March 19, 2014

Characteristics of Truth

Man Holding Bible

“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160).

David affirmed that the entirety of God’s word – the sum, not just some – is truth. This is what we should expect since the word is from God (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:16) and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18; cf. Titus 1:2).

While it is important that we understand that the word of God is truth (John 17:17), it is also important that we appreciate various characteristics of truth. Certainly there are those who do not accept the Bible as truth; but of those who do (or claim that they do), many simply do not understand the nature of this truth. It is not whatever we want it to be. Truth is from the mind of God whose ways are infinitely higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:25). So let us consider some of the characteristics of truth.
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June 17, 2013

Book Review: Torn Asunder

Torn Asunder (cover)I recently finished reading Torn Asunder: The Civil War and the 1906 Division of the Disciples by Ben Brewster. The book is about the history of the Restoration Movement leading up to the officially recognized division between the Disciples of Christ and the churches of Christ in 1906. But the author took an interesting approach by looking at how the Civil War impacted this division. An excerpt from the book is below:
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June 13, 2013

David Lipscomb: “The Majority Seem to Be Going Away”

David Lipscomb: "The Majority Seem to Be Going Away"

Before the “official” division between the Disciples of Christ and the churches of Christ, David Lipscomb worked hard in doing what he could to prevent the need for division. But eventually he realized that division was inevitable. This deeply saddened him. He had opposed innovations like the missionary society and instrumental music in worship to God. But he lamented the fact that many would not stand with him, thus making division necessary.
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October 22, 2012

If Your Brother Sins Against You (10/22)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 18.

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).

The New King James Version starts with the phrase, “If your brother sins against you.” Though the New American Standard Bible (quoted above) does not contain a similar phrase, the context certainly implies that private sins that one brother commits against another are the type of sins under consideration. Others were not aware of the sin until after the guilty brother had been approached by the brother whom he had sinned against.
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October 13, 2012

A House Divided Against Itself (10/13)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11.

When Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, the Pharisees rejected this as proof of Jesus being the Son of God. Instead, they accused Him of doing this by the power of Beelzebul.

“But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’ And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?‘ (Matthew 12:24-26).

As He addressed their absurd charge, Jesus stressed the importance of unity. It was His prayer that His disciples be united with one another (John 17:20-21). However, the Scriptures teach that this unity certainly had limits placed upon it by the Lord. It was not the “unity in diversity” that many today like to practice.
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June 27, 2012

The Troubler of Israel (6/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 17-19.

Prior to his showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah met with King Ahab. Ahab was quick to blame Elijah for the troubles that plagued the nation.

“When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is this you, you troubler of Israel?’ He said, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals’” (1 Kings 18:17-18).

Ahab wanted to place the blame for Israel’s problems on the one who prophesied the truth. Elijah correctly turned the charge around on Ahab, declaring that the king had troubled the nation by rejecting the Lord and embracing a false god.
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June 19, 2012

Book Review: Eli’s Quest for Truth

Eli's Quest for Truth (cover)I recently read Eli’s Quest for Truth by Casey Head. It’s a little different than the type of books I typically review here, but I thought it was good and worth mentioning.

This is a fictional story of a Galilean shepherd, Eli, living just before the time of Jesus’ public ministry. Eli sees the different factions that exist among the Jewish people and sets out on a quest for truth, seeking to determine which sect was right so he can become part of it.

As the story progresses, we see Eli’s conversations and experiences as he learns about the Pharisees, Sadducess, Essenes, Herodians, Zealots, and Samaritans. Reading about them in a story like this helps to explain the differences between these groups that are mentioned in the Bible. Eli’s Quest for Truth really helps to shed some light on who these groups were and how they fit into the history recorded in the New Testament.
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