None Other Name

By Ron Bartanen     “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name Under heaven whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).     “The name” referred to, by which we are to be saved, is “the name which is above every name,” even the name before which “every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:9-10)—the name of Jesus Christ.  Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach “repentance and remission of sins…in His name” (Luke 24:47).  The power to become sons of God is given “to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).  The convicted multitude at Pentecost were commanded to “repent and be baptized…in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Christians are admonished, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).  Faith, repentance, baptism and Christian worship and service are all in the name of Jesus Christ.      When a thing is done in the name of another, it is by the authority of that person.  Every check you sign with your name gives authority to the bearer of that check to draw money from your account.  It is not so much the repetition of the name “Jesus Christ” as it is the recognition that we seek and honor His authority.      Denominational names imply a loyalty to the authority of that denomination.  Paul corrected those who declared, “I am of Paul,” saying, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:13).  Human, denominational names give honor to others than to Christ and divide those who claim faith in Him.  May we honor Him alone in our faith and obedience.

- 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

Not a Good Idea?

By Bill Brandstatter

 

    I was watching a television program in which a number of preachers were asked questions from viewers. One viewer asked a very important question. The question dealt with why all the different denominations. The viewer asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to have just one church?” The moderator of the program stated that would not be a good idea! Only a couple of preachers responded. They indicated that varying opinions of interpretation of scripture was the reason for all the denominations. Since there are varying opinions, according to them, denominations are justified.

    Apparently, some of the men on the program may not have been familiar with some statements in scriptures that would have answered the question. Jesus prayed for unity and that “all may be one.” (John 17:21) Paul pleaded with the Christians at Corinth “that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10) The idea of unity is, according to the Bible, a good idea.

    The Bible teaches also that one church is a good idea. Paul wrote that Christ is the head of the church which is His body. (Eph. 1:22) He says in 1 Cor.12:20 that there is “yet one body.” Paul also mentions in Eph. 4:4, “There is one body.”

    There is one church whose members have their names written in heaven.

(Heb.12:23) Regarding this one church, Paul emphasized “we being many are one body in

Christ.” (Rom. 12:5) Paul further indicated there is one way into that one body. He indicated, “For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13) This happened when the church was established in acts 2:47. Luke writes there, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

    There was in the New Testament time only one church. They were consistent in message. (1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17) There was just one system of faith that had to be obeyed. (Jude 3; Eph. 4:5) There is just one gospel. (Rom. 1:16)

    May we understand the simple plan for unity as outlined in the New Testament.

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

What Constitutes a Saint?

By R.W. McAlister

         With the recent declaration of Pope John the XXIII and Pope John Paul the II as saints, it makes one wonder, "What is involved in becoming a saint?" Notice the following from CNN.com: 

"To be named a saint involves a series of steps, but the qualifications are straightforward, according to the veteran Vatican analyst John Allen. 'You put a holy life and two miracles together, according to the Catholic system, you've got a saint,' he said.'"

Is that a Biblical teaching? 

         Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes to the church at Rome in Rom. 1:7: "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:" Who are called to be saints? The beloved of God.  

         In I Cor. 1:2, in writing to the Lord's church at Corinth, Paul penned these words: "…to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" Who are called to be saints? All who are 1) sanctified (set apart) in Jesus Christ, and, 2) those who call upon the name of the Lord. So, what does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? 

         In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter declared: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). In view of this statement, folks sometimes ask: "Why do members of the church of Christ insist that baptism is a requirement for being saved?" You see, calling upon the Lord’s name, and being baptized, are synonymous obligations. 

         It's clear that simply “calling” on the name of Christ is not enough to bring salvation since Jesus Himself declared in Matt. 7:21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”  

         Clearly, therefore, “calling” on Christ involves more than a mere verbal or mental plea. Calling on the name of the Lord includes repentance and baptism. 

         In Acts 2, the same apostle who promised salvation to all who “call on the name of the Lord,” also commanded: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (2:38). 

         Since the “shall be saved” of 2:21 is equivalent to the “forgiveness of sins” in 2:38, it necessarily follows that “calling on the name of the Lord” includes both repentance and baptism. 

         Note Acts 22:16. Ananias instructed Saul as follows: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

          All who wish to enjoy the remission of past sins, and thus be saints, will call on the name of the Lord by obeying the gospel plan of salvation. When Paul addresses Christians, he refers to them as saints (Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 1:2; I Cor. 14:33; I Cor. 16:1; II Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; 2:19, and many other verses). In becoming a Christian, one becomes a saint. How does one become a Christian? By hearing the word of God preached (Rom. 10:17), believe it - believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Heb. 11:6), repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), confess faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:36-37), be baptized (Acts 2:38; I Pet. 3:20-21), and live faithfully unto death – (Rev. 2:10).  

         The Catholic church says John Paul miraculously cured Marie Simon-Pierre, a French nun stricken by Parkinson's disease, several months after his death.         

         Also according to them, the second miracle occurred when a Costa Rican woman with a brain aneurysm recovered after praying to John Paul. 

         John XXIII, revered for his role in the Second Vatican Council, is only recorded as having performed one miracle after his death in 1963. (It seems they even violate their own laws, not just God's!) 

         There's no need to perform even one miracle. None of us can do that anyway. The power to perform true miracles ended upon the completion of the New Testament (I Cor. 13:8-10).  

         Furthermore, Jesus teaches us to pray to God, the Father (Matt. 6:9), who is alive on His throne in Heaven (Rev. 7:15), not to any mortal who has passed from this life. Let us understand what the Bible says and abide by it in all things.

- R.W. McAlister served as a minister to the Anna Church of Christ in Anna, IL until his death in October 2021.This was his own home congregation in which he grew up. R.W. was a beloved member of his community and a popular teacher in the agriculture department at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. To visit the congregation's website go to: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/

Religious Titles Forbidden

By: Stephen R. Bradd

    After blasting the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and desire to be "seen by men," Jesus proceeds to give special instructions for His followers:
"But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Matt. 23:8-12).
    Jesus did not want His disciples to use religious titles. The title of "Rabbi" was reserved for the Jewish doctors of the Law of Moses. The word itself meant "master" or "teacher." A modern religious equivalent would be the title "Doctor" (e.g., Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, etc.). Jesus' point in this section is that His followers should not use religious titles to create artificial distinctions among themselves. The use of titles tends to imply that a certain one has more authority or is superior (e.g., Reverend, Most Right Reverend, etc.). Such is not the case religiously, even if a man has decades of experience, has completed years of advanced studies, and has a host of "letters" he could use after his name. Pursuing religious education is a good thing, even at an advanced level. However, such a one should be content to be known simply as one of the "brethren."
    Let it be understood that it is not inherently wrong to refer to oneself or someone else descriptively as a "teacher." This can be shown to be the case from passages such as: Acts 13:1, I Timothy 2:7, and II Timothy 1:11. Jesus is prohibiting the use of the words in this section (i.e., "rabbi," "father," and "teacher") when they are used as titles of religious honor, authority, or superiority.
    Our Lord wants all to be humble, even those with great spiritual knowledge. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven" - One might rightly wonder how our Catholic friends can miss this simple command. They fondly refer to their local church leader as "Father," and they certainly mean it as a religious title. Do they not understand Jesus' teaching here, or do they simply disobey His command out of ignorance?
    It should be observed that this prohibition would not forbid a physical son from referring to his male parent as "father." It also would not ban a "spiritual son" from referring to his "father in the faith" as such (e.g., I Cor. 4:15).
    Rather than exalting ourselves with religious titles, Jesus wants us to be humble servants - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (cf. Luke 14:11; 18:14).
    In this chapter thus far, Jesus has rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their public displays (i.e., all the things they did "to be seen by men"). Dear friends, we today as followers of Christ must be mindful of our motives. It is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. May we empty ourselves of pride and seek to do God's will faithfully--regardless of who is or isn't watching and regardless of the arrogant titles that many religious leaders use!

- via the Lake Hills Letter, weekly bulletin of the Lake Hills Church of Christ in Chattanooga, TN.  Shane Robinson preaches for the congregation, and he may be contacted through their website at http://www.lakehillschurchofchrist.org/

“Beautiful Abbeys”

By Kyle Moses
    While in England, I had the opportunity to visit many of the buildings (known as an abbey) for the Church of England (henceforth CoE). These abbeys to see are beautiful. Many of these buildings were constructed in the 1100’s, 1200’s, or 1300’s. Some, of course were either lost or damaged during World War II, but most of them still stand and are still in use among the Anglicans for their “worship” periods. The CoE broke away from the Roman Catholic church in the 1550’s when King Henry VIII was not granted a divorce (or annulment as some sources call it) from Katherine of Aragon by the Pope in Rome. Henry the VIII said then that he would just begin his own church that would allow him to divorce. This difference and the fact that they no longer answer to the Pope are the only two fundamental differences in the CoE and the Roman Catholic church. I want to take the next few paragraphs to describe these buildings for you.
    When standing outside of these beautiful buildings, you can easily see the intricate designs of these buildings’ pillars and the shape. For example, the Peterborough cathedral is in the shape of a cross.
    Next, when entering through the front door of an abbey, the visitor is immediately greeted by signs and boxes pleading for money. Usually there will be a “baptismal” font around the “foyer” of these buildings. It is interesting the history that is seen even in this one element of the CoE. In one of the abbeys I lifted up the cover of this font and saw where there had been several major changes. This font, when first made, was large enough to baptize – in the true meaning of the word – an adult convert. Then, over time, they sealed the font half of the way up to make it large enough to baptize – again in the truest sense of the word – a baby. Then, there was a chalice sitting on this second renovation in which the “holy water” is place where they began to just sprinkle babies. Therefore, we can see the decline of the following of God’s law: from baptism of adults to baptism of children to sprinkling of children.
    There are often at least two podiums from which the services are directed. One podium has its own set of stairs because it is elevated so highly. Only the clergy in charge is allowed to stand behind this podium. If there is going to be a lesser clergy member or a “layperson” reading or doing some public act, they must stand on the floor and use a less-than-elegant podium.
    There are beautiful stained-glass windows that line the great halls of “worship”. These windows often depict –as they refer to her – the Holy Virgin Mother of God (or as we know her, Mary) with a halo over her head, or they show images of Christ on the cross and other Biblical scenes.
    In these auditoriums of these buildings, there are often large and very elaborate tables upon which sits candles and a large cross or crucifix. From this table they administer their communion services on Saturdays or on special religious holidays (i.e. Christmas, Easter, etc.).
    In one of the abbeys, there sits a statue of Mary, Christ, and other figures. They have these images of such figures as well as images of past clergy, kings, and queens. This is idolatry at its worst.
    After taking a tour of the abbey in Cambridge on the campus of the world renowned Cambridge University, I saw just how idolatrous this religion is. The historical documents show how the monarch (which serves as the head of the CoE) is held in a god-like manner. The CoE worships someone alongside of God. In one of the displays, they listed the people worthy of our adoration and worship. Here is the list in the same order: “Mary, God, Christ, Holy Spirit.” Many other things that time nor space will allow could be demonstrated from this exposition.
    I wanted to illustrate this religion to tell you this: this religion is not out of the ordinary. Many religious bodies allow idolatrous acts to come into their midst (i.e., calling a person by a special title such as “reverend” or “pastor” thus elevating them above another person). We must be sure that we do not allow ourselves to make idols in our lives. By putting something else above our service and worship to God, we allow idolatrous worship to take over our lives.

- Kyle Moses, Mathis, TX; via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere church of Christ, Belvedere, SC.  Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org