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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 6 *   Number 38*  September 17,  2006

Persuasion’s Power

by Michael W. McLemore

Christians are perplexed by the world’s failure to embrace Christ and his promise of eternal salvation. Equally bewildering is the "religious world’s" espousal of doctrines plainly contrary to sacred scripture. Mystified Christians incessantly seek the power of persuasion to turn men to the Lord and His truth.

Without a doubt most seek to persuade men in vain by employing carnal device. The "institutional movement" of two generations ago convinced brethren the cause of the Lord is perpetuated in "educating men in the art of oratory" and thereby advocated support of colleges by local churches. Too, the same convinced congregations their future growth was dependant upon the construction of "entertainment facilities" (fellowship halls, family life centers etc.) if men would be persuaded to hear their message of "truth." Though the New Testament is specific about the means to draw men to Christ (Rom. 1:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:14), men thought the Gospel not possessive of sufficient power to persuade men, thus aspired to bolster it with carnal gadgets of human invention. The fruits of the movement are being observed as vanity.

Faithful brethren are not immune from these notions. Many congregations of the Lord’s people are convinced persuasion’s power is realized in human ability. This is manifest in a number of ways. One is observed in preaching. Let me say, I am an advocate of bold Gospel preaching and believe the most capable among us ought to be sought out and used for the same! But brethren, the persuasion of souls is not discovered the moment a certain brother drives into the city. The impression that the persuasion of men rests in the eloquence of the man preaching is ridiculous. Yet, this is commonly believed. Friend, persuasion’s power in any endeavor is discovered in the action of those committed to such an enterprise, not in the oratory of a single man unknown to most hearers. Paul said, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men . . . " (2 Corinthians 3:2,3).

Shakespeare said, "Action is eloquence; the eyes of the ignorant are more learned than their ears." One living example before our peers speaks volumes more eloquently than a thousand well-spoken words. A congregation of the Lord’s people who loves one another and dwells together in unity resound as the clarion trump, "Ye are my disciples" (John 13:31-35; 2 Corinthians 3:18, RV).

Eloquence observed in action — Christ living in us — is our greatest means of persuasion. The child of God’s trust in His words as of sufficient strength to change the lives of men and the example of that change in us, testify to the glory of God before mankind (Matt. 5:16). Brethren, our commitment to the cause of Christ manifest to those with whom we come in contact outruns logic. It is greater than most able oratory. Its vehement simplicity overwhelms the witness with the power of God to move men. Speaking of true eloquence, Daniel Webster wrote, "words and phrases may be marshaled in every way, but they cannot compass it." He earlier defined eloquence’s power as noble, sublime, godlike action. If our devotion to the Lord’s work and the salvation of souls were so defined, few could resist the persuasive power of such an example.

hristians remain perplexed with the failure of humanity to obey Christ, but they need not be mystified as to the power to persuade them, God’s word living and active in our speech and life. All other human invention is of little profit and its fruit defiled.

 

Finished Before We’ve Begun

by Michael W. McLemore

November 19, 1863 Edward Everett, the leading orator of the day, was invited to make the principal speech at the ceremonies dedicating the national cemetery at Gettysburg. His speech lasted two hours, but Lincoln, whom they would have passed over altogether had he not been President, spoke less than three minutes. The crowd had scarcely quieted before the President had completed his carefully prepared "Gettysburg Address." It is said that a man with a camera didn’t have time to set up his equipment before Lincoln was finished.

James asked, "What is your life?" Answering, he said, "It is even as a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (4:14). Life is fleeting. Young and old pass daily into eternity. Instantly or with much suffering, life ends like a vapor vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared. The question that is often asked is, "Are we prepared for that event?" Nevertheless, I should like to ask it another way, "What are we doing with this vapor we call our life?"

They feared that Lincoln might resort to telling funny stories at Gettysburg. Thus, they shunned him as the key note speaker, in favor of Mr. Everett. Asked to make only "a few concluding remarks," Mr. Lincoln readied himself with great care. So brief were his remarks few realized they had heard a masterpiece. It is apparent from the speech, the President had no idea of the extensive impact his speech could have, saying "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they [the honored dead, mwm] did here."

As Christians, "What are we doing with the moments of our life?" Are they waisted on quests for the material? Inspiration tells of the unavailing hope of such crusades (James 4:13-17). Why not give your life to the task of starting others on the road to heaven? When your vapor has long vanished, your labor will live on.

 

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