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The Cornerstone
This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11
Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia
Volume 8 * Number 14* April 6, 2008
Make Peace!
Levi Rutledge
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peace maker “ Jesus says those who make peace will be blessed. In Romans 14:19 “Let us follow after the things which make for peace”. Paul wrote that Christians should follow after things which make peace.
In Ecclesiastes 3:8 the wise man Solomon wrote “A time to love,...hate,…a time of war,...and a time of peace.” There is a time when the world should be at peace: That time is now! (It will take the effort of the Christians to make the world at peace).
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good (as a preservative).. ..Have salt in ourselves and have peace one with another.” Christians should add salt (preservative) to the world and have peace one to another.
In ll Corinthians 13:11 Paul said....”live in peace; and the God of Love and peace shall be with you.” Note: If Christians live in peace, our God will be with us. The world does not know about this peace. We (Christians) are to display and exhibit this peace for the world to see.
Peter wrote in I Peter 3:10-11 “For he that will love life… let him refrain his tongue from evil… let him eschew (avoid) evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue (pursue) it (peace).” Once Christians have peace within, then they can go and try to make peace in the world.
James wrote in James 3:13-18 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom...But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable... And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Note: With God’s help and His help alone. Christians can come into the wisdom which is from above. This wisdom will righteously help guide us to sow trace in the world.
Lastly, in Romans 12:16-I8, Paul wrote “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend (show feelings) to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits (excessive pride in self). Recompense (reward) to no man evil for evil. Provide the things honest in the sight of men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Note: Paul is saving. if it’s possible. Christians are told to live peaceably with all people.
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What's Wrong With Today's Youth?
Bill Hall
All along we hear questions raised as to what has gone wrong with today's youth. Recently, a brother expressed his concern along this line and then asked, "What advice would you give young parents to help them avoid mistakes that we have made in our generation?"
The first thing we would say is: All is not bad with today's youth. We see young people in the church voluntarily attending special classes conducted for their benefit and studying diligently in preparation for these classes. We see them singing in the worship periods, listening to sermons, following in their Bible, obeying the gospel as they reach accountability, and living conscientiously before God.
But all is not good. We are aware of drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, drinking, gambling, and crimes of all sorts among the youth of our day. We are appalled at the lack of self control exhibited by athletes in both college and pro ranks. What has gone wrong?
A recent newspaper article helps to explain what has gone wrong. The opening paragraph says: "A high school football player who was arrested and charged with hitting a 15-year-old in the face with a crowbar has his coach concerned and his mother worried about his football future."
Worried about what? When parents are more concerned for their children's football future than they are for their character; when they are more concerned for their children's financial well-being than for their eternal well-being; or when they are just not concerned, period, we can expect problems among our youth. Priorities are all wrong. Too many parents, in order to feed their own egos, push their children into positions that will bring honor and popularity, but give little thought to what will build character and integrity and responsibility within them.
"And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
What advice would we give to young parents? Bring your children to every service of the church; encourage them to form close friendships with other children who attend regularly; do not try to shield them from hurts and disappointments, but allow them to work through their disappointments; hold them responsible for the consequences of wrong-doings; make sure that your greatest desire for them is that they go to heaven and that they are aware that this is your greatest desire; pray with them and teach them how to pray; and love them, love them, and love them some more. That's a good start anyway!
The Color of Sin
Jamey Hinds
What color is sin? We know we’re not to lie — “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another” (Eph. 4:25). But sometimes we pull out the “spiritual crayons” and classify some lies as “white” and some as “black” — and we mean that “white lies” are not as significant as “black lies.” To God lying is sin (Prov. 6:16-19).
If there were such a thing as “white lies,” then to be consistent there would necessarily be “white adulteries,” “white fornication,” “white murders,” etc. But we understand how absurd it is to “color” these sins in such simplified ways.
We live in a culture of self-deceptive sophistication that looks down on everything which might be too direct; and since we know it would hurt someone’s feelings to so plainly call a spade a spade — to say that someone has lied, committed fornication, or gossiped without somehow qualifying it with a “color code” — we would rather say nothing at all. But to remain silent is far worse.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar [cf. Rom. 3:23], and His word is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:9-10).
If sin has a color, it is scarlet. “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).
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