In This Issue

• IF THE WORLD HATES YOU

• THE VALUE OF BIBLE STUDY

• A LESSON FROM A PUMPKIN

IF THE WORLD HATES YOU

James warned that “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). The opposite is equally true: Whoever wants to be a friend of God makes himself an enemy of the world. There is a natural enmity between godliness and worldliness. As Jesus put it, “No man can serve two masters… you cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). Evidence of this conflict between good and evil is as close as today’s headlines.

You may have heard of this last October from Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel. But since our nation was preoccupied with a presidential election, this story was largely lost in the shuffle. In the city of Philadelphia, four men were arrested and charged with hate crimes, inciting a riot, and using a deadly weapon. They face a possible sentence of 47 years in prison, plus fines totaling $90,000. Their crime? Reading Bible verses in public that condemn homosexuality. Here’s what happened.

October 10, 2004, was the date for “Outfest,” a homosexual event in Philadelphia. A religious group called “Repent America” planned to set up a stand nearby for the purpose of preaching, handing out religious material, and displaying banners with biblical messages. They operated entirely within the law, having police approval and following all the local ordinances for such activity.

As “Repent America” attempted to speak, they were surrounded by a group of homosexual activists calling themselves the Pink Angels. Video-tape shows that the Pink Angels held up large signs of their own to cover up the biblical messages of “Repent America, and blew loud, high-pitched whistles to drown out their preaching. Things got rather noisy and someone called the police.

Instead of arresting the Pink Angels for interfering with the exercise of free speech, Philadelphia police arrested four members of “Repent America.” They were charged with eight crimes, including three felonies: possession of instruments of crime (a bullhorn), ethnic intimidation (saying that homosexuality is sinful), and inciting a riot (reading Bible verses relating to homosexuality) – although no riot actually occurred.

Who knows what the ultimate disposition of this case will be? At least one “Christian” group has hired lawyers to defend the four men, vowing to go “all the way to the Supreme Court” if necessary. Personally, I don’t believe that Christianity and social-activism have much in common, despite the influence of the Social Gospel over modern American religion for more than 100 years now. Christ didn’t come to guarantee civil liberties, but to set us at liberty from sin.

The story related above is simply one illustration of what Jesus taught His apostles on the night of His betrayal. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20). Jesus further warned, “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2).

No Christian should be caught unaware by the animosity and hatred of the world toward himself. It is part of counting the cost. See Matt. 10:34-39. Paul warned that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). It is only logical. The world caters to self and selfishness; Christ says to deny self. The world is concerned only with the here-and-now; Christ points us to the hereafter. The world is dominated by the prince of the earth who wants us for his own; Christ is the Prince of peace and sovereign of the universe who came to redeem us.

We must not cower in the face of intimidation and persecution. We must boldly stand for what we believe is right, trusting in Christ to vindicate us at the last day. If the world hates you, consider yourself in good company.

– Steve Dewhirst, Stonegate Standard, March 6, 2005

 THE VALUE OF BIBLE STUDY

It is vital that we have a good sense of values. We know this is true in everyday living. It is costly in buying and selling if we do not have a proper sense of values. The Bible shows the wreckage of many who did not have a discernment of values – Lot, Esau, Balaam, Judas and Demas. Do we recognize the value of Bible study? 

In order to have the proper value of Bible study, we must first have a proper value of the Bible. For those who likely read this, you already know the value of the Bible. We know it is very profitable as a guide for this life and to point the way to eternal life. We may give lip service to its value, but if we really value it, we will study it. Let us review some reasons reminding us of the Value of Bible Study.

It will give us faith (Jn 20:31). Faith is necessary for conversion (Acts 15:7) and pleasing God (Heb 11:6). It is vital for the child of God for “the just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17). Faith is our shield (Eph 6:16) and it will give us victory (1 Jn 5:4).

It will strengthen our hope which can save us (Rom 8:24). It will stimulate our desire to go to heaven and it will give us assurance we are on the way. It will serve as an anchor for the storms of life (Heb 6:18-20).

It will make us wise in what really counts (Ps 119:98, 99). It will make us wise if we continue in the things…learned (2 Tim 3:14, 15).

It will keep us from sin (Ps 119:9) or restrain us (Ps 119:11). It will enable us to overcome sin (1 Jn 2:4).

It will help prevent apostasy (Ps 37:31). A lack of knowledge of God’s word leads to destruction (Hos 4:6). 

It imparts joy (Ps 19:8). The world has been deceived into thinking it will take away joy (1 Jn 1:4). It enables us to have joy even in bad things (Jas 1:2-4; Rom 8:28).

It comforts (Ps 119:92). There is nothing that can comfort when a loved one departs from this life like the Bible (1 Thes 4:18). There will be times in the lives of each one that we need comfort. Bible study will enable us to find comfort.

It supplies food for the soul (Mt 4:4). It has a diet suitable for the babe and the mature (1 Pet 2:2). God’s word is to be desired more than gold or all material things (Ps 19:10).

It has good fruit (Mt 7:16). It has had an elevating effect on mankind. It has advanced liberty. It opposes those things which corrupt. It lifts up morality and gives dignity to women.

It saves the soul when properly received (Jas 1:21). It is not cold and dead, but is like a fire (Jer 23:29) and is living and powerful (Heb 4:12). It led 3000 people to seek salvation in Christ on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

If we know and believe these things, Bible study will be a part of our daily lives. 

- Robert W. Goodman

A LESSON FROM A PUMPKIN

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15, NKJV).

Earlier this year, all the way back in the springtime, a pumpkin vine sprouted up in our flower bed at the end of our house. I’m not sure how it got there, but there it was. It didn’t belong there, among the chrysanthemums and impatiens, but there it was. I had to choose between either leaving it or pulling it up with the myriad weeds that seem to grow nowhere else except where they are unwelcome. I chose to leave it alone. Not leave it alone, exactly, but maybe even help it along. I had been told that in order for plants like melons, squash, and pumpkins to bear fruit they must be constantly watered, since most of these are mostly water anyway. So I began to water the pumpkin vine. I watered every morning for months. The pumpkin vine grew to a length of over twenty feet. Every morning, it had the most beautiful yellow blooms, with five points extending to the morning sun. Every evening, the bloom would be wilted into an ugly brown mass.

After a time, I began to doubt that the pumpkin vine would ever bear fruit. Then one day, I found a tiny pumpkin at the base of one of the blooms. I continued to water and water, every morning, until the tiny pumpkin dried up and fell off the vine, never growing larger in diameter than a penny. I became discouraged in the pumpkin vine, even imagining in my mind that the dazzling blooms that appeared every morning were in some way mocking me. Yet I continued to water. I was transformed from a state of wondering why I was watering to being totally convinced that I was wasting my time. Yet I continued to water.

About two weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, I stepped outdoors to feed our beagles before returning for evening worship. I noticed that Meranda’s impatiens had wilted in the afternoon sun. I went to the back of the house and filled a bucket with water to give them a much-needed drink. As I rounded the front corner of the house, I pulled one of the flowers back from the edge of the house to water behind it. There, in the shade of the large flower, was a pumpkin the size of a basketball! It was as green as grass, but a pumpkin just the same. It was then that I realized that all the watering that I had done had been worth the time that I had previously thought wasted. I called to my four-year old son to come outside. When I moved the flower aside for him to see the pumpkin, the look on his face was priceless.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I become discouraged sometimes when I see teenagers seem to blossom forth, then wilt away. I become discouraged when I see young men and women begin to be fruitful, then wither and fall off the vine. I have voiced those concerns to wise brethren, much wiser than I am and they have given me the same reply. “Don’t ever stop watering.” For all those who wither, there may be one in the shadows in desperate need of water. Truly it is God’s wisdom, “don’t ever stop watering.”

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:7-8).

- David Ramey, Road Creek bulletin, Elkhorn City, KY

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