When something is being built there are a great many things that are important. What is being built? Whose will it be when it is built? Where is it being built? What materials are being used in building it? Who is paying for it to be built? Who is building it? There are probably more, but this gives us the picture. Of course the answers to these questions will vary by the project. In Matthew 16:18 we read Jesus saying, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” From this verse we learn the answers to some of those questions. Jesus is the builder. The church is what is being built. There is only one being built. It is built on the rock of the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. It will belong to him when it is built. 

From other passages we can find out the answers to more questions. God paid for it with his own blood -Acts 20:28. Christians are the materials he uses to build it - 1 Peter 2:5. Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the foundation with the apostles and prophets helping complete the foundation - Ephesians 2:20. He began building in Jerusalem, but has continued to make additions to it through the ages - Acts 2:47

There’s more, but let’s focus back on Christ: the builder, owner, and purchaser. He will decide who is and who is not in his church. He will decide where each stone is placed and what function it will serve. In any building there are different purposes for different parts. We sometimes are guilty of thinking like the apostles, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom (church)?’. We must remember that Jesus is the greatest and we are created for him - Colossians 1:15-18. We should be content to be part of what he is building and do our best to bring him glory and honor no matter the place he puts us or the way he chooses for us to be used. To use a concept from scripture with a different example: Shall the brick say to the builder why did you put me here? Or, Why didn’t you use me in a more prominent position? 

We answer to the Builder. Are you doing your best to fit into God’s building where the builder has placed you?

​jp

This article was written in during the 2011-2012 football season.
THE BEST PLAY WAS NOT EVEN ON THE FIELD!   
Neal Pollard   

Yesterday, professional football fans saw one of the most exciting, improbable victories in its history climaxed by the stunning first play from scrimmage in overtime when Tebow hit Thomas for a playoff, overtime record 80 yards in a playoff, overtime record 11 seconds.  Local play-by-play man Dave Logan's call, which will likely go down in Bronco lore, captures how monumental it was for the underdog Denver team.  If you watch ESPN, there will be several highlights of passes, runs, and defensive plays.  However, without a doubt, the best play of the day happened up in the stands, almost on the front row in the seats at the 15 yard line.  The game was tied, 23-23, and it was about 5:45 P.M.  The outcome was completely unknown and very much in doubt.  The last minute of regulation, alone, was a pins and needles affair.  It was right about then that a Christian husband and father, a deacon in this congregation, told his son, "It's time for us to go."  The son, a huge Tim Tebow and Broncos fan, was curious as to why.  His dad explained, "We've got something more important to do."
Wait a minute.  What is more important than seeing on the biggest sports moments in this town in years?  That father knew that the saints were assembling at 6:00 P.M., and he wanted his son to know that worshipping God was the highest priority.  Here is a father who is raising his son to enjoy and appreciate those normal "guy things" that will be a source of entertainment for this young man for decades to come.  But, he is also teaching him something infinitely more important!  Those earthly diversions and entertainments are subordinate to "kingdom matters" (Mat. 6:33).  This father was showing his son Who reigns on the throne of his heart.  I pray that this man's example will influence us all to remember what really matters most in the end.
Thanks, Dean!  What a great "play"! - LP

A Thankless Task?

Many times being a teacher in a children’s bible class is a thankless task. You spend hours preparing for the class and miss out on the adult classes much of the time. You may have to deal with discipline problems and question the value of what you are doing. You may feel like someone else could do a better job. And yet you continue on week after week, year after year.
Hopefully you get an occasional comment that make you think you work is worthwhile. I want you to know that even though teaching a bible class may be a thankless task here on earth, your Lord and God will reward your efforts. They see great value in what you are doing even if no one else does. I hope the following poem will be an encouragement to you.
Larry

A Tribute To Our Bible School Teachers

I dreamed the pearly gates were opened wide,
And I had entered in, for I had died;
And now must give account for all my acts,
I saw a book there opened with these facts.

I thought “my role upon this earth was small,
Just teaching in a bible class, my call.”
For I saw all the saints of God up there,
And mine was, at most, a meager share.

I heard the Master call for my report,
I stood afraid, for mine was short.
I trembled and felt I would not pass,
Then whispered, “I taught a bible class.”

And from the throne I heard His voice, “Well done,
Come in and share eternal life, faithful one,
Although your place was humble and obscure,
You let the thirsty ones to waters pure.”

And then it seemed that from eternal plains
There came the sound of voices in refrain,
That rolled across the mighty sea of glass,
“They are great, the teachers of a bible class.”
LP

COLONIALISM - THE POLICY OF A NATION SEEKING TO EXTEND ITS AUTHORITY OVER OTHER TERRITORIES 

The denominational world works much like this. Colonialism is the only thing many of them even know. It probably started with the Catholic Church as they spread along with the rest of the Holy Roman Empire. Now certainly we should be desiring to spread the gospel to all the world as the great commission commands, and we should seek to extend God’s authority to all by teaching them to submit themselves to his will. There is a difference in spreading the gospel and extending my authority or my churches authority.  Recently some circumstances and certain statements have caused me to wonder if some congregations of the Lord’s church are taking on the denominational structure of a mother church and her baby churches. I must say here that I am thankful that the Florence Blvd. church of Christ, which supported the work here in Butler, was not and is not like some others. What makes an eldership think that since it supports a work financially it can dictate how that work is carried out? The scriptures teach that there should be elders in every church. Sometimes when there are not elders in one congregation, another that has elders thinks and even acts as though it has control of the other. 

In conversation the other day, a man told me that their congregation was supporting a particular work and explained that the newly planted church was “under our elders”. In another situation the elders of the congregation supporting a work hire the preacher rather than allowing the congregation which will have to work with him to choose the man best suited to them. Have we lost touch with the Biblical doctrine of autonomy? There is to be one head, Christ; an eldership over each congregation; and never an eldership over two congregations. There is a way for a congregation to handle a supported work that is not scriptural: stop supporting it.  We have others who are trying through their papers or via other means to control other congregations. One preacher after being written up in a paper had a ready response that should be sufficient to cover the situation. He simply replied that the elders at the congregation where he preached knew what he believed and taught and if any correction needed to be made they would be the ones to make it. Sometimes an eldership doesn’t make the corrections that need to be made, but that doesn’t give another congregation the right to take over. It is sad and painful to see entire congregations go astray, but if others go beyond the limits of their authority to attempt to bring them back then we have two tragedies in place of one.  We need to lovingly exhort one another. We need to truthfully teach one another. We need to never go beyond the authority of the scriptures, even for a good cause. The end does not justify sinful means. Leave colonialism to the politicians, it has no place in New Testament Christianity. 

CLERICALISM - CLERICAL POWER IN THE GOVERNMENT 

Here is one we don’t have to worry about much in America; unless you count humanist and atheistic leaders as clergy of their respective religions. Our government was founded with the idea that one church not have control of the state. The intent by our founding fathers was to limit government's role in religion and to keep one religion from controlling all the others. What has happened instead is that government has so restricted religion that those claiming Christianity in Alabama were lambasted when they joined forces to defeat the lottery. We were accused of violating the separation of church and state. Isn’t that amazing. Individuals are not even allowed to vote their religious beliefs. We aren’t supposed to let our faith interfere with politics. The alternative is to allow politics to interfere with our faith. We find ourselves today right where Peter and John found themselves in Acts 4 and we must decide whether to obey God or man. 

We are all concerned about the lack of morals and mocking of values that goes on in our country and our government, but the opposite extreme wouldn’t really be any better. If our government were to be controlled by a religion, which one would it be? You might say, “Christianity”. Great, now which version of Christianity; Catholic, Baptist, Jehovah’s Witness, etc.? You would obviously want what you believe to be the ruling law. Therein lies the problem. England had a system like that and what the King believed was the law, and you believed what the King believed or else. Just look at the atrocities of the Holy Roman Empire under the rule of a “Pope” who decided what everyone would believe. No, we don’t want the clergy ruling our land. 

Aside from a Theocracy where God plays an active part in governing like he did with the children of Israel there is no better form of government known to man than the one we HAD in this country. A law under which religion is allowed to be religion and government is not supposed to interfere. Oh, if we could only get back to that. 

Let us pray that our nation will halt its destructive way of thinking and return to God. We must reach one person at a time, we can’t vote people into obedience to God, nor should we want to do it by force. (Psa 33:12) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”   (Isa 1:4-6) “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. {5} Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. {6} From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”  (Prov 14:34) “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” 

CENTRALISM - A CENTRALIZING SYSTEM
 Businesses cannot survive long if they do not adhere to some centralizing system. The church also is dependent on centralism. There are only two kinds of centralism: the right kind and the wrong kind. Most religious groups have some kind of headquarters on earth. It doesn’t matter if there is one man ruling the church and sending down edicts, or a council of leaders that makes creeds for them to go by, they are still being led by men from an earthly headquarters.

 The Bible makes it clear that there is no authority above the local congregation other than God, Jesus, and Their Word. (Eph 1:22-23) “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Despite the clear Bible teaching that we are to obey God and not men, the church in the early centuries succumbed to this very thing. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of years, starting in the second century with the idea that one of the elders in a congregation was “first among equals” as if that were possible. This ‘head’ elder was soon referred to as bishop while the others retained the office of elder. Through this process centralization of and apostasy of the church on earth continued and was completed when around 600 AD Boniface proclaimed himself to be the head of the church. Of course this was no longer Christ’s church, because only Christ is the head of His church.

 We might think that that could never happen again, but we are mistaken. The church is always only one generation (or less) from apostasy. Failure to teach our children properly will result in falsehood in the church. There are as I type men and women in the church that are not satisfied with the autonomy (rule of each congregation through the Word by men from within the congregation) of the church. There are elders who are not happy with being on equal terms with the other elders of that congregation and want to rule everything themselves. There are elderships that are not happy with overseeing the congregation where they are, but desire to spread their rule over other congregations.

 There are those like Diotrephes who want to have preeminence, and worse than him want to throw whole congregations out if there is anything they don’t like about the way the congregation is led. I am not saying that anything is ok, far from it. Those congregations who are not faithful to the word will be spewed out of the Lord’s mouth like Laodicea. However, we need to all be watching our own congregations and helping them to stay on the right path rather than sticking our noses into other congregations of which we are not even part.

 I often express to our congregation the beauty of autonomy like this: Because each congregation is ruled from within and the only outside force is from God through the word, it doesn’t matter if every other congregation in the U.S. or even in the world goes astray, we can still be faithful. It doesn’t work that way with any earthly centralism. Under any central system you believe what the council or the Pope, or the Apostle of that denomination commands (whether you want to or not).  Of course as is obvious from this emailing itself, that doesn’t mean that we are not all part of the same body of Christ because we live in different places. We are all brothers and sisters as many of us as are in Christ. So keep encouraging your brothers and sisters no matter where they may be, and be sure to thank God for his wisdom in providing the only kind of centralism that can work, a system with Him as the Owner/President/CEO at the headquarters in heaven.

CATHOLICISM - FOLLOWING THE TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
 There are enough dangers with Catholicism that I could spend the rest of the year on this subject alone. If you are interested in further study on this topic you might be interested in two books:
1) Traditions of Men Versus the Word of God, by Alvin Jennings, published by Star Bible Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 821220, Fort Worth, Texas 76182, 1-800-433-7507.
2) Catholicism Against Itself, by O. C. Lambert, published by Star Bible Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 821220, Fort Worth, Texas 76182, 1-800-433-7507.  There are probably other good books on the subject as well, and the Bible itself is full of incriminating evidence against the Catholic religion.  Let’s look at just a few of the teachings of Catholicism that contradict God’s Word.

1) They claim to trace the Papacy back to Peter. According to their own regulations, however, Peter could never have been a ‘Pope’ because he was married (Mat 8:14) “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.” Further, according to history the first Pope proclaimed himself such, it was not passed down to him, and that was Boniface in 608 AD. No, the Catholic church is not the same church that Christ established in the first century.

2) Priests are called ‘Father’. (Mat 23:9) “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

3) Only a priest can mediate between the congregation and God. The Bible says that only Christ is our mediator and that all Christians are priests. (1 Tim 2:5) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” and (1 Pet 2:5) “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” and (1 Pet 2:9) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

4) Tradition and teaching of ‘Popes’ and councils is held above the Bible and study of the Bible is not encouraged. Jesus condemned tradition that violated God’s law, and Bible teaches that it is all sufficient and should be studied.  (Mat 15:3) “But he answered and said unto them, ‘Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?’” (2 Tim 2:15)  “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  There are many more doctrines that are held by the Catholic church in direct opposition to the Bible (idolatry, prayer to those who are not God, infant baptism, confusion over saints, etc.), but I suppose that is what happens when you believe that man’s ideas are better than God’s. Let us always look to God and his revealed will for our authority in religion and in life.

CATECHISM - A BOOK CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF A RELIGION, IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
 Unless I am mistaken, there is a book that contains the principles of Christianity. Last I knew it was called the New Testament, and had references to prophecies in the Old Testament as well as the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. I would hope that we would all study the scriptures in order to answer any questions we have. (1 Pet 3:15)  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” One of the problems with a system like a catechism is that those involved are not encouraged to study the Word for themselves, in fact, in many instances they are told not to or that there is no need. ‘Why study when you have all the answers right here?’ They don’t think about the fact that the Bible is inspired of God and a catechism is written by fallible men.  Even if I had a book that gave me a pat answer for all these questions, and I had memorized the answers, I would still not have an understanding of why that was the answer. 

How many religious people believe what they believe for the following reasons:

1) My parents told me that was the way it was - What if your parents were wrong?
2) The ‘pastor’ told me - What if the ‘pastor’ was taught the wrong thing?
3) I read it in a book - What if the author was mistaken?
4) That is what my church teaches - What if the church isn’t founded by and on Christ and his teachings as it should be?

The problem with all of these and many other reasons for us believing something is that we are depending on someone else to get us to Heaven.  (Phil 2:12) “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” You see we alone are responsible for what we believe. Our salvation is far too important for us to leave it to someone else. I am taking my car to the shop on Friday to have it worked on, I have to go to the dentist to get my teeth taken care of, I had to study books to learn to read and write and do math, but I better not go to anyone besides Jesus to find salvation.

 Here is an answer that is much better than the others. I believe it because the Bible teaches it in such and such book, chapter, and verse. Let us all strive to have a biblical answer for what we do, believe and teach.

CATABOLISM - THE BREAKING DOWN OF COMPLEX SUBSTANCES INTO SIMPLER ONES.
 Generally, our bodies use the food we eat to build more complex structures. We eat amino acids and proteins, and our bodies use those to make muscle. We drink milk with calcium, and our bodies use it to make bones. Under certain circumstances, however, some people not only don’t make the more complex substances, but also begin to break down those already made. The best known case of this happening would probably be kidney stones or gall stones. What has happened is the bones (usually because of osteoporosis) are being eaten away and breaking down into calcium which is then deposited in the kidneys or gall bladder resulting in a very painful experience.

 You are probably thinking that this has nothing to do with the church, but it does in a couple of ways. We as Christians are Christ’s body. If we are doing what good body parts should, then we are helping to build up the entire body as well as growing as individual body parts. Sadly, there are many cases where we tear down work that others have done and in so doing we break down the body of Christ. Allow me to illustrate: Perhaps a song leader in the congregation I am in is encouraging some of the young men to get up their courage and lead a song, and suppose he gets one of them to lead a song on Wednesday night before we go to class. Now, obviously this young man is not going to do as well as the song leader who is encouraging him, and maybe he doesn’t even do as well as I think I can. I can destroy all of the work and encouragement my brother has been involved in with this young man if I criticize him for his imperfection. I have been breaking down rather than building up.

 False doctrines and traditions of men can tear a church down very quickly if they are allowed.  Judging based on opinions and not on God’s word will result in catabolism. Division in the church no matter what the cause brings about a catabolistic state. Laziness will cause a reversion back to simpler substances.

 An individual who spiritually suffers from catabolism must be taught again and again the foundational principles of the faith. They never grow beyond infancy and if ever they do learn any deeper doctrines they quickly forget. In (Heb 6:1-3) “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, {2} Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. {3} And this will we do, if God permit.” the writer makes it clear that we should be able to leave (not departing from the things we have learned, but rather not continuing to dwell on them) the foundation, the basics, the gospel that converted us and strive for deeper knowledge, and even perfection. He also says, (Heb 5:12) “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” How sad and yet how common in the Lord’s church today, that men and women who have been part of Christ’s body for years must be taught the essentiality of baptism, the significant difference in faith only and a working biblical faith, the existence of Hell, or the authority of scripture. Is it any wonder that churches are suffering from apostasy and division when those who ought to be teaching need to be taught again.

 Simplicity is a marvelous thing in its place. The gospel is simple, and yet at the same time it is more complex than we can comprehend. The human body is a simple thing in its components, but the complexity with which those components are pieced together is stunning. In the body of our Lord we cannot please him if we remain always simple and never growing. All of us began as a single simple cell, had we remained at that stage of development, or worse, had we after being born reverted back to that single cell how sad a condition that would be. As Christians be always growing, always deepening your faith, and working toward the simply complex goal of perfection.

CASTROISM - THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND REVOLUTIONARY THEORIES AND POLICIES ADVOCATED BY FIDEL CASTRO.
 Oh, how Castro has been a thorn in our side for years. Because of his dictatorship we have been on the verge of war, and are currently fighting to avoid being overwhelmed by the refugees trying to flee Cuba for the US. All of this because one man wants everything done his way. Of course, that could never happen in the church, could it? How many congregations have been split, choked, smothered, stunted in growth, and even killed because someone wanted things done their way?

 There are no doubt many congregations, some with elders and some without, which suffer under a form of Castroism. This type of dictatorship is certainly nothing new. John spoke of a man in this position in 3 John 1:9 “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” Diotrephes was obviously a very intimidating man to be able to control the others in the church to such an extent that he would not even receive one of the apostles. He had apparently taken the place of Christ in this particular congregation and John let it be known that the arrogance shown would not go unpunished. Diotrephes should have known that Christ is the only one to have preeminence in the church; (Col 1:17-18) “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” And we should know the same today.

 The reason these individuals are able to succeed in the first place is because there is no one to withstand them. Many times they will bring in their whole family to support them in their power grab. Unfortunately, we often let it go. John said it was something that could not continue. (3 John 1:10) “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” The situation was backwards here as it is in many places today. The one who should be cast out of the church is the one who desires to be like Castro.

 It is never an easy thing to “... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Cor 5:13), but there are many things in Christianity that are not easy. We cannot shy away from doing what is right just because it is harder than doing what is wrong or doing nothing. Don’t be like Diotrephes and don’t let the church come under the power of one like him.