"Carest Thou Not that We Perish?" (Part 1)

By George Hutto

Many of our friends are picking up the pieces of their lives after an EF-5 tornado devastated a couple of Franklin County towns. For many, the event is just another news story, fill with intrigue, but for some, life will never be the same. Three observations from the Word of God will help keep the things of life in proper place for those whose lives have been disturbed, and perhaps even bring the lost to the Lord, who once stilled a storm to demonstrate His power and concern (Mk. 4:38-41).

The Book of Job tells about a righteous man who suffered loss of not only his property and wealth, but also of his family.

"And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee" (Job 1).

This calamity was the result of the devil's work.

God subjects the world to evil, not because He is a sinister God, but because men and women have since the beginning turned their backs on Him. The tree of life is no longer among us, and there are thorns and thistles to remind us of the consequences of wrong.

However, the world is not altogether "God-forsaken," for God can surely be found through faith. Although Job could not understand why he suffered at the hand of Satan, he still had faith in God.

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord. in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job. 1:20-22).

The patient faithfulness of Job is profound, and expected of all those who seek God. (Jas. 5:11).

Jesus was asked by some about those unfortunate Galileans "whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices."

They thought perhaps that the tragedy happened because the sufferers' sins were worse than others' sins, but Jesus said:

"No, but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." He repeated the same statement concerning the individuals upon whom the tower of Siloam had fallen. (Lk. 13:1-5)

The Lord's point was that time and chance happen to us all. (Eccl. 9:11). Random acts of nature and of evil bring suffering to people. However, it is for sure that God expects everyone to repent of their sins. We live in a world where anything can happen, and the result is that evil things occur. The positive side of this fact is that men and women are free to choose between good and evil.

Every person is free to do good. &

Human Opinion VS the Bible (Part 1)

By Tim Haile

Religious division is not God’s fault, but man’s. The several hundred religious denominations that exist today sprang into existence, not as the result of what the Bible says, but as a result of what the Bible does not say. People have failed to limit themselves to what the Scriptures say. Rather than consult the infallible guide of Scripture, too many people have relied upon fallible human opinion. Over the years, various people have concocted their own systems of worship, their own styles and forms of religious expression, their own distinctive beliefs, identities, doctrines and religious exercises. This has resulted in the sinful state of division that exists today.

This divided condition should never have occurred, for Scripture is quite clear about the dangers of opinionism. Jeremiah said, “Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Yet, this is precisely what has happened in sectarian churches: They depart from the scriptural direction of a “thus-saith-the-Lord,” and they devise their own religious direction. Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Humans should not “lean upon” their “own understanding,” because their understanding is inferior to God’s – “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). By proposing and devising religious doctrine and practice, man presumes to know as much as God, and “presumption is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23). By substituting human opinion in place of Scripture, man elevates human reasoning to a level equal to or above that of divine reasoning. This type of arrogance will not result in salvation, for “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Some human religious theories may sound good on the surface. However, Solomon wrote, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Let us forever reject all human opinion in religion. &

Christian Liberty

By Bob Myhan

The fruit of the Spirit begins where the Christian graces end--with love. Why is this? It is probably because Peter is dealing with the Christian's character as he maintains separation from the world, while Paul is dealing with how Christians interact with one another (see Gal. 5:13). Thus, while Christian character, when in contrast to worldliness, culminates in love, Christians’ treatment of one other begins with love.

In Christ, “there is neither…slave nor free” (Gal. 3:28).

Whether one is a servant or a master, he has the same religious and spiritual obligations.

Everyone who is free in one sense is a slave in another sense.

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (Rom. 6:16-20)

Thus, whether a Christian has slaves (employees) or is a slave (employee), he is a servant of righteousness.

Those who try to bind the Law of Moses on Christians are “sons of the bondwoman” (Gal. 4:21-30), and are depriving themselves and others of “Christian freedom.” Freedom from the Law is not freedom from all law.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; (1 Cor. 9:19-21).

Faithful Christians are children of the freewoman, rather than children of the bondwoman (Gal. 4:31), and are therefore free themselves.

Christians are to “stand fast…in the liberty,” by refusing “to be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).

USING LIBERTY (Gal. 5:13)

Christians have been called to liberty.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:32-36).

But they should “not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.” “Liberty” is not a “license to sin.”

Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Cor. 8:4-13).

Again, “Not under the Law” does not mean “under no law” (1 Cor. 9:21).

Rather they should, “through love serve one another” (Matt. 22:39; Rom. 13:10).

REGULATING LIBERTY (Gal. 5:16-21)

Not even all things that are lawful are helpful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23). So how could unlawful things be helpful?

Warring “desires for pleasure” cause congregational strife (James 4:1).

If Christians “walk in the Spirit” these desires will not find fulfillment, and there will be no strife.

We “walk in the Spirit” and are “led by the Spirit” as we obey “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1-2).

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal. 5:22-23)

There is no law against the “fruit of the Spirit.” While it is the Spirit’s responsibility to produce the fruit, it is our responsibility to bear the fruit (Gal. 5:25). Thus, producing the fruit of the spirit is not a direct operation but an indirect operation of the Holy Spirit, as we allow ourselves to be influenced by the Spirit-inspired and Spirit-confirmed word of God (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Heb. 2:1-4). In other words, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in those branches that abide in the Vine (John 15:1-8). The fruit of the Spirit serves, not to overpower resisting wills, but to empower submissive souls to do that which is pleasing to God.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom. 8:3-8)

 If one is misusing, rather than properly using, “Christian liberty,” you really do not know what “Christian liberty” is all about. It is not about being free from restraint, because “freedom from restraint” is anarchy, and leads to congregational strife. It is about “freedom from sin,” including sin against brethren. If the Holy Spirit has not produced “the fruit of the Spirit” in your life, you might want to examine whether you “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). &