It seems that there is an ongoing drive to appease orthodox Islam. I personally have never seen such an influx of radical orthodox Islam ideology into world communities. Prior to the total outbreak of World War II, world governmental leaders tried very hard to appease the Nazi regime. Hitler enjoyed playing with governments who chose to appease Nazi Germany (Great Britain, Parliamentary Debates). Can We Appease Evil? No, you can never appease an evil ideology that preaches its followers to conquer the world by any means possible. Great Britain, The Netherlands and France have been trying to appease the fanatical followers of this totalitarian ideology, but look at the result of the downright stupidity of the ruling elites of these socialist European countries. There was the London bombing that killed innocent people, the murder of film director Theo van Gogh in The Netherlands, and several terrorist activities in France. The stupid attempt of the multicultural relativist intellectuals and politically correct politicians in Europe have cost the freedom of its people and the lives of innocent victims. Yes, these stupid politically correct politicians and intellectuals have been feeding their own people to a bunch of hate-worshipers who are determined to rule the world. (“Appeasing Evil”) The point was made in the above reference that only if all nations embrace and become Islamized with acceptance of Sharia law could we reach appeasement. Total acceptance of Islamic ideology is required of all nations of the world. How can our nation, the United States …

Perhaps you are familiar with the following Bible names: Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas and Nymphas. Some may be more familiar to us than others. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote these names toward the end of that book. We find them in Chapter 4. It’s like a roll call of Christians. Tychicus was from Asia Minor (Colossians 4:7) and Onesimus became a Christian when he met Paul in prison (Colossians 4:9). We have Aristarchus, Mark and Justus who were Jewish believers (vv. 10-11). Epaphras, Luke the doctor and Demas were Gentile Christians (vv. 12-14). We also have Nymphas (v. 15) who provided a home in which the church could gather. These folks obviously meant so much to Paul and his work that he included them in the epistle. Most of these were not very well known. Their names appear for a brief moment in history, and then, they vanish away. They played a part in the spread of Christianity, and then, stepped to the side, just like we will do. Yet, there is a reason that God chose to place these saints in His Word. The names represent great variety. Have you considered that? With His church, the Lord likes diversity. Social clubs usually are comprised of folks like each other, those people with similar interests and ambitions. However, God’s church is diverse. God takes people from all nations, cultures and social standings (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11) and makes them one in Christ. The …

Jesus endured the excruciating agony of slow death by crucifixion. He languished for six hours, beginning at nine o’clock in the morning and continuing until three in the afternoon (Mark 15:25, 34). Of the seven sayings Jesus spoke from the cross, the sixth was: “It is finished” (John 19:30). In order to appreciate the significance of these words (actually one word in the original) we must go far back in time. In John’s Revelation letter, we find a verse that refers to “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8 KJV). In the Greek construction of this verse, it is difficult to determine whether “the foundation of the world” should be linked with “slain” or “written.” This explains why English versions differ. However, many grammarians observe that the above reading is more in keeping with the original word order and is more natural. The meaning would thus indicate that from God’s vantage point, His Son (the Lamb of God) was as good as dead (slain) from the foundation of the world. God’s plan to send Jesus to die for humanity can be traced back to the beginning. This agrees with Genesis 3:15 where God foretold that the seed of woman (Christ) would suffer. Through the centuries, God gave brief highlights about the coming Messiah. Finally, “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4). The reason for His coming was ultimately for one purpose. “For the Son of Man also came not …

In the epistles of the apostle Paul, there are constant references to the idea of being “in Christ.” Being “in Christ” involves one being influenced by Christ, being obedient to the Gospel of Christ and being added to the body of Christ where one walks in the footsteps of Christ and lives in hope of eternal life with Christ. Paul would have us to know that Christ had influenced every aspect of his life. Nowhere is this more evident than when he wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). In this verse, we learn what Christ really meant to Paul. First, Paul was crucified with Christ. He had not experienced physical death on a cross. However, Paul could identify with Christ’s death. (1) He had become dead to the Law of Moses (Galatians 2:19) in that it no longer had control over him. (2) He had died to the flesh. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). (3) He had died to the world. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). Second, Paul was changed by Christ. He said, “nevertheless …

The King James Version of 1 Corinthians records 437 verses in sixteen chapters of the book. For the first fifteen chapters, Paul wrote about problems that needed remedied, questions that needed answered, and errors that needed corrected with the Truth. The tone of the book is a corrective voice tempered with a loving spirit. As Paul closed his letter, he gave five imperative instructions that would put the Corinthian brethren on a positive course of Christian service (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Let us study these two verses and the five commands contained within. Number 1: “Watch ye.” From the Greek word behind this command, we derive our English name “Gregory,” which means “watchful.” The imperative means to watch, to be alert, to be vigilant. Physically, it means to be awake instead of asleep. Figuratively, it means to have our spiritual senses on the highest alert. We need to constantly and continually evaluate and be aware of our enemy as well as our manner of life and how it affects both our brethren and the world of observers surrounding us. Study through the first fifteen chapters and note how many times Paul asked them “know ye not” or “do you not know” as a reminder that they had let things slip that he had taught them. It is easy to become “spiritually sleepy.” Furthermore, it can lead to spiritual death. Number 2: “Stand fast.” The imperative means to stand firm, remain anchored, to be without wavering, uncertainty or doubt. “We are to stand fast in …

In His book, Why Religion Matters, Huston Smith contrasted the worldview that believes God is the ultimate reality with the view of secular materialism that believes there is no reality (no God) beyond the physical universe – the physical laws of nature and the chemical properties of matter. Truly serious minded people – those concerned about evidence – will recognize the importance of thinking about the implications of these two major worldviews. The opening chapter of The Epistle of Paul to the Romans not only answers the question concerning what is at stake regarding the implications of these two worldviews, but this chapter (Romans 1:18-32) is as great a statement about this issue that is available to humans. The late Dr. Thomas B. Warren summarized the content of these powerful verses (Romans 1:18ff) in his 1978 debate on the existence of God with philosophy professor Wallace Matson of the University of California (Berkeley). Warren said, “In Romans 1:18 and following, after Paul made clear that the evidence of God is right before the eyes of everyone… [he] then showed, in regard to those who turned away from God, three times in that chapter… God gave them up” in giving a list of the terrible and heinous crimes that were committed (Warren-Matson Debate 310, 312). In the loss of God from the mind of man, “…they refused to have God in their knowledge…” (Romans 1:28), which results in “the loss of God in the life of man” (Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament, Vol. 4, 331). …

[This is not the Robert Johnson of Longview, TX whose articles regularly appear in the pages of Gospel Gazette Online. This writer also lives in Texas, though. Incidentally, I am acquainted with four brothers in Christ with this name! Three of them live in Texas, and one of them lives in Pennsylvania. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor] “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1 NKJV). Could there be any better place to start than at “the beginning”? I want to tell how Mark’s Gospel of Jesus has truly touched and changed my life. I found by reading the Gospel of Mark that there are some very interesting characters as well as some very interesting events. I want to express how some of these characters and events relate to my life. They have made a great impact on my heart and helped me to change in some areas of my life. Perhaps you are wondering why I say, “some areas.” It is because to me change requires growth, and growth takes gradual processing with no shortcuts. Some say it this way, “He’s still working on me!” One cannot be a professional football player unless he keeps practicing. So, I want to practice some of the principles that I have obtained from the characters and events in this wonderful account of Mark’s Gospel. The first character that we notice in Mark’s Gospel is a man who seems to be a very important person in the life of …

Nearing the end of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, we find a man giving some pretty pitiful excuses for his slothfulness. This man really had no one but himself to blame for his failure, but he chose, instead, to try to blame the man he was supposed to serve. First, he attacked his master’s character by saying, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed” (Matthew 25:24). Then, he questioned his master’s compassion when he said, “And I was afraid” (Matthew 25:25a). What did he fear; did he fear he would lose what little he had been given, and be punished for it? The master knew he could manage this “small” amount (v. 15). Perhaps, he feared looking like a failure compared to the others. It was no secret that this man had less ability than the other two (Matthew 25:15). By doing nothing he had an excuse for his failure; he didn’t even try. What if he had tried and only had gained half of a talent more (Matthew 25:27)? The final excuse, I think, is the most insulting, and really showed that he held his master in contempt. He attacked his master’s control. “Look, there you have what is yours” (Matthew 25:25b). It is as if he said, “I owe you no more than what you gave me. We’re even.” On the contrary, the master had lost one thing that was supposed …

I was recently asked to “name three things God cannot improve upon.” I hope you find this thought-provoking. I do. My thoughts generally address what God can do. As an example, God can unify “Christians” everywhere. I find myself dreaming about such things. Just imagine all the various organizations in your community under one roof worshiping in unity. Think of the influence this would have on your community. Think of the financial opportunities it would provide for benevolent work, education, missionary support, etc. Today, our communities spend much money on duplicated expenses, primarily buildings and salaries. God can fix this. We must find the humility and wisdom to understand our traditions for what they are and isolate the truth of God’s design for the church (singular). Pretty idealistic, but if mankind will let Him, God can fix this. Drug and alcohol abuse is another thing. In my community, and I am sure in yours as well, this effects every single household in one way or another. For example, I recently found it necessary to install security cameras at my home. This is not the way I want to live. Our local prosecuting attorney told me that well over 90% of his time is spent on drug and alcohol related offenses. God can fix this. I have performed many marriage ceremonies. I would give a number but I would find the necessary research depressing. You may wonder what would be depressing about that. The reason that it is depressing is because there is a corresponding …

The audience on the first Pentecost following the death of Christ was the greatest of its kind ever gathered to hear a Gospel sermon. There were devout men from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5) assembled to observe the Feast of Weeks. They had been drawn to Jerusalem in adherence to the Law of Moses, but on this occasion, they had observed something entirely unique. A sudden sound from heaven drew them to a small group of men. Astonished and bewildered, these observers commented upon the ability of these apostles to speak in languages that they had never learned. We know implicitly that only the apostles received this miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to fluently proclaim God’s Word to these various nationalities. This is evident from simple grammar. “They,” (i.e., which were together is one place, Acts 2:1), is a pronoun. A pronoun has an antecedent (the noun to which the pronoun refers). The antecedent is “apostles” from Acts 1:26. Not only does the position of the words in the sentence make this apparent, but also the agreement of the plural apostles (noun) with plural they (pronoun). Further evidence that the baptism of the Holy Spirit came only upon the apostles and not upon the 120 disciples found in Chapter One is the question, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?” (Acts 2:26). Furthermore, Luke records, “But Peter, standing up with the eleven…” (Acts 2:14), forever confirming to us that it was the apostles who …

The apostle Paul declared his thankfulness to God in several places. In 1 Timothy, the gratitude is focused on the transformation God allowed with these words, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1:12-13). Paul’s pre-Christian lifestyle as Saul of Tarsus was one of a rising star in Judaism. He, at some point, had moved from Tarsus in Cilicia to Jerusalem to study at the feet of the well-respected Gamaliel (Acts 21:39; 22:3; cf. 5:34). One might speculate that Paul could have been on course to be the next teacher of Israel and to be respected by all the people. In any other generation he might have been, but it so happened that he lived in the fullness of times when Christ came (cf. Ephesians 1:10; Galatians 4:4). This altered his life immeasurably. At first, of course, he fought to preserve the order of Judaism in which he had been raised. He watched the clothes of those who stoned Stephen, possibly as an instigator rather than just a lad standing by (Acts 7:58). He was, indeed, “consenting to his death” (Acts 8:1). He “made havoc of the church” during the persecution that ensued (Acts 8:2-3). After a while, he “was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). …

For as long as I can remember my grandmother has made rugs on her loom in her basement. She has taken old rags such as jeans, shirts and other various materials that are long past their use and turned them into beautiful rugs. I have 14 of them all throughout the house, and they mean so much to me. It truly is remarkable how someone can take what others have discarded and turn it into something special. This is what God has done with us. We were broken with sin and guilt, and He made us whole. Think about the words of Isaiah, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool’” (1:18). God can take our sins that have stained our souls crimson and make them white as snow. While others may cast us away, God is the One that can make us new. Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). At one time, we were lost and without hope in the world, but God made us new for good works. Just like rags that are of no value but are turned into useful rugs, God changes us and makes us useful in His kingdom. Too often, we devalue ourselves when we are priceless to …

Our personal prayers are both unique and very meaningful to each one. They maintain our spiritual connection to the Lord and assist in relieving personal anxiety concerning challenges in life. Yet, all of our prayers have this in common: they may be hindered by a variety of circumstances. Following are some things that hinder prayers. (1) Harboring secret sin in the heart will cut off communication with God (Psalm 66:18). (2) Unbelief will hinder one’s prayer life (James 1:6-7). (3) Selfishness will assure no results from one’s prayers (James 4:3). (4) An unforgiving spirit will hinder the divine reception of prayer (Mark 11:25). (5) A lack of patience may cause failure in one’s prayer life (Luke 18:1-7). (6) Formalism can hinder personal prayers (Luke 18:9-14). (7) A failure to live with one’s spouse in a God-approved manner may hinder our prayers (1 Peter 3:7). With these things in mind, may we cleanse our hearts and “ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:6). Yes, our divine Heavenly Father continues to answer prayers. We must remember that He does so according to His will rather than according to our wills. May each of our prayers be pleasing to the Lord.

We purpose hereinto show some of the blessings of bearing the cross each day. We love to sing about “The Old Rugged Cross,” but do we love to bear it? The follower of Christ voluntarily, willingly and decisively accepts the pain, shame and persecution that come because of his loyalty to Christ and His cause. Jesus identifies the regularity of this association with the word “daily.” Consider some of the blessings of bearing the cross daily. We become partakers in the suffering of Christ (1 Peter 4:13; cf., Matthew 16:21; Luke 9:22; Psalm 22; Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18; Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; 3:12; 1 Peter 2:21; 4:1; Isaiah 53:4-6). Our Lord Jesus Christ was stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded and bruised. We become partners in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The death of Jesus is the central event in the history of humanity. Following His burial, the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation for the hope of life beyond the grave. We become participants in the cause of Christ (Luke 9:23). Christ died so that we may live (Galatians 2:20). We live with anticipation of His return (Titus 2:11-14). In the meantime, we must deny self (Philippians 1:21), take up His cross daily (Philippians 2:16) and follow Him (1 Peter 2:21). What a privilege, glory and honor it is to bear the cross with Jesus. Christians are blessed with the greatest association in the world; we have fellowship with the Lord!

People recognize the need for strength to carry on in difficult times. The problem is that there are so many competing voices giving different directions for where to find such strength. The singer of Israel wrote the longest psalm or chapter in the Bible pointing to the only real source of strength. It is no wonder that the very first Psalm pronounced a blessing on the man whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night” (1-2). Daily Bible reading should be the habit of every child of God. The strength it gives is unsurpassed and will sustain the Christian throughout his earthly existence. May God bless us all as we seek to fully implement Christ’s will in our lives.

Perhaps you have seen a T-shirt with the above phrase on it recently, on phone covers, mugs, book covers, notebooks, journals and a host of other products. Instead of saying “carry on,” it may have something else inscribed, such as “Stay Calm and Carry Insulin” for diabetics. The phrase has an interesting history. From the website, keepcalmandcarryon.com, we are told: The Ministry of Information was formed by the British Government as the department responsible for publicity and propaganda during the Second World War. In late 1939, after the outbreak of the war, the MOI was appointed by the British Government to design a number of morale boosting posters that would be displayed across the British Isles during the testing times that lay ahead. The third and final poster of the set was very straightforward and to the point; it simply read “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The plan in place for this poster was to issue it only upon the invasion of Britain by Germany. As this never happened, the poster was never officially seen by the public. It is believed that most of the Keep Calm posters were destroyed and reduced to a pulp at the end of the war in 1945. However, nearly 60 years later, a bookseller from Barter Books stumbled across a copy hidden among a pile of dusty old books bought from an auction. A small number also remain in the National Archives and the Imperial War Museum in London, and a further 15 were …

While in a conversation with a brother in Christ, we discussed the subject of pioneer Gospel preachers. This brother was hypercritical of a detailed study of the lives of such men as Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, John Smith and others. This brother exclaimed, “I could care less what Raccoon John Smith did.” To that I replied, “You probably don’t care for the history of the Restoration Movement.” He agreed with my assertion. Since the time of our discussion, I have pondered over the statement “I could care less” with reference to our rich heritage, religiously speaking. In making such a statement, this brother exemplified an attitude that is so prevalent among many members of the church today. First of all, there is a lack of gratitude for those who have gone before us. Even in secular history, we have learned to appreciate such men as George Washington, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln and scores of others who were instrumental in the forming of our nation. Should we think less of our forefathers who sacrificed for the cause of Christ? Certainly, we should be thankful for our laws that provide for us liberties and freedoms in our great country. More than these, we should be eager to learn of those men and women who gave of themselves in order that we might learn of the freedom that is in Christ Jesus. Such awareness of the pioneer preachers can motivate us to be more faithful to our Lord. Second, such a negative …

This morning as I was walking, with the temperature about 20 degrees, the cold wind hit my face and I looked down. I saw a dime, which I picked up and put in my pocket. For a few minutes I continued to look down until I suddenly thought of a story I heard about a man who found a dime, and for the next 20 years he went around with his head down. He acquired 12,000 bottle caps, five pennies, one nickel, various assorted items, a crooked neck, a humped back and a soured, disappointed outlook on life. Then, I thought of Psalm 5:3, “In the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Also Psalm 121:1 came to mind, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.” Since I needed a lesson on looking up, I decided to share some thoughts with you. Many times I have felt like Elijah who thought he was the only one left who was serving God. When I see the Lord’s church being led into apostasy on every hand, and almost every false doctrine one can imagine being introduced, I write articles and preach sermons against those things. Then, I realize that one can look down so much that he may almost lose the power to look up. It still bothers me very much to hear preachers who advocate positive preaching so much that they never preach against anything except those who preach …

A young boy sitting in the backseat of the car yells out to his parents, “It’s not fair. Why can’t I have it?” The boy continues to grow older and older. He is now in his adolescent years. “Why, why do we have to go to church?” The boy is now a teenager. “You just don’t understand. You have never been through what I am going through!” The boy goes off to college. “I’m not a child anymore. I can do what I want to do.” The boy is now a husband and a father. “What am I going to do?” His entire life he thought that he was being trained to be a child when in all actuality he was being raised to be a man. His parents taught him that life is not always easy, and we do not always get what we want. They taught him to work hard in this life and be responsible. They taught him to love others and stand up for what is right. They taught him care, compassion and love. Most importantly, they taught him about God and all the things that our Savior has done for us. They taught him about prayer and how our Lord is listening and watching over us. Being a child is not always easy. Sometimes youths make the wrong decisions. Things can be confusing, and at times young people learn lessons the hard way. The same is true for being a parent. Each day is a …

Dan Williams tells the story of two preachers who were visiting over a cup of coffee. The first preacher said to the second, “I cancelled our Sunday night services about five months ago.” “You did?” the second preacher replied, “What do your church members think?” The first preacher said, “I suspect they’ll be pretty upset if they ever find out about it.” The meeting times for worship, study and edification are not meant to be arbitrary requirements that test the spiritual discipline and commitment level of Christians. Rather, these opportunities are intended to be functional to encourage, inform and strengthen those who are trying to walk worthily in an ungodly world. Why is it that some people will say with exasperation, “Oh no, we have church services tonight, and I’ve had such a bad week,” instead of saying, “Thank goodness we have church services tonight because I’ve had a bad week”? The difference in the two is the difference between “form” and “function.” If one views church services simply as a “form” that must be checked off our “to-do list,” he will see that assembly differently than the one who acknowledges the “function” and purpose of the assembly. Maybe church members need to reevaluate the way they view these assemblies and to see them not as an arbitrary requirement, but as opportunities. Maybe church leaders need to reevaluate the function of these assemblies to insure that the assemblies fulfill their intended purpose.