THE CAUSE AND CURES OF EMPTINESS

One of the complaints made against religion today is that it is empty. This has led many to completely reject Christianity and turn to various forms of pagan religions. Even in the church are found people that have become disillusioned and decide that it is empty and needs restructuring. I am ready to admit that there is emptiness in the lives of multitudes, including many in the church.  What is the cause of all this? Is it because there is something wrong with Christianity? Is our plea for a return to the New Testament an outdated thing? I do not believe so. The cause is somewhere else.

EMPTY PULPITS - “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain” (I Corinthians 15:14). The word “vain” means empty, hollow, lacking in reality. It is possible for preaching to be just an empty form. Paul’s statement to the Corinthians states this. What makes empty preaching? Paul said to the Corinthians that if Christ was not raised from the dead, then the preaching of the apostles was empty. This strikes at the very heart of modernism. Modernism rejects the resurrection of Christ along with all other supernatural teaching of the Bible: Rejection – of the supernatural—the inspiration of the Bible, miracles, the virgin birth as well as the resurrection—leaves only empty preaching. In view of this, just think how much empty preaching is being done today.  The Bible is a revelation from God containing the mind of God (I Corinthians 2:10-13). It contains the thoughts and ways of God (Isaiah 55:8). The purpose of preaching is to proclaim the Bible. When the great fundamental truths of the Bible are ignored and the wisdom of men is substituted for the wisdom of God, preaching is empty. The very word for preaching in I Corinthians 2 refers not to the delivery of the sermon, but to its content.  Preaching that does not deal with what the Bible says about sin, faith, repentance, confession, baptism, love, hope, the church, worship, Christian living, falsehood and error is just an empty form.       

A great amount of the emptiness in religion can be traced to empty preaching. We can never cure the empty hearts and lives until we fill the pulpit with Bible preaching again (1 Corinthians 15:14). Empty preaching produces an empty faith. “Faith comes from hearing God’s word” (Romans 10:17). Paul refused to use “excellency of speech or wisdom, declaring the testimony of God.”                                                      

He preached Christ and Him crucified. He did not use “enticing words of man’s wisdom” and the reason was that he did not want the faith of the Corinthians to stand in the wisdom of men”  (I Corinthians 2:14).  The wisdom of man is but an empty shell and can produce only an empty faith. Much that goes for faith today is only a shell, empty of all contents, for it is without any Bible basis. Paul uses the word “vain” again in verse 17 of this same chapter. “Your faith is vain,” but the word “vain” here does not come from the same Greek word as the one in verse 14. The word used here means “wanting in results, fruitless, futile.” Empty preaching can only produce a faith that lacks results, fruitless and without works, one that is futile. How much of what is called faith today is described by this word?   Read Hebrews 11 and see the reality of their faith. It was not empty therefore the results are described in that chapter. This kind of faith will not make empty lives.

EMPTY WORSHIP - Empty preaching leaves an empty faith and empty faith makes worship empty. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8, 9). The word “vain” here is not the same word as the one in I Corinthians 15:17. Empty preaching makes empty faith. Empty faith makes empty worship. Gimmicks are not the solution to the problem. Preachers are in the lead in trying to think up something new to try to make “worship meaningful.” It is strange that if has not occurred to them that the place to begin is in the pulpit. Holding hands, turning out the lights, chain prayers and women leading will not produce faith and no worship will ever be anything but empty that is not worship “in faith.” One cannot get “nigh unto God with his mouth, nor honor God with his lips, while his heart is far from God.” The doctrines of men, substitutes for Bible preaching, will not create a faith that is necessary for spiritual worship. Faith is not magic. It is Bible based and only a Bible faith gives meaning to worship.

EMPTY LIVES - “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?’ (James 2:20).  Empty preaching results in empty faith, empty faith results in empty worship: empty worship ends in empty lives. A faith that is only a shell cannot make a life that is full. A dead faith does not bring about fullness of life. Here is the answer to so many empty lives today. To expect satisfaction in living from a dead faith is to expect the impossible. One hour sitting on a pew on Sunday morning is the outcome of empty faith and this in turn leaves the life empty while people watch T.V. on Sunday night. It leaves life empty on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The round starts over again if one happens to feel like making it for the one hour on Sunday. Such lives will be empty in time and eternity. This is the root of empty lives.

EMPTY RELIGION - “If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). Empty preaching leaves empty faith, empty faith means empty worship: empty worship ends in empty lives and empty lives ends in empty religion. Listen to all the complaints about the church today. I just do not get anything out of the services.”   James says that religion that is all talk and no practice is empty. Religion that is full is found in the next verse. “Visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep unspotted from the world.”   Bible preaching makes Bible faith, Bible faith produces real worship, real worship produces full lives and full lives are active in serving the needs of others. Widows and orphans are terms that are intended to suggest the whole area of Christian service.

EMPTY BIBLE STUDY -  “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions; and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9). The study of the Bible ought to be profitable. Too many of our classes are unprofitable and empty. Instead of seeking out the meat of the Word as food for the soul, too many times the discussion is about trivial things or questions that will never be answered. I sometimes have the feeling we are having classes, not because we are hungry for the truth of God, but simply having classes for classes sake. It is something that we have been doing a long time and we just keep going through with it. Such empty Bible study is of no value.

THE BIBLE IS NOT EMPTY

“Do you think the scripture saith in vain?’ (James 4:6). Our talk may be empty but the scriptures never speak in vain. We can make it empty in various ways but that is our doing and not the Bible.

Franklin Camp

The Basis of Acceptable Worship

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:22–24)

Truth is essential for all acceptable worship. God said is the basis of the Truth that must direct all acceptable worship (John 17:17). If one cannot know God without revelation (and he cannot), then it also follows that one cannot worship God acceptably without the Truth that comes by revelation. The Samaritans worshiped God, but it was not acceptable, because it was based on partial revelation. One’s worship must be spiritual, from man’s own spirit, and it must be as the Truth of the Gospel directs. God said is the basis of all acceptable worship. Some brethren today need to reconsider this fundamental Truth. This will stop some of the foolish and hurtful things that are taking place in worship today.

The Basis of All Acceptable Religious Experience

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)

Jude speaks of “contending for the faith”—that is, objective faith,written revelation, upon which one’s faith must rest. Any “religious experience” not based upon what God has said is false. One’s religious experience must be tested by what “God said,” not by what one thinks God says through a religious experience. Testing what God says by one’s religious experience today is the basis of false religion. Abraham had a religious experience, but it was based upon what “God said” (Genesis 22:1–13). Salvation is a religious experience, but it must be based upon what “God said.” Worship is a religious experience, but it must be based upon what “God said” (Acts 17). The Athenians were having a religious experience, but it was not acceptable unto God, because it was not based upon revelation. One can find people gathered everywhere in worship going through some kind of experience, but this does not mean that that experience is acceptable to God. Every religious experience one has must be in harmony with what the Bible teaches and must rest upon what “God said.”

When one has some kind of experience unknown to the Bible, that experience is false and deceptive and not accepted by God. It is time for men to turn back to the Bible and to find out what it teaches and then act upon it. The action then will be an experience, which harmonizes with what “God said.” This will be acceptable unto God. Nothing else is or can be.

Franklin Camp

How Can It Be Possible?

For a person to be saved before baptism since Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Peter told the Pentecostians to “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). He also said, “Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh by the answer of a good conscience toward God” (I Peter 3:21).

For there to be nothing in a name or one name as good as another when Acts 4:12 says, “There is no other name in which one can be saved.”

For one church to be as good as another when the Lord has a church (Matthew 16:18).

For there to be more than one church as the Bible says, The church is the body (Ephesians 1:23) and there is BUT one body (I Corinthians 12:20).

For one to be saved out of the Lord’s Church since He bought it with His blood (Acts 20: 28).

For one to be saved by faith only when James teaches that we are justified by works and not by faith only (James 2:24).

For sprinkling to be baptism when Paul says we are buried with Him in baptism (Romans 6:3-4).

To observe the Lord’s Supper on Thursday night when Acts 20:7 says that the church at Troas came together on the first day of the week to break bread.

For a Christian not to fall from Grace when the Bible warns against the danger of falling (I Corinthians 10:12), and even speaks of some who had fallen (Galatians 5:4).

For snake handlers to quote Mark 16:18 for handling snakes and not have services to drink poison as the very next thing referred to in the same verse mentions drinking poison.

For one to be a Christian and not be interested in saving the lost.

For a Christian to be interested in saving the lost and never try to teach them or talk to them about the Bible.

For a Christian to be in earnest about going to Heaven and fail to come to Bible study on Sunday morning.

For one to be a faithful Christian and miss the Wednesday night Bible study to watch television.

For a person to love the Lord more than relatives when they will miss services to visit relatives or stay away from services because relatives come to visit them (Matthew 10:37).

For a Christian to make $100.00 a week and give the Lord $1.00 and it be liberal giving (II Corinthians 8:2).

For a Christian to wait until the collection is being taken and run his hand in his pocket and give whatever he may find and purpose to give as II Corinthians 9:7 says to do.

For a Christian to be giving as the Bible teaches and then complain because the preacher preaches on it.

For a Christian to have the spirit of Christ who attends the congregation in their community and then because the elders do not see fit to follow every suggestion to give their money in other places.

I have been looking for a long time to find the answers to these questions. If you have the answer to these questions will you please give them to me in order to put my mind at ease about these people. Most of the people mentioned above think they are going to Heaven so surely they must have the answers. I would like to see all of these go to Heaven but from where I sit I can only ask, “HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE?”

Franklin Camp
(1915-1991)

The Church Is Different


God has always taught His people to be different. One of the major problems of His people has been forgetting this truth and losing their distinctiveness. The nation of Israel wanted to become like the other nations around them (I Samuel 8). They became like them and God cast them off. Surely there is a warning for the church.

The Church Is Different From the World

The church is different from the world in its attitude and ambitions. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). The values of Christians are different from sinners. Sinners live for self. Christians live to glorify God and serve others (Matthew 16:24; Mark 10:45). Are we losing this distinctiveness today? Are the attitudes and ambitions of Christians different from non-Christians?

The Church Differs From Judaism

Judaism was carnal, the church is spiritual. “Then verily thefirst covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldlysanctuary...which stood only in meats and drinks, and diverswashing, and carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:1,10). Look carefully at the word, carnal.The church is spiritual (Ephesians 1:3). It is heavenly (2:6). Its worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24; Romans 1:9). This is one reason that mechanical instruments of music have no place in Christian worship. If one granted that it was right in the Old Testament it does not suit the spiritual worship of the New Testament. Christian worship must be from the heart. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

The Church Is Different From Catholicism

The church differs from the Catholic church in that it accepts the authority of Scriptures. Catholics do not accept the authority of the Scriptures. Consider the following quotation. “One must keep the commandments of God and the church” (Catechism of Christian Doctrine, No. 1, pl. 31). The Scriptures are an authority but not the only authority. In truth it is no authority since the pope must interpret it. Catholics teach that II Peter 1:20 denies the right of individual interpretation. This is a perversion of the passage. Peter is speaking of how Scripture was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1:21). Paul commanded the Thessalonians to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21). He did not say prove all things by what Peter said. The church differs from Catholicism by “speaking as the oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11). The church urges all to have an open mind and “search the scriptures daily” to see if what is heard is in harmonywith what they have read.

The Church Is Different From Protestantism

The church differs from Protestantism in that it accepts the completeness of the Scriptures. The church has no creed but Christ and no book but the Bible. All teaching is based upon the Book. All questions are decided by what the Bible teaches, not a manual or discipline. It also differs from Protestantism in accepting the completeness of the Scripture and denying the need for a direct operation of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to understand it. Protestants generally misapply I Corinthians 2:14. They think the natural man is the sinner without a direct operation of the Spirit he cannot understand the Bible when he reads it. It has always been strange to me that even though the Bible is made of words just like one finds in the school books or the newspaper on can understand them in the book or paper but not in the Bible.

The Church Is Different From the Christian Church

The church differs from the Christian church in its respect for the silence of the Scriptures. The Christian church teaches that where the Bible is silent we may speak or act. This opens the door for anything that is not specifically forbidden. This is a real difference between it and the church.

Conclusion

We should not be afraid or ashamed to be different from the world, from Judaism, from Catholicism, from Protestantism, and even from the Christian church. Without a doubt one of the greatest problems we are facing in the church today is the fact that most people are afraid to be different.

Franklin Camp

1915-1991

 

GOD’S DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN ACTS 11:26

There are various definitions given of a Christian. The only one that is worthwhile is God’s definition. The only kind of Christian worthwhile is the one as defined by God. The reason for saying this is God’s definition of a Christian is because of the meaning of chrematizo, translated “called.” It is not a nickname, claimed by some. “And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name Christian.” (Weymouth). The Greek word rendered called implies a divine source. It is “to be divinely instructed, to receive a warning or revelation from God” (Green’s Greek-English Lexicon). “To give a response to those consulting an oracle, to give divine command or admonition, to teach from heaven; to be divinely commanded, admonished, instructed; to be the mouth-piece of divine revelations, to promulgate the commands God” (Thayer). 

The word is found nine times in the New Testament (Matthew 2:12; 2:22; Luke 2:26; Acts 10:22; Hebrews 8:5; 11:7; 12:25; Romans 7:3; Acts 11:26). In all of these instances it has reference to divine revelation, unless Acts 11:16 is an exception. The meaning of the word fits Isaiah 62:2: “Which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.” Compare Romans 7:3: “She shall be called an adulteress.” Who calls her an adulteress? Compare “defer not, for thine own sake, my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name” (Daniel 9:19). In Israel, we have the root of Elohim, the Hebrew name for God, which supplies an explanation for the statement, “Thy people are called by thy name.” Amos 9:12 and Acts 15:17 are equivalents. Thus the subject: “God’s Definition of a Christian.’ Why was not this name given at Pentecost? We may not know, but I can think of a reason. Christian is the sum of Christianity. Christianity not Jewish, not peculiar to Jews. This is implied in the very fact that the term that most describes Christianity was not given until Gentiles were brought in. Thus, those who think of Christianity offering something yet for Jews in a special way have not properly understood Christianity. 

A Christian is one who heard the Gospel and believed it (Acts 11:19-21). Why were there no Christians in Antioch prior to this time? There were not any that had heard the Gospel and believed. A Christian is one that assembles (Acts 11:26; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42). The Christians at Antioch assembled. The Christians in every place assemble. A Christian is one that accepts responsibility (Acts 11:29). Note the words – every man – determined – according to his ability. They did not seek to do as little as they could but as much as they could. Many seem to think today that a Christian is one who does as little as he can. A Christian does not shirk responsibility. A Christian is one in the Lord’s church (Acts 11:26). There were no Christians in Antioch that were not members of the church. There were no Christians in Antioch that were members of another church. “I give in mine house and within my walls...a name” (Isaiah 56:5). The church is God’s house (I Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:42; Galatians 3:26-27). 

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN AS DEFINED BY GOD? 

Franklin Camp

Lessons from Genesis One

Genesis 1 is intended as an introduction to God: 

  1. Genesis 1 is an introduction to the wisdom of God. This becomes a background of the wisdom for the rest of the Bible. There is not anything that is short or lacking in God’s creation. God did not have to ask anybody about His methods of procedure in creation (Romans 11:31-36).
  2. Genesis 1 is an introduction to the power of God. If God had the power to bring the worlds into existence then why should He have any problem with any other miracle that is recorded in the Bible? This includes the Virgin Birth or resurrection!
  3. Genesis is an introduction to the eternity of God (Isaiah 57:15—ASV).
  4. Genesis 1 is an introduction to the goodness of God. All that is needed for man’s happiness is provided for him. The goodness of God becomes the background for our redemption. God has an interest in what happens to man. His grace has ever provided what man has needed (Deuteronomy 8:18; James 1:17; Titus 1:17).
  5. Genesis is an introduction to the love of God (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-9).
  6. Genesis introduces us to the spiritual nature of God. The spiritual nature of God becomes the background of man’s fellowship with God. Faith is a spiritual principle. Love is a spiritual principle. These have to do with our responses to our Creator (Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Matthew 22:37; I John 5:3; John 14:15).
  7. Genesis is an introduction to the authority of God. When God delegates authority that does not diminish God’s authority. Note Jesus and the apostles (Matthew 28:19).
  8. God’s method of operation is through His Word (And God said). Notice the number of occurrences in Genesis 1 of: “And God said.”
  9. Genesis is an introduction to the perfection of God. The knowledge of God is fundamental to all correct knowledge. Error is based on a misunderstanding of the character of God. God will not overlook false doctrine (Matthew 15:9, 13; Galatians 1:6, 9).
  10. Genesis 1 gives emphasis to the unity of God. The unity of God opposes Denominationalism. The New Testament teaches the necessity of unity based on truth (I Corinthians 1:10; John 17:20-21). Each denomination has its own distinctive name and doctrines. This would be foreign to II John 9-11. False teaching is filled with poison. We must not follow after that which is crooked and perverse. We must see righteousness as the solution to all our problems. Sin is the root of all of our problems. Sin creates was in the soul. This being the case, the only solution for us today is the Gospel of Christ (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15; 1:16- 17; Mark 16:15-16). 

The Gospel must be believed and obeyed if we want to be saved.

Franklin Camp

He Preached Him Into Hell

He was a member of the church. He said so when questioned about his religion.

He was a member of the church but he could not be counted on to attend the services. He worked six days a week, and he had to visit sometimes, when could he go except on Sunday. He worked hard and needed some recreation, and Sunday was the only time he had for recreation.

He was a member of the church, but he just could not get to Bible study on Sunday morning. He needed the extra hour or two of sleep more than he needed to study the Bible. He attended the worship most of the time, and he felt that was enough.

He was a member of the church, but he did not come on Sunday night. He had to rest to be ready to go to work on Monday. He had already attended one time and that was enough except for the preacher and a few over zealous people. He had eaten the Lord’s Supper, and that was the only thing that was really important anyway.

He was a member of the church, but he never came to mid-week Bible study. He could not find where the Bible said anything about mid-week Bible classes. He said he was tired on Wednesday night and needed the rest and requested people not to bother him by calling on him to invite him.

He was a member of the church, but gave very little of his money to the cause of the Lord. The church supported the preaching of the gospel, but not with his money. The church helped orphans and widows, but not with his money. After all, he owned a home, a new car, a television, and took a vacation each year and it took all of his money to live on.

He was a member of the church, but he never invited anyone. He said that he thought that was what the preacher was paid to do. If he was sick and no one visited him, it hurt his feelings. He complained of the church not visiting people.

He was a member of the church, but he never tried to teach anyone else. In fact, he did not know where to find the Great Commission. If someone asked him a question about the Bible he had to call the preacher to find the answer. The truth is he just did not like to talk with other people about the Bible.

He was a member of the church, but he died. I conducted the funeral. I said, “He was a member but he was careless in his attendance. He was a member of the church, but he did not think Bible study was important, and so he never came. He was a member of the church, but he never gave as he prospered. His funeral is being conducted in a building paid for by others. He was a member of the church, but he never visited the sick. He was a member of the church, but no one gathered here today has he taught the truth. He has now gone to judgment to meet his God, and all he can say to God is: ‘I was a member of the church.’ All that I can say about him is that he was a member of the church.”

While these are not the words that I used, it is the substance of what was said. The service was over, and as I stood at the door waiting for the men to take the casket and place it in the ambulance, I heard someone say, “He preached him straight into hell.” But I deny that I did so. All I did was to tell the truth about his life. All that he claimed while he lived was that he was a member of the church. Why should I insult his family and his friends and his body by saying he was more? I could not claim for a dead man what he refused to claim for himself while he lived.

This is not fiction—it happened.

Franklin Camp