply because he wanted a divorce. Like a coin, one side is found the "works only" of Roman Catholicism and the other side is found the "faith only" of Reformed Protestantism.

What does all this history have to do with the present discusssion? Simply this, Reformed Protestantism teaches that baptism is NOT necessary for salvation for it is a work of man, an attempt of man to "earn" his salvation. Is baptism a "work" of man? Baptism is a work! However, it is NOT a work of man... it is a work of God! In fact, we are told in Colossians 2:12 that, like circumcission, God operates, custs off and removes our sin in the waters of baptism. There IS work in baptism but it is GOD who does the working, not man!

When a person "calls upon the name of the Lord," that person does so in water baptism, a place and time God has chosen to do His saving work. It is the only time and place that God does so. Should a person attempt to "call upon the name of the Lord" without water baptism, he or she does so in absolute and complete futility.

A Letter to the President of the United States

Dear President Obama;

We have heard that you and your family are continuing to search for a place to worship. Thank God that you are seeking for God Himself is “seeking such to worship Him.” [John 5:23] Your decision as to where to worship will be the most important decision you will ever make. I would urge you to consider the church of Christ. Christ promised to build His church in Matthew 16:18. God then added the saved to that very same church. [Acts 2:47] Our Lord did not mince words; “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except by me.” [John 14:6] There truly is but “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” [Ephesians 4:5]

The church of Christ is not a denomination for such is condemned by Paul in I Corinthians 1. The church of Christ has no head except Christ Himself [Ephesians 5:23] The church of Christ strives to neither add to or take away from the revealed Word of God as we are warned not to do in Proverbs 30:5-6. One is added to the church of Christ by God Himself once anyone: hears the Word of God [Romans 10:17], believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God [John 8:24], repents of all past sins [Luke 13:3], confesses that Jesus is the Son of God before witnesses [Matthew 10:32] and are immersed for the remission of sins [Acts 2:38]. Such a saved person will then live faithfully from that point onward [I John 1:7] and spread this same gospel as God directs their life [Acts 8:4].

Regardless of our political persuasions, we pray for you and all of our leaders every Lord’s Day at our congregation in Charlotte, NC. We will also now pray that this letter finds its way to your desk for your most prayerful consideration.

God bless you in every way;

Russ McCullough

For a FREE Bible Study, e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net!

To Jail & Back With The Gospel

We went to jail again tonight. Every Tuesday the Archdale church of Christ sends a delegation of two men to our local county jail. Jails, it seems, are part of the “world” that Jesus commanded us to go into with the gospel. Much “seed sowing” and “watering” takes place there and God WILL give the increase! Prisoners are very attentive, full of questions and eager to discuss the Scriptures. It turns out that our Bible studies are the high point of the week for the prisoners. Having said that, these men face obstacles (of their own making we must add) that few on the outside can imagine. Come with me as we visit the jail and see what awaits us.

Our Scripture passage this evening was John 9. Our purpose was to show similarities between what happened to the man born blind when he returned to his neighborhood and what will happen when these men return to their own neighborhoods. We illustrated that one’s reception upon return home from jail is often quite different than these men may imagine at the moment. Like the man born blind these men, instead of the “yellow ribbon round the old oak tree,” may find jaded neighbors, alienated family and outright opposition to their return to society. May God grant these men the strength to deal with the waves of disappointment that may await them upon their release. Just like the man born blind, the happiest day of one’s life can turn out to be, in some ways, the worst. BUT… there is always the silver lining! May these men who will soon be released know that, just like the man born blind, Jesus seeks them upon their return to the neighborhood! “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Our message was well received by most. However one man, a professed Muslim, became highly agitated with our message and attempted to suppress it. By the grace of God and reliance upon Scripture alone, he failed. He failed to show that Jesus was a prophet only, for the man born blind wound up later in John 9 worshipping Jesus. Prophets never were worshipped in the Bible, nor did any prophet ever accept worship from other mortals. He failed to show that Jesus was slain by being forcibly overcome by sinful men. Jesus clearly states in John 9 that He “had the power to lay down His own life and the power to raise it up again!” Though the truth did not win that man’s heart, he became silent and allowed the study to continue. We closed with the sobering thought that upon the day of their release that BOTH Jesus and Satan will be seeking them. Each man will return home that day following one or the other. Our final statement as the guard re-opened the door was a reminder of John 3:36 and Acts 2:37-38 that belief alone is not sufficient for salvation. Faith and obedience are intertwined and cannot be separated and if one is to “see God” he must not only repent but be baptized as well for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We always explain God’s plan of salvation each and every time for our assigned group is a transitional group, always full of men coming and going. Often, we see men only one time. Our assigned mission is critical to a singular moment in time. God be praised for the opportunity to share the gospel with these men!

The opportunities and challenges in the jail are many. The opportunities and challenges OUTSIDE the jail are many! Preaching the gospel “in and out of season” includes preaching the gospel “in and out of jail!”

We encourage all brethren everywhere to begin and sustain jail ministries. It is, after all, God’s will that “all men come to repentance,” those who wear orange and those who do not.

For A FREE Bible Study, e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net!

Reflections and Confessions

The weekend of July 11 and 12, 2009 has been an emotional tsunami for me. I experienced waves of remorse and regret rarely part of this earthly existence. I guess you might say I faced my demons. Perhaps you differ from me. Maybe your life has been totally fun, exciting and meaningful for as long as you can remember…, devoid of demons. Perhaps, but I strongly doubt it. In all likelihood, there are some un-faced demons in your life, too. The demons to which I refer are not sins per se, but rather those fears, those “nameless dreads” that haunt ones soul in the wee small hours of the morning. You know what I’m talking about, those knife sharp thoughts that race in the middle of the night robbing your mind and body of it’s much needed rest. My life had a couple of pieces missing.

It’s my prayer that by sharing these words that one or more readers will take the helm of sorrow and drive their ship into the wind as well. Someone once told me that the way to overcome that which one fears is to DO that which one fears. I can tell you that good advice turned out to be extremely valid.

By God’s grace I faced down two fears Saturday, one 43 years old and one 40. In a way they were the same fear because they both in many ways defined who I became over the intervening years. My father, Russell H. McCullough, Jr., died suddenly and without warning on January 10, 1966. He was just 46 years old. My mother was 40 years old at the time, my sister was 12 and I was 14. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I KNEW it was not supposed to happen because Mr. Grady, my shop teacher, came to our house that night. I wished that I had told him of my gratitude but speaking of such was nothing I was about to attempt in those years, certainly not to an adult two and a ½ times my age. That visit was perhaps the kindest thing anyone did for me…ever. Not only that, the day of the funeral I stepped out of that “black Cadillac” and the principal of Thomas Eaton Jr. High School was there to give his condolences. Mr. Bacuveraccus was his name, or as we called him, “Mr. B.” I was stunned, I barely knew him. “Why are you here?” was my response. I don’t recall what he replied to me but I KNEW that what was happening to us WAS NOT supposed to happen…but yet it did.

My sister and I were orphans. We had no father. Our poor mother was beyond distraught. She was devastated. For three years or more she wept through the entire worship service every Sunday morning. She wept during meals, she wept in the morning and she wept at night. She could not bear to visit Dad’s grave…ever. Two years ago this month, she went home to Abraham’s bosom where she is now comforted along with our father. “God shall wipe away all tears, there’s no death, no pain nor fears, and they count not time by years, by years, for there is no night there.”

That brings me to my first demon. This is my first confession. I, too, could not ever bring myself to visit him. My poor dead father and not a single visit in 43 years from me…, until yesterday. He deserved better. He didn’t die on purpose; he was asleep at the time, home from work and sick with bronchitis. My neglect was so pronounced that I even had to call the cemetery office and have someone meet me there to show me where he was buried, I didn’t know. I had never cared to know. Strangers surround him while mother lies resting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On that “bright and cloudless morning” they will rise in two different places. My total neglect ended Saturday. I dropped by to see Dad.

My second confession is that I dealt with my father’s death the only way I knew how. I forced myself to forget him. Unfortunately I succeeded all too well. I now recall precious little about the man except his intense love for God and a faith as resilient as steel plated amour. He now rests in the “Garden of Faith,” Lot 4, Parklawn Memorial Cemetery, Hampton, Virginia. This is as it should be. What is not as it should be is the fact that I felt no emotion when I visited him. I “felt” like I should “feel” something…but 43 years of forced repression will seer any memory. I loved my father but he is much more like a dream to me now than a memory. For 43 years I feared what “might” happen should I visit him. Were that there was enough emotion left in me to warrant such a fear. Regardless of emotion or lack thereof, there are now no more misunderstandings between us. We had that long overdo “talk” and the air is now clear. I snapped a few pictures, pulled a few weeds from around the headstone and left with my reconciliation. I’ll be back from time to time, Lord willing.

As a result of my fathers death, my high school years were fraught with loneliness, insecurity and the burden of never hanging around when my buddies spoke about their dads. No ball games, no hunting or fishing trips, no father-son “talks” for me. I was the lone man out in high school and I viewed myself as being type cast as a permanent loner for reasons I could not begin to comprehend. Combine the usual teenage insecurities with being fatherless…I ran as fast as I could to get out of Hampton, Virginia upon graduation. I couldn’t forget about those years fast enough. No memories, no looking back and for sure…no class reunions.

That brings me to the very reason for this trip to begin with. I was invited to attend the 40th anniversary of the greatest class from the greatest high school of all time…, Hampton High School - the class of 1969. We even had a chant that said it all; “We’re so great, we’re so fine, we’re the class of 69!” For months, the thought of attending such a reunion haunted me. The thought of seeing those people again was downright terrifying. BUT, I knew I needed to go. If for no other reason, good, bad or indifferent, I would have closure. Even at the last possible moment I confess that I almost did not attend. At 6:10 p.m. Saturday night I was on the phone to Nancy and told her that I was exiting the car and going in “to get it over with as quick as possible.” [People have more enthusiasm for a root canal (minus the Novocaine) than I had Saturday night for a class reunion!] In her own very sweet and practical way she made me realize that I had come too far to turn back. And so I got out of the car and went inside 1610 Coliseum Center in Hampton, Virginia to confront the past I had so long sought to avoid. At the end of the evening we took a panoramic picture of the approximately 175 souls attending. As the photographer was preparing, we sang that old fight song. “Here’s to Hampton High School, here’s to HHS, here’s to our football team, oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!” I had a great time and a great reunion and by the way,

Thanks for going with me, Dad. I love you.

For a FREE Bible Study, e-mail: rmcculls6@bellsouth.net!