AN OPENING WORD
The East Columbus church of Christ begins with this issue to offer a monthly teaching medium to provide Scriptural instruction and exhortation to interested individuals in our local community. The two men who will be most directly obligated to accomplish this task will be Aubrey Belue and Joel Ellis. It is their desire to be helpful and accurate in setting forth the material needed to benefit our readers. It should be obvious that these are fallible men, prone to the same frailties and missteps that are common to all, and thus liable to make mistakes in their teaching. We hope that our readers will have the desire to learn Bible truth, AND to insist that only Bible truth be taught. If mistakes occur in what you read, we not only allow, we welcome and solicit your questions, your criticisms, and other input you might deem suitable.
From time to time, either or both of these men
will be involved in the writings which will be seen on these pages. At times,
the valued contributions of other writers will also. In each case, the intent is
to teach truth, and to examine what others may offer as truth, on a wide variety
of scriptural topics. We want to be useful, and our goal is to exalt Scripture.
We are committed to its spread, and to its defense. We do not intend to go into
homes which will resent our presence. If you see value in the effort, and are
concerned with the advancement of truth, we will be happy to study with you. If
you know of others who might also be of like spirit, you are welcome to submit
their names and addresses, and we will include them in our mailing list. A
simple "please stop" will serve to have your name removed from it. While we do
not intend to publish everything we receive, we promise to give each
communication careful consideration, and make every effort to deal fairly with
it. To start with, we only ask for a fair hearing, and a degree of tolerance to
allow us to fully make the case for truth.
-AcBelue
“HE LEFT NOT HIMSELF WITHOUT WITNESS..."
In Acts 14, Paul and his company were faced with a situation which was not common in their efforts to spread the gospel. In fact, they had just been forced to leave the city of Iconium because of the resentment and persecution which had attended their work there (that WAS common). They came to the city of Lystra, where they healed a man who had been lame since birth. Far from resenting their presence, the people of Lystra welcomed them, and treated them like "gods". Paul rejected their adoration, and pointed them to "the living God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things therein…" He called upon them to recognize the work of God, and so, the existence of God, by showing them. "He left not Himself without witness..." In other words, by looking around them, they should be able to understand that there was a supreme Being which deserved our worship.
As he teaches in Rom 1: 18-21, "the invisible things of Him…are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead..." The Psalmist, in Psalm 19: 1 affirms that "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork...” Thus, nature itself is a declaration of the Divine presence, and should sufficiently impress us to cause us to turn to Him and worship Him. For those who do so, He has left another "witness", His divine word. The Bible has stood the test of the ages, and stands as the reliable source of what we can know of God and His purpose. We will be well served if we are able to "receive it, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God..." (1 Thess. 2:13) We find within its pages God's revelation of Himself, and His answer to human needs and problems. There is no need to "guess at" what we should do and believe; it is all there!
Without apology, we will use this little paper to do our best to exalt Him and His word. It will be the ultimate answer for any questions which might be raised by our readers. So much depends upon our respect for and response to the great gift of His gospel. The greatest good man can do is to exalt and proclaim it. The Editors
The Goal of Bible Study
Though often ridiculed in the entertainment media, Bible study is a very worthwhile effort. Those who make sincere study of the scriptures a regular practice can attest to the comfort and strength they receive from that habit. Unfortunately, however, many who study the Bible fail to realize the true purpose of such an endeavor. For many religious people, the Bible is a convenient means of justifying what they want to believe. Too often we may study to vindicate our own position, rather than to discover what God’s truth says.
The Bible was written and preserved for a very specific purpose: to teach, rebuke, and correct us in our thinking and conduct. (2Tim. 3:16-17) Our commitment must be to the truth and to faithfully obeying whatever the scriptures direct us to do. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:21-22) Those who hear God’s word but do not obey it deceive themselves. They think that they are accepted by God. They may be very religious. They may read their Bible everyday. They may devoutly attend church services and listen to preaching. But because they do not obey the words they hear, the scriptures do not impart the blessings that they are designed by God to give.
How does one know that he or she is a doer of the word and not merely a hearer of it? The best indicator is our response to the word of God as we encounter it. When was the last time you made a conscious change in your thinking or behavior as a result of something you read in or learned from the Bible? When did the word of God last convict you of sin? When you read the word of God, do you find yourself making excuses for the way you think and live? Do you find yourself dismissing the text or telling yourself it does not mean what it says?
The Bible will test our honesty in a way that no other book ever can. Bible study is a means to an end. Our objective ought to be to learn more about God and how He would have us live. Is that your goal in Bible study? Is it mine? If so, then God’s word will be a source of blessing, comfort, and reward for us. If not, then the words of scripture that we so readily hear will be the words that condemn us in the last day. (John 12:48) –Joel Ellis
GIVE ME THE TRUTH
If you are my friend, if you are concerned about my soul, give me the Truth. Do not flatter me. Do not praise virtues while remaining silent about my vices. Do not fear the Truth will offend me. Do not treasure our friendship, our friendly relations above my salvation. Do not think by ignoring my sins, you can help me. Do not think that being blind to my sins will make you charitable. However I may react to it, whatever may be my attitude toward you after you have done it, GIVE ME THE TRUTH!
For the Truth, and ONLY the Truth, can make me free from the shackles of sin, strengthen me in the pathway of righteousness and lead me into the joys of Heaven. If I am wavering, weak, lukewarm, indifferent, neglectful; if I have been overtaken in a trespass; if I have been drawn into the pleasures of the world; if I have left my first love; if I have been led astray by error, or if I have done none of these things, but simply need to grow in knowledge and then be edified, GIVE ME THE TRUTH! -Bill Crews