What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 14”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 14 / December 15, 2019
WHAT ONE TOLERATES, THE NEXT ACCEPTS
John Wesley once wrote, “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” Both sacred and secular history have proven the truth of this assessment time and time again.
Everything from dancing to drinking, from abortion to mercy-killing, has gone from toleration to acceptance. In the home and in the church, everything from immodesty to immorality has been first allowed and then endorsed. Adulterous marriages, gambling, and other similar sins, have gone from being permitted to being sponsored. Remember when wearing shorts and attending dances were generally condemned as sinful? Now, in some places shorts are being worn to church services and dances are sometimes held in church buildings! Truly, “what one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.”
One generation tolerated sprinkling for baptism if a person were seriously ill. The next generation accepted sprinkling for baptism as an option for everyone. One generation approved a “head” elder. The next generation appointed some elders “bishops.” One generation introduced instruments of music as an aid to poor singing. The next generation demanded we worship with instruments. One generation accepted the “fellowship hall” (which, at first, was just a few tables in the basement for social meals). The next generation built gymnasiums and “Family Life Centers.” One generation apologized for “hard preachers” who opposed denominationalism. The next generation saw their sons and daughters joining those denominations. One generation spoke of the need to reach out in a “nonjudgmental” way to our Catholic and Protestant friends. The next generation welcomed Presbyterians into “our fellowship” with only a handshake. One generation spoke of congregational singing as “one of our traditions.” The next generation defended choruses and choirs. One generation applauded preachers who closed their sermons without an appeal for sinners to be baptized for the remission of sins. The next generation denied the gospel plan of salvation in general and baptism in particular.
What does this say to us? What is our responsibility? “You shall observe to do therefore as the Lord... hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deut. 5:32). “Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13). “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14). “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). The next time we are tempted to deviate from the word of God, let us remember that what we tolerate, our children will embrace.
- Mark White
ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT ALL THE TRUTH?
Many folks think that everything they need to know on any Bible subject can be found in one verse. When they think they have found that verse, they are unwilling to accept any other verse that might explain in full meaning or give additional instructions concerning the matter. While nearly all would agree with the title of this article, is that really the case? Are we willing to search for all the truth and accept it when it is found?
Not all truth on a Bible subject or Bible question can be found in one verse. Take, for example, the incident in Jesus' life recorded in Mark 10:17. There "came one running" to Jesus. Who was this person? Were they male or female? It is not until we look in the parallel account of Matthew 19:20 that we learn it was a "young man". What do we know about this young man who came running to Jesus? When we look in Luke 18:18 we find he was a "ruler" and verse 23 tells us he was "very rich". After looking in three books and four verses we conclude the "one" who came running to Jesus was a man who was a rich young ruler. I admit, this is not a matter of eternal consequences but the point is this: not everything we could learn about this man was found in one verse.
There are Bible subjects and Bible questions that have serious eternal consequences. For example: How are we saved from sin? Many people think John 3:16 gives the all sufficient answer: “believe" or have faith. Is this all the truth in the Scriptures that gives answer to this vital question? How do we "believe" or have faith? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Also, Jesus said, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."(John 6:45). In order to have faith we must hear and learn the word of God. Is hearing and knowing all there is? Jesus said in Matthew 7: 2, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." But Jesus also said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3) and "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32). We learn what confessing is from Romans 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Thus we learn that we confess with our mouth what we have been taught and believe from the word of God. But concerning being saved Jesus had something else to say: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16). So, from four books and eight verses we learn all the truth concerning what to do to be saved from sin. The conclusion is that we must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized.
Are we willing to accept all the truth on this vital subject?
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
***SENTENCE SERMONS***
“True strength is the courage to admit our weaknesses." – Simon Sinek
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Discipline yourself so that others won't have to.
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Facts do not cease to be facts simply because they are ignored.
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--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
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