Bible Thoughts

August 15, 1999

Paul was following a religion that was no longer acceptable to God. He was zealous and dedicated, but he was wrong. When Ananias presented the gospel to him, he responded to the message of truth and obeyed, being baptized to "wash away" his sins. From that day forward the apostle would give his life(literally) for the cause of the one who died for him. There was never any doubt in Paul's mind as to what he should do: he followed the New Testament of Jesus Christ. At the same time, he opposed anything that would corrupt and/or subvert the truth and destroy that for which Christ died.

The apostle Paul resisted any effort to change the church that Christ built. When false teachers were present, Paul rebuked them. When churches were drifting, Paul warned them. He used the truth to correct error and keep the churches of Christ pure from the teachings and doctrines of men. Through the years, this has not always occurred. By 606 AD, many churches had completely lost their identity, appointing a universal bishop of the church(Pope). In the past century, another major apostasy took place in the formation of the denominational "Christian church." Many brethren were swept away into that movement because a lot of preachers(and other disciples) failed to stand up for the truth. They changed the name, organization, and worship of the church, and left the patterns of the New Testament.

Since World War II, there have been those among our brethren who are no longer satisfied to walk according to the gospel. Many churches of Christ have drifted into denominational error and use the approaches, appeals, and messages of sectarian bodies. Each year, such becomes more obvious. In the light of what has happened, and is happening, it is not really surprising that the following occurred:

Can a Sunday School curriculum find happiness as(?) lessons based on the Andy Griffith show? An Alabama church member believes so...The series had been used as material for a teenage class at Twickenham, and Fann used clips in a marriage enrichment class at the church. When the church's education director(whatever that is-jy), James Kendrick, overheard the enthusiasts exchanging Mayberry trivia, he broached the question: would they consider developing a Wednesday adult class based on the show? Not surprisingly, the answer was yes. -Christian Chronicle, August 1999, page 1, 26.

Well, there you have it. It may be either Barney Fife religion or Mayberry religion, but it is not the religion taught by the apostles of Christ. It may contain principles that are similar to those taught in the scriptures, but it is not what the Lord's people need to be taught. The Lord commanded, "Go into all the world and teach the gospel to every creature"(Mark 16:15). Such foolishness as is found in this Alabama church has created a generation of people who seem to be more enthusiastic for a secular television show as the basis for teaching moral behavior than the scriptures.

While the Andy Griffith show is entertaining, it does not follow the guidelines of the New Testament. It is a secular show, produced for secular purposes. What moral lessons might be drawn from it are incidental to its purpose and have nothing in it that would make it appropriate to use as a guideline for Bible class lessons.(Note: It is unfortunate that current television and movie productions have become so immoral in their content that many should not be viewed by Christians. How wonderful it would be if the type of programs presented today were like those of the Andy Griffith Show.)

The apostle Peter admonished, "If any man speaketh, speaking as it were the oracles of God"(I Peter 4:10). The basis for all literature to be used among the Lord's people is the word of God. There are illustrations that can be introduced to strengthen a point, but every teaching and admonition must point back to the scriptures. Allowing literature or other materials to be used that does not accomplish this can only result in spiritual wandering. "Here a little, there a little" and, later on, it is "Here a lot, and there a lot." Abandoning Bible-based literature for secular(humanist) publications and/or videos will only weaken those who are fed such mush. A television program that has been produced by people who are not Christians may serve to provide decent entertainment--but that is what it is: entertainment. Perhaps therein lies part of the problem: if it is not entertaining, many people are "turned off." Yet, in all the teaching and preaching of the apostles and early saints, there was no emphasis upon entertainment, but a call to people to follow the word of God, live a righteous life, support the truth, and encourage others to accept the answers that come from the word of God. Let it be so in our day.

One of the tragedies in the use of secular literature is that a generation is growing up that will not be fully acquainted with the word of God. Is it not more important that we teach about Adam, Noah, Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles, and early Christians(as revealed in the word of God) than rely upon what the world has produced? One older preacher observed, several years ago: A generation is growing up that does not know whether Jesus Christ was crucified on Calvary or shot on Bunker Hill. Think, brethren.