Year: 2012
The Difference in Kingdom Entry (Then and Now)
By Marlin Kilpatrick
Most serious Bible students know the kingdom of God (his church) was established by Christ on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The establishment of the kingdom of God was the fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies (cf. Isa. 2:1-4; Dan. 2:44; Joel 2:28-32).
There is a problem that exists in the minds of many sincere brethren about the difference between how entry was first made into the kingdom and how we enter the kingdom today. There is definitely a difference between kingdom entry of the converts of John the Baptist, including the apostles, along with the Samaritans (Acts 8), Cornelius and his household and near friends (Acts 10), and the twelve disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19) and our entry today. Why does this difference exist?
Since Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, there has only been one way into the kingdom. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). On Pentecost day the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 disciples of John, which included the apostles (Acts 2:1-4). But these had been “born of water” when they were baptized by John (John 3:23). Their baptism was “for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). Though “born of water” and “for the remission of sins,” they were not yet in the kingdom. What allowed them to enter the kingdom? It was their baptism in the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). And their baptism in Spirit was accompanied by the miraculous — their speaking in languages they had never learned. The miracle of “tongue speaking” was the empirical evidence of God’s acceptance of them into his kingdom. Clearly, there was a time-lapse between their baptism by John and their being baptized in the Spirit. So, when the first ethnic group (Jews) entered the kingdom, a time-lapse existed, but no such time-lapse exists today.
The second group to enter the kingdom on Pentecost (Acts 2) were the 3,000 (Acts 2:41). In their case, there was no time-lapse between their baptism in water and in Spirit. Why? Since Jews (converts of John, including the apostles) had already entered the kingdom, there was no need for a time-lapse; their baptism consisted of two elements: water and Spirit (John 3:5). The time-lapse between the baptism in water and Spirit occurred only when a new ethnic group entered the kingdom, and in each case there were miracles associated with their entry into the kingdom.
When the second ethnic group (the Samaritans) entered the kingdom, there was also a time-lapse. Philip the evangelist had gone down to Samaria and preached Christ to them, but they were baptized only in the name of Jesus (Acts 8:16). But under the Great Commission, baptism was to be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). When the apostles in Jerusalem learned the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to the Samaritans, who laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). So, again, we have a time-lapse between the Samaritans’ baptism in water and their baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In the case of Cornelius, his household and near friends, there was also a time-lapse between their receiving the Spirit and their baptism in water (Acts 10:44-48). After having received Holy Spirit baptism, these Gentiles began to speak in tongues (Acts 10:46). Why did the Spirit fall upon these Gentiles before they were baptized in water? He did so because Cornelius, his household and near friends were righteous Gentiles. God’s Spirit cannot dwell in the hearts of those who are practicing sinners, and it is explicitly said of Cornelius that he was a righteous man (Acts 10:22, NASB).
The case of the twelve disciples at Ephesus who had received John’s baptism also involved a time-lapse. These disciples had not heard of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). When Paul explained that John’s converts were to believe on Christ, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:4-5). Then Paul laid his hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:6). With this event at Ephesus, the necessity for a time-lapse between water and Spirit baptism ceased because all ethnic groups (Jews, Samaritans, and full Gentiles) had entered the kingdom.
So far we have discussed what happened back then when various ethnic groups were entering the kingdom. What is the case now with men and women who obey the gospel? There is no time-lapse. When a penitent, having confessed, alien sinner is baptized for the remission of his sins, while in the water, his spirit is immersed in Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5-6). There is now only one baptism (Eph. 4:5), but it consist of two elements: water and Spirit (John 3:3). Think about it.
Booing God
By Weylan Deaver
In recent years, the Democratic party in America has abandoned all respect for the Bible’s teaching on marriage, life’s sanctity, and sin in general. In their official party platform for 2008, they were hanging onto God by a thread when they mentioned him once in stating, “We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.” Notice, that was no call for anyone to worship God. It was no call for anyone to thank God or even respect him. Rather, it was a statement about needing big government to take care of little people, with a passing reference to God.
In the initial 2012 Democratic party platform, God rated no mention at all, with the statement reading, “We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth — the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.” Rather than credit God with blessing America into the most prosperous country, Democrats think it resulted from something they term a “basic bargain.”
On September 5, the chair of the platform drafting committee suggested “God” be put back into the platform’s language, as well as an acknowledgment that Jerusalem is “the capital of Israel.” The head of the Democratic National Convention then put the matter to a voice vote and, after a third try, declared the motions passed (even though two-thirds were clearly not in favor). What followed was some loud and angry booing, which speaks with much volume about the heart of that political party.
Why would anyone boo the mention of God? Perhaps some objectors were Muslims who reject the God of the Bible, but some who booed simply want nothing to do with God, period. A godless people feel free to pursue their selfish lusts without needing to worry about being judged by a righteous Creator who hates sin. The sad truth is, plenty of people want to live like a troop of baboons, not worrying about right vs. wrong, not wrestling with a conscience, not thinking about heaven and hell, never thanking or listening to their Maker.
Though the mention of God engenders debate, there are uncontested issues dear to the Democratic heart: a woman’s ability to legally kill her unborn child, and a man’s right to fornicate with another man while calling it “marriage.” The innocent are annihilated, the perverse are applauded, and a morally bankrupt party loves to have it so.
It is precisely as Paul described the wicked: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Rom. 1:28, ESV). In verses 26-31 Paul condemns homosexuality as godless, dishonorable, unnatural, shameless, and erroneous, mentioning also several sins related to abortion, including murder, malice, arrogance, heartlessness, ruthlessness, and being disobedient to parents.
Those who “boo” God are no better than those who wagged their heads at Jesus on the cross (Matt. 27:39). No culture has the right to endorse what God condemns, and does so at its own peril. In defining family and morality in a civil society, the New Testament and the Democratic party could not be at greater odds. If those in the political sphere wish not to be rebuked by Christians, then they should stick to politics. Calling an issue “political” or “social” does not make it non-moral. And politicians who venture where the Bible speaks ought not be surprised when Bible-believers have something to say about it.
The Fullness of Time!
By John Henson
Since mankind is lost and is headed for eternal punishment if it dies in that condition, then mankind needs a savior and a plan of salvation.
This is exactly what God provided for ever since the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden. Through history God has been working out the plan of salvation to save man from sin.
The apostle Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).
Do we realize all the things God did to send Jesus? To send a descendant of David in the tribe of Judah, God had to preserve Judah through hundreds of years. Although Israel was sent into Assyrian captivity and Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity lasting 70 years, God preserved Judah and David’s line all the way to the birth of his Son.
In order to give people the fullest opportunity to hear and obey the gospel, God gave the Romans control of the world. During its domination of the known world, the Romans provided roads throughout its territories. People were free to travel from one place to another. Not only was this beneficial for commerce, but also it was beneficial for the gospel and those who would preach it.
During Greek and Roman rule, Koine Greek was practically the universal language of the world. Almost everyone understood and spoke Greek during the days of Jesus and Paul. One of the advantages of this was that the average Alexandrian in Egypt could read the Old Testament in Greek and come to an understanding of the prophecies concerning the Son of God.
Having a language understood by almost everyone was handy in teaching the gospel, wasn’t it? With a common language, there would be few mistakes in translation and no misunderstandings over what something would mean. God did that; his providence brought the Greek language into existence and into general use.
Understanding all that God did to save mankind helps us appreciate Paul’s statement, “But when the fullness of time was come….” The birth, life and death of Jesus was not an ordinary occurrence. It was divinely planned and divinely executed at just the perfect moment. And all this was done by the Father so you and I might hear the gospel and obey it.
What a wonderful opportunity we have this week to tell others about Jesus and give them this opportunity to obey the gospel!
Malcolm L. Hill (1934-2012)
By Paul M. Wilmoth
“Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.” These words were spoken by David on the occasion of the death of Abner, captain of Saul’s host. These words are equally applicable today; my friend and fellow-companion in the kingdom, Malcolm Hill, “finished his course” early in the morning, Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
It was an honor and a privilege to work with brother Malcolm as ministers of the Northeast church. This Sunday, we would have begun our 30th year of labor together. Not many preachers (perhaps not any) have worked together for that long. I have never worked with a kinder, gentler, more encouraging man than brother Malcolm. And even though I could never be compared to him as far as ability goes, he never made me feel any less than his equal. Other than his immediate family, I believe I knew him better than anyone else. I have seen him on the mountain top and in the valley. I have not only served as a fellow-preacher and worker in the kingdom, but have also been a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and an encourager in every way that I could.
In 1975 Malcolm founded Tennessee Bible College. It was his life-long dream to train men to be sound Gospel preachers, and ladies to be workers in the kingdom. Most of his life was spent in this work. He served as President of the College until his health deteriorated, and continued to serve as Chancellor until the time of his death. I personally have never known any man to make the sacrifices that he and his faithful companion, Mrs. Billie, made on behalf of Tennessee Bible College and the Northeast Church of Christ. They unselfishly gave up the house they lived in in order to contribute to the College and the church and to keep them going. They did this not once, but twice! He told me that he was advised by many―some good men and good friends―to close it down. But there was never an ounce of “quit” in brother Malcolm. Those of us at Northeast, who saw him preach from his wheelchair for many months, can testify to that fact. We will not soon forget the moving and final service he conducted on January 1 of this year.
Were the sacrifices he and Mrs. Billie made worth it? Is Tennessee Bible College worth all of the sweat, time, effort, work, and tears that he put into it? I believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!” And I know that Malcolm felt that way. In fact, I have never heard him complain, even once, about the sacrifices that he had to make. And only eternity will reveal how many souls have been saved as a result of those who have been trained at Tennessee Bible College. When you look at the work of men like Joon Key in Korea, Joseph Barr, Kerry Duke, Mark Day, Jason Gann, Freddie Clayton, Mark Meadows, Earl Alverson (and the list goes on and on), the legacy of the college and the good that has been, and is being done, will live on! If one soul is worth more than all the world (Matt. 16:26), then certainly every dime, every drop of sweat, all of the labor has been worth it. Brother Hill was unable to attend our recent graduation, but he would have rejoiced if he could have seen the largest graduating class in the College’s history. And he would have beamed with gratitude if he could have heard Richard Copeland speak in chapel a few days before receiving his diploma from the College. Richard has cerebral palsy and gets around on his bicycle all over Cookeville. He has great difficulty speaking, but there weren’t many dry eyes as Richard spoke that day and gave tribute to brother Hill for his belief in him and for his support. Again, only eternity will reveal all of the good that will have come from the work of brother Malcolm and TBC.
When I first became acquainted with brother Hill, he was one of the most sought-after preachers of the time. He was a fiery, red-headed preacher who could move audiences, and often had large numbers of responses to the Gospel invitation. He held a Gospel Meeting in the late 1960s for the Netherland Church of Christ in Overton County. The last time I checked, the record attendance we had in that meeting still stands today. He preached to over-flow crowds wherever he went; often the young people would sit on the stage around the pulpit because of capacity crowds. He came a long way from the first time he was asked to prepare and present a sermon in training class at the old Livingston Church of Christ; Billie Bilyeu, (who was later to become his faithful companion for over 55 years) wrote his first sermon for him, and he preached it a number of times in different congregations, thus developing his love for preaching the Gospel. This also proves that the old saying, “Behind every great man is a great woman,” has a lot of truth in it. He loved the truth and he preached it without fear or favor. He came from the old Willow Grove community and from a stock that did not mince words. Thus when he preached you didn’t have to guess what the truth was, or where he stood in relation to it. During the liberal digressive movement that started in the church around 1970, he fought the battle for truth and soundness. He called upon all Gospel preachers to “stand up and speak out” on the issues. He was tough on those whom he judged to not be leading in the battle against error. Brother Jason Gann stated in the TBC Lectureship this year, “I believe that he is as close to a restoration preacher of the 1800s as I will see in my lifetime.” As history records the events of his life, I believe that folks will realize how true Jason’s comments are.
Brother Hill loved kids. And they loved him. The kids at Northeast were constantly talking to him and giving “Uncle Malcolm” a hug when they came out following services. They knew that he loved them right back. For many, many years he conducted his “Pew-Packers Class” before services on Sunday evenings. He has often related how much he loved doing the class over the years. There is no way of knowing how many Gospel preachers and their wives, elders and their wives, deacons and their wives, Bible class teachers, song leaders, and Christian workers have graduated from these classes.
Brother Malcolm served faithfully for many years as one of the elders of the Northeast church as well as her preacher. Brother Malcolm, and a number of other great men who have served this congregation as elders, have led this church as directed in the Scriptures; as a result, the Northeast Church of Christ is known for her soundness and staying with the pattern given in the New Testament. Earlier I mentioned his sacrifices for the College and the Northeast church. One of those sacrifices was in giving of his time for many years without any pay. He did radio work and TV work for many years. Many will remember his “One Gospel Minute” radio spots. His “Questions & Answers” in the local paper was a favorite of many subscribers to the paper. He was a defender of the Truth on every front, having conducted a number of debates. He was a tireless writer and published the Living Oracles at TBC for many years. His book, My God and My Neighbor, has been used by many congregations over the years in teaching personal work programs. He never tired of studying the Bible and continued to do so all of his life. You could tell that in his preaching and in his writing. Not only was he a great preacher, but he was a supporter of all who preached the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”
And unlike many preachers of our day, Malcolm was not afraid to get dirty from hard work. He did most of the work on his house in Algood, Tennessee, as well as a great deal of the work of building the Tennessee Bible College building. He drove a tractor, bush-hog, dug ditches, mowed the lawn at TBC, all types of repair work, and the list could go on. He saved the College and the church thousands of dollars by the work he contributed at no charge. I remember helping him many, many hours in building his present house in Algood, Tennessee. I was his “go-getter,” and saved him a lot of footsteps. He reminded me often of the day when the temperature was over 100 degrees in the upstairs where we were working, and we would drive nails for a while and then come out so we could breathe.
Brother Hill has completed his earthly pilgrimage. Like the apostle Paul, he “kept the faith.” And I have no doubt that there is “laid up” for him “a crown of righteousness.” Like the words of his favorite song, he held to “God’s unchanging hand.” His legacy will live on through his son, David, and through the many Gospel preachers he has trained and encouraged. I believe that I speak for many when I say that I am a better person because of the association and influence of brother Hill. A good friend of Malcolm’s, Dallas Wyatt from Foley, Alabama, put it this way, “Tell brother Malcolm that if he goes before I do, to wait for me at the tree of Life.” What a grand and happy reunion that will be!! And so, we are not saying “goodbye,” but rather “farewell my good friend till we meet again.”
The Point We Seek to Make
By Roy C. Deaver (1922-2007)
It was in 1938, in his gospel meeting with the 2nd and Whaley Street Church in Longview, Texas, that I first became acquainted with the great, respected, much-loved N. B. Hardeman. It was here that he conducted a great gospel meeting, with C. M. Pullias (our local preacher) leading the singing! Yes, the same team that had conducted the great Nashville, Tennessee, Ryman Auditorium meetings! By the time the Longview meeting was over, I had determined in my own mind that someday, somehow, I would become a student in N. B. Hardeman’s classes.
In September of 1940 Wilma Ruth and I made our trip to Henderson, Tennessee. Within a few days I was a student in classes taught by N. B. Hardeman, L. L. Brigance, W. Claude Hall, and Mary Nell Hardeman Powers—the greatest English grammarian I have ever known!
In my first year one of the required courses was the study of the Scheme of Redemption. The text was the monumental book entitled The Scheme of Redemption, written by Dr. Robert Milligan, who at the time of the writing was President of the College of the Bible in Kentucky University — a great scholar in the Restoration Movement. The “Introduction” to the book has the date: May 19, 1868. So, the book has been around for awhile, and it will continue to be around.
It was a study course for which I personally will be eternally grateful. I was and I am and I will ever be truly grateful to have had that privilege of seeing such a majestic unfolding of the glorious “Scheme of Redemption.” Three of the best years of our lives were spent at Freed-Hardeman College, and we are truly grateful.
What’s the point — the present point? The above article is the material contained in pages 276 through 284 in Milligan’s The Scheme of Redemption. The book is hard to come by, and so, I have typed this material that others may read it for themselves. This is the class, and these are the pages which first began to give me — in some measure — an understanding of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It triggered my determination to continue to study the subject. It was here and why and how I began to grasp the concept of an actual, literal, personal, indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the child of God. Who was the teacher? Professor N. B. Hardeman! I am here to tell the reader that in NO WAY did brother Hardeman ever try to “explain away” what Milligan had written. If you want to know what brother Hardeman taught on this subject — HERE IT IS!
And so, it disturbs me no little to hear somebody on the present scene declare that brother Hardeman did not teach an actual indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I encourage the reader to read– and/or to read again and again his monumental sermons on “The Vine and the Branches” and “The Spirit of Christ.”
At that time (when I was a student, 1940-43), FHC was a two-year college. But after two years I was not ready to leave. I wanted at least one more year, and did remain another year. I had three things in mind: (1) I wanted to do additional work in my Greek; (2) I wanted to take advantage of that fabulous library; and (3) I wanted to study N. B. Hardeman. I wanted to see (at least to my own satisfaction) what made N. B. Hardeman so great! So exceptional! In case you are interested in my conclusion, here it is: (1) It was not the fact that he was a handsome man, always dressed well and looked well — his shoes were always shined! (2) It was not just the fact that he was so exceptionally brilliant and knowledgeable in so many different subject areas. (3) It was not simply the fact that he was a man “set in authority.” Rather, my own conclusion was (and still is) his tremendous ability (without seeming to be aware of it) to produce a student!
He did not have to give orders or make threats. He simply possessed an indescribable way of causing a person to want to be a better student! If he happened to mention the annual overflow of the Nile River, being translated that meant: tomorrow you had better know the lakes and rivers that were in any way related to the annual overflow of the Nile. God bless you, N. B. Hardeman!
[Editor’s note: This piece was originally published in the Jan-Mar 2000 issue of Biblical Notes Quarterly, and references another article which is not reproduced here].
What Kind of Attitude?
By John Henson
Monica McNutt, a recently-graduated guard playing for the Lady Hoyas of Georgetown University, wrote an article in The Washington Post about attitude.
She wrote, “Your attitude will determine so much, from who is willing to work with and for you, to how far you will allow yourself to go.” She continued by saying, “Are you doing everything in your power to get your team back to winning? Are you all in and dedicated, or just along for the ride?
Certainly, her remarks were from the perspective of a college athlete, but aren’t her remarks equally valid when applied to spirituality?
In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus discusses attitudes. Just before this passage, Jesus had been critical of the scribes and Pharisees and their poor attitudes. “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive the greater condemnation” (Luke 10:46ff. NKJV).
The scribes’ attitude was the wrong one. The right attitude is found in Luke 21:1-4 — the attitude of the widow.
Jesus sat watching people throw their money into the trumpets in the Court of the Women at the Temple in Jerusalem. There were thirteen collecting boxes the trumpets emptied into, each assigned to a specific cause. The rich gave, Jesus said, from their “abundance.” One can almost see the huge bags of money being carried by the rich, out of which a small sum was cast into the trumpet.
Then, Jesus saw a poor widow who gave two coins, the smallest denomination in local currency called a “mite” or a “lepta.” Because God the Son knew all things, he knew this was all the money she had. Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had” (Luke 21:3ff.).
Her attitude was the real gift. It was a gift that flowed from a loving heart. She could not live without giving because she loved God!
Her attitude was in the gift because her gift was her sacrifice. This is why her gift mattered more to Jesus. The rich gave from their abundance. They could easily replace any amount they gave. It meant nothing to them. The gift the widow gave was her living!
In McNutt’s last sentence of her Washington Post article, she said, “Are you doing everything in your power to get your team back to winning? Are you all in and dedicated, or are you just along for the ride?” These are the questions the widow’s giving asks us.
One commentator of this passage in Luke 21 wrote, “Only a completely insensitive person could read the story of the widow and her two lepta without searching and humiliating self-examination.”
Brother Gus Nichols, in one of his sermons on attitude, asked the question, “If everyone had the same attitude as mine, what would their contribution be? What would their attendance be? What would their attitude toward Jesus be?”
In the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” Isaac Watts wrote, “See from his head, his hands, his feet; sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did ere such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?”
Jesus loved us so much he gave himself to die on the cross for our sins. But, are we in the game, as Ms. McNutt wrote? Are we dedicated to the Lord? What is our attitude when we compare ourselves to the widow? If everyone in the church had our attitude, what kind of attitude would they have?
How God Sees Bad News
By Kerry Duke
We hear a lot of bad news. War. Rape. Child abuse. Drug abuse. Sexual immorality. Perversion. Theft. Corruption. The information age of television, radio, newspapers, and the internet brings the world’s evils into our homes and lays them in our lap.
When people tell us about these evils, we feel overwhelmed and depressed. The weight of hearing about all these problems constantly is almost more than our minds can bear. When men talk about these troubles, we get the news, but no hope.
When we read the Bible we find the same dark side of man. The Bible does not avoid subjects that are shocking. It records many of the atrocities we hear from the media. We only read a few pages of the Bible until we read a case of murder in a family. A couple of chapters later corruption was so bad and so widespread that God destroyed the earth with a flood. In the chapters that follow we read about drunkenness, homosexuality, attempted rape, and incest. In the remainder of the Old Testament we see accounts of child sacrifice, mutilation, bestiality, and sorcery. The Author of the Bible is very open about the evil side of mankind. Our world has been in a mess since Adam and Eve sinned.
But there is something different about reading these verses in the Bible. It records many of the same atrocities we hear on the news, but you don’t feel depressed when you read them. You don’t feel anxious and insecure. You don’t feel overwhelmed. How can this be when the Bible and media mention the same troubles?
You might say the difference is that the Bible talks about these sins in a dignified and tactful way whereas the media presents them in an overly explicit and even embarrassing way. This is a point to consider. The Bible speaks of some of the most private and even disgusting subjects without being offensive. But there is something else.
When you read the Bible accounts of these evils you cannot help but be impressed with the calmness and brevity with which the Author describes them. There is remarkable composure in the One who talks about these situations. You get the distinct idea that the One who wrote this book is in control. Even when the men who wrote the Bible were alarmed, the God who inspired them was not. The Scriptures present some of the worst things people can do, but they do so with a composure that is unmistakable. Reading about horrific crimes in the Bible does not leave us feeling distressed and overburdened because God is in control and already knows how all things will turn out in the end.
It is not that God is unconcerned about these evils when He talks about them. He hates them. But He does not speak as if He is the least bit uncertain about their outcome. The overall tone is matter of fact and marked by great restraint.
It is astonishing that man and God talk about the same things from such completely different perspectives. Man’s presentation of bad news offers no solution and extends no hope. When God talks about these things, He does so with authority. Even when we read about the darkest side of mankind in the Bible, we come away with peace and assurance because we are listening to the Creator talk about it.
This may not be a proof of the inspiration of the Bible, but it is at least a consequence of it and may point in that direction. It is certainly why we should listen to the news less and read the Bible more.
(Kerry serves as minister for the West End church of Christ in Livingston, Tennessee, and as Dean of Tennessee Bible College).
The Tooth Will Set You Free?
Siddhartha Gautama (566-486 B.C.) was cremated at death, leaving behind (it is believed) a few teeth which have become religious relics, housed in fabulous temples in the Sri Lankan city of Kandy and the Chinese capital of Beijing. In 2011 the Lingguang Temple in Beijing lent a tooth to the nation of Myanmar (which it had also done in 1955, 1994 and 1996), escorted by “venerable monks” for forty-eight days of “public obeisance.” Before it traveled to Myanmar, the head of China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs attended a religious service for the tooth.
Why such a big ado over so small a thing? Gautama is otherwise known as the Buddha (meaning the “enlightened one”), who founded a religion that now encompasses 350 million worldwide.
A few years ago Beijing lent their tooth to Thailand. On its way to the Royal Air Force Airport in Bangkok, thousands of Thai Buddhists lined the route for a final glimpse of the sacred enamel relic. Pomp was in no short supply, as the tooth was ceremoniously driven in a decorated truck, the tooth itself resting in a miniature pagoda surrounded by bulletproof glass.
In fairness to Buddha, he had no say in his tooth’s becoming an object of veneration for his followers, since it happened after he died and the tooth was lifted from his ashy remains. But that is just the point: there are earthly remains of Buddha. He was nothing more than a mortal man with a host of uninspired ideas. He died and, apparently, some of him is still with us today. His influence is definitely still here, evidenced by millions ensconced in a morass of beliefs about karma, reincarnation, and a denial of the God of the Bible.
If that is Buddhism’s pedigree, Islam is the same song, second verse. Mohammad was born in Mecca c. A.D. 570, over 500 years after the establishment of the church of Christ in Jerusalem (Buddha’s rescued teeth would have been over 1,000 years old when Mohammad arrived). He borrowed from the Bible, mixed it with his own uninspired musings until it bore no resemblance to Scripture, and foisted it on the world in a book called the Koran. Thanks to his efforts, about a billion people today pray to Allah and call Mohammad his prophet. The alleged prophet died in A.D. 632 and was buried in Medina, where his tomb is now the second most revered place of worship for Muslims. Mohammad died. He was buried. He stayed buried. Thus two of the world’s major religions trace back to Buddha and Mohammad — two mere men whose mortality caught up with them, and whose remains are with us to this day.
Contrast that with the empty tomb of Jesus the Christ, the founder of Christianity. True, for a few hours he was buried in a Jerusalem tomb. But there is no coffin containing his bones, around which the faithful can gather to worship. There is no tooth of Jesus coming to a museum near you. Why? Because Jesus came up from the grave, just as he predicted, leaving a tomb whose unique claim to fame was its emptiness.
The Bible says, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). Buddhism did not have the power to resurrect Gautama. Nor did Islam have the power to give Mohammad immortality. But the God of Christianity had ample power to call his Son from death to life and give him a kingdom unlike anything seen before or since. Only the misguided enmesh themselves in religions devoid of power — religions that worship 2,500 year old teeth or exalt ancient burial sites. Jesus is the only founder of a religion who verified his doctrine with genuine miracles and who left an empty tomb in his wake. And he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
A smarter way to social networking
By J. Randal Matheny
The options for interaction on the Internet grow by the hour, it seems. Servants of God want to be good stewards of their time and energies. They ought to be, as Jesus said, “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16 NET). These two qualities invite the disciple of Christ to evaluate his actions, make the best choices within his situation, and, within the context of Matthew 10, use all at his disposal for the mission given to the church.
This principle applies to such supposedly mundane things as one’s choice of social media.
One social networking option flying under the radar until recently deserves consideration as an already stable platform with a wide range of options, applications, plug-ins, and possibilities for opening up the Internet.
Friendica provides secure communications protocols for sharing with friends and contacts across the Internet. As the main website says, “Friendica is decentralised, open source, secure, private, modular, extensible, unincorporated, and federated.”
Three of these are mentioned for clarification, then four major advantages for users in general and for those interested in social networking for the gospel.
- Open source: Any user can install his own instance, as its called, on one’s own server, either for oneself or just for friends or for the general public. It’s not a commercial product, so no one is trying to make money from users, which means it’s free of advertising. The level of complexity for installation is about the same as the WordPress software.
- Federated: There is not a single website for Friendica, but a group of sites wherever people decide to install it. They can connect across the Internet among themselves and with other services. The user is not limited to a specific site on the web. This is an amazing advantage.
- Extensible: A large group of volunteers constantly contributes new applications and plug-ins. Already nearly a dozen interface languages are supported and more are in the works.
What do these characteristics mean for users?
#1. Time-saver
Christians seek to use their time wisely and take every advantage of opportunities. This wisdom is practiced, in part, Paul says, by “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16 ESV). Therefore, tools that contribute to the best use of time may certainly be welcomed by God’s people.
As one of those tools, Friendica can post to and interact with services like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Posterous, LiveJournal, and WordPress. It is a federated network, meaning it can communicate across the Internet with services called “walled gardens,” that is, normally closed to interaction with other services.
As well, Friendica interfaces well with other open-source efforts such as Diaspora and StatusNet (like identi.ca).
With such possibilities of communicating, one can concentrate most of one’s Internet activity in a single place. That is a major time-saver.
With Friendica one can even send posts to people who use only email, through connection with one’s email server. A development is near completion to allow people to subscribe to public posts by email as well. No one, then, is beyond reach.
A user can insert RSS feeds into his stream as well. RSS allows one to follow websites, forums, and discussion groups that provide the feed.
Most of what one needs from the Internet is brought together in a single place and can be distributed from a single source. Such convenience means saving lots of time.
#2. Security
Important records are guarded under lock and key. Counselors know the importance of respecting client confidentiality. While Christians are to be examples to the world in their conduct (the open-book analogy), some information and data should be protected as a measure of responsibility to others as well. Integrity means sharing with others what should be shared and withholding what will not edify.
Facebook talks about security, but it has been demonstrated that images which the user marks as private actually have a publicly accessible URI. Services like Facebook and Google evaluate the user’s activity in order to refine their advertising targets and sell user data to advertisers. Facebook has had serious security leaks of user information as well.
Friendica uses military-grade security features both to protect posts within an installation and to insure security when data is transmitted outside to other sites and services.
#3. Freedom
Freedom is an important concept in the Way (cf. John 8:32; Gal. 5:1). It keeps one from being bound by others’ demands, while allowing the Christian to limit himself in ways that will further the kingdom of God. Social media that preserves that freedom would seem to contribute to a better social experience and serve spiritual purposes.
Friendica is free in several ways that commercial services are not. First, there is no cost, neither in monetary terms nor in privacy. Facebook, for example, is not free, for the price one pays is to be the subject of scrutiny in one’s habits and content and the target of advertising.
Second, there are no restrictions on one’s data. Content belongs to the user, who can manipulate it at will. It can be downloaded from the instance where it is hosted, deleted, edited, shared publicly, privately, or not at all. User content is not a commodity, but under the user’s full control.
#4. Privacy
While privacy as such is not a biblical topic, respect for one’s own faith before God, exercised between oneself and the Lord, and for another’s faith overlaps with this concept. In the question of matters of opinion, Paul taught that one’s faith is held between oneself and the Lord. “Before his own master he stands or falls” (Romans 14:4 NET).
There are moments when corrections are to be made in public (1 Tim. 5:20), but we also see Aquila and Priscilla taking Apollo aside privately to teach him further (Acts 18:26).
Friendica allows the user to fine-tune who can access and read content, as well as protect the transmission of data to other services. In a litigious society today, one must take care with what information about others is shared. Prayer requests, for example, may not be publicly appropriate, depending on what is revealed about a person.
For that, Friendica has a full range of options, for groups, community pages, and forums, through which a message’s level of privacy can be defined with precision. Further, one can be sure that those privacy options, once determined, will not be changed, as has happened on sites like Facebook.
A satisfied user
My comments are made as a recent, satisfied user of Friendica. I’m not a contributor to the software nor do I benefit in any way from this article, other than the satisfaction of sharing what has quickly become for me a highly useful tool in my ministry.
I’ve tried most of the social networking services available, have used many of them rather intensely, and migrated recently to Friendica. From what I’ve seen so far, I will not soon leave it.
Randal can be found on Friendica here or as randal@myfriendica.net. See his blog post on “How to get started with Friendica in 7 small easy steps.
Biblical Notes 