Email Us
Find a
Congregation Near You!
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 9 * Number 28* July 15, 2007
Remember Lot’s Wife
Fire and brimstone is raining down upon the city of Sodom in which you have lived for a number of years now. You are fleeing for your physical life and are now leaving behind your home, your most prized possessions and all that you possess. Among those who are left in the city are your very own children. What is happening is God’s judgment upon wicked cities. You have been given clear instruction from God “look not behind thee.” but you turn and look back.
This is what we know about Lot’s wife. She failed to obey the command of God, and she looked back at what she was instructed to leave behind. Instantly, she was turned into a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 In Luke 17:32, Jesus instructions us to “Remember Lot’s wife.”
The inspired Word of God, presses us towards heaven. Encouraging us over and over again to not look back. We do not want to begin our journey to heaven constantly looking over our shoulder at what we have left behind. Jesus said “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall loose it, and whosoever shall loose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
In Luke 9:57-62 a few men were willing to follow Jesus. One of them sought FIRST to go bury his father. Another man wanted to FIRST go bid his family goodbye. Jesus said to them, “No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Those who are following Jesus, need not look back at the wickedness they have left behind. “Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
Remember Lot’s wife!
Stacy Crim
Selective obedience
by David King
“But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterlydestroyed” (1 Sam. 15:9)
God’s instructions to King Saul were quite explicit: the Amalekites were to be completely wiped out—all the people and all their flocks. Nothing was to be spared (v. 3). So Saul gathered a large army and attacked Amalek with enthusiasm. The result was a major Israelite victory. The Amalekites were completely destroyed — sort of.
As our text describes, Saul allowed some exceptions to the rules of engagement. Saul spared Agag, the king (putting a defeated king on display as a war trophy made for great PR), and the people kept the best of the flocks as spoils of war (after all, they deserved some reward for their trouble). But everything else was “utterly destroyed.” Clearly, the intent of God’s command was fulfilled.
Or was it? Samuel confronted Saul upon his return from the battle, and accused him of disobeying God’s orders. “Why did you not obey the voice of the Lord?” (v. 19). But Saul didn’t understand why he was being chastised. “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag King of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites” (v. 20). Surely the few exceptions he made did not materially affect the overall results of the campaign — the Amalekites were finished.
But Saul was not seeing the real problem here. As far as God was concerned, Saul was guilty of “rebellion” and of having “rejected the word of the Lord” (v. 23). He eventually lost his kingdom over this incident.
Saul was guilty of selective obedience. That is, he obeyed God only insofar as he agreed with God’s command. In whatever respect he happened to disagree with God’s orders, he reserved the right to do what he wanted. God’s instructions were treated as little more than cafeteria-style items, to be obeyed or discarded at Saul’s whim. In other words, Saul had set himself up as a judge of God’s word. What Saul wanted was more important than what God wanted.
Selective obedience, of course, is not obedience at all. Saul found out the hard way that the spirit of true obedience is a willingness to carry out every detail of God’s instructions, whether or not the details make sense, or are convenient, or bestow some immediate reward. True obedience honors God as the One making the rules, and accepts responsibility for following those rules to best of one’s ability.
Today, millions claim to honor God, who are guilty of the same kind of selective obedience that led to Saul’s downfall. They obey those elements of God’s word that they happen to agree with, but dismiss or ignore everything else. Like Saul, they honestly think they are obeying God. But also like Saul, they will find out one day that God views their conduct as rebellion. We either honor all that God tells us—all of it—or we don’t honor Him at all.
October 15, 2006
The Truth does not Fear Investigation
David McPherson
There’s a good saying that brethren have used over the years to show our sincerity in what we practice and preach: "truth does not fear investigation." The idea is that if one is genuinely concerned about doing right, he’ll not be afraid of someone else questioning what he does. By frequent examinations and regular defenses one is constantly kept "in check." If by an "investigation" one’s preaching and/or practice is proven true, great. If however it is proven to be false, there’s a sense in which this is also great, for now the sincere individual can make the necessary changes to get back on track and be right.
Unfortunately, not everyone is interested in truth. Some are content to go on in their error hoping no one will ever challenge them. If they are questioned, too many write it off as being "bothered" and ignore the "investigator." How sad!
Those fearful of investigation need reminding of what Peter wrote, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..." (1 Pt. 3:15). When a person gets to the point where they cannot defend or give an answer for what they’re doing, it’s time to do something else. While error may clam up, get aggravated and run from it - truth does not fear investigation. What about you?
Charlottesville Beacon May 27, 2007
Back to Current Year Bulletins