by Tom Wacaster
Do you remember: When it
was safe to walk the streets, at night, without fear of being mugged or
assaulted? ...When you could leave your house unlocked, and when a
"Club" was something you carried with you when you went walking to
beat of the dogs? ...When families usually remained intact, divorce was
shameful, and single parent families were almost unheard of? ...When
"gay" meant happy, and "rap" was something someone did on
your front door when they came calling? ...When the problems we faced in
schools were chewing gum, getting out of line, or skipping classes? If
you do, then likely you can remember: ...When each school day was begun
with a devotional and prayer, piped into each class room via the intercom.
...When neighbors talked to each other over the fence. ...When two
week gospel meetings were common and cottage classes were conducted on a
regular basis. ...When church attendance on Sunday morning AND evening were the
norm. ...When we discussed religion with our fellow employees, and
encouraged an open examination of one's belief in the light of the Bible.
...When mission work was increasing each year. ...When preachers gave a
"thus saith the Lord" for all that we do in religion. ...When
the church was united, standing upon the Bible, and preaching and teaching the
same. Do you recon there is any correlation between all of these
things?
Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that serving God is the whole duty of man (Ecc. 12:13). I realize that there are a number of factors that have entered into the present social atmosphere that rejects God, Christ, the Bible and things spiritual. Perhaps religious perversion has done more to discredit Christianity in the eyes of an unbelieving world, than perhaps any other single effort on the part of Satan. I have made seven trips into Russia proper, and at least half a dozen or more into Ukraine. Most of those with whom we studied during those mission trips were very superstitious and/or ill-informed on Bible topics. In 1992 and 1993 I was asked about a certain "prophet" who had predicted the end of the world in 1993. As you can see, that so called prophesy did not come to pass. The dawn of this new millennium has brought with it a number of prognosticators who predicted the return of Christ and the establishment of His "kingdom." These, too, were false prophets. Bobby Duncan, now deceased, once made this observation with regard to so much "foolishness" that goes on in the name of Christianity: "Is it any wonder that so many intelligent people reject anything that claims to be based on the Bible? When people claiming belief in God and allegiance to the Bible take such ridiculous positions, it causes people who are unfamiliar with the Bible to think the Bible is a ridiculous book." Now, I have said all that to say this. We have been blessed to experience the Christian faith as IT SHOULD BE! As members of the Lord's body we recognize not only the simplicity of New Testament Christianity, but the sound reasoning behind it, and the beauty of it. In fact, it is members of the Lord's church who reason correctly on matters pertaining to faith and practice. That being the case, who else should be telling the world about God, Christ, the church, and the plan of salvation? And yet, it seems that members of the Lord's church are, more often than not, LESS vocal in their faith than our denominational counter parts. The Bible says, "Let the redeemed say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalms 107:2). Let us be about the task of teaching the lost about Jesus.