Jan 14, 2009 | Articles
Can you defend the faith? What do you believe? Do you think you should defend your beliefs?
In Philippians 1:3-7 the apostle Paul was in prison for the sake of preaching the Gospel. He wrote, “…inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.” Paul was not concerned about his imprisonment because he knew there was a greater cause, the salvation of souls! In verses 8-19 he continues to exhort the believers not to lose heart because of an apparent set back. “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Even though the great crusader was chained, the Gospel he preached was NEVER chained. In fact, many who may have been shy or afraid to speak were now emboldened because of Paul’s great example. This caused the Gospel to be carried on no matter what kind of persecutions would come to the church. That was then…
What about us? Have we “earnestly contend[ed] for the faith once delivered?”-Jude 3.
Can we know what faith is? Yes. The bible defines faith as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(Heb. 11:1. If you can desire and expect something that you have never yet seen, that’s faith. Faith is another word for belief. To have faith is to have belief and vice versa. How and where do we center our faith? The answer: in our belief of the Gospel. Does it matter what we believe? Answer: Yes. Anything other than the Gospel cannot produce a faith that saves.
When a child is learning to walk, he or she will often pull up on furniture and carefully grasp to keep from falling. As a person becomes elderly, again he or she will grasp onto handrails, furniture and walking aids to keep from falling. Both young and old alike will also want a clear path to their goal. The spiritual walk is no different. We walk by faith and defend our steps toward our salvation. (2 Cor. 5:1-11)
We must learn to submit to the teaching found in God’s Word and fit within it, not make it fit our own ideals (Gal. 1:3-12). The Christian must willingly fight against the world’s influence by knowing the difference between fleshly and spiritual things. Blurring the lines between the two will only lead to failure and defeat.
Our Savior died for the defense of the Gospel and asks us to deny ourselves and carry our own crosses. Revelation 2:10 tells us to be faithful to the point of death. This kind of language surely indicates a necessity to cling to one deliberate faith. Read Ephesians 4:1-6.
Do not be afraid of the world (1 Pet. 3:13-16). Christ, not the world, is our Savior now but He will be our Judge later (Acts 10:33-43). We have been given everything we need to defend the faith (Eph. 6:10-18 & 2 Tim. 3:12-17).
We have been called to this glorious Gospel. Let us hold fast to it!! “…to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thess. 2:14-17.
CED
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Dec 23, 2008 | Articles
We continue our thoughts on the Christian voting in political elections, and today we want to consider another idea that frequently comes up in conversations on this topic. To many people, voting, and other political activities beyond obedience to the laws, constitutes worldliness. This argument is met with the claim that we “ought not become hermits and monks hidden away from the population of the earth!” Some scholars believe that this was the sort of thing under consideration in Romans 14 when Paul addressed some in the churches there who were almost ascetic in there strictness and abstinence from certain practices. It certainly is our prayer that when considering this topic both sides would maintain the spirit of love and forbearance that Paul enjoins upon Christians in that great chapter. This is an interesting idea to apply to the voting discussion. Is abstinence from voting an absurd withdrawal of oneself from the world about them, or is it a necessary separation for a sanctified life?
Love Not the World
One of the most pervasive and prevalent themes in the New Testament is a strong warning against the perils of worldliness. From the day when the devil’s lies beguiled mankind to sin against the Father in heaven and the whole of creation was cursed with death and decay a line of separation has been drawn down the middle of the human race dividing the worlding from the child of God. This line of distinction can never be blurred, it can never be smudged, it can only be crossed. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” James the Apostle would say, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) If you stand for God you are against the World! If you stand with the World you are against God! In Genesis 6:2 the Bible tells us that in the days most ancient, “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” This marriage of God’s Children to the Children of the World did not purify the world, but rather it tainted the children of God and the world that followed was a world of tyrants and bullies, men and women of such evil behavior and sinful imagination that it grieved God and caused him to repent of having made the human race! This will always be the result of letting the world into the church! For this reason John gave a complete prohibition to the Church, “Love not the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16) The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth of carnal and devilish things said, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “ I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) Now if this was all that we had written on the subject, this and other admonitions like it, we might be driven to leave the “world” behind and live in a walled commune like some religious groups do, but there is further instruction of God to consider.
In the World, But Not of the World
After receiving the instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 regarding the immoral man and the need for withdrawal, and the discourse about how immorality defiles the church, many Christians began to think that they had to withdraw from everybody who was in sin, in or out of the church! “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) Paul’s words are clearly understood today. We have all around us an immoral and untoward generation, but we are to shine as lights in this world. Not to flee from the darkness but to cause the darkness to flee from the lives of those around us! Some time ago there was much talk of how the super store Wal-Mart was pro-homosexual and some suggested that it should be boycotted. That is a personal decision, but Paul’s statement is that we ought not judge them that are without as we do them that are within. We do our best to avoid shopping at places who sell a lot of liquor and pornography, but we know that when the money leaves our hands there is no telling what others do with it! Paul says that we should not let concerns like that keep us holed up away from the world. “Be in the world, not of the world.”
But what about voting, and other politics? Is that just being in the world? Or is it being of the world? Let us consider some aspects of the civil government that are unquestionably carnal.
Warfare
The past several years have proven to us, in case we were on the verge of forgetting, that war is a very real thing. The new president tells us that change is coming, but even he cannot change human nature! War will be. “War and rumors of wars” Jesus said. They will always rage in this land and will never end until the day that Christ returns to gather his children home and set the world on fire. But for know we as Christians must consider the place of war in our lives. The Bible tells us time and time again that the Christian religion is a pacifistic one in which men lay down their swords and shields to study war no more. As the Prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah’s kingdom he said, “He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) That Jesus would judge between nations indicates that he would bring peace to men of all nations. This referred specifically to the fact that in the Kingdom of Christ the Jews and Gentiles, national arch-enemies, would be brethren in fellowship, harmony and love. Isaiah would speak of this many times in prophecies of the Messianic kingdom once even drawing the picture of a lion lying down next to a lamb as a symbol of this wonderful peace that would exist in the Church. Now certainly this does not mean world peace, for that was never promised on this earth, but it refers to the fact that those who live in Christ’s kingdom will have peace and that war will no longer be a part of there lives, but rather when in need of protection they would be ministered to by “other kings” (the kingdoms of this world). (Isaiah 60:18; Romans 13:1-6) The Apostle Paul would write of this saying, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) Here Paul informs us that some warfare is spiritual, that being the “good warfare” against the Devil and his legions for the cause of Christ and the furtherance of the gospel, and other warfare is carnal, or worldly, that being the warfare of men and nations that results in: murder, rape, poverty, disease, famine, sorrow and sadness. Now to get involved in earthly politics is to get involved in carnal warfare in one way or another, and to entangle yourself in un-godly and un-Christian things.
Partisanship
Here is one that perhaps many do not consider, but this year especially it was painfully obvious that the political arena is one of mud-slinging, slander, libel and division. Most definitely there is no greater myth than a politician who “brings people together.” While most division that we read about in the Bible is speaking of religious division as the result of false doctrines being preached, it is clear that in and of itself, division is carnal and worldly! Paul the Apostle said, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) Now certainly I am not suggesting that Paul here is directly addressing divisions between republican and democrat, but I must say that those divisions do exist in the Church and cause much strife, contention and heartache. Even marriages suffer as the result of political partisan-ism. Certainly if Christians involving themselves so deeply in politics should result in division for the Body of Christ it is above all else worldly and we ought to be separate from it!
Immorality
Finally, we note that to be involved in politics, even in the realm of voting, is to entangle yourself in a sticky web of immorality and sin! Men who will compromise on matters of an infant’s life or on the definition of marriage, or men who would reinstate the draft and force our boys and girls into armed combat are not the kind of people we should be involving ourselves with! Even those with “good policies” show themselves to be depraved, base and improper. Most of the time Christians I know who vote will defend to their dieing breath every deed, good or bad, in the conduct of their candidate! Should we be found to advocate and uplift men and women who set such a poor example for the behavior of the nation? This, I do believe, goes far beyond shopping at a supermarket whose executives do shady dealings.
Let the Dead Bury the Dead
In my first article on this subject I made the statement that when it comes to political election we should “let the dead bury the dead.” I received some e-mails criticizing this statement as “out of context and senseless.” I must apologize for being more ambiguous than I intended. What I meant by the statement was what I believe Jesus meant when he said it. In Matthew 8, one of the Lord’s disciples said he would follow Him if first he might go and attend to the funeral services of his father, in the near hyperbolic incident Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead” meaning, let carnal men tend to carnal things, we have a higher calling! I believe that this has great application in our topic at hand. While God uses the Civil Governments in some way and Christians obey them and call upon them for defense, as far as their inner workings are concerned, we ought to leave them to carnal men and get about the Father’s business. – CED
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Dec 23, 2008 | Articles
Some of our readers may remember that back during the election we posted some information about the Christian and the Civil Government and God’s relationship to the Civil Government. I am glad to inform you that much insightful and spirited conversation ensued from that article, perhaps eliciting a greater response than any we have yet put up. In regards to some of the questions and comments I think it good to revisit the issue and establish more firmly some biblical facts.
There are many today who believe that it is not only a Christian’s God given right, or liberty to vote, but that it is a Christian’s responsibility, some even saying that it is a sin NOT to vote! Others believe that it is not only unwise or unnecessary, but even that the it is a sin TO vote! I believe that this alone is reason enough to give the issue some due consideration.
God’s Providence
There are few subjects more awesome, mysterious and wonderful that that of God’s providence or, his management and guidance over this universe. While we are insured time and time again of God’s omnipotence, there is not much that we are told of how God works insomuch as this is involved. It seems that the old adage, “the Lord moves in mysterious ways” is very applicable. Even inspired writers were hesitant to label something as definitely being the product of God’s providence. (Esther 4:14; Philemon 1:5) This is a subject which merits a lengthy study in its own right, but for now we consider what if anything, the Bible says about God’s providential control of the Kingdoms of Men.
The Devil and Civil Government
As was said in our last article, it is the belief of the writer that in a most intimate way, the Devil is the Ruler of Earthly Kingdoms. What does that mean? Well, quite simply it means that our President and congress are not making decisions and policies based upon the Bible, which is the sole medium through which God leads men’s actions in the world today. As far as I know there is no nation on this earth who is governed by strict adherence to the scriptures, if there was it wouldn’t be a nation, it would be a congregation of the Lord’s church! And so we have no reason to doubt at least a part of Satan’s statement to Jesus in Luke 4 “for this has been delivered to me…” (verse 6) man kind delivered a measure of the service to their devil when they turned their backs on God as their kings chose to follow after the flesh and carnal desires. Satan continued by claiming to Jesus that he “gives” authority and glory in earthly kingdoms “to whomsoever he wishes.” Well now, that is an interesting thought isn’t it! Here Satan Claims that HE gives out the power in man’s kingdoms! Is that true? Well Jesus did not argue with him, he did not tell him that his words were false. How could it be that Satan gives civil authority? I find no scripture to indicate that Satan has the powers of deity; I don’t believe that he does, but it does seem that sometimes the works of his followers are attributed to him. The world serves the devil, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and the world chooses who is put in office, whether by voting in an election or by violently taking and giving a throne in a civil war or some such thing. The word of God does not lead men to these things, so they are attributed to be works of the Devil.
God and the Civil Government
That being said we must also recognize that the Bible clearly teaches that God rules amidst the kingdoms of men as well. How does he do it? I do not know! The Bible tells us that years ago God “sent” nations here and there to do this and that. He called wicked Gentile kings his “servants” when he “used” them to accomplish some task. In fact in some cases we find were the Bible specifically tells of God raising up a man to set on the throne and striking another king dead for allowing himself to be worshiped. These brief glimpses behind the curtain of mystery which hides God’s providential work from our eyes only arouse our interest and amazement, but they do not answer the question of how. It is this writer’s firm conviction that God has in his power the ability to create and destroy as he wills, and that regardless of the Civil leaders, God is the master of this Universe, but how directly or indirectly does he involve himself? Beyond what the Bible specifically reveals we cannot know!
Does God Use Christians to Vote in His Candidate?
It is really amazing how providence is viewed as ammo for both sides of this issue! Some tell us that God providentially chooses every civil leader and if we vote, and happen to vote for the wrong person we have violated God’s will by voting against His candidate! Others tell us that God providentially uses Christians to put his person in office. To this writer there is still a great question that might never be fully answered as to how involved God is with the election and authority of every civil leader, but lets just say that God did use Christians to vote in his candidate. How would he do it? How would we know who to vote for? God does not highjack the free-will of men and guide them supernaturally, separate and apart from the scripture! If God wanted us to vote he would have told us how to vote in the scripture! He would have given some kind of principles to follow in our civil work, but the Bible still only tells Christians: pay, pray and obey. To just suppose that God wants you to vote and that some how he is going to ensure that you vote for the right person is to make broader, more sweeping assumptions about God’s providence than even the Apostles were willing to make! If there is justification or commandment for a Christian to vote, I do not believe it is to be found here. – CED
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Dec 15, 2008 | Articles
Today there is no doubt that Churches of Christ in America recognize a strong need for scriptural church government in “every city” and at the same time a great dearth of such government is present.
Back in 1990, Brother J. F. Dancer, Jr. made the observation that there was a severe shortage of scriptural elderships in American churches writing in the Guardian of Truth that many congregations have existed for up to fifty years (or more) who do not have scriptural Elders and Deacons, and seem to have no plan to get them any time soon.
Brother Dancer observed what had been done to alleviate the elder shortage. “Some congregations are disregarding the Bible and installing men who do not even come close to the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Men have been appointed without any children and with children who are not believers. Men are in “eldership” who could not teach the first principles, much less convince the gainsayer. Others are designated who are not married and some who are barely 25 years of age and only a very short time as children of God” (Guardian of Truth; Feb. 1, 1990) Brother Dancer wisely observed that, “this is no way to properly solve this shortage.”
Some have claimed that the growth and stability of the early church is impossible to replicate. They tell us that in those days, when folks where going around from town to town and city to city working all sorts of wondrous miracles that the church grew and people where more faithful and thus it was easier to find qualified men. Well, I don’t doubt that the Church grew more and perhaps s people where more faithful and dedicated to the Gospel back then, but I charge that any one who says they had some privilege, some tool that we today do not have is wrong! The Apostle Paul described our condition, that is our having the word of God in it’s complete form, as “a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31) We ought not look longingly back at the age of miracles and think that they had something better. That is not to blame for our elder shortage today.
One of the great reasons, I believe, why 50+ year old congregations don’t have any elders is that our boys aren’t being prepared for the position! Families don’t instill in there sons a desire for the office and they don’t discipline them enough that they live in a way to be ready for it when they are old enough. I just don’t hear very many young men who say, “I want to find a wife who will help me be an elder!” and I don’t hear very many young ladies who say they desire the position of an elder’s wife. Remember What Paul said to Timothy, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)
I write much of this to young men and boys who like myself are in a very important time of growth and development in their Christian lives. We need to give sincere and earnest attention to these things. I will say here at the start that I know of many young men who are doing right and are on the road to being great servants of the Lord and the Church, but I know of many who have perhaps never taken the time to think about this.
Certainly one thing vitally important to the developing young Christian boy, in order that he be ready for the eldership, is an intense study of the Word of God. An elder must be “apt to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:2) We have plenty of young men who can work wonders on and X-Box but wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to putting together a sermon and don’t seem very interested in learning. To the young men – put down those video game controllers and pick up a Bible, go to some of these older men in the church, preachers and teachers, and ask them for help in working up sermons and finding a good study plan.
But in a grave and serious way young men need to consider there reputation as a factor in how they will be able to serve God in their aged years. In 1 Timothy 3:7 Paul writes, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Other statements build off of this idea. I really don’t think that many boys consider this. I know a lot of young fellows who seem to think they can live, and date and party, and carry on how ever they want to while they are teenagers (and some on up into there 20’s) and then when they get to be about 35 they will start calming down and acting mature and worrying about what folks think of them. Well I am afraid that by that time it is often to late! People’s reputations are already destroyed beyond repair!
To boys who go around to these big meetings and womanize with all of the young sisters – be careful of the reputation you are building and the hard feelings you are stirring up in the Church. That may come back to haunt you years later when you seek the respect of those people, how many times I hear it said of a preacher or teacher, “well yeah, he talks big now, but I knew him when he was a kid and he treated all of the girls like dirt and only went after the ones who were dressed immodestly and had a bad reputation themselves.” To boys who are scoff laws, always speeding and trespassing on private property, always getting in trouble with the authorities and acting belligerent and rebellious about it – “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:1-4) Why do you think Paul wrote this to the saints in Rome? It was because they were going to undergo persecution soon by the government and they needed to have a reputation with the local authorities as decent, respectful, law abiding citizens for there own protection. Are you living in a way that will bring the church a good relationship with the Law, or will your behavior put the church under suspicion and ridicule? The clothes you wear, the attitude you have toward your elders and those in authority, the way you work on your job, all of these things determine whether or not you can one day serve the Church in that wonderful and desperately needed office of an elder? How is it with you young men? How is it with your sons parents?CED
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Dec 10, 2008 | Articles
When we read through the Bible we quickly begin to see those who successfully stood for God and His message to man, and those who didn’t.
Who stood for God? We see that Noah stood for God in the face of the entire world’s disobedience. He and his family alone were spared from the great deluge because of their love and respect for the Creator.
Moses stood for God in the face of the most powerful king in the world at that time. However, Moses also had to stand with God in the face of all the Israelites who would frequently rebel against God’s orders.
Joshua stood for the Lord and made his most remembered quote, “As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Nehemiah stood for God and His holy city of Jerusalem when the Israelites had no place to worship. In just fifty-two days all of the walls of the city were rebuilt, a work that should have taken several years. In this course of building, Nehemiah had to deal with outside skeptics and some unjust quarrels on the inside. The strength to deal with it all came from his stand with God.
John the Baptist stood for Christ when many were unsure of His coming. John taught repentance and preparation for Jesus appearance and entrance into His kingdom. John lost his life when he stood behind his God-sent message for King Herod’s repentance of adultery.
Most importantly we must know that Jesus stood for us, and He still stands. Once He stood in our place and was sentenced to death on the cross for our sins. Now He stands as Mediator between His Father and us.
The great question to ask now is, “Who shall stand for Christ?”
Who will stand now? In Isaiah 66:1-2 the scripture quotes God as saying He would look on those who feared and trembled before Him. Paul says that we should “stand fast” or hold on to the freedom from sin and the promises that Christ has left us.
Who shall stand for Christ in our homes? The New Testament teaches Christians how to take care of their homes. This home life grandly demonstrates our love and respect for the order that God has created. I Timothy 5:8 teaches that there must provision for the needs of the home or there will be unwanted consequences to pay. Of course, there must be physical provision, but there must also be spiritual provision to give God His glory. A well kept home stands for Christ and honors God.
Who shall stand for the congregations? The congregations need solid leadership. Every person must do his or her part to ensure that this occurs. This means leadership and submission. I Peter 5:8 teaches us that we should have elders and deacons. In order to have that caliber of leadership we need to consider our future placement in these positions and live our lives to fulfill them.
Who shall stand for preaching? Romans 10:13-15 gives us the urgency to have preachers and to send them out to spread that divine message. If an individual member cannot fulfill the role of preacher then that one should support the one who can. Prayer and spiritual backing is quite necessary to keep a stable supply of preachers. With the congregations behind them more men will have greater assurance to keep standing for Christ and thus the message is preserved.
How shall we stand? Romans 5:1-4, II Thessalonians 2:15, Ephesians 6:10-13 teach that we stand by faith and the grace of God, the traditions of the gospel, and by the power of Christ’s might with the armor that He has provided us.
Know this, that one day every person who has ever lived or who shall ever live, will stand before the great throne and give an account for the life lived. If we stand for Christ now, the standing at the judgment need not be done in fear.
Sean S. McCallister
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Nov 11, 2008 | Articles
In a recent issue of the Old Paths Advocate Brother Brett Hickey wrote an excellent article on Original Sin. As he began to discuss the age of innocence an interesting thought came to my mind. Total hereditary depravity states that, “Adam became sinful, and hence all of his posterity are born in a state of sin, or with a sinful nature.”
Taking verses like Psalms 51:5, Romans 5:12 and Exodus 20:5 out of context the doctrine of original sin goes so far as to say that we are separated from God, by the sin of Adam, before we are even born! There is much discussion over the question of when life begins. Most Evangelicals agree that life begins as conception (and I agree) but I wonder when condemnation begins? According to the creeds it begins even prior to birth! The undelivered fetus is bathed in iniquity and guilt and, should that fetus die before being delivered and baptized, by the justice of God it is doomed to Hell! It is quite unusual to me to hear proponents of this doctrine speaking out against abortion.
In my home town of Springfield, Missouri I have been put into a deeply religious community and the radio and television is flooded with religious programs pushing Fundamentalist values and so-called “conservative” activism. I have heard several of these “Conservatives” and “Fundamentalists”, who teach hereditary depravity, condemn abortion as one of the seven things God hates, “hands that shed innocent blood”(Proverbs 16:17). And I read a letter from a Presbyterian (Calvinist) preacher who condemned the abortion doctor by citing that, “Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person.” (Deut. 27:25). Does anyone else see the inconsistency here? If the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and the unborn infant is covered in the sin-guilt of Adam he is guilty, not innocent, and deserves to die!
Brother Hickey stated that a host of plain scriptures confirm the conclusion that there is an age of innocence and an age of accountability and that unborn fetus’ (though already human), infants and young children fall under the former. “Jesus himself said when infants were brought to him in Luke 18:16, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” And again in Mt. 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Paul says essentially the same thing in 1 Cor. 14:20, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes…” (NKJV) Young children, like the invalid and mentally deficient are not accountable. “Your little ones… have no knowledge of good and evil.” (Deut. 1:39) “The imagination of a mans heart is evil from his youth.”(Gen. 1:21)” The word youth in that passage refers one about the age of twenty (Wilson) not an unborn child.
Among the arguments put forth to prove the depravity of infants that I have heard, one that I found particularly interesting, and in all honesty one that gave me pause for a few days to consider it was this: “If infants are not full of sin and iniquity why then did not Abraham gather up ten infants and present them to God in order that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah might be spared.” (A private conversation between myself and a Reformed Church minister) At first this seemed to me a very difficult question to answer, but considering the scripture I believe that it can be answered rather simply. The incident that the minister referred to was that which is recorded in Genesis 18 when Abraham was visited by the Lord’s angels and told of the impending doom that was to come upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their grotesque wickedness and Abraham in his pleading intercession begged the Lord to have mercy on the cities. Let us notice the conversation recorded in verses 22-33, “Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.” Now, the Minister says that Abraham should have pointed out to God that there were ten babies in the city and thus ten righteous people! Well, there is one problem with this argument and that is that the term righteous means “one who does right.” Can that be said to describe and infant? Certainly not! Infants do not do right, neither do they do wrong, they are undeveloped both physically and mentally so that they do nothing moral or immoral, obedient or disobedient. Thus infants are not righteous or unrighteous, they are unaccountable. Some ask if infants are saved and the answer is NO! Infants are not saved because in order to be saved you would have had to have been lost at some point, infants are safe, not saved!
Thanks be to our loving God that the Child is innocent, free from sin and the curse of it. It is true that God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” but when faced with man’s doctrine of Original Sin we have a problem for under such a doctrine the babe is not innocent. This is one of many dire moral consequences of Calvinism. This error proves that the doctrine is not of God. We need not worry for the souls of countless infants slain in this country every day. Fear not mothers who have lost your children for as was said by J. V. Updike, “Just because you are born in a Potato patch, that doesn’t make you a potato.”- CED
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