Seeking Bible Authority (Part 1)

Can We Know Anything with Absolute Certainty?
Jonathan B. Jones II
March 19, 2007
Is is possible to know anything for sure? When it comes to the issue of faith and religion can we know anything with absolute certainty? Is there such a thing as religious absolute truth regardless of circumstance?

Absolute Truth?

Recent statistics indicate that some 80% of Americans no longer believe in absolute truth. In a Barna Research survey only 13% of Americans age 36 and younger believe truth is absolute. Believing that moral behavior is dependant upon situation and circumstance, many are confused no longer knowing what to believe. Like a ship lost in a stormy sea without compass or anchor, many are adrift on a ocean of uncertainty--about everything. This is extremely unsettling especially in matters related to faith and religion.

Three Possibilities About Truth

Things that are possible for us to know may be divided under three categories: everything, nothing, or something (Renfro 17).

1. It seems to go without saying that we cannot know everything. Only God is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5), and man is limited in his understanding (Romans 11:33).
   
2. Can we know nothing? To make the statement, "I know man cannot know anything" actually denies this position showing it to be false.


3. The only remaining possibility is that we can know some things. It is easy to see this is the case from everyday life experience. Most of us do not know exactly everything about how a cell phone works. But the fact that we know how to use a cell phone shows it to be false that we don't know anything about the technology. We know some things about the matter.

Are Spiritual Truths Within Our Grasp?

Regarding moral and religious truth, Jesus stated that it is possible for us to grasp an absolute knowledge of some spiritual matters--"...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). We are dependant upon God making knowledge of spiritual truths known to us. The things that God has not revealed are things that we cannot know and speculation proves useless, but there are some things about spiritual truths that God has made known to mankind (see Deuteronomy 29:29).

Levels of Understanding Spiritual Truth

There are different levels of understanding spiritual truths:

1. Simple Truths. Some spiritual truths are simple and are easily understood with minimal effort. The Bible describes this level of spiritual understanding as "the milk" of truth (Hebrews 5:13). This level of spiritual truth can usually be grasped with a simple reading of the Bible. The "first principles" of the message of salvation is easily understood (1 Cor. 15:1-4ff).


2. Complex Truths. Other spiritual truths are more complex and require careful study. The Bible refers to this level of understanding as "the meat" of truth (Hebrews 5:14). One must not be satisfied with the "elementary principles" of spiritual truth, but must move forward in careful study of the greater context of a simple statement of Scripture (Hebrews 6:1-3ff).


3. Deep Truths. Still other spiritual truths are even more complicated and demand diligent and precise study of Scripture. These are the "deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10ff). Like all spiritual truths, deep truths are only accessible by the Spirit's revelation in God's written word. To understand deep spiritual truths, one must study the original languages of the Bible, the background of Biblical texts, and engage in proper principles of Biblical exegesis.


4. Secret Truths. There are some truths within the spiritual realm that are secret and belong only to God because he has not revealed these things to mankind. God warns us not to attempt to probe secret things he has not made known (Deut. 29:29). God revealed certain truths to the Apostles (like John) that were to be forever kept secret (Rev. 10:4). During the second century there were some (the Gnostics) who claimed to have access to God's secret truths. The inspired writers of the New Testament rebuked those who claimed to have access to secret knowledge that God had actually never revealed to them (1 Tim. 6:20-21).

Although we live in an age of skepticism where everything is questioned, there are some things that we can know with absolute certainty. The spiritual truths God has revealed are things that are "forever settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). Jesus promised that we can most certainly know spiritual truth. Spiritual truth is found within the words of the Bible (John 17:17). But these truths are things that we must diligent study and meditate upon (2 Tim. 2:15). Absolute truth is most certainly attainable and can be known with absolute certainty. We most certainly can know what is morally and religiously right and wrong by a careful discerning of the matter through the lens of God's truth (Hebrews 5:14).

Singing with the Family

Jonathan B. Jones II
March 24, 2007
Congregations are made up of families. To have good congregational singing, we need families who are singing (and learning to sing) in individual homes.

Mama sang bass, daddy sang tenor. In days gone by, families would sing together at home. We don't seem to sing anymore. We had rather watch people sing on American Idol. Since we don't practice singing at home in our families, our singing in the church seems to be steadily degrading. Some have noticed that we are seeing the death of the four-part harmony in this generation. No one knows how to sing their part.

A Restoration of Singing
Once, singing workshops, singing schools, and Sunday afternoon congregational singings were a common occurrence in our brotherhood. Our brethren once loved to sing. Now singings are not well attended. Why? Singing is not appealing when it is depressing instead of uplifting. People are leaving the LORD's church to try and find "spiritual worship." Members of the Lord's body are compromising the truth to try and find spirituality. People want to be uplifted and encouraged. God designed singing for this purpose and singing should be best within the body of Christ. Even people who once would not sing, will suddenly burst forth in praise when they are motivated by singing that stirs their soul. But good singing does not just come "naturally" for most. It is a skill that must be learned and practiced.

Learning to Sing
I have found that most people in the Lord's church do not know how to read music (I know very little myself). I believe that this is something that should be taught in our churches. We should not, however, be in the business of training professional singers, but we should teach people how to bring the "first fruits" of praise to God. I believe that singing in our churches can be dramatically improved even without learning musical notation. Most of us learn best by example. We simply need to hear someone sing the part correctly and our "music memory" will do the rest.

Singing Tools
There are some great resources available for us to learn new songs and learn the harmonies of these songs. Several within our brotherhood have recorded a cappella songs (both new and old) that we can learn by listening to CD's. Individuals can listen to these CD's in the car. Families can listen to them at home. Congregations can listen in song training classes. These are wonderful tools to use to get us singing and singing to our individual best.

Let's get back to singing bass and tenor (and soprano and alto!).

Here are some wonderful recordings of a cappella singing (available from Taylor Publications):

"Each Little Dewdrop" is a CD of Sunday School and VBS songs for little children. The voices recorded are the voices of children. (A companion songbook is also available) $12.99.

"I'm Gonna Sing!" is a CD of songs for pre-teens. (A companion songbook is also available). $14.99.



"Sing Praises" is s CD of songs for teens (A companion songbook is also available). $11.97.


"Praise Hymnal" is a collection of new praise and worship songs with contemporary lyrics assembled for the congregational worship assembly. It is a wonderful collection of songs. Several CD's are available of a cappella groups singing all the songs in this hymnal.

Is That in the Bible?!

People have strange ideas about the Bible. I remember someone saying that the Bible says, "A whistling woman and crowing rooster are an abomination." In case you didn't already know, the Bible nowhere says that. There are many things that people think that the Bible says that it does not actually say. By the same token, there are many amazing things in the Bible that many people don't know are there. Here are some amazing things that you may not know are in the Bible:

1. God used a beauty pageant to save the Israelite nation from genocide (Esther 2:8-13ff).
2. The Bible calls sexual intimacy in marriage the "sweetest of all songs" and God inspired an entire book of the Bible about it (Song of Songs 1:1).
3. The spiritual battles taking place within our world sometimes delay the answer to our prayers. [Daniel had been praying for three weeks. An angel had been sent out from the first day Daniel prayed but was delayed because of a spiritual battle (read Daniel 10:2, 12-13ff)].
4. There are different types of angels. The "cherubim" have four wings (Ezek. 10:18-22) and the "seraphim" have six wings (Isaiah 6:2).
5. The little shepherd boy David (soon to be King David) was a red head (1 Sam. 16:12; "ruddy" means red).
6. The book of Ruth was written to trace King David's lineage. David became a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22) because of the conversion of his great-grandmother Ruth (Ruth 3:18-22).

Pick up your Bible and read it everyday. You never know what you will find!

A Return to Modesty

I always know when Spring has arrived. No, not because of the flowers or the days with highs in the 70's. I know by seeing the return of spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, and unbelievably short shorts. This immodest choice of clothing is to be expected among those of the world, but it is disturbing to see it so prominent among self professed Christian women. God's word has not changed and the command is still written, "I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly...as is proper for women making a claim to godliness" (1 Tim. 2:9-10). It is shocking to see the clothes that teens (and even pre-teens) are wearing these days. It is likely that teens are obsessed with "looking sexy" because their mothers have obsessed over this as well. May we return to the Bible, and may we (to borrow from Shalit's book) "return to modesty." Let me recommend the following reading on this topic for your consideration:

1. Read Margery Eagan's column in the Boston Herald (3/22/07) titled "Oh, Mothers! Just Act Your Age!"

2. Read Wendy Shalit's book A Return to Modesty (available from Amazon.com)

3. Read Wendy Shalit's NEW book Girls Gone Mild (available from Amazon.com)

4. Read Jeff Pollard's little booklet Christian Modesty and the Undressing of America (available from Amazon.com).

Addendum: Webb Williams e-mailed me in response to this article and recommended another great book on this topic. He wrote the following:

I read your article on modesty. Another good book is "Technical Virgin: How Far is Too Far" by Hayley DiMarco. It discusses, from a woman's point of view, how men view clothing (or lack of) on females, and other aspects of interaction between the sexes. I think every parent of a teenage girl along with every teenage girl should read this book.
I left my copy laying on my desk at school and girls would randomly pick it up and read it. Their eyes were truly opened to the things they did that they considered harmless. They didn't realize the affect it would have on the guys. It scared some of them. These weren't Christians. They were just students at our school.

God Rejoices Over You!

"The LORD your God is in your midst...He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy"

(Zephaniah 3:17).

Every time that I get to visit with my little nephew it makes me smile until my face begins to ache. Babies are such a blessing and a joy to our lives. Looking into their little innocent faces, we feel overwhelmed with a sense of joy. That's how God looks at his children, too. When we are truly converted and become like little children (Matt. 18:3), God looks over us and shouts for joy. When we are living with God each day, God can't hold in his jubilation over us! When you struggle through life but still choose to live with Him, God's smile can't be held in either.

Free Bible Study Videos On-line

Jody Apple has provided a tremendous reservoir of study material on his website theBible.net. Especially helpful are several full Bible courses on various topics that you can download to your computer or watch streaming online. These classes are taught by trusted preachers within the churches of Christ and is made possible by World Video Bible School (the same brethren who produced the Searching for Truth DVD). If you would like to take your Bible study "to the next level" let me encourage you to work your way through some of these classes. Of extreme interest is the fact that the entire Warren-Flew Debate on the existence of God is available also!

Why is the Church Not Growing?

Recently some have expressed tremendous concern about what appears to be the "stagnation" of the Lord's church today. Some reports say that the churches of Christ are now only growing at 1.6%. What is happening?

Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church. When we stop evangelizing, we start dying. Too many have bought into the "quick fix" of the church growth movement believing that we can make cosmetic changes to the church and "attract" large numbers. What good is it to have a church building full of unrepentant sinners? Still others try to grow their church by recruiting members from other congregations, effectively "stealing sheep." Heaven's population is not increased at all by such tactics. Too many of us want to find a quick way to grow the church without putting in the time to have personal studies with people about the Bible and their soul.

The approach of many seems to be to try and "multiply the audience in the pews" and then they will grow in their knowledge of the word of God. This is directly the opposite of the biblical example of the first Christians. Notice Acts 6:7, "The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly...." The number of disciples grew only after the word of God was spread.

Let us quit playing church and making the church into a social gathering place. Rather, let's restore the practice of personal studies with people converting them to Christ.

"I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house...." (Acts 20:20).

Asleep at the Wheel

Popular sleep medications can increase your risk of "sleep driving" warn federal health officials. An article on MSN.com reported Wednesday (March 14, 2007) that popular sleep medications such as Ambien and Lunesta can cause a "complicated version of sleepwalking, but behind the wheel: Getting up in the middle of the night and going for a drive--with no memory of doing so."
It is a frightening thought to contemplate someone "asleep at the wheel" and the injury, destruction and even death that can follow. Yet, even more dangerous is to be spiritually asleep at the wheel. Too many casually "cruise" through life with little or no thought to the health of their souls. Scripture admonishes us, "so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober" (1Thes 5:2-6). Only those who are constantly vigilant and carefully keep their souls prepared will be ready for Christ's return. Let us be awake as we steer our way through life and not "fall asleep at the wheel!"

Baptist Pastor Argues for A Cappella Singing

Old Light for New Worship by John Price was published by Simpson Publishing Company in October 2005. I have recently ordered this book from amazon.com and am anxious to begin reading it. A review of the book is found at banneroftruth.org. The book was written by John Price, the "pastor" for the Grace Baptist Church in Rochester, NY. In the book this Baptist preacher argues for a cappella singing in worship to God. It is interesting that just as the largest congregation of churches of Christ has begun to use instrumental music in some of its worship assemblies (see Christian Chronicle article), this denominational preacher is giving practical suggestions to transition churches from using the instrument to singing simply a cappella. In Jonah's day, Israel was leaving God while Ninevah (Israel's enemy) was repenting and turning to God. Such seems to be the case today as well. May God's people everywhere reject unbibilical practices and accept biblical truth whereever it is found.

The Watchmaker

The Psalmist wrote, "Of old you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands" (Ps 102:25). When we look at the wonders of the created world, we can know that God is real (Rom. 1:20)! Darline Edwards recently shared this beautiful little presentation with me called "The Watchmaker." Click on this link and check it out, your faith will be uplifted!

The Lost Tomb of Jesus?

The Lost Tomb of Jesus?

There is a sensational documentary by James Cameron appearing on the Discovery Channel this Sunday night (3/4/07) claiming that the tomb of Jesus Christ has been discovered. The entire Christian faith is built upon the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If there is a tomb of Jesus, then Christianity is false. Is there any validity to this "new evidence?" Or is this another attack upon the Christian faith by the anti-Christian agenda? To read more information on this topic, see the following links:

1. Read the article "Those Bogus Jesus Bones" by Wayne Jackson.

2. Watch the presentation on "The Lost Tomb of Jesus?" by Phil Sanders and Dewayne Bryant.

3. Watch the News Channel 5 report on Concord Road church of Christ's response to this issue.

4. Watch the Morningline show interview with Phil Sanders and Dewayne Bryant on Channel 5.

5. Read Phil Sander's blog article on this issue.