Watchman Archives

When someone finds authority for the church to furnish recreation, amusement and entertainment, he will have found authority for gymnasiums “and such like.” Until then, such things exist without scriptural authority.

Educated people have always considered obscenity the haven of the coarse, uneducated and immoral man. It is the language of the drunken sailor, not the poet; of the tramp, not the businessman; of the law breaker, not the law maker. If that is now changing, we are saddened. However, we as Christians must refuse to be influenced by this ungodliness.

There is safety and popular acceptance in the camp of sin, but courage and faith require us to go out to Jesus and stand by his side no matter what. Are you ready for that?

For the organizationally impaired, (including yours truly), PDAs are wonderful devices. Used properly, the device can be wonderfully helpful to the busy preacher.

We are not infallible, and we are open to any truth that may be presented to us; we will change when convinced we are wrong. But two things we do know, and of them we are certain: (1) truth does not contradict truth, and (2) we will not learn by hiding our heads in the sand and refusing to admit that religious divisions exist, or that such are wrong.

This is a classic example of making the Bible to be what we want it to be, rather than letting the Bible make us what God wants us to be! It is a play-thing with the unbelievers who play the role of God in producing a “Bible” that will reflect what they want to believe and how they want to live.

God’s creation was not done in several ways, therefore, we cannot choose any way that satisfies us and still be right in God’s eyes. It was done one way, and only one way; to say otherwise is to refuse to sanctify God in the eyes of man.

Seeing the manifold grace and power that God has extended to us in the gospel, let us strive to be more diligent each and every day to make our calling and election sure. Let us run the race that has been set before us, seeing that Christ has so run. And let us study to show ourselves approved unto God, a people that not only know the word but who are also not afraid to teach it.

The Jews preached Moses as the law and the prophets were “read in the synagogue every Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14, 15, 27; 15:21). But hearing, they heard not, and seeing they saw not, for they rejected him who was the sum and substance of all they read and heard. Both in an out of the church, it is likewise true today.

Gentleness deserves it place in the lists of Christian virtues. Paul rightly points out that “against such there is no law.” A meek, gentle, humble person is walking “worthy of the calling with which you were called”, and justly has his place in the “the elect of God, holy and beloved.”

Young ladies, adorn yourselves with godliness. Young man, put on the armor of light and walk properly, making no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:11-14). Your attire can incite lust just as easily as hers, so keep your shirt on in public and dress to befit godliness as well.

Is faith essential to pleasing God? You know it is. Have enough faith to believe everything God has said and do everything God has said to do and be. Put your hope and trust in Him and in His gospel, His own power to save your soul. Never be ashamed to say, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

My brother, my sister, do you have hope for the future? If not, you need to read your Bibles. God put these stories in the Bible so that a “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) will impart hope to us. They had their own time that tried their souls but they overcame by faith in God. Let us take cheer that we may also be able to overcome and join that elect band.

Our society has witnessed unquestionable ungodliness on display in every realm from places of political power to family relationships — from corporate settings to religious circles. Yet, we have chosen a tolerant acquiescence over a bold stand for right. It seems the voters in this country are ready to sacrifice a stand for honor as long as peace and prosperity prevail. Such is to be expected as characteristic of the world (1 John 2:15-17). However, it is very distressing to see many among God’s people doing the same thing in principle.

We need people who will make the world a better place in which to live. People who will make the church better. People who will make the family and nation better. We see by the fruit of good and evil which is the best course to follow. But there are so many wicked people around us that it is easier to give in and join them than rise to a nobler plane. Which will it be for you? “Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Let us all remember as we go forth to teach others the gospel that many religions are preaching their own teaching on salvation in Christ. Stories of conversion, like that of the Ethiopian Eunuch, help us to show the lost the way of salvation in truth.

Happily do we join hearts and hands in the work and worship prescribed of God with all who “in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2; 4:6, 17; 11:2). However, until we are shown from the Scriptures that instruments of music are authorized as part of the worship of the church, we can have neither part nor lot with them and shall oppose them as we would any other human tradition and innovation (Revelation 22:18, 19).

The appearance of the temporarily glorified Jesus foreshadowed the day of Pentecost when the permanently glorified master would be sitting upon David’s throne with all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18-20), the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). His future resurrection body was on display that day, the figure he would take on forever when he shed his earthly tabernacle after death.

It may not look like it, but your preacher is probably sowing the gospel seed through his modem in ways you cannot imagine. Don’t assume that he is wasting his time and your money when you find him with a keyboard and a Bible instead of knocking on doors. He may be answering one of hundreds of Internet queries that he will receive this year.

We must strive always to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). We must not employ tactics to grow that are beyond or short of the New Testament’s teaching. The only way to come out of error is to realize what it is. Studying the Bible, as did the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11), is what brought me away from Liberalism.