Monthly Archives: September 2024

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING, HEBREWS, JESUS CHRIST

QWERTY — BOB PRICHARD

This article, and virtually every printed article you have ever read in the English language  was typed on a QWERTY keyboard, so named for the first five letters on the upper left of the keyboard, designed in 1873. Why are the letters on the keyboard arranged this way? Early typewriters jammed easily, so the keyboard was designed to make it harder to type quickly. Studies have shown that a better designed ergonomic keyboard would allow the average person to type twice as fast, with 95% less effort. 

Why haven’t we changed to a better keyboard? It is because there are just too many vested interests like typists, computer manufacturers, etc. that would not want the change. If offered a better keyboard, how many would want to change? Would you? I don’t want to have to learn a new keyboard!

Unfortunately, we don’t always want better do we? We are often satisfied with good, even when better is available. We don’t want to go to the extra cost or extra effort for the better. We are satisfied where we are. This may not matter much when it comes to keyboards, but what about spiritual things?

The key word of the book of Hebrews is better. “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). Those in faith’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11 “desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hat prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:6).

We have the promise of better things because of Christ: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:4). What are you willing to do, not for a good life, but for the better life? When Jesus said, “seek ye the first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:28), wasn’t he challenging us to the better life? Are you satisfied with a QWERTY life?

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

SHOULD CHRISTIANS SUPPORT A STATE LOTTERY? — BOB PRICHARD

Christians should not buy lottery tickets or support policies allowing them. Lotteries have a long history in the United States. The Continental Congress authorized a lottery to finance the Revolutionary War, and Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and other universities raised money through lotteries. The lesson of history is, however, that lotteries do not raise the revenues they promise, and are breeding grounds of corruption and crime. By 1900, all the states in the United States had outlawed lotteries, and it is only in recent years as states sought more sources of revenue that they have turned to lotteries. Thomas Jefferson described the lottery as “a tax on the willing,” and as lotteries have grown, many have proved unable to avoid this tax. While anyone may play the lottery, the players are more likely to be the less educated, lower income people, least able to afford it.

One problem with state-run lotteries is that this puts the government’s stamp of approval on a very harmful activity. The state should not promote gambling, which is dangerous to both individuals and society. Multitudes gamble for the false hope of the lottery, including millions of compulsive gamblers who absolutely cannot stop. The myth of “something for nothing,” and “hitting the jackpot” entices new converts daily. Paul warned that Christians should not take their liberty (such as an ability to gamble without becoming addicted), to cause others to stumble. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

The ethic taught by the Bible is that the Christian should be different from the world. In particular, the Christian works diligently and honestly. “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). How can the illusion of “hitting the jackpot” by gambling on the lottery encourage the Christian to work honestly and effectively? The very basis of the lottery is an appeal to mankind’s innate greed, or covetousness. But God says that covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

Lotteries are supposed to raise new revenues for special needs such as education, but they do not generate any new wealth. They just shift money from the gambler to the state, without producing anything of value, while at the same time costing the state because of the increased crime associated with state-run gambling. Should the state encourage this addicting vice just to balance the budget? Would Jesus have played the lottery?

ACTS, BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

WAS THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER SAVED BEFORE BAPTISM? — BOB PRICHARD

The story of the Philippian jailer is found in Acts 16. The jailer was in charge of Paul and Silas, who had been arrested on false charges by the owners of a slave girl. They had cast a demon out of the girl, depriving her owners of the money they made by exploiting her (Acts 16:20-21). Because of this, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and put into the innermost prison, with their feet in the stocks. The jailer was to keep them safely until the officials could deal with them.

Beaten and bleeding, and locked in the inner prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, even though it was midnight (Acts 16:25). Suddenly an earthquake shook the prison, and the jailer, awakening from sleep was ready to kill himself, because he was sure that the prisoners would have escaped. When Paul calmed him, assuring him that the prisoners were still there, “he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29- 30). Paul and Silas answered very simply: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). Since the jailer was not told to be baptized, does this mean that he was saved before baptism? Consider the rest of his story.

Paul and Silas had told the jailer that salvation would come from believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, but what did this jailer know about Jesus Christ? It is unlikely that he had heard any of the sermons that Paul and Silas had preached in Philippi. He probably knew absolutely nothing about Jesus, other than what he had learned from hearing the songs and prayers of Paul and Silas, so they had to teach him. “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” (Acts 16:32). Did speaking the “word of the Lord” include the necessity of baptism? Remember that it was midnight when Paul and Silas were singing and praying (Acts 16:25). It was after this that the earthquake came, the jailer sprang in and asked “What must I do to be saved?” and they “spake unto him the word of the Lord.” Without question it was in the wee hours of the morning when the jailer responded to their preaching.

Luke tells us, “he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house” (Acts 16:33-34). When were the jailer and his household baptized? It was “the same hour of the night.” Why didn’t they at least wait until morning light before they were baptized, if baptism was not essential? When did he rejoice?  It was after they were baptized, not before. They rejoiced, knowing that their sins were forgiven, and they had truly obeyed the Lord. The jailer had a saving faith, a faith that responded to the sacrifice of Christ by obeying Him. His obedience in baptism demonstrated his faith, and his faith was demonstrated in his baptism. The jailer was like all other Christians we read of in the New Testament. He was saved after baptism.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST? — BOB PRICHARD

The theme of all the New Testament is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Practically every page provides information on this important topic. In its simplest terms, the gospel of Jesus Christ is simply the “good news” concerning Him. The Greek word translated as gospel means “good news.” The word “evangelist,” a “preacher of the gospel,” comes from the same root word. In a day when there is so little good news, it is important to recognize that Jesus came to give the world good news.

The message of the gospel is that although man is a sinner, deserving of death, God loved mankind enough to make provision for salvation. Paul warned the Roman Christians that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). Comfort comes, however, in knowing the good news that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). Paul reminded them that because they had become Christians, they were “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). The “amazing grace” of God is truly good news. 

At the heart of the gospel message are the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As Peter preached the first “gospel sermon” on the day of Pentecost, he spoke of “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs” (Acts 2:22). Although He was put to death, death could not hold Him. “This Jesus hath God raised up” (Acts 2:32). Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The people responded properly: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter answered by telling them how to accept the good news of Christ: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

The gospel is especially good news, because its message is universal. Peter continued by telling his Jewish audience, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). The “all that are afar off” meant that the message was to go to a worldwide audience—the church would include the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Faith moved many to obey: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). From that day forward, the church grew as more and more people were added to the church (Acts 2:47). Christ commands: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

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CAN WE BE ONE? — BOB PRICHARD

As Jesus was preparing to face the cross, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray fervently for the disciples, knowing that they would face difficulty in sharing His message of peace and love with the world. Having prayed for the disciples, he also prayed for Christians down through the ages:  “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). His prayer was that all who would believe in Him through the word of the apostles would have the same unity that He experienced with the Father. Sadly, men seek disunity and division, ignoring Christ’s prayer. The consequence of this is that many have rejected the gospel of Christ because of the divisions they see within “Christendom.”

In Paul’s day there was “one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Yet men today claim there are many bodies and many faiths. Most claim to be what might be called “hyphenated Christians.” A person who is a “denominational-Christian” is subject to the creeds, handbooks and bylaws of his denomination. Why not give up the denominational names and creeds? Why not just be Christians, not members of any denomination? 

Lasting unity among the followers of Christ can come only one way⎯by going back to the  Bible and  throwing out the creeds, manuals, and man-made traditions. Paul wrote to a very divided congregation at Corinth, pleading with them to have real Christian unity. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). They could only find unity by being “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  Christians can have this unity of mind and judgmentonly by uniting in the teaching of the Bible, the Word of God. Creeds and handbooks can never bring unity.

Sometimes there are unity or “ecumenical” movements among the churches, and some good may be accomplished by these groups banding together for a common cause. There is usually agreement however, that doctrine will be forgotten or overlooked, or else how can one group that teaches baptism is immersion get along with another group that teaches baptism is sprinkling, etc.? Is this really being joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment? If they will not agree on the Bible, how can God’s people agree on anything?  

The Bible is not a dead letter from two thousand years ago. It is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible, and the Bible alone must be followed for unity today.