Articles
Preserving the Gospel
What is happening within the world within which we live? A question that continually arises when old men get together. As is so, with most generations, the up-and-coming generation, as a rule, is perceived as being less moral, and/or ethical (and in many cases, correct): at least from the standpoint of where we fit in in this time slot of history. The generation within which we live seem to be lacking in several areas: 1) Self-esteem; 2) Purpose; 3) Focus; 4) A concern for how their actions will affect generations to come, and 5) Being able to connect the dots.
As the scriptures are read there are individuals who not only thought of themselves but also how their actions affect others. When Abraham received the promise, God said, “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Gen. 17:8). However, there was a caveat: “said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full” (Gen. 15:13-16). When God made a promise to David, saying, “When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13). To which, David replied, “O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever” (Vs. 28-29). In both cases (Abraham and David) a promise was given but would not be physically realized by the one to whom the promise was made. In the generation(s) in which we live, if the promise is not foreseen to become a reality in the lifetime of the recipient, then hope is waning. In short, “If there is no reward realized in the lifetime of the recipient then little value is placed upon it.”
What value is placed upon the church, as Paul said, that Christ “might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). The present generations are inundated with error: in the world—LBGTQ (and whatever else); same sex unions (cannot justly be called marriage); the WOKE agenda of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion; and Gender identity. In the religious realm—women Pastors, Preachers, Elders, and the ordination of homosexuals in all three works.
As for the church, brethren best be paying attention because attitudes toward these errors are not limited to the denominational, or catholic faiths. The “shingle” swinging from a post does not a church make, but the brethren that make up the church (on a local basis) is also being affected by the events of society.
The question before them, is this, “Do brethren have enough foresight, stamina, courage to stand up against, fortitude to endure hardships aiming to preserve the purity of the gospel, and to ‘Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus’” (2 Tim. 1:13)? “Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Neh. 4:14).
- Preserving_the_Gospel.pdf (59.77 kB)
