From the Pen of Paul

Helps in Studying the Bible

For the past few weeks we have been looking at the greatest book ever written. The Bible is God's Book; it is the Book of all books. We have asked and answered in the affirmative the questions, "Can we understand the Bible?" and "Is it possible for us to understand the Bible alike?" When we see the utter confusion that exists in the religious world today, we realize that most people do not understand this great Book. We suggested some reasons why this is so. In this final installment we want to suggest some things that will aid you in your perusal of the Holy Scriptures.

1. Don't jump to conclusions. Study everything the Bible teaches on any given subject before reaching a conclusion. John 3:16 and Acts 16:31 are great verses, but they do not contain God's entire plan of salvation outlined step-by-step; nor are these verses God's final say about salvation. To listen to most denominational preachers you would get the idea that these two verses contain the entire plan of salvation, and the sad fact is that they do not understand the teaching of these two wonderful statements of truth! If you will follow the method of study herein suggested, you will learn that Jesus has based salvation on hearing and learning the Gospel (John 6:44-45; Rom. 10:13-15), believing the truth (John 8:24; Heb. 11:6), repenting of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31), confession of Christ (Matt 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10), and baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Pet. 3:21). No one verse in the Bible includes all the steps in the plan of salvation. I often wonder why denominational preachers are selective in which verses they use and which they toss out. Use this same consistent method of study when studying such subjects as the church, baptism, worship, the Holy Spirit, the Lord's Supper, music in the New Testament church, etc.
2. Leave a passage in its proper setting. Don't lift a text out of its context. In other words, let a passage teach what it teaches and don't try to twist it to make it fit in some other area where the Holy Spirit did not place it. I Corinthians 2:9 is often applied to heaven when in reality the writer is talking about the revealed word of God given through inspiration of God's Spirit. I Corinthians 11:27 has been used to show that a man who has sinned during the previous week should not take the Supper; even though God's children are to live "soberly, righteously and godly" lives, this particular verse is not even discussing that fact. "Unworthily" is an adverb modifying the manner in which we partake. Verse 29 makes this clear. Matthew 7:1, left and studied in context, would never be used to teach that man is not to judge. That is not taught in this context at all. Matthew 18:15-17, in context, would never be used to prevent public rebuke and exposure of public false teaching. Study in context the thief on the cross and the conversion of the jailer and you will have no problem understanding the teaching contained in these events.
3. Allow the Bible to interpret itself. A difficult prophecy in Joel 2 is explained by Peter in Acts 2:16 when he says, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." The Holy Spirit identifies the "seven golden candlesticks" of Revelation 1 when he tells us "the seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches of Asia" (Rev. 1:20). We may struggle and guess at many of the symbols in the book of Revelation, but we are not left in the dark about the candlesticks at all. When Jesus said we must hate father, mother, wife, brothers, sisters, and self in order to be His disciple, He did not mean that we are to despise these individuals but rather that we are to love them less than we do our Lord. (Study Luke 14:26 and Genesis 29:29-31.)
4. Recognize matters of emphasis. In I Corinthians 1:17 Paul is emphasizing what every Gospel preacher should know: his number one responsibility is to preach the Gospel. Paul is not downplaying the necessity of baptism. I Peter 3:3-4 is not teaching that women should not plait their hair, wear jewelry, nor put on clothes. Peter is emphasizing a godly spirit that will produce outward modesty as well. Then consider the many examples of hyperbole (an exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis without intention of deception). Cutting off the hand that offends (Mark 9:43); "all of the land of Judea and Jerusalem" being baptized of John (Mark 1:5); straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel (Matt. 23:24), and many other passages are examples of hyperbole in the Bible. In every case they are used to emphasize some truth.

Next week, we will consider one or two other suggestions that will aid us in studying this marvelous Book.
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

The Bus Ministry

A number of years ago churches of Christ had what they called a bus ministry. Many churches had a bus or several buses and they brought in children as well as many adults to hear the Gospel. This was a good work but after a while it started a downward course and ultimately ceased to exist in most congregations.

Many of the churches did things they should not do in the bus ministry. We have no doubt they meant well but meaning well does not make a thing right. Some congregations put money under the seat on the buses in order to get people to get on the bus and go to worship. When approached about the matter, some said those who did so were opposed to the bus ministry. This was not so. What was being approached was an unscriptural practice. The Bible nowhere authorizes the church to pay people to come to worship. Hundreds of years ago a man by the name of Constantine gave white robes in order to get men and women to be baptized. Of course this was wrong but no more wrong than paying people to come and hear the Gospel of Christ. When the apostle Paul and his companions went on a mission trip, they did not fill their pockets with money to be given to those who came to hear them preach. The drawing power with those inspired men was Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Cor. 2:1-2; John 12:32).

Today many thousands of dollars are collected from churches and individuals to be given when men go on mission trips. What do some missionaries do with this money? Who knows in some cases? We do know that it is given to those who come to the gospel campaigns and are baptized. What is the difference in paying people to come to church in the United States and giving to people in the mission fields of Africa, India, and other places gifts and money for coming to a crusade? We see no difference in such. Give us money to be given to those who attend a campaign for Christ in the United States and we will have large crowds.

We believe brethren need to take a good scriptural look at what is going on in the mission field. We also believe the missionaries need to take a good Bible look as well. We hear of these glowing reports on the mission field in certain parts of the world. How much money is connected to this as well as certain gifts to those in attendance? We have talked with missionaries who spend full time in the mission fields and they tell us that if the Gospel is preached as it should be there is little difference in the number present and those baptized and that of the United States. Are the brethren who make the mission tours from time to time giving loaves and fishes to get people to attend and be baptized? Think about this brethren.
—Malcolm L. Hill