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Mt. Baker Beacon Archives 2022-2023
Vol. 01, No. 08 Dec 04, 2022
Your word is a lamp to my feet Mount Volume 01, Number 08 Published by Location: Sunday: Web site:
| In this issue: W.E. Vine defines “patience” as “an abiding under.” Thus, patience can be thought of as “uncomplaining endurance.” We are told by the inspired apostle Peter to “add . . . to temperance patience” (2 Pet. 1:6). This grace must be added to our lives if we are going to be successful in living the Christian life. But by so doing, much effort and diligence on our part is required. The so-called patience of some can best be illustrated by the one who prayed: “Lord, give me patience and give it to me right now!” Patience is needed in every phase and aspect of life. It is needed in youth where there is a tendency to be overly zealous and eager; it is needed in adulthood when it is so easy to lose control of the temper; and it is also essential during old age when periods of gloom can be so prevalent. The Bible has much to say about patience. But in this article we shall focus our attention primarily on situations wherein patience is needed. They are as follows: In Well Doing “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life” (Rom. 2:7). This verse emphasizes the fact that we must continue on or persevere in good works if we are going to be saved in the end. The idea of being patient in well doing is also expressed in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Much opposition will be encountered when we do good, but we must “keep on keeping on!” In Tribulation All faithful Christians suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Hence, during these times of affliction, we must patiently endure it. Paul instructs us to be “patient in tribulation” (Rom. 12:12). Christ is our perfect example of one who exercised patience in tribulation (see 1 Pet. 2:21-23). The apostle Paul commended the Thessalonian brethren in this regard: “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure” (2 Thess. 1:4). In Dealing With All Men “Now we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Thess. 5:14). We must be longsuffering or patient when dealing with perverse views, defects, and the sins of men. Being “patient toward all men” involves our not being easily offended. We must bear long with all: with the lost – in hopes of seeing them led to obedience through our teaching efforts; with the lukewarm – in meekness, considering ourselves (Gal. 6:1); and with the disorderly – admonishing him as a brother (2 Thess. 3:15). In The Race That Is Set Before Us In the Scripture, the Christian life has been likened to a race. It is a continuous race that must be run to the end. Running this race involves hardships and difficulties which must be met. Therefore, patience is needed! “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). In Waiting For Our Reward “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom. 8:25). The farmer best illustrates this point. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain ” (Jas. 5:7-8). Also, we must consider the fact that “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Conclusion We must heed God’s counsel concerning patience. By so doing, we have a good influence on others, and most importantly, it prepares us for the eternal reward in the hereafter. “For we have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36). Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 4, p. 101 Distinctive Preaching . . . much of the preaching that is being done today could be done in any denominational church without any change and it would be accepted. For some time I, and others, have expressed concern about the kind of preaching that is being done in many places today. In expressing this concern I have frequently said that much of the preaching that is being done today could be done in any denominational church without any change and it would be accepted. Some have interpreted this concern as saying that our “difference from denominations” is the measuring stick for our preaching. No one that I know who has expressed this concern over the lack of distinctive preaching has suggested that this is the measuring stick for our preaching nor have they lamented over the lack of “church of Christ” doctrine in the preaching being done. In fact, the men I have heard expressing concern over the kind of preaching being done have been the ones who have spoken out against the denominational concept of the church and are the ones who emphasize the distinctive message of God’s word. They are the ones insisting that the word of God is the only standard of authority and that we must respect that authority. When this kind of preaching is done on a regular basis you will be teaching men and women what they must do to be saved; that Christ is the way and that he is the Savior of the church (Acts 2:38; John 14:6; Eph. 5:25). We are not talking about lessons from time to time that may deal with some Bible character or lessons from his life. We are talking about a compromising spirit on the part of far too many who will not preach what the word of God teaches on the plan of salvation, the church, the work of the church, the worship of the church, the organization of the church, or the truth on many other moral and doctrinal issues. I am ready to affirm that when we preach the gospel in its purity and completeness that teaching will not be accepted by denominationalists, not because we have sought to “offend the denominations,” but because it is the truth. Brethren, don’t be deceived into thinking that the willingness of denominations to accept certain lessons you may preach is an indication of their “closeness to the truth.” That acceptance is based on the fact that the particular lesson may be something with which they agree. For example, I could go to a Baptist Church and preach a lesson showing from the Scriptures that baptism is an immersion and every word I say be true and be accepted by them but that would not mean they were “close to the truth” on what the Bible teaches concerning baptism. They still deny the truth on baptism and its purpose. We need to realize that when we seem to be closer to the denominations than we used to be it is not due to the denominations coming closer to the truth; it is due to our leaving the truth. It is a shame when men are criticized and misrepresented when they make an appeal to get back to preaching that will convict men and women of their sins and teach them what they must do to be saved. This kind of preaching will not be accepted by the denominations but it will be pleasing to God and that is what is of real importance. https://www.truthmagazine.com/distinctive-preaching-3 Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 12/04/2022 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA. |
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