The Devil Inside

COPILOT: Voltaire really did say it — “You must have the devil in you to succeed in the arts.” It appears in Candide (1759) and is one of his sharper, ironic observations about creativity. (7.11.26)

I was listening to Will Durant’s history of Philosophy as I was walking to the gym the other day when in his lecture, he was discussing the history and teaching of a man named Voltaire. At the outset of his chapter (in his book) on Voltaire, he wrote concerning a characteristic quality a person needs to be a good actor (or actress, in this case). What he had in mind may not be how we interpret the words (in a worse-case-scenario), but what he said had (and has) implications far beyond what he may have had in mind.

Hollywood, and some other artsy environments, have at its core this philosophical principle, even foundation, which is they have the devil inside! They may vigorously deny this, but the evidence is in the product produced. Their knowledge about God, if it exists, is near nothing and certainly with no respect or reverence. It is true there are some in the TV and Film industry doing what they can to thwart the evils of Hollywood, such as Candance Cameron Bure, Mel Gibson, and others. Try as they might, to be a Christian in Hollywood is swimming upstream, and some who identify themselves as devout Christians are not always properly reflecting their convictions.

It is easy to recognize that some are doing what they can to tell positive, Christian oriented stories as they swim upstream, but in their exertions, Hollywood, is replete with the devil inside. Who would ever have thought that Stephen Colbert identifies himself as a devout Catholic (https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-are-christians/celebrity-lists). I would never have known that!

Perhaps we already understand this; so, what should we do then with this knowledge? Be discerning, discriminating. The programs you watch, would you watch if the Lord was sitting in your living room? 

Ron Thomas, preacher; Rio Grande Church of Christ; Rio Grande, Ohio (etsop95@gmail.com) 

They will not endure sound doctrine

 

 By Paolo DiLuca

As Paul began to close his second letter to Timothy, he “solemnly” charged him (2 Tim. 4:1) to carry out his work as a preacher: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2). Timothy was not at liberty to teach any message that he or others might prefer. He was to proclaim the word of God, just as Paul and the other apostles taught (2 Tim. 1:13). He was not to deviate from that message in any way, just as we must not alter the message (cf. Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19).  The charge for him to “be ready in season and out of season” to preach this pure, unadulterated message of the gospel required a willingness to proclaim it even if it was unpopular, inconvenient, and difficult for people to accept. And sadly, this even happens among Christians and in local churches. Paul warned Timothy: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

The word sound means to be safe or in good health. Sound doctrine is the teaching that will provide Christians with spiritual health and enable us to grow in the Lord. Paul told the Ephesian elders that the word of God is able to: “build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). If we want to be strengthened and have hope of eternal life, we need to be listening to and following the word of God.

Yet Paul said a time was coming in which Christians would “not endure sound doctrine.” The Greek word translated “not endure” is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe one having to “put up with” someone (cf. Matt. 17:17; Acts 18:14). Why would this happen? Paul said that the teachers they would find would teach “in accordance to their own desires.” In other words, they wanted to engage in sin, tolerate those who were unfaithful, and welcome false teachers, but “sound doctrine” stood in the way of them doing this.

How can we combat this? Obviously, we must “preach the word . . . in season and out of season,” just as Timothy was told to do (2 Tim. 4:2). At the same time, there are a couple of other things that we need to do:

1. Each one of us must work to weed out evil desires before they can take root in our hearts. If left unchecked, these evil desires will eventually lead to sin and, ultimately, death (James 1:14-16).

2. We must cultivate a love for the truth, not just tolerate it. We need the attitude of the psalmist: “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). Without this love of the truth, we cannot be saved (2 Thess. 2:10).

“Sound doctrine” is incompatible with sin and error. Instead, the message of the Lord’s apostles calls us to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). Those who are “holding fast the faithful word” must be prepared to “refute those who contradict” the Lord’s teaching (Titus 1:9).

If we can eliminate evil desires from our hearts and cultivate a love for the truth, and encourage our brethren to do the same, we can avoid the kind of apostasy that Paul warned Timothy about. However, if “the time [comes] when [even some of our brethren] will not endure sound doctrine,” we must continue to do what Timothy was told to do: “Be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Even if we are not in the same position as Timothy was (an evangelist), we must still stand for the truth no matter how many of our brethren might be turning away from it.

Paolo Di Luca; Evangelist Bridge Street Church of Christ; 1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292, New Martinsville WV 26155; 304.559.7735; paolo05@gmail.com

The Book of Hebrews

 

Chapter 1. Jesus, our High Priest, is greater than the angels.

Chapter 2. Jesus, our High Priest, is man’s merciful and faithful High Priest.  

Chapter 3. Jesus, our High Priest, is greater than Moses.

Chapter 4. Jesus, our High Priest, is the sabbath rest of God.

Chapter 5. Jesus, our High Priest, is the author of salvation.  

Chapter 6. Jesus, our High Priest, is the anchor of one’s soul.

Chapter 7. Jesus, our High Priest, is priest after the order of Melchizedek. 

Chapter 8. Jesus, our High Priest, is at the right hand of the throne of Majesty.

Chapter 9. Jesus, our High Priest, is the Mediator of the New Covenant.  

Chapter 10. Jesus, our High Priest, is over the house of God.

Chapter 11. Jesus, our High Priest, lived by faith.

Chapter 12. Jesus, our High Priest, is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Chapter 13. Jesus, our High Priest, suffered outside the Camp (Jerusalem).

 

-Ron Thomas, preacher; Rio Grande (Ohio) Church of Christ 

 

BulletinGold: A New Beginning

 

BulletinGold’s Beginnings

In 2001, Donna Richmond (now Wittlif) launched BulletinGold, a newsletter created for church secretaries and bulletin editors. Since 2005, I have been privileged to serve as editor, with the support of many generous authors whose contributions have helped keep the newsletter going.

In recent years, Cathy Hardman, a sister in Christ from the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC, has also provided invaluable assistance by posting articles to the website.

 

A New Season for BulletinGold

Because of health issues, I have reluctantly decided to step down as editor of BulletinGold. Just when it seemed the newsletter might come to an end, Ron Thomas volunteered to take over the editing duties.

Ron is a longtime contributing author, a friend of BulletinGold, and a preacher in Ohio. He will bring fresh writers and renewed energy to this work, and I am confident he will do an excellent job.

 

Please continue to support Ron and BulletinGold in every way you can.

The Lord's Supper in the 5th century

    From a Facebook post earlier this week: “Cyril (d. 444), Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, on the Lord’s supper, a weekly practice. ‘If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist; and that bread, which is your God humbled and disguised, will teach you humility. If the fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this bread; and you will learn generosity. If the cold wind of coveting withers you, hasten to the bread of angels; and charity will come to blossom in your heart. If you feel the itch of intemperance, nourish yourself with the flesh and blood of Christ, who practiced heroic self-control during his earthly life; and you will become temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly food; and you will grow fervent. Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to the banquet of the angels; and the spotless flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste.’”

    The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” This was a post from a local preacher who, some of us are observing, is descending into denominationalism. Be that as it may, to this post I replied, “Or, better yet, turn to the Lord, learn His will, and implement His life and teaching, making it your own (Eph. 5.1). There is nothing magical about the Lord's Supper, which these words convey.” His reply to this was that he respectfully disagreed, meaning (as I interpreted it) that he did not want to have a conversation concerning this.

    Let me, then, give some attention to this topic, reflecting on the sacredness, importance, and spiritual nature of the Lord's Supper.

    The Lord's Supper is sacred, meaning the solemn occasion is dedicated in service to the Lord. That which we share in weekly, we do so to memorialize the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection. What we participate in weekly is (should be) a reflection of how we live life. Does one gain spiritual strength from it? He (she) should, but it will only be in relation to one’s obedience to the Lord’s will, similar as one would in prayer and praise.

    The importance of the Lord's Supper is that the command to observe is only for those who are Christians; it is not for those who have not obeyed the Gospel because they do not understand what they are doing. Churches of Christ practice “open communion,” meaning that each person must take account for himself in relation to the Lord. Some of us may have doubt about the spiritual standing of others; doubt we may have, but it matters not because one’s spiritual standing belongs to the one participating and the Lord. There are some churches that practice “closed communion,” meaning that only those who are members of the church where they worship can share in the sacred occasion.

    There is nothing in the participation of the weekly communion that corresponds to the words of the 5th century bishop (above). Search the New Testament and see if you find anything like what he said. If not, then why express sentiments like this? This is done because there is in the minds of some a “sacramental” approach to ritual. The word “sacrament” means something done / participated in is the instrument of divine grace or, in other words, there is an extra measure of divine pleasure coming from the Lord that would not otherwise be experienced. Thus, the spiritual focus of the communion (the Lord's Supper) is amplified to something the Lord never intended. There is no magical aura associated with one’s observance. The Christian observes the Lord’s Supper because the Lord wants him (her) to, nothing more.

    The Lord's Supper is sacred, important, spiritual, not magical. -Ron Thomas

 

- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com. Visit the congregation’s website at: https://www.churchofchristatriogrande.com

 

Assessing Our Life in Christ

  A Christian is to be...

...Possessing the spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9)

...Accessing the word of Christ (Col. 3:16)

...Blessing always the name of Christ (Eph. 1:12)

...Confessing the Sonship of Christ (Acts 8:37)

...Stressing the authority of Christ (Matt. 28:18)

...Dressing in the image of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1)

...Addressing the importance of Christ (Col. 1:28)

...Progressing the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16)

...Expressing the love of Christ (Eph. 5:2)

...Impressing the care of Christ (Eph. 2:10)

...Pressing on for the cause of Christ (Phil. 1:27)

...Effervescing the light of Christ (1 John 1:7)

...Suppressing the enemies of Christ (1 John 4:1) - Edd Sterchi

 

Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/

 

Unconditional Love

    In the Greek, it is the word agape, which has nearly be-come an English word in the world of Biblical studies. The best definition from my finite mind for "unconditional love" is: doing or saying something beneficial for another, expecting nothing in return. It is sacrificial. A better definition is seen by its use in the New Testament. Let’s consider also a passage from the Old Testament where the word is absent, but its meaning is exemplified.

    First, unconditional love is the essence of God. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16).

    Second, it is expressed by true disciples of Jesus. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt 5:44).

    Third, it is expected of Christian husbands. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Col 3:19). "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph 5:25).

    Fourth, unconditional love was exemplified in the days of Daniel. Three Hebrew youths, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (more commonly known by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were put in roles of leadership in Babylon following Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream (Daniel 2–3). King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of gold and made a decree for all to worship the statue (Daniel 3). The three Hebrew youths refused to do so, and so Nebuchadnezzar threatened them with death in a fiery furnace if they continued. Listen to their response to the king: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Daniel 3:17–18). What a tremendous love and faith these three men had for God. They had faith that he could and would save them from the fiery furnace; however, they loved God so much that they would still be faithful to Him, even if He did not save them from the fiery furnace. Do we love God that much?

    He loves us that much, and more. So much more that He sent His only Son to save the world, knowing most of the world would reject Him. The sacrifice has been made. Will we love Him? Certainly, “He first loved us” (1 John 4:19)! -Clifton Angel 

 

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/