| September 6, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 19
|
I used to be a Southern Baptist. I knew passages such as Ezek. 18:20 teach that sin is not inherited or passed on through the genes. I had learned from Baptist preachers that sin is a personal act of defiance against God's will -- transgression of His law, 1 John 3:4. I knew that separation from God is a result of one's own sin, not that of his ancestors, Isa. 59:2. These things were plainly taught in God's word. The Baptist preachers I had know since early childhood till I was about 17 years old knew and taught these truths.
All the preachers I knew had claimed a direct call from God similar to that of the apostles and prophets of the Bible. I had accepted these claims at face value till such a man taught something I KNEW the Bible did not support. "Our" new preacher taught that babies are BORN alienated from God by someone else's sin. As he persisted in this false teaching, I came to question his "calling." Would God call a man to preach error? Oh, I know Judas apostatized and did not live up to the truth -- but as far as I know, he never PREACHED error. And I know Peter's persona life fell short of the high standards of Christ, Gal. 2:11, but he never PREACHED error.
Once I allowed myself to question the "call" of the preacher, I was free to question all that he preached. It had bothered me a little that Baptist preachers reverse the order of Mark 16:16 to teach that he who believes is saved and should be baptized. That is simply NOT what the Lord said. I was bothered by Acts 2:38 which puts baptism before forgiveness (or remission) of sins. The preaching I had heard always put forgiveness first and obedience later. These matters bothered me, but I dismissed them. I reasoned, "God called this man to preach, so his explanation of these `difficult passages' must be correct." When I realized God had not sent this man to preach what he was preaching, I was free to study the Scriptures more objectively. I soon realized that EVERY PASSAGE that mentions baptism and salvation in the same context always put baptism BEFORE forgiveness. See Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; John 3:5; and 1 Pet. 3:21.
I was a stubborn young man and in no hurry to admit my religion was wrong, but finally I came to myself. Then I came to God in obedience to His will. I had "always" known that Jesus was the Son of God. God-fearing Baptist preachers had taught me this precious truth, but I was almost 20 years old when I really took God at His word, repented of my stubborn delay, and was "baptized for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). I hope you have the wisdom not to delay obedience as I did. After all, some who read this may not have two years left -- and none of us have two years to waste.
--CRJ
Maybe you’ve thought about handing out religious tracts, but then thought, they don’t do much good. The devil would like to make you believe that, but God says, “Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season...” (2 Tim. 4:2).
Yes, many people can testify that tracts are effective tools for spreading the gospel. Many have been taught the truth by the power of the printed page.
Sister Buford Malone, a member of the Eastland church in Nashville, Tennessee, had to take off from her work several years ago for surgery. Her last day on the job, she left some tracts in her desk drawer. When she returned to work about ten weeks later she found a note written by the young lady who had taken her place while she was off work. It said that through reading and studying the tracts she had learned God’s plan of salvation and had determined to be baptized into Christ.
In 1973, Harry Persuad was working in the Dept. of Security for the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City. Gene Mabry, a gospel preacher, happened to visit the museum one day and leave a tract. Harry found it, read it, and contacted Gene, who was working in the Washington, New Jersey area. Harry had been born a Hindu and later became a Roman Catholic. After finishing a correspondence course from brother Mabry, Harry obeyed the gospel. He worshiped with the Fair Lawn church in New Jersey and studied the Scriptures diligently with brethren James Finney and Glen Jones for three years. In October, 1976, Harry resigned his job with the museum to preach the gospel full time. [The tract that got him started was “Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ” by L.A. Mott.]
These are just two examples showing the good being done with religious tracts. If a tract has the gospel plainly taught in it, it has the power of God behind it, Rom. 1:16. Through tracts, souls can be taught the way of the Lord more perfectly, the church can be edified and strengthened, and those in error can be warned about the deceitfulness of sin.
A “faith only” radio preacher says that 100 times more people tell him they are converted by reading his literature than by listening to his radio program.
We have no way of knowing who will be responsive to the word of God but we can know that it takes little effort to encourage someone to read a tract. It may lead someone to Jesus. Why not give someone a tract today?
--author unknown
EDITOR’S NOTE: Gospel tracts by A.G. Hobbs (and others) were very useful in helping me to sort things out and come to an understanding of the gospel.
In Matt. 5:20, Jesus said, "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." He then proceeds through the remainder of chapter five to show ways in which true righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees.
For instance, the Pharisees were resigned to the fact that murder was a clear violation of the law, but somehow, they thought it was all right to hate and mistreat their fellow man as long as they didn't murder him. Jesus pointed out that hate in the heart is the cause of murder, thus the hater is in danger of eternal judgment, just as the murderer himself.
The scribes and Pharisees were careful to teach against adultery, but again, they saw no serious problem with the lust that produces adultery. Jesus, on the other hand, shows that those who would be partakers of His kingdom must learn to control their passions, and remove themselves from the danger of becoming adulterers.
The traditions of the scribes and Pharisees forbade them to swear falsely in the name of the Lord, but they felt no compulsion to tell the truth if they swore by the heaven, the earth, or Jerusalem or the hair of their heads. Jesus' system of righteousness greatly exceeds theirs, saying, "Let your `Yes' be `Yes' and your `No' be `No.' For whatever is more than this is from the evil one," vs. 37.
The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees said in effect, stand up for your rights, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Jesus' system of righteousness says be kind to those who abuse you, give more than is required, give others the benefit of the doubt.
The scribes and Pharisees recognized the validity of loving their friends, but insisted on the right to hate their enemies. The Christian's righteousness must exceed that: the follower of Christ must learn to love even his enemies.
In the closing verses of chapter five, Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? But if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
--CRJ