There is a sharp divide in the religious world over the subject of baptism. Some, including myself, teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. Many others teach that one can be saved before or without water baptism.

Paul made an interesting statement in his first letter to the church at Corinth. Considered independently from the immediate context and the rest of the New Testament, it could easily be used to argue that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Notice what he tells the brethren:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

Paul says he was not sent to baptize. From that, are we to conclude that baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation? Before we jump to that conclusion, let’s take a closer look at what the Scriptures teach.

Continue reading…

Although David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), he did make mistakes. The one that usually comes to our mind first was his sin with Bathsheba. But he later committed an offense so sever that the Lord sent a pestilence which killed 70,000 people (2 Samuel 24:15). What was his sin? He took a census of the people.

Satan was the one who influenced David to do this (1 Chronicles 21:1). But why? What was it about numbering the people that was so wrong. Why was it that David’s counting of the people constituted a victory for Satan?

It is certainly not wrong for us to participate in a census and be counted by the civil authorities. When Jesus was born, His earthly father Joseph was following the decree from Caesar Augustus in returning to his home city to be registered (Luke 2:1-4). This is what brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem where it was prophesied that the Christ would be born (Micah 5:2). If the civil authorities today call for a census to be taken – which is currently being done in this country – it is our responsibility to comply (1 Peter 2:13).

The situation with David in Israel though was different. When the Roman government called for a census, Joseph willingly complied. When our country conducts one, Christians can be counted. But when David numbered the people, he “sinned greatly” (2 Samuel 24:10).

Continue reading…

[This article was written by Bryan Matthew Dockens.]

For years, political candidates have attempted to appease conservative voters by claiming to be “pro-life”, while moderating their positions to appeal to the mainstream by claiming three exceptions, namely: rape, incest, and the mother’s life. Is the pro-life position one that can bear exceptions?

In the case of rape, it is certainly true that someone deserves to die. That would be the rapist. The Old Law stated plainly, “If a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die” (Deuteronomy 22:25). Although the Law of Moses has been done away with, capital punishment remains a valid penalty for crime (Romans 13:4).

Under what rationale can it be argued, though, that the unborn child, conceived in rape, deserves to perish for his father’s sins? In the Old Testament it was written, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:26). The baby in the womb is entirely innocent of the sin his father committed against his mother. Spare that child the pain of death. Punish the sinner, not one of his victims.

Continue reading…

Arrogance is a sin we need to guard ourselves against. We have been warned, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18). Paul wrote to the saints in Rome to admonish them: “everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). James said, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

While it is necessary that we keep from thinking too much of ourselves, we must also keep from thinking too little about ourselves. There is a balance. Thinking too little of ourselves can lead to sin. If we think our lives don’t matter, we may be reckless in our actions and transgress God’s law. If we think that no one pays attention to us and we will therefore not be accountable to others, it is easier to flirt with sin. If our self-esteem is dependent upon what others think of us, then we will act in such a way as to find approval from others, even if it means we commit sin.

We must have an appropriate sense of self-worth. Thinking too much of ourselves leads to sin. Thinking too little of ourselves also leads to sin. We need to find the proper balance.

Continue reading…

The President just signed health care reform legislation that will greatly expand the power of the federal government. In this article, I do not intend to praise or condemn this new set of laws and regulations. This is not a political article at all. Instead, I want to use the Bible to address the potential impact of a powerful, centralized government on our lives as Christians.

The word of God contains warnings of the dangers that are presented by a strong national government. It also contains teachings that will help us deal with this. Currently in our country, an expanding government is a reality. Let us turn to God’s word for wisdom and instruction in dealing with this present condition.

Continue reading…

Our society has produced a large number of people who expect others to provide for them. While there are certainly some with legitimate needs, many abuse the kindness of others and demand help rather than help themselves. Young people grow up, yet continue to live at home and be supported by their parents because they don’t want to move out and support themselves. Families remain on welfare from one generation to another because it is easier to receive a modest living for free than to work hard for a decent living. Americans, in general, have grown dependent upon the government for education, retirement, and now possibly health care. This mentality is everywhere in our society. But is this what God expects from His people?

After Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land, the land was divided up between the tribes. The tribes of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, were unhappy with their allotment. So they demanded something more or different than what they received.

Continue reading…

[This article was written by Tim Haile for the Parkway church of Christ.]

President Obama and his democratically controlled congress are now in a frenzy to pass their national health care plan. An effort is currently under way to get the plan passed in the House of Representatives, then use a “budget reconciliation” procedure to pass it in the Senate. This procedure requires a simple majority of only 51 votes for passage. This reconciliation procedure is now being pursued, for since the election of Scott Brown, the Senate lacks sufficient votes to pass the bill with a 60-vote majority.

I strongly object to the nationalized health-care plan on several grounds, but my primary concern involves the practice of abortion. The Senate health bill, in its present form, provides for taxpayer funding of elective abortions through federal funding of Community Health Centers. The House bill originally provided 7 billion dollars for these centers, but Obama raised the amount to 11 billion. Because this funding is a part of the actual bill, it will not be subject to the Hyde Amendment that bans federal funding of abortions. The wording of this bill will have to be changed by Senate procedures in order for abortion funding to be prevented.

Continue reading…