HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH EZINE

After Jesus' church was established on the first pentecost following His resurrection in A.D. 32, it underwent two things so amazing as to make one stop and consider it in awe. First, it faced the most massive and cruel persecution imaginable for approximately 3 centuries. This persecution was by the Jews as well as the Roman Empire. Christians were crucified, thrown to the lions and forced to fight to the death in the arenas. They were tortured, their eyes gouged out, maimed, plus many other things almost beyond the comprehension of the civilized world today.

Secondly, it's growth, dedication and stedfastness (for the most part) were as astounding as was it's persecution. Most of the martyrs were so by choice. Normally they were given the choice of renouncing Jesus Christ, or suffer a torturous death. These Christians were teaching the Gospel of Christ to others, knowing full well that they would probably die for it. Yet, their strength and faithfulness was so great, that they attracted many others to the cause. No doubt, this was a period of glory for His church that would never be exceeded.

But, even while this period of greatness was being made history, apostacy was beginning to show it's ugly head. In many places, congregational leadership (organization) was undergoing unauthorized change. Most of us are aware of this apostacy and how it came about, so we will by-pass that particular subject. But as time passed, a Pope was installed over the entire church early in the 6th century. Bishops were placed over five areas (bishoprics), Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople. There was considerable disunity among the hierchy for some lengthy period, but when the Pope of Rome declared that the church (In Rome) as well as he, himself was in charge of the entire church, a split occurred with the Bishop of Constantinople declaring himself as head of the church. Thus the two "catholic" churches came into being. The one in Rome being known as the Roman Catholic Church while the one in Constantinople became known as the Eastern Orthodox, or Greek Orthodox Church.

I am enclosing some links for your reading to become better acquainted with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Although, their organization as well as their worship and doctrine are deeply embedded in apostacy, it is interesting to note the things that they did not do such as adding instruments of music into worship as did the church in Rome. Nor is their history as filled with infamous (criminal) activities as is the Roman church.

It was bound to happen one day, and I’m certainly glad it did! My age finally caught up with Jack Benny. For years, the now-deceased comic would insist his age was holding at 39. Although he was actually 80 years old at his death, to many of us, Jack Benny will always be 39. Rationally we know that we can not stop the hands of time with respect to our ages, although many products are marketed with that goal in mind.

With respect to aging in general, our attitudes change depending on what age we are. As children, we long to be older and more independent. As teens, we long to be adults. As young adults we long to be older to gain more respect and status. As aging adults some long to be young again as we come to realize that our lives are swiftly passing by.

Paul speaks of our coming separation from this world in 2 Cor. 5:1-2, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.” Later in that chapter he remarks in verses 8-9, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” Paul is not teaching that we should have a “death wish,” but that we should embrace the fact that one day we will die and will go to a much better place. Our aim should be in pleasing God both in this world and the next.

Some may never be happy in this life if they are always looking back at what was. The path God shows for us is not in looking back, but rather in looking forward to the blessings that this life and the life to come have to offer. Being in a relationship with God through Jesus is indeed a great comfort and is our only way to heaven (Jn. 14:6). Our faith in God causes all of this life’s problems to fade at the recollection of the promises He has made. One doesn’t have to be perpetually 39 in order to enjoy this life. One only has to appreciate each day and each year as God has provided, fully obey Him, and long for our time together in heaven. In the years to come, the Lord willing, I’ll embrace 40, then 41 and so on. Unlike Jack, I’m not afraid to grow older. And like Paul, I welcome the day when my soul will be with the Lord, although I’m in no hurry for it! Let’s all live for Christ, and make sure we all get to heaven together! Mike

Mike Baker is the Minister for the Seventh and College church of Christ in Mayfield, KY

About five years ago I had the privilege of carrying on a discussion through the writing of letters with one of the most prominent preachers in the last 20 to 30 years. I had met him and we had talked before, but on this occasion we were discussing our differences of belief in the areas of law and grace. This man believed and taught that we cannot do anything to affect our salvation. He used the books of Romans and Galatians to say that we have no law or pattern, and anyone who insisted upon a pattern had become legalistic instead of grace oriented. The following was my response to his views on this matter:

"What Paul was dealing with in the books of Romans and Galatians (and others) wasn't simply a problem of legalism of any kind. He was dealing with people who were trying to turn away from the grace of God to go back to the law of Moses. There was, and is, no forgiveness outside of Christ and all who will be saved must be saved in Him (Galatians 3:28), even though the old law was to the Jews. Their problem was that they didn't want the Gentiles, a.k.a. dogs, in the church. Paul and Jesus taught that there was no difference between Jew and Gentile in the kingdom, however they had to be in the kingdom. They could not find salvation under the law of Moses in the Christian age. Paul was not saying that he left his legalistic ways for 'no obedience freedom.' In fact Paul referred to himself as a 'prisoner of the Lord' (Philemon 1:1). Paul served Jesus out of a motivation of love, yet he was still an obedient prisoner." In response to this he wrote: "This would shock most readers and all scholars of these two books. Of course, you may be the one who is right - but I happen to disagree." At this point the discussion ended.

Recently I had the discussion subject come up again over e-mail with members of a denomination. They taught the exact same thing as this preacher had taught, only they made sure and mention that baptism also was a legalistic work, if insisted upon. Based upon the discussions with these individuals I thought it good to point out a couple of very quick thoughts.

1. The answer in my earlier letter on Paul's subject in Romans and Galatians is still accurate. The books are not contrasting legalism and grace, but rather the Old Law and the New Law.

2. In the various conversion accounts after the day of Pentecost we have some differences in what was recorded. In Acts 2 the Jews were told to repent, in Acts 8 the Ethiopian was told to confess, and in Acts 16 the Philippian jailer was told to believe. These are not contradictory, they are all a part of God's plan. Even the denominational world accepts this. The part that the denominational world has a real problem with is found in the fact that there is only one thing that is recorded specifically in every account of conversion: baptism in water. Is there any doubt why?

3. Though those who believe what the Bible teaches about baptism are accused of trying to "earn salvation," it just isn't true. Baptism is a burial in water where one is buried with Christ and contacts His blood (Romans 6:3-5), having sins washed away at this point (Acts 22:16), and being added by Christ to His church (Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:47).

Why do I teach the necessity of baptism? Because you cannot be saved without the blood of Christ, you cannot be saved IN your sins, and you cannot be saved outside of the church. Christ handles all of this through immersion in water. Baptism is not legalism, it is submission to the God of grace.

Reprinted from Anchor Of The Soul Website.

Chula Vista Books is owned and operated by Mark and Teah McWhorter. We carry a wide selection of Bible related materials--ladies' books, childrens' materials, commentaries, apologetics, lectureship books, missions books, class books, debates, sermon books, church history, topical studies, Bible covers, Bibles, tracts, BCCs and more.

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Does your congregation have a web site? Can you add, update and delete information from your existing web site easily? If you answered no to either question visit The Lord's Way. This new service allows you to create a web site for your congregation and update it yourself whenever you want by simply completing online forms. The service is designed for any congregation that wants a web site that contains current, updated and fresh information but does not want to invest the time and money in learning about the inner-workings of the Internet. Your new site will be packed with information about your congregation. Visit us and take a tour!

I've spent some time during the past two weeks, studying about the Greek Orthodox Church and, once again, I find no articles or sermons refuting their doctrine and activities. The fact that I fail to find any probably does not mean that there are none, but apparently they are few.

It first caused me to wonder why, when a church is simply split off another as it is from the church of Rome, it has not nearly the notoriety that the Roman church has. Their general doctrine and worship services are quite similar, although they have a number of mostly cosmetic differences. Their partaking of the Lord's supper is unique as is their praying. They do not kneel for long periods as the Catholics do, and find acceptable any position for prayer, from standing upright to the kneeling position (they refer to this as prostrate) and touching their forehead to the floor as the Muslims do.

And then I decided that the probable cause for the lack of writings opposing this Church is the fact that they have not been nearly as radical and aggressive as has the Roman Catholic Church. I might be totally wrong, but I have never heard of any of the scandals that have been almost constant from the Catholics. Nor have I known of any strong, aggressive movements for power and political clout as has been the habit of the Catholics. That may also be the reason for their failure to grow as rapidly as the Catholics.

It will not take the Bible Student long when reading their articles and doctrines, to see the depth of their error, but you must respect them over Catholicism for keeping their noses fairly clean, I think. Always pray for God to open doors for us, but pray even more earnestly for vision to see the ones that are already open.

The theme for SELTC 2003 is "Go!" Based on the book of Matthew, this year's study challenges each of us to allow God to rule in every area of our life. We pray that this year's study affords you the opportunity to grow closer to God and each other. The date for this year's convention is April 18-20, 2003. We will be meeting at the Adam's Mark in Mobile, AL. For more information please visit our website at www.seltc.org or call 205-988-5808.

The Bear Valley Bible Institute, Scottsboro Extension (BVBISE) is half-way through it's second year of operation under the oversight of the elders of the Broad Street Church of Christ in Scottsboro, Alabama. The school is an extension of the BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE of DENVER. 40 courses (and eight out-of-class mini-courses) completed over a four-year period lead to the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree. The Associates Degree may be earned in half that time.

One course is taught each month (except July and December) in two all-day Saturday sessions along with outside assignments. The school is TUITION FREE. The only costs to the student are for required texts & materials, and a $5 fee each Saturday to help cover the teacher's expenses. The teachers are academically well-qualified and experienced gospel preachers who know and love the Bible as the verbally inspired and authoritative word of God, and who volunteer their time and work as a labor of love.

BVBISE is committed to training sound and able Bible teachers (men and women), and faithful gospel preachers for service in the kingdom of Christ. The format is designed to make this training possible for men and women who must continue their jobs and other pursuits while they study. Credit is given for previous college or preacher-school study. A preacher-school graduate may be able to earn the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree in as little as four months of study. For more information please contact the Broad Street Church of Christ, 613 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768. Phone: 256-574-2489. EMAIL

The ants were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, "Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?' He replied, "I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing." They then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter." ...Aesop