Know Your Bible
February 2002

"SUPER BOWL BASH"

It is nothing unusual, in fact it is becoming to be expected, for "churches" to be more in touch with the feelings and lives of it's "members". Therefore you will read of the above advertisements on church marques. I've even heard of a church in Lubbock, Tx. that moved a big screen TV into the auditorium to watch the Super Bowl and conducted worship services during the commercials. Would you want to be in that building watching the Super Bowl when the Lord returned? While some churches substitute a "bash" for worship, others completely call off services to accommodate their member's desires. Are such folks really serious about their faith?

How do we fit these verses into a Super Bowl service or calling off worship services all together: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) or "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1,2). When we substitute a Super Bowl party or cancel services to watch a football game, WHO are we seeking first? Where, can we honestly say, have we set our affections?

The Lord's church is not to cater to the things of this world nor to those who love the world. It stands to be the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). The church must present and uphold the truth of God's word (John 17:17) and that is not done when it resorts to "meat and drink"(Romans 14:17) or "bashing" as many churches have become caught up in. One thing is for sure, we won't be watching football games in Heaven. What we will be doing is worshiping God. (Revelation 4). That's what we need to be doing here and now in preparation for a home in Heaven.

---E.R. Hall, Jr.

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ISN'T IT STRANGE?

Isn't it strange that when a young man starts dating, one girl is not as good as another; or when he decides to marry, one woman is not as good as another; or when he looks for a job, one job is not as good as another; but when it comes to religion, one church is as good as another; or one doctrine or name is as good as another?

Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". (Mt. 16:18). Christ built only one church. How can anyone reason that man could build a church as good as the one Jesus Christ built? Could Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Wesley, John Wesley, John Smith, Joseph Smith, or any other man build a church as good as the one Jesus Christ built? Of all the churches in the world, Jesus Christ built only one of them. All the rest were built by men. Neighbor, could you build a church as good as the Lord's church. If you couldn't, what makes you think any man could? Of all the churches in the world, the Lord's church is the best and the only one that has a right to exist.

Isn't it strange that when it comes to religious doctrine, what you don't know won't hurt you; but when it comes to medicine or poison, what you don't know will hurt you? All my life, I have heard people argue that one doctrine is as good as another, and it really doesn't matter what you believe. However, they do not reason this way in material matters. They know if you go to the medicine cabinet, looking for cough syrup but, by mistake, you take strychnine, it will kill you. No matter how honest you may be or how ignorant you may be, the strychnine will kill you just as dead as if you had known what you were taking. The fact that you are honest or ignorant will not keep you from dying. Ignorance and honesty will not keep people from going to Hell, either. "If ye CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall KNOW THE TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32). "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL OF GOD, but not according to KNOWLEDGE. For they being IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."(Romans 10:1-3).

Isn't it strange that in religious matters, there isn't anything in a name or one name is as good as another; but this principle does not apply in secular matters? What woman would think that when she marries she can wear just any man's name? If she marries a man by the name of Smith, she doesn't go around signing her name Mrs. Green or Mrs. Snow. She knows she must wear the name of her husband. Paul said, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:4). With consideration for this passage, how can anyone wear the name of Luther or John the Baptist instead of the name of Christ? Preachers argue that there isn't anything in a name and one name is just as good as another until it comes time for their checks to be signed or deeds to their property or some other official document. If preachers think one name is as good as another, why don't they name their children Rover, Fido, Jezebel, or Judas? What do some of these preachers say when you refuse to call them Reverend? They will take the name of God and apply it unto themselves (Psalms 111:9) and take the names of men and apply it to the church.

Isn't it strange that men will work much harder doing those things the Lord has not authorized than those things He has commanded? What things do men show the most enthusiasm toward? Do men show more interest in Bible study, prayer, preaching the gospel to both the lost and the saved, and other things authorized in the word of God? Or do they show more interest in church sponsored recreation, "fellowship halls", entertainment, church sponsored pie suppers, ball teams, and etc.? Men will put forth great effort to build up great institutions through which the church works, such as benevolent and missionary institutions. They will sacrifice much to raise money by rummage sales and suppers but they are unwilling to do just as the Lord said: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE, AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM, that there be no gatherings when I come." (1 Corinthians 16:1,2). The institution which cost the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) is not as important, in the eyes of some, as the institutions of men. Some attempt to glory God in secret orders, like the Masonic Lodge, rather than doing as the Bible says: "Unto him be glory in the CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS throughout all ages, world without end." (Ephesians 3:21).

Isn't it strange that a person can be too sick to worship on Lord's day but not too sick to go to work on Monday when actually he was as sick on Monday as on Lord's day? Isn't it strange that parents will keep their children out of Bible study when they are a little sick but send them to school when they are just as sic? Then they wonder why their children grow up thinking school is more important than church. Isn't it strange that parents can allow their children to go to school events, which interfere with church services, and then seem surprised when their children grow up and put other things before the Lord's work?

Condensed from an article by
---Windell Wiser

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HOW HUNGARY ARE YOU?

No wants are so keen, none so urgently demand supply, as hunger and thirst. The need for fulfillment of these desires occurs daily. If these desires are not met for a long period of time, as in the case of persons on a plane crash or a shipwreck, the person becomes weak and often dies. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6). Those who are perishing for want of righteousness; those who know they are lost sinners and strongly desire to become obedient children of God, shall be thus satisfied. The pure gospel of Christ has made provision to satisfy all who truly desire to be holy.

Bible study is the way we obtain food for our souls. If for any reason we quit properly feeding our physical body for a period of time, or appetite for food lessens and in time we do not want food. The doctor often has to supply a tonic or vitamins in order that the patient's appetite might return. The same is true when we quit studying God's Word, when we quit "hungering and thirsting". We soon get to the point where we do not want it; we no longer have an appetite for the righteousness and spiritual food that is found therein and sometimes Bible study almost has to be forced upon us.

Many people resent articles like this that are encouraging you to be in our Bible classes and to study your Bibles at home. But, friend, the less you study the less you want to study and the more involved you become in it, the more you grow spiritually and the more you enjoy it.

It is our sincere prayer that you will make a habit of attending our Bible classes. Bring the entire family. "Hunger and thirst" together for this spiritual food.

---Selected

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