Bulletin Articles
Gods favorite US President
Did that title get your attention? Good! Now, stay with me, because I’m not headed where you might think! But, just for fun, wouldn’t it be nice to know who God’s favorite President is? Knowing the kind of person whom God would like to see run the country could help us to pick the next candidate! So, who is God’s favorite U.S. President?
As I carefully contemplated this question, I finally “narrowed it down” to about 45 men – in other words, I have no clue who God’s favorite President is! I know who my favorite is (but I’m not telling). And I would not be surprised if you had your favorite, too. But the point I am coming to is this: The reason I have no idea who is God’s favorite U.S. President is that He simply has not revealed this information! Paul said it like this: “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God” (1Cor.2:11, NASV). This is just another way of saying that we can’t read God’s mind.
Simply put, when it comes to God, we can only know what is revealed about Him! And, since God has not revealed the identity of His favorite President, it is completely inappropriate for anyone to make assertions about this without information. In other words, we are “not to think beyond what is written” (1Cor.4:6). Now, what I want to do is toAPPLY this principle to other things people often say about God without any information...
Many people say that God will accept “baptism” by sprinkling or pouring. However, there is no information in the Bible to back this up. But I do know what He WILL accept! According to Scripture, baptism requires “much water” (Jn.3:23). It requires coming “to some water,” and going “down into the water,” and coming “up out of the water” (Ac.8:35-39). It requires one to be “buried” (Rm.6:4; Col. 2:12). And, to top it all off, the word translated “baptize” literally means, “to dip” (Vine). Why not just stick with what we know?
Many people say that God will accept “communion” on any day of the week. However, there is no information in the Bible to back this up. But I do know what He WILL accept! “Communion” is just another word for the Lord’s Supper, which involves “the bread which we break” (1Cor.10:16). And the early church “continued steadfastly in... the breaking of bread” (Ac.2:42). How steadfastly? “On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Ac.20:7). Why not just stick to what we know?
Many people say that God will accept “instrumental music” in N.T. worship. However, there is no information in the Bible to back this up. But I do know what He WILL accept! For instance, Paul said, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1Cor.14:15). He said we are to be “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ep.5:19). And the Hebrew writer said, “let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hb.13:15). Why not just stick to what we know?
Many people say that God will accept all of the various “churches” of today. However, there is no information in the Bible to back this up. But I do know what He WILL accept! Jesus said, “I will build MY church” (Mt.16:18). If it is His, would it not make sense to call it, “the church of Christ?” Further, the Bible says that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Ac.2:47). Do you suppose this is the same church that Christ promised to build? Further, the Bible says we are “baptized into one body” (1Cor.12:13), that this body is the church (Col.1:18), and that “there is one body” (Ep.4:4). Why not just stick to what we know?
Far too many people are making bold statements about what God will or will not accept, without any information from Him! That, in itself, is just wrong! You don’t like it when someone puts words in your mouth, do you? So, why would we try to put words in God’s mouth? When it comes to serving God, we must act with proper authorization (Col.3:17; 2Jn.9). That is our simple plea at the Fishers church of Christ!
--Lanny Smith
- Gods_favorite_US_President.pdf (59.05 kB)
