DISCIPLE

  Divine Authority or Human Opinion?   by William MacDonald     When a public figure was lecturing on the need to restore values to our culture, a college student asked him, “On what do you build your values?” The speaker was flustered. He looked down and said, “I don't know.”  That's just the trouble. He had no authority. Modern man desperately needs what this man lacked—a firm foundation on which to base his judgments. He needs an infallible standard to guide him in all matters of faith and morals.     God has provided such an infallible authority in His Word, the Bible. This wonderful book provides the basis for sound judgments and wise decisions. The Bible is absolute truth. Jesus said, “Thy Word is truth.” There is no risk in following its teachings, no fear it will change from day to day.     The alternative to divine authority is human opinion. “The Bible says ... is replaced by, “I think ...” Fact gives way t...

The Bible Poem by George Rigby The Bible's Books are Sixty-Six, The Spirit - their recorder; Their stories - how they can transfix So here they are - in order.   In GENESIS I will begin With Adam, and with Eve Who knew not any form of sin 'Til Satan did deceive.   Now EXODUS will tell us most Of Moses - Man of God, And how he led all Israel's host When many miles they trod.   To LEVITICUS you have to turn And read about the law; The sacrifices which did burn Unblemished - without flaw.   The next one tells of sin and shame And how it all encumbers. This book is good - here is its name DEUTERONOMY - after NUMBERS.   Now JOSHUA was told to do By vision - and by sound To there and then remove his shoe From off the Holy Ground.   JUDGES tells us - all forlorn Of Samson and Delilah, And how his lovely locks were shorn His sight gone - nothing viler.   Then next, there comes a parting scene The story - we all know as The understanding love b...

Enemies of the Truth ​ 1. Appeasement     To conciliate or pacify by making a sacrifice of a moral or spiritual principle.     * The world made this mistake with Hitler, then with Communist Russia, and so on. In the churches it only allows evil or rebellion the time it needs to put down roots, and spread and affect more people, making more difficult and painful the work of cleansing, discipline and correction that must inevitably be done anyway. Nothing is gained by appeasement, and in the long run more is lost. 2. Compromise     To come to an agreement by concession or consensus; yielding; or conceding.     * This is the idea of democracy, the will of the majority, but it is not set forth in the Bible as a Scriptural pattern to follow. There was no voting or ceding to the consensus, but rather an earnest seeking of the will of God, which must be done even though all are not in agreement. The Scriptures t...

How could a Christian sing a hymn like this and then get involved in politics and government? Every stanza would be a contradiction! "Take My Life and Let it Be" by Frances Havergal Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in endless praise. Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing, Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. No wonder...

Only One Life By C.T. Studd (1860-1931) Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past,  Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done ...

by Alan Summers (Scotland) This is a subject that divides Christians. Some believe that a Christian should be involved in politics so that the Christian's view of the world and Christianity's moral values can be brought to bear on the legislative process. Others believe that Christians should not be involved in politics because the aims of Christianity are not political. They feel that since Christians will never command the support of the majority, there is little point in trying to influence a process that can never conform to Christian values. Who is right?      In New Testament times authority was largely in the hands of kings whose authority was based on hereditary right or military power. Rome may have had its Senate and Israel its Sanhedrin, but parliaments elected by the citizens of a country were completely unknown. Hence when we read passages that discuss the Christian's relationship with "the powers that be" (Rom. 13:1), we will not find gu...

by A. W. Tozer The coming of Jesus Christ to the world has been so sentimentalized that it means now something utterly alien to the Bible teaching concerning it. Soft human pity has been substituted for God's mercy in the minds of millions, a pity that has long ago degenerated into self-pity. The blame for man's condition has somehow been shifted to God, and Christ's dying for the world has been twisted into an act of penance on God's part. In the drama of redemption, man is viewed as Miss Cinderella who has  long been oppressed and mistreated, but now through the heroic deeds of earth's noblest Son is about to don her radiant apparel and step forth a queen. This is humanism--romantically tinted with Christianity! excerpt from reading for May 5 in Renewed Day By Day , Christian Publications, Camp Hill, PA