The Truth In Print, May 2006
Vol. 12 Issue 4
Selected Newspaper Articles ~ The Valley Church Of
Christ
We’re Just a Bunch of Kids Here!”
Churches appear to be all over the board these days. One foolish extreme
is the recent fad of skipping church services on Sunday to please worldly
members who’d really rather be at home with their physical family on Holidays.
Yet another is the new approach for kids that might be summed up by the phrase,
“Pop a DVD and get closer to God!” This approach demands loud music, kids
getting close together, lots of gyrating, and a hip preacher leading the way.
Such tactics would even be indicative of a Jr. High class. This is simply
playing to the kids and giving them what they want. Adults who are not willing
to guide and discipline young people by the Word often take the approach of
“Lord, please let the kids just be kids.” They fail to fulfill the Biblical
duty of warning young people to “trust in the Lord; lean not unto thine own understanding” (Cf. Prov. 3:5-6; Prov. 22:15;
Prov. 19:18).
The message in the Bible is when one leans upon their “own”
understanding that in turn brings its “own” reward! (See Prov. 1:31). The
“reward” for young adults who are allowed to turn to their own ways is that
things will go badly with them and what they deserve will be done to them (Cf.
Isa. 3:11). Nor are adults to see themselves as just big kids! (Cf. Prov.
16:31). The ultimate “reward” for the foolish adults involved in letting the
kids be kids is shame (Cf. Prov. 29:15). To read the results
of family applying the scriptures to themselves while teaching the child
see: 2 Tim. 3:15, 1:5; I Tim. 4:6; Prov. 22:6.
Scriptural Warnings Appropriate For Grad Night
With the view in mind that there are still parents and young adults who
care about morality and integrity we issue the follow scriptural warnings:
1. Do Not Be The Parent Whose Child Knows
You Are A Hypocrite. Teens are plenty capable of connecting the parent’s own
immorality with their telling them not to do the same. Telling kids to say “No”
to drinking while engaging in such one’s self is simply hypocritical! Jesus
said, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out
the mote out of thy brother's eye” (Matthew 7:5).
2. Do Not Give In To Your Child’s
Wrongful Wish. Now is the time to talk! Don’t miss your time and especially if
you suspect fowl play. Many a parent’s weakness is
giving in to their child’s importunity (Cf. Prov. 19:18). Say “No!” and mean it
when you must (see Prov. 27:5).
3. Do Not Make Provision For Sinful Lusts (Romans 13:14). The word “provision” in
Rom. 13:14 involves one’s planning in advance. Parents would certainly not
allow their children to talk them into letting them
couple up and get a motel room for the night. Also, even attending the
“drinking parties” without the idea of drinking one’s self is wrong (I Pet. 4:3). The same goes for the “lascivious” dancing that
is done today; simulating sex before others heightens emotions, breaks down
self-control and leads from the dance floor to the bed! (Gal. 5:19). Moreover,
warn kids against the service providers willing to hand out condoms to teens (I
Cor. 6:18).
Much is lacking In “The Sinner’s Prayer”
An individual who had asked to be baptized made this comment while on
the way to do so. He said, “The sinner’s prayer is not even in the Bible but I
know a lot of people in town are told to do so to be saved.” My response, “It’s
not in the Bible!” As with this individual, the example in the Bible of one who
had the Gospel preached to them and then asked if they could be baptized is the
Ethiopian eunuch (Read Acts 8:26-39).
Some copies of the New Testament have a “hope” guide that supposedly
points the inquirer to what to do to be saved. One such copy even supplies a page guide to
various verses pointed to, thus finally arriving at the back pages that tell
what one should do. However, there is a great surprise. No scriptures are
offered but you do find a form of the so called “Sinner’s Prayer.” Concerned
reader, did the eunuch ask to confess he was sinner and invite Jesus into his
heart or did he ask “to be baptized”? (Read Acts 8:36; Compare Acts 2:38,
22:16; Mk. 16:15-16). There are indeed lessons to be learned from any similar
presentation of the Sinner’s Prayer. Not all will tell the complete truth about
what to do to be saved. A hard lesson for some to accept is that less than the
truth does not save. Above all, the Sinner’s Prayer is lacking in the very
thing that the eunuch asked to do in order that he might be saved! For a study
of the Eunuch’s conversion go online at —
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/churchthree.htm
.
Tell Me I’m A Great Guy!
As the town fills with winter visitors lists naming businesses and even
churches are hurried along for advertising and advantage purposes. No doubt
some churches will vie with others for both numerical and financial advantage.
Such can be flattering to say to least to those viewed as merchandise. As the
topic suggests, “I’m back and now you may get your chance at telling me what a
great guy I am.” Besides their love of the social facts would attest that
seniors are often covetous, drunkards and sexually immoral thus the older
counterpart of the younger who are decried as having gone to the dogs! Retirement continues to be “party time” for
those who refuse to repent but choose to drink and party instead (Cf. Isa.
22:12-14; Gal. 5:19-21).
Church leaders including members who gawk over and receive such into
their fellowship are the spiritual counterparts of such as they receive (Cf.
Prov. 28:23; Ps. 36:2). Never were people converted with flattery in the first
century (Cf. Acts 2:36-38; Gal. 2:11ff; James 2:1-6). It is the “false
teacher” who uses flattery as a cloak to hide their greed (Cf. I Th. 2:5-6;
Rom. 16:17-18). The social gospel has caused such a spiritual decline that
people can no longer recognize unadulterated Christianity (Cf. I Cor. 5:1-6,
11, 6:8-9; 2 Cor. 12:19-21). Isaiah
described in his day the faithless shepherds who despised God’s justice saying
“…they are greedy dogs which can never have enough...they all look to their own
way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” These would not - “Cry aloud,
spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their
transgressions…and their sins” (Read Isa. 56:9-12; ch.
58).