"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9
THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER
May 2005
Volume 2..........................Number 5
Crum, West Virginia
". . . Speaking The Truth In Love . . . "
Ephesians 4:15
By James E. Farley
We often see these words on church bulletins. It is an effort, no doubt, for congregations to let those who visit them know that the motive behind what they will hear on that day is love. This is good and right, for we should have love as our motive for teaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. We are to be seen as people who love!
There are three good points in this short phrase from the Bible:
(ONE)SPEAKING the truth in love . . . The truth must be spoken. Our religion is a taught religion. (John 6:44-45). People must hear the Word taught in order to have faith in God, and in Jesus the Christ. (Romans 10:17; Acts 4:4; Acts 18:8). Therefore we are commissioned, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). The early Christians did just that (Acts 8:4-5), and within a thirty year period " . . . every creature which is under heaven . . . " heard the Word. (Colossians 1:23). We still have the great obligation of taking the Word of God to a lost and dying world. God still has preaching as His plan for saving those who will believe. (I Corinthians 1:18-21). When you investigate a faithful congregation of the churches of Christ you will find a people who are dedicated to taking the Word to the world.
(TWO)Speaking THE TRUTH in love . . . That which is to be spoken is "the truth" . . . "the gospel of Christ". It is the truth that will set men free. (John 8:31-32). In that context, it is obvious that "the truth" is the Word of God. (Compare John 17:17). Paul called it " . . . the word of the truth of the gospel" in Colossians 1:5. It is God's power to save mankind, for it reveals God's righteousness . . . God's right ways. (Romans 1:16-17). We are instructed in God's righteousness through the verbally inspired Word, given by God's marvelous grace. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:11-12). It must be spoken . . . preached . . . taught to every nation. (Matthew 28:18-20). The unbelieving Philippian jailer asked what he must do, and was told "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31). But the Bible does not stop there . . . the very next two verses state, "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway." The Word of God must be spoken! Churches of Christ believe that the Word must be sowed as seed in this world. (Luke 8:11; Compare Matthew 15:13).
(THREE)Speaking the truth IN LOVE . . . Here is the motivation. We must love God, Jesus, the Word, the church of Christ, and the souls of all men everywhere. Too many people have a wrong idea about real Bible love. As one has put it, "They seem to think love is a feeling they feel when they begin to feel like they have never felt before . . . " When people have this idea of love as some kind of feel good emotion, you often hear them criticize sound preachers and Bible teachers for being "too harsh." We hear them say things like, "You need more of the spirit of Christ . . . You talk about hell too much, and this does not show forth the loving spirit that Jesus had." But friends, real love always will sound out a warning of danger! The Word teaches, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." (Proverbs 27:5). No, we do not ever want to be mean-spirited, but we must sound out warnings about the danger of folks being lost when they will not abide in Christ's doctrine. (2 John 9-11). God loves us (John 3:16), but He
Back To The Top Of The Page
|
|
certainly warns of danger. (Ezekiel 3:17-21; Acts 18:6; Acts 20:26-31). God will not accept our claim that we love others, if we do not warn others of hell. Jesus gave STRONG warnings of danger! Someone has suggested that Jesus spoke 13 times more about hell than about heaven. Does this suggest that our Lord was unloving? (Read Matthew 13:41-50 . . . Read Matthew 15:7-14; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43-44). Did Jesus express a wrong spirit here? To those who were blinded by the world's riches Jesus taught about Lazarus and the rich man. Strong warning! Wrong spirit? NO! The God of love has placed into our hands His revealed mind; the Holy Bible. In the Bible we read such passages as 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:15; 21:8. These things are not pleasant, but people need to face the facts! There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun!!!
Churches of Christ are resolved to keep preaching the Truth on these matters . . . " . . . speak the truth in love . . . " We will do it "in season and out of season . . . reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." We fully realized that some won't like it, but we must do it anyway!!! (Compare Galatians 4:16). Love sounds out a warning of danger! (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
Friends, let us know how we may help you in your obedience to the Lord. We are here to serve you. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments concerning what I have written. You can contact me at: James E. Farley, P.O. Box 285, Crum, West Virginia 25669. You may e-mail at: preechkrum@charter.net
SACRIFICE
A true story is told of two well to do Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who went on an "around the world" trip. In Korea they saw a boy in a field pulling a crude plow while an old man directed it through the rice paddy. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene. "That's a curious sight," he said to the missionary who was their interpreter and guide. "Yes, that is the family of Chi Noui. When the church building was built they wanted to give something, but they had no money; so they sold their only ox and gave the money. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves." They were silent for a while. Then one said, "That must have been a real sacrifice." "They did not call it that," said the missionary. "They thought they were fortunate to have an ox to sell."
They said little more, but when they got home the lawyer showed the picture to his minister. "I want to double my contribution. And give me some plow work to do. I have never known what sacrifice for the Lord really means. I am ashamed to say that I have never given anything to Him that really cost me anything."
". . . .neither will I offer burnt offering unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing . . . " (2 Samuel 24:24).
". . . present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).
From THE MIRROR - Paris, Tennessee
APRIL'S ISSUE OF The Mountain Messenger was sent out a little late. We apologize for this, but it was unavoidable. We will strive to have the papers sent out the first week of each month. We sent out 5,240 papers for April. The MM is growing!
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU is sent out to Larry and Hilda O'Neal of Bristol, Virginia. They answered our request for copies of the original The Mountain Messenger. We have received from them six issues from 1946. Larry is a first cousin of mine, and his mother, Myrtle (my father's sister) received the papers in 1946.
A few points of interest in these old papers . . . In the July, 1946 issue brother Garland Corns reports he is in Virginia holding several meetings. As he is reporting on "Old Virginia" he mentions that a young man named Lowell Altizer had finished his studies at Freed-Hardeman and was beginning to develop his talents as a gospel preacher in that section. Also, in "News and Notes" brother Corns reported that he ended a meeting at Abbotts Chapel in Ceredo, WV with four baptisms and one restoration. He stated, "During the meeting I spent most of the time in the good home of Brother and Sister Chester Farley." This was my Dad's brother, his wife Ethel, and their daughter Betty.
James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here
THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER
P.O. Box 285
Crum, West Virginia 25669
Click Here To Return To
The Mountain Messenger
Index Page
To view other articles by Jim Farley,
Click here!
To View the
CRUM CHURCH OF CHRIST
Web Site, Click here
|
