May 21, 2025

Searching for a Man

Breach in the Wall

When we look at the wickedness surrounding us and the problems that plague the world, we may wonder what good one person can do to fix all of it. Individually, how much do our actions impact the situation around us? From our perspective, the impact may be minimal, but God’s perspective can be much different. Consider what God told the prophet Ezekiel:

“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

In the verse above, God was searching for “a man” to change His mind about destroying the people. That one man was not found, so the people were destroyed: “‘Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,’ declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 22:31).

This passage reminds us of the importance of our efforts as individuals. As we consider the lessons from this text, let us not think our efforts are in vain.Continue Reading

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October 12, 2023

If the World Is on the Brink of War… (10.12.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about the recent attacks against Israel by the Iranian-backed terrorist group, Hamas. With this happening in the midst of other major global events, many people are wondering if (or even predicting) we are on the brink of World War III. Is that coming? And if it is, what are we to do as Christians?Continue Reading

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September 21, 2022

J.D. Tant: Three Stages in All Religious Movements

J.D. Tant: Three Stages in All Religious Movements

J.D. Tant (1861-1941) worked tirelessly to preach the gospel throughout his life and was never one to back down or compromise his convictions. However, he eventually began to realize that his brethren were not nearly as willing to stand as firmly as he was. Almost a century ago, he wrote the following observations in the Gospel Advocate, January 5, 1928:

“I find that there are three stages in all religious movements: The first is the fighting stage, when people are few and humble, and lean on God for support. At that stage they all fight and try to overthrow the teachings of men, as the Jews did as recorded in Deut. 7.

“The second stage is the stage of greatness; we become strong and respected and want fine houses and big schools like the sects around us. The Jews reached that stage when they rejected God and wanted a king, to be like other people.

“The third stage is the age of compromise, when we don’t want the differences between the church of Christ and the denominations debated, for fear we will hurt somebody’s feelings. I fear the church of Christ is in the third stage today, and will be followed by spiritual death if some change does not come.” (J.D. Tant: Texas Preacher, p. 413)

When we study the history of the Restoration Movement, we can see what Tant described in these paragraphs. As people started to leave the churches of men in order to simply follow the New Testament, they were very zealous in their efforts to preach the gospel and defend the truth.

Eventually as their numbers (and resources) grew, they began to build bigger and fancier buildings for their churches and put more emphasis and investments into their institutions (missionary societies, schools, etc.). Whenever this happens, aside from questions about whether such things are Scriptural or not, there is a temptation to do almost anything to maintain and grow these institutions. This naturally requires people to be involved and money to be invested. Because brethren value the institutions they have created, they tend to do whatever they need to do to keep the most people happy in order to secure the personnel and finances needed to continue. This inevitably leads to compromise.Continue Reading

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June 15, 2022

Elias Smith: A Pen in One Hand and a Battle Axe in the Other

Elias Smith: A Pen in One Hand and a Battle Axe in the Other

Elias Smith (1769-1846) was one of the early Restoration Movement figures in New England. His independent-thinking led him to question the commonly-held religious doctrines of his day. However, more than merely questioning such things, J. F. Burnett described Smith as having “an intense hatred for everything ecclesiastical” (Biographical Sketches, p. 68) as he observed the empty forms and traditions in the churches of his day. Eventually, he began the work of writing and publishing his own religious magazine as a way to combat the religious establishment.

“In 1805, Elder Smith began the publication of a magazine. He named it ‘The Christian’s Magazine.’ It was published once in three months, and paid for when delivered to subscribers, at twelve and one-half cents each. In this publication he scathingly criticized the established ministry of the church, and their popular sermons. He held a pen in one hand, and a battle axe in the other. All that pent-up feeling against useless forms, powdered wigs and church paraphernalia now had outlet through this printed mouthpiece. His hitherto trammeled mind simply reveled in the luxury of its freedom, and riotously went forth to kill and to make alive.” (Ibid., p. 77).

We sometimes hear the phrase, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” This is intended to emphasize just how powerful the written word can be in advancing a cause or in defeating an enemy. This is exactly what Smith set out to do through his writing.Continue Reading

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February 16, 2022

How to Prepare for Spiritual Battle

Throughout the New Testament, various passages describe a spiritual battle in which we are engaged. In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Timothy was told, “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Jude admonished Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3).

This war is going on all around us. It is not something we can ignore or escape. So how do we prepare for battle? Notice what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:Continue Reading

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July 28, 2021

Stand Your Ground

Man standing on mountain

“Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:11-12).

The passage above describes the valiant efforts of Shammah, one of King David’s “mighty men” (2 Samuel 23:8).* The notable event recorded about him was his defense of a piece of farmland. He “took his stand” and refused to back down, even though he had to fight alone. Of course, he was not truly alone even though “the people fled.” The text makes it clear that “the Lord brought about a great victory” on that day, but he had to be willing to stand his ground and fight.

What is interesting about this passage is that there is no indication given as to the location of this plot of ground. There is no mention of who owned it, what city was nearby, or the region in which it was located. The only information that is given about this land, besides what was grown there, was the fact that the Philistines had gathered in that place to fight. Because the enemy was there, that was the place where Shammah took his stand to fight.Continue Reading

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July 8, 2020

L. F. Bittle: Lions and Skunks

L. F. Bittle: Lions and Skunks

L. F. Bittle (1833-1905) worked for about twenty years with Daniel Sommer in producing the Apostolic Review. Sommer described him as “the best educated and the most modest man I ever knew” (Daniel Sommer: A Biography, p. 153). On one occasion when he was challenged for a debate, Bittle gave the following response:

“We can imagine a man brave enough to go forth into the forest to hunt lions, but on his return that same man would step aside when he would be confronted by a skunk” (Daniel Sommer: A Biography, p. 158).

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