Volume 16

Issue #2

April 2024

WALK IN THE OLD PATHS

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

              For some reason, young people especially, like change. When we meet for worship they often do not want to do things the way their parents and grandparents did. Others, usually the older segment of the population, do not want to change anything. There are things that can change, but we should always remember the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:40. “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

         When I served as an elder with the East Ridge congregation in Chattanooga we had a problem at the end of our worship service on Sunday mornings. Bible classes followed our worship service. We would dismiss our teachers to go to their classrooms when the final song was being sung, and then close the service with a prayer. However, there was always a lot of noise in the foyer with people (and a number of students) leaving. People in the back of the auditorium had difficulty hearing the prayer. The elders decided we would have the prayer first and then a final song. That seemed to solve the problem, but there were members that were upset with the change. Some spoke to various elders about this; and in the long run agreed, so the problem was resolved. Sometimes changes are necessary.

         It is one thing to change the time or order of when we do things in worship, such as separating the contribution from the Lord’s Supper, having a different number of songs in the worship service, or prayers in different places. These things are not specified. As long as we do contribute of our means on the Lord’s day (1 Corinthians 16), observe the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), sing praises to God (Colossians 3:16), speak to God in prayer (Acts 2:42), and hear from His word (Acts 20:7), we are meeting what God expects of us. Unfortunately, some want to change things that are scriptural in nature.

         Some want to add instrumental music to the worship, I have known of some that wanted to change the elements of the Lord’s Supper. One religious group actually wanted to change the elements to a hamburger and coke.  Some have even wanted to add productions such as a dance to the worship. In each of these situations, there are arguments for the change. “It might make the worship more appealing to young people, or it will allow them to use their talents in worship.” This would be changing the doctrines found in God’s word.

         When we begin changing doctrine, we do have a significant problem. I appeal to Christians to follow Jeremiah’s advice. Go back to the old paths. Go back to the way it was done in New Testament times. For instance, we know the Jewish temple worship included instrumental music. We also know the Christians in the first century did not. We know it is right and scriptural to sing praises to God. Why would we want to add something that is without authorization? 

              We also know what elements were instituted at the Lord’s Supper. We see them when Jesus instituted His supper: Matthew 26:26-29  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. We know because His supper was instituted at the Passover that the bread was unleavened. He states that the cup was the juice of the grape, called “the fruit of the vine”. Why would anyone want to change those elements?

               Yet the group I previously mentioned decided to substitute a hamburger and coke for the Lord’s Supper because it would be more meaningful to young people. While the taste would be perhaps more appealing, it is obviously a turning away from what the Bible teaches.

  We also know of those that want to dance, or have plays, or some sort production in their worship. We know that the Bible teaches that we are to have preaching and Bible study, but again there is not authorization to vary from what the church of the New Testament did in worship.

              We need to consider what Jeremiah tells us. This passage mentions to “stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask.” So many times people do not take the time to analyze why they want change. They want change just for the sake of change. Yet if they had taken time to examine what they wanted to change, they would have discovered the change was not really beneficial, but scripturally wrong. 

              Israel had once been a prosperous and mighty nation. Jeremiah is challenging them to look back and see what they were doing that brought about that prosperity. As we know, when Israel followed God, they prospered. When they deserted God’s way, they fell as a nation. They should have seen this, but as the verse tells us, they refused. They didn’t want to change what they were doing and go back to where they would have found prosperity.

              In some ways this is much like what Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-16  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Our Lord was telling us that there is a way we need to live. That would include all aspects of our lives, our work in the Lord, our worship, and our daily lives. We must go by what our Lord and the apostles taught and commanded of us.

              It is not enough to “know” the good way, we must also walk in the good way. We must do what our Lord expects of us. Certainly He does not specify the number of songs we sing in our worship, but He does concern Himself with our following His dictates as we have already mentioned.

              There is a danger today just as it was in Jeremiah’s day for people to search for something new in religion. The “Old Paths” are the paths followed by Christians in the first century. As they followed the word of God, so too must we.

Some Thoughts on Tithing and Christian Giving

R C OLIVER

Taken from Light, June, 1955

“What does the seventh chapter of

Hebrews teach about tithing?” 

         In the seventh chapter of Hebrews Paul uses the paying of tithes to Melchizedek, by Abraham, as an example of Melchizedek’s superiority over Abraham. And in the development of his general argument in which he is showing the superiority of Christ and the Christian system over all others Paul incidentally points out that under the law the priests could take tithes of the people. This action of the priest, however, was ACCORDING TO THE LAW, and not according to grace. And for one to contend that Christians are to do something ACCORDING TO THE LAW in one point, is equivalent to his obligating us to keep the whole law in every point. Galatians 5:3-4. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

“Do we have any proof that the law, which allowed the priests to take tithes from the people has ever been changed?

         Yes, we have proof that the law was changed, and, not only so, but in the same verse, verse 12, it is affirmed that the priesthood has been changed also. All Christians are priests today, and we have but one High Priest, Christ Jesus –1 Peter 2:9; But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Revelation 1:5-6; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. In view of this change, no one today can insist that Christians are to tithe ACCORDING TO THE LAW without at the same time rejecting the priesthood of Christ!

If the law that demanded a tenth has been changed, what, if anything, are Christians commanded to give?

         The Bible instructs Christians to give as follows:

1.    They are to give as prospered. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

2.    They are to give cheerfully, as they have purposed in their hearts, and not grudgingly.  2 Corinthians 9:7.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

3.    They must not give of necessity: they are to give according to what they have and not according to what they have not. 2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Editor's Note: You can read weekly articles from Sandy at the following Web site: abiblecommentary.com "Blog for Christian Women"

A CHILD’S CONCEPT OF DEATH

When our son was one year old, we moved to Indiana. The church was a small mission congregation of about twenty members. Bob’s work was centered around preaching, visiting, getting to know the people in the community, and trying to hold this little group of Christians together. 

There was a couple in our congregation that had been converted some years before. They lived in the house next to the church building; and we were told that before they became Christians, they would sit on their porch drunk and shout ugly things to the members as they entered the building. They obviously changed, but she was an outspoken lady; and he was a quiet little man who did exactly what she said. She was known for making people move if they sat where she liked to sit, and she controlled whether the window was open or closed. I think everyone was a little afraid of her. I know I was. 

When David, our son, was about three, the lady passed away. Her husband asked me to come to their house and choose clothes for her burial. I was so shocked when I saw her neat little closet and her well-organized dresser drawers. Her wardrobe consisted of five or six freshly-starched dresses. Her funeral was a simple service with her husband, a few church members, and a nephew.

When David was five, her husband died, and we decided this would be a good time to take our son to the funeral home. He had been asking some questions about dying, and we thought we could better answer his questions at the funeral home. Bob called the funeral home and asked them if we could take him at a time no one would be there. The funeral director arranged a time, and we explained to David what we were going to do. As we stood in front of the casket, we waited for David to ask us questions. Instead, he just stared into the casket without saying a word. Finally, Bob asked him if he had any questions. “Yes Daddy”, he said. “When will they take him out of that box, wrap him in a blanket, and put him in the hole?” Needless to say, we were shocked. We realized that his perception of death and burial was like what he saw on television in the westerns he had watched. That’s the way they buried people, and he thought that was the way everyone is buried.

Later that same year, a little girl in David’s kindergarten class at school was hit by a car and killed. The two of them were best friends, and we did not take our son to the funeral home to see her. It did, however, present an opportunity to talk about death a little more with him. 

I tell you this story to say that we all need to understand the truth about death. We don’t need a view of death the way it is expressed in movies and television. Children have questions. They have a right, at the proper time, to have them answered. They experience loss of friends, relatives, church family just like adults. 

About seven or eight years ago, I had a particularly inquisitive group of fourth and fifth grade students in my Bible class. We were studying the life of Jesus. One of our lessons was on the death of the rich man and Lazarus. The children wanted to know if they could ask some questions about death, and I told them they could. I had them write out their questions and bring them to class. One of the girls brought a list of more than twenty questions. These questions were well-thought out and eye-opening to me. 

The misconceptions of most children are: that we go directly to heaven when we die; that we become angels when we die; that we can see people on earth; that no one goes to “the bad place”. Study the Scriptures and learn about death and dying. Learn about heaven and hell. Don’t make up something about heaven (or hell) that isn’t taught in the Bible. Your children will be better off knowing the truth.

As a side note. Please pray for the church in Winchester, Indiana. Their building was demolished in the recent tornadoes in that area.

              I have learned over the years that preachers have different strengths in their work. I would like to honor my brother, Charlie Cochran, minister of the East Ridge congregation. One thing stands out in Charlie’s work with the church. I have never known a preacher that was better in visitation than he. Somehow Charlie seemed to know who needed to be visited and if it was sickness, it seems he was somehow there before the doctor even knew the person was ill. His visits were always comforting and helpful. 

How do I answer the question, “Can you prove there is a God?”

While there are many approaches to this question, here are a couple of easily understood replies. First, think of the things found in the Bible before the human race knew they were true.

 It is known that President George Washington died primarily as a result of the practice of “blood-letting”. It was thought in his day that the disease was in the blood, so taking blood out of the body would help in the healing. Yet the Bible taught even in Leviticus 17:11 teaches that “For the life of the flesh is in the blood….”

Matthew Fontaine Maury (January 14, 1806 – February 1, 1873). He became an oceanographer when he was in the navy since he was in an ideal position to study the ocean. As he also read the Bible, he came across a passage written by King David that says, “the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:8)” Note in specific that it says, “paths of the seas”. At the time, ocean currents were unknown and had not been studied. However, Maury knew that since the Bible was the truth, King David wouldn’t have written that there were paths in the seas if there weren’t actually paths there. He began to search and study for these paths. He found them.

·      Each star is different. 1 Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. How was this known before the telescope was delivered.

There are a number of other facts that could be presented here such as the earth being round, the earth suspended in space, the creation was made of invisible elements, and others.

A second reason is that the early Christians, especially the ones that knew the apostles and Christ, were willing to die for their belief. All they would have needed to do to save their life was to deny Christ, yet they did not. Consider Stephen in Acts 7, or James in Acts 12. We also have examples of men living after the first century that were willing to die. 

Consider Polycarp. His date of martyrdom was sometime between AD 155 and 167. He was probably a disciple of the Apostle John.

One other argument that is powerful is that something that is designed, must have a designer. When you look at the universe and see the perfect harmony, you know it must have had a designer. The universe is so exacting that man can, using mathematics determine how to send a spacecraft to the outer planets. Scientists know to the minute, or possibly the second, when the planets will be in their position to be able to do this. We know a watch must have a designer, so how much more the universe from which the watch determines the time.

Certainly, there are many other arguments that can be used, but these are powerful by themselves to help us understand there is, there must be, a God over all.

1.    Dear God ... Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Amanda

2.    Dear God ... Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce

3.    Dear God ... I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a shot. Janet

4.    Dear God ... I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nancy

5.    Dear God ... My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis

Dear God ... Do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does? Nathan

I again thank you for letting me come into your home by this media. When I began this work I never dreamed it would continue for sixteen years. I have enjoyed so much putting this little paper together. May God bless you as we continue walking through the year.

Basic Bible Knowledge About the Holy Spirit       Speech & Debate



              Free for an electronic version of the book:       A Classroom Study

            Boboliver32446@gmail.com               For Lads to Leaders

                                                                             $10.00 Purchase from:

                                                                   Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes

                                                                          5280 West Alabama Christian Drive

                                                                            Montgomery, AL 36109

                                                                            334-215-0251

                                                                             lel@lads2leaders.com

Remember: Past issues of “Light for our Age” can be found at the following Web address:

Abiblecomentary.com/Lightforourage

   If at any time you would like to opt out of Light for our Age, simply return this email with the instructions to "Opt Out".