Watchman Archives

Likewise, we may be tempted upon a surface reading of the Genesis genealogical material to see the genealogies as absolute chronologies, but that is not what the Bible calls them, and that is not what the entire biblical context shows them to be. As Benjamin B. Warfield has written, “The general fact that the genealogies of Scripture were not constructed for a chronological purpose and lend themselves ill to employment as a basis for chronological calculations has been repeatedly shown very fully. These genealogies must be esteemed trustworthy for the purpose for which they are recorded; but they cannot safely be pressed into use for other purposes for which they were not intended, and for which they are not adapted” (“Antiquity and Unity of the Human Race” in Biblical and Theological Studies 240-241).

I do not consider that those materials which we are about to review constitute a serious attempt at refutation of my work on the geneologies, for if it were actually possible to refute it, I believe that would have been done at the time it first appeared. Moreover, I am convinced that our opponents would have jumped at the chance to formulate a written repudiation of my article, and that has not yet seen the light of day.

The points we need to remember are this. (1) The Lord’s Day is special. It is different from the other days of the week. (2) The activities of that day are to praise and honor the Lord. (3) We are to treat this day different that the rest of the world does. (4) This is not a day for serving self.

May God help us all to better understand and appreciate that the first day of the week is truly the “Lord’s Holy Day”.

As with most every American holiday, there are backgrounds of paganism and Catholicism involved in Halloween. Certainly, we want to make sure we avoid any appearance of these, even as we would of Christmas. In one community in which we lived, the Satanists were prominent enough (there were three active covens) that the local police suggested bringing in any black animals the week prior to Halloween. There, most people who professed Christianity did not go door to door, but had private parties or would go treating in the mall. The local culture will determine to some degree whether the Christian can participate.

All the things of man’s invention will be destroyed. Jesus said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted” (Matthew 15:13). Therefore, those who observe Easter in an attempt to worship Christ will be condemned — they will lose their souls. Do not be among that number!

Christmas, in truth, represents much of what is wrong with efforts to serve God today. Good but uninformed people seek to serve God in a manner that seems acceptable to them and/or to those around them (Romans 10:1-3). God’s word, if consulted at all, is studied for the purpose of authorizing practice or general relevant information, rather than to seek his will (1 Kings 22:4-8). The joint participation in events that please man warms the heart, giving joy and a sense of belonging to what are thought to be “fellow Christians” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). The continuance in error over a long period of time hardens the heart to any dissenting voice (Acts 7:51-52). By contrast, religious figures that agree with the ways one has chosen are gladly heard (Jeremiah 5:31-32). It all results in efforts, often massive, intended to bring glory to God that are an abomination in his sight and work to the damnation of souls involved (Isaiah 1:10-15; Micah 6:6-8; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

So, in conclusion, is it wrong to dress up in a costume, eat candy and carve pumpkins? Certainly not. However, be careful about your influence. If you are mimicking paganism, witchcraft, violence, and Satanism, you have gone too far. Refuse to make light of the very things that represent rebellion against God.

The history of a “feast of the resurrection” or Easter is simply not found in the Bible. It is extra-biblical in its origin, development and observance. The scriptures teach us of, and persuade us to believe in, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The scriptures teach us that the day of His resurrection – the first day of the week – is the approved day of our memorial worship and praise. Nowhere in the pages of the inspired text are we taught to celebrate an annual holy day in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. While the New Testament records the events of the last week of Christ’s life, nowhere does it instruct us to observe them as holy days of a holy season (Lent, Palm Sunday, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday).

To observe Christmas as a “religious” holiday is wrong! It is wrong because the Bible has not authorized it. Friends, the day of Christ’s birth is not revealed in the Bible, and we need to respect that (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29). We also need to shun the speculation which says, “Christ had to have been born sometime, and December 25th is as good a day as any to celebrate His birth!” Let’s just obey what God has authorized, remember the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection, and leave our speculation out of it.

An individual is at liberty to make special use of any day (esteem, or show a preference above another) for study, meditation, and prayer, in addition to the Lord’s day (the first day of the week). He may esteem Sunday as the day in which to refrain from all secular work and play for the entirety of the day. But he is not at liberty to so use a day as to violate the law of Christ, nor to bind the practice upon others.

Brethren and friends, it is “nonsense” and a play on words to refuse to acknowledge and name one as being a false teacher who teaches false doctrine with a good heart. One might ask, “What difference does it make as long as the false doctrine is exposed?” The “sting” is taken out of the identity of one who is marked as such. It is a “softening” toward the one who needs to be noted and avoided! One is made to wonder why one would insist the character must be flawed before he can be labeled as a false teacher!

Brethren who agree on divorce and remarriage, Romans 14, worldliness, the worship, work and organization of the church need to be fighting error side by side with all their might instead of devouring one another.

False teachers lead many astray and play upon friendship and the martyr-complex to win sympathy for their cause. Our answer is to insist upon scripture. Personal attacks and petulant outbursts are not sufficient — we demand nothing short of a “thus saith the Lord.”

Language could not be plainer to one who believes what the Lord said. To those who are wedded to a doctrine rather than love for the truth, nothing will suffice to convince their hardened hearts (2 Thessalonians. 2:10-12).

The interesting thing about this affirmative address, beyond the fact that it accomplished everything Matt intended it to accomplish, is that Mr. Streutker could not and did not really even attempt to answer any of Matt’s challenges.

May God help us as we strive to cope with these present problems. May we humbly turn to God and submit to Him in all things. May this wake some up out of their spiritual slumber (Romans 13:11) and may many become Christians before it is too late (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Scientists pour millions of man hours into a project designed to, in some limited way, mimic man’s emotions and intellect. These same scientists deny a Designer in the original. This shows them to have a prejudiced mind. Too often Christians fear the so-called knowledge of the “experts.” We are intimidated by the terminology, ill-prepared to counter the bold assertions, and cowed by the letters behind the names. Rather, we should see such men who rail against the revelation of God as ineffectual children who “won’t see it” because they refuse to “open their eyes.”

If we are going to take it upon ourselves to convert those in places far from other Christians, we ought to also consider how we are going to “service” such converts.

To be sure, let us work at whatever business appeals to us to support our families, but let us also be busy for the Lord.

One must hear the gospel, believe it, repent of his sins, be baptized and continue to do all things commanded by Christ through His apostles. The one who meets those conditions is blessed by God to be a disciple of Christ, saved and remitted of sins. Very simply, those are the conditions and blessings laid down by Christ in His will.