By
Jeff Arnette Talk about an oxymoron. The epitome of
isolation and loneliness connected with what should be the epitome of family,
purpose, and belonging. You may disagree with my choice of titles, but chances
are, you were taught to be a “lone wolf” just like me. From childhood most of
us were taught that all we needed to succeed in life was hard work and
determination. We were conditioned to believe that we don’t need anything or
anyone to attain our goals in life. We were raised to be lone wolves in life,
in work, and perhaps most importantly, in our faith. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that our
parents did the best they could with the information and training they had. How
could they have known that they were creating a generation of people who would
cast off all personal connections and go it alone? We live in a time when
connections to friends and family are all but non-existent. A time when
connections to faith and church have eroded to the point that the average
person doesn’t attend church services. I was shocked to learn that 75% of our
entire population doesn’t attend church services. The problem with all this is that it is
anti-Christian and destined to fail. Reality dictates that the lone wolf can
survive along as everything goes his way (which is a rarity), but, as soon as
winter comes, and life gets hard, he will starve to death. The pack survives
and thrives while the lone wolf flounders in the anguish of starvation and
loneliness. I honestly believe this is Satan’s plan to
destroy us. You cannot destroy a people until you separate them from each
other. The lone wolf cannot survive the hard times of life. Alone they become
more susceptible to sin and distractions. With no God, no faith, no family, no
friends, no accountability, or authority in life; we will fail. It is inevitable. God never intended for us to be alone. He
gave us a church and family to ensure we are never alone through the winter of
life. God never intended for us to learn about
faith and our gifts without the guidance of other men and women of God. Without
the church, we never learn the fullness of faith and what it can be; so, we
settle for whatever we have and wonder why we are unhappy. God never intended for us to be the sole
source of authority in our lives. We need the church; preachers, elders, and
fellow church members to help keep us in line. He gave us a Bible and other men
and women to help attain true faith and Christianity. Without the church, we
settle for something that looks like the real thing but is a cheap imitation
destined to fail. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/  |
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Lone Wolf Christianity
Repent
By Clifton Angel Let us consider seven reasons repentance is
necessary for every accountable soul. 1. The
Command of God. “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth
men that they should all everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30, ASV). God commands
repentance of every person in every place. 2. The Cost of Sin. “For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
(Romans 6:23, KJV). 3. The Cutoff of Sin. “Behold, the LORD’S
hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it
cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1–2). Sin
separates us from our God. 4. The Connection to God. “If we say that
we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth” (1 John 1:6). But if we repent and walk in the light, we have fellowship
with him (cf. 1 John 1:7). That is tremendous motivation for repentance. 5. The Conclusion in Salvation. “Godly
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is rewarding
to study the prepositions concerning the requirements for salvation. Hearing
the gospel leads unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Believing Jesus leads unto
righteousness (Romans 10:10). Confession with the mouth is unto salvation
(Romans 10:10). And as we have read from 2 Corinthians 7:10, repentance leads
to salvation. But it is not until one is baptized that he is in Christ (cf.
Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:10–12), has his sins washed away (cf. Acts 22:16),
has his sins forgiven (cf. Acts 2:38), is saved (cf. Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). 6. The Cancellation of Sins. “Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins” (Acts 2:38). As was aforementioned, cancellation of sins does not occur until
baptism, but repentance is required in order to get to that point. Immersion
without repentance is merely a physical bath. 7. The Occasion from God. “The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). If you are reading this article in the
flesh, God is still displaying his long-suffering to us. The Lord has promised
to return (cf. John 14:1–3), but he has not yet because He is “willing ... that
all should come to repentance.” Have you obeyed this command of God? Will
you avoid the cost and cutoff of sins with the cancellation of sins? Are you
connected to God? Will your life conclude in salvation? Have you taken advantage
of the occasion God has provided you? If your answer is “no” to any of these
questions, we urge you to repent. |
- 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/ |
God’s Solid Foundation Stands Firm
By
Joe Chesser Among the last words written by the beloved
Apostle Paul are found in 2 Timothy 2.19: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation
stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’
and ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from
wickedness.’” Our world is unstable. The economy is
always in a state of flux. Our national confidence could crumble at any time.
Job security is a thing of the past. Health? Morality? Friendships? Even our
family relations are at risk. But regardless of what is happening in the
world around us, one thing has always remained constant ... and it always will:
“God’s solid foundation stands firm!” The context of Paul’s statement to Timothy
is reassuring even for us 2000 years later. The point here is not to establish
the trustworthiness of God. That is firmly established in other Scriptures
(Heb. 13.6,8; Isa. 41.10; Prov. 30.5; 1 Thess. 5.24; Deut. 7.9, 32.4; Psalm
111.7). The point is that because God is so solid and sure, we can trust that
what God began cannot be destroyed no matter what happens in the world around
us, or even among ourselves in the church! Jesus built the church, and not even
Satan can destroy it (Matt. 16.18)! Godless chatter and false teachings can
spread like gangrene, causing some to wander away from the truth (2 Tim.
2.16-18). Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm! That’s why each of
us needs to do our very best to be approved by God by handling accurately His
word of truth (2 Tim. 2.15). God and His truth will never change, but we
certainly may. Wrong ideas about God, His truth, and His
church are circulating all around us. They always have. They always will.
That’s why it is so important to consistently trust the source of truth instead
of what others say about it. “The Lord knows those who are his” (2 Tim. 2.19).
People are confused about who are Christians and who aren’t, but God is not! If
we study accurately what God says about how to be saved, we don’t have to be
confused either. The same principle is true about the church Jesus built, about
how to live as God’s people, about how to worship, about marriage and family,
about ethics ... about everything pertaining to life and godliness: “His divine
power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter
1.3 emphasis mine). That was written in the 1st century, and is just as true in
the 21st century as it was the day it was written. God has made sure we have
all we need to become His children and to live like His children. Where there
are doubts, God and His words are a solid, unchanging foundation to discover
and on which to rely. People with slick tongues and great sounding arguments
will try to lure you away from God and His truth (2 Tim. 4.1-4). Don’t fall for
it. Examine things yourself by examining truth (2 Cor. 13.5). |
- Joe Chesser preaches for
the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com |
Holiday Compassion
By Joe
Slater I hope you have the happiest holiday in
history! (How’s that for alliteration?) Seriously, I want nothing, including
this article, to detract from your genuine enjoyment of the whole holiday
season. That being said, please show compassion toward
the many for whom holidays are, to say the least, difficult. The anniversary of
a loved one’s death may come at holiday time. Even if they passed away at some
other date, unwelcome feelings of loss and loneliness may flood aching hearts
during holidays. That doesn’t mean you should feel guilty
for enjoying family, food, and fun. Make those precious memories! As you do so,
remember those who feel empty. A loving look, a sympathetic smile, a hug or pat
on the arm may accomplish more than you realize. An understanding word of encouragement could
be helpful. That definitely excludes tacky remarks like “get over it!” or “just
move on!” Such cruel comments show the opposite of a Christ-like spirit! Sometimes no words are needed. Your mere presence
tells the person you are there for them. Think of Job’s three friends when they
came to visit him in his profound suffering; the best thing they did was remain
silent an entire week. Then they started talking and things went downhill from there! In no less than a dozen places the Gospels specify
that Jesus either showed compassion or taught His disciples to do so. May God
help us to be like Jesus not only during this holiday season, but every day! |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Spending a December Day With Jesus
|
There is abundant evidence that Jesus was
not born in the month of December; however, did you know that an event in the
month of December is mentioned in the Bible? Specifically, we read of Jesus
attending a feast in the month of December. In John 10:22, 23 we read “Now it
was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter and Jesus walked in
the temple in Solomon’s porch.” (NKJV) I find this passage very interesting and
feel that a couple of points need to be made. First,
what is the Feast of Dedication and why was Jesus there? Let us first
understand that the Hebrews had a bunch of celebrations. Some were based on
traditions. It was difficult for them to give some of these up after they
became Christians. Paul alludes to this in Rom. 14:5: “One esteems one day over
another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his
own mind.” The need to celebrate the old Jewish feast days was no longer
necessary, however. Paul wrote to the brethren in Colossae: “So let no one
judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
sabbaths.” (Col. 2:16) Others were based on religious, natural or agricultural
events. The Feast of Dedication, according to the International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, began on December 25th and was held for eight days. (Orr, James
“Feast of Dedication,” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) Burton
Coffman notes about this feast: “The Feast of Dedication was begun by Judas
Maccabeus B.C. 164 to commemorate the cleansing and rededication of the temple
after the defilement through pagan worship. It was not one of the great feasts
handed down from Moses; but it was popular among the people who called it: the
feast of lights. It was held at the winter solstice (Christmas) ... and was
called `The Feast of the New Age." (Coffman, James Burton.
"Commentary on John 10", "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and
New Testament", Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA.
1983-1999). This feast was instituted by men, not by God. This feast is also
known as the “Feast of Lights” because of the lights that were used to
celebrate it. It is also known as “Hanukkah.” The Jews continue its celebration
today. Second,
Jesus no doubt spoke at this time because there was a crowd present (John
10:23-25). Any feast day was likely to draw a crowd of Jews. So, on or around
December 25th Jesus began a discourse that dealt with Himself. Those in the
crowd accused Him of blasphemy. The speech on that day was one about His
identity. He stated, “The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear
witness of Me” (John 10:25). Jesus further spoke of His relationship to the
Father and said, “I and My Father are One.” (John 10:30) The Jews then sought
to stone Jesus. We
should take any day possible to speak about Christ to others. Christmas, like
the Feast of Dedication, is instituted by man; yet, we should speak of Christ
to others since Christ is on the minds of so many. As Christ took a man-made
celebration to tell of Himself, let us also do the same this holiday season. |
- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church
of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/ |
Sunday, January 22, 2023
That These Shall Not Have Fought in Vain
By Ron
Bartanen Tomorrow we, as a nation, observe Veterans
Day, It is a day appropriately set aside to give honor to the veterans—to those
who have faced the possibility of death in defense of our freedoms. Theirs has been the greatest sacrifice of
which man is capable. They have left
parents, wives and husbands, and children to serve their country with the
realization that they might never again see their loved ones. The greatest of
honors are due toward those who were willing to make the greatest of
sacrifices. Let us therefore remind
ourselves of the value of that for which they were willing to give their
all. They esteemed our liberty as a
nation to be valued even above their lives. How great will be the disgrace and shame
of our nation if this for which they were willing to shed their blood is cast
aside. Following the Civil War,
President Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address, remembering those who had
fallen in battle. In the closing words
of his speech he said, “It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here
dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we
take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure
of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from
the earth.” On Memorial Day we gave
special honor to the deceased veterans, but on Veterans Day we recognize also
those who survived. We could make one
change in Lincoln ’s speech to say, “…that these shall not have fought in
vain.” As Lincoln saw that “under God”
we had been granted freedom, he also recognized the “great task” ahead for the
survivors of war—that of a continued defense of freedom. He called the nation to “increased devotion
to that cause….” Liberty, once achieved,
is nevertheless seen as an “unfinished work,” dependent upon that
devotion. Otherwise, tyranny would
triumph, and our free republic would “perish from the earth.” |
- Ronald Bartanen is a
retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris,
Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be
contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com |
Peace In Your Personal Life
By Brian Mitchell The following story was
run a number of years ago in the Fort Worth, Texas Star Telegram. “The man who
spotted targets for American bombers over Hiroshima in August 1945 has been
laid to rest in Texas soil after searching the last 33 years for some peace in
his life. Claude Robert Earthley was a 24 Year Air Force pilot who picked out Hiroshima
through a hole in the clouds and radioed the Enola Gay to bomb her primary
targets. He died this past Saturday from cancer in the Veterans Administration Hospital
in Houston. He had been discharged
from the service in 1947 following numerous psychiatric tests that indicated
severe neurosis and guilt complex. Doctors said that he told him that he felt personally
responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Japanese. In 1960, after
a series of small time burglaries, the Van Alstyne, Texas, native told
reporters that he had not had any sleep in 15 years. There is no peace, he
said.” One of the primary
definitions for the word peace was an “inner calm or tranquility.” Inner peace
is something that all men search for, and yet for various reasons, few ever
really find it. There are many people in the world and some in the Lord’s Church
as well that struggle, as Mr. Earthley did, with their own personal demons and
thus they never really enjoy the peace the God intends for all of our lives—Jn.14:1-3,
Jn.14:27, Jn.16:33. If God intended for us
to have peace in our lives and Jesus says repeatedly that it is peace that we
have in Him; why do so many people live lives characterized by anything but
peace? Some people don’t have peace in their lives because they have never come
to the only real source of peace in our lives and that is God. In fact, there
is no peace in life a part from God, and if you are here today and have never
obeyed the Gospel you should not have peace in your life. |
- Brian Mitchell serves as a
minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net |