In our day, more and more women are becoming preachers. Many pulpits are now being filled by them, and they are often the speakers on religious TV programs. In a time in which the women’s lib movement is in full swing, the idea of “women preachers” fits right in with the idea of women taking the lead in many or all fields that were formerly reserved for men. The question here, however, is not a matter of men suppressing women and forbidding them to preach, of not allowing them to enter a field of work where men have previously played a dominant role. The question is, “Does the Lord, Himself, authorize women to take the lead in doing this kind of public work in the church?” When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we find Him choosing 12 individuals to serve as His apostles. Who were these apostles? They were all men! Later when Judas betrayed Christ and another was selected to take his place, even though there were faithful women among His disciples, still it was a man that was chosen (Acts 1:26). In addition, when one was appointed by God “out of due season” to become an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul — a man — was the selection. After the church had been established and had begun to grow and spread throughout the world, there was a need for leaders in each congregation. According to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, those Christians who were qualified …

“Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?” When these questions were asked, they were likely intended to be rhetorical questions. It is expected that a mother would not forget, neglect or harm her nursing child, and that a mother would always feel love and compassion for the children she has borne. Sadly, such is not always the case. A joint funeral service occurred in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for 2-year-old Devean C. Duley and 18-month-old Ja’van T. Duley. What happened to these two little brothers? Investigators say that the boys’ mother suffocated her two young sons on a Sunday night after a fight with her own mother, then strapped their bodies into her car and rolled it into a river so it would look like an accident. “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?” In the Greek language, the original language of most of the New Testament Scriptures, there are different words that have been translated “love” in English Bibles. One of the words is “storge.” This love refers to the love that is shared among members of a family, like the love of a mother for her children. When the word is used in the New Testament (Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3), it is preceded by the Greek letter “alpha” which negates the word. It is translated “without natural affection” (KJV), “without love” (NIV), “unloving” (NKJV) and even “heartless” (CEV). In both …

Moral failures among ministers are tragic and devastating. Chaucer asked, “If gold rust, what shall poor iron do?” Obviously, it too rusts, perhaps more rapidly. However, not all ministers are anywhere close to moral failure. Most preachers and staff serve all their lives and never do anything questionable related to moral misconduct. The number of ministers who commit adultery is much, much lower than that of the average male population. Today, however, we are made aware of the sexual sins of ministers more so than in past years. For example, the failure of a well-known evangelist was on the first page of the Birmingham News, on the “Rick and Bubba Show” and even on Paul Fienbaum’s sports talk radio show. Sexual misconduct, pulpit exaggeration, misuse of power, manipulation of people, pornography, misuse or embezzlement of church funds, deception, dishonesty, pride and arrogance are just a few of the subtle temptations facing the minister. What is wrong? Why are some preachers failing morally? Trull & Carter (Ministerial Ethics) identify ignorance as the primary area of failure. They conclude that ethical failure is due to the (1) lack of literature on the subject, (2) high-profile position of ministers and (3) the lack of training on the subject in college. This has led to a lack of accountability and of clear professional guidelines among individual ministers. Every Christian, even ministers, need training in ethics and spiritual formation. A ministerial code of ethics, if used properly, can be profitable. Is there biblical application to the difficulty? Yes! …

Philip asked the Eunuch if he understood what he read. It might be well to ask, “Do you understand what you hear?” On any given Sunday one can turn to any radio or television station which deals mainly with religious material, and can hear some rather outlandish and downright silly stuff that some folks call preaching. Nearly all of the speakers claim to be directly led by the Holy Spirit, yet are teaching different doctrines, as though the Holy Spirit contradicts Himself. I have noticed that on television when the Holy Spirit apparently fails to direct the speaker to the spot on his notes, the fellow just sort of fills in with a bunch of “Amen’s” (always put in a question form), a “praise God” or two, and quite frequently a “Hallelujah” comes forth while the speaker is waiting for another “leading.” Now a question: If you listen to or view this stuff, do you ever do as did the Bereans, and “search the Scriptures” to see if what you are hearing is truly the Word of God, or if it is just someone trying to make merchandise of you? Maybe you should. It would be a great eye-opener to you if you did. There are a lot of blind guides out there leading a lot of folks into the ditch of destruction.

The Queen of Sheba risked her life, health and treasures in traveling hundreds of miles (some estimate as much as 1,500 miles) to see whether she could confirm the fascinating reports that came to her ears about the famed king of Israel who succeeded David. Obviously, the queen had an investigative mindset and greatly desired to learn the truth about matters that, to that point, had been dark and hidden from her own understanding. Because of God’s gift to him, Solomon was able to answer every difficult question she introduced (1 Kings 10:3). Jesus says, in Luke Chapter 11, that the Queen of the South will rise up in judgment and condemn that generation (for not having the same spirit and determination of the queen in seeking/learning hidden truth with an unbiased heart). Even from His youth, Jesus was equipped by the Holy Spirit to answer all the difficult questions posed by the doctors of the Law of Moses (Luke 2:46-47; John 3:34). How is it that Jesus is greater than Solomon was? Jesus is greater because of the identity of His Father, who is the eternal God. Solomon, the third king of Israel, was born to King David and Bathsheba, who were mortal and are resting in their tombs. Jesus is greater because of His purity of lifestyle and godly living throughout His lifetime. Solomon’s disobedience and lust for women brought about His departure from God and venture into the abominable practices of idolatry. God became sorely displeased with …

In John 6, where the miracle of Jesus’ feeding the 5,000 is recorded, more than just food for the body was offered. Those who sought Him out the following day heard the great lesson on how Jesus was the bread of heaven, and what following Him really meant. More than His being just a bread Messiah, able to provide for their physical needs, Jesus came to offer Himself for the sins of the world, to offer life through His sacrifice. He pointed out the need for Him and His will to be an integral part of who we are, illustrated in the words, “feed on my flesh and drink my blood” (John 6:54). Unable to discern the spiritual application of these words, many of the crowds left, believing Jesus was advocating some barbaric ritual. The larger body of disciples following Jesus was just as confused by His words. They responded, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (6:60). When Jesus explained to them He was speaking of spiritual principles (6:63), it was still hard for them to hear, to grasp and understand, so much so that many stopped following Jesus (6:66), leaving only the 12 when it was all over. What made this teaching hard was their lack of spiritual insight, their inability to understand the spiritual principle Jesus was emphasizing, and thus their inability, and even a lack of desire, to follow what Jesus had said. This is not the only statement of Jesus and Scripture …

The Golden Rule is often referenced as one of the most basic principles in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). The principle of this verse is one that is often stated, but rarely done. Jesus says we are to treat others the way we wish to be treated. Unfortunately, we more often adhere to The Wicked Man’s Golden Rule: “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” If we are to adhere to Jesus’ statement, we must be willing to look out for others first. We must replace selfishness with selflessness and be willing to give the same respect and courtesy to others we desire for ourselves. Are you living by The Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12?

We know that we must be ashamed of sin. Jeremiah condemned the people of Judah because they were not ashamed, and were not able to blush (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12). He noted that, despite obvious punishment from God, they refused to be ashamed (Jeremiah 3:3). Isaiah spoke of those who created graven images, and who failed to recognize God. He said, “they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed” (Isaiah 44:8-10). It is easy, I think, for us to look at the “bad” people, and to know that they should be ashamed. It is harder to bring it down to ourselves. Ezra said, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up into the heavens” (Ezra 9:6). Jeremiah, once again, stated: “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastened, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou are the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth” (Jeremiah 31:18-20). Ezekiel spoke often of the need to be ashamed (Ezekiel 16:61; 36:32; 43:10). We should recognize sin in our lives and be ashamed of that sin. We must bring it to God, …

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) The race was not even close. The incumbent mayor received only 85 votes, while the challenger garnered nearly 300. The place was Tracy City, TN. In the grand scheme of things, this story would probably not have even made the news if it were not for one small detail in the race – the newly elected mayor actually died several weeks before the election. Election Commission officials for the small town said they could not even speculate why the dead man received so many votes. Now, however, the city council will have to appoint a new mayor to serve out the term of the newly elected, but dead mayor. Perhaps the folks of Tracy City were simply trying to make a statement about the incumbent. Regardless, it is flawed thinking to assign your allegiance with dead things or people in things pertaining to life. Other than a statement about the incumbent, what would one hope to gain by electing a dead man to the post of mayor? It sounds like a bad joke or dark comedy. Oddly enough, this type of thing, in principle, is not new. Folks spend an awful lot of …

God declared divine instruction through Moses, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough…” (Deuteronomy 2:3). In other words, Israel, you have gone around the base of this mountain for several days, it is time to move onward! In another sense, there are “mountains” in life we compass or go around and around. We stay in the same old direction that we direct, but we need to listen to God and turn to a better direction, Friends! Why not resolve to do so? I challenge us to follow what God directs today. It is time we cease compassing the mountains! Wasting time is a mountain we compass. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). As Robertson puts it, “We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys it up by using it rightly.” There is the factor: It is imperative we use our time wisely and rightly. God forbid any of us be like Felix in Acts 24:24-25. He sent for Paul, but afterwards trembled at what he heard. There is no example from the Scriptures where Felix came to Christ. We go around and around not using time wisely. Schedule carefully and prioritize with importance. Apathy. Simply not caring. Can you imagine? No emotion, no compassion, no concern for anything or anyone. In Revelation 3:14-16, the church allowed the things of the world to dictate their comfort, and the Lord commanded them to repent! Indeed, a mountain that takes us around and around with …

Have you ever had questions like that asked of you? Through the years, I have often had people ask the question, “Do I have to go to all the services of the church? I mean, what if I do not go on Sunday night or Wednesday night? Do I have to go at those times if I faithfully go Sunday morning?” Well, allow me to answer that question with a few questions of my own. Do you have to hug and kiss your little children? Do you have to remember your wife’s birthday? Do you have to call home when you are late coming home from work? Do you have to buy Christmas presents for your family? Do you have to attend ballgames and band functions in which your children are involved? Do you have to attend the funeral of a close friend or loved one? Do you have to say, “I love you” when you love someone? I think you see the point. Sometimes we are guilty of asking the wrong questions. There are some things in life that we do not “have” to do, but we “get” to do. In fact, even asking the question, “Do I have to…” is terribly inappropriate. When my relationship with my God is based on what I “have” to do and what I don’t “have” to do, then I had better take a long hard look at that relationship. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am …

Do we believe what the Word of God teaches? Most of us would answer in the affirmative, with a hardy, “Yes.” For many, the New Testament subject of baptism has caused the most study and misunderstanding. The proposition “Is baptism necessary in order to be saved?” has been debated many times over the years. Denominational creeds have been very conflicting on this biblical subject. Throughout the centuries, denominations have added or changed what they believe concerning the doctrine of baptism. Is the problem with the Word of God or is it with man? Let me suggest that we allow the Bible to answer the question, “Is baptism necessary?” Or, we could rephrase by asking, “Is baptism part of God’s plan of salvation for sinful man?” Hopefully, you have taken the time to search the Scriptures in our brief study of baptism. Is it not time to lay aside our preconceived ideas concerning this important biblical subject? NOTE: Daniel Coe, evangelist for the Trail Creek church of Christ, Shawnee, Kansas, furnished the twenty summary remarks concerning our study of baptism. See: https://trailcreekcoc.us/index.html

Anytime one begins to teach that there is a true and living God who created our universe and all things therein, he will immediately be inundated with questions from those who do not believe in the existence of a Creator God (Romans 1:18-32) to whom man is accountable. One of the first questions one will hear is, “If everything that exists needs a cause, what caused God?” This question is heard frequently, and those who ask it suppose they have proposed the question that cannot be answered. Actually, they ask this question, as well as many others, because they have not listened carefully to what has been said about cause and effect. No one has ever claimed that everything must have a cause; rather we have claimed that everything that has a beginning must have a cause. Only things that are both finite and contingent need a cause. God is neither finite nor contingent and as such had no beginning, so there was/is no cause for His existence. God is both infinite and necessary; the uncaused Cause of all things finite or limited. If God needed a cause, we would have to search through an infinite regress of causes, and we would never arrive at His beginning. God is the first Cause; one cannot go back further than the first. A second question often heard is, “If God created all things, then how did He create himself?” Again, we point out that only finite, contingent beings need a cause. A necessary, infinite Being does …

When we find the story of Aaron and the golden calf as recorded in Exodus 32, we are especially reminded of Paul’s statements in the New Testament. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” In Romans 15:4 he says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” We are shocked and amazed that any of the Israelites could have passed through the Red Sea as they did, and to have seen the love, the care and the power of God as they had, and be so faithless and rebellious. We are especially amazed that a man like Aaron, who was the spokesman for Moses and had been invited up on the mount with Moses when he talked with God, could do as he did in making the golden calf. His excuses and rationalizations would be funny if not so serious. “I cast the gold into the fire and there came out this calf” (Exodus 32:24) sounds more like a little child that was found with hand in the cookie jar than it does a statement of a leader of God’s people. However, it is no more difficult to understand than the kind of rationalization that we find among God’s people today. We have come to expect the people of the world …

God is love and love is of God. God is more than love, but one of the great attributes of God is that He loves mankind, and He desires that all men and women be saved (I John 4: 9-11; 2 Peter 3:9). If the love of God dwells within us, we love one another (1 John 4:12). While love has many positive characteristics, there are some negative characteristics of this God-like love, and one is that love does not rejoice in the wrongdoing of others. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, 6, we read that “Love does not rejoice in iniquity” (NKJV). Other translations are now presented that will enable us to understand more fully this statement. The Revised Standard Version, “it does not rejoice at wrong.” McCord’s New Testament Translation, “does not rejoice in wrongdoing.” The New International Version, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Berry’s Interlinear Greek English New Testament translates 1 Corinthian 13:6 in this manner, “rejoices not at unrighteousness.” The church of God at Corinth needed this lesson concerning the characteristics of love. In Chapter Five, we read of a brother who was living with his father’s wife (stepmother), and the church was not doing anything about it. Rather, some were puffed up about the matter and seemed to enjoy the situation existing in the congregation. The apostle Paul wrote them a rather stern rebuke and instructed them to deal with the problem in a scriptural manner. This they did, and the brother was restored to fellowship …