Greg Tidwell

"Two roads diverged in a wood," wrote Robert Frost in his well-loved poem, "And I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Often, in each of our lives, we see points of departure – decisions which, once taken, make a tremendous difference in the subsequent course of events. What is true of individuals is also true of churches. There are critical points of departure which make all the difference in the world.

Choosing a Road

In the late 1800s a Liberal spirit washed over American culture, and American religion drank deeply from this spring. The Social Gospel redirected the work of the church toward the demands of the community and away from the salvation of souls from an eternal hell.

The rise of higher education as a dominate force in American culture shaped American religion as well. The new sciences of Psychology and Sociology coupled with Darwin's theories of Evolution made the simple faith in Scripture seem hopelessly passé.

The vast majority of American churches embraced the spirit of the age, and none more enthusiastically than the Christian Church. Since the academic community disparaged the truth of Scripture, the Christian Church abandoned confidence in the text. Since the broader community demanded socially relevant worship, the Christian Church obliged introducing various innovations. The Christian Church was the essential community church – trendy, sharp, and in step with the world around them.

The churches of Christ, however, chose the road less traveled. While the world around us called for innovation, the churches of Christ held to Restoration. While the world around us sought a religion which was therapeutic, the churches of Christ offered a religion of repentance. While the world around us sought to reduce the Bible to comply with current academic theories, the churches of Christ rejected any claim to truth which does not comply with the text of Scripture.

For the better part of the twentieth century the churches of Christ stayed on this road with fidelity, and God blessed us in His path. Then, beginning about 1980, things began to change.

We've Been Here Before

Over the past two decades an increasing number of Christian colleges, congregations, and church leaders have left the old path to go down the well-traveled road the Christian Church denomination embraced years ago.

The Community Church Movement has pursued an unrelenting agenda replete with debauched doctrine and deviant practices. Making community relevance their standard, they compromised their allegiance to the authority of Scripture in every way imaginable.

Increasingly, the Community Church Movement has sought unity with other religions. Most prominently have been their overtures to Christian Churches. This desire for unity with the Christian Churches should not surprise us. The Community Church Movement among churches of Christ denies the authority of Scripture to regulate what happens in worship. Why shouldn't they want the company of those who chose this well-traveled road decades before?

As Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13,14, ESV). The road we choose will make all the difference.

by Tim Hall

"You became examples ... in every place." That statement from the Bible could have been spoken of many individuals. The deeds and words of people like Noah, Abraham, Deborah and John continue to inspire us, though they lived long ago. But the words we've quoted were not spoken of anyone so famous as these. They were spoken by Paul to the Christians at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:7,8, NKJV).

What is it about these relatively unknown believers that serves as an example for us? One trait highlighted by the apostle was their joy, a joy that overcame strong forces trying to pull them from their newfound faith. Consider this passage: "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit" (v. 6). Read that verse again and take note of the contrasting ideas. On the one hand, they received the gospel in the midst of persecution and affliction. Pressure from their peers attempted to discourage them from becoming Christians. In spite of that affliction, however, they received the message of Jesus Christ with joy. That joy must have been powerful.

The power of their joy is again suggested in verse 9 when Paul wrote that "you turned to God from idols." Idolatry was their culture. Many had been raised in that context, and shutting the door on their heritage would not be an easy decision. How did they do it? Joy -- overwhelming joy -- furnished the ability to choose Christ over idols.

Where did they find such joy? Paul wrote, "... how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come" (vv. 9,10). Note three sources of joy mentioned by Paul, and how they all revolve around Jesus.

First, there is the deliverance of Jesus, "who delivers us from the wrath to come." Why was the death of the Son of God necessary? The Bible reveals it was part of God's plan for atonement. Only a perfect sacrifice could atone for the world's sins, and only Jesus' life was perfectly lived on earth. To know that he was willing to pay that price for us ought to make us glad (even while feeling sadness for making his death necessary).

Second, there is the resurrection of Jesus "whom He raised from the dead." Has there ever been a story so stirring and so hope-filled as that of the empty tomb? To know that Jesus conquered death and that his victory has ramifications for our mortality (see Hebrews 2:14,15) should evoke joy in our hearts. Those who don't rejoice over this message don't yet understand it fully. That joy has the ability to burn perpetually.

Third, Paul points to our future with Jesus; that's why we "wait for His Son from heaven." The fact that these Christians were waiting shows their hope for a brighter future. A day was coming in which their afflictions would cease and their companionship with Jesus would be direct. Again, it's reason to rejoice, and these Thessalonian Christians did.

Those three aspects of Jesus' ministry -- his atonement for our sins, his defeat of death and his sure return -- are still as true today as they were then. Understanding and meditating upon each will still kindle joy in the believer's heart. And that joy will still give power.

Yes, these Thessalonian Christians are examples for all times. A life without joy is deficient in power.

by Mike Benson

Not everybody in the first century wanted to hear what the apostle Paul had to say. Many, in fact, were in such opposition to the gospel that they went out of their way to hinder its proclamation. Persecution, in its various forms, often followed Paul's evangelistic endeavors. For instance, when he and Barnabas preached in Antioch on their first missionary tour, Scripture says, "...The Jews...were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 14:45). Of course this antagonism didn't stop here; verbal opposition was followed by physical expulsion. "But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region" (Acts 14:50).

From Antioch, the two men made their way to Iconium, but once again they were met with strong resistance. "...The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren...But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled ..." (Acts 14:3,4,5).

When the pair started their work in Lystra, persecution took a decidedly brutal form. "Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead" (Acts 14:19). In his commentary to young Timothy, Paul recalled his experiences during those trying days. He spoke of, "Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me" (2 Timothy 3:11). Indeed, had it not been for the Lord's providential care, Paul would have perished at the hands of his Jewish antagonists.

Derbe was next on their mission route. Thankfully, the team was spared any difficulty there and their efforts proved fruitful (cf. Acts 20:4). But then, Paul and Barnabas made a curious "turnaround" and went right back to those very cities where they had encountered such intense opposition. Luke records, "And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch" (Acts 14:21). They what?! Returned?! The first time I read that sentence I had to stifle a laugh. Why would Paul and Barnabas deliberately retrace their steps in lieu of the hostile Jews and the painful experiences they had faced in those three cities?! (Had they simply pushed forward, in a week or so they could have arrived in Paul's home town of Tarsus. That would have certainly been a much safer and more pleasant environment for these missionaries).

The answer is found in the following verse. Don't miss it. "Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God'" (Acts 14:22). Based on their reception in the aforementioned cities, Paul and Barnabas knew what their fellow saints would, no doubt, be facing. With that in mind, they went back for the purpose of enhancing the faith of those new converts. Despite the danger of further reprisal, the team went back to strengthen and exhort the disciples. The Greek word for strengthening means "to make firm"./1 Likewise, the original word for exhorting means "to encourage" and was used of exhorting troops who were about to go into battle./2 Lenski comments:

"Beginners who have not been made firm as yet are in danger of falling away (cf. Matthew 13:20,21-mb). A good beginning is a great achievement, but a good continuation is its normal and essential result. Conversion must pass on to preservation."/3