Narrow-Mindedness

By Cecil F. Cox

Do you like narrow-minded people? I believe the majority of the people, if they answered that ques­tion honestly, would say "No!" Such an attitude re­flects the desire to preju­dice or belittle those who sincerely seek to go by the rules and laws in life. But I believe many of us appreci­ate narrow-minded people when we stop and really look at the facts. Check a few of these facts with me:

A pharmacist who fills the prescription according to the doctor's orders and not according to some ideas he may have.

The automobile driver who operates his vehicle according to the rules of the road in order to have a safe trip.

The builder who builds a house according to the blueprint. If he does, there will be no surprises as to the looks and proper function of the building.

The math teacher who insists on teaching ac­cording to the laws of mathematics.

The football (or base­ball, etc.) official who in­sists on calling the game according to the rules and not giving favors to one team or the other.

The chemist who insists on following the pre­scribed formulas viz. wa­ter is two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen.

We can see that a broadminded attitude has no place in these things and many others we could mention. There is no room at all for the attitude which suggests that one may change rules and laws to please his own desires.

With these comments in mind, we can see and appreciate the preacher who insists upon a "thus saith the Lord" and bases his sermons upon "book, chapter and verse." Sometimes such a one may be considered nar­row-minded. But such a tactic is used to prejudice the hearer against one who insists upon follow­ing the Word of God in all that is taught and prac­ticed in religion.

For example, one may insist that faith in Jesus Christ is essential to ever­lasting life, and gives John 3:16 as his proof. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only be­gotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever­lasting life." He teaches that one must repent of his sins and give Paul's words to the certain phi­losophers at Mars Hill, "Truly, these times of ignorance God over­looked, but now commands all men every­where to repent ... (Acts 17:30). He may also insist that a confession of that faith is "unto salvation," He cites Romans 10:9, 10 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto right­eousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." He also shows that one must be baptized for the remission of his sins. He gives 1 Peter 3:20, 21 for his proof.

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the re­moval of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resur­rection of Jesus Christ ..." Ananias told Saul of Tar­sus , "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." What are you going to say about such a one? Are you going to say he is "narrow-minded and by such seek to prejudice people against the word of God? I say, "Thank God for individuals who are determined not to follow their own rules in reli­gion. We do not need men who teach their own ideas and lead souls away from the will of God.

I wish to leave with you the words of Paul in Acts 20:32, "And now, breth­ren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." &

The Angels That Sinned

By Bob Myhan

To prove that “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:4-9), the apostle refers to three events:

1.                                                   “God did not spare the angels who sinned,”

2.                                                   He “did not spare the ancient world,” “but saved Noah” and seven others,

3.                                                   He turned “the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,” while delivering righteous Lot .

Inasmuch as certain angels sinned, they must have been under some law. There can be no sin where there is no law “for where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15).

Angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14), Therefore, their sin undoubtedly involved the refusal to minister in this capacity.

The angels who sinned and the devil’s angels (Matt. 25:41) are surely to be indentified as the same beings. They are also referred to as “demons” and are part of the devil’s kingdom (Matt. 12:22-29; Luke 11: 14-22). They evidently became his angels when they followed him in rebellion.

Their punishment was swift and severe. God “cast them down to hell and delivered them into (everlasting) chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). The word translated “hell” here is “tartarus,” and is elsewhere referred to as “torment” and “the abyss” (Luke 16:23; 8:31; Rom. 10:7)

Thus, sin did not originate with man but with the devil and his angels. Everlasting fire was prepared for them. It is the judgment for which they are reserved. The same fate will be suffered by those who fail to qualify for entrance into the kingdom “prepared ... from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:31-41). &

The Power of Example

By Ken Tyler

A fine lad entered the army. On the first night in the barracks when he went to bed, he faced a real test. At home, he had the habit of reading the Bible and kneeling down to pray before retiring. In the barracks, he was entirely surrounded by rough fellows. Many of them were cursing and joking loudly. The lad thought it might be wise to go to bed and read his Bible where nobody would notice him.

Then he thought and boldly decided, “I’m a Christian! I ought to be an example for Jesus before the fellows. I won’t pull down my colors. I will do here like I always did at home.” So he took out his Bible and read it. Then he knelt down to pray. The barracks became quiet. After a while the talk began again, but it was more subdued. No one said anything about the young soldier’s unusual behavior. The next night when he got out his Bible, eight other soldiers go out their Bibles.

Within a month every soldier in the barracks would have fought for the lad. They came to him with their questions and their troubles. May you and I have the same type of dedication and courage as this young soldier. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). & (Bulletin Digest, 844 Pine Street , Abilene , TX 79601 )