Sometimes we look around our world, see the problems,
and consider giving up. Our courts force our schools to teach
our children evolution while denying creation. The result is people
behaving as animals rather than as men made in the image of God
(Genesis 1:27). They attempt to justify their behaviors as constitutional
and in the name of science. Attitudes of skepticism and indifference
permeate our society. There is an epidemic of immorality, and
few seem concerned. Men teach tolerance while suppressing the
Scriptures. After all, we might offend someone. Instead of preaching
the gospel, the religious community peddles doctrines of health,
wealth, and prosperity. Little by little, mention of God is removed
from our country. The world has forgotten that "Righteousness
exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs
14:34, NKJV).
We may be tempted to think there has never been
a generation as corrupt as the one in which we live. Students
of the Bible know better. Sometimes we forget the trials which
God's people have faced in the past (Heb. 11:35-38). Knowledge
of their victory of faith can fortify us for the future. We know
how the world conducts itself, but the matter of real importance
is the question of how will we choose to live our lives. Let us
look at some of the needs of the church today.
One cannot overemphasize the importance of knowledge
of the Scriptures. It is by the Bible that men of God may be complete
(2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is by the Word that error may be defeated
(Eph. 6:17). It is easy for someone to pull the wool over our
eyes if we do not have the knowledge to distinguish between truth
and error. Therefore, it is wise to search the Scriptures (Acts
17:11). In order to give a defense of our hope, we need to know
the Bible (1 Pet. 3:15).
We must join integrity with our knowledge of the
Scriptures. Skeptics, even Satan himself, can quote Scriptures,
but they lack integrity. Integrity is the soundness and honesty
of mind to uphold the truth in sincerity. A person of integrity
will rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 3:15). He will not
twist the Scriptures to his own fancy (2 Pet. 3:16). He will be
honest enough to recognize when he needs help in order to understand
(Acts 8:30-31). Job is an excellent example of a man holding fast
to his integrity even in the direst situations (Job 2:3). The
church must be resolved to keep the Word regardless of the costs.
Besides the need of knowledge and integrity, the
church needs greater reverence for the Bible. The reverential
psalmist composed a psalm of 176 verses that praise God and His
Word (Psa. 119)! After all, the everlasting God, the LORD Almighty,
and Creator of the earth, inspired the Bible. The church should
be an example of reverence to the disrespectful world. We need
to live the Christian life, not as a sideline activity but as
the whole meaning of our existence.
Understanding the distinctiveness of the Lord's
church is necessary. The church of Christ is not a denomination.
Jesus said, "I will build My church" (Mat. 16:18). The
Lord adds the obedient to "the church" (Acts 2:47).
In fact, there is but one church (Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18). All over
this world, there are congregations of the Lord's church holding
faithfully to the New Testament pattern. Remember that, by being
one, we are not only fulfilling the desire of Christ but also
giving evidence to the world of His divinity (John 17:20-21).
What is the great need of the church as it faces
the future? We can summarize it with the restoration motto: "Back
to the Bible." Just because we live in a corrupt world does
not mean that we must be corrupt. This year, let us, as the church,
endeavor to grow in knowledge,develop greater integrity, increase
in reverence, and recognize our distinctiveness as described in
the Bible. "Preach the word!" (2 Tim. 4:2) -126 California
Avenue, Chester, WV. 26034. (304) 387-1293. www.chestercoc.org
chestercof@verizon.net
(Brother Main is the son of Garry and Debora Main.
He was born August 4, 1978, in Morgantown and grew up in Pine
Bank, PA. He was baptized into Christ March 26, 1998. He is a
graduate of the West Greene School District and, in May 2002,
received his bachelor's degree from Waynesburg College. He entered
the West Virginia School of Preaching in January 2003 and has
preached in PA, WV, and OH. He is married to the former Karen
Montgomery. Upon his graduation in January 2005, he began his
labors as the associate minister with Frank Higginbotham in the
Chester church of Christ.)