Know Your Bible
VOL. 14 November 20, 2016 NO. 36
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WHY AREN’T THEY MENTIONED?
Why are the following never mentioned in the New Testament in connection with the work and worship of local churches?
Worshiping under electric lights? They used many lamps in Acts 20:8, but since electric lights did not become available for common usage until many centuries after the close of the New Testament, we are not surprised by the complete lack of mention in the Scriptures.
Churches buying a preacher a plane ticket to go preach the gospel in other areas? While men were sent out to preach (Acts 13:1-3), they didn’t get on airplanes because it would be about 1900 years before the Wright brothers would take off from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Prayers to and through Mary? This one is different, for there are many references to prayer and Mary was alive when the church began.
What about church-sponsored athletics? Athletic endeavors were common in the first century and are even used as an illustration in 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, so the absence of church-sponsored recreation from the New Testament can’t be explained by saying games are a modern invention.
We could keep going with a number of things, but these should be enough to establish the point. We don’t expect to read in the New Testament of technologies which did not exist in the first century, but when we notice the complete absence of things which would have been available to these early disciples, it should cause us to think on God’s plan and purpose for local churches. Matthew 7:21-23 makes it crystal clear that man’s view of his religious duties may differ sharply from that of God.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ”
Rather than seeing the local church as an entity to be guided by apostolic teaching (1 Corinthians 4:17) and set in order by the revealed word of God (Titus 1:5), many churches today have been molded into social and political organizations designed to fit the perceived needs of people. In- stead of being “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), churches have become centers of secular education, the focus of family recreation, a place to fill the belly or meet with others wanting to lose weight, pillars of political activism, and a host of other things never even hinted at in the New Testament.
When it comes to worship, little effort is made to search for God’s revealed truth on the matter (John 4:23-24) and then to abide in the teachings of Christ (2 John 1:9), but worship has become an entertainment experience intended more to bring pleasure to the participants than to praise the One whom we are instructed to worship. When the Corinthians had corrupted the Lord’s Supper, the apostle responded with a number of admonitions and instructions about what was to be done in the assembly, what was to be done at home, and the proper ritual to follow in remembering Jesus (1 Cor-inthians 11:17-34). We might also consider the regulations imposed in 1 Corinthians 14 when the saints turned from the divine order to doing their own thing. Instructions were given regarding who could speak and when, and 1 Corinthians 14:40 concluded with the admonishment that all things be “done decently and in order,” which is vastly different than worship as you desire.
If we find ourselves doing things not found in the New Testament, we need to stop and ask ourselves these questions:
- Are we still heeding the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21) while availing ourselves of some tool or help such as electric lights which was not available in the first century?
- Or have we gone beyond the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9) to practice things different from the “order” of the New Testament (Titus 1:5; 1 Corinthians 4:17; et al)?
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gos pel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
—John Gibson
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A HAIRY REMINDER
A person between the ages of 20—30 has about 615 hair follicles per square centimeter. A person 50 years of age has around 485 hair follicles per square centimeter. Typically, most people have somewhere between 100,000—150,000 hairs on their head. By the way, the average hair loss for an individual is 50—100 hairs per day. As a result, there is no way you can tell accurately how many hairs you have (in fact, unless you are going bald, most of us don't really care). But God knows.
Jesus said: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:29-31). This passage reveals three interesting truths.
First, God knows more about us than we know about us. That is a humbling thought. When we sometimes feel like no one understands us or grasps our situation, we forget that God does. God knows your personality. God knows your strengths. God knows what motivates you. God knows when you stumble. God knows the real you. Therefore, when God declares something worthwhile, He knows what He is talking about. When God warns about danger, He knows what He is talking about. When God tells us that we should do something, we need to do it, because He knows us better than we know ourselves.
God is a God of detail. How insignificant are hairs and sparrows to us. Yet God is aware of them. He is a God of details. The motives, attitudes, and heart behind our actions are as important to Him as the actions themselves. It does little good to give, if you have left out the detail of being a cheerful. Singing fails if we neglect thankfulness in our heart. Let us be a people of details, as God is.
God cares about you. This is why Jesus referred to sparrows and hair. Christ was not sent to save the whales, the environment, or the endangered species, but mankind. Stress and worry often make us wonder if God cares. These two simple illustrations remind us that He does.
—Roger House
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***SENTENCE SERMONS***
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.
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Living would be easier if men showed as much patience at home as they do when they're fishing.
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Temper is what gets most of us into trouble.
Pride is what keeps us there.
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The company you keep will determine the trouble you meet.
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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.
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