Truth Magazine

By Norman E. Fultz

That was the headline of an article in the Kansas City Star, Sunday February 13, 2000, [A10]. Written about a conference called “God at 2000” and datelined Corvallis, Ore. the Associated Press article by-line stated, “Theologians study how religions view the Supreme Being.”

Frankly, a meeting of theologians isn’t going to greatly impact how God fulfills his role (unless their foolishness should prove that there’s not enough salt and light left to allow the world to continue). The problem is that their “learned postulations” may influence others to pick up their hue and cry, and thus lose sight of what God’s role really is in the world and what it should be in their lives.

The article stated, “Two of the world’s most prominent theologians say God’s image is going to have to change for all faiths if religion is to survive.”

And a professor of comparative religion at Harvard, Diana Eck, was quoted as saying, “We can’t enter the 21st century with the idea of God we learned in Sunday school.” Marcus Borg, raised Lutheran — turned Episcopalian, a best selling religious author and teacher at Oregon State University, said, “The God he grew up with had an image of a stern lawgiver and judge who required obedience within a system of rewards and punishments — a ‘monarchical model’ of God that has turned many people away from the Christian faith.” The article quoted Borg as saying, “I find it literally incredible that the God of the whole universe has chosen to be known by one religious tradition.”

Borg “suggested that God was an encompassing spirit who is part of everyday life.” And what would any good conference of modern day theologians be without someone to lend a feminist view? In this case it was given by a Benedictine nun, Sister Joan Chittister, who “drew a standing ovation at the end of her talk about God as a genderless concept. She said that science and the globalization of culture, environmentalism and feminism took her away from traditional teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and made her realize that God is an innate part of everything.”

Realizing that some of their definitions of God bordered on pantheism (which denies God’s personality and tends to identify God with nature), Borg “described this not as pantheism but as ‘panentheism,’ which suggest that God is not only transcendent and beyond human experience, but also immanent, or dwelling within all of us.” Has he, or someone, invented a new word to avoid being called pantheists? My dictionaries (I’ll admit they’re not the latest editions) didn’t have “panentheism” in them, and my computer’s speller didn’t recognize it. But if you dissect the term you have “pan” (a prefix meaning “all”), “en” (a prefix meaning “in” or “into”) and “theism” (the belief in God). Sure doesn’t miss pantheism very much.

According to the article, the gist of these theologians’ findings seemed to be, “None of us owns the universe of faith,” said Eck. “I’m convinced it’s time for all of our theisms to be recognized.” She was referring to Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, and perhaps others, and said Christians, in particular, had isolated themselves from other religions. Couple this with Borg’s statement of incredibility (noted above). The tenor of it all is to reject the God of the Bible and make God in the image of their own imaginings. As to God’s role changing in the 21st century, I’m persuaded his role will continue to be what it has been. As to the role theologians want to assign him, that’s a different matter. And to that matter I would ask, ‘Would they instruct or correct the Almighty?” (cf. Job 40:1-2). So, what is God’s role in the 21st century?

• He’s still the Creator (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 136-5; Prov. 3:19-20; Acts 14:15; 17:24; Heb. 1:10-12).
• Through his Son, partner with him in the Creation, he’s still upholding all things by the word of his power (John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:7).
• He who stretched out the heavens as a curtain, spreading them out as a tent to dwell in, yet sits upon the circle of the earth (Isa. 40:22).
• He still rules in the kingdoms of men giving them to whomsoever he will, working his will among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth (Dan. 4:17, 32, 35).
• He is still working his will according to his good pleasure, purposed in himself in eternity and realized in this “dispensation of the fullness of times” in which he gathers “together in one all things in Christ”; and this in spite of theologians who “find it literally incredible that the God of the whole universe has chosen to be known by one religious tradition” (Eph. 1:9-10; cf. Gal. 4:4; Acts 4:12; 2 Tim. 2:10).
• He is still accomplishing man’s reconciliation to himself in Christ Jesus through “the word of reconciliation,” the gospel, the power he uses to draw and call men to himself (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Rom. 1:16; 2 Thess. 2:14; John 6:44-45).
• He, along with his beloved Son, is still taking up his abode in those who love him and keep his word (John 14:23); thus not necessarily “immanent, or dwelling within all of us” as per the theologians.
• He is still being longsuffering to a sinful world “not desiring that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” for according to his holy principle it is a matter of repent or perish (2 Pet. 3:9; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30). 
•  He is still adding to the church, the realm of the saved, those who become believers in the Christ and who repent and are baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:36-38, 47; Eph. 5:23).
• He is still holding in readiness a prepared place for a prepared people to be enjoyed in that “heavenly country” (Matt. 25:34; John 14:1-3; Heb. 11:16).

I think I prefer to go with the role Scripture assigns to God rather than relying upon the postulations of liberal theologians. 

Aside from all the above, there was a very interesting bit of information in the article about believers in God in America compared with England and other European countries. A Gallup Poll “found that 95 percent of all Americans said they believed in God, compared with 35 percent of the population in England and lower numbers in other European countries.” Of course one wonders what “role” these believers have assigned to God, for it is rather evident even by casual observation that the concept of the masses differs widely from that which we read in Holy Writ. A tree is known by its fruits (Matt. 7:20). Very importantly, What role have you given God in your life?

13018 N. Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Missousi 64167 nfultz@juno.com

By Bruce James

Going to hell? — not far fetched! Many are headed to hell; ask Jesus! “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13). Likely many reading this — some sitting on church pews saying “amen” are going to hell! Even you! Hell is real; the threat is not imaginary.

But if you go to hell, it is no accident. It is your choice. I know you do not want hell’s miseries; you do not deliberately pick that “lake that burns with fire and brimstone.” Yet, when you choose the road, you also — necessarily include its destination. Choose booze, choose fornication, choose the “pleasures of this world,” choose to “just live as you please,” and you choose hell! — at the end of that road. Your choice — plain and simple! In the words of Joshua, “Choose for yourselves this day . . .”

If you go to hell, it will be in spite of God. Do not blame God! “The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). God never forces you, overwhelms you, or makes you a robot. Yet he “works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12). He tries to get you to do right — to listen — to choose the road to heaven. To go to hell, you must reject all God’s efforts to the contrary.

If you go to hell, it will be in spite of God’s love for you. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16). To go to hell you have to refuse such love; you must “despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering.” Otherwise, the “goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4) — and eventually to heaven.

If you go to hell, it will be in spite of Jesus. You, as a sinner, have no sacrifice for sin. There is nothing you can do to free yourself from the guilt and consequence of your sin. It is a hopeless case! Hell looms on the horizon inescapably. Until — until Jesus enters the picture! He volunteers to be that sacrifice for sins. He volunteers to accept your punishment deserved as a sinner. For you, Jesus was scourged as a criminal. For you, Jesus died on the cross as a criminal. For you, his blood was poured out as a sin sacrifice. He changed your prospects from hopeless despair — from inevitable hell — to an open door into God’s favor, blessings, and heaven. To go to hell, you have to ignore such a sacrifice on your behalf.

If you go to hell, it will be in spite of Christians. They are the ones who pester you trying to persuade you to change your life and turn to God. They just will not leave you alone to go quietly off to hell. To go to hell you have to turn a deaf ear to all their warnings and all their appeals.

Christians are the ones who will not give up on you even when you try and fail miserably. They are there to pick you up and encourage you to try again. To go to hell you have to ignore people who care that much about you — or you may have to get angry with them and then refuse their help and concern.

Christians are the ones who pray for you — even when you quit praying. They pray about your difficulties and your trials in life. They pray about your spiritual weaknesses and your sins. To go to hell, you must fight their prayers to God for you.

Christians are the ones who know what you can be — a child of God reflecting his image. They are not satisfied for you to fail to become all that God can make of you. Christians are patient because they were once where you are — and still have problems with spiritual weaknesses. To go to hell, you will have to close the door on these people who love you — who love your soul.

Are you not finding it hard to keep on going to hell with such obstacles in your way? In Jesus’ words to Saul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads”(Acts 9:5). Why not just quit trying to go to hell — quit lashing out against those who try to help you — quit turning your back on God who wants to forgive you? Serving God and going to heaven is a tremendous alternative!

156 Co. Rd. 492, Carthage, Texas 75633

By Carl A. Allen

“And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45). This gives the manner in which God appeals to the mind of man. It is worthy of our consideration.

Taught of God — God has always appealed to man through revelation. Sometimes it is oral and sometimes it is written; but he has always made known his will and has expected men to listen to what he has to say. In the New Testament we have the Lord’s will to man (Heb. 9:16-17). Christ died that his Testament might be binding.

He That Hath Heard —  “Faith cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”           (Rom. 10:17). Truth taught in the Bible causes faith. If it is not taught in the Bible, it can never be of faith. Faith can only come from hearing and hearing from the word of God. We must let the Bible speak to us.

He That Hath Learned — How can one act upon a truth that he, or she, does not know? That is impossible. All of the passages in the Bible that teach us to read and learn, are for the purpose of encouraging us to study and know God’s will. Read (Eph. 3:4), study (2 Tim. 2:15),  understand (Eph. 5:17) because it is the Bible that “furnishes us to every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). If it is taught in the book, believe it; it is truth.

Cometh Unto Me — We come by doing the will of the Father: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21, Rom. 6:17; Prov. 14:12. This, my friends, is the truth of how God appeals to the mind, and heart of man, today. You need to listen to what the books says; for, it is truth.

Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 12  p4  June 15, 2000

By Johnie Edwards

It seems that many churches of Christ are trying to be like the denominations around them. Like the Jews of old, they are saying, in principle, “Give us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam. 8:5). We seem to be having a language problem in some quarters. It reminds us of Israel as Nehemiah wrote: “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jew’s language, but according to the language of each people” (Neh. 13:23-24). More and more we see expressions being used like the denominations around us:

1. I Am a Church of Christ. I am asking, how did you get to be “a church of Christ”? I read of the Lord’s people being “Christians” (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16), but never “a church of Christ.” The denominations use terms like this to identify them. For example a member of the Methodist Church says, “I am a Methodist. “ So some say, “I am a church of Christ.”

2. Conference. The denominations have their conferences which are “an assembly of church members, representing a church, from a particular district in Protestant churches.” When we use the term to identify our work, we may be leaving the wrong impression on those to whom we are trying to teach the truth. I do not recall reading anything about the church in the New Testament having a conference, do you? I do read about “Gospel Preaching” (Acts 14:7) Why can’t we be content to use terms which identify what we are doing, rather than terms used by the churches around about us? What could be put on a meeting announcement better than, “Gospel Preaching?”

3. The Individual is the Church. Did you ever read in the Bible where an individual Christian was a church? Paul penned, “For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). A lot of churches of Christ have had tons of problems by thinking an individual is a church and whatever an individual Christian does, the church is doing it or what an individual can do, the church can do. Somebody has not been reading 1 Timothy 5:16. This is denominational thinking and a language foreign to the Word of God!

4. Church of Christ Doctrine. Tell me, just what is “church of Christ doctrine”? And when you tell me, I will ask you, “Which church of Christ are you referring to?” Indiana has a broad spectrum of churches of Christ with all kind of teachings! Really, the church of Christ has no doctrine that is its own. True churches of Christ believe and teach, “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9) and “sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1, 7-8) is their plea. Do you ever recall reading anything in the New Testament about “church of Christ doctrine”? It’s the language of “Ashdod”!

5. I’ll Take Christ, But Not The Church. Impossible! The plea of the denominations around us want Christ but not his church. You can’t have one without the other, for they go together. The men of God in the New Testament pleaded for “Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:32). When we understand that “the church is the body of Christ” (Col. 1:18) and that Christ is its head, we will quit talking like those around about us. To ask for Christ and not his church would be about like inviting me for dinner by saying, “Come for dinner, bring your head, but not your body.”

6. Tuesday Night Communion. Did you notice where the Highland Avenue Church of Christ, on Tuesday evening, October 5, 1999 viewed the video, “Walk to Emmaus,” which featured a full-fledged band on stage, an all-woman quartet entertaining the audience, and a Tuesday evening communion being served “Catholic style” as the bread was broken, then dipped into a large cup of the fruit of the vine as the soaked bread was eaten! Does this sound like we have been too long drinking from the well of sectarianism? Who would ever have thought that a church of Christ would be found doing this kind of doings? It looks a lot like we are being influenced more by those around about us than we are by the word of God. The Bible that I read teaches that the Lord’s supper consists of “the bread” and “the fruit of the vine” as two separate acts and is to be observed on “the first day of the week” (Matt. 26:26-28; Acts 20: 7). Does yours read that way?

4121 Woodyard Rd., Bloomington, Indiana 47404

Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 12  p13  June 15, 2000