Gospel Meeting Scheduled for November 4-6, 2011
We are very pleased to announce that we will have a series of Gospel Meetings from November 4-6, 2011. Please make plans to attend. We will have a different speaker each meeting.
Scheduled Speakers-
Friday, November 4, 2011 – 7:30pm - Bill Holt
Saturday, November 5, 2011 – 7:30pm – Perry Hurst
Sunday, November 6, 2011 – 11:00 am – Colin Thompson
Our address is 1379 Mt. Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, GA
Directions:
Read MoreFrom Chattanooga:
Take I-75 South to exit 345, turn right.
Follow Hwy 41 through Tunnel Hill to
Old Cottonwood Mill road, turn right.
Go to first street, turn left.
Go 1.9 miles. Building will be on the left.From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North to exit 336, turn left.
Go to Hwy 201, turn left.
Go to first traffic light, turn right.
Go 1.7 miles. Building will be on the right.
Singing Scheduled for Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7:30PM
Considering the success of the last Singing in July, we are very pleased once again to announce that we will have a Gospel Singing on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7:30pm. Please make plans to attend. Our address is 1379 Mt. Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, GA. Come use the one instrument that God has blessed you with…
Directions:
From Chattanooga:
Take I-75 South to exit 345, turn right.
Follow Hwy 41 through Tunnel Hill to
Old Cottonwood Mill road, turn right.
Go to first street, turn left.
Go 1.9 miles. Building will be on the left.From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North to exit 336, turn left.
Go to Hwy 201, turn left.
Go to first traffic light, turn right.
Go 1.7 miles. Building will be on the right.
No collections will be taken.
Driving by…
Fool of a man I am. I was walking yesterday at the school and a man was also there walking. I suppose I noticed in his bearing a military gait, but it was in the back of my mind I think. On one lap I saw on the front windshield of his car a decal of some sergeant’s stripes that I thought might be Marine. Still nothing registered. But, I was listening to some good preaching on my iPod and trying to avoid the muddy spots on the path. This man continued to walk and I never caught up with him.
As I was leaving he was still walking. When I drove past his parked car on the back license plate was a frame that said, ‘Retired’ with ‘Marine Corps’ underneath. So, my suspicions were confirmed. But, by then, I was moving away. As I drove around the lot to get back on the road, I thought that that I should have stopped and gone back and spoken to this man – unknown to me. Immediately, emotions of gratitude welled up inside and I wondered if I could do it without breaking down in front of this man, who may have stood on a wall or laid in a foxhole or stood watch at some post or saw many of his ‘brothers’ die in battle. I wanted to tell him, ‘thanks’, shake his hand, and apologize for the shameful way that my country treats him in the media. And, yet I drove on. It was too late to turn around. So, I thought I could make the loop and get him before he got into his car. But, as I got to that point, I thought he was moving toward his car and that I would not catch him in time.
I missed a chance and it was right there! I missed it!
I have resolved not to let this happen again. I feel angry at myself for not thinking of this sooner-while I had the chance.
And yet, while recognizing the price for my personal freedom was bought and paid for by the blood of Americans, that all freedom is paid for by blood, I wonder if I drive by the One who paid with the most precious of all bloods…
Real Offense
Recently, the new governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, spoke in public at a denominational assembly and made the statement [to the effect that if you did not believe in Jesus or accept him as your personal Savior that you were not saved nor his brother and he wanted to be your brother]. This caused a firestorm of protest in the non-evangelical religious world. So, he then made an ‘apology’ in which he said he would not back down from his belief in Christ but that he is sorry for offending anyone. Curious… in 1 Cor 1:23, Paul said that the preaching of the Cross was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
Nevertheless, the evangelical world thought this was brilliant in that he received another opportunity to ‘profess his faith’- and thought that by saying he is sorry if he offended anyone he was being very wise.
At this time, the blogs and news sites are trying to make something of all of this. Since Mr. Bentley is a Republican, and newly elected, the politically minded are trying to take the opportunity to attack politically. Those who are decidedly against any who would proclaim Christ as God and Savior are taking opportunity to claim defamation. Perhaps it might be better to take some time to see what could or should have been said by someone professing Christianity. For we all may face this one day – an opportunity to proclaim a belief in a public forum.
Back to 1 Cor. 1:23 – To offend in the biblical sense is to cause one to stumble. The Greek word is σκανδαλον (skandalon) from which we get the word, ‘scandal’. Thayer says
prop. the movable stick or tricker (‘trigger’) of a trap, trap-stick; a trap, snare; any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, [a stumbling-block, occasion of stumbling]: Lev. 19:14; πέτρα σκανδάλου [A. V. a rock of offence], 1Thayer, J. H. (1889). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm's Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (577). New York: Harper & Brothers.
Thus, we must conclude that any assertion of the events of the Cross – the assertion that there is only one way of salvation – will cause offense – will cause stumbling. To apologize for offending when speaking of Christ as the only way, is to totally retract any type of statement of faith (no matter how weakly interpreted it might be).
Further, the apology shows a weakness, especially to those who deny Christ. The Apostle of Christ, Peter, once denied his Lord three times in a very short period. His faith was weak. He had to learn that he had to give it all to become a true follower of Christ. This took him much time, but he finally got it.
I am not trying to denigrate Mr. Bentley, but to challenge the belief system to which he aspires. To follow a belief system that is based on a premise of being saved by faith alone – a phrase not contained within the Word of God, except to say that one is not saved by faith alone – Jas. 2:24 – means one has not fully embraced all that the Bible has to say about salvation. In our example, Peter could talk the talk, but he was far from walking the walk. Belief systems that say they profess Christ but lack the obedience and submission to the will of the Father, demonstrate weakness, like Peter did.
A follower of Christ must have the conviction to stand for the truth, even if politically, it may harm. I pray that true followers of Christ would not back down when their faith is challenged. I pray that I would not. But, if one is following a belief system that overly abundantly constantly asserts that no action (in religious-speak this is the term ‘work’) has any benefit whatsoever in effecting one’s salvation seems doomed to fail when deeply challenged. Paul continues in 1 Cor. 1:24 that the preaching of the Cross is the power and wisdom of God.
Consider in this context that the Cross as it relates to our daily lives means we may have to sacrifice our political future for the sake of the Cross. Paul had to. He was part of the government of the Jews. He had to throw it all away – the belief system that he was following told him he was serving God and was doing works that he thought were pleasing to God.
Peter, much later admonished Christians to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within 1 Pet. 3:15. The only qualification was to do it in gentleness and reverence. Then, he acknowledged that those who did that would likely be slandered for it. And, proclaimed that it would be good for such a one to suffer for doing right that for doing wrong. 1 Pet. 3:17
The real offense is in not proclaiming the truth – that there is only one way to salvation – through the Cross of Christ. The real offense is in denying the truth, and failing to proclaim it. Peter in 1 Pet. 2:9 says that Christians are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. To those who are not saved, what else can be concluded but that Christianity is for those who hear and obey. This will bother some people; this will offend some people. But, that is the way God has deemed to penetrate the stony heart of unbelief- through preaching the Cross.
The real offense is in not defending the Word of Truth. How does it make sense if one is truly saved (not in the way taught by most religious groups – a mere mental assent that acknowledges Christ as Savior - but real salvation as taught in the Scriptures and that being free from a template) by the obedience of faith, being buried with Christ – Rom 6:4 – in the watery grave of baptism, rising to walk in newness of life, how does it make sense for one who has realized the magnificent mercy of forgiveness of sins to proclaim Christ and then back away from it? May it never be.
Read MoreSermons for October
Some interesting sermons were preached in October. First, Carroll Duckworth preaches on ‘Four Questions’ that deal with life – physical and spiritual. Next, Tommy Pettyjohn preaches on ‘Three Things To Deal With Tomorrow’ – a sermon about preparation. Next, Keith Ward powerfully deals with the meaning of Sonship in the Kindgom in, ‘Get Out of the Zoo’. Then, Charlie Brackett deals with the topic of Suffering in, ‘Why Does God Allow Suffering?’. Finally, Bill Cook preaches on Salvation in, ‘How Is One Saved By Faith?’.
Please listen in…
Read MoreSinging Scheduled for Friday, October 29, 2010 at 7:30PM
Considering the success of the last Singing in July, we are very pleased once again to announce that we will have a Gospel Singing on October 29, 2010 at 7:30pm. Please make plans to attend. Our address is 1379 Mt. Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, GA. Come use the one instrument that God has blessed you with…
Directions:
From Chattanooga:
Take I-75 South to exit 345, turn right.
Follow Hwy 41 through Tunnel Hill to
Old Cottonwood Mill road, turn right.
Go to first street, turn left.
Building is on the left.From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North to exit 336, turn left.
Go to Hwy 201, turn left.
Go to first traffic light, turn right.
Building will be on the right.
No collections will be taken.
Gospel Meeting Scheduled for September 10-12, 2010
We are very pleased to announce that we will have a series of Gospel Meetings from September 10-12, 2010. Please make plans to attend. We will have a different speaker each meeting.
Scheduled Speakers-
Friday, September 10, 2010 – 7:30pm - Bill Walton
Saturday, September 11, 2010 – 7:30pm – Perry Hurst
Sunday, September 12, 2010 – 11:00 am – Tommy Pettyjohn
Our address is 1379 Mt. Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, GA
Directions:
From Chattanooga:
Take I-75 South to exit 345, turn right.
Follow Hwy 41 through Tunnel Hill to
Old Cottonwood Mill road, turn right.
Go to first street, turn left.
Building is on the left.From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North to exit 336, turn left.
Go to Hwy 201, turn left.
Go to first traffic light, turn right.
Building will be on the right.
No collections will be taken.
New website!
Please visit the new website – the new inductivebible.net!
click the photo for full-sized ad
Please point your browsers to – www.inductivebible.net
Singing Scheduled for Friday, July 23, 2010 at 7:00PM
We are very pleased to announce that we will have a Gospel Singing on July 23, 2010 at 7:00pm. Please make plans to attend. Our address is 1379 Mt. Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, GA. Come use the one instrument that God has blessed you with…
Directions:
From Chattanooga:
Take I-75 South to exit 345, turn right.
Follow Hwy 41 through Tunnel Hill to
Old Cottonwood Mill road, turn right.
Go to first street, turn left.
Building is on the left.From Atlanta:
Take I-75 North to exit 336, turn left.
Go to Hwy 201, turn left.
Go to first traffic light, turn right.
Building will be on the right.
No collections will be taken.
Is the church of Christ Close-Minded?
Well, somehow I did it again. I was in a restaurant with some friends who were meeting a friend of one of my friends. Let’s call him ‘Jim’. Toward the end of our meal Jim asked each one of us in turn if we ‘had a church’. I knew what he meant. He meant did we attend regularly somewhere. The discussion for how many churches there are is another story. Everyone answered in their turn. Then, it was my turn. I pray very often for God to send me people to teach, and that I would always be a good ambassador for Christ when in the world. I am continually surprised at what things I will be confronted with and how to handle them. But, I answered, “I go to a church in Tunnel Hill (Georgia)…I go to Westside church of Christ.” His eyes darkened for just a second. He said that he had been married to a ‘church of Christ’ (again, I know what he meant-but if taken literally it would mean he was a member of the Lord’s Body, the one true Church-but what he meant was that one of his wives was a member of a church of Christ) and then he made a motion with his fists (like someone boxing another) as he spoke and said that he and she often fought or were at odds with one another. I took this to mean on religious matters. I mused in my mind what this must have been like. But, I was searching for something to say to this when he did it again (made the boxing motion) clearly wishing for a response. I supposed that he wanted some type of discussion, so I decided to try to engage him in discussion. Thinking that he wanted to make a cut at me for being a member of the church, but wishing to engage him without taking offense and with the knowledge that all who say they are a member of the church are often far removed from the truth, I decided a good response would be to acknowledge that sometimes it was unfortunate what the sign says on the door. I thought that maybe this would show him that we could talk about it. This he did not like and I surmised that it was not the response he expected. Good, I thought, I have his attention, perhaps we can talk. But, he asked what I meant. So, I elaborated that some of the groups that have ‘church of Christ’ on the sign over the door were so liberal that there was no way they believed what I believed. He darkened and was clearly flustered. He then made motions to leave asking for the check, fumbling with his wallet. He mumbled about something seemingly trying to come up with a response. He finally got his bearings, looked me in the eye and said, “better to be liberal than close-minded” and hurriedly stood up and left. I was cognizant of the rest of our party staring at me. Too quickly, conversations resumed as I showed a small grimacing smile.
This did not go how I wanted. It went rather badly. But, it has given me pause to think. I gained another perspective on how far away we are from having an honest dialogue with many who attend some form of religious body. It has made clearer the notion that there is a stigma associated with the name, ‘church of Christ.’ This is disturbing to contemplate, but overwhelmingly obvious nonetheless. We have a disclaimer on this site to clearly make it plain that we want no association with the Trinity Church of Christ of Jeremiah Wright fame. Why? Because they teach a doctrine not found in the Bible; they teach a doctrine of racial prejudice and hatred. They don’t know the Christ of the Bible; while I do believe they will become acquainted with Him soon enough, I don’t believe it will be on the terms for which they might hope. And, yet, this is only one of the groups with which we want no association.
A better way to say, “Who We Are” would be to show and define the doctrines we do believe and show the authority to have such beliefs by appealing to the authority found in the Bible. If this makes us ‘close-minded’, then so be it. But, upon closer consideration, would it not be better to be sure than doubtful? I believe there is such a proliferation of churches today because there is no appeal to authority and that many people want to find a church that fits their pre-conceived notions about what a church is or should be. But, if everyone is right and has the truth, why is there a need for so many belief systems?
When ‘Jim’ said it was better to be liberal than close-minded, what he meant was that it was better to be doubtful (not really sure about one’s faith and the truth of the Bible) than it is to be decidedly in favor of a particular position. Also, implied in his statement was that it is somehow ‘wrong’ (but if you are open-minded, you are supposed to be open to all positions) to have decided what beliefs are right and wrong. See, it is sort of like saying, “You are wrong to think that I am wrong”. This doesn’t work. In trying to be open-minded and somehow more tolerant, one has to take a position even if that position is not to take a position. To make a statement that says that one position is more desirable than another is to take a position—that which he condemns in me. So, we must conclude that if it is close-minded to take a position, then we are all close-minded to a certain extent. No matter how liberal you become in your thinking, you eventually have to take a position, thus killing your argument.
One big problem today is that people have great difficulty saying what they mean—being honest about where they stand. Imagine turning in a math test in your elementary days where a problem is 2+3=? Would you turn in your answer that the answer is more than 4 but not more than 6? Of course not. But, this is what happens today in religious discussions all the time. So, to disguise this cowardly action, we claim enlightenment from some unknown force and deny that anyone is wrong. But, someone has to be wrong. If ANYTHING is right, something has to be wrong.
Even people who have no religious beliefs can look at an activity, deem it as unfair, based on their own sense of justice, and claim that thing as wrong. It seems that many in society today who have no claim toward any religious belief system can somehow raise an appeal to a sense of judgment and fairness. I would submit that this is not a result of mere association with others of like opinion-that it is innate-I believe given to us all by God. But, that is another discussion. Nevertheless, back to this discussion, we must deal with this idea of the accusation of close-mindedness. If we can agree that there is an authority for how we should co-exist, we must agree that to not do a thing that authority demands or allows is a violation. And, if this is the case, some actions must be declared as right and some things as wrong. Thus, the thing that needs to be done is that we need to find out what is right and do that—whatever it is. This, by implication, means that we must not do the things that are wrong. If anything is declared to be right, all other things have to be wrong!
This is true in society as well as in religion. Christianity appeals to the authority of the Bible. We believe that the Bible contains all authority and that there is no authority for actions in or by the Church that can be found outside the Bible. We believe that it is the complete and final Word of God-that it is the container of all communication from God to Man.
So, by implication, any action that cannot be derived from the authority of the Bible is wrong. If this makes us close-minded, then so be it. Can a group be in subjection to the authority of the Bible and claim to be in line with its authority if it acts and does things that cannot be found in the Bible? Is this to be open-minded? I believe it is what our friend ‘Jim’ meant. He bristled at the term ‘liberal’ and was seemingly offended at my use of it. Could it be that he did not want or like the implication-that those with a liberal interpretation of the authority of the Bible-are not convinced that the Bible, the Word of God, is to be considered as final. The liberal view of the Scriptures leads to any interpretation as being ‘right’. And, logically, this falls apart. All views of Scripture cannot be right. The nature of right-ness is exclusive by nature. That is, logically, if something is true, all other answers must be false. And, further, if anything is false, it cannot be true at the same time. And, if stating this means we are close-minded, then I guess we are. Our current sociological situation frowns on close-mindedness, but we are not concerned with that. Gods’ Word frowns on lack of conviction (another word for close-minded) to the truth.
In our country now, the political climate is full of discussion between the two main political parties. Each of course, claims to be the best for the country as they vie for political supremacy each election cycle. One considers itself to be conservative and the other to be liberal. To what does this conservative and liberal discussion refer? It refers to the position of the party to its interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. One party takes a conservative view of it; the other a more liberal view. The Constitution is the document that the founding of this Nation is based upon. The authority contained within is said to be granted by the people (and to the people by God). The party with the liberal view of it tries to cast a negative light on the party that takes the more conservative view by calling it close-minded.
In religious matters, the appeal or lack of appeal to the Scriptures is very similar. In another way it is not similar at all. For all who claim some kind of belief in the Bible do not always uphold that which is true but that which is easy. The things that call one to be responsible for their own behavior are often overlooked. Many look at the Bible as a list of guidelines and seem to want to rename the 10 Commandments to the 10 Suggestions. They seem to want to relegate God to a force and His Son as a good moral teacher and His Spirit as a whimsical mystical illusion.
Close-minded? To any liberal view of Scripture-yes. To the truth, no. Truth is narrow. We are Open to it. What are you?
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