"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

June 2005
Volume 2..........................Number 6
Crum, West Virginia

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EVERYWHERE SPOKEN AGAINST

Acts 28:21-22

By James E. Farley

We among the churches of Christ are a people of "restoration spirit". That is, we seek to restore the church we read about in the New Testament. We want to have the right name . . . the right organization . . . the right worship . . . the right plan of salvation . . . the right attitude of evangelism . . . and even the right attitude concerning our being persecuted, ridiculed, and spoken against for His Cause. The way we can know the Truth on all these matters is to go to the New Testament and read about the church of Christ. (John 8:31-32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The church we read of in the New Testament were a persecuted people, and those who stand for the Truth today will suffer as well.

"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." (I John 3:13).

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:18-19).

Our Lord prayed just hours before going to the cross, saying, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14).

Yes indeed, the world hates the church of Christ, because of the Word. You see, the Word is "light" and the world hates the light! "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:19-20).

When we submit to God's light . . . when we "walk in the light as he is in the light" (I John 1:5-7), we are "children of light". (Compare Luke 16:8 and John 12:35-36). Children of light are commanded to have "no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:6-11). Children of light gain understanding from God's precepts in the light, and therefore hate every false way. (Psalm 119:104-105). We hate the false and damnable ways of the world, and the world sees us then as its enemy. This is proper and right for we are not friends with the world, are we? "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4; Compare I John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; and Romans 12:1-2).

We are at war with Satan, our adversary. (I Peter 5:8-9). He is "prince of the power of the air" the "god of this world." (John 12:31; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Our war is with him and with his cohorts, the "children of wrath" or "children of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:3; Colossians 3:6). We are at war, but it is not a physical or carnal war. It is a spiritual war for men's hearts, for men's minds, and souls. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Satan hates the light, and those who are his hate it as well. This is why the Lord said that He had given His disciples the Word and the world hated them!

It has always been the case that worldly and carnal people hate those to teach the Truth. In the 18th chapter of the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles we have the record of King Jehoshaphat of Judah aligning himself with the wicked King Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to "inquire . . . at the word of the Lord" as to whether they should go to battle. Ahab consulted his false prophets, which were nothing more than "yes men," and they said, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand." But they were false prophets, so Johoshaphat asked, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him? And the king of Israel said unto Johoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I h ate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil . . . " (2 Chronicles 18:1-8).

Ahab, the wicked and worldly king of Israel, hated the true man of God. Why? Micaiah never prophesied anything good about Ahab, because there was not much good in him! Micaiah told the Truth, and as a result he was despised. It has ever been so . . . it is so even today!

The world will like you . . . even love you . . . if you will simply submit to their "politically correct" stance and agree with them . . . Oh, you can even "agree to disagree" and they will put up with you. But, stand firmly upon the ROCK and boldly proclaim the Truth without fear or favor, and " . . . they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you . . . " (I Peter 4:4).

It is amazing to behold how many modern-day congregations of the churches of Christ have caved in to the world on such issues as gambling and playing the lottery, abortion, allowing young folks to be involved with modern dance and mixed swimming, attending "R" rated movies, etc. Why, I have even talked to some who claim to be members of the church of Christ who lean toward the "alternate lifestyle" of the

homosexuals . . . And, it is a common thing these days to hear professed members of the church of Christ supporting "theistic evolution" as the way God created the Universe, or even upholding denominationalism with its false ways!!!

Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy about his faithful stand as a proclaimer of Truth. "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:10-12).

Do you see that? If you WILL live godly . . . you SHALL suffer persecution. Paul knew what he was talking about, for he had personally experienced it. He was ultimately arrested and taken to Rome to stand before Caesar himself. (Acts 25:11). Upon reaching Rome he called for the chief Jews of that city and gave them a report of just why he had been charged by the Jews at Jerusalem. To this, the chief of the Jews at Rome replied, "We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning the sect, we know that every where it is spoken against." (Acts 28:21-22).

These Jews referred to the church of our Lord as a "sect". This word is found nine times in the New Testament and four times it is translated "heresy". It is a word that is always used in an unfavorable way. It carries the idea of a faction, or something that disrupts harmony. So, these Jews referred to the church of Christ as something that was disrupting harmony . . . making waves . . . . causing a stir. Was it true? Not really, but from their vantage point it seemed to be so, for the church of Christ was actively speaking out against that which was opposed to God's right ways. Compare Acts chapter 19 especially vs. 23.

The attitude of the early church of Christ was "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:18-20). They stood in the face of persecution and proclaimed, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:28-29). The persecution tested their faith . . . proved their metal. Their faith was strong and uncompromising. As a result, the white hot fires of persecution only spread the flames of New Testament evangelism, and the doctrines of Christ swept over the Roman world as a wild fire! "……they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:4). They were busy contrasting the Values of heaven with those of the world, and the cry went up, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." (Acts 17:6). They were not really turning the world upside down, but were turning an already upside down world right side up!!! This task is still ours to fulfill!

You see, these Christians knew what to expect, for their Lord had warned them to "count the cost" (Luke 14:25-33). They knew precisely what it meant to "take up the cross and follow Jesus." They knew that it likely meant they were going to die like He died. But this did not really bother them, for they were dead already . . . they had crucified the old man and were walking in newness of life as new creatures. (Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 2:20). So . . . if they had to physically die for Him, so be it. It would be gain to them. (Philippians 1:21; Revelation 14:13).

Not everyone who professed to be a Christian had this kind of attitude . . . this kind of resolve and courage. Some of them quit. The Lord said some would quit, for they would not have the "root" to endure. "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." (Matthew 13:3-23; Compare Mark 4:17).

This passage tells us that tribulation and persecution WILL COME . . . not might come . . . not could possibly come. Remember

2 Timothy 3:12 ? Furthermore, the passage reveals that the persecution comes "because of the word." What about you? Do you have root enough to take the persecution when it comes? Are you like the tree planted by the rivers of water? (Psalm 1:3). Or . . . will you become offended because of the Word? " . . . blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matthew 11:6; Luke 7:23). Some are indeed ashamed of the gospel of Christ. (Compare Romans 1:16-17).

What kept the First Century church of Christ going in the face of persecution? They knew that God was with them. Even when the scholars and wise men according to the world opposed them, they knew they were right. They had faith in their founder and in their foundation! "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby men must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12).

They knew that their message and the commission to take it to the world was from God. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). They knew that God had given to them all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) . . . So, they went forward . . . ever forward . . . preaching the gospel plainly and simply to a lost and dying world. They preached it with love, and yet with boldness and without fear or favor! We must be true the same! Read I Corinthians 15:58 my friends.

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