The Tried And The True

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the rapid and ceaseless change going on around you? Is change for the sake of change necessarily a good thing? Have all the new gadgets spelled success and happiness for members of modern day communities? As we see the cracking of the moral foundations of our society, the functional breakdown of our traditional institutions and the tearing apart of the very fabric of our culture, we are made to wonder if the much heralded blessings of change have become curses rather than blessings.

Many recognize that in the midst of the changes designed to attract the attention and procure the patronage of a materialistic consumer society, it is necessary to test, try and prove new products, processes and procedures to determine if they are really beneficial or worthwhile. This is true simply in the sense of getting value for money. If we are going to spend hard-earned money we do not wish to squander it on inferior products of little reputation or worth. For this reason, many of us usually go for the tried and true; especially after we have suffered a few so-called bargains.

If we are to be cautious about change in our secular life, we should be doubly so in spiritual matters. It is not just new methodology we must examine to determine it’s efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy, but organizations and movements, obviously based upon principles of compromise, are vying for the attention and support of those who once were known as fundamental, Bible-believing Christians.

I tend to want to stick to the tried and true, especially in matters of eternal significance. As the old saying goes, "Give me that old time religion." If it was good enough for Paul and Silas  and our forefathers in the faith, it is good enough for me. If I am going to spend my time and energy contending for a faith, I want it to be the faith of our fathers as it was once delivered to the saints. If I am going to pay the price of real committal, I want to purchase the approval of God, not the praise of men. If I am going to preach a gospel, I want to ensure I only proclaim the powerful gospel of Christ.

As we examine the proliferation of what might be termed bargain basement type religions, and listen to the extravagant claims that press in upon us from all sides, we must make every effort to examine the validity of their claims and the Biblical basis of their boasting. But how are we to know? In what crucible can we analyze them?  In what test tube can we test them? In considering the myriad of claims being made today, just what tests will assure us we have the right stuff?

Just one test will suffice. The very Word of God is the only sufficient rule of faith and practice. Only the sharp and powerful Sword of the Spirit has the capacity to dissect and analyze every claim and counterclaim and ascertain scriptural validity. Our standard must  always be the grand  old Book of the grand  old faith!

One hears much talk today advocating that many things in doctrine, methodology and music are just matters of preference. Those who seemingly worship at the altar of change, for the sake of change, seem to have few convictions about the primacy of the Word of God or the need to have scripture, scriptural precedence or principles as a basis of our faith and practice. Anything seems to go as long as it may appear to be attractive to the secular world and draw the crowds to be entertained in a so-called praise and worship setting. It should not be so among those who love the Lord and the Word of God! 

Jesus Is Coming Again!

Jesus is coming again! Just as surely as the members of that first church saw the resurrected Christ ascend into the heavens in the company of two heavenly escorts, we can have confidence in the validity of His promise to return. One of His last promises given to reassure His followers on the night preceding His crucifixion was, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I WILL COME AGAIN, to receive unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." His very last Words on the subject are found in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. The fact of His second coming seems so important that He repeated his promise three times. "Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." (Rev. 22:7) "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Verse 12) "He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Verse 20)

Is Jesus coming again? I believe so. People are thinking about the end of the world today more than ever before. Many books are being written about matters of the end time. Popular secular movies focus on apocalyptic events. New Age gurus with Messiah complexes mix a little fact with a lot of fancy to manipulate followers to participate in terrible, tragic and futile acts. Every earthquake, natural disaster, shocking crime, political or military disaster, mass famine, threat of world-wide disease or plague; reminds us of the signs of the end times so clearly outlined by our Saviour. But even so, it seems His coming will surprise the world. Jesus said that no man knows the time of His coming. He will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. He said, "At an hour when you think not, even so, shall the Son of Man come." I believe His return is imminent. The prophetic clock of God's eternal time table is ticking. No angel or demon can hinder or stop it's progress. Man has a date with destiny. God's eternal purpose will be consummated. No mortal man, priest or potentate, rich or poor, popular or powerful, can stop the ticking of God's prophetic clock. Every grain of sand trickling through the hour glass of time brings us closer to the climatic events predicted in the Word of God.

A Faithful Father To Follow

Since Fathers Day brings a focus upon fatherhood, perhaps it would be good to ask ourselves how do we view fathers? Some of us must look back over many years in order to remember the father of our childhood. Some would perhaps view fathers as stern disciplinarians, standing with the rod of correction in their hands ready to pounce and punish the slightest step off the straight and narrow way. Others might view fathers as the number frequently missing from the family equation. The one who, because of the struggle to make ends meet for the family, seemed to rarely be with the family. Others may view fathers as the money milk cow. The one to whom one would go when finances run low. Much as the father who received an email from his son who was away at university. The message was short and simple: "No mon, no fun, your son." His reply was just as straight and succinct" "Too bad, so sad, your Dad." I had rather remember fathers like I remember my father. Faithfully leading his family to the house of God and showing his children the way of God and going on to be with God and await them there. This most important thing is to view fathers and fatherhood the way God shows us in His Word.

The Power And Influence Of Music

In the mid-sixties I read a truly disturbing book by Dr. David Noebel, a noted anti-communist author of the day. The title of the book, “Rhythm, Riots, and Revolution,” indicates its thesis and the evidence presented by the author to sustain his assertions.

During the sixties and seventies the author went on to write other books on this theme such as: “The Marxist Minstrels: A Handbook on Communist Subversion of Music,” An Analysis of the Communist Use of Music, The Communist Master Music Plan.” Evidence used to confirm his thesis included speeches and statements by well known Soviet leaders as well as international Communist and/or Marxist revolutionaries.

Having read his books all those years ago, I have lived to see many of Dr. Noebel’s predictions fulfilled. The master plan has been to undermine the Judeo-Christian moral foundations of Western Civilization through the use of music; rock (and rap) music in particular. Even today, when I hear the heavy jarring beat of rock music and the vulgar profanity of rap performers blaring from shops as I walk through large shopping malls, I am reminded of Dr. Noebel’s timely and timeless warning. When I consider the state of our Western cultures, the true evil nature of the master plan is clearly apparent.

Underlying all this is the Marxist/Socialist concept that in order to “build the revolution” the existing social, moral and political structures of a nation must first be torn down. Modern day communist revolutionary Saul Alinsky’s handbook, Rules for Radicals, which a former president of my native country has praised, makes this process absolutely clear. Is it not significant that the former communist nation of Russia has much stricter laws and attitudes relating to homosexuality and rock music than do Western nations today?

One of the saddest aspects of this is the infiltration of ungodly music into churches today. My heart has been broken to witness this infiltration into once sound Baptist Churches; even to the extent of having “concerts” with strobe lights and mosh pits etc.

There are those who sincerely feel that the CCM music is harmless as well as helpful. When I questioned someone recently who was “jiving” to a heavy beat so-called Christian rock song I was told, “But there is nothing wrong with the words!” Perhaps so, but I could hardly make a judgement since I could not understand much of the repetitive jibberish being spouted by the so-called performer.