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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 11* March 16, 2008
Sound Doctrine
Paul told Titus in Titus 2:1 to “speak the things which become sound doctrine.” There is a difference between sound doctrine and the itching of the ears that Paul speaks of in II Timothy 4:3. Sound teaching is based upon the word of God and the word of God alone. Sound teaching promotes good spiritual health.
Sermons which have more illustrations than milk and meat from the pages of the Scriptures is not healthy. Paul says to “Preach the Word”!
Sound teaching reproves meaning those in error are shown their sin. (II Timothy 2:4)
The Scriptures, and the Scriptures alone, are able to make us wise unto salvation. (II Timothy 3:15) I have tried numerous times to explain passages in my own words only to concede that there is no other way to say it than how it has already been written. Man is not wiser than God and His word does not need props or gimmicks.
Preaching that is unsound only promotes more people who are spiritually sick.
Stacy Crim
It's A Miracle!
Ronald Stringer
"It's a miracle!" I have heard that expression more times than I care to remember. According to many, it is a miracle when someone survives a car crash. The car may be completely totaled and look like it would be impossible for anyone inside to survive. However, if someone does remain alive, "it's a miracle!" Many people believe that it is a miracle whenever someone is told by a doctor that they will never walk again, yet, after much rehabilitation, they take their first few steps. Some people even call childbirth "a miracle!" Apparently, miracles are very common occurrences.
One recent example of a "miraculous" experience is when the miners who spent over three days underground were not only rescued, but also alive and healthy. They had been working in a Pennsylvania mine when it flooded and trapped them. They were trapped more than 200 feet underground. After days of digging and drilling, rescuers finally made contact with them and pulled them out of the mine. I heard more than a few people refer to the event as "a miracle."
Are all of the above mentioned events considered miracles? The answer is simply no. When we consider the miracles of the Bible, we see distinct differences compared to our "modern day miracles." For example, in Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals a paralytic. The paralytic cannot walk and must be carried into the presence of Jesus. According to Mark's account, Jesus tells the paralytic to "arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" (v. 11). The paralytic immediately arose from his bed and left the building (v. 12).
There are two distinct characteristics to this miracle as well as to the rest of the miracles performed in the Bible. First, there is immediate action that takes place and it fully accomplishes the desired outcome. Second, the miracle cannot be explained by any natural law that we have. None of the "miracles" that we hear about today have these two characteristics.
I am overjoyed that the miners in Pennsylvania were rescued, but it was by natural means, not miraculous. I am sure that any of the rescuers would be happy to explain how difficult their work was. I am sure they would testify to the fact that there was no immediate action; they spent days digging for the miners. Natural law fully explains how the miners were rescued just like it explains how babies are born.
We need to be careful about calling everyday events in life "miracles." Childbirth is an amazing process that demonstrates God's power, but it is not a miracle. Doctors continue to astound us as they come up with new cures and medicines. However, when a patient is healed, it's not a miraculous event. When nine miners can survive for days trapped underground it "beats all of the odds," yet it is not a miracle. We need to always give God the glory for these amazing events, but we must also realize that they are not miracles.
&
A Simple Verse about Right and Wrong
Frank Himmel
“. . . abhor what is evil; cling to what is good” Romans 12:9
This short verse (actually it is just the second part of the verse) would be a fine one to commit to memory. It states or implies at least three vital points.
First, there is such a thing as good and evil. People used to understand that. We used to know that one is supposed to keep his word, that greed is a bad thing, that marriage is for life, and that homosexuality is perversion.
Now, several generations have grown up listening to denominational preachers say it does not matter what you believe, thereby undermining Bible authority; we have heard libertarians rationalize any and every kind of conduct; our courts rule on the basis of what judges think the law ought to be instead of what it is; and we have grown accustomed to comedians making daily fodder of sin of every kind. Is it any wonder people are confused?
Come to think of it, this is nothing new. Long ago Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; . . . who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” (Is. 5:20-21 ).
Second, it is both possible and necessary to discern good and evil. Personal preferences and moral relativism leave us adrift. There is a fixed standard. It is God. He is right or righteous. “A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He” (Dt. 32:4 ). His word, His self-revelation, is the yardstick by which all conduct is measured. It is the standard by which we shall be judged (Jn. 12:48 ).
Discerning right and wrong begins with the “thou shalt/thou shalt not” passages. We must also take into account principles of conduct, such as maintaining a clear conscience (Rom. 14:22-23 ), not putting other things before God (Mt. 6:33 ), leaving off questionable things that would lessen our influence for good (Mt. 5:16 ), etc. Paul often prayed that Christians would grow in this area of distinguishing conduct (Ph. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12 ).
Third, we must act in keeping with the quality of any given behavior. If a thing is good we are to cling to it. The original verb in our text is from the Greek noun for glue; be glued to it. On the other hand, if conduct is bad, we are to abhor it. Abhor is from the Latin word for horror, which literally means to shudder. We should shudder at the very idea of some kinds of behavior [misbehavior].
Simply put, this text tells us to use God’s word and draw the line between good and evil. Once that line is drawn, do not see how close to it you can get without stepping over; stay as far away from evil and as close to God as you can.
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