"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9

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THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER

December 2004
Volume 1..........................Number 11
Crum, West Virginia

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"WHAT KIND OF RELIGION DO YOU HAVE???"

By James E. Farley

BILLY GOAT RELIGION?

Who would argue with God? Who, in their right mind, would say, "God, I know what you’ve said I should do, BUT God!"??? Yet, look around you. Look at the hundreds and hundreds of man-made religions in the land! When you ask them why they don’t teach what the Bible says, they show their "Billy Goat Religion" openly! I have personally taken some to passages like Mark 16:15-16 to show that baptism is indeed essential to one’s salvation. Jesus said it!!! Who will argue with Jesus??? Some do - I have had them say to me, "Well yes - I see that - I know what that says, but!" They’ll "but" here and "but" there trying to justify their beliefs. Why not just submit to God’s Way as right? (Compare James 1:21). Don’t be like the ol’ billy goat! Receive the engrafted Word with meekness - humbly submit to God’s right ways. (James 1:21-25; Romans 10:1-3).

BURGER KING RELIGION?

You’ve seen them and heard them preach - They don’t want to do what God says - They want it "their way" just like at Burger King. You can go to Burger King and have a Whopper any way you want it - Some try this with religion as well. They want to worship like they want it - they want the preaching like they like it - they even want their own plan of salvation -But friends, it is not what we want that counts - it is what God commands! (Read John 14:15; I John 2:3-5). We are never to think of men above what is written. (I Corinthians 4:6; Compare Galatians 1:6-10).

CAFETERIA RELIGION?

Now, cafeteria religion is the same as Burger King Religion. At the Cafeteria you choose a little of this and a little of that - You don’t like baptism for the remission of sins? (Acts 2:38) - Well, with Cafeteria Religion you can choose to not have it - just like you choose not to have the spinach at the cafeteria - Nice, huh???

RELIGION-LITE?

Many want that lite religion - You know, we have lite bread - lite pop - lite this and lite that - Well, some want Lite Religion - Shorter sermons - 99% fewer commitments - Less filling, you know??? What ever happened to Matthew 5:6?

CRAWDAD RELIGION?

Yes - There are those in religion like the old crawdad. They have those big "pinchers" and seem to be a formidable force, but challenge them on what they believe and teach and watch them back down their hole as quickly as the ol’ crawdad does! We live in a time when very few are capable and/or willing to stand up and defend what they teach in religion. We are told to always be ready to give an answer for what we believe and teach. (Compare I Peter 3:15).

READER’S DIGEST-CONDENSED RELIGION?

Some want to do as little as they can get by with. They want a condensed kind of religion that takes little time - little effort - little commitment - They want to take out anything that will "bog them down". These are the ones who say, "Well, he preached so long today that the Baptists will beat us to the steak house." They want 3 day meetings (revivals) with 20 minute sermonettes.

GRAND OL’ OPRY RELIGION?

Some won’t attend a church that doesn’t entertain them. They have no idea about what real and true worship is. (John 4:22-24). These like the big choirs - orchestras - etc. You hear them sometimes say, "Well, I didn’t get anything out of the worship service today." This comment, in and of itself, reveals their mind (their heart) more than they would like to admit. They have no comprehension about coming before the very presence of the CREATOR of the Universe!!! It just seems that as we are allowed to come before the very presence of God in our worship services, this ought to cause any thinking person to say, "Coming before the throne of God today was a wonderful experience!" But these want to be entertained - They bring nothing to worship - how could they ever take anything away??? But some say, "Oh, when we have a band or some dancers in our worship, it draws bigger crowds." Well, that may very well be the case, but remember - WHAT DRAWS THEM KEEPS THEM. If you get them to your building with quartets, choirs, bands, etc., you’ll need bigger and better quartets, choirs, and bands to keep them there!!!

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Some Facts and Some Thoughts About "The Holidays"

It is that time of the year again - that festive time of the year - the time we call "the holidays". People really do seem to be happy, cheerful, and jovial at this time. There are bright colors and lights all around. It really is a pretty time of the year, isn’t it?

It is also a time when many people are thinking about the facts surrounding the birth of Jesus the Christ. Allow me to say, first of all, that I am glad that people think more about Jesus at any time of the year - December included. Maybe this is a time when your hearts are more tender and pliable, and therefore a time when you may be reached more readily with the Truth of the gospel of Christ. But my friends, there is not even one small indication in the Scriptures that Jesus was born in December, let alone on the 25th!!! Furthermore, we are never given any indication that the early church ever celebrated an annual day to remember His birth. We do know that they gathered weekly to remember His death.

THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA says, "After the spread of Christianity, churchmen tried to give Christian meaning to pagan festivals." This is precisely what happened with the origination of a "Mass for Christ" or "Christmas". The celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25th is of Catholic origin. In 354 A.D. Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate the birthday of Jesus on December 25th. This day was already a special and holy day for Romans. For centuries these people celebrated the birthday of "Saturn", the Roman "god" of agriculture. This "god" (Saturn) was personified in the Sun. The pagan Romans worshipped the Sun, and believed that December 25th was his birthday - so, when Christianity became popular they just substituted the birthday of Jesus (the Son) for the birthday of Saturn (the Sun).

I have often wondered why people seem to be more interested in Jesus during December than at any other time of the year, and I think I may have come to understand. You see, it’s the baby. People like babies. They’re soft, tender, sweet and innocent. Furthermore, this "baby Jesus" makes no real demands on people of today, so they are content with the sweet story of His birth in Bethlehem.

But friends, this baby grew up, and He is King of kings and Lord of lords!!! He is - "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9). The problem with most folks today is they don’t want a "Lord" - they don’t want anyone telling them what to do, how to act, where to go, etc. But HE IS LORD! It is a logical contradiction to call Him "Lord" and then not do what the Lord says. (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46). This Lord is going to judge each and every one of us one day. (John 12:48; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Acts 17:30-31; Revelation 20:11-15).

Please contact me if I can be of any help to you in these matters.

James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here