The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 9, Oct. 2008
A
Publication of the Valley church of Christ
2375 W.
8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Selected Newspaper Articles
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.
You will notice should you read all of these
brief articles that there are two kinds of “fools” mentioned therein. There are
“fools” who truly despise God’s wisdom and instruction given by Him in His Word
(Prov. 1:29). Such fools as these do not listen to what God says. Again, and by
contrast there those who do listen and obey God’s Word who are viewed as being
“fools” for so doing. Which kind of “fool” are you?
“That’s
Not My Jesus!”
People are
talking about gay marriage and mentioning Jesus as if He would approve. Some
are quick to respond to Jesus’ condemnation of homosexuality with, “That’s not
my God!” Such do not present the real Jesus. The real Jesus is God and He
created both Adam and Eve at the beginning in the image of God (cf. John 1:1-3;
Gen. 1:26-28). Both being “human” and not “animal” were accountable to God
their creator (cf. Gen. 2:16-17, 3:1-3, 17). When God gave Eve to Adam He
referred to her as his “wife” (2:24-25). God called Adam her “husband” (Gen.
3:16). The “family unit” with a husband and wife began with the first man Adam,
and the first woman Eve. God said: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and
mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24;
Matt. 19:4-6).
Jesus’
condemnation of homosexuality is in His reference to the days of Lot. He said
that on the day Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven and destroyed them all. He warned it will be the same way when He is
revealed (cf. Lk. 17:26-30). Such warnings are denied
or explained away today by the ungodly. In Jesus’ list of evil works that
proceed from the heart we find both “adulteries” and “fornications” (Matt. 15:19). The word “fornications” includes
homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc. “Adulteries” includes
sexual intercourse where at least one party is married to another. Homosexual
sexual activity in any arena is illicit sexual activity that will cause one to
not inherit the kingdom of Christ (I Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19).
Fools
Leave God Out Of Marriage
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom and the knowledge of God is understanding (cf.
Pr. 9:10). You can seek God’s wisdom, find the fear of the Lord, and understand
the knowledge of God if you desire (cf. Pr. 2:1-6). Then you will discern
properly righteousness, justice, equity and every good path (Pr. 2:7-11). This
applies to the husband-wife relationship as it does every other good thing God
has given (Matt. 19:4-9).
Fools say there is no God (Ps.14:1). Hear
Solomon: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise
wisdom and instruction” (Pr. 1:29). Fools are fools regardless of education,
social status, wealth, power or what they think about themselves in their own
mind. Fools hate knowledge and do not choose the fear of the Lord (Pr. 1:7).
Fools have no delight in understanding but only in revealing their own heart
and mind (Pr. 18:2). Fools don’t listen to what God says about the husband-wife
relationship. They think man is nothing more than an animal species. They
ignore what God did and said at the beginning. God created man in His own image
(Gen. 1:26-28). When God gave Eve to Adam He referred to her as his “wife”
(2:24-25). God called Adam her “husband” (Gen. 3:16). The “family unit” with a
husband and wife began with the first man Adam and the first woman Eve. God
said: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his
wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Both being
“human” and not “animal” were accountable to God their Creator (cf. Gen.
2:16-17, 3:1-3, 17).
The
Credentials of a Fool
Paul rebuked ungodly Christians for
thinking and living by the world’s view of things. He said, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but
ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised” (Cf. I Cor. 4:10, 11-13).
The Gospel, the source of strength and wisdom, will always be viewed as
“foolish” according to the world’s wisdom (cf. I Cor.
1:18, 2:14). What God really requires is nothing like what the “social” so
called Christians display as they thrive on flattery --- being without courage
they give in to the unworthy demands of enemies, the powerful and rich who can
hurt them, and especially the demands of family and relatives rather than
suffering for Christ’s sake (See Gal. 6:12-13, Matt. 10:36-39, 2 Tim. 3:12).
Paul thought
what really matters is keeping the commandments of God (cf. I Cor. 7:19). Such
“fools” seek not the favor of men but of God (cf. Gal. 1:10). The world views
such as:
1. “Fools” – From which the English word “moron” is
derived; thus one who is stupid, unwise and worthy of scorn not possessing the
credentials of the world and its human institutions.
2. “Weak” – not strong physically or
great according to the world’s standards of strength and success but weak and
despised. Their afflicted bodies, with scars, gave evidence that the power of
the Gospel was in message God gave not in the physical strength of the person
who was weak physically (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7-12).
3. “Despised” – without the honor, display and reputation
that is so admired and cherished by the successful in the world.
Feel free to visit such “fools.”
By Bob Lovelace