The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 6, July 2008
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Selected Newspaper Articles From The Valley Church Of Christ
Dear reader the following titles are selected newspaper articles that appeared in our local newspaper the Yuma Sun. Advertizing for many churches tends to follow the current trend for advertizing in general and has an emotional “pitch” to possibly interest the reader. The intent of these articles is that each shows a love for and desire to present the Truth without incorporating the emotional flavor so popular with other religious bodies today. There is nothing comparable to the truth of God’s words with its wisdom. Consider Solomon’s praise in the following:
Proverbs 3:13-20 (KJV)
13 Happy is the man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise
of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou
canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her
left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are
peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and
happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath
he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop
down the dew.
The Buyer Is Like the Seller, the Creditor Is Like the Debtor
1. The “buyer” is like the “seller” (Isa. 24:2). The seller in his greed extorts with shoddy merchandise, high or unfair prices, and deprives the poor of daily necessities priced beyond purchasing ability (cf. Amos 8:4-6). The buyer is like the seller. He cries, “It is bad!”, but then goes away laughing and bragging about how he cheated the seller (cf. Prov. 20:14). God sees it all and says men of low standing are vanity, i.e. spiritually bankrupt, and men of high standing are liars (cf. Ps. 62:9-10).
2. The “lender” is like the “borrower” (Isa. 24:2). Sure! The borrowers often know they can’t pay for all they buy out of lustful desires whereby they must have it all right now. Hear this: The lender extorts their prey with high interest and fees. The victims of loan sharks sometimes fall prey to hundreds of percentage of interest on behind payments until impoverished.
3. The “creditor” is like the “debtor” (Isa. 24:2). All who have been mentioned will afflict willingly their own race, or the poor, the weak, the elderly and the unsuspecting. In his conceit the rich man’s wealth, power, and influence is protection against another’s just complaint against him (Pr. 18:11). These are like the poor who rob, cheat, and murder among themselves when the opportunity presents itself!
Concerned reader beware for God sees all and the Lord does not approve of these things (cf. Lam. 3:33-36). In the day of His judgment He gets them all. It will come down upon all of them for they are “alike” in their willingness do to evil.
Wicked Kids, Teens, Beating
& Stomping Others
Solomon said the wicked intentionally counsel to mislead others by either distorting or withholding the truth (cf. Prov. 12:5). Judgment is pronounced upon those who deliberately confound the distinction between right and wrong: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa.5:20). They establish wickedness and dishonesty as the means to success in their lives! These like to talk about God and even ask for His work (justice) to manifest itself, but when it comes it will be darkness and destruction for them (Isa. 5:19, 30; Amos 5:18). Isaiah said they drag their sins by ropes of lies and deceptions that will be burned up in God’s wrath! (Isa. 5:18, 24-30).
A smacking of today’s wicked counsel would be: “Oh, they’re just too young to know better.” Liar! Consider the children who mocked Elisha as he went up to Bethel saying, “Go up, you baldhead!” Being cursed in the name of Lord, then two she bears came out of the woods and tore up forty two of their number! (2 Kings 2:23-24). “Don’t you understand that they are just too emotionally immature for their chronological age?” Consider this: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Prov. 20:11). “They’re really good kids at heart!” Liar! These kids and teens do not despise evil, are pleased to run with and have their part with others who hate correction, and their families are full of all manner of deceit! (cf. Ps. 36:1-4, 50:16-22).
Some “Wrights” Are So Wrong!
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Hear Jesus again, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). There is just one choice available for mankind. The boldness of Peter and John was seen in their willing to say publicly before those who did not accept Christ, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (cf. Acts 4:12-13). That different cultures see differently thus this truth must of necessity be “set aside” is a lie! Hear Paul, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29). The Gentiles in Gal. 3:26-29 illustrates Jesus’ statement on “other sheep I have” in John 10:16! He is the object of faith that allows all access to the Father! When so called “Pastors” are asked if John 14:6 is true and if they think Islam is another way to salvation, and then suggest that there is another path to the Father they deny what Jesus and the apostles taught! (cf. John 12:48).