Mother's Day

Today is the day we mortals have agreed upon to honor the most wonderful human being in our lives—our sweet, precious mother. There can be no reasonable doubt but what God wants us to love, honor, and cherish our mothers (Ephesians 6:1-3). While every day should be Mother’s Day, we certainly are not opposed to setting aside one particular day just for her. As a matter of fact, we think it is a splendid idea. Let us make sure our mothers know how special they are and how much we love and appreciate them. Let us do something really special for them on their day.

No one has had a greater influence in molding our lives than our mothers. Someone has determined that from the time we are born until we are twenty-one we are awake 105,000 hours. We spend approximately 10,000 hours in the school room and 2,100 hours in Bible classes, which leaves 93,000 hours under the direct supervision of our parents. Since the father is generally the bread winner and a survey some time ago revealed that the average American father spends only seven minutes per week alone with his teenage children, most of those 93,000 hours are spent under the supervision of our mothers. Indeed the hand which rocks the cradle rules the world. Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. I remember her prayers, and they have followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

One of the great characters of the Bible is the evangelist Timothy. One of the prime ingredients which made him a dependable servant of God was the influence of his godly mother and grandmother. For as far back as he could remember, he was taught God’s Word by these two very special women (II Timothy 3:14-15; 1:5). When young mothers decide they want to do something about the preacher and elder shortage in the Lord’s church, they can and will. They have control of a child’s life during the first six years, which are the most formative years of his life.

One of the tragedies of modern America is that so many mothers make up the working force. We certainly do not want to be critical of working mothers because some of them must work. However, if there is any possible way they could be with their children during those formative years, even if they had to do without some of the things they want, we would encourage them to do it. It is far better for mothers to be with their children during those years than it is for them to left in the care of a babysitter or a nursery attendant who only considers it a job.

Author Unknown

Personal Relationships

The hue and cry throughout many pulpits is to “develop personal relationships” and to have a “personal encounter with Jesus.” This sounds lofty and noble, but what it often boils down to is simply to deemphasize the Bible and elevate man. The idea of teaching and accepting propositional truths from God’s Word is ignored for the sake of relationships. That is the reason so many brethren would rather attend a “fellowship dinner” than a Gospel meeting or lectureship. The idea of studying to refute religious error is unthinkable in most city churches.

More of us who know the truth would not disparage good influence or proper relationships, yet this can never replace helping men to see the truth as taught by Jesus in the Bible, or making them aware of the error they have espoused.

We all should be as kind and personable as uphold-ing the truth will allow, but this is a far cry from what is being advocated. Truth is being put down and neglected by many who advocate friendship, people, and relation-ships above the Lord. It is still “the truth” that makes man free (John 8:32), and all personal relationships must be subjugated to the Lord and His truth (Matthew 10:34-37).

This very attitude concerning “personal relationships” has destroyed controversy and the desire to defend the faith (Jude 3; I Peter 3:15). We become such loving people we cannot chance hurting our relationships by exposing people’s sins or errors. Neighbor, that is not true, biblical love. This religious philosophy is humanism, pure and simple, rather than a love for truth and Christ. Brethren, we need to wake up and see this as yet an-other ploy of Satan in our congregations today.

Andrew M. Connally

The 5 B’s of Baptism

There is much confusion about baptism. Many do not believe that a person must be baptized to be saved from his sons. Others say baptism is necessary for salvation. Some say sprinkling or pouring are acceptable forms of baptism. Others say only immersion in water is acceptable. There is only one way to settle the confusion about baptism. We must go to the New Testament, which is the law for all men today. What does the Bible tell us about baptism? Its teaching is clear on this subject. Let us notice the five “B’s” of Bible baptism.

First, baptism is a BURIAL. Notice the apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 6:3-4: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were into His death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Paul states clearly that baptism is a burial. To bury something is to cover it completely. Sprinkling or pouring will not substitute for the burial which baptism demands. In fact, the word “baptism” itself means “to immense, dip, plunge.” Bible baptism is a burial.

Second, baptism is for BELIEVERS. Bible baptism is for those who can show they believe in Jesus, the Son of God. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” No where in the New Testament will one find a person baptized who was not able to express his belief in Christ. In Acts 8:12 we read, “But when they believed Philip as preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” Notice that “both men and women” were baptized, not little children. Why? Because baptism is for believers, not babies. Babies are born innocent. They are not guilty of the sins of their parents, as some teach (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus used little children as examples of humility, and said we must become like them to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-5). Would Jesus use sinful children as examples of what we must become to be pleasing to God? Certainly not!

Third, baptism is BEFORE the forgiveness of sins. Jesus made this clear in His statement, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus said belief AND baptism bring salvation. He did not say belief brings salvation, and then one is baptized. One cannot be saved without baptism. In Acts 22:16, Saul of Tarsus, a man who believed in Christ, repented, and confessed Jesus as Lord, still had to be baptized to wash away his sins. There  is not a single instance in the New Testament where anyone was said to be saved until he was baptized. Baptism comes BEFORE forgiveness.

Fourth, baptism is the BIRTH of the Christian. It is the beginning of the Christians’s life. In John 3:5, Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” To be born of water and the Spirit involves being baptized in water in obedience to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. How does the Spirit teach us? He does so through the Word of God. In the New Testament we learn of the importance of being baptized in water. So it is the Spirit who teaches us to be baptized as we read His Word. This is what the apostle Paul meant in I Corinthians 12:13. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Paul says all must be baptized into the body of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is by the teaching of the Spirit through the Word that we learn of our need to do this. Then, we must “drink into one Spirit,” which means we are to continue to study the Word which the Holy Spirit has given – the New Testament. We must grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, and we must remain faithful in the one church (Revelation 2:10).

The final “B” is that Bible baptism is where the BLOOD of Christ is applied to cleanse us from our sins. Can a person be saved from his sins without the blood of Christ? No! But only in baptism is the blood applied from Heaven to take away our sins. The blood of Jesus was shed in His death. The soldier pierced the side of the slain Savior of the world, and “...immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34). Then, in Romans 6:3-4, Paul speaks of being buried in the “likeness” of Christ’s death through baptism. The blood that was shed in Christ’s death is reached only in the likeness of His death – baptism. In Revelation 1:4-5, John says Jesus washed us from sins in His blood. When does that washing take place? It is the washing of baptism. Remember what Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” When we look at Acts 22:16 and Revelation 1:4-5, we conclude that in baptism the blood of Jesus is applied to wash away our sins.

We should never forget the five “B’s of baptism. They remind us of what the Bible teaches about this very important subject. The Bible says baptism is a BURIAL. It is for BELIEVERS, those who can express their belief in Christ. It comes BEFORE forgiveness of sins. It is the BIRTH of the Christian, and it is where the precious BLOOD of Jesus is applied to wash away our sins. Have you received BIBLE baptism?

Author Unknown

“Book Review”

Brotherhood papers sometimes run pieces which they call “Book Review.” They take various books, review their contents, give summaries of the life of the author, and thus entice the readers of the paper to read the book. I have found a book which is reviewed very little, if ever, by most of the advocates of “modern preaching.” I would like to review it here and commend it to your reading.

 The author of this book has been around forever and a lot of his ideas on religion are commonly looked upon as being outdated and old-fashioned. He holds some really “tough” views on many “doctrinal issues” with which we are presently faced. Among these are:

  1. His conception of the New Testament church: He teaches that there is only one right church, and that it is right because it adheres to the Bible only in all matters of faith and practices. He denies that we should extend fellowship to the denominational world “upon their acceptance of Jesus as the Christ.” He denies that there are many “knowledgeable Christians scattered among the denominations.” It is his view that unless one obeys the commands of the New Testament, he is lost!
  2. His view on the Mechanical Instrument of Music in Worship: He holds that to add mechanical instruments is to do that which there is no authority. As a matter of fact, not one time from beginning to the end of his book do we read of his giving approval to this practice in the New Testament church. With him singing is all that is allowed, not singing and playing, and singing and humming.
  3. His view on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: The author of this book believes that for a man (any man) to marry and divorce for any reason other than fornication, and remarry, places him in the sinful state of adultery. It is further his position that the only way for him to have forgiveness for this sin is for him to repent (turn away from, break off the adulterous union).
  4. His View of False Teachers: He teaches that if a man is teaching error and will not repent, he needs to be “marked” and fellowship withheld from him (Romans 16:17-18).

These are just a few of his oddities which seem to have lost their place in our system, but still, this book is a good one.

The book under consideration was written over a period of 1600 years. It mentions many of the men known by its author, their failures and successes, their doctrinal stances, and their dealings with the author.

It contains poetry, history, and biography. It tells of love, hate, war, peace friends, and enemies. It is so popular that it has been printed in many languages and dialects.

At one time in history, only high-ranking church men were allowed to possess it. It was revered as the greatest book ever written. It was the desire of all mankind to own a copy, but most were denied this privilege. It was once heeded by all religious men as the high standard of judgment, and its words once filled our land with zeal. However, I have recently noticed its decline in popularity. We no longer hear it used in the pulpit as it once was. People have become so “image-minded” that they feel the use of this book might scar the image of the church. People are desiring to hear “smooth things,” and not the contents of this book.

You have guessed by now, the author’s name is JEHOVAH, and the name of His book is THE BIBLE. The honor it was once paid has been turned to scorn in some places. But this writer still loves the Book, and its Author. We need to spend our time reviewing the contents of God’s Book and preaching His Word.

Tim Smith

Worship Versus Service and the Object of Worship

The first reference Jesus made to worship is found in the course of the temptations in the wilderness immediately after His baptism by John. Our attention is focused on the third of these temptations. Satan took Jesus to "an exceeding high mountain" and showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world" (Matthew 4:8). Jesus was then told that He could have all of these kingdoms if He would simply fall down and worship Satan. The subject of the proper object of worship is involved in this temptation. There are certainly other things which are also involved. For example, the possibility of Jesus' obtaining the kingdoms of the world without going to the cross is part of the "snare" of this temptation. Now carefully notice the response of Jesus. He said, "for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10).

First, it is worthy of notice that there is an obvious difference between worship and service in this Scriptural response (a reference to Deuteronomy 6:13). There are some brethren today who make the mistake of equating these terms and conclude that all of life is worship. All of life is to be given in service to God, but all of life is not worship. Service is a broader term than worship. Some confuse worship and service. Worship is service to God, and it is right to say that we go to worship services, but all service is not worship: plowing, guitar playing, eating hamburgers, etc. Some apparently have been misled by some new translations that have removed the word "service" from Romans 12:1, and have inserted the word "worship" (RSV, NASV, NIV). It is true that in certain contexts the Greek word in Romans 12:1 (latreuo) is properly rendered as worship (as in Romans 9:4). But in itself the word only means serve, whether the service is toward God or men (cf. Latris, a hired servant; latron, hire, pay). Sometimes the word refers to a lifetime of service to God (Acts 24:14; Heb. 12:28), and the context of Romans 12:1 shows one's offering his body as a living sacrifice is a lifetime of service, not of meditation (which is what worship is).

 All worship is, therefore, service; but not all service is worship. We should notice here that worship does not occur accidentally without the realization of the participant, and that worship is not continuous:

Abraham climbed a mountain to worship on its summit, and then, after worship, returned to his base camp at the foot of the mountain (Genesis 22:1-5). When David learned that his baby had died, he bathed, changed clothes, and went into the house of Jehovah, "and worshiped" (II Samuel 12:20). When he had worshiped, he returned home and ate a meal. Worship is not all that one does. It is punctuated by stop and go. The Ethiopian had been to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 8); worship was not then nor is it now all of life.

Second, Jesus tells us clearly in this statement of Matthew 4:10 that the only one worthy of worship is God (the Godhead). Worship is to be offered to no other. Worship should not be offered to the pope, to Mary (the Lord's earthly mother), to special people who are highly regarded, etc. Worship is to be directed to the God of the universe, the Creator of man and of all the good things that are in the world in which we live.

Lester Kamp