What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 4 / No. 1”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. IV - No. 1 / June 6, 2021
UNDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIANITY
Are you one of the many who have expressed confusion over the various denominations? Have you asked the question: “Can I be a Christian without belonging to a denominational church? If so, please read on.
In the early days of Christianity there were no denominations (divisions) as they now exist. The early followers of Christ were simply called Christians (Acts 11:26). Collectively, they were called “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). Both of these terms show ownership in that they belong to Christ. Religiously, the apostles Paul, Peter, and John were neither Protestants, Catholic, nor Jews. They were Christians only.
The apostles, as well as all the saved, were undenominational Christians. This term is not to be confused with the ideas of inter-denominational or all-denominational Christianity. Those early Christians did not approve, even in their day, of those who tried to create divisions within the church. Instead they strongly condemned such action by saying, “Let there be no divisions among you…” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Their allegiance was to Christ and to Him only. They were just Christians — simply those who were followers of Christ — members of the church of Christ.
Today, if we follow Christ as they did, we too can be just Christians: Christians and nothing else! Since this is baseball season, let’s use it as an example. Suppose the game of baseball is completely abandoned and another game is never played for five hundred years. Yet, five hundred years from now someone finds a rule book on the game of baseball, decides to follow it, and see what the game would be like if it were to be played. By following the rule book, could they not re-establish the game just as it was played five hundred years earlier? We all would agree they could. The same is true of genuine Christianity. Though it has been two thousand years since people first became Christians and were added to the church (Acts 2:47), we today can follow the rule book, the New Testament, and become Christians the same way they did and be added to the Lord’s church the same way they were. Thus we can be undenominational Christians! We, as they were, will be free from the error and confusion of denominationalism. We can worship and serve God as simply and acceptably as they did. This has been the constant practice of the church of Christ from her beginning.
Yes, you can be an undenominational Christian just as in the early days of the church by following only the teaching of the New Testament.
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
THE DANGER OF PRECONCEIVED IDEAS
Below are three phrases, more or less familiar. Before you go any further, I would like for you to read them out loud. Please read them out loud or you will miss much of the effectiveness of what I’ve got to say:
PARIS ONCE A BIRD
IN THE IN A IN THE
THE SPRING A LIFETIME THE HAND
Did you read them out loud? Good! Now — unless your are a very suspicious person, you read them all wrong! Did you notice two of them have two “the’s” and the other had two “a’s”? But what is the point you might ask? I’ve given you this little test to illustrate the danger of preconceived ideas. You read the phrases as you did because you thought you knew what they said before you read them. Now this answers one of the nagging questions people ask: How can two people read the same passages of Scripture and come up with two different meanings? No doubt there might be many factors but the most common factor is one or both have their minds made up before they read the passage as to what it is going to say! Consider the following:
Many religious organizations have “conceived in advance of the truth” terms of membership into their organizations. Let us consider only one point. Many believe baptism today is not necessary at all. Some believe it is only an action to be carried out AFTER God has already saved them. Others believe baptism is necessary but contend baptism is only sprinkling and is to be performed on infants. Forget all these preconceived ideas and listen to the Bible. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16). This verse alone tells us baptism is necessary to be saved. Also it reveals the individual who is the proper subject to be baptized - “he who believes”. In Romans 6:3-4 we read that baptism is to be “buried”. Notice the example of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. After being taught God’s word and believing it, he requested baptism. Verse 36 says, “they went down into the water”. Verse 39 sayı, “when they were come up out of the water”. Now, does either of these passages indicate sprinkling or a complete omitting of baptism? The answer is, NO! Baptism is necessary and can be clearly understood in the Scriptures but we must lay aside all preconceived ideas about it.
No one of us is immune to the malady of reading with preconceived ideas. Let us always ask ourselves: Is this really what God is saying here or is this simply what I want the passage to say?
—Taken from THE TRUTH,
bulletin of the church of Christ in McRoberts, KY.
***SENTENCE SERMONS***
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
- Abraham Lincoln
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Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.
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Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
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If money talks, it usually sends the wrong message.
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Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.
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Be more concerned what God thinks about you
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
