Hello family and friends. Hope you’re having a good week! The church of Christ that meets at 906 E Harding Street is alive, well, and moving onward and upward in Christ Jesus. Cindi and I were out of town this past weekend visiting with our daughter and family in Washington D.C. Our oldest granddaughter sang in her final high school district choir concert and we were there to see and hear her. A big thank you to Brother Geoffrey and Brother Charlie for preaching on Sunday.
Lately I have been reading in several formats regarding the church and the grim prognosis some are making. I can understand their inclinations when I hear about what is happening in the entertainment industry. They say; “We’re losing our young adults.” Are we? At Harding Street we have many young adults who are completely committed to Christ. We are praying and working for more. They say; “People are just not interested in gospel preaching anymore.” Really? Is this new? Is this true? I certainly don’t think so. Even Paul recognized that the preaching of the cross is indeed foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). We will keep preaching it. As a matter of fact we will host our WEEKEND REVIVAL on the weekend of April 28-30. They say; “If the church of Christ doesn’t change we’ll soon have to close our doors.” No way. Not here. It is true that some congregations have closed their doors. This is truly sad but not new. Where are the seven churches of Asia we find mentioned in Revelation 2-3 today? These congregations no longer exist because they moved away from the clear and simple gospel to another. Read what Paul wrote about the perversion of the gospel in Galatians 1. Some want to water down the gospel to make it more “politically correct.” Others want to “modern up” the gospel to make it more entertaining. The gospel will never change. Of course the gospel certainly does change those who hear it and obey it. They say; “The “old paths” just won’t work anymore.” Really? Walking with God in the pathway of the Old Rugged Cross is the only path that leads to happiness here and on to Paradise and then heaven. Any other path is the wrong path (John 14:6). Jesus Himself said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). And that, my friends is what we will do.
Anyway, since when did polltakers, market researchers, blog reporters, and pessimistic prognosticators determine the progress of the church. God’s measure is rarely if ever the same as man’s measure. Samuel was anointing the next king of Israel after Saul was removed in I Samuel 16:7. Samuel learned about God’s perspective versus man’s perspective. Read it. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him (Eliab). For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” MB
Leave a Reply