Articles - Miscellanea

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

   This is both a warning and an exhortation to God’s children. To become “hardened” is to become morally obstinate and stubborn. It signifies an unwillingness to listen to instruction, especially instruction which comes from God. The word “deceitful” means “that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement, or influence.” The writer is, therefore, warning children of God lest they become morally obstinate (unwilling to listen to God at all) because of the deceitful appearances and impressions of sin.

It is clear that many people are given to “faddism.” It seems that almost any kind of an absurd idea, viewpoint, or practice can gain a following if it is widely presented. Sometimes, it seems that the farther a position is from the truth the larger will be the sales of the books which advocate it (e.g., consider Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth and similar books on premillennialism with its human speculation and Bible-denying doctrines.”

   Recently, I have been hearing a great many claims of various people to the effect that they have experienced (1) death—the leaving of their physical bodies, (2) various experiences subsequent to death, (3) coming back to life, and (4) living again (back in their physical bodies) and going about their usual human pursuits here on Earth. These claims are advanced, its advocate say, to confirm that there is life after death.

As members of the Lord’s church we are to “suffer hardship—as a good soldier of Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). We are to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). We are always to be ready “to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). There can be no doubt in the mind of the serious, careful student of the New Testament that Christ expects His church to be militant. Every member of the church should view himself as a soldier . . .

The Bible, not the unaided intellectual powers of men, is the source of truth in religion. Clearly, some philosophy is in conflict with Christianity. Paul emphasizes this! But is everything that has to do with philosophic endeavor in such conflict? It seems clear that such is not the case.