Know Your Bible

VOL. 6                           July 22, 2007                           NO. 27

Desensitization

    Desensitize. Now that’s a big word. What does it mean? It is defined "to reduce or eliminate the sensitivity of person". A country boy asked me once, "Have you ever seen a pig holding his nose?" He then said, "He’s been in the stench so long, he doesn’t know he stinks." Now, I’ve got it. Don’t you love the way country folks can shuck it down where anyone can understand?

    Desensitization happens when we expose ourselves to shameful things so long that we no longer respond to it as we once did. The Bible teaches us to keep our senses keen. Our senses are to be "exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). We need to have discernment to make good choices and approve of things that are excellent (Phil. 1:10). But too much exposure to filth has a tendency to numb the senses. Our world is full of people who "having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more" (Eph. 4:19). It is possible for our consciences to become "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). I’m reminded of a newly hired construction worker who hit his thumb with a hammer and doubled over in pain. His boss walked by and said, "You know, if you’ll do that every day for a while, it’ll get to where it doesn’t hurt anymore." He’s right. All the nerves will be dead. That’s desensitization.

    In the days of Jeremiah, things got so bad that Jeremiah said the people did not "know how to blush" (Jer. 6:15). It makes me wonder? Are we there? Have we lost the ability to blush at anything? Are there things that used to bother you but don’t any longer? Are you watching things on television that at one time you would not have watched? Are you wearing things that at one time you would not have worn? Are you more silent about things that at one time you would have spoken out against?

    Have we been desensitized when we ought to be holding our noses? Think about it.

—Jeff May

Page 1


CHRISTIANITY:

EVEN A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT

"The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that

all should come to repentance" (1 Pet. 3:9).

    Geico's ad campaign has found an ethnic group that even the politically correct will not defend -- cave men. It taps into that part of us which likes to tease somebody about his or her peculiarity -- being short, a Southern drawl, or one's ethnicity -- with impunity. There are no cave men (or women) around here in America to defend themselves.

    The Bible, the first great proponent of pluralism, launched Christianity with the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all creation, making disciples of all the nations (Mk. 16:15; Matt. 28:18-20). Further, this universal religion called names: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, ther is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). This verse of Scripture is merely one of many such passages which are inclusive of race, social standing, and gender. There is, in fact, a reference to those who "wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth" (Heb. 11:38). The gospel is for cave dwellers too.

Everybody Everywhere Understands The Concept Of Love: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13). When the gospel tells of Christ's perfect sacrifice for our sins, of His great deeds, and of His resurrection, there is universal appeal.

The Concept Of Sin Is Not Difficult: -- Sin is simply a "transgression of the law" (1 Jn. 3:4). God takes it very seriously, removing Adam and Eve, the first sinners, from the tree of life in the garden (Gen. 3). Prisons are filled with individuals who apparently missed out on the fact that responsible beings simply cannot be allowed to disregard laws for the general good. God has His laws, too, and when we violate them He holds us accountable (Ezek. 18:20; 1 Jn. 5:3).

The Concept Of Repentance Is Likewise Universally Accepted: -- Children are taught to say "I'm sorry," and change their wrong behavior. If they are not taught to change their wrong ways, see preceding paragraph above. See also the opening quote.

Neither Is Confession A Complicated Thing: -- We're not talking here about confessing sins, which, by the way, is a good thing (Jas. 5:16). Rather, we're talking about a public statement about serving Christ -- The Good Confession. When the Ethiopian asked to be baptized, he was told, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). The apostle Paul later said this: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). Confession of one's faith is not always easy to do, but it is easy enough to understand. (Consider Peter, who in his hour of trial, denied Jesus).

This Cleansing From Sin Happens At Baptism: -- The Bible says that Jesus washes the sinners' sin away in His own blood (Rev. 1:5). Ananias said to Saul: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Some do not understand how immersion in water can have anything to do with forgiveness of sins. Ten-year-old boys often do not see the connection between bathing in water and social acceptability, but there is a connection. Peter the apostle said this on the subject: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 3:21). If the commandment is to be baptized "for the remission of sins" that should be simple enough.

The Concept Of Faithful Worship And Service Is Straight Forward Also: -- Simply worshiping God is not good enough, as illustrated by the cases of Cain (Gen. 4), Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3), and the Jews of Malachi's day. God will not accept just any worship we offer. Form (as in "formal" worship) is important (1 Cor. 11:17-34), as well as putting the heart into it. Cornelius offered wonderful prayers, but he was still in his sin (Acts 10; 11:14). The Pharisees honored God with their lips, but their heart was far from Him (Matt. 15:8,9). Scripturalness, reverence, and respect for the authority of Christ through the Scripture are understandable enough.

    There may not be any cave men around us to obey the gospel, but there are lots of other folks who should become Christians. We will not be judged in the last day by the politically correct, but, rather by the Bible (Jn. 12:48).

---George Hutto

Page 2


      "Know Your Bible" is e-mailed weekly by the church of Christ which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Virginia. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in next week's mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and we will remove your address promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page and further instructions will be given as to how you may contact us.

--- E.R. Hall, Jr.


 
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday
Bible Classes ……….....….…............ 10:00 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….…...... 11:00 AM
Evening Worship …………...……........ 6:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:30 PM
 
"THOUGHT FOR THE DAY"
Radio Program
Monday - Friday
WDXC 102.3 FM .....................…........ 9:30 AM
 
"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS..."
Television Program
Sunday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Channel 56 ............ 2:00 PM
Wednesday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Channel 56 ............ 8:30 PM
 
 
World Wide Web: www.wisechurch.com


INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THIS E-MAIL BULLETIN:

UNSUBSCRIBE: Reply to wisechurch@comcast.net and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

SUBSCRIBE FRIENDS: Reply to wisechurch@comcast.net and put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Place the list of names and e-mail addresses to be subscribed in the body of the e-mail.