Holy Week or Holy Living?

All over our fair city one is finding advertisements for many “holy week” observances such as “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunrise Services.”  We must, therefore, ask the question; “Are these celebrations biblical?”  Did Jesus and His Apostles command such celebrations?  Did the Apostles celebrate these things themselves?  Did they even infer that such celebrations were allowed?  The answer is a resounding, NO!

From Matthew to Revelation we find nary a trace of anything called “Holy Week.”  To add such celebrations to the Holy Scripture would be presumptuous, arrogant and wrong.  How, then, did the several observances of “Holy Week” come into being?  The so-called “Holy Week” has six components:

·         Ash Wednesday

·         Lent

·         Palm Sunday

·         Maundy Thursday

·         Good Friday

·         Easter Sunday

What do all of these celebrations have in common?  They are all Roman Catholic in origin and have “meanings” that are allegorically assigned.   Allegorical interpretive methods were adopted by the apostate church beginning in the 2^nd century based most notably upon the teachings of the so-called “church father,” Origen.  Origen taught that all Scripture has multiple meanings and each individual can interpret the Scripture based upon their own individual experiences, understandings and stories.  The RCC then began to assign “meanings” to Scripture erroneously (in error.)  Strangely, even the Catholic Encyclopedia admits that these celebrations were unknown in the first century:

…there seems much to suggest that the Church in the Apostolic Age designed to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ, not by an annual, but by a weekly celebration.[1]

Here is a short history of these allegorical additions to God’s complete Will…“the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  -  Jude 3 (KJV):

1)   ASH WEDNESDAY – Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.  The name comes from the practice of taking the ashes from the previous years burnt palm leaves form “Palm Sunday” and spreading them on the foreheads of parishioners in the form of a cross.  This is said to be representative of “mourning and repentance.”  This supposedly prepares the adherents for the 40 days of Lent following. Historically, Ash Wednesday was first celebrated annually beginning around the year 960.

2)   LENT – The word “Lent” is from the old English word lencten which means to “lengthen” and was used to describe the longer days of the spring season.  The time span of “Lent” was totally allegorical and imaginative.  It was based upon the fact that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness as He prepared for His temptation.  Other allegorical assignments were also made:

The duration of the season of Lent is based on the ancient church custom of requiring catechumens to undergo a forty-day period of doctrinal instruction and fasting before being baptized on the evening before Easter.  This probationary period was called the quarantine (from the Latin word for forty). [2]

The annual celebration of Lent dates to the mid 5^th century and is noted by several church historians of that time; Leo, Socrates and Jerome.

3)   PALM SUNDAY – Palm Sunday was never celebrated in the apostolic era and apparently not annually celebrated until the 6^th century at the very earliest.[3]

4)   MAUNDY THURSDAY – Thursday is the traditional day of the Lord’s Supper.  “Maunday” comes from the Latin term mandatum novum, meaning new commandment.  It is also known as “Holy Thursday” or “Green Thursday.”

Zelený čtvrtek (Green Thursday) is how the Czechs and Moravians refer to Maundy Thursday. One explanation is that in many places, before the thirteenth century, green vestments were used for the Mass that day. Another is that this is a reference to "the Green Ones," the penitents who, being re-admitted to the Church, wore sprigs of green herbs to express their joy. 

5)   GOOD FRIDAY – The annual celebration of both Good Friday and Easter date to, at the earliest, the 2^nd century A.D.  Though unknown in the 1^st century, these two festivals were the earliest of practiced “Holy Week” observances from a historical standpoint.

6)   EASTER – The word “Easter” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word, eostre.  The word generally came to refer to the “spring season.”  It has clear pagan overtones since the word was the name for the so-called goddess of spring:

This mythical figure is said to have been the goddess of the sunrise and the spring. She is the Teutonic goddess of the dawn. The direction of the sunrise, East, is named for her. In Norse mythology, the name is spelled Eostare. Another considered the Norse/Saxon goddess of spring is Ostara. Eastre is believed to be an ancient word for spring.[4]

CONCLUSION:

Any and all “Holy Week” celebrations are at best extra-biblical and at worst un-biblical.  They are all allegorical, presumptuous and self centered.  They were created by men for men and do not glorify God in any way, shape, matter or form.  We were called, not to “Holy Week” but to holy living!  We celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ EVERY Lord’s Day during the Lord’s Supper and not during an annual celebration of so-called “Holy Week.”  For a biblical perspective, read I Corinthians 11. 


– Russ McCullough – 8 April 2012

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[1] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm

[2] http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/lent.htm#WHAT DOES THE WORD "LENT" MEAN?

[3] http://www.orlutheran.com/html/holyweek.html

[4] http://www.allabouthistory.org/origin-of-the-word-easter-faq.htm

Ahab, God and Free Will in I Kings 22

We live in perilous times.  Will massive debt destroy the world’s economy for decades to come?  Will nuclear war break out between Iran and Israel?  Will an autocratic Chinese empire arise to dominate the nations?  Will radical Islam sweep the Middle East, Africa and Europe back into the middle ages?  Will there be enough food and water to sustain the growing billions of people on earth?

Though these are serious and sobering questions before us, they all pale in comparison to our MOST pressing issue; is Jesus Christ truly “the way, the truth and the life?”  More importantly, is He the ONLY way to the Father?  Everyone MUST answer these questions!  Is there a God in heaven or is there not?  Is Jesus Christ the one and only Son of God or is He not?  Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead or did He not?  Does the Holy Bible contain “all things pertaining to life and godliness” or does it not?  Will there be a Day of Judgment when “we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account of all deeds done in the flesh both good and evil” or not?  And finally, we must all ask the ultimate question; “What must I do to be saved?” OR… are we not going to ask that question, assuming that heaven and hell are nothing more than ancient superstitions?

As we contemplate these questions, we must also come to grips with yet another question.  If there is a God in Heaven and we stand condemned as sinners before Him, has He clearly warned us of our condition?  Has He plainly articulated His plan of salvation for us in His Word or is He enticing us to sin and be lost?  Among many examples in the Bible, I Kings 22 is an outstanding example of just how far God goes to warn even the most wicked of men. 

As we contemplate our eternal destinies we are all witnesses to a great and powerful drama being played out in the public square on a daily basis in all forms of media.  The “Prophets of Darwin” and the “Prophets of God” engage daily in a dramatic debate for the hearts, minds and souls of each of us.  Who is speaking truth?  Who is speaking falsehood?  We are there, as is were, while the Zedikiah’s and the Miciah’s of our day dramatically debate for souls…just like they did in front of King’s Ahab and Jehoshaphat as they decided to go up to Ramoth-Gilead…or not…and battle the Arameans.  Decide right and live or decide wrong and die…the stakes could not have been higher!  Today, God’s detractors mockingly ask “how could a loving God ever send anyone to hell?”  Those same mockers chide the faithful with the assertion that God Himself lied to Ahab, deceived Ahab and tricked Ahab into going up the Ramoth-Gilead where he met his death.  Did God lie to Ahab?  Did God “trick” Ahab?  Did God “conspire” against Ahab?  Did God turn Ahab’s 400 prophets into lying robots?  And…most importantly…did God rob Ahab, Zedekiah and the 400 false prophets of their free will?

 

We will show conclusively that God did none of these things and in fact redundantly extended grace, life, mercy and salvation to these men redundantly!  


Before we answer the questions at hand; “Did God lie to Ahab?”  “Did God “trick” Ahab?”  “Did God “conspire” against Ahab?”  “Did God turn Ahab’s 400 prophets into lying robots?”  And…most importantly…”did God rob Ahab, Zedekiah and the 400 false prophets of their free will?” we should first look at this passage in it’s original cultural context.

What do you think of when you run across the term “drama?”  Today, drama, either live or on the screen is considered entertainment…period.  Was this always so?  Absolutely not.  In Ahab’s day “drama” was a highly sophisticated form of communication.  When kings needed to make major decisions, competing choices were dramatized before the ruler(s) by the promoters of the opposing choices.  In Israel and Judah these dramas took on a special spiritual significance.  The opposing proponents were members of competing prophetic communities, each claiming to speak for God Himself.  We refer to such occasions as “prophetic dramas.”  The scene of I Kings 22 is such a prophetic drama.  On the one side was King Ahab’s hand picked party of 400 royal staff prophets who somehow always managed to prophesy whatever the king wanted to hear.  They were, to borrow a New Testament phrase, “ear ticklers.”   On the other side was a one lone prophet, Miciah.  Instead of speaking what the king wanted to hear, he spoke only the “words of the Lord.”

Prophetic dramas are often found in the pages of the Old Testament.  The first such drama plays out in front of Pharaoh with his “magicians” on the one side with Moses and Aaron on the other.  The prophet Daniel took part in several such dramas in front of his Babylonian captors.  Two other prophetic dramas come to mind as well, Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal in I Kings 19 and Hananiah vs. Jeremiah in Jeremiah 28.  Commenting on this form of spiritual communication, Wurthwein and Rufe’ conclude that the prophetic drama “…helps scholars determine how classical prophesy debated such theological issues as true vs. false prophesy and the character of the worthy prophet.”[1]  In 1982, R. Goldenberg observed that; “….rabbinical texts attempted to explain the problem of two prophets (or groups of prophets RM) (ostensibly) possessing God’s Word, yet only one of them being worthy of obedience.”[2]  Goldenberg further observes;

“It is not enough to identify the prophet sent by the Lord.  You must also know WHY the Lord has sent the prophet and the result of the prophesy in question that it was designed to produce.”[3]

Far from being an entrapment of Ahab, Zedikiah and the 400 staff prophets, the events of I Kings 22 represent the extreme bounds of God’s mercy and grace towards those who are in sin.

 We now will answer the questions at hand; “Did God lie to Ahab?”  “Did God “trick” Ahab?”  “Did God “conspire” against Ahab?”  “Did God turn Ahab’s 400 prophets into lying robots?”  And…most importantly…”did God rob Ahab, Zedekiah and the 400 false prophets of their free will?”  No, no, no, no and… no!

A predestination Calvinist would, however, answer in the affirmative.  A Calvinist, among other things, denies the fact that men and women have free will.  In fact, they claim, every soul is “predestined” by God for salvation or damnation…and…nothing can ever changes one eternal destiny.  In other words, a Calvinist would state emphatically that Ahab, Zedikiah and the 400 royal prophets were damned to perdition without ANY hope of salvation.  Such WOULD be the case “IF” God’s conversation in the Heavens was concealed from Ahab, Zedikiah and the 400 royal prophets.
 

The FACT that God’s conversation regarding Ahab and the “lying prophets” (Zedikiah was their leader and spokesman) was TOLD to them by Miciah in his prophetic drama in order to warn them, plead with them and beg them NOT to go up to Ramoth-gilead…is CLEAR evidence that not only did these men retain their free will but God was yearning for their repentance!  His warnings were overt, numerous and extremely clear.  Only when they reject the counsel of Miciah do they incur judgment.  They were warned over and over NOT to go up to Ramoth-gilead…but…they went anyway, rejecting Miciah and God Himself.

In many ways, life is a drama.  Sometimes we play the part of Ahab.  Sometimes we play the part of Zedikiah.  Sometimes we are Miciah.  More often than not, I suppose, we play the part of Jehoshaphat, an otherwise Godly man who makes no attempt to address Ahab’s spiritual bankruptcy…a spectator who “went with the flow.” 

The main character in this prophetic drama, however, was God Himself.  He made sure that ALL of these people had overwhelming access to the truth.  His mercy, grace and love are evident at every turn so that even men as evil as Ahab had ample opportunity for repentance.  Too bad that he, Zedikiah and the 400 royal prophets did not have “ears to hear.”  Let’s pay more attention to our own life’s drama that is playing out.  The “final curtain” may fall sooner than we expect!  Today, we are without excuse before God for He has given us His Word, a Word that is full, from cover to cover, with account after account of His warnings of judgment to come for those who reject Him.  It is also full, from cover to cover, of His love, mercy and grace that is available to all those who “trust and obey!”  As the song says; “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”
  

Friend, if you are not a Christian, you can become one today!  “And now, why do you wait?  Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” – Acts 22.16 (ESV)  If you are an unfaithful Christian, you can be restored.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – I John 1.9 (ESV) Another familiar song has this refrain; “Why do you wait dear brother?  The harvest is passing away, the Savior is longing to bless you, there’s danger and death in delay!”  We’ve been warned, no one has to go up to Ramoth-gilead and lose both life and soul…and neither did Ahab.

- Russ McCullough 

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[1] Paul R. House (The New American Commentary – I & II Kings, Vol. 8, Nashville, TN, Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995)  pg, 237, paragraph 2

[2] Ibid. pg. 237, paragraph 3

[3] R. Goldenberg (“The Problem of False Prophesy; Talmudic Interpretations of Jeremiah 28 and I Kings 22,” in The Biblical Mosaic Changing Perspectives, ed. R. M. Poszin and E. Rothman, Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982) as quoted in Ibid. pg. 237, paragraph 3

Christ and Christmas - A Biblical Perspective - Part II

It is quite clear, the facts are indisputable – the origins of what we call “Christmas” are from both pagan and apostate sources.  Ironies of ironies – the most “holy” day (holiday) in so-called “Christendom” is Christmas (“Christ-Mass”), a celebration unauthorized by Christ in the New Testament while clear instructions Christ gave “in remembrance of me” are the most IGNORED in our society!  The more things change, the more they stay the same – “there is nothing new under the sun,” people embrace SPECULATION and ignore REVELATION! Having said that, almost no one alive today associates Christmas with its REAL history.  Instead, over the centuries, the meaning of “Christmas” has morphed into something quite positive – CULTURALLY.  Though concocting some kind of “Christmas Service” in a congregational setting would be a flagrant addition to God’s inspired Word, the celebration of this holiday in America is generally a very positive thing - CULTURALLY.

Who can deny Christmas brings happiness and glee to the children?  Who can deny that Christmas has inspired some of the most beautiful music ever composed such as Handel’s Messiah?  Who can not be inspired by “It’s a Wonderful Life,” or entertained by “A Christmas Story?”  Who cannot be moved by Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol?”  Who cannot bring up multiple wonderful memories of Christmas’ past?  Who can deny the delight of seeing a relatives eyes light up when opening a special gift?  Who can deny the warmth of hearth and family this time of year?  Who can deny the excitement of choosing and putting up the Christmas tree?  Who can deny that the many kindnesses extended to one another around Christmas are not a very good thing?  Who can deny that Christmas is uniquely American?!  Who can deny that we all wish for a white Christmas every year?  Who can deny that it is a very good thing that more people are open to discuss Jesus Christ around Christmas than at any other time of the year?

I’ll admit it – I LOVE Christmas and celebrate it with gusto!  I do not celebrate Christmas, though, as a matter of faith.  I don’t believe for a minute that Christ was born on December 25 or, if he was, that it would matter in any way.  Why?  Christ did not command such a celebration, in fact He never even mentioned it!  The Apostles did not celebrate it nor did they ever mention it!  In fact Christmas was not celebrated at all until over 400 years AFTER Christ!  I celebrate Christmas because it is so American and I am an American by the grace of God!  I also, with the same enthusiasm, celebrate both the 4^th of July and Thanksgiving.  Why?  Simply this, Christmas, the 4^th of July and Thanksgiving are “as American as apple pie and George Washington!”

Finally, I celebrate Christmas because I, as an individual, am free to do so in Christ!  In Romans 14.5, Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes it very clear that Christians are free to celebrate “special days” as long as they don’t judge other Christians who don’t and don’t attempt to impose their views on other Christians – either for or against such celebrations.  “One person considers a certain day as more sacred than other days, while another person considers every day alike. Let each be fully persuaded in his own mind. He who regards a day highly does so for the Lord…” (The Everlasting Gospel translation (EGT) by bro. Hugo McCord)  The single caveat, one must do all things with a clear conscience before God, “for anything not of conviction is sin.” (Romans 14.23.b EGT)


NOTE: Wren Building photo courtesy: The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christ and Christmas - A Biblical Perspective - Part I

Repoussé silver disc of Sol Invictus, Roman, 3rd century, found at Pessinus(British Museum) - Courtesy Wikipedia

It was about this time of year in 1974.  I was a key punch operator for Amfac Wholesale and Drug Supply Company in Oklahoma City.  My job was to prepare invoices for billing.  The key punch fields were limited and so instead of saying “Merry Christmas!” it said “Merry Xmas!”[1]  One of the employees, a ministerial student with the Christian Church, came running into my office very angry at me.  “How dare you take Christ out of Christmas!” he adamantly shouted.  No matter how I tried to explain my quandary, he just got even madder.  He was convinced that I had diabolically conspired to take Christ out of Christmas!

Seriously, was Christ ever IN Christmas to begin with!?  In short, no, Christ never was in Christmas.  There is no biblical reference to any kind of celebration of such a day anywhere in the New Testament.  Our Lord never commanded or even insinuated that such a celebration would be necessary or even allowed as a doctrinal requirement or a doctrinal option in collective worship.  Not only that, there is no apostolic command, no apostolic example nor any inference (necessary or otherwise) anywhere even remotely suggesting such a celebration.   Frankly, any congregation that adds such a doctrinal component to biblical worship will be in violation of the biblical pattern of “neither adding to nor taking away” from the Holy Spirit led New Testament directive.  This is a very serious matter for Paul told Timothy to “Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2.15 ESV)  Any formal and collective worship outside of the pattern is an addition to that pattern.  Similar additions to God’s pattern have had disastrous results, just ask Nadab and Abihu, King Saul, etc.  Paul never celebrated Christmas, never asked anyone else to or even ever heard of such a practice!  At best the practice is extra-biblical and at worst…UN biblical.  In a formal worship setting, the celebration of Christmas is speculative, emotional and presumptive…and clearly outside of the “pattern of sound words.”

How did the celebration of Christmas ever even get started?  The 2^nd century theologian Origen taught that Scripture has multiple meanings and individual interpretations.  This “allowed” the apostate church to eisegete (read into) fictional (allegorical) “meanings” into any and every passage.  With that false and presumptive foundation, the apostate church felt free to add, delete, change or modify any and every biblical passage it wanted to.  This suited it’s self-serving and pragmatic collective goals.  There is no evidence whatsoever that there was ever any observance of the presumptive day of Christ’s birth for nearly 400 years after the resurrection!  Everett Ferguson observes:

There were various…speculations about the day of Jesus’ birth, centering mainly on the spring, but for the first three centuries the church realized the day of Jesus birth was unknown and attached no theological importance to it.  There are accounts in the East of both the birth and baptism of Jesus remembered on January 5 – 6.  Christmas was a Western feast, first celebrated in Rome in the second quarter of the fourth century.  The date of December 25 was influenced by the sun cult, which was promoted by third-century emperors and continued to be recognized by Constantine.[2]

The cult to which bro. Ferguson refers is the cult of sol ivictus – “son un-conquered.”  The cult celebrated the supposed birth of the so-called “sun-god” on December 25, the day the Roman calendar was at the vernal equinox.  The apostate church began to celebrate the birthday of Christ on that same day due to a complicated formula.  Here it is:

1. Christ died on March 25, according to apostate allegorical calculations
2. In order for the life of Christ to be “complete” allegorically, the date of his conception and the day of his death had to be the same date, March 25
3. “IF” Christ was conceived on March 25, nine months later would be December 25, the supposed date of his birth[3]

Whether or not the apostate church purposely chose December 25 to co-opt this pagan celebration into a “Christian” celebration cannot be precisely determined.  However, people who lived later would claim such.  Allegorical interpretation will always lead to presumptive conclusions with the “tail wagging the dog.”  Despite the facts as we know them pointing to a spring or fall birth, the Vatican chose December 25 to fit it’s allegorical puzzle, a classic case of round pegs being pounded into square holes.  TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK! - RM

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[1] NOTE: The Greek letter “X” is pronounced “chi” and is the first letter in “Christ,” hence “X” is used to abbreviate “Christ” in “Christmas” (Xmas) and “Christian” (Xian). 

[2] Ferguson, Everett (Church History Vol. 1 – From Christ to Pre-Reformation, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2005) pg. 252  (Emphasis added – RM)

[3] Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

They Prayed for WHAT?!

Most Christians know that prayer is central to one’s spiritual existence both in private and public expressions.  Most are familiar with the what we call the “Lord’s Prayer.”  Few are familiar, though, with the “Apostles Prayer” of Acts 4.  It is to our extreme benefit to study and learn from this apostolic example for what the apostles prayed for and what we typically pray for are in stark contrast most of the time.

After appearing before the Jewish supreme court, the Sanhedrin, the apostles were “charged …not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus.”  [Acts 4.18]   In brave civil disobedience, Peter and John replied; “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”  [Acts 4.19 – 20]  They were then further threatened and let go.

Peter and John then entered into prayer with the entire church.  That prayer is preserved for us by the Holy Spirit by the hand of Luke in Acts 4. 24b – 30.  While our prayers are often reactive to our circumstances, the apostles prayer in contrast, is proactive – not to get them “out of trouble” but to bolster them for MORE trouble!  Their prayer was not at the time of their arrest but at the time of their release.  They prayed for God’s help for strength to return to the battle, not to be taken out of the battle.  Therein is the lesson for us.

In observing the text we see it in four parts; there is a NEED for prayer, there is a DELIVERY of the prayer, there are RESULTS of the prayer and there, finally, are CONSEQUENCES of the prayer.

In 4.23 – 24a we see that the NEED of prayer was evident because their release was conditional; that they would cease speaking out in the Name of Jesus Christ.  The need for prayer was predicated on the fact that such a surrender was not an option and that Divine intervention was very much needed.

The DELIVERY of the prayer is given to us in 4.24b – 30.  The form, the content, the purpose and the mindset should be prototypically instructive to us in the 21^st century.  The church of Christ faces existential madness and Islamic extremism from the outside and interpretive apostasy from the inside.  

Powerful prayer is needed more than at almost anytime since the 1^st century for it was our Lord who asked the rhetorical question; “When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?”  [Luke 18.8]  Friends, if we neglect powerful prayer we may just answer Jesus’ question in the negative.  Nothing would be more tragic!  Let us observe the details of the apostles prayerful delivery:

·         God is addressed as both Sovereign and all powerful

·         The prayer is based on Scripture [Psalms 2] which is quoted

·         It is acknowledged that opposition to the gospel is in God’s plan

·         God actually predestines certain events (though not individuals)

·         The persecution is NOT asked to be taken away

·         Three things ARE asked of God:

1.      That they will be able to SPEAK God’s Word

2.      That they speak this Word with “all boldness” (ESV)

a.      The phrase rendered “all boldness” is translated from the Greek word parrhesia which, according to Strong’s means “all out-spokeness, frankness, blunt, assured and plain (speaking).”

3.      That the Word “spoken boldly” will be confirmed by “healings, signs and wonders performed through the Name of You holy servant Jesus.” [4.30]  This was promised by Christ in Mark 16.20.  Today, as the Word is now complete, our confirmation is through that revealed Word.  Those who hear it from us can either accept it or reject it.  The miracle of preserved revelation IS our confirmation!

This powerful prayer had immediate RESULTS.  In 4.31 we see those immediate results;

·         The place was shaken

·         They were all filled with the Holy Spirit

·         They continued to speak the Word of God

·         That continuance was with BOLDNESS!

Not only were there immediate results, in 4.32 – 37, we see long term positive consequences:

·         The entire congregation was of one heart and soul

·         They had all things in common

·         The Apostles continued to give their testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

·         Great grace was on them all

·         There was not a needy person among them

·         Land owners sold their land and gave the proceeds to the church

·         The Apostles distributed these funds according to the various needs in the congregation

·         God rose up Barnabas as an encourager

We can positively conclude that in our spiritually perilous times that we should pray for the ability to SPEAK God’s Word, to speak it OUTSPOKENLY, FRANKLY, BLUNTLY, ASSSURADLEY, AND PLAINLY, AND for God to confirm our words by the Scriptures rightly divided.  May our prayers be as the Apostles!

NOTE: Picture is a free public domain image of the "Jerusalem Cross"

David's Lamentation

We are studying through II Samuel at the Archdale church of Christ right now.  Last Sunday night our lesson covered the tragic death of King David's son, Absalom.  Though a pitiful and ruthless man who sought his father's death, David loved his son and lamented his demise in chapter 18, vs. 32; "And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"  We are reminded that, as was Absalom, we are worthless and rebellious towards our God, a loving and forgiving Father who loves us despite who we are.  David was willing to die in the place of his son but could not.  God was willing to die in our stead and DID!  Moved by this Scripture, the great American composer, William Billings, produced in 1778 this great hymn entitled simply; "David's Lamentation."  The attached video show how this song was sung on the great American frontier in what is called the "Sacred Harp" style.  It was, as in the New Testament time, sung a-capella (Latin for "as in church") without instrumental intervention.  The time is kept by the raising that lowering of the elbow to hand.  The tune is sung first and then the words in this video as this is how the music was learned on the frontier.  Thanks to one of our sisters at Archdale for sending me the link for the video.  Enjoy and reflect on the Christ who died for you and me though we were in rebellion!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxaUEyvifU&feature=related

What Part of ONE Don't People Want to Understand?

WARNING!  This post contains TRUTH, though spoken in LOVE,  which "may" if not accepted,  cause severe anger, physical reactions of high blood pressure, upset stomach and head ache.  If you experience any of these physical reactions, consult and obey the New Testament passages noted until the symptoms pass.  DO NOT consult any denominational doctrines of men, creeds, dogmas, traditions or public opinion as your symptoms will only increase in number and severity.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4.12 (ESV)

There is a growing divide among God's people.  This divide concerns this question; "Is the church of Christ just another denomination among many or is the church of Christ the singular Body of Christ spoken of in the New Testament as the singular and narrow way of salvation excluding all others?"   "IF" we have "ears to hear," the answer is plain, obvious and clear.  The divide comes from the fact that many among us no longer look to the ancient words of Christ preserved for us in written form by the Holy Spirit for all time and eternity without change.  Granted, many continue to hold that truth is static, understandable and obtainable through the Words of the New Testament.  Sadly, many others have grasped the existential view of truth, that it evolves over time, constantly changes, is at best elusive and is interpreted individually based upon each persons life experiences, stories and perspective.  Which is it?


In Matthew 16.18 Jesus promised to build His church.  Singular.  Not plural, singular.  There were not and are not multiple churches.  There is only one gospel, all others are accursed according to Paul in Galatians 1.6fl.  “IF” there are multiple churches, multiple gospels and multiple ways for salvation, the reason and purpose for the church of Christ vanishes.  “IF” we are just “one among many,” all is lost as a reason to exist.

 

This is a very hard message.  Many today in the Lord’s church are talking about “unity” with “other Christians.”  We must ask the question, “IF” there are “other Christians,” how did they become such and to what church were they added?  In Acts 4, Peter asserts in a detailed and redundant way that there is only “ONE name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 

·         In 4.2 he asserts that there is only:

-      ONE teaching

-      ONE proclamation

-      ONE resurrection

·         In 4.7 he asserts that there is only:

-      ONE power

-      ONE name

·         In 4.10 he asserts that there is only:

-      ONE name

-      ONE crucifixion

-      ONE resurrection

-      ONE man

·         In 4.11 he asserts that there is only:

-      ONE name

-      ONE stone

-      ONE cornerstone

In verses 12 – 20, Peter concludes his assertion of the one way of salvation.  Salvation is found in no one else.  In fact, “IF” there are other ways to salvation other than “repentance and baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” (Acts 2.38) then, in contradiction to Peter then there MUST also be: 1) More than one teaching, 2) More than one proclamation, 3) More than one resurrection, 4) More than one power, 5) More than one name, 6) More than one crucifixion, 7) More than just one man, 8) More than just one stone, and, 9) More than just one cornerstone.  By default then we must also conclude that Christ Himself was mistaken when he promised to build just one church.  By default then we must also conclude that Paul was in error when he asserted that there was but one gospel and that other gospels were accursed!  The exclusion of other names given for salvation is 100%.  


The singular gospel of salvation cannot be denied though it very often is rejected along with the proclaimers of that gospel.  The opponents of this singular name, this singular gospel, this singular salvation want this gospel to spread no further and  be spoken and taught no more.  Whether or not this singular gospel is to be spread, be spoken about or taught is for others to judge but we must continue to preach, proclaim and teach this narrow and exclusive gospel message of Jesus Christ!

“What part of ONE don’t people want to understand?”