This Issue...
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
Stephen Wiggins
The first recorded sermon Jesus preached is commonly known
as the Sermon on the Mount. Within, the Savior made the following
statement, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves”
(Matt. 7:15). The Master warned his followers to exercise
perception with regard to false teachers in view of their
insidious nature and the disastrous influence which they exert in
the spiritual realm.
The same warning must be heeded today by God’s
people. With the current proliferation of religious error
disseminated throughout the land, multiplied millions are misled
as it pertains to the truth of God.
What follows is an exegetical analysis of the passage
just quoted. Hopefully, knowledge of what our Lord articulates
will heighten our appreciation for the great privilege and
responsibility we have in detecting and exposing those who bring
about the spiritual detriment of others through their religious
error.
BEWARE
The full force of this opening term is not entirely unpacked
by translation. One does not get the initial impression from the
English text that Jesus is relating a command which demands
persistent and continuous action. Yet, this is exactly what he
conveys. The term “beware” translates a word in the
imperative mood. By far the most common means of relating a
command in the New Testament is with an imperative form (Stanley
Porter, Idioms of the Greek New Testament, 221). When the
Savior instructs us to be aware of pseudo religious teachers, he
is not making a mere suggestion. No option is here given of which
one has the convenience of choosing an alternate course; at least
not if one is intent on living in obedience to the Master. A
command within the biblical context always sets forth a duty of
which one is obligated to obey. No divine mandate should ever be
taken lightly nor ignored. This one is no exception.
The present tense of the imperative relates an
ongoing activity which is not discharged with a one-time or
irregular effort. Greek tense in non-indicative moods does not
primarily convey time (this is secondary if present at
all) but rather aspect or how the verbal action unfolds.
The kind of action often conveyed by the present tense is
continuous or habitual activity. It is the progressive notion of
an event. That is what is related here by the use of the present
imperative. Technically, it may be identified as the
“customary” present that signals an action which
customarily or regularly occurs (Daniel Wallace, Greek
Grammar: Exegetical Syntax, 521). The significance here is
that Jesus commands the disciples to be on constant, habitual
alert as it pertains to their exercising discernment in detecting
false teachers. It is obeyed only by persistent effort on our
part.
Lexical sources define the term translated
“beware” as to turn one’s mind to, to fix one’s
attention upon, to give heed (Rogers/Rogers, 16). In this context
it carries the idea of being on guard, on alert, and attentive to
potential dangers which lurk in the form of spiritual predators.
Jesus uses the term ten times during his preaching, always in the
sense of putting his disciples on alert for some aberrant
religious practice or doctrine which has the capacity to bring
about one’s spiritual demise. For example, he later employs
the term with the same imperative form when cautioning the
apostles to be on guard against the leaven of the Jewish
leaders, i.e., their errant doctrines (Matt. 16:6,12).
PSEUDO PROPHETS
The phrase “false prophets” translates only one term
in the original, albeit a compound term. The word “false”
renders the prefix pseudo which relates the concept of
bogus or counterfeit. A pseudo prophet is a pretender, one
who falsely claims to speak for God. Peter attaches the same
prefix to the terms “prophet” and “teacher”
demonstrating that the “ pseudo prophet” and the
“ pseudo teacher” are synonymous (2 Peter 2:1).
One source defines this latter term as a quack teacher,
that is, “someone in the Christian community who pretends to
be a qualified instructor, but whose teaching is contrary to the
generally accepted tradition” (BDAG, 1096). Paul prefixes the
same term to “apostle” to identify the pseudo
apostles who feign themselves as apostles of Christ but really
are deceitful pawns under the influence of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13;
cf. Rev. 2:2). In yet another place he reminds us that there is
such a thing as pseudo brethren who seek to corrupt the
purity of the Gospel (Gal. 2:4-5).
The Septuagint [earliest Greek translation of the
Hebrew Scriptures (250 B.C.)] exerted wide influence with first
century Jews. Its terminology would have been familiar with those
of Jesus’ audience, including the concept of a
pseudo-prophet. The term occurs ten times in that version,
once by Zechariah and every other time in Jeremiah. According to
Jeremiah it is the pseudo-prophet who produces lies (6:13); and,
along with the priests, pronounced a sentence of death upon him
because of his proclamation of the truth (33:6-16); they
repudiated the words of the inspired prophet and denied that
Babylonian captivity was imminent (34:9; 35:1); further, it was
God who pled with the people through Jeremiah not to be misled by
the false words of the pseudo-prophets (36:1,8). Finally, the
Lord anticipated the day when all pseudo-prophets would be
banished from the land (Zech. 13:2). When Jesus used this exact
same term in his preaching, it is not without reason to suppose
that those in his audience called to mind these events from the
prophetic books.
Jesus employs the word pseudo-prophets a total
of five times in the Gospel accounts. A key term which occurs
within these contexts is the word “many.” His reference
to the “ many pseudo-prophets” who “shall
arise and lead many astray” (Matt. 24:11) anticipates
the situation later during the first century — “Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are
of God; because many pseudo-prophets are gone out into the
world” (1 John 4:1). The many pseudo-prophets from
these two passages, in turn, anticipates the many who,
after finding themselves barred from the heavenly kingdom, are
portrayed as arguing with the Lord on the judgment day: “
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy by thy name...” (Matt. 7:22). The
pseudo-prophets Jesus warns of in Matthew 7:15 are the
many counterfeits who claimed to prophesy for the Lord yet
are denied access into heaven. Contextually, it is these
many false prophets who helped guide the many down
the broad and wide way leading to eternal destruction just two
verses earlier (7:13-14). The point seems clear: those few
(the minority of the human race) intent on following the strait
and narrow way which leads to heaven must be on the alert for
those many bogus prophets pretending to speak for God as
they are leading the many (the majority of the human race)
straight to hell.
WHO COME TO YOU
Way too many commentators are preoccupied with identifying
specifically who Jesus has in mind when he references the
pseudo-prophets. But this absorption with identity is to obscure
the very principle our Lord makes. First, contextually, the false
prophets are not identified as to specifically who they are or
what they teach. Second, grammatically, the “who” is a
relative pronoun which is indefinite. It simply conveys the
thought that whoever or everyone who comes to you
as an imposter is included. The generic pronoun references any
unspecified person belonging to the class of false teachers. The
use here emphasizes a characteristic quality rather than identify
a particular person or persons (BDAG, 729). The point is that
anyone who comes to the disciples pretending to speak the truth
of God, but in fact does not, is to be identified as a
pseudo-prophet. In short, it makes no difference who it may be or
what generation of humanity they are teaching, whether it takes
place in the first century or the twenty-first century. Nor does
it matter as to their brand of error. If their doctrine is not in
compliance with the revelation of God’s inspired word, then
it is false and those who propagate that error are false
teachers. Keep in mind that a false doctrine, within the context
of which I here speak, is nothing more or less than a religious
message which the Bible does not substantiate or authorize. All
religious teaching is to be examined and approved in light of
God’s word.
With a verb in the present tense followed by a
preposition which has directional force, it is significant that
Jesus describes these pseudo-prophets as “coming toward”
the disciples (Stanley Porter, Idioms of the Greek New
Testament, 172). The picture is that of false teachers
advancing forward as they approach God’s people with ulterior
motives. The apostle John uses the same verb coupled with the
same preposition in view of the false teachers who refuse to
abide in the doctrine of Christ seeking out and advancing toward
the saints (“If anyone comes unto you...;” 2 John
10). Paul employs a future tense of the same verb in anticipation
of grievous wolves that he says “ shall enter in among
you” (Acts 20:29). False teachers always gravitate toward the
faithful. It is their nature to do so.
The lesson to be appreciated is this: False teachers do
not have to be sought out. They do not have to be trained,
cultivated, or encouraged to accomplish their dastardly deeds.
They are just here like they always have been and always will be
this side of eternity; and they conveniently make themselves
available wherever God’s people reside. This is the essence
of false teachers. Their directional and aggressive mode of
operation must be underscored. Jesus says they will
“arise” so as to lead astray, if possible, the very elect
of God (Matt. 24:24). Many of them have “gone forth” into
the world (1 John 4:1) where they infiltrate the ranks of
faithful brethren to “privily bring in destructive
heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). Has one ever wondered why
theological liberals like Rubel Shelly rarely ever leave the
churches of Christ for some other religious fellowship where
their doctrinal aberrations would more likely be embraced?
Answer: because it is not in their nature to do so.
Pseudo-prophets always gravitate toward and seek to remain among
the faithful to disseminate their error, not away from them.
SHEEP’S CLOTHING
The pseudo-prophet advances toward God’s people “in
clothing of sheep.” One’s understanding of the false
prophet’s disguise must take into consideration that sheep is
a prominent metaphor in both Old and New Testaments for God’s
people (Psa. 78:52; 100:3; Heb. 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25). The figure
Jesus utilizes here is intended to underscore the deceptive
nature of the false prophet. A draped over sheepskin covers his
true identity. He looks like a sheep. He smells like a sheep. He
acts like a sheep. He may periodically sound like a sheep. He
wants everyone to think he is a pious sheep and a part of the
flock just like everybody else.
Externally, he gives every appearance of promoting
authentic Christianity in both word and deed. False teachers may
and often do have pleasant and pleasing personalities. He may be
educated, articulate, and even handsome. He may exhibit a
benevolent or outward show of concern for the physical welfare of
others. But God teaches us not to be surprised over the fact that
deceitful preachers will cunningly portray themselves as
righteous men: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful
workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no
marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.
It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion
themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:13-15, ASV).
The point is that the false teacher appears harmless
and guileless like the rest of God’s faithful saints. They
appear as sincere and genuine Christians but hide their true
intentions under a cloak of spirituality. They masquerade as
something they are really not. Without this deceptive ploy, their
mode of operation cannot be successful. They will never
announce to the congregation that they are false teachers. They
will never purposely make known their true intentions to
the brotherhood. This is what makes them all the more dangerous.
Superficially, they look and act like a devoted member of the
Lord’s church. They portray themselves as genuine Christians.
What Jesus wants us to know is that preachers cannot always be
taken at face value, especially since they claim to speak for
God. Discrimination must be employed. Our salvation depends on
it.
RAVENING WOLVES
The wolf is a natural predator of sheep. Thus, how fitting
within the biblical context for false teachers to be portrayed
under the metaphor of wolves (Ezek. 22:27-28; Zeph. 3:3-4; Acts
20:29). As a wolf is a mortal enemy of sheep, so it is the false
teacher must be considered as a mortal enemy to the spiritual
welfare of God’s people. Jesus depicts false teachers as
“ravening” wolves. The term refers to that which is
destructively vicious (Louw/Nida, 229). The fact that the
false prophet is “inwardly” so is to underscore once
again the outward, deceptive appearance of what everyone
perceives as a pious preacher. This latter term is an adverb of
place and here refers to the inner part of a person as the source
of his thoughts and behavior (Louw/Nida, 321). Jesus uses the
term again in describing the corrupt religious leaders of his day
who “outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly
you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt. 23:28).
This is just like false prophets. They outwardly
appear one way but inwardly are completely different than
what people normally perceive. And yet it is possible to detect
these pseudo prophets and expose their hypocrisy. This disclosure
is not, however, by some magical insight into their minds or
inner nature but — “By their fruits you shall know
them” (v.16). Their teaching must be evaluated in light of
God’s word. This is why the Master so plainly set forth the
warning for God’s people to be on constant guard for such
deceptive tactics of men. To fail in this regard is to our own
spiritual detriment.
My paraphrastic translation of Matthew 7:15, which is
intended to purposefully reflect the verbal tenses and nuances of
my grammatical analysis, is as follows: I command you to be
constantly on alert for counterfeit prophets who advance toward
you pretending on the outside to look like harmless sheep but in
reality on the inside they are like destructive and predatory
wolves who seek to devour the flock of God’s people.
105 East Planters
San Augustine, TX 75972
Table of Contents
Editorial...
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
ARE BOTH ALIKE #1
Garland M. Robinson
God the Father, Jehovah, Yahweh, Deity, is in heaven above.
As a matter of fact, He is everywhere. He is not limited to a
specific location. God, more specifically the WORD (cf. John
1:1-3; Col. 1:13-18), is the one that made all “places”
that exist. That is, He is the creator of physical (material)
matter and the space it occupies. Since He is the originator and
sustainer, the one who balances and keeps “in check” the
material universe by upholding it with the word of His power (cf.
Heb. 1:3), He is not bound or limited by that which He created.
He is the one that caused it to exist!
The nature of God is an important topic. There are
three distinct characteristics that deity possesses:
1) God is Omnipotent. He is ALL POWERFUL.
Nothing is too great for Him. Nothing can overpower Him. He is
not bound nor limited in His power. Nothing is more powerful than
He.
2) God is Omnipresent. He is EVERYWHERE. No
place exists that He is not there. There’s no place that man
can hide from God.
3) God is Omniscient. He is ALL KNOWING. Nothing
escapes His notice or knowledge. He sees all and observes all.
It is this third characteristic about which our lesson
is concerned. The Bible is filled with passages informing us of
God’s omniscience. He sees our actions — literally
everything we do. He is well aware of our affairs. The text for
this lesson declares it sufficiently. Psalms 139:1-12,
1LORD, thou hast searched me, and known
[me]. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine
uprising, thou understandest my thought afar
off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying
down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
4For [there is] not a word in my tongue,
[but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it
altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and
before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6[Such]
knowledge [is] too wonderful for me; it is
high, I cannot [attain] unto it. 7Whither
shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall
I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up
into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my
bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. 9[If]
I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell
in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even
there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right
hand shall hold me. 11If I say, Surely the
darkness shall cover me; even the night shall
be light about me. 12Yea, the darkness hideth
not from thee; but the night shineth as the
day: the darkness and the light [are] both
alike [to thee].
The 139th Psalm is a great highlight and bastion of
truth. It will humble every soul that reads and/or hears its
lines and in turn gives thoughtful consideration to it. All pale
and sink into utter oblivion when they ponder its sublime
contents.
We need light in order to see. Without it, there is no
sight. Without the sun reflecting its light off the moon, we
would not behold its beauty and amazement. Beauty and/or ugliness
may be right in front of us, but without light we cannot
recognize either. Standing before us may be something that would
bring great joy or perhaps something that would cause great fear,
but in the absence of light we cannot see it.
God does not need light to see. He has no trouble
seeing in utter darkness. He is not limited or bound by the
absence of light. Verse 12 of Psalm 139 makes it plain that with
God, “...the night shineth as the day: the darkness and
the light are both alike...” unto Him.
CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD
Almost without exception, men seek the cover of darkness to
work their evil deeds. Jesus said, “And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil” (John 3:19). There are even some who are so
arrogant and brazen in their wickedness that they do not wait for
the cover of darkness. They do their despicable deed in broad day
light. Shame unto them and all that love their ways!
Sinful men do not want the light — the truth of
God. They don’t want to be discovered and brought to justice.
They love evil. “Therefore they say unto God, Depart from
us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways” (Job
21:14). “They are of those that rebel against the light;
they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths
thereof” (Job 24:13). “They know not, neither will
they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of
the earth are out of course” (Psalm 82:5).
The wise man Solomon speaks of men “who leave
the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of
darkness” (Prov. 2:13). “And say, How have I hated
instruction, and my heart despised reproof” (Prov. 5:12).
Sin entered into the world very early in man’s
existence. One of the first things Adam and Eve did after
eating the forbidden fruit was to hide themselves from God.
Genesis 3:8 says, “...they heard the voice of the LORD God
walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his
wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the
trees of the garden.” They found out that you cannot hide
from Jehovah. Literally everything is in plain view in His sight.
This great principle is stated in Numbers 32:23, “...be
sure your sin will find you out.”
Achan tried to hide his evil act of taking
spoils out of Jericho. His deed was discovered after Israel’s
3,000 men fled from the battle of Ai which was defended by only a
few men (Josh. 7:4). Achan sought to justify his actions saying,
“When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment,
and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty
shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold,
they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the
silver under it” (Josh. 7:21). He could have buried these
vanities deeper than man can dig, but they would not be hidden
from God’s sight. God knew what he had done and exposed him
for it.
Potiphar’s wife thought she could hide her
wicked plans of adultery with Joseph. She begged him day after
day, but he refused. She made it so that on one occasion when
Joseph came to the house to do his business that none of the men
were there. She and Joseph were all alone. She took hold of him
and would have had her way with him but he ran away leaving his
garment in her hands. Genesis 39:9 says he had told her,
“...how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God.” She thought no one would know, it was just
the two of them, but Joseph knew that God would know. Nothing is
hidden from His sight! Adultery is a great sin against God. It
cannot be hidden.
David tried desperately to hide his adultery
with Bathsheba by calling her husband home from battle. But when
Uriah did not cooperate with David’s plan, David had him put
in the forefront of the battle and he was killed. Thinking no one
would be the wiser concerning what he had done, David took
Bathsheba to be his wife (2 Sam. 11). The Lord revealed
David’s deed to Nathan the prophet and David was caught. Be
sure your sin will find you out. If not in this life, it
certainly will in the life to come.
The wickedness of far-off Nineveh, a Gentile
city, was readily known by God. Jonah was dispatched to preach to
them of their impending doom. Jonah did not want the city to hear
the word of the Lord. He was afraid they would repent and God
would spare them, which is what they did (cf. Jon. 3:10-4:2). He
tried to escape the command of God so he “...rose up to
flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down
to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the
fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto
Tarshish from the presence of the LORD” (Jon. 1:3;
Tarshish was in the opposite direction of Nineveh). Though he
sought to hide himself in the deepest recesses of the ship,
Jonah’s presence was fully known to Jehovah. A great storm
arose on the sea, the mariners sought desperately to save
themselves, but ultimately threw Jonah overboard. Jonah sank down
into the depths of the sea but God knew where he was. He was not
hidden. There is no indication the shipmen ever saw Jonah again
once they cast him out. He perished out of their sight, but not
out of the sight of God. The great fish God had prepared
swallowed Jonah and God kept him alive. The omniscience of God is
proved beyond question by this historical account of Jonah.
Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira,
sold a piece of property and lied about their giving. They
thought no one would be the wiser. They coveted the honor and
praise they would receive when others learned of their generous
gift. But God knew what they both had conspired to do and then
went before the apostles and carried out their devious plan. They
paid for their wicked deed with their very lives that same day.
Their souls even now have regretted a countless number of times
over that they could go back and undo their deed. But, it’s
too late!
How foolish men are when they seek to hide their deeds
from the Lord. In Jeremiah 23:24 we read, “Can any hide
himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the
LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD?”
Another clear proof of God’s all-seeing eye is Amos 9:3:
“And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I
will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from
my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the
serpent, and he shall bite them.”
Isaiah 29:15 says, “Woe unto them that seek deep
to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the
dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?”
Job said, “[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves”
(34:22). “For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways: they
are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine
eyes” (Jer. 16:17).
God sees. God knows. God keeps count. God remembers.
God rewards. “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he
knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with
him” (Dan. 2:22). “...The thing that is hid
bringeth he forth to light” (Job 28:11). “O God,
thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from
thee” (Psalm 69:5). “My substance was not hid from
thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth” (Psalm 139:15). “Why
sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from
the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God”
(Isa. 40:27)? “For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways:
they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from
mine eyes” (Jer. 16:17).
Are YOU trying to hide from God? It can’t be done!
Table of Contents
HOW DO WE HEAR?
We are warned in Scripture to take heed what we hear
(Mark 4:24) and how we hear (Luke 8:18). We may not always
be able to control everything that might fall on our ears, but
much of it we can. And, whatever we do hear we can take care how
we hear, that is, what effect it might have on us. We can use
self-control and self-discipline regarding our reactions to such
things. But do we hear any better than the next fellow? What I am
asking is whether we pay any attention to what we hear more than
others even when we hear the Gospel truth of Jesus Christ? Do we
respond any more favorable before God than those who reject His
Word altogether?
Yes, most would say they hear better when it comes to
hearing God’s Word. We often criticize those in religious
error for just not paying real attention to the revealed truth.
This criticism is justly given. But when I hear the command to
“assemble faithfully” being taught, and see brothers and
sisters act as if such a command was never given, it does make
one wonder how we hear.
—James W. Boyd
2720 S Chancery St.
McMinnville, TN 37110
Table of Contents
LET US SHOW RESPECT FOR GOD
IN OUR WORSHIP ASSEMBLIES
Roger D. Campbell
Following the death of Abihu and Nadab, two sons of Aaron
who were killed for offering fire which the Lord had not
commanded them, God said, “I will be sanctified in them
that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be
glorified...” (Lev. 10:1-3). That whole scenario
convinces me that worshipping the God of heaven is a serious
activity that requires each worshipper to be holy and prepared to
glorify Him properly. Do you not agree? Surely no child of God
doubts the fact that He is worthy to be praised. The throne-scene
in Revelation 4 shows elders praising God Almighty with these
words: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created” (4:11).
In the Book of Psalms, we also read, “O come,
let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our
maker” (Psalm 95:6).
In this article, we want to offer some practical
observations and reminders about our worship assemblies. God
wants us to be true worshippers, that is, those who offer true
worship to Him (John 4:23). One aspect of God-pleasing worship is
that it is offered “in spirit” (John 4:23,24).
When worship is offered “in spirit,” it is presented with
a proper attitude, a proper focus, a proper motive, and comes
sincerely from the heart. The Master spoke of those who honor God
with their lips, but their heart is far from Him (Mark 7:6). If
you and I have proper reverence for God, then when we praise Him
with spiritual songs, speak to Him in prayers, or take part in
any other act of worship, we focus on what we are thinking,
saying, and doing — it comes from the heart.
Another manner in which we show our respect for God in
a worship gathering is by showing respect for His word. Show me a
person that does not respect what God says, and I’ll show you
a person (that same one!) that really does not respect God (Luke
6:46).
How is reverence for God’s word connected with
worship?
1) We must have respect for the Bible’s
instructions about worship itself. Since true worship is offered
“in truth,” it is in harmony with what God’s
truth says (John 4:24; 17:17). That means I ought to care about
what the Bible says about worship. Only that which is authorized
by the Lord is allowed in worship (Col. 3:17). Making additions
to the God-designated worship revealed in the New Testament
brings condemnation on those who do the adding.
2) We must show respect for God’s word by listening
reverently when it is proclaimed faithfully. When Ezra opened and
read from God’s word, the Jews that were assembled with him
stood up and remained standing and listening for hours (Ezra
8:1-9:3). What respect!
3) We must show reverence for God in worship by trying
to maintain a serious, reverent atmosphere. I do not mean
that we ought to refrain from smiling or act like lifeless
robots. But, we should care about proper “worship
decorum.” Such calls on each member of the Lord’s body to
help create and maintain an atmosphere in which every single one
of us can focus on the worship that we are offering. We must do
everything within our power to keep distractions at a minimum.
Why? Because they hinder us from keeping our attention on
praising, honoring, and glorifying Jehovah.
What sort of distractions commonly plague modern-day
assemblies?
One is playing with or making faces at babies or small
children that are seated close to us. Those who do that are
certainly not focused on the One on the throne in heaven, and
their immature gesturing adversely affects others that observe
them.
A second form of distraction is carrying on
conversations with those sitting near us. Brothers and sisters,
this has to cease! From the first words spoken in a worship
assembly to the end of the closing prayer, there is no place for
you or me to “chat” with another person in the assembly.
Those who do so are coming before the throne of the Almighty with
a flippant, irreverent attitude. How can a brother in the Lord be
joking around with others during the sermon or singing, then
afterwards come forward to lead the Lord’s supper or a
prayer?! Before God it must be an abomination.
Now we come to a 21st-century distraction in worship
that our brethren of past generations did not have to face. What
is it? It is the “all-important” cell phone. You know,
the device that even a 13-year old cannot seem to do without for
two hours of Bible class and worship! I would like to go through
at least one Bible class or worship assembly this year without
having someone’s cell phone ring. Can we accomplish that this
year, brethren? Is it asking too much to be focused on the
God of heaven?! Know this: if your phone rings during an
assembly, it is not the Lord calling you! Because God does not
call on cell phones, then whoever wants to contact me can just
wait until after services are over.
I recall one worship assembly in which I watched in
horror as the teenage child of a deacon played on her cell phone
and sent messages on it. Where were her proud parents? Sitting
right beside her. Please, leave the thing outside the building or
else turn it to a setting where it makes no noise and does not
distract you.
As for me and my house, when we go to worship, we plan
to be there and ready to praise God before the first word of the
assembly is spoken. And, we intend to stay through the final
“Amen.” At our house we call that respect for God —
giving Him our heart for the whole assembly and not just part of
it.
120 Will Lewis Dr. SE
Cleveland, TN 37323
Table of Contents
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
John D. Cotham
Names have always been important. Common sense tells us that
without names of items, places, animals, or people we would be at
a loss for identification. There is another reason —
self-esteem! Any husband wants his wife to ware his name. What
parent would be pleased if their child wanted to carry a
neighbor’s last name?
Names have always been important to God and His people:
“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and
called their name Adam, in the day when they were created”
(Gen. 5:2). God knew Moses by name: “And the LORD said unto
Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou
hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name”
(Exodus 33:17). The Lord knows us by name today: “But he that
entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the
porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his
own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:2-3).
Names are so important to God that He prophesied a new
name for His people under the new covenant: “Even unto them
will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name
better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an
everlasting name, that shall not be cut off” (Isa. 56:5).
“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings
thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the
mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isa. 62:2). That new name
would be “Christian.” “...The disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Only God had the
right to give His people that name. No one has a right to that
name without becoming a child of God.
God’s people are also known by several other names:
1) Disciples — Acts 11:26, 2) Saints —
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
theirs and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2), 3) Brethren —
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1),
4) Believers — “And believers were the more added
to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:14),
and 5) Children of God — “For ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26).
God gave certain names for His people as a collective
group: 1) the church — “Praising God, and having
favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). 2) the
body — “And he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18), 3) the
whole family — “Of whom the whole family in heaven
and earth is named” (Eph. 3:15), 4) the household of
God — “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the
household of God” (Eph. 2:19), 5) the church of God
— “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood” (Acts 20:28), 6) the body of Christ —
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be
the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).
One of the most important names for God’s people is
one which declares it to be the possession of Christ Himself. The
church (the body) is literally called the church of
Christ. “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The
churches of Christ salute you” (Rom. 16:16). Of all the
names, this would seem the most pertinent. This name of all names
shows the relationship of Christ to His church. He bought it:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood” (Acts 20:28). He paid dearly for it — His own
life’s blood! Peter reminds us: “Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were not redeemed (bought) with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1
Peter 1:18-19).
Nowhere in God’s word do we find the names of most
religious bodies of today; names such as: Baptist, Methodist,
Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal, the Lord’s
Chapel, the House of Prayer, and the list goes on and on. All
these are a mockery of Christ’s church. Names are important
to God. He gave only those He approves, and he did not name any
of the above. What’s in a name? It shows possession.
To call an animal a “cat” means it is
possessive of the “cat” family. In the case of a wife or
children taking the last name of the husband or father, it shows
possession; they belong to the husband or father. The name
“church of Christ” shows possession. It is the church
Jesus bought with His precious blood, and it is the only church
where He places the saved. It is no wonder that God is proud of
his church and its name.
23466 Highway 49
Saucier, MS 39574
Table of Contents
“Thank you for a great paper. I recently sent money and
failed to send instructions for its use. Use it for what you need
most to help with the paper. Please don’t send any thanks to
my address” ...AR. “I would like to receive
Seek The Old Paths. I was receiving it, but I moved and I
haven’t got one since March. I really enjoy getting it every
month. I hope to start receiving it again. May God continually
bless you in this good work. My God bless you” ...Betty
Long, Glencoe, AL. “Jim M. Foust has passed away”
...Pikeville, TN. “I’m writing in reference to the
March/2011 issue of STOP. I didn’t receive my copy for that
month. I would also like for you to start sending the paper to
the address included below. Will send contribution to help with
the paper. Thank you so much” ...Geneva Stark, Eufaula,
OK. “Hope all is fine there. Things are great here.
I’ve moved, so here is my new address so I can continue to
receive STOP. Keep spreading the truth” ...Jerry Hawkins,
Huntsville, AL. “I wish you would put these brethren on
the mailing list to receive Seek The Old Paths. I want to
introduce it to some family members and other Christians on this
side of the Mississippi River that will appreciate it.
Thanks” ...Stephen Wiggins, San Augustine, TX.
“Brother Robinson, thank you for adding my name to your
mailing list. Enclosed is a check. I am a member of the church of
Christ on Azalea Drive in North Charleston, SC. Brother Bobby Lee
Green, Jr. is our minister” ...Isadore Boags, Jr., North
Charleston, SC. “I would like to receive your paper,
Seek The Old Paths. My sisters receive it and they say it
is great! I work with Bible Correspondences, also have some
prison Christians. I collect material such as yours, make copies
and mail it with my lesson. Keep up the good work! If there’s
a charge, I will be happy to make a contribution”
...Willene Sullivaan, Manchester, TN. [NOTE: There is no
charge for Seek The Old Paths. We operate on the free-will
contributions of individuals and congregations. We are so
thankful for all those who make this work possible through their
generous gifts. Our funds are running a bit low right now, so if
any are able to help, now would be a good time to do so.
Thanks.] “Dear brother Robinson, someone gave me a copy
of STOP and I appreciate it very much. I would like for you to
put me on the mailing list” ...Kathleen Rogol,
Murfreesboro, TN. “Recently, I read a copy of Seek The
Old Paths.” I enjoyed reading it. I would like to receive
it by mail. Will you please add me to your mailing list? Thank
you so much” ...Wendell Smallwood, Cookeville, TN.
“I certainly appreciate receiving STOP and am thankful for
the sound brethren writers that contribute to every edition. Use
this small amount to help in any way” ...Dan Huffines,
Gainesboro, TN. “You can cancel the bundle you’ve
been sending to the church building. They are not being picked up
by the members” ...Talledega church of Christ, Talledega,
AL. “Hello brother Robinson, We are grateful for your
good work with STOP and enjoy reading each issue. The church here
is already receiving a monthly bundle of STOP so you can remove
my personal subscription from your mailing list. Thank you”
...Maurice Brown, Rockford IL. “Please begin sending a
bundle of STOP to the church here. Thank you and God bless”
...Noland Church of Christ, Pocahontas, AR. “Greetings
in His precious name! We hope and pray this finds you in good
health and joy in the Lord. We want you to know we have
appreciated so very much Seek The Old Paths and want to
thank you and all who are involved in furthering the cause of
Christ. We got to know you while living in Pensacola, Florida
quite a few years ago. We’re moved a few times since then and
a couple of weeks ago we moved again so please change the address
when you mail STOP. May God bless you and family in a very
special way for all the efforts you put forth to further His
kingdom. We sometimes do not realize what a blessing it is to
have Jesus the Christ as a wonderful friend and saviour. God
bless and keep you in His care. We appreciate all you do”
...Lewis & Christine Blair, Franklin, TN. “Thank you
very much” ...Pearl Kirk, Celina, TN. “Please
change our address for STOP” ...R. F. Knox, Princeton,
WV. “Please remove my name from the STOP mailing list. Do
not print my name” ...Pikeville, KY.
---------------------------------------------------------------
RESTORATION OF THE WAYWARD TO CHRIST
The prophet Ezekiel relayed the message of God to Israel
through the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 that they
would be restored to the Promised Land and offer sacrifice and
worship once again in Jerusalem. This vision of dry bones coming
back to life, forming an army, revived their hope. They felt they
were as dry bones piled in the desert, all life gone, all hope
gone. But, just as the power of Jehovah could bring those bones
to life — so too could God bring His people back to life and
restore them to their home. The people needed to do what those
bones did: HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. In much the same way, those
who are separated from God by their sins can find life and life
more abundantly if they will: HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. The
sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross, the shedding of the blood of
the Lamb of God redeemed our souls so that we might receive grace
and mercy.
Rod Ross
4345 Lawrence Dr. NW
Baltimore, OH 43105.
Table of Contents
Bound Volumes can be ordered from:
Old Paths Publishing
2007 Francis Ferry Rd.
McMinnville, TN
37110
$5 postage paid
Home |
Bible Page |
Seek The Old Paths |
East End Church of Christ |
WSOJ Radio
Lectureship
Books
|
