The
SUSQUEHANNA SENTINEL
In This Issue
In Mark 4:30-32, Jesus said, "To what shall we liken the
Jesus' parables were stories which used things commonly understood to picture
or illustrate things that needed to be understood. Many in Jesus' audiences
were farmers. Likely almost every family had at least a small garden plot. The
smallest seed sown by man was the mustard seed. The mustard seed had become
proverbial when speaking of things that were small. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus
spoke of a small amount of faith as "faith as a mustard seed." Yet in
the fertile
In modern English, the word kingdom usually suggests to our minds the territory
and subjects of a king. In early English, the word was more likely to suggest
the rule or power exercised by a king. "Kingdom" usually suggested
kingship or kinghood. This was also true of the Greek word Jesus used
originally from which our word "kingdom" is translated.
Jesus was born to be a King, Luke 1:31-33. Yet, when wise men from the East
came to visit the newborn King, they did not find Him in the palace of the
present king as they expected. He had been born in a stable in the nearby town
of
Though multitudes followed Jesus when times were good, when He was arrested
they forsook Him and fled. After His resurrection, a few of His followers began
to reassemble. About 120 of them were known to gather in the city of
--Clarence R. Johnson
LEAVING AN APOSTATE CONGREGATION
Many of our brethren across the country are sore distressed by the state of
affairs in churches of Christ today. To say that many churches are undergoing
change is a gross understatement of the situation. Radical changes in thought
toward the authority of the Scriptures are allowing many churches of Christ to
take very liberal views toward the work and worship of the church. With the
"new hermeneutic" as their license (which denies that the New
Testament reveals a pattern for our organization, work, and worship) the movers
and shakers of institutional churches of Christ are leading their people toward
the wholesale acceptance of a myriad of innovations and compromises with
denominationalism. Our brethren are "re-thinking" such issues as
instrumental music in worship and the role of women in the leadership and
worship of the church. Additionally, many brethren are abandoning "book,
chapter, and verse" preaching and teaching for a modernistic higher
criticism which seized the pulpits of denominational churches many years ago.
Moral issues such as social drinking, mixed swimming,
divorce and remarriage, immodest dress, etc. are no longer preached about in
sermons lest we appear too strict and legalistic. Even the plan of salvation is
under serious attack. Many leading, influential elders, preachers, and
professors are not too sure there is a "plan" as we have preached it.
Baptism is being "re-thought" in some circles, and it appears that
before long the necessity of immersion for the remission of sins may be
abandoned altogether.
Within many of the churches troubled by these issues are some brethren who
sense strongly that the church is "leaving" them. They see these
changes as apostasy, but it is hard to break long-standing ties with friends
and family and leave such rank infidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ and His
will. They know the church is not what it should be doctrinally, nor is it even
moving in that direction. The preaching is no longer distinctive and could be
served up in any denominational pulpit in town. They have tried to warn the
elders, the preacher, their friends and anyone who will listen. But they are
considered "old-fashioned", "non-progressive",
"anti", and even "legalistic." Eventually, the elders no
longer listen to them. The preacher berates them for trying to hold on to a
"1950 mentality." Each passing week brings more compromise,
additional innovation, and bolder liberalism. What must concerned brethren do
if they cannot get the church to listen to the truth?
A Case In Point: King Jeroboam of
When John heard the announcement of the imminent destruction of "
It is no different today. God's faithful people must no longer promote apostasy
by tolerating it. "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord
..."
--Mark White, Bible Viewpoints,
The recent finding of what is described as a "humanoid" fossil in
A letter in Time Europe Magazine,
The prejudice of the evolutionist is easily seen in
Factual evidence? The existence of the Bible is a fact
which cannot be explained without God. And "since the creation of the
world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been
clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are
without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). The universe is fact, and it shows in its
every facet that there is a Creator with eternal power and divine nature.
--Paul K. Williams, Truth Magazine,
A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally one day a
boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically
waves and draws the skipper's attention. The boat comes near the island and the
sailor gets out and greets the stranded man.
After a while the sailor asks, "What are those three huts you have
here?"
"Well, that's my house there."
"What's that next hut?" asks the sailor.
"I built that hut to be my church."
"What about the other hut?"
"Oh, that's where I used to go to church."
(By the way, please don't write to remind me that the church is a group of
people, not a building -- I'm aware of that, but I think there's another lesson
to learn here). There are some legitimate reasons for "changing
churches," but there are also some people who change congregations every
couple of years simply because they have trouble getting along with other
folks. Someone at church said something that made them mad, or one of the songleaders doesn't pick out songs they like, or the elders
decided to change the time of services, etc. etc. The reasons go on and on, and
you just about mark on the calendar when they'll leave to go to the next
church. It makes you wonder if they would be happy in a church by themselves;
perhaps, like the man in the story above, they would move somewhere else after
a while just out of habit.
Each of the New Testament epistles is filled with instructions on how to get
along with others in the church. There are a couple of reasons for that. It is
important and it is difficult for all of us at times.
"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another....Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with
those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on
high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion.....If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with
all men." (
Have a great day!
--Alan Smith,
Thought for the Day, White House,
Clarence R. Johnson
Evangelist
Phone: (717) 361-6212
E-mail: clarencejohnson@comcast.net
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Phone: (717) 426-4537
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Those who worship God must worship in Spirit and in Truth
John 4:24