CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

January 8, 2006

PLEASE PETITION GOD FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Our congregation and moving to the end of                   David and James in the military

the strip center

Our nation, leaders and military                                         Various friends, relatives and co-workers

The Stehlik’s still fighting a virus                                     Anita is recovering well from surgery

Jolene and Sharnel are sore but doing well as is their friend Heather after a car accident

THE SOLUTION TO THE WORLD’S GREATEST ILLS

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

This little tidbit came in a bulletin recently.  You’ll need a calculator.  “Begin with 66, the number of books in the Bible.  Add 13, the number of books by Paul in the New Testament.  Add 7, the number of the “churches in Asia.”  Multiply by 3, the number of the Godhead.  Multiply by 12, the number of tribes in Israel.  Multiply by 12, the number of the apostles.  Add 666, the number of the Beast in Revelation.  Turn the calculator around so that you can read the answer upside down.  You will see the source for the solution of the world’s greatest ills.”

Okay, if you haven’t done the above, stop and do it now, because the answer will be in the following comments.

The above was interesting and I understand where the one who developed this is coming from.  The Bible indeed is an amazing book.  Anyone who takes to heart the words of the Bible, develops the attitudes that are found there, will certainly live a beneficial life.  And we are told that in any number of scriptures.  We are told that scriptures is profitable to equip people for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  David tells us to meditate on God’s word (Psalm 119).  The Bereans searched the scriptures (Acts 17).  Even in a headline in the Houston Chronicle concerning the professional football team, the Texans, it said “The last shall be first.”  Without a doubt, the scriptures have influenced numerous people and ideas.  Its principles are the basis for many ideas we see in our country, ideas that scholars have labeled “civil religion.”  Those who want to remove the name “God” from the pledge or our currency do not realize how ingrained scripture is in the psyche of America.  That could be seen when President Bush was running the first time.  A reporter commented on his down home sayings; he was quoting scripture!  Paul Harvey has stated a number of times that even if the Bible wasn’t true and there was no God, the principles of scripture lead to a better life than anything else.

That being said, is the Bible the solution to the world’s greatest ills?  Now it might be me, but I have a problem with this.  I know we need the Bible because it tells us about God, but it is not God.  Those principles found in scripture are important, even life changing, but are they the source?  Had the author of the above puzzle capitalized “source,” then I wouldn’t have an argument here. 

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were Bible students and commentators.  They knew their stuff.  They went to church, they worshipped God, and they made every effort to live according to the principles of scriptures.  They were not only the scholars of their day but the preachers as well.  Yes, some went too far and became legalists, but others were seekers of the word.  They believed the Bible, the scriptures that they were trained in.  That being said, they also missed something.  Jesus brings this to light in John 5. 

                “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal

                life.  These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me

                to have life” (vs. 39-40).

Jesus was telling them that while they studied the scriptures, they missed God.  Those very scriptures they studied pointed to the Messiah, yet they refused to come to Him to find eternal life.  I think that is where we often miss it as well.  We talk about the Bible, and that is important, but we miss God.  The words are God’s words, but He is real and wants a redemptive relationship with us.  We talk about worship and what we should do in worship, but miss the fact that there is the Holy God, our Father, to whom worship is due.  We can talk about humility, which is a great need for today, but forget that Jesus is our example in humility (see Philippians 2:1-11).  We want peace in this world, but the greatest peacemaker is Jesus.  Scripture points us to God, not to itself. 

Jim McGuiggan recently had some comments on Acts 2:38 and baptism in an article from his web site.  We have emphasized the forgiveness of sins, certainly a very important concept.  Some have even talked about it as a gift, which it is.  Baptism becomes a command to be obeyed; no argument here.  But what have we missed?  It is “in the name of Jesus” that we are to be baptized.  What is being said is that Jesus is Lord, and that everything His name means and represents, that is what we are acknowledging.  Jesus is the Source of our salvation.  The Bible tells us that but the Bible isn’t that source, nor the solution of the great ills of the world, though it can lead us to the One who is. 

Just imagine a soldier writing home from Iraq letters or emails to his wife.  Everyday she receives a letter telling her of his love for her, how much he missed her.  She reads them over and over, even memorizes them.  Then one day he walks through the front door, home safe and well.  Waiting to be hugged and kissed, she is reading a letter.  She says to him, just wait until I finish this letter from you.  Now you and I know that is unreal, yet isn’t that sometimes the way we see God.  He is on a journey “out there” and so we just have the letters to read.  And we miss God. 

When we talk about the solutions to the worlds greatest ills, we need the true Source, and that is God in Christ.  In Christ, we live as peacemakers, humble, serving, seeking how we can love all including our enemies by the example He set before us.  It is not by my power or ability or learning; it is by God’s power through His Son and the leading of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:21-25).  We all want peace in this world but it will not come until Jesus is seen as Lord.  That will not occur by the power of the gun, but by the application of the principles found in scripture as developed in our relationship to our Savior.  We learn that we are not important and what sacrifice is and means.  It is called radical living. 

So while I appreciate what the author of the puzzle was saying, I think that it falls short of what is really needed.  The proclamation of the Christ in our lives and words will lead to the Source that can deal with the ills of society.

                                                                                                                George B. Mearns