Going straight to the Cross
 
Wednesday, 1. September 2004

A Danger to Democracy

by Stan Mitchell

I ran across a survey recently that polled American leaders in business, politics, and the media. They were asked what groups constituted the "greatest danger to democracy" today. Fourteen percent fretted about the dangers posed by racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. Interesting, you might say. But here's the shocker.

Twenty-four percent said that they viewed Evangelical Christianity as a threat to democracy!

Allow that to filter through your thinking for a moment. Greater than power-hungry politicians, greater than the attempts of the Politically Correct to dictate, greater than a one-sided, eager to "educate" media, greater than those pathetic, hate-filled skinheads. Bible believing, conservative churches are a greater threat to democracy than these! Don't be afraid of media moguls who brainwash us with PC thinking; be afraid of a Gospel Preacher in a church Sunday morning, be afraid of churches that stand up for scripture. (The Williamsburg Charter Survey on Religion and Public Life, Washington DC, 1988).

What are they saying? What does this tell us?

To begin with, this sort of thing is as silly as Letterman after his bedtime. Conservative church groups are simply not a threat to democracy and free thinking. Curbing their right to enter public discussion, robbing their ability to express themselves, tearing the Ten Commandments off court walls, removing the very name God from our pledges and commitments –- now that would be a threat to democracy!

What it tells us is that the world is still, and relentlessly, the implacable foe of what is right and godly. Why are we surprised? Did we forget?

"Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12).

The threat they feel is not to their democracy, but to their deviance from God's will. The world has always hated that!

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Thinking of the Other in Marriage

by Don Ruhl

Watch an unmarried couple in love. It seems that they can only think of the other one. Then they marry and they can only think of themselves. Therefore, there are many teachings in the Scriptures, showing us that we must love one another. Interesting, is it not, that two people loved each other without anyone telling them that they had to love each other, then they get married and they have to be told to love one another!

 First Corinthians chapter seven has many teachings with this emphasis. For example, think on verse three.

 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband (1 Cor. 7:3, NKJV). 

 This is truly the theme of Christianity that we think of one another, how we may serve the other rather than how the other may serve me, and this emphasis continues when we go home. 

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

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Not By Works - Some May Need A Paradigm Shift (part 6)

by Barry Newton

He chose his words carefully. Standing next to me, the university professor made his case. It went something like this. If the Bible teaches that we can not be saved by works and if works involve doing something, then baptism can not be a part of salvation because baptism involves doing something.

My friend had failed to understand Paul. His difficulty was not that he lacked intelligence. Rather, by assuming a non-biblical definition of "works" he built his castle upon sand. For the moment, let's turn our gaze to another story.

Many years ago, a man was moved to apply pen to papyrus. God's people needed to be warned against a growing danger. It was imperative that they be reminded of what was true and taught about the path to follow. And so words regarding salvation spilled forth. "That I might be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith of Christ – the righteousness of God that is by faith."/1 And again, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."/2

This would be a familiar chord the early church would hear from Paul. The apostle forcefully argued the futility of trying to achieve one's own righteousness through living up to the standard of the Law./3 In principle, completing the works of the Law would give a person cause for boasting./4 In actuality, the Law could never result in anyone being declared righteous, for it reveals the sinful weakness of the flesh./5

Paul's pen continued to push forward. God in his grace had provided a different way for people to be declared righteous which would not take into consideration their unrighteous state. Those who would rely upon Jesus for salvation would be included in the body of Christ and declared righteous on account of Jesus./6 Thus, salvation would be gifted to those who trust in Jesus. There would be no need for anyone to earn his or her own righteousness.

When Paul wrote that salvation is by faith and not by works, was he setting "just believing" against "doing something"? Or was the apostle contrasting two competing paths by which people in his day were seeking to be justified –– trusting in Jesus verses the self-reliance of demonstrating one's own goodness? As previously noted in this series of articles, to trust in someone can demand a person to do something.

What's at stake in how someone responds? First, there is the matter of accurately understanding the intended message. Second, the practical difference between the two paradigms of "just believing vs. doing something" and "trust vs. meriting righteousness" is enormous. The first paradigm logically denies that baptism can play any role in being saved, while the second is perfectly compatible with affirming the necessity of baptism to be forgiven. In some situations, in order to trust in someone a person must do something. Can we know which understanding the apostle intended? Yep!

If when Paul penned "not by works," he had meant we receive salvation independent of doing anything, then scripture should not tie salvation to any form of obedient activity. If it does, we can know that Paul was not denouncing "doing something" but rather was rejecting all efforts of self-reliance.

Since statements about active obedience leading to salvation abound,/7 Paul's purpose in writing "not by works" involved rejecting those attempts to merit righteousness. For Paul, the preaching of the gospel which causes someone to come to faith in Christ involves obedience./8

Baptism does not reveal our righteousness, rather it is the prescribed faith response to Jesus whereby someone depends upon Christ for forgiveness! With immersion a person is trusting in Jesus for cleansing and inclusion into the people of God. Salvation is not by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

1/ Philippians 1:9 2/ Ephesians 2:8,9 3/ Galatians 2:16,21; Romans 3:21,22 4/ Romans 3:27,28; 4:2; Ephesians 2:9 5/ Romans 3:20; 5:21; 7:7,8; 8:3; Galatians 3:10,11 6/ Romans 3:22-25; 4:21-5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 7/ Hebrews 5:9; Romans 6;17,18; 1 Peter 1:22; Acts 2:38; 6:7; 22:16 8/ Romans 1:5; 16:25,26

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Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com.
by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM

How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM

Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name?


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM
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by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM

They Were His Servants


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM
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by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM

Having a Tender Heart


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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