What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 6 / No. 6”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VI - No. 6 / July 30, 2023
CAMDEN'S RIDER
William Camden was an English man who lived during 1551-1623. He was an antiquarian and historian among other things and accomplished much during his life. He is well remembered for his work. One of his often-misquoted works:
“My friend, Judge not me,
Thou seest, I judge not thee.
Betwixt the stirrup and the ground
Mercy, I asked and mercy I found.”
It is a very comforting thought. Here the horseman for an unknown reason is being cast toward the ground, expecting to meet possible serious injury, prolonged complications, and maybe even death, and yet has what seems to be unlimited access to God and His mercy.
I think Camden, if he were here today, would say that all the relevant variables still apply. The rider could be anyone today, the stirrup would be their support system, the ground would be the consequences of decisions or events and mercy would still be that which is sought. Camden’s view would be no different than that of the plethora of bible teachers that ascribe mercy as ours, we must just ask, and it will be given. What a wonderful concept if it were only true.
I completely agree with Camden in that God’s mercy toward man is much needed, often in large portions. Isa. 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of Justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Indeed, blessed is mankind because of God’s mercy and the great love that God has for man. Rom. 5:8 declares God’s love for man this way: “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Lam 3:22-23 depicts God’s love as never ceasing, and his mercy never ending – “they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Truly blessed are we to serve such a great and loving God. An unending, unceasing mercy is where God extends to us the good, He wants us to have, and remembers our sin and lawless deeds no more. This mercy that God affords and is ready to extend, is not unconditional. Camden lived in a time when faith alone and predestination were becoming dominate thoughts in English Religion. Calvinism was taking root. These teachings are far from truth.
Mercy as wonderful as it is, is not unconditional. Consider Prov. 28:13 “No one who conceals transgression will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Confesses and forsakes sounds like something we must do, conditions we must meet to obtain this great mercy. Deut. 7:9 “Know then that the Lord your God is God; the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Yes, God’s love and mercy, and all the various ways it can benefit man is wonderous, but it is conditional. Obey God while you have opportunity. Stop resisting… —Blind Bartimaeus 23
FALSE RELIGIONS
In view of the fact that our society has grown accustomed to feel good preaching, most of what comes from pulpits and religious radio and television programs does not insist upon much of anything. What is said comes with an attitude of "you are entitled to believe whatever you wish". No one wants to insist upon a "thus saith the Lord" in religious matters. "We practice what we do because we've always done it that way." "I'm what I am religiously because that was what my parents were." No one is willing to investigate by opening the Bible and their minds to really see what the Bible does say! People get disturbed about a lot of things but, to them, religion isn't worth getting disturbed about.
Therefore to suggest the possibility that there are false religions doesn't get under the skin of many people. To some you are either a quack for being religious to start with or, with others, it doesn't matter what you are religiously because, they believe, all religions lead to Heaven. If that be the case, where are all the false teachers the Bible speaks about? Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matthew 7:15). If all religions lead to Heaven, why must we "...believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1). I'm afraid most folks today are willing to believe anybody and anything when it comes to religion and feel that it is sacrilegious to question anything religious.
Many religious organizations are teaching for their doctrines the commandments of men. When this is the case, that religion is "vain" (Matthew 15:8-9). Doctrines like: wearing human names in religion, huge complicated man-made church organizations, mechanical instruments of music in worship, infant baptism, and salvation by faith only, are just to name a few. Thus for churches to engage in any one of these things is to render vain worship. It's not just important that I worship but my worship must be "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24). To be affiliated with a religion that does not go according to "truth", is to be involved in a "false religion" that the Lord will "root up" (Matthew 15:13-14 ). —E.R. Hall, Jr.
SENTENCE SERMONS
To have God in our life, doesn't mean sailing on a boat with no storms;
it means having a boat that no storms can sink!
***
Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be famous;
better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth
"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
