Bible Thoughts

December 10, 2000

The message of John is plain and straightforward. Those who would be pleasing to the Creator of all mankind must, of necessity, follow the teachings of Christ. No man has the right, while claiming to be a Christian, to pervert and/or change the scriptures in any manner. Yet, through the years, there have been many innovations that divided churches, including those who wear the name of Christ. Warnings have been sounded in each generation of the dangers of following the commandments of men. Even Jesus pointed out that Isaiah taught we are not to be drawn away by human products in religion(Matthew 15:9).

The introduction of human teachings and practices into the church for which Christ died has splintered many churches through the centuries. All that we do in religion must be approved by God through the scriptures. We are "thoroughly furnished" through the revealed word for all that God desires of His kingdom. However, man, in many instances, failed to heed the teachings of God's word and the warnings of those who are faithful to Jesus Christ.

Almost fifty years ago, a gospel preacher wrote a book on church history and placed a word of warning in his closing pages that needs to be repeated in each generation. Take heed to the words below.

As has ever been true in the history of the church, it is true today that "the purity of the church, unity among brethren, and ultimate victory over the world" rests upon the attitude of the members toward the word of God and the pattern of the church revealed therein. The author is one of those who believes that the New Testament reveals a fixed pattern for the church of all time and that loyalty to Christ demands that we hold to that pattern. The church must not adapt itself to the changing conditions of the times if it means a departure from the divine pattern.

The cry that the church is not doing its duty along some lines is no justification for man-made schemes for doing the work of the church. The church of the Lord was in existence for more than sixty years before the New Testament was completed. It operated in all phases of its mission on full scale. This can be done today. Those who detect failure on the part of the church in any phase of its work should not attempt to "reform" conditions as they are, but they should set about to restore the pristine purity of the church in practice as well as doctrine.

In all of our thoughts of united effort and congregational cooperation, let us keep the church of the Lord free from institutionalism. Let it be overshadowed by nothing; let nothing be tied to it, nor suffer it to be tied to man-made organizations of any kind for any purpose. In short, let us keep our eyes on the New Testament pattern.(John D. Cox in Church History, published by Dehoff Publications, 1951).

Note: Those churches that have supported and maintained orphanages, schools, colleges, and a myriad of other human organizations from the church treasury did not heed the warning of brother Cox(or the New Testament). As they ignore the teachings of the scriptures, they have drifted further and further away from the divine pattern. Some now join with denominations in various activities and are(or have become) nothing more than a denomination among denominations. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that some would depart from the faith among their number. Obviously, history does repeat itself.

One night this old mule had found a way to get out of his pen and then went straight for the barn with all the feed, all that good stuff he loved so much, but what he didn’t think about was that all that dry feed would make him thirsty. So he left his feast and went in search of water which he found by the old well. And being old he was not as strong or as fast, so he slipped and fell into the well. Now at the bottom of the well it was dark, moist and cold, which he did not like very much.

Now you can imagine what noise he made, how he screamed for the farmer to get him out of there. With the farmer being half deaf he only heard him about an hour later, and was not very pleased with his old mule. He thought to himself, the mule is old, he does not want to work anymore and he was not worth much, so he decided that he would just fill the well up with sand and get rid of his troubles. Now the mule thought that his master would help him, but that all changed when the first bucket of sand fell on his head(he thought he was doomed). Bucket after bucket came the sand filling up the well, now the mule kept on climbing on top of the sand, and then realized that the top of the well seemed closer. He kept on going, never giving up, higher and higher he went even though the sand kept on stinging him as it fell. Now the farmer had no idea what was happening, until the old mule popped his head over the top. The farmer thought his troubles were buried at the bottom of the well, but there was his mule staring right back at him.

The mule was diligent in his fight for survival, he wanted to live. He kept going even though all seemed lost, he just took one careful step at a time. You may ask where the old mule is now; he is busy in the barn feasting on the feed while the farmer is busy in the field.

Learn from the old wise mule: be diligent to get to heaven, study, learn, and follow God's laws no matter what hits you. Take one careful step at a time, and you too will be rich in heaven one day. -Vaughn Botha