From the Pen of Paul. . .

Choices (2)

Last week we considered the fact that man, unlike all others of God's creation, is given the ability to think, reason, and make choices. We looked at a few examples of the choices that God placed before man. In this article we want to concentrate on some other choices that man is faced with due to the work of false teachers.

Many of these choices have to do with salvation. For instance, man teaches today that baptism is not essential for salvation and that one can be saved without being baptized. But Jesus stated, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). The Holy Spirit guided Peter, on Pentecost, to say, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Later, this same apostle would be inspired to write, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (I Pet. 3:21). Man is faced with a choice: believe what Jesus and inspired men taught on this important subject? Or believe what men teach? It seems like such an easy choice, and yet millions have made the wrong one. How about you?

Another choice that man is faced with today is, "Which church is right?" Man today teaches that you should just "join the church of your choice." And we hear men say, "The name over your church building doesn't save you" or "The name over your church building makes no difference." I have always noticed that those who say that usually have a name over their building that is nowhere mentioned in the Scriptures. Strange reasoning isn't it? But what does the Bible teach about this vital choice? Does the church make a difference? Is one church as good as another as many men teach today?

Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). He "loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25). Paul, speaking of the Lord's church, said that "he hath purchased it with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Those that are saved are "added to the church daily" (Acts 2:47), and thus, Christ is said to be "the saviour of the body" (Eph. 5:23) "which is the church" (Col. 1:24).

Choices! Again, it seems so simple. Jesus built one church, all the saved are in that one church, and yet man often chooses to "join" churches started by men. How about you? Is the church that you are a member of even mentioned in the Scriptures? The psalmist wrote, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1).

Another choice that man has to make concerns the music used in worship to God. Most men teach and practice instrumental music. False teachers formerly attempted to prove this position, but for the most part today, about the only justification given for it is, "We like it" or "We are not told not to use it." But, what do the Scriptures teach? Does it matter? Paul by inspiration wrote, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). Again, he writes, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). Every passage of Scripture that discusses music in the New Testament church says to sing. There is absolutely no authorization for the use of instruments of music in New Testament worship. Again, as in the other choices we have mentioned, it seems so easy. Do we do what God has said in his word? Or, do we do what man decides to do? Peter warned about false teachers who would be "self-willed" (II Pet. 3:10). "Self-willed" means "pleasing one's self" [Young's Analytical Concordance]. This choice, as in all cases, has to do with whom we are attempting to please. Are we seeking to please God, man, or self? Paul wrote, "For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).

Choices! When we consider that, "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven," (Psalm 119:89) then we should be content to "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). Choose carefully; your choices will determine your destiny!
—Paul M. Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Big Bang Theory

"Is it true that the universe and all that there is started from a big bang?"

Let us suppose that the universe and all that is in it started from a big bang. I would like to know who caused the bang? Where did the stuff come from that now is? Is it scientifically proven that from nothing comes something? Has anyone ever seen this happen?

Where is the lunatic that says he can prove that something came from nothing? Often I see and hear as well as read that all things started with a big bang and have evolved over billions of years. Just a few days ago I heard a man say on television that the earth and universe were about 18 billion years old. How does he know? Was he there to observe? The way he emphatically said it one would think he had a part in the bang!

What about the expanse of space? Where did the room of the universe come from? I often stand in the room of a house. I know it came from a man who built it. But what about the room that houses all of creation? Sorry, I should have said how about the room that houses all things? We have several that do not like the word "creation." I like it and think that it is the only sensible answer to all things.

Who could sensibly reason that the brain just evolved? I know of some who are supposed to be intelligent whose brains have not developed as they should when it comes to logical and sensible thinking! Who could think sensibly and say that the heart and circulatory system just evolved; our breathing apparatus and reproductive system of both male and female just happened? Just think of the complexity of our nervous system and yet we are told by some it just evolved.

Evolution is not science! They have never proven that what we now see and know they have observed in a test tube. True science is testing and observing and then recording what they saw take place. Evolution is theory. It always has been and will forever be!

They refuse to let creationism be taught in the classrooms of our schools in this nation. They tell us that creationism is not science. It is just as much science as evolution. In fact, the creation story of the Bible has true facts about science. Let me show you what I mean. We are told that it takes five things for something to exist. They are time, energy, mind, space, and matter. We have these five things in Genesis 1:1. Notice: In the beginning (time) God (mind) created (energy) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).

I do not believe that the media by and large is fair to those of us who believe the Bible. One has to have a lopsided view before the media will give him time. The Christian has the only sensible view to the existence of all things and we get little or no time. I am tired of it! I protest! I demand that we have equal time! Someone is quick to say, "No one is going to listen to you." Well, I can still be tired of it. I can still demand equal time as well as continue to protest. We just may get though one of these days.
—Malcolm L. Hill