Consider This…

I read a page about a very popular “top” preacher who had been written about in a couple of publications as “Preacher Of The Year” and was also a major force in a number of national religious efforts such as Moral Majority.

And then he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), also known as ALS.

The story caught my attention both because I serve as a preacher by congregational request and my mother spent the last 18 years of her life bed-ridden with ALS.

One story contained a poignant occurrence…

“As pastor at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a position he held for 18 years, Dobson would regularly preach to 5,000 people or more on Sundays.  Back then, Dobson said he looked at himself as a man filled with lessons, proverbs and, most of all, answers.

After retirement six years ago, the massive crowds went away.”

Here in the greater Atlanta area we have a number of “mega churches.”  You have probably seen a number of their leaders on TV.

Many of the mega church leaders have been at the feet of other mega church leaders and gone off to form their own mega churches.  Some mega churches were started by relatives of the founders of other mega churches.  One “respected” radio preacher actually said that one of the formerly famous, scandal ridden and defunct mega churches in east Atlanta should be declared a toxic waste site and plowed under.

What do these mega churches have in common?

Two things.

One is they are built on the personalities of their leaders and if anything happens to the leader – age, scandal, sickness, what have you – they wither into shells of their former selves.

The second thing is to draw the types of crowds required to keep the leaders in the public eye and fortunes they have become used to, the church has to offer something for everybody.  It has to provide what the people want.

Lose the leader, stop catering to the people’s wants and the attendance plummets.  If you give them hamburgers to get them there you have to give them hamburgers to keep them there.

The apostle Paul covers this tendency in II Timothy 4:2-4…

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV)

Leave the teachings of men behind and turn to the Word.  The Bible teaches a fundamental change in people.  Mega churches teach an expansion of who you are.

Marv Walker
 706 468-6990

People attend the church they attend for a number of reasons…

Some grow up in a church and they keep going there because they are comfortable and know everyone. 

Some attend a church because they have an investment in the church.  They may have taught Bible study, contributed heavily and are considered a pillar and the “go to” person of the church.

Some may attend because friends or neighbors go there.

Some may attend because it is the only church in town.

Some attend because it’s a “happening place.”  There is always something exciting going on and the parking lot is always full.  It’s “the” church to go to and anyone who is anyone goes there.

Some attend a church because it oozes “holiness.”  Maybe it’s magnificent, glittering, larger than life buildings or the finely orchestrated and carefully outfitted religious rituals. 

There are all kinds of reasons as to why one attends a particular church.

Here is a reason I hardly ever hear from folks: “Because it is focused on following the Bible.”

Doesn’t that seem strange?  Going to a church for every reason under the sun other than it focuses on following the Bible?

Here’s something that is even stranger…

We all assume the church we attend follows the Bible.  But does it?

One of the easiest and fastest places to begin are its founding date and whose teaching is followed.

If the church we attend was founded at anytime after the first century, it is not following the Bible.  The Bible says the church was in existence in the first century.  (Acts 2:47)

If the church we attend follows the teachings of Luther, Calvin, Rutherford, Joseph Smith, Wesley or any other man, it is not following the Bible.  The church of the Bible follows the teachings of Christ.  (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:22)

If the church we attend goes beyond what the Word of God says, or takes away from what the Word of God says, it is not following the Bible.   (2 John 1:9, Revelation 22:18-19)

Marv Walker
706 468-6990

For the most part the denominational world teaches that in order to be saved from the consequences of our sins all we have to do is say some form of the “Sinner’s Prayer.”

The Sinner’s Prayer goes something along these lines…

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

The denominational world says simply express that thought and you’re saved from your sins and you’re good with God.  That’s all there is to it, they say.

Time and time again I have asked the “Sinner’s Prayer” form of salvation teachers to show me just one example of anyone in New Testament scripture being saved by any form of such a prayer.

So far, no response.

Could it be because there isn’t one?

Help me out here. If your preacher or religious leader teaches a form of the “Sinner’s Prayer,” ask him, or her, for me, “Where is one example of anyone being saved by any form of the “Sinner’s Prayer” in the New Testament?”

I’d really like to find it.

The Bible actually teaches a different way of being saved than the “Sinner’s Prayer.”

(1.)  Before anything else, you must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  In Romans 1:18-32 we are told what we have done that separates us from God.  Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

(2.)  After hearing the gospel you must have faith, an active belief, in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

(3.)  The third thing you must do is to repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19)  You must have a change of mind about your sins.  Before you paid little attention to them, now you strive not to do them.  But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved.  In fact there are examples in the New Testament showing that prayer alone does not save.  Saul prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48).  Prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, it will not save you either.

(4.)  You must confess, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10)  You do not need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.”  Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel.  (Acts 2:36)   Not one time in scripture is anyone ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

(5.)  Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38)  This is the point that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16)  It is the blood of Christ that removes sin.  (Revelation 1:5)Christ’s blood was shed at his death.  And we are baptized into both him and his death.  (Romans 6:3-4)  Baptism is where we are “born again” and walk in “newness of life.”  (Romans 6:3-4, John 3:3)  It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Mark 16:16, Acts 8:35-36; 1 Peter 3:21)  Anyone who answers the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that is different than the one found in Acts 2:38 is not proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

(6.)  Once you are saved, obedient,  God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3)   You must continue to serve God faithfully until death to continue in God’s grace.  (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)

Marv Walker
706 468-6990

Jesus was not a Christian.

Jesus lived, died on the cross and was resurrected under the Old Testament.  Jesus was a Jew, an Israelite of the tribe of Judah of the lineage of David, not a Christian.  Jesus, like all those who lived under the Old Testament, was subject to the law given to Moses from God and obeyed it completely.  Christians came into existence in the New Testament after Jesus had returned to heaven.

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

The Bible makes no attempt to prove it is the inspired word of an existing God.  It simply goes on with its message as if God’s existence and His inspiration were unquestioned and therefore need no proving.

Yet, by the same token, the Bible is filled with proof of God’s existence.

One such proof is numbers and their symbolism and connection.

One, for instance, is the number of uniqueness, individuality, status  and unity.  This is the number most often representing God Himself.  In Genesis 1:1 (the very first statement of the Bible,) we read, “In the beginning, (when it first started) God… (first above all others)”

Two, for instance, is the number of testimony or witness.  Reading on in Genesis 1:1 we read, “created the heavens and the earth. (the Bible testifies God created two items, heaven and earth)”

Three is the number connected with fellowship.   For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  (I John 5:7-8 NKJV)

And so it goes, number after number.  When you see a number mentioned in the Bible it has a significance and connection beyond being a literal amount.

We are all familiar with the story of David and Goliath.  In I Samuel 17:40 we read, Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.  David had five stones but he only needed one.  He had far more stones than he needed to get the job done.

Five is the number associated with God’s Grace.  God’s Grace is far greater than the need.  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (I Timothy 1:14 NKJV)

And so it goes, number after number.  When you see a number mentioned in the Bible it has a significance and connection beyond being a literal amount.

Marv Walker

When asked to prove the existence of God most people would say, “You can’t.  You just have to take His existence on faith and accept His existence as real.”

In my much younger days I would occasionally challenge folks to prove God actually exists when the conversation turned religious or I was tired of the discussion.

Invariably they would respond with Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”    “You just have to accept it,” they would reply.

My flippant response was, “So what you are saying is, you can’t prove God’s existence.”

My original belief was I really didn’t know if God existed or not, but, if I acted like he didn’t exist a simple “Ooops!” wouldn’t cut it if at my death I found out he did exist and He expected something from me.  It would be too late.  If I lived as though He did exist and at death I found out he didn’t exist because there was nothing afterwards, no real loss.

I considered that position to be kind of hedging my bet.

Over the course of time I have become as sure of God’s existence as I am I’m typing this post.  I am beyond convinced God exists, God lives and God rules.

Let’s look at Hebrews 11:1 again, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”    There are two very important words in the verse.  One is substance (something we can see, feel and even touch) and the other is evidence (that which supports a conclusion).

The very verse people use to show one can only blindly accept actually says one doesn’t have to.  You can know beyond a shadow of a doubt God is real – there is more than enough substance and evidence to prove His existence.

 The Bible even when taken alone and not counting those things one finds outside of it, is loaded with the evidence of God’s existence from beginning to end.

For example, let’s look at Genesis 1:9, Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

Two bodies.  One, water, the other, land.  Some 4,000 years ago the author of Genesis, said there was one land mass, one water mass.

There is more than enough highly provable evidence today showing there are land masses scattered all over the world.  We have satellite photos actually taken from space showing this to be true.  There are major and minor continents and numerous bodies of water.

Seems right off the bat the Bible got it wrong, right?

Not so fast.

Suppose for a moment we had the power to move continents around at will.  We could take Africa and push it right up against North & South America and it would fit like a giant jig-saw puzzle.  We could push Europe and Asia into place as well.  Barring some minor shore erosion we could see they all fit to each other.

It is evident that at one time all the continents were connected to each other just like the Bible states.  We can tell that by looking at the pieces.

Science calls this the Theory of Plate Tectonics.  Scientists call anything they can’t see a theory no matter how much they believe it. 

Science suggests at one time all the land was one body at one time.  The Bible states the land was one mass 4,000 plus years before man had the ability to prove, much less accept, this was indeed the case.

How did Moses, the accepted author of Genesis, know the land was one mass 4,000 plus years before science?

The answer is simple.  Someone told him.  That someone was who we call God.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  (II Timothy 3:16 NKJV)

 
Marv Walker

Welcome to the Monticello church of Christ Consider This… blog.

My name is Marv Walker, I live in Hillsboro, GA and I am the fingers behind this activity.

While I serve the Monticello church of Christ in Monticello, Georgia, I in no way speak for the Biblical church of Christ or any other church of Christ in the world.  The Bible and the Bible alone speaks for the church. 

All I do is work to fit what I believe with what the Bible says.  If I am at odds with the Bible, I am the one who is in the wrong, not the Bible, and I need to blend my beliefs with the Bible and not bend the Bible to my beliefs.

Am I ever wrong?  Oh, yeah!  When I am I try to immediately correct my thinking.

But, in the long run, does it really matter what we believe as long as we believe?

John 4:24 says it does.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (NKJV)

Not should, not may, not can, must.

We have to worship with the right attitude…

not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,  (Ephesians 6:6 NKJV)

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  (Romans 6:7 NKJV)

The right attitude is from the heart.

What is truth?

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  (John 17:17 NKJV)

So then, we must worship God with the right attitude (spirit) and according to his word (truth).

Here is what the Word of God has to say about doing more or doing less than God says in worshiping, serving Him…

 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.  (Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV)

“Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  (Deuteronomy 5:32 NKJV)

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.  (Deuteronomy 12:32 NKJV)

Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.  (Proverbs 30:6 NKJV)

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.    (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV)

 Does it matter what we believe?  The world with all of its denominations says, “No.”  God says a resounding “YES!”  The world says it’s perfectly all right that we teach the exact opposite of each other in many cases because the most important part is whether or not we believe in God.  As long as we believe in God everything will be all right in the end.

God says “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32 NKJV)

The opposite of truth is untruth or a lie.

Here’s what God has to say about lies…

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  (II Thessalonians 2:9-12  NKJV)

This blog is dedicated to discussing what the Bible does and not say.

We invite you to join us in studying God’s Truth.

Marv Walker