| Frbruary 11, 2001 |
Vol. III, No. 41
|
The shark is a large fish that swims in ocean waters and has an equally large appetite. In fact, so large is his appetite that he will swallow almost anything that he can get into his mouth without even knowing what it is. A small fish called the urchin fish, when he encounters a shark, will roll himself into a small ball. The shark will of course swallow the urchin, but in this case the shark is the loser. This urchin fish is a parasite, and once inside the shark’s stomach he unfolds and begins to prey on the shark from within its stomach, eventually destroying his victim completely.
What a stupid thing it is for the shark to “swallow” something without first knowing what it is, but after all, aren’t there people in the religious world like that? Many swallow the traditional religion of their relatives without ever first checking to see if that is what the Bible really teaches. Many simply swallow what their church or denomination practices and teaches simply because “that’s the way it’s been done or taught for years.” Many swallow what their preachers and teachers say without any concern as to whether the Bible teaches it or not, so long as it “sounds good.”
Modernism and liberalism are running rampant, not only in the world, but also among churches of Christ. More and more we hear of congregations who are accepting the “new hermeneutic,” that is, the new way of interpreting the Bible. The old way of commands, apostolic example, and of necessary inference, is a thing of the past, no longer acceptable to “modern and more intelligent thinking.” As a result more and more we hear of denominational “baptism” (whether it’s sprinkling, pouring, etc.) being accepted. We are hearing of women being allowed to serve in roles in worship and organization that the Bible strictly forbids. The Lord’s supper is no longer served each Sunday, but on Wednesday or any other day. Elderships are being dissolved because members no longer recognize them as having authority to “rule” and make decisions -- except as those decisions are first corroborated by “prominent men” in the congregation or by the “deacons.” We hear of more and more churches of Christ simply becoming “community churches,” serving simply the social needs of the community (tax seminars, “Sexual Enlightenment” seminars, “Arts and Crafts” groups, etc.)
Let’s examine carefully what we “swallow,” because like the shark it may be too late afterward. Similar to the shark, who has few enemies that can destroy it from without, God’s kingdom cannot be destroyed from forces without. Satan’s forces, as powerful as they may be (and they are powerful), simply are no match for the spiritual forces and strength of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His word. Paul said, “...If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:31, 37). God’s people can only be destroyed from WITHIN! That’s what is happening in many congregations today. We need to be “examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). We are responsible to not “swallow” anything that anyone says, it matters not who or what they are. We will be held individually accountable to God for the errors we have allowed to come into our minds and into the church.
--Oliver Murray, Truth Magazine, January 20, 2000
In His sermon on the mount Jesus admonishes man to choose the right way. He said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
In studying concerning these two ways, we will find more and more contrast
pointed out in the Scriptures. The following have come to my attention:
| Jer. 21:8 | Way of life | Jer. 21:8 | Way of death |
| Psa. 119:32-33 | Way of commandments | Prov. 13:15 | Way of transgressors |
| Isa. 40:14 | Way of understanding | Prov. 12:15 | Way of a fool |
| 1 John 1:7 | Way of light | Prov. 2:13 | Way of darkness |
| Ezek. 18:29 | The equal way | Ezek. 18:29 | The unequal way |
| Prov. 2:20 | Way of good | Prov. 2:12 | Way of evil |
| Psa. 1:6 | Way of the righteous | Psa. 146:9 | Way of the wicked |
| 2 Pet. 2:2 | Way of truth | Psa. 119:29 | Way of lying |
| Prov. 4:11 | Way of wisdom | Psa. 49:13 | Way of folly |
| Matt. 7:13-14 | Narrow way | Matt. 7:13-14 | Broad way |
| Matt. 7:13-14 | Few find it | Matt. 7:13-14 | Many go in thereat |
The path to life is also called: the right way, 2 Pet. 2:15; the way
everlasting, Psa. 139:24; the way of righteousness, Prov. 16:31; the way
of holiness, Isa. 35:8; the way of peace, Isa. 59:8; the good way, Jer.
6:16; the way of God, Acts 18:26; the new and living way, Heb. 10:10.
This way is made possible through Christ, who said, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
(John 14:6).
--Guthrie D. Dean, Gospel Guardian, June 22, 1972
Matt. 19:16-22 introduces us to the rich young ruler. The young man had several good qualities -- and at least one great problem.
In a time when age was respected and the populace usually looked to those who were older for leadership, this young man shows himself to be a man of great accomplishment. Though he was young, he was a ruler in the local government. Luke’s account (Luke 18:18-23) uses a word meaning a magistrate to describe the rich young ruler. A magistrate was a person who received complaints and possessed greater authority than the judge to whom the magistrate remitted the case. To have acquired such authority while he was young was quite an accomplishment.
And though we are not told how he came to be rich, it is quite possible that his financial prosperity was also a result of his own initiatives and industry. Or, if he had inherited his riches, at least, he had not squandered them.
If we can take the young man’s word for it -- and Jesus didn’t argue with him -- he was one who from childhood had been respectful of God’s law and had kept the commandments Jesus specified. By all appearances, he was a man of high moral standards.
Even more important, he was interested in eternal life. In fact, that is the reason for which he sought out Jesus and began this conversation with Him. All these characteristics are commendable.
But the young man had one problem that outweighed all the good and commendable traits we have noted. Most likely, he would have felt greatly insulted if anyone had accused him of idolatry, but in reality, he allowed something else to have the place in his life that belonged only to God. He was more in love with his worldly possessions than he was with the One he worshiped as God. He was more interested in earthly treasure than in everlasting life. That is why Jesus commanded him to dispose of his possessions and distribute the proceeds to others. He must remove the thing that kept God in second place. Perhaps it is significant that when Jesus quoted from the ten commandments, He did not cite the one that said, “You shall not covet.” This command, the young man had neglected, to his own eternal ruin.
Mark’s account of this incident contains two very arresting statements, Mark 10:17-22. Mark tells us Jesus beheld or looked at the young man and loved him. And because He loved him, He said to him, “One thing you lack.” Many individuals in our society assume that if you love a person, you never try to correct him. Not so. Jesus loved the rich young ruler too much not to tell him the truth.
At the end of the interview, the young man “went away grieved, for he had great possessions.” Most people might expect the text to say he went away happy because he had great possessions, but again, not so. In another text, Jesus points out that we cannot serve God and wealth. The rich young man had chosen the course that can never bring real fulfillment.
–CRJ
The actions of men are
the best interpreters of
their thoughts.