The Value of Doubt

by Larry Rouse

Late in his ministry John the Baptist sent two disciples to Jesus with this startling question: “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? (Luke 7:19-20)” To the careful Bible student this question makes no sense when you first consider it. John appears to have doubt about a matter that he had earlier expressed great confidence in. Jesus described John as being the greatest of the prophets (Luke 7:28). How can this happen with such a man of faith?

Consider the earlier experiences and statements of John the Baptist. He had witnessed the Holy Spirit come down upon Jesus as a dove and had heard the voice of God from heaven proclaim: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mt 3:17)” Shortly after these events, John boldly proclaimed this eyewitness account to his own disciples. It is from these very men that Jesus would later choose his 12 disciples. Listen to the bold, confident proclamation from John as to the identity of Jesus Christ. “And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:32-36)”

Possible Causes of John’s Doubt

The bulk of John’s ministry consisted of his strong preaching to the multitudes in the wilderness. He was an outdoors man described as being clothed in camel hair, and eating wild locusts and honey (Mt 3:4). He was arrested and imprisoned for boldly and accurately teaching the will of God. His stand of faith was exactly the stand God wanted him to make. But now he is isolated and soon would be killed. This sudden change of lifestyle would cause any man great pain. It is at this time that a man of faith would step forward and review the very foundations of his faith.

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The Dark Path of Bitterness

by Larry Rouse

How is it possible for Satan to defeat and capture a child of God who had previously escaped his grasp? Satan is exposed in the Bible for the deceiver that he is. Jesus described him as having “no truth in him” and as being a “liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). While it is inconceivable for a Christian to ever imagine himself as willingly placing his life under the control of the “evil one,” Satan, in fact, has a strong track record of accomplishing this very thing. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Satan’s goal is to cut off the word of God from your heart and then drive you by your emotions. The Bible frames the struggle in this way: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13). Over the years I have witnessed many of my brethren destroyed in this manner, and the vast majority were overcome with bitterness and anger.

There is a place for anger! When Jesus asked a straightforward question and received no reply, He looked into their hearts and responded in this way: “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts…”(Mark 3:5). My Lord was angry, but my Lord never sinned. There is a place for anger when it is under control and directed by the principles of God’s word.  “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27). We need to be angry when we see sin! But always remember this warning “do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” because a failure to do so will give the devil a place in your heart. And be assured, he will take advantage of it.

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On Worship

by Norman Buselmeier

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24).

According to this statement of the Lord by John, God wants worshippers who shall worship him in spirit and in truth. That it is these only that shall be the true worshippers. The Lord says further of those who worship God — that in spirit and in truth it must be done.

There are some phrases so simple in construction and yet so specifically definitive in their meaning, that to fail in understanding would seem impossible; but which at the same time, upon meditation, open up a field for thought far beyond the horizon, which would seem to defy the human intellect to comprehend. This, to me, is one. And what I shall say here could be only a bare beginning.

Worship is essentially a spiritual business. It has to do with God on one hand, the spirit and soul of man on the other. Man acts — God receives. The Spirit acts — man receives. This is a realm in which God's word is the only authority, the law final! God has in every respect the right to say who shall worship Him, and how. This He does. True worshippers worship in spirit and truth.

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Two Views of Time -- God's and Man's

by Larry Rouse

A wise man is aware of how short life truly is. “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps 90:12). As we come to see the great uncertainty that the future holds from the standpoint of man’s wisdom and insight, we ought to take great comfort in knowing that we serve a God who holds the future in His hands. Men change, nations rise and fall, my own body grows old and will die, but our God never changes! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).

The Difference 100 Years Makes

 We tend to judge history by own current standards and experiences. Consider the difficulty we would have in understanding the generation that lived just over 100 years ago. Consider these facts from another writer: “Here are the U. S. statistics for 1904. The average life expectancy in the US was 47. Only 14% of the homes in the US had a bathtub. Only 8% of the homes had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. The average wage in the US was $0.22/hour. More than 95% of all births in the US took place at home. 90% of all US physicians had no college education. Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg. The American flag had 45 stars. The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30. Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from high school. There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire US.” Now imagine what will the next 100 years bring!

The Struggle of Daniel’s Generation

The great Old Testament prophet Daniel had a struggle to comprehend the world that he lived in. He was taken from his home in Israel when he was around17 and lived the rest of his life in foreign lands. After he was brought to Babylon his name was changed from Daniel (God is my judge) to Belteshazar (a servant of Bel, the principle Babylonian deity) (Dan 1:7). He was taught a different language and lived in a completely pagan culture. Early in his stay there the news came to his ears of the destruction of Jerusalem including the temple of God built by Solomon.

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Marriage Should be Honored by All

by Don Alexander

Hebrews 13:4 states that, "marriage should be honored in all, and the marriage bed kept pure..." That is what God says in His Word. That is not what society says. The verse goes on to say, "...for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

"In all" may mean "among all people," "in all things," or "altogether or completely." "Marriage" is free from the sanctions of asceticism on one hand and the licentious behavior of libertinism on the other. "The bed" and the relationship of trust and love it symbolizes (Eph. 5:21ff; I Pet. 3:1-8) is to be respected and highly regarded, "honored."

God will "judge" those who dishonor it by general sexual impurity or extramarital sexual relations, "fornicators and adulterers." That includes those who have "affairs" (I Cor. 6:9-10). It includes "marriages" which never should have been consummated because of unscriptural divorces and remarrying (Mt. 19:9). It includes those who are in '"long-term, committed relationships," without the benefit of "marriage," which are sexually immoral and adulterous. It includes those who are sexually immoral even though they are "consenting adults" to the acts of fornication (Gal. 5:19-21). It includes those who are in same-sex relationships, even though they claim they are "monogamous and committed" (Rom. 1:26-27).

The judgment of God will be on all of these as well as the "significant other" relationships which avoid marriage and "husband and wife" relationships. If you want to obey God, you have to do so in a heterosexual, committed and loving, monogamous, and married relationship (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:9; Eph. 5:31). Ignoring even the laws of civil states regarding the solemnization of marriage vows in favor of "we know we are committed to each other" won't escape the judgment of God (Rom. 13:1ff).

Now such a relationship in "marriage" is to be "honored by all." There is great honor in being married. I know that marriage is a bitter pill for some whose expectations were self-centered or unrealistic. They have been disappointed that "marriage" did not fulfill all their "golden fancies of all their golden dreams." That the other person to whom they are married is not like them in every way and is at times intolerable and unlikable.

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Is Non-Denominational Christianity Possible?

by Mark E. Larson

"That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." (John 17:21, NASB). In a world where religious division is common and where thousands upon thousands of “Christian” denominations exist, the idea of “Non-denominational Christianity” as Jesus prayed may seem to some people like a “fairy tale,” a “pipe dream,” or too idealistic. Yet, that doesn’t stop people from trying. Many are desperate to escape the problem of denominationalism and work to free them from it. So when a religious group or church claims to be non-denom. (non-denominational) or is working toward that goal, it can be quite appealing in a world of religious confusion.

In America, there is an ever growing popularity of “non-denom.” churches. Many “mega-churches” claim to be non-denom. Even many churches that belong to a denomination claim to be non-denom. to sound more attractive to church seekers. Why the trend to be “non-denom.”? Certainly the interest by some comes from a sincere desire to be “Christians only.” Yet, unfortunately, most people who want to be non-denom. do not understand what that actually means. Many believe that anything different and new is non-denom. which is a huge mistake (1 Tim. 6:20-21). Many wrongly suppose that to be non-denom. all traditions must be set aside, including the “traditions” or instructions handed down by the apostles of Christ (2 Thes. 2:15). Others merely seek to escape the need for authority, doctrine, leadership, and organization, even though the Bible clearly teaches the necessity of all of these (Col. 1:18; 3:17; Acts 2:42; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Phil 1:1b; Tit 1:5; etc.). Therefore, the mere claim of a church to be non-denom. doesn’t make it so.

What is a Denomination?

To understand what it means to be non-denominational we need to first understand what it means to be denominational. The word denomination cannot be found in the Scriptures; therefore we look to definitions provided by English dictionaries: “1. A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy. 2. One of a series of kinds, values, or sizes, as in a system of currency or weights: Cash registers have compartments for bills of different denominations…3. A name or designation, especially for a class or group (American Heritage Dictionary); “4. a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices” (Merriam-Webster Online). From these definitions we learn the following:

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Spiritual "Urban Legends"

by Larry Rouse

Men have always been gullible and quick to believe and spread false stories they have heard from another. In this internet age and with the use of e-mail, false stories are spread like lightning and are accepted by millions without a second thought. Even when websites are dedicated to debunking these falsehoods, and conscientious people inform others about what is true, these false stories never seem to die. The modern term coined to describe these deceptions is “Urban Legends.”

Here are but a few of these Urban Legends that sincere people have sent me:

“Forward this e-mail and Bill Gates will pay you $156.29!”

“NASA scientist has found a missing day that proves Old Testament
miracles!”

“Terrorists are buying UPS uniforms!”

“You must write the FCC now or Madelyn Murray O’Hare will ban all religious broadcasts.”

As Christians, we should be concerned about every word that comes out of our mouths and every e-mail that we write or forward that bears our names (Matthew 12:36). These and other false stories cost others money, damaged the reputations of others, and hurt the creditability of those that spread them.

Our society thinks of themselves as being informed and enlightened and above the ignorant beliefs of past generations. The hard truth is that this generation is just like all past generations and has often accepted falsehoods without any attempt to investigate what is true. 

How does this apply to our religious world? How many doctrines and practices that are commonly believed are actually taught in the Bible? God commended the Bereans because they “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). When you begin to actually “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), that is check what men do and say by God’s word, then you will also find many things that are accepted by millions and practiced by “mainline” denominations are nothing more than spiritual “Urban Legends.”

The Literal Reappearing of the Body and Blood of Jesus

When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to commemorate His death, He used bread and fruit of the vine to represent His body and blood that was to be given as a sacrifice for our forgiveness. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). Just as the Passover meal reminded the Israelites of a past merciful act of God, so the Lord’s Supper or Communion would remind all Christians of all times about the sacrifice of Jesus. The power in this act of worship is found in the remembrance and not in some mystical strength in the physical elements (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24-25).

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The Emptiness of a Culture-Based Worship

by Larry Rouse

We live in an age where numbers determine the success of everything. A business must be judged by its growing profit numbers, a team must be judged by the number of wins, and individuals are judged by their accumulation of things that, too, are given a numerical value. The religions of this world have fully imbibed this spirit and proclaim their successes by their numbers and by their growth rate. How does our God view these things?

While the early church had a phenomenal growth that produced real disciples for the glory of God, the Lord never judged these churches by just numbers. Among the seven churches of Asia, faithfulness was not determined by numbers, financial success or popularity in the community. The one church that received nothing but praise from the Lord was the church at Smyrna. From a community standpoint this church was despised, and consisted of people who were not successful in the ways of the world. How did God view them? “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)...” (Revelation 2:9).

Sincere, but misguided men, have thought to survey their communities and produce the kind of church that would appeal to the greatest number of people. In every age there have been fads that attracted people to these latest trends. However, the trends that are “hot” today are discarded for something else tomorrow.

During Bible times in the city of Colossae, there were those who claimed to worship angels, while others showed their great “devotion” by depriving themselves of certain things. Their outward liveliness and the newness of their beliefs attracted numbers from the world who marveled at their “commitment.” How did God view their “success”?  “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:18-19). Paul points out the only real test of success before God is “holding fast to the Head.” Is your success based on the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head of the church? Are you building on His word or are you enticing people through the flesh? Numbers cannot answer that question.

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest Kings of Israel, Josiah, seemed to achieve a stunning success in bringing Israel back to God—if you judge by the numbers.

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Do You Know the Holy Spirit?

by Mark E. Larson

Do you really know the Holy Spirit? As much as the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit, it is a wonder then why so little thought or consideration is given to Him. In our understanding of who God is, we must not forget about the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, many people do not think of the Holy Spirit as a Person and therefore their disrespect of Him shows. Many talk about the Holy Spirit as if He equaled a powerful emotion to be experienced. Many define Him as some kind of unexplainable, mysterious energy force of the cosmos. They will speak of Him as an influence or a power of God, but rarely if ever as a Person, one of the three persons that comprise Deity.

The apostle Paul by the Spirit said to his Corinthian brethren: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:14, NASB) We should know the Holy Spirit with whom we have fellowship! Taking the time to study the Scriptures will clear up any misunderstandings we have and enrich the relationship we are meant to have with the Holy Spirit as Christians.

The Holy Spirit is Holy!

The word spirit in the New Testament comes from the Greek word PNEUMA. There are several different uses of the word in Scripture (e.g., wind – Jn 3:8; breath – 2 Thes 2:8; unclean spirits – Mt 10:1). What sets the Holy Spirit apart is that He is holy! (Jn 14:26).

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The Silence of the Bible

by H. Leo Boles

There has been a great deal of discussion on "The Silence of the Bible." Some have emphasized the respect we should have for the authority of God by respecting the silence of the Bible. Others have taught that where the Bible is silent, we have a right to speak. The issue is, "Does God give to man the right to teach and practice in the name of Christ anything about which there is no divine revelation?" Has God given sufficient guidance in all affairs that pertain to the work and worship of the Lord? Has He left some things to the wisdom and judgment of man? How shall we know what has been left to the judgment of man in the work and worship of the Lord?

If, by His silence in revelation, God has granted to man the right to teach and practice some things, then there opens a field of strife and division. Man cannot agree with his fellows as to what must be brought in, and no greater source of division can be found than the different standards of men.

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The Christians Apparel -- Inside and Out

by Larry Rouse

The real measure of a Christian lies on the inside. Jesus repeatedly warned those who admired the hypocrites of that day that it was “out of the heart” that one’s actions arise (Mt 12:34-35, 15:18-19). Later, our Lord confronted these men with the plainest and strongest words of His ministry. “For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Mt 23:25-26). In every application we make of God’s word we must first start with the heart.

Does it Matter What a Christian Wears?

The subject of clothing is a highly personal one and one that commonly provokes great emotion. Many who claim to be Christians place this subject as off-limits to the Lord and especially to those who teach His word. How many times have I heard someone say: “It doesn’t matter what you wear, but what is inside your heart is all that matters!” Is that really what the scriptures teach?

The scriptures plainly address the relationship of our hearts to what we wear. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV). What is the condition of the heart described in this verse, and what is the kind of dress that will follow?

Essential Elements in the Heart of the Christian

Modest apparel is a product of shamefacedness and sobriety, qualities that ought to be in the heart of every Christian. The English word “shamefacedness” is a good translation of the Greek word “aidos.” Greek lexicons define this word as meaning “the idea of downcast eyes; a sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect.” The word “sobriety” indicates “soundness of mind, self-control.” In essence, the Christian will not seek to draw the attention of others to themselves through their clothing. They will not be trend setters, seeking the latest fashions regardless of the message conveyed to others by those fashions.

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The Power of a Presence

by Larry Rouse

A real test of spiritual maturity is found in the understanding of the presence of God. As a child of God partakes of the Lord’s Supper, he should realize that there is a divine presence with him. Jesus promised that as we remember His death in the supper that He is a fellow partaker with us. “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Mt 26:29). While we cannot see the Lord’s presence by sight, we nonetheless recognize His very real participation by the sight of a living faith. ^“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Heb 11:27)

The presence of God is a reality if a man recognizes it or not. While Jonah foolishly attempted to flee from the presence of God at first (Jonah 1:3), he came to greatly appreciate the impossibility of doing that as he prayed for God’s help from the belly of the great fish (Jonah 2:1, Ps 139:7-9).

The Power of the Presence of God

The real power of God’s presence is found when we are in fellowship with God and thus have the promises and protection of His covenant. Without these promises, the knowledge of His presence is unsettling. It ought to bring fear and trembling to the wicked (Jer 5:22-23). That is why wicked men try to divorce God from even being in their thoughts (Rom 1:28). What the wicked flees from, the child of God pursues! How comforting to know that we serve a God who sees and knows everything that happens to us and, as a result, will provide for us and never forsake us (1 Pt 3;13-14, Heb 13:5-6).

The Power of the Presence of Men

We all can relate to the power of the presence of men in our associations. One of the most powerful tools that Satan uses is the fear of what men might see and do as they judge our actions. How many are in fact “secret disciples,” those that recognize the truth about Jesus, but out of fear of men refuse to stand for Him (Jn 9:22, 12:42-43)? We cannot be a disciple of Christ if we seek to please men (Gal 1:10).

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