“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when Jesus had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit” (Mark 5:1-2)
“He was a great, hulking brute of a man, that madman of Gadar. The fearful villagers had bound him often with fetters and chains, but he had broken them like string. The legion of demons who possessed him had driven him into the mountains and the tombs, where he had his dwelling. Tormented by the devil, he had stripped off his garments and was continually crying out and gashing his body with stones.
“But one glorious day he met the Great Physician. The Master came and healed him, and the next time we see him who had been the madman he is calm and clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus!
“The time arrived that the Teacher must go on about His ministry and as He was entering the boat, the one who had been the madman besought Him, saying, “Jesus, could I go with you?”
“No,” tenderly replied the Master, “I want you to go to your home and to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you!”
“Oh, what about us, can we do that, too? Shouldn’t we do it? Will we do it? – We who have experienced the healing touch of the Great Physician! Can we not, should we not also go to our home and to our friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for us!
“Just how far am I willing to go That the Gospel may be preached?
Just how much am I willing to give
That the lost ones may be reached?
“Just how much am I willing to pray
For the souls that are lost in sin?
Just how much am I willing to do
To and bring them in?
“Just how yielded am I to Christ
Do I let His Spirit fill? Just how willing to pay the price-
To obey the Master’s will?”
(Willie W. White – Adapted)
Many years ago it used to really upset me when I would hear a minister suggest that one of the chief points we would be judged on at the Great Judgment Day was whether or not we had won anyone for Christ, had brought anyone else to Heaven with us. Perhaps it used to irritate me so because it made me so uncomfortable!
Whether we have actually “won” someone for the Lord may not be the issue. We cannot convert anyone; only God can save a soul. But our task is to be a light for Jesus, a witness, a message-bearer. Ours is the privilege and the joy of sharing with others “what great things the Lord has done in our lives”, what a difference He has made!
The reclaimed madman went cheerfully and thankfully to his witnessing! Won’t we do so likewise if we are truly grateful to Christ?
When was the last time I (you) shared with others “what Jesus has done for me”?
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
"FIGHTING BACK!" August 24, 2009
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who when He was reviled (verbally abused), did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (I Peter 2:21-23).
As antichristian sentiment and oppressive legislative action rises in America, from time to time the call goes out for Christians to “stand up and fight back”, to be as aggressive for Christ as the unbelievers are against Christ. Sometimes even the actions of the Muslims are held up as a role model of religious zeal for us Christians to imitate!
Just how should disciples of Jesus “fight back”? Can we literally use violence? NO! Jesus says: “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). And to Peter, and to us, He says, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). And Paul reminds us that we must arm ourselves with spiritual rather than temporal weapons, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in the heavenly regions” (Eph. 6:12).
Christians cannot, in either the defense or the advancement of the Christian faith, use violence or guns or knives or fire or force or threatening. We are not of the ancient spirit of the Catholic Crusaders or Inquisition! We cannot participate in the organizations or the spirit of the Ku Klux Klan, “homeland militias”, and certainly not the Muslims who have from their very beginnings waged literal war and murder out of hatred and envy against Jews, Christians, and Catholics!
Street demonstrations, “political right” organizations, boycotts, lobbying Congress, attempting to get all believers to vote together for righteous causes and men – all such are of little avail! The wicked will always be more numerous than the elect! Believers identifying themselves as “Republicans” or “Democrats” almost universally vote “the Party” rather than righteousness!
How do we “fight” for Christ and the Christian faith? How do we defend the Gospel cause or advance the Kingdom of Heaven? By following the example of Jesus! He lived a life of love and holiness, He revealed God and salvation to men, He acted as physician to every unwell person, He was a good neighbor who, inasmuch as possible, lived peaceably with all. But He did not fight evil with violence, boycotts, street demonstrations, political activism, secret organizations, or military coup! And when violence was used against Him, He never retaliated, but left revenge to the Heavenly Father, and committed Himself to the care of God! We are to pursue the same course and employ the same methods. Ours is to be a war waged by love, positive example, peaceful activity, a sharing of Bible truth to all who voluntarily want to hear it, and a non-aggressive spirit.
Note! We are speaking here of Kingdom policy, not American policy. America, as a temporal nation among other temporal nations, pursues a course of action best designed to promote the physical welfare, temporal happiness, and safety of its citizens. To even survive police activity and military force is at times deemed expedient. We Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. As such, we must “render unto Caesar that which pertains to Caesar, and unto God that which pertains to God.” But we cannot adopt the means and methods of a secular government for use in defending or advancing the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“Stand up and be counted for Christ?” “Fight back as Christian soldiers?” Yes, indeed! And the best way to do that is to “follow in His steps”, imitate His example, and fully imbibe His spirit!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
As antichristian sentiment and oppressive legislative action rises in America, from time to time the call goes out for Christians to “stand up and fight back”, to be as aggressive for Christ as the unbelievers are against Christ. Sometimes even the actions of the Muslims are held up as a role model of religious zeal for us Christians to imitate!
Just how should disciples of Jesus “fight back”? Can we literally use violence? NO! Jesus says: “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). And to Peter, and to us, He says, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). And Paul reminds us that we must arm ourselves with spiritual rather than temporal weapons, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in the heavenly regions” (Eph. 6:12).
Christians cannot, in either the defense or the advancement of the Christian faith, use violence or guns or knives or fire or force or threatening. We are not of the ancient spirit of the Catholic Crusaders or Inquisition! We cannot participate in the organizations or the spirit of the Ku Klux Klan, “homeland militias”, and certainly not the Muslims who have from their very beginnings waged literal war and murder out of hatred and envy against Jews, Christians, and Catholics!
Street demonstrations, “political right” organizations, boycotts, lobbying Congress, attempting to get all believers to vote together for righteous causes and men – all such are of little avail! The wicked will always be more numerous than the elect! Believers identifying themselves as “Republicans” or “Democrats” almost universally vote “the Party” rather than righteousness!
How do we “fight” for Christ and the Christian faith? How do we defend the Gospel cause or advance the Kingdom of Heaven? By following the example of Jesus! He lived a life of love and holiness, He revealed God and salvation to men, He acted as physician to every unwell person, He was a good neighbor who, inasmuch as possible, lived peaceably with all. But He did not fight evil with violence, boycotts, street demonstrations, political activism, secret organizations, or military coup! And when violence was used against Him, He never retaliated, but left revenge to the Heavenly Father, and committed Himself to the care of God! We are to pursue the same course and employ the same methods. Ours is to be a war waged by love, positive example, peaceful activity, a sharing of Bible truth to all who voluntarily want to hear it, and a non-aggressive spirit.
Note! We are speaking here of Kingdom policy, not American policy. America, as a temporal nation among other temporal nations, pursues a course of action best designed to promote the physical welfare, temporal happiness, and safety of its citizens. To even survive police activity and military force is at times deemed expedient. We Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. As such, we must “render unto Caesar that which pertains to Caesar, and unto God that which pertains to God.” But we cannot adopt the means and methods of a secular government for use in defending or advancing the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“Stand up and be counted for Christ?” “Fight back as Christian soldiers?” Yes, indeed! And the best way to do that is to “follow in His steps”, imitate His example, and fully imbibe His spirit!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, August 17, 2009
"DOES ANYONE UP THERE (OUT THERE, DOWN THERE) CARE?"
VOLUME XXXII AUGUST 17, 2009 #33
“DOES ANYONE UP THERE
(OUT THERE, DOWN THERE) CARE?”
Ten ways to Have a Caring Church
1. SPEAK TO PEOPLE, even if you don’t know their names. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. SMILE AT PEOPLE, It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. Your smile is one of your finest assets. Use it!
3. CALL PEOPLE BY NAME, The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of their own name.
4. BE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, If you want people to be friendly to you, be friendly to them first.
5. BE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE, If you try, you can like most everybody and they will, in turn, like you.
6. SEEK OUT OTHER PEOPLE, do not limit yourself to a few friends when there are so many likeable people about you.
7. BE GENEROUS WITH PRAISE, and cautious with criticism. Who among us does not need the understanding and tolerance of all our friends?
8. BE CONSIDERATE OF THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS, usually there are three sides to a controversy: Yours, the other person’s and the right one.
9. BE ALERT TO GIVE SERVICE, What we do for others counts most in life. What we say is important. What we do is evidence of our true interests.
10. ADD TO THIS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR, a generous dose of patience, a dash of humility, and you will receive manifold blessings.
If you want our church to a friendly one, try any or all of these suggestions: they’re bound to help!
(Copied- Newsletter Christian Church, Cabool, MO)
“DOES ANYONE UP THERE
(OUT THERE, DOWN THERE) CARE?”
Ten ways to Have a Caring Church
1. SPEAK TO PEOPLE, even if you don’t know their names. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. SMILE AT PEOPLE, It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile. Your smile is one of your finest assets. Use it!
3. CALL PEOPLE BY NAME, The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of their own name.
4. BE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, If you want people to be friendly to you, be friendly to them first.
5. BE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE, If you try, you can like most everybody and they will, in turn, like you.
6. SEEK OUT OTHER PEOPLE, do not limit yourself to a few friends when there are so many likeable people about you.
7. BE GENEROUS WITH PRAISE, and cautious with criticism. Who among us does not need the understanding and tolerance of all our friends?
8. BE CONSIDERATE OF THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS, usually there are three sides to a controversy: Yours, the other person’s and the right one.
9. BE ALERT TO GIVE SERVICE, What we do for others counts most in life. What we say is important. What we do is evidence of our true interests.
10. ADD TO THIS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR, a generous dose of patience, a dash of humility, and you will receive manifold blessings.
If you want our church to a friendly one, try any or all of these suggestions: they’re bound to help!
(Copied- Newsletter Christian Church, Cabool, MO)
Monday, August 10, 2009
“WHAT ABOUT THE UNBAPTIZED?”
“Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
Members and Ministers of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are often criticized, accused of being legalistic, unspiritual, unloving, and teaching “baptismal regeneration” (that salvation is by the mere act of water baptism apart from faith), because we preach the Biblical injunctions requiring baptism (Matt. 28: 18-20, Mk. 16: 16, Jn. 3: 5, Acts 2: 38, etc.) and insist that Scriptural baptism is total immersion. We are accused of being especially unkind and judgmental toward Pedobaptists (infant sprinklers), and making of baptism an “absolute” in a sense God never intended. Alexander Campbell, renowned preacher of the 19th Century whom God raised up to help complete the Protestant Reformation by a more complete restoration of New Testament Christianity, expressing his “opinion” (Note!) on this subject in his outstanding and remarkable book, “The Christian System”, explains well what most of our churches and preachers believe concerning the unimmersed. He writes:
“George Whitefield, writing on John 3: 5, says, “Does not this verse urge the absolute necessity of water baptism? Yes, when it is to be had. But how God will deal with persons unbaptized, we cannot tell.” I say with him, we cannot tell with certainty. But I am of the opinion that when a neglect proceeds from a simple mistake or sheer ignorance, and when there is no aversion, but a will to do everything the Lord commands, the Lord will admit into the Everlasting Kingdom those who by reason of this mistake never had the testimony of God assuring them of pardon or justification, and consequently never did fully enjoy the salvation of God on earth. But I will say with Timothy Dwight, the renowned President of Yale University, that “he who, understanding the nature and authority of this institution, refuses to be baptized, will never enter the visible nor invisible Kingdom of God. He who persists in this rebellious act against the authority of Christ will never belong to His Kingdom.”… Infants, idiots, deaf and dumb persons, innocent pagans wherever they can be found, with all the pious Pedobaptists, we commend to the mercy of God. But such of them as willfully despise this salvation, and who, having the opportunity to be immersed for the remission of their sins, willfully despise or refuse; we have little hope for them.
(Alexander Campbell – Adapted).
To our Restoration forefathers baptism was not so much the means by which we procure the forgiveness of sins (that is accomplished by the blood of Christ), but the means by which we appropriate it as God’s gift and by which God assures us of pardon and enables us to enjoy the fullness of salvation’s blessings! The “neglect of baptism by simple mistake or sheer ignorance by those who nevertheless, have a will to do everything the Lord commands” may hinder a man’s full enjoyment and assurance of his salvation, but not deny it. That, however, does not mean that any who have access to the truth and opportunities to be Scripturally immersed are excused from doing it! Far from it! “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4: 17). And those who stubbornly refuse the ordinance of Christ in baptism stand squarely with the Pharisees and lawyers who rejected John’s baptism: “And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Lk. 7: 29, 30).
We do not judge men. We do not excuse men. We do not raise false hopes. We merely repeat Jesus’ command to be immersed in His Name for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life! God is a just and merciful God. He will judge our responses. Or our failures to do so.
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Members and Ministers of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are often criticized, accused of being legalistic, unspiritual, unloving, and teaching “baptismal regeneration” (that salvation is by the mere act of water baptism apart from faith), because we preach the Biblical injunctions requiring baptism (Matt. 28: 18-20, Mk. 16: 16, Jn. 3: 5, Acts 2: 38, etc.) and insist that Scriptural baptism is total immersion. We are accused of being especially unkind and judgmental toward Pedobaptists (infant sprinklers), and making of baptism an “absolute” in a sense God never intended. Alexander Campbell, renowned preacher of the 19th Century whom God raised up to help complete the Protestant Reformation by a more complete restoration of New Testament Christianity, expressing his “opinion” (Note!) on this subject in his outstanding and remarkable book, “The Christian System”, explains well what most of our churches and preachers believe concerning the unimmersed. He writes:
“George Whitefield, writing on John 3: 5, says, “Does not this verse urge the absolute necessity of water baptism? Yes, when it is to be had. But how God will deal with persons unbaptized, we cannot tell.” I say with him, we cannot tell with certainty. But I am of the opinion that when a neglect proceeds from a simple mistake or sheer ignorance, and when there is no aversion, but a will to do everything the Lord commands, the Lord will admit into the Everlasting Kingdom those who by reason of this mistake never had the testimony of God assuring them of pardon or justification, and consequently never did fully enjoy the salvation of God on earth. But I will say with Timothy Dwight, the renowned President of Yale University, that “he who, understanding the nature and authority of this institution, refuses to be baptized, will never enter the visible nor invisible Kingdom of God. He who persists in this rebellious act against the authority of Christ will never belong to His Kingdom.”… Infants, idiots, deaf and dumb persons, innocent pagans wherever they can be found, with all the pious Pedobaptists, we commend to the mercy of God. But such of them as willfully despise this salvation, and who, having the opportunity to be immersed for the remission of their sins, willfully despise or refuse; we have little hope for them.
(Alexander Campbell – Adapted).
To our Restoration forefathers baptism was not so much the means by which we procure the forgiveness of sins (that is accomplished by the blood of Christ), but the means by which we appropriate it as God’s gift and by which God assures us of pardon and enables us to enjoy the fullness of salvation’s blessings! The “neglect of baptism by simple mistake or sheer ignorance by those who nevertheless, have a will to do everything the Lord commands” may hinder a man’s full enjoyment and assurance of his salvation, but not deny it. That, however, does not mean that any who have access to the truth and opportunities to be Scripturally immersed are excused from doing it! Far from it! “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4: 17). And those who stubbornly refuse the ordinance of Christ in baptism stand squarely with the Pharisees and lawyers who rejected John’s baptism: “And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Lk. 7: 29, 30).
We do not judge men. We do not excuse men. We do not raise false hopes. We merely repeat Jesus’ command to be immersed in His Name for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life! God is a just and merciful God. He will judge our responses. Or our failures to do so.
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, August 3, 2009
“WILL THE REAL CHRISTIAN PLEASE STAND UP!”
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transformed himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into minister of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
In the last few years it has become the “in thing” for theological liberals and moral libertarians within the membership of mainline denominational churches to describe themselves as “evangelicals” and “born-again believers.” Heretofore these terms have designated only those who truly believe in a totally inspired and wholly inerrant Bible, and who actually, literally, faithfully are striving to live a holy life. Of course, such liberals have no intention of being faithful to the Bible – they just want to enjoy the fiction and the fashion of pretending to do so!
Labels do not make the man. A rose is still a rose no matter what you call it. So is a thorn bush! A theologian with a shallow, sham, and superficial view of Holy Scripture is as much a pagan as an idolater, no matter what he labels himself. A man or a woman who pursues an immoral life-style and practices secret sins (or open sins!), yet styling themselves “Christian”, are but playing a game of mirrors and shadows; they deceive no one; their judgment will not slumber for long! God is not mocked, nor is anyone else! “The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His; and; Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity!” (II Timothy 2:19). Here is the “trademark” of the genuine Christian: He has a personal, loving, faithful relationship with the Christ of the Bible! And he is ever vigilant to keep himself unspotted from the sins of the world and the flesh!
Let Christians beware! “Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13). Sort out the fake from the authentic! “Test the spirits, whether they are of God!” (I John 4:1). The Bible shows us how!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
In the last few years it has become the “in thing” for theological liberals and moral libertarians within the membership of mainline denominational churches to describe themselves as “evangelicals” and “born-again believers.” Heretofore these terms have designated only those who truly believe in a totally inspired and wholly inerrant Bible, and who actually, literally, faithfully are striving to live a holy life. Of course, such liberals have no intention of being faithful to the Bible – they just want to enjoy the fiction and the fashion of pretending to do so!
Labels do not make the man. A rose is still a rose no matter what you call it. So is a thorn bush! A theologian with a shallow, sham, and superficial view of Holy Scripture is as much a pagan as an idolater, no matter what he labels himself. A man or a woman who pursues an immoral life-style and practices secret sins (or open sins!), yet styling themselves “Christian”, are but playing a game of mirrors and shadows; they deceive no one; their judgment will not slumber for long! God is not mocked, nor is anyone else! “The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His; and; Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity!” (II Timothy 2:19). Here is the “trademark” of the genuine Christian: He has a personal, loving, faithful relationship with the Christ of the Bible! And he is ever vigilant to keep himself unspotted from the sins of the world and the flesh!
Let Christians beware! “Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13). Sort out the fake from the authentic! “Test the spirits, whether they are of God!” (I John 4:1). The Bible shows us how!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
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