From the Pen of Paul

The Book of Books

"Of making of many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh" (Ecclesiates 12:12b).

There have literally been millions and millions of books written and they continue to be written even as this article is being composed. To say that the Bible is the Book of all Books is to make a huge claim. Why do we say that this is so?

The Bible is the Book of Books because it is from God. Man could never have produced it. "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23). And Paul was later to write: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (I Cor. 2:9). It was "given by inspiration of God" (II Tim. 3:16); this makes it "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Inspiration means that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21). In I Corinthians 2:9-13 Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, explains inspiration further. Notice these steps:

1. The Spirit searched all things especially the deep things of God (vs. 10).
2. These things were then revealed unto us (apostles and other inspired writers) (vs. 10, 12).
3. These things were then spoken and written in the "words" which the Holy Spirit gave from God (vs. 13).

Because of this revelation through inspiration, Paul was able to say, "we have the mind of Christ" (I Cor. 2:16). How could this be so?—by revelation of God's Holy Spirit through inspiration.

This inspired Book is so great and important that man is forbidden to tamper with its contents. Even from olden times this has been true. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it" (Deut. 4:2). And just shortly before John laid down the pen of inspiration, he warned us again, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19).

In fact, this Book is so important and vital that a great curse falls upon anyone who alters it in any way. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preach unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:6-9). The word used here for "accursed" is as strong as it gets! Peter also shows the curse involved in teaching "another gospel" in II Peter 2:1. He writes, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

In fact, this Book is so important, that even the Son of God did not tamper with it. He stated in his great Sermon on the Mount, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matt. 5:17-18).

Can this Book of Books be understood? Many praise it for its beauty and its longevity but deny that it can be understood. But the inspired writers of the Book also tell us that it CAN be understood. Paul tells us that "God is not the author of confusion" (I Cor. 14:33). He said that he wrote "none other things unto you, than what ye read and acknowledge; and I trust that ye shall acknowledge even to the end" (II Cor. 1:13). And, in Ephesians 3:1-5 Paul explains to the church at Ephesus how "by revelation he [God, PMW] made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy prophets and prophets by the Spirit." Note: Isn't that the same way that Paul described inspiration in I Corinthians 2:9-13? And after explaining this revelation, he writes, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).

Yes, the Bible CAN be understood. Thank God for that! Next week, we will look at the question: can we understand the Bible alike?
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Church Growth: Where do you stand?

The churches of Christ have made very little progress in the past several years. When we consider the liberalism and digression within the body of Christ we are led to believe that we have gone backward somewhat.

The church in general has been following the plan of man in evangelism instead of the plan of God. Modern psychology, along with many other things and ideas, has flooded the church. Many congregations have their drama teams which in turn put on plays which in turn entertain those present. It is not unusual for many congregations to have bake sales, car washes, and other money-making projects for income. The Bible certainly does not endorse such, but it does teach that the only way the church is to be supported is by free-will offerings (I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:6-7).

I am convinced that most congregations today are materialistically minded instead of being spiritually minded. Most of their effort is in the field of eating, drinking, and rising up to play. Entertainment and fun is the name of the game anymore. God has a hard time getting in a word edgewise. We have a little bit of tepid teaching and preaching and a whole lot of fun going on. The church has been influenced greatly by a great many glorified baby-sitters known as Youth Directors. Some of them do not know a thimble-full of Bible and very little about the church of the Bible. Discord and trouble have been in the wake of many of these Youth Directors. They have had more influence over the moms and dads than do the elders in far too many cases.

What has been the result of the modern world on the present congregations? The church is full of ignorance when it comes to God and His Word. It is packed with half-converted people. Many do not have any problem with compromising the truth on any given subject. Many in the church today have more loyalty to family, friends, and loved ones than they do to God and His Bible. Many, many in the church today do not know and they do not care to know. They are quick to justify the unjust and to condemn the just, which is an abomination to God (Prov. 17:15).

For the past 25 or 30 years false religion has had a heyday in this country. The church, instead of reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, has been involved in trying to find out how the denominations grow. Teams are often sent to these manmade organizations to find out how they get great numbers in their buildings. And what has been the result of this? The church has become denominationalized in attitude and practice for the greater part. Can you imagine the great prophet Elijah, along with the other faithful men of God, going to the prophets of Baal to find out what made them grow? Instead of doing this, those prophets were engaged in a hot battle to rid the land of them. This is exactly what the church of the Lord should be doing to false religions today.

Many of the ministers in the church of Christ today could preach their sermons in the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, Church of God, and other denominations without any problems. This is why denominations are growing and the church is losing ground by and large. If many preachers in the church would repent and declare war on false teachers and false doctrine, we would see a difference in a short while. We help the denominations to grow when we keep our mouths shut relative to their sinfulness and when we are interested in being like them.

The churches of Christ are either right or wrong. Water baptism is either necessary or not necessary for salvation from sin. Denominationalism is either right or wrong. We either have to follow the Bible or we do not have to follow the Bible. We either go by all the Bible or by following part of the Bible. God either has one plan or many plans and one is just as good as another. We can either understand what we must do to be saved or we cannot understand. Man can devise his own way in religion or he must follow God's way in religion. Man must be completely given to God and His Word or he can do as he pleases and still go to heaven. There is no in-between in matters such as these and please God.

When I became a soldier of the cross over 53 years ago, I pledged allegiance to Jesus Christ and His Word. It was then and there that I decided to follow Jesus—"No turning back, no turning back." I hated religious division then and I hate it more now than ever before. In my heart I declared war on every false religion then and I have never changed. As much as I can I hate every false way and never intend to change (Ps. 119:104). We must fight for Christ and His cause or it will suffer. Just where do YOU stand, dear friend?
—Malcolm L. Hill