"let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith"Volume 3, Number 11

HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH EZINE


Enabling Christians to do good towards one another through patronization


Published every two weeks
by Joel Hendon
Piedmont, Alabama 36272
Tuesday, May 27, 2003

DISCLAIMER: Some articles and links to pages may be those which contain false doctrine. These are printed for those interested in learning more concerning others views. The fact that they are printed in this publication does not mean that we endorse them.


ETERNITY...IN HEAVEN OR HELL?

I can't seem to lay my hands on the statistics, but I have them somewhere (a problem I have increasingly) which shows the result of a nationwide poll. The people were asked if they believed there was an eternal life in heaven for believers after death. And they were asked if they believed there was an eternal punishment in hell for the disobedient. I cannot remember the figures but they ran something like 80% who believed in the heaven, while only some 30-40% believed in an eternal hell.

If not for the extreme seriousness of this, those answers might be amusing. But they aren't. I don't know exactly what all this reflects, but there are definitely two things that I see. One is that it shows a very serious ignorance of Biblical teaching. And THAT shows a lack of emphasis on this subject by gospel preachers.

What is the problem here? Are we afraid of offending? Or do we feel that preaching on hell is "scare tactics" and we don't think people ought to be Chistians because they are afraid of hell? Those reasons won't cut it. Jesus taught of an eternal punishment in hell. Do you want to question His wisdom? I certainly don't, and I think hell ought to be taught just as He taught it.

And to be brief, the original Greek word "aiwnio" is used for both heaven's and hell's duration in Matthew 25: 46, Jesus doing the speaking. Which is to say, if there is no eternal punishment, there is no eternal life.

| Can A Loving God Send People to Hell? (A Debate) |
Ray Bradley Denies, William Lane Craig Affirms.
| The Use Of "Hell" In The New Testament |
By Wayne Jackson

| Is There Life After Death? |
David E. Pratte

MORE ON ISLAM

I know that I have harped on the dangers of the Islam religion until you are probably tired of it, but it is too important to drop. Here is a short but interesting article from the Agape Press that all of you ought to read. It'll only take a couple of minutes. Click Here.


"IS THIS THE CHURCH OF GOD?"
By Raymond Elliott, Minister Fort Deposit, Alabama church of Christ.

I was in my office one day when the telephone rang. When I answered, a lady inquired if a certain person was there. I replied in the negative. She asked, "Is this the Church of God?" I answered, "This is the church of Christ." She replied, "Oh, I have the wrong number." I then said, "I want to assure you that this is the church of God."

This short conversation made me realize once again how denominationalism has really confused matters regarding biblical terms applicable to the church of the Lord. In fact, it made me feel uncomfortable to answer the lady in the manner I did. While I did not deny that this was the Church of God, realizing the confusion this would cause, I answered by saying this was a church of Christ. I knew if I answered in the affirmative to her question, she would not understand as to why the party she was asking for did not work here. What would you say if someone asked you if you were a member of the church of God? Now, think before you answer. And, why would you answer in the way that you would. Could it be that you would not want to be associated with another religious group? Would you be truthful and unashamed by answering in the positive? Several years ago, I preached a sermon relative to the undenominational nature of the church of Jesus Christ. I emphasized the scripturalness of using all the biblical terms for the body of Christ. Of course, I mentioned that the term "church of God" was scriptural (See I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 20:28 KJV). After the assembly that evening, one very fine Christian lady was heard to say, "I will never call us the church of God." Herein lies a deep-seated problem among many brethren.

There has evolved within our brotherhood the notion that the term "church of Christ" is the name to be worn to the exclusion of all other terms found in the Bible. Please understand the term "church of Christ" is scriptural (the singular of "churches of Christ", Romans 16:16). But, the Lord never intended for us to make this the official name of the church. Actually, the term "church of Christ" is not a name but a biblical term that denotes ownership. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church". That is possessive in nature. The church belongs to Christ. We often speak of the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Church of Christ in the same manner. Of course, our religious friends consider us to be just another denomination. The sad fact is, by our attitude and the improper usage of biblical terms, we may contribute to the confusion. Brethren are often heard to say, "the church of Christ teaches", "he is a church of Christ preacher", "he is a church of Christ person", "church of Christ church", "church of Christ college", "church of Christ literature" and even a "church of Christ ball team".

The fact is we should not use one term to the exclusion of other biblical terms regarding the church. If we do, we have denominationalized a scriptural expression. Study the Bible and observe the other terms that can be used in regard to the body of Christ, It is right to refer to the Lord’s church as being the "church of God" (I Corinthians 1:2), "church of the First-born" (Hebrews 12:23), "church of the Lord" (Acts 20:28 ASV), etc. The term used the most in the New Testament; especially in the book of Acts is "the church". Let us become more aware that the expression "church of Christ" is not a proper name per se but a term denoting ownership; and that by using other scriptural terms regarding the body of Christ, such would help in clarifying the undenominational nature of the New Testament church of our Lord in the thinking of others.


CLASSIFIEDS
LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL EVANGELISM

"Developing Leadership In The Church For The 21st Century" and a "Bible Foundations" course are offered to meet the two greatest needs in the church today.

The leadership book is a practical, 63 page book of 13 chapters with review questions. The character traits, work habits and characteristics needed in servant leaders are detailed, that men may be taught, trained and disciplined to become self-disciplined servants of Christ. $5.00 plus s/h.

The Bible Foundations study is a unique course, designed to be used either as a study by mail or as a one-on-one study. Fourteen lessons stress the authority of the Bible, the authority of Christ, rightly dividing the word, what it means to obey the gospel, and Christ's church on earth today. Review questions are designed to lead to obedience to the gospel. $2.00 plus s/h. Unlimited reproduction rights are granted to teachers in programs who teach students in foreign countries. For more detailed information or to order, write to Allard Publications: eallard@juno.com

CHULA VISTA BOOKS

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.

We also send out used book lists from time to time. Unfortunately we do not have a catalog at present but invite your inquiries. If you would like to be on our mailing list, send us your email address.

Mark McWhorter, 420 Chula Vist Mtn Rd, Pell City AL 35125, Phone 205-338-1843

THE LORD'S WAY

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!

BOOKS WANTED

I would be interested in any preacher(s)'s libraries that are not in use. I promise to put any and all books to good use, either by myself, or other preachers or preaching students. Please don't let them sit in boxes out in the garage. I would gladly pay for postage, and if you require, I may be able to purchase them from you. Please call or email, Tim Smith at: (903) 935-7448; EMAIL.

CHRISTIAN, RELIGIOUS, HOMESCHOOL BOOKS AND MORE

Lebanon, TN Phone: 615/443-3643

JADE Books is a family-owned business; we sell books by faithful Christians, reference books, Bibles/covers, Bible materials, homeschool books and more. We extend discounts whenever we can, especially to preachers and preaching school students! Visit our web site; use a credit card on-line, e-mail or phone to order CLICK HERE.

THE CHRISTIAN HOMESITE

The Christian HomeSite offers free sites to any church of Christ congregation. Absolutely no charge to the congregation, unless a unique address is desired. This is a personal web ministry and I have never asked for any support. Currently, it is one of the biggest church of Christ sites and we're always looking for more good material. I think every congregation should have at least an info page on the net, so people can find them when desired. Here is a page with required info to have a site: Click Here Terry Collins.

"Storehouse of Treasure: A Collection of Biblical Articles"

by David Stewart
(minister, Southside church of Christ, Lawrence, KS)

"Storehouse of Treasure" is a 215 page paperback containing articles written on God, Jesus, the Bible, Salvation, the Church, the Family, and Christian Living. This book would make great devotional reading and study. Individual articles may be reprinted in non-profit publications such as church bulletins. The cost is $10 per book, plus shipping/handling. (Tax applies to sales made within Kansas.) To order, either call (785) 331-4195 or e-mail us at storehouse@gbronline.com.

SPIRITBUILDING.COM

To help build your spirit for the contest of life, try Spiritbuilding CDs and books. We carry a broad selection of wonderful accapella CDs and tapes in a variety of styles and plan to add contemperary uplifting music soon as well. We offer books on church growth, home and family, and gift books. We also carry thousands of items that are not presently listed. If you'd like to buy with a 10% discount under retail and no sales tax just email us your order.

We carry any material by Zondervan, Baker, Word publishing, Word Entertainment, Kirkbride, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Howard, Veggie Tales, and hundreds more. As well, we carry most material published by brethren today including class curriculum, home school curriculum, and commentaries. Check us out CLICK HERE.



HARD PREACHING
By Larry Ray Hafley

Recently, we sent some material to a brother in Kentucky. After expressing appreciation for the material, he made the following comment:

Our preaching is much too soft today, insofar as being afraid to call names in the pulpit. I remember well, about 35-40 years ago when I was a young Christian at Valley Station, KY, (near Louisville), a gospel preacher, whose name I have forgotten, preaching on the name that we should wear. He went to the three passages where "Christian" is used and he read these three, but substituted a denominational name, i.e., "The disciples were called Catholics first at Antioch...." "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Methodist"...." and "If any man suffer as a Baptist...." Obviously, this made a very big impression on ME that I would remember that all these years! When he was doing this, everyone in the audience seemed to let out a collective "gasp" and my wife and I looked at each other!

You know, it is sad, but I doubt that very many of today's gospel preachers would dare do such a thing during a sermon, and, if they did, there would be those members who would be highly critical of him for doing so!

This brother's comment is not a good sign! Of course, it is good that he made it, but it is sad that he is correct in his assessment of the attitude of many brethren toward preaching which is direct and to the point. "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech" (2 Cor. 3:12). "They spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Paul said, pray for me "that...I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:18-20).

Note the indicting, convicting nature of Bible preaching. Nathan to David with respect to his sin with Bathsheba--"Thou art the man" (2 Sam. 12:7). Jesus to the Pharisees–"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do" (Jn. 8:44). The apostles to those who killed Christ--"Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" him (Acts 2:23). Stephen to his murderers–"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51).

The enemies of truth, those who refused to repent, felt the force and power of plain gospel preaching. "Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood (Jesus' death) upon us" (Acts 5:28). "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also" (Acts 17:6). Idol makers cried, "Almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods which are made with hands" (Acts 19:26). These candid comments reveal the confrontational nature of New Testament preaching.

If preachers today are speaking "as the oracles of God," why should the same type of preaching be seen as unusual, uncommon, and amazing?

(Larry Ray Hafley is the evangelist for the Pruett and Lobit church of Christ in Baytown, Texas)


LINKS TO HELP MAKE YOUR DAY!

Wings of Hope

Traces of the Kingdom


BulletinGold Ezine


Secular Links of Value


Alabama's Scenic Byway


The Gospel Gazette Online


Household of Faith Ezine Archives


Massive # of study aids Links!


Huge List-Study Resources


Mathematics Of Salvation


Tony Horton cnlglfg.com

MUSINGS OF JOEL

More concerning the preaching on hell. There are at least 3 very legitimate motivating factors which should make every human on this earth desire to live a devout Christian life, pleasing to God.

First, and perhaps the most noble one and most pleasing to God, is because of reverence to Him as our creator, our benefactor, our sustainer who has established a means for low-life sinners like us to be rewarded with eternal life in glory with Him! He could just as easily have planned for our total annihilation just as the birds and animals of the earth.

Second, the joyous anticipation of eternity, infinity, living forever without pain, without being tired, without sorrow, sickness, tears or anything undesirable!! After a tour here, that should be extremely attractive to anyone.

Third, fear of everlasting punishment. There is nothing wrong with fearing eternity in hell. If anyone doesn't have that fear, they just don't believe the Bible. Nobody is so tough that they have no fear of something like that, nobody. The only way you can be unconcerned about it is if you just don't believe you are at risk of going there.

Take my word, unless you are a striving to live your very best as a Christian, you had better believe it. If you were like me, when I saw the events of September 11, 2001, my heart sank, it was an awesome, frightening, horrifying scene. But, if you think that was a nerve wracking event, wait until the day that every human, dead or alive, will hear the sound of a mighty trumpet, the sky will roll back like a scroll and there will appear the Lord Jesus Christ with a mighty host of angels descending towards the earth!

He won't set foot on the earth. Those who have lived faithfully for him and are dead, will rise first, whether they be in their graves, the seas, wherever.

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17) What a glorious thought!


WISHFUL THINKING
By Joel Hendon

As can be seen, I did not finish my musings above concerning this matter of hell. I have heard a goodly number of reasons or excuses why some won't accept the doctrine of an everlasting torment for the unrepentant sinner. Let me list a few of them for you:

(a) God is a loving God. He would never sentence anyone to such a fate.

(b) The physical body cannot survive in fire. It will be totally consumed.

(c) We will not have a physical body, the spirit would not be affected by fire.

(d) God is just. Hell as described in the Bible would be cruel and unusual punishment.

There are many more, but we cannot cover them all. People have absolutely talked themselves into believing such things as those statements. Wishing and hoping that they will turn out to be true. The problem is, they won't. The Bible very plainly refutes those statements above. Now either the Bible tells us lies or something is amiss here. They will say, "No, it is not a lie, only figurative language".

If you ask them how they know that, they can only give you more of the same unfounded reasons. But the real fact is that there may be some things we do not understand about these descriptions of hell. "Now", they will say, "you see, I'm right". Wrong!

Our finite minds are incapable of understanding the existance of the spirit without the physical body. I admit that I do not know how we will be able to see other spirits with our spirit eyes, and on and on. But I certainly believe that we will. And the point is, even if it turns out that literal fire would not have any effect upon the spirit and those sayings turned out to be figurative...It does not matter! If they are figurative, they are still given us as the nearest physical type of torment as can be compared with the spiritual. It assuredly does not mean that you will be reprieved.

If you believe that the eternal torment will be much less drastic than explained in the Bible, then the heavenly rewards would also probably be exaggerated? Perhaps instead of truly mansions, we will live in a hut with a leaky roof? Of course such thinking is absurd but is as realistic as attempting to lessen the everlasting punishment in hell. So those who would do so, just need to stop trying to talk themselves into being justified in their sins. They needd to admit them to God and correct them...TODAY!


ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOUTHEASTERN LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR CHRIST

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.

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE, SCOTTSBORO EXTENSION

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


PARTING SHOTS FROM JOEL
Nadine & Joel Hendon
I love being married... I was single for a long time and I just got so sick of finishing my own sentences.- Brian Kiley

Fatherhood is pretending that the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. - Bill Cosby

A little boy was overhead praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

May God bless his faithful children, wherever they are.




The Boy and the Filberts

A Boy put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him, "Be satisfied with half the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."

Do not attempt too much at once....Aesop



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Household of Faith Ezine is published every two weeks beginning in September, 2001. Materials in this are gleaned and compiled by the editor, Joel Hendon. Our purpose is to help present items of interest to New Testament Christians, to furnish a "meeting" place for Christians to help other Christians by doing business with them and for other such interaction.(...let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith. Gal 6: 10). To submit any messages, articles, ads, announcements or comments, Click Here.

Policies & Charges: Subscription to this ezine is free and may be started simply by requesting it via email to the above address. All members and congregations of the New Testament church of our Lord may submit announcements which will be published free. Classified advertisements, likewise, will be published free until further notice. If the volume of ads becomes overwhelming, a small charge may become necessary. Under no circumstances will charges be made without notification to subscribers. We reserve the right to decline to publish any article, announcement, ads, or other such materials for any reason such as limited space, anything considered undesirable from a Christian's point of view, or any other reason. It is very likely that we will receive many more articles than we will be able to run. All submissions should be kept as concise as practical.

Copyright © 2003 by Joel Hendon