Self-evaluation is not only helpful to God’s children, but also expected. Paul writing the brethren at Corinth stated, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified.” (II Cor. 13:5).

As we all look back on another year the Lord has blessed us with, let’s be honest with ourselves as we consider the following questions:

1. Did I take care of all unrepented sin that was in my life?
    
2. Did I go out of my way to do all I could to encourage brethren and visitors when I gathered for worship?
    
3. Has my prayer life improved over the past year?
    
4. Did I put forth efforts with my family and friends, who are not Christians, to try and help them know the Lord?
    
5. Did I contact those who were sick this past year with a card, text, or email?
    
6. Did I take the time to read the bulletin that was put out each week?
    
7. Have I taken any opportunities to develop my talents for the Lord’s work?
    
8. When I was unable to make it to worship in the a.m. did I make sure when I came out in the p.m. that I still fulfilled my duty to give back to the Lord?
    
9. When I travelled on vacation, did I make plans to be at a place that I could worship with fellow Christians?
                                                                
10. When I needed help from my brethren, did I reach out to them?
     
11. When the church was asked to pray for certain things, did I actually do it?
     
12. Did I make time to do personal study at home?
     
13. Did I show genuine appreciation to brethren when they did things for me?
     
14. Did I overcome a sin that I had been struggling with?
     
15. Was my church attendance consistent?
     
16. Did I prepare for Bible classes when material was given ahead of time?
     
17. When I was home and unable to attend, did I take advantage of our services being streamed online?
     
18. Did I pray often for my brothers and sisters and for doors to open to reach the lost?
     
19. Was I hospitable to folks whether bringing them home or taking them out?
     
20. Did I help edify the church or was I a complainer?

Christians are workers for the Lord. If the Lord blesses us with another years, a final question: Will I aim to do more or less in 2018?

Chuck

During discussions about the church, people have occasionally told me that Alexander Campbell started the church of Christ in the 1800s. How do you answer this? This is a great question and with any good Bible question, we shall do our best to give it a Bible-based answer.

Before I get into the scriptures, let me give a brief history lesson about Alexander Campbell. Alexander’s father (Thomas) was a Presbyterian preacher. Thomas was dissatisfied with the Presbyterian beliefs and desired a more Biblically-oriented belief system. Alexander was also a Presbyterian and had similar concerns about the group’s teachings.

Alexander soon joined a local Baptist church. The longer he preached, the more convinced he became that there should not be any religious sects and that we should simply be Christians (Acts 11:26). This drove a wedge between him and the Baptists. Eventually, Campbell came across an independent group called the Disciples of Christ. Alexander Campbell’s plea was that of his father: “Where the scriptures speak, we speak, where the scriptures are silent, we are silent.”

I say all of this to point out that Alexander Campbell, like some before him and some after him, encouraged people to get back to the scriptures. Nobody alive in the last several hundred years can reinvent the wheel though. This is to say that no matter what Campbell did, he was not going to be able to start the church of Christ. Alexander Campbell could not have founded the church of Christ because Jesus did that roughly 1700 years before Alexander was born (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

What is a good way to answer the accusation that Alexander Campbell started the church of Christ?  I would start by reading the verses that were listed in the previous paragraph and then consider the travels of Paul in the book of Acts. People should see that when Paul went into a city, he taught the gospel, converted people and helped establish local churches (Acts 15:41; 16:5; etc.).

Remember that when Paul traveled to these different cities, he went into the synagogues to teach. This indicates that these cities already contained religious people doing what they thought was right in the sight of God. Those who accepted the teachings Paul spoke were converted (Acts 18:8). What would people, who rejected what Paul taught, say about him? Could they accuse him of starting his own religious sect? They could, but they would be wrong.

I do not want to leave the impression that I am putting Alexander on par with Paul. What I am saying is that neither Paul nor Alexander Campbell could start the church of Christ. There were some in the first century that wanted to put Paul in a position of authority that only belonged to Christ (I Cor. 1:11-14). You cannot stop people from believing and teaching things that are wrong. I am no more a member of a church that was started by Alexander Campbell than I am of one started by the apostle Paul!

If some man establishes a religious organization rather than seeking only the one that was established by Christ, that organization is a religious sect ( a denomination, if you will). Whether you talk about the Presbyterian Church or the Baptist Church, neither one were started by Christ. The churches that follow Christ are of the church that belongs to Christ (Rom. 16:16). This question is important for all of us – do you belong to the church you read about in the Bible, or do you belong to one you read about in some history book that was created by some man?

Chuck

Is the “rapture” Biblical?

As a follow-up to the first article, allow me to demonstrate how I would defend truth by using a subject I have been asked about in the past. How would you react if someone questioned you like this: “Chuck, I believe in the rapture. Can you tell me why you do not?”

Following our Lord’s example, I should first express that I will be happy to answer the question.  Indeed, I need to show that I am ready and willing to give an answer.  I should not be offended or bothered that I need to defend my belief.  On the contrary, I should be pleased tohave an opportunity to discuss a Biblical truth.

Still following Jesus’ example, I should seek to turn this opportunity into a two-way exchange. “I will show you why I do not believe in the rapture if you can show me one Bible verse that mentions the word rapture.”  The questioner will realize that they need to defend what they believe as much as I do. If they are not willing to search the Bible to support their position, then they are not genuinely interested in finding the truth about rapture. We need to remember that when opinions differ on matters of truth, we cannot both be right. Sadly, people often ask questions not to know the truth, but rather just to confirm that you believe differently from them.

I know for a fact that common Bible translations never use the word rapture, so an earnest person will likely come back with passages about the righteous leaving this world (I Thess. 4:13-18). It would then be my duty to point out that none of those verses states “rapture.” Then I would go over to John 5:28-29 and point out that not just the righteous will be raised but also the unrighteous. At no point should I make fun of the other person or try to put them down. I should be presenting these Biblical facts to help them grow in understanding.

Ultimately, the questioner needs to see that the “rapture” is a false doctrine. Christians do not apologize for the truth and are obligated to expose error when they can (I John 4:1). While more could be taught about the false doctrine of the rapture, the construction of my defense should help us see how to defend the truth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Chuck                                                                                 

Am I being unkind?

After someone reads the first article, he might get the idea that I do not like the 7^th Day Adventists. This is not be true. Just like the Lord, we are to love everyone (John 3:16; Matt. 22:39). Nor does it mean that I believe that 7^th Day Adventist members are insincere. The scriptures tell us how people can be sincere and full of zeal but still be in error (Rom. 10:1-3). Someone can be kind, generous and even believe in God and yet still be in their sins (Acts 10:1-2; 11:14).

The Bible describes how being straightforward can cause people to think we are enemies (Gal. 4:16). My goal is to not put people down in order to puff myself up. When someone asks a Bible question, they ought to demand an answer from the word of God (I Pet. 4:11). Perhaps most importantly, God’s opinion about the religious sect is far more important than my own opinion.

I realize that it is easy for me to answer someone’s question without discussing this face to face with them or members of the 7^th Day Adventists. As much as I want to give proper representation, I ought to be willing to talk about this with anyone who is a member of that group. The Lord expects me to give an answer for the hope that is within me (I Pet. 3:15). Something is obviously wrong if I will talk about a false doctrine but am unwilling to talk about it publicly.

No one should be ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16). Getting together and discussing the scriptures in a calm and orderly way is to be encouraged. For the sake of all our readers, this holds true with any religious group that is out there. When a lady asked me to sit down with her preacher so the two of us could discuss the scriptures while she listened to both sides, I jumped at the opportunity. I say this so you know that you can do the same.

Christians have no excuse for being rude and hateful. We should have a genuine concern for all souls. How about you? Would you like to get together and study God’s word? It is my prayer that you will consider this offer and reach out if you are interested. 

                      Chuck