THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

Standing on the beach is such a beautiful experience. Gazing across the water stretching beyond the horizon with the sun dancing playfully along its waves can bring a sense of calm. The lapping of water upon the shore feels sweet on bare feet. The soft breeze reminds one of the grandeur of God’s creation and His awesome power. It does not suggest a time of fear when viewing the tides rolling in and out. From the pen of the prophet Jeremiah comes the stern warning of the Lord when He inquires: “Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not: Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it” (Jeremiah 5:21-22).

While there is a feeling of calm repose enjoying the splendor of the oceans ebb the other side of reality is a reminder that the Creator has established laws that will not allow the waters to go beyond their habitation. There are many things man can look at of his creation and marvel at the ingenuity but how can man compare with the workings of the Almighty when he determines the boundaries of the waves? The Lord suggests to all men the need of fearing Him who is able to establish such things.

More than just a realization of the power of God through acts of nature man must also be in awe of another creation of God that is incomparable to the greatest works of man. “’For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the LORD. ‘But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). Few regard the word of God as a fearful book anymore. The pages of holy writ were held in honor and reverence by God fearing people who believed every word of its pages and sought to live under the grace of the message of God. The moral fiber of society has eroded the interest in the Bible to where it is seldom quoted, often neglected and impugned in character as a book out of touch.

The apostle Paul described the character of Jehovah in Romans 11:22 – “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22). The righteousness of God and the wrath of God is revealed in the word of God (Romans 1:16-18). The trembling of man’s heart is brought about by his recognition of how great Jehovah God is (the “earth is my footstool” Isaiah 66:1) and how dependent man is for everything (Psalm 96).

Trembling before the commands of the Lord is respecting the sacred message of the Book. “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up” (Nehemiah 8:5). The purity of the message must be honored. From the pages of God’s word is grace, mercy and truth. Our eternal destiny is bound in the pages of God’s word. Jesus Christ said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Ezra pled with those who trembled at the commandments of the Lord to put away their unlawful wives (Ezra 10:3). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

Members of the Lord's church are sometimes erroneously referred to as "Campbellites." What exactly is behind such appellation? It is a tiresome thing to have to respond, again and again, to the same misguided (and frequently dishonest) charges. But one is compelled, from time to time, to do so.

First, Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) never started a church (or claimed such), even though reference works frequently refer to him as "founder" of the "Christian Churches" and "Churches of Christ." It is a tragedy that the man who labored the bulk of his adult life with a view to encouraging others to abandon sectarianism should himself be accused of being the head and founder of the "Campbellite" church. The reformer utterly repudiated the designation. In 1826 Campbell wrote: "Some religious editors in Kentucky call those who are desirous of seeing the ancient order of things restored, "the Restorationers," "the Campbellites". . . This may go well with some; but all who fear God and keep his commands will pity and deplore the weakness and folly of those who either think to convince or to persuade by such means" (The Christian Baptist, Vol. IV, pp. 88-89).

In 1828 Mr. Campbell responded to the question: "What is Campbellism?" in the following fashion: "It is a nickname of reproach invented and adopted by those whose views, feelings and desires are all sectarian - who cannot conceive of Christianity in any other light than an ISM" (Christian Baptist, Vol. V, p. 270).

lt is a matter of historical record that there were churches of Christ - both in Europe and in America - before Alexander Campbell had a clear concept of what primitive Christianity was all about. Leslie G. Thomas has documented New Testament churches in Scotland, England, and Ireland, dating between 1778 and 1810 (The Restoration Handbook, p. 73). Historical accounts reveal that the Old Philadelphia congregation of the Lord's people, which was near Morrison, Tennessee, was organized in the year 1810. Alexander Campbell was not baptized until 1812, and he continued to he affiliated with the Baptists until the 1820s.

Churches of Christ do not owe their origin to Campbell or any other human leader. The fact that some, therefore, delight in using the term "Campbellite" to refer to those who choose to be called simply "Christians," rather than wearing humanly-devised titles, is more of a commentary upon their characters than anything else. Why is it that so many religionists have such a difficult time being comfortable with the name "Christian," and that alone (cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16)? The use of human titles is sinful (cf. 1 Cor 1:10ff).

“William Rogers Born in Campbell Co VA July 7, 1784 Removed with his father to Caine Ridge Bourbon Co Apr. 1798 United with the church of Christ at Caine Ridge in 1807 Died Feb 15 1862 in the 78 year of his age He was the friend of God”

William Rogers became a member of the church of Christ in 1807 – Alexander Campbell did not come to America until 1808! Many churches of Christ predate Alexander Campbell’s birth.

"He got by with it!" That colloquial expression means that he was caught. He thinks he "got by with it," but this is never true. The one who makes the statement knows better, and has already changed his opinion of the one who tried to "get by with it." There is very little we really "get by with" -- even in this life.

I believe man's capacity for greatness is a divine endowment (we are made in his image). But we are molding our individual character day by day by our response to the experiences of life -- drawing closer or pulling further away from what our Maker would have us be. And make no mistake about it! We are what we are, not what we like to kid ourselves into thinking we are (1 John 3:7).

When a man gives in to temptation, no matter how well the matter is concealed from others, his own makeup is affected. A thousand victims have a thousand shoulders upon which to bear their burden, but the man who tries to "get by with it" must take the total wrong upon himself. He is guilty before God and, even if he cares little for that, he has whittled a bit more from the stature of the man he could have been.

This amoral, godless generation tells us there is no standard for determining a "good" or "bad" man, but in practice they repudiate their theory. They recognize and do not want to do business with the "bad" man. One cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

Proverbs 11:3f reads, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them." We can build into our character that which will sustain us in adverse times, or we can cut ourselves loose from solid mooring and drown in our own folly.

And we fool God none of the time. All creatures stand before God "naked and opened" (Hebrews 4:13). (The last word means literally, "to bend back the neck" of a victim to be slain or exposed.) How can we expect to "get by" with anything when we are so exposed to him who judges righteously?

Christians have been “called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). In order to maintain fellowship with Christ and with faithful Christians we must walk in the light of God’s revealed word (1 John 1:3–7). We must “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:8–11).

Part of the work of Elders is to watch over the souls of the congregation — “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). When Christians refuse to submit to the scriptural rule of the Elders, then discipline must follow. Jesus gave us instructions for discipline (Matthew 18:15–17). The apostle Paul through inspiration by the Holy Spirit instructed the church at Corinth in a particular case to “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. . . . For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:5, 12–13). In verse 11 he provides for us a limited list, including fornication, covetousness, and drunkenness.

The same apostle Paul commands us to withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6). And he also writes to withdraw from those who “consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Timothy 6:3). For example, Paul delivered unto Satan Hymenaeus and Alexander for making shipwreck of their faith (1 Timothy 1:19–20).

Since the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23), and since the seriousness of sin is that it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) is there really any sin that should be overlooked? When someone refuses to assemble with other Christians to worship and serve God, they are guilty of willful sin — “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:24–27).

In doing so they have refused fellowship with the Lord first of all, then with other Christians; they have refused to partake of the Lord’s Supper; they have refused to give of their means; they have refused to join in prayers, supplication and giving of thanks; they have refused to teach and admonish in song; they have refused to grow and mature as Christians should. In other words, they have willingly refused for themselves to obey every command and instruction of God’s word that makes us acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1–2). There are other scriptures that teach us all the above and I am sure with a little more thought we can add to the list of sins that are involved in refusing to assemble ourselves at appointed times.

If involvement in such things does not make shipwreck of one’s faith and warrant discipline, I would like someone to teach me what does. Since we will be judged according to our works (Revelation 20:12–13), what will be the fate of the individual who refuses to work for the Lord?

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

“Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.” (Hebrews 13:18)