Apr
30
Filed Under Insurance | Comments Off
Christian Rios asked:
Acquiring life insurance can be a complicated issue. There are many factors involved when purchasing insurance that the policyholder may or may not be aware of. Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that determine whether or not a life insurance policy can be acquired.
Life Insurance Application – Everything begins here. An applicant must fill out a form and provide accurate, complete information to the insurer. Also, information regarding other existing life insurance policies must be disclosed on the application.
Insurable Interest – This is required by law and without it a policy is unenforceable. But what exactly is Insurable Interest? It can be in found in many forms but we’ll try to summarize with a single sentence: An Insurable Interest can be found when financial gains and/or financial loss can be expected from the proposed insured’s death. This could mean loss of income or even existing financial debt. It’s important to note that the amount insured should relate closely to the Insurable Interest – a person can’t simply purchase an overly high life insurance policy without having a relatively equal Insurable Interest. Generally speaking, the Insurable Interest only needs to exist when the policy is issued and not at the time a death benefit is issued. However, some states vary. Check with your insurance professional to determine your particular state’s requirements.
Incontestable Clause – The insurer can void a contract on grounds of concealment, misrepresentation, and or fraud within a period of two years from issuance. After two years, the policyholder is protected from the insurer voiding or otherwise refusing to payout a policy based on such a scenario.
Suicide Clause – If the insured commits ******* within a specified time period from policy issuance, the insurer may cancel the policy and return the premiums. This is typically in the hands of the insurer to determine.
Jurisdiction – The state or local government that is most closely related to the insured individual typically has jurisdiction over life insurance policies. “Closely related” can be interpreted as “where does the person reside the majority of the time?” If a particular state has favorable life insurance laws, it would not be of benefit to an individual to cross the border merely for the sole purpose of purchasing it if that same individual did not reside in the same state.
Date of issuance – Acquiring a receipt or an actually copy of the policy is required before a life insurance policy is considered “officially” issued. Payment should always be accompanied by a life insurance application submittal.
Reinstatement Clause – Should a policyholder fail to pay an insurance premium, they are given a grace period to reinstate the life insurance policy. In most cases, the policyholder simply has to pay overdue premiums to reinstate the policy. Sometimes the policyholder may have to provide evidence of insurability before reinstatement can occur.
Grace Period – This protects the insured in case of a missed payment. The insurer is required to accept premiums for a certain period after they are considered late without requiring the insured to provide proof of insurability again. This grace period is typically 30 to 60 days. During that time, the life insurance policy is considered active. If a policyholder were to die during the grace period, the insurer is allowed to deduct the overdue premiums plus interest from any premium proceeds past due.
STEIN
Acquiring life insurance can be a complicated issue. There are many factors involved when purchasing insurance that the policyholder may or may not be aware of. Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that determine whether or not a life insurance policy can be acquired.
Life Insurance Application – Everything begins here. An applicant must fill out a form and provide accurate, complete information to the insurer. Also, information regarding other existing life insurance policies must be disclosed on the application.
Insurable Interest – This is required by law and without it a policy is unenforceable. But what exactly is Insurable Interest? It can be in found in many forms but we’ll try to summarize with a single sentence: An Insurable Interest can be found when financial gains and/or financial loss can be expected from the proposed insured’s death. This could mean loss of income or even existing financial debt. It’s important to note that the amount insured should relate closely to the Insurable Interest – a person can’t simply purchase an overly high life insurance policy without having a relatively equal Insurable Interest. Generally speaking, the Insurable Interest only needs to exist when the policy is issued and not at the time a death benefit is issued. However, some states vary. Check with your insurance professional to determine your particular state’s requirements.
Incontestable Clause – The insurer can void a contract on grounds of concealment, misrepresentation, and or fraud within a period of two years from issuance. After two years, the policyholder is protected from the insurer voiding or otherwise refusing to payout a policy based on such a scenario.
Suicide Clause – If the insured commits ******* within a specified time period from policy issuance, the insurer may cancel the policy and return the premiums. This is typically in the hands of the insurer to determine.
Jurisdiction – The state or local government that is most closely related to the insured individual typically has jurisdiction over life insurance policies. “Closely related” can be interpreted as “where does the person reside the majority of the time?” If a particular state has favorable life insurance laws, it would not be of benefit to an individual to cross the border merely for the sole purpose of purchasing it if that same individual did not reside in the same state.
Date of issuance – Acquiring a receipt or an actually copy of the policy is required before a life insurance policy is considered “officially” issued. Payment should always be accompanied by a life insurance application submittal.
Reinstatement Clause – Should a policyholder fail to pay an insurance premium, they are given a grace period to reinstate the life insurance policy. In most cases, the policyholder simply has to pay overdue premiums to reinstate the policy. Sometimes the policyholder may have to provide evidence of insurability before reinstatement can occur.
Grace Period – This protects the insured in case of a missed payment. The insurer is required to accept premiums for a certain period after they are considered late without requiring the insured to provide proof of insurability again. This grace period is typically 30 to 60 days. During that time, the life insurance policy is considered active. If a policyholder were to die during the grace period, the insurer is allowed to deduct the overdue premiums plus interest from any premium proceeds past due.
STEIN
Apr
29
Filed Under Music | Comments Off
mark jones asked:
“There are some people God has called to evangelism,and they’re doing a wonderful job, having results.That’s great. … God wanted us to do something else.So we got into the area of challenging people, and our ministry basically happens offstage one-on-one when we talk with people. It’s very subtle, but God’s doing a
work! It’s entertainment, it’s fun, its a concert–it s all those things–but at a subtle, deeper level, it touches people’s hearts” (TERRY TAYLOR OF THE DANIEL AMOS BAND, cited by Dan and Steve Peters, What about Christian Rock, p. 109).
“I love to hear the music playing slow or fast … Don’t stop, don’t stop the music, play it in your own way. . .. I hear dissenting voices quick to disagree. But I’m on a music mission; they don’t bother me. I’ll sing those songs that set me free. Cause kids want to rock” (ED DEGARMO AND DANA KEY, “Don’t Stop the Music ,” Streetlight, Benson
Publications, 1986, p. 24). “You now have songs about pain and death and divorce and *** and relationships and everything that every one of us goes through, whereas atone time contemporary Christian music only talked about the death and resurrection of Christ. We’re much more in
touch with ourselves and our neighbors, which is the whole idea behind Christ in the first place” (MELISSA HELM OF MYRRH RECORDS, Music Line magazine, June 1986, p. 4).
In Greebville Seminary Conference on Worship Taylors of South Carolina said “last thirty years or so have seen the most dramatic and speedy changes in Protestant worship in any time since the Reformation. Surely the principal mark and symbol of that change is the change in the music
of the church. The development of what has come to be called Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has become an amazingly widespread phenomenon”. Due to the rise of Pentecostalism there is some dramatic change in development of CCM. Contemporary Christian Music is pop/rock version of
Christian Music with lyrics based on Christian Faith. Contemporary Christian Music became more popular in 1980’s with Music of Christian Music Artist Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. Millions of copies of there album were sold worldwide. Download Christian Music Video, Video Tapes,
Christian TV Shows, Christian MTV Shows and Christian Music Videos By 1990’s there were many new Christian Music styles such as Hip hop, metal, punk and alternative styles of Christian Music.
Christian Music Artists like Lost Dogs, Joy Electric and Star flyer 59 were against the new styles of Contemporary Christian Music and they continued to create and compile Original Christian Music. Due to tunes and melodies of Christian Music melodies, it is considered as Traditional art. Russian Christian Music is one of those few music which doesn’t use any instruments
in it, It is sang by choir without background music and Catholic masses in catholic church still perform Bach organ music which were created long time ago.
Article written by Pandithurai K.
MARROQUIN
“There are some people God has called to evangelism,and they’re doing a wonderful job, having results.That’s great. … God wanted us to do something else.So we got into the area of challenging people, and our ministry basically happens offstage one-on-one when we talk with people. It’s very subtle, but God’s doing a
work! It’s entertainment, it’s fun, its a concert–it s all those things–but at a subtle, deeper level, it touches people’s hearts” (TERRY TAYLOR OF THE DANIEL AMOS BAND, cited by Dan and Steve Peters, What about Christian Rock, p. 109).
“I love to hear the music playing slow or fast … Don’t stop, don’t stop the music, play it in your own way. . .. I hear dissenting voices quick to disagree. But I’m on a music mission; they don’t bother me. I’ll sing those songs that set me free. Cause kids want to rock” (ED DEGARMO AND DANA KEY, “Don’t Stop the Music ,” Streetlight, Benson
Publications, 1986, p. 24). “You now have songs about pain and death and divorce and *** and relationships and everything that every one of us goes through, whereas atone time contemporary Christian music only talked about the death and resurrection of Christ. We’re much more in
touch with ourselves and our neighbors, which is the whole idea behind Christ in the first place” (MELISSA HELM OF MYRRH RECORDS, Music Line magazine, June 1986, p. 4).
In Greebville Seminary Conference on Worship Taylors of South Carolina said “last thirty years or so have seen the most dramatic and speedy changes in Protestant worship in any time since the Reformation. Surely the principal mark and symbol of that change is the change in the music
of the church. The development of what has come to be called Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has become an amazingly widespread phenomenon”. Due to the rise of Pentecostalism there is some dramatic change in development of CCM. Contemporary Christian Music is pop/rock version of
Christian Music with lyrics based on Christian Faith. Contemporary Christian Music became more popular in 1980’s with Music of Christian Music Artist Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. Millions of copies of there album were sold worldwide. Download Christian Music Video, Video Tapes,
Christian TV Shows, Christian MTV Shows and Christian Music Videos By 1990’s there were many new Christian Music styles such as Hip hop, metal, punk and alternative styles of Christian Music.
Christian Music Artists like Lost Dogs, Joy Electric and Star flyer 59 were against the new styles of Contemporary Christian Music and they continued to create and compile Original Christian Music. Due to tunes and melodies of Christian Music melodies, it is considered as Traditional art. Russian Christian Music is one of those few music which doesn’t use any instruments
in it, It is sang by choir without background music and Catholic masses in catholic church still perform Bach organ music which were created long time ago.
Article written by Pandithurai K.
MARROQUIN
Apr
29
Scott asked:
It seems the man can’t spill his tea without me reading about it. Every actor has ups and downs but damn give the guy a break.
MAY
It seems the man can’t spill his tea without me reading about it. Every actor has ups and downs but damn give the guy a break.
MAY
Apr
28
Filed Under Music | Comments Off
Isaiah G. Henry asked:
Gospel music is one of the most popular genres of music these days. There are people all around the world who love to listen to this specific type of music. Acquiring them has become very easy at present. With the domination of Internet in every sphere of our life, various downloading sites are available that offer a wide range of Gospel music.
Gospel music actually originated in the African-American churches during the time between the two world wars, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The advent of internet has given fillip to the popularity of this kind of music. These days you can find many websites offering free downloads of gospel music.
This whole download process has several advantages. The first advantage is that almost every site offers a free download option. You will not have to pay a single buck for the downloading. A good thing about them is the .gif format. The music can be downloaded in this format from these sites with all most unbelievable speed.
These downloading process can sometimes be problematic. There are plenty of fowl plays taking place in this downloading process. To avoid all such circumstances, you need to stay aware. The best option is to download all your required music from a legal website. An illegal website can drag you into a deep danger.
Gospel music downloads can be down at any point of time without facing any hindrance of any kind. It is most safe and secure. This kind of music can be downloaded in main formats. However downloading is not entirely hassle-free. Some issues do crop up when it comes to online downloading.
A huge range of gospel music can be downloaded from different websites. Finding a good site is also not a big deal these days. Just a small search in any reputed search engine and you can land up in the midst of thousand relevant sites. Among the long list of the search results, you will find plenty of free sites. Almost every such site, these days, contains an MP3 format. This specific format is also very easy to download.
With sophisticated electronics available these days music downloads take hardly a few minutes. One major advantage when you download music from a reputable website is that you will not accidentally download any spyware or adware this way. This is one major problem that you may face with a website that is not considered legal. Spyware is known to slow down computers apart from stopping certain functions altogether. It is therefore always preferable that you go in for gospel music downloads from legal music download websites.
Downloading does not take much time with the advent of such software. The most important thing about downloading is that it comes absolutely free and one does not need to shell out a single penny for downloading their songs. Obviously these downloads are better bargains than actually searching for these songs in music stores or elsewhere.
There are many websites though, wherein you just need to pay an initial registration fee after which you can download unlimited number of songs. Remember legal music download is just a few clicks away. Gospel music downloads, which is finding an increasing number of takers can be found on numerous websites.
WORKMAN
Gospel music is one of the most popular genres of music these days. There are people all around the world who love to listen to this specific type of music. Acquiring them has become very easy at present. With the domination of Internet in every sphere of our life, various downloading sites are available that offer a wide range of Gospel music.
Gospel music actually originated in the African-American churches during the time between the two world wars, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The advent of internet has given fillip to the popularity of this kind of music. These days you can find many websites offering free downloads of gospel music.
This whole download process has several advantages. The first advantage is that almost every site offers a free download option. You will not have to pay a single buck for the downloading. A good thing about them is the .gif format. The music can be downloaded in this format from these sites with all most unbelievable speed.
These downloading process can sometimes be problematic. There are plenty of fowl plays taking place in this downloading process. To avoid all such circumstances, you need to stay aware. The best option is to download all your required music from a legal website. An illegal website can drag you into a deep danger.
Gospel music downloads can be down at any point of time without facing any hindrance of any kind. It is most safe and secure. This kind of music can be downloaded in main formats. However downloading is not entirely hassle-free. Some issues do crop up when it comes to online downloading.
A huge range of gospel music can be downloaded from different websites. Finding a good site is also not a big deal these days. Just a small search in any reputed search engine and you can land up in the midst of thousand relevant sites. Among the long list of the search results, you will find plenty of free sites. Almost every such site, these days, contains an MP3 format. This specific format is also very easy to download.
With sophisticated electronics available these days music downloads take hardly a few minutes. One major advantage when you download music from a reputable website is that you will not accidentally download any spyware or adware this way. This is one major problem that you may face with a website that is not considered legal. Spyware is known to slow down computers apart from stopping certain functions altogether. It is therefore always preferable that you go in for gospel music downloads from legal music download websites.
Downloading does not take much time with the advent of such software. The most important thing about downloading is that it comes absolutely free and one does not need to shell out a single penny for downloading their songs. Obviously these downloads are better bargains than actually searching for these songs in music stores or elsewhere.
There are many websites though, wherein you just need to pay an initial registration fee after which you can download unlimited number of songs. Remember legal music download is just a few clicks away. Gospel music downloads, which is finding an increasing number of takers can be found on numerous websites.
WORKMAN
Apr
28
Can you handle good news about Catholic Christian teen agers?
Filed Under Christian News | 12 Comments
Linda R asked:
I just came back from observing the closing of Catholic Heart Work Camp in Tampa, Florida. About 250 teens from around the country spent the week working very hard to help the poor, disabled and abandoned.
I just came back from observing the closing of Catholic Heart Work Camp in Tampa, Florida. About 250 teens from around the country spent the week working very hard to help the poor, disabled and abandoned.
Can all the haters and nay sayers in here take a minute to rejoice in kids who give of themselves in this way>
I am not Catholic. I work for them. I am not always sure I am Christian, at least not in the way most perceive Christianity.
But I do hope you will join me in giving thanks every time young people or any people, put aside fear and hatred and selfish aims to reach out to the suffering.
OH, and the music at the closing prayer service nearly made me deaf but I was thankful to be there. Young people are life renewing itself.
EVERHART
Apr
27
Filed Under Religion | Comments Off
Sam J Wilkinson asked:
“Christian Rock”, the genre often scoffed at by traditional rock artists, enthusiasts & critics alike is gaining popularity and stamping its place as a sort after genre for the young generation of head-banging, mosh-pitting gurus! Didn’t Christian rock die a couple of years ago, you ask? Christian rock music is growing faster than ever before with Daily News of Christian Rock Music, new artists & albums streaming across the Internet and pumping the airways continuously every day. So where did this religious music come from? I mean this is new right?
This type of rock music wasn’t around 20 years ago, was it? Well I didn’t think so until recently, the reality is Christian music or should I say Christian rock music has been around seemingly since the dawn of creation! So why seeing it today all the time? Where were the God Rocker’s for so long and what happened to the voice of damnation for those participating in anything other than a church hymn or Sunday school choir? The chastity belt of today’s Christian rock is alive and kicking. There are many religious organisations who oppose this form of music, I will talk more about this opposition later.
Most Christians are in favor of this “movement” feeling that Christian rock music is another way to reach people with the importance of the Christian faith. So why the controversy?, what is so different about Non-Christian rock music in comparison to Christian rock? Many have asked this question and instead of quoting Mr. Bob Dylan “the answer is blowing in the wind”, I thought I would analyze the facts and see why there is so much “opposition” to the sounds of “thumping grace”. After reviewing many rock & heavy metal music bands and performances and then compared them to their Christian counterparts, I did see differences but not many! The stage performance was very similar with the exception of Non-Christian heavy metal revealing more of a dark or sadistic side at times in general there was little if no difference in presentation from Christian rock to standard or Non-Christian music. The only real difference I could see was in the lyrical content, with Christian rock music singing words from the Bible and preaching family values.
So why was Christian rock music introverted for so many years, seemingly hiding in the shadows from more upright members of the Christian community? Well apparently they weren’t hiding at all, it’s just that I like many people didn’t even know they were around back then! Good old fashioned Christian rock bands like Petra, Stryper, Bloodgood, Whitecross and Tourniquet have been rocking Christians and secular music lovers alike for generations.
The voice of rock damnation is still screaming louder than ever in some Christian circles although seemingly falling on deaf ears of a Christian Rocker community that grows bigger every day. Who opposes this Christian liberation? Who else but other Christians! It seems some segments of who have not advanced to modern day sounds are Bible bashing these Christian rock music head bangers with eternal consequences for their “misguidance”. The most dramatic example I came across was the seventh day adventist (SDA) church who proclaim that Christian rock music is quote “Devil music”. The seventh day adventist church preach that all rock music has the “beat of the devil” borrowed from primate heathen rituals, beating in time with the body’s “natural rhythms”. I found it hard to believe that people could think this way at first, but indeed it is true and the SDA church is serious about stamping out any and all rock music, or anything for that matter that has a drum beat!
DUNN
“Christian Rock”, the genre often scoffed at by traditional rock artists, enthusiasts & critics alike is gaining popularity and stamping its place as a sort after genre for the young generation of head-banging, mosh-pitting gurus! Didn’t Christian rock die a couple of years ago, you ask? Christian rock music is growing faster than ever before with Daily News of Christian Rock Music, new artists & albums streaming across the Internet and pumping the airways continuously every day. So where did this religious music come from? I mean this is new right?
This type of rock music wasn’t around 20 years ago, was it? Well I didn’t think so until recently, the reality is Christian music or should I say Christian rock music has been around seemingly since the dawn of creation! So why seeing it today all the time? Where were the God Rocker’s for so long and what happened to the voice of damnation for those participating in anything other than a church hymn or Sunday school choir? The chastity belt of today’s Christian rock is alive and kicking. There are many religious organisations who oppose this form of music, I will talk more about this opposition later.
Most Christians are in favor of this “movement” feeling that Christian rock music is another way to reach people with the importance of the Christian faith. So why the controversy?, what is so different about Non-Christian rock music in comparison to Christian rock? Many have asked this question and instead of quoting Mr. Bob Dylan “the answer is blowing in the wind”, I thought I would analyze the facts and see why there is so much “opposition” to the sounds of “thumping grace”. After reviewing many rock & heavy metal music bands and performances and then compared them to their Christian counterparts, I did see differences but not many! The stage performance was very similar with the exception of Non-Christian heavy metal revealing more of a dark or sadistic side at times in general there was little if no difference in presentation from Christian rock to standard or Non-Christian music. The only real difference I could see was in the lyrical content, with Christian rock music singing words from the Bible and preaching family values.
So why was Christian rock music introverted for so many years, seemingly hiding in the shadows from more upright members of the Christian community? Well apparently they weren’t hiding at all, it’s just that I like many people didn’t even know they were around back then! Good old fashioned Christian rock bands like Petra, Stryper, Bloodgood, Whitecross and Tourniquet have been rocking Christians and secular music lovers alike for generations.
The voice of rock damnation is still screaming louder than ever in some Christian circles although seemingly falling on deaf ears of a Christian Rocker community that grows bigger every day. Who opposes this Christian liberation? Who else but other Christians! It seems some segments of who have not advanced to modern day sounds are Bible bashing these Christian rock music head bangers with eternal consequences for their “misguidance”. The most dramatic example I came across was the seventh day adventist (SDA) church who proclaim that Christian rock music is quote “Devil music”. The seventh day adventist church preach that all rock music has the “beat of the devil” borrowed from primate heathen rituals, beating in time with the body’s “natural rhythms”. I found it hard to believe that people could think this way at first, but indeed it is true and the SDA church is serious about stamping out any and all rock music, or anything for that matter that has a drum beat!
DUNN
Apr
26
Phony Christian Love: VFX & Rick Warren
Filed Under Christian Love | 25 Comments
Nykytyne2 asked:
Don’t say you love someone unless you mean it.
MACDONALD
Apr
25
Alvin R asked:
What’s wrong with just reading the bible and praying? I honestly find Christian rock groups cheesy and lame. Not saying everyone should feel this way, if you like Chris Tomlin and stuff, go right ahead. I just think that not everyone should have to be into this stuff. Has anyone felt pressured into listening to Christian music?
ROUSE
What’s wrong with just reading the bible and praying? I honestly find Christian rock groups cheesy and lame. Not saying everyone should feel this way, if you like Chris Tomlin and stuff, go right ahead. I just think that not everyone should have to be into this stuff. Has anyone felt pressured into listening to Christian music?
ROUSE
Apr
25
Filed Under Christian News | Comments Off
Jerry Richard Boone asked:
Have you ever heard a sermon, speech, or lecture so apt, so fitting, that you wanted to tell the world about it? The speaker was Rod Rutherford and his lesson was: “A Day of Good News.”
Here’s my summary from an outline of the sermon:
Back in the days of the prophet Elisha, Syria besieged Samaria resulting in a severe famine. Four starving lepers were talking outside the city gate. One said, “Why should we sit here, waiting to die? Let’s sneak over to the Syrian army camp and surrender. They might kill us, but they might not.”
Before the lepers could reach the camp, Syrian soldiers thought they heard the roar of a huge cavalry. They quickly fled leaving everything behind them. So finding the camp empty, the lepers ate and drank their fill. But while celebrating their good fortune, it occurred to them: “This is a day of good news, and we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning, we will be punished. Let’s go to the king’s palace right now and tell the good news.” (2 Kings 7:3-9)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) reminds us that we too have Good News. Christ died for our sins and has conquered death. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) We have forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope in him. What better news could we hope for?
Unlike the four lepers, most of us today sit on our Good News. We don’t tell our neighbors, friends, or relatives. Instead, we sit in our building wondering why the world doesn’t come to Christ.
It wasn’t always that way. In fact, history shows the church has gone through three great periods of growth. Luke records the first period in the book of Acts. Beginning on the day of Pentecost with 3,000 conversions (Acts 2:41), the church was soon up to 5,000. (Acts 4:4) Later, Luke tells us: “Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” (Acts 5:14) In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he claimed: “The Good News has been preached all over the world.” (Colossians 1:23)
What is now called the Restoration marked the second period of growth. The church, which abandoned denominationalism for New Testament Christianity, reached 225,000 members according to the 1860 census. Churches of Christ became the fastest growing religion and the seventh largest religious body in the United States.
But it was not to last. Forty years later the church divided, and those who remained faithful to New Testament Christianity were a small minority.
From 1945-1965, the church experienced its third growth period. The Lord’s church double in size, and again became the fastest growing religion. Mission work around the world expanded rapidly.
All of that is past history. Yes, the church is still growing — but barely. A recent study on churches of Christ revealed an annual growth rate of 1.6% from 1980-2000. The world’s population grew 32% during this same period. So what happened? Why isn’t the church growing as it once did?
Our modern culture is partly to blame. Certainly, people aren’t as receptive as they once were. Today, the public wants entertainment. Reason and logic has long since been replaced by emotion and excitement in both public discourse and worship services. If you have any doubt, look at the religious broadcasts on television. There was a time when such programs was roundly criticized as “holy roller” emotionalism. Now it’s mainstream.
During the times of church expansion, Christianity was God centered. That’s no longer the case. It’s become man centered. For many, the question isn’t does a particular congregation teach the truth? But rather what benefits does that church offer me?
Furthermore, respect for authority at all levels has diminished and that even includes respect for the Scriptures.
However, the church itself is primarily to blame for our sagging growth. The Lord’s church no longer regards itself as distinctive. Many inside the church believe we are just another denomination. Oh, maybe we are right on a minor point here or there, and the other churches are mistaken. But nothing critical.
Those who take such a view are woefully ignorant of the very purpose of the church. Churches of Christ are not trying to be the only right denomination; in fact, we not trying to be a denomination at all. We’re trying to replicate the church we read about in the New Testament, the one Christ established — Scriptural in worship, organization, and practice. That is a church without human creeds, traditions, manuals, or hierarchies.
Other problems with the church include: We make fewer demands on our members. Knowledge of the Bible, which was once widely acclaimed, is no longer emphasized in our congregations. Likewise, personal evangelism is no longer stressed. We don’t even invite our friends, relatives, and neighbors to worship.
Somehow we expect people to come, but our Lord said, “Go.” (Mark 16:15)
How the church has changed over the past fifty years! We have traded Gospel Meetings for lectureships, sermons for seminars, and outreach for entertainment. Back in the 1950’s and 60’s we had city-wide evangelistic campaigns. Jule Miller’s “Visualized Bible Study Series” filmstrips were used to convert thousands. And each Christian was a personal evangelist. (Acts 8:4) But none of that is true any more.
Okay, Rod Rutherford, I believe most of us will agree that’s a fair statement about condition of the church in the early twenty-first century. So what can we do about it?
Rutherford issues a church-wide challenge: We must develop a sense of urgency. Why? Because all of those outside of Christ will be lost. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7)
The Gospel is the only power to save. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
The Gospel must be preached. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 15:16)
Moreover, we need committed leadership. The church will never rise above its leadership! Elders must be personally involved with the program of personal evangelism. And preachers must “do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
Rod Rutherford concluded his sermon telling us there are 6,749,140,950 souls alive today. Only our generation can reach those souls. The fields are “ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35) This is a day of good news; let us not be silent!
His sermon made an impression on me. How about you? Will churches of Christ rise to the occasion to spread the Good News of Jesus and a return to New Testament Christianity? Surely, we will account to God for everything we do and everything we do not do.
For those who want to know more about churches of Christ, I recommend Mack Lyon’s In Search of the Lord’s Way television program on Sunday mornings on the Inspirational Network. Check for time and channel in your area. On the internet, thebible.net/searchingfortruth/ John Moore narrates a six part video introduction. It’s all free. Check it out.
ODONNELL
Have you ever heard a sermon, speech, or lecture so apt, so fitting, that you wanted to tell the world about it? The speaker was Rod Rutherford and his lesson was: “A Day of Good News.”
Here’s my summary from an outline of the sermon:
Back in the days of the prophet Elisha, Syria besieged Samaria resulting in a severe famine. Four starving lepers were talking outside the city gate. One said, “Why should we sit here, waiting to die? Let’s sneak over to the Syrian army camp and surrender. They might kill us, but they might not.”
Before the lepers could reach the camp, Syrian soldiers thought they heard the roar of a huge cavalry. They quickly fled leaving everything behind them. So finding the camp empty, the lepers ate and drank their fill. But while celebrating their good fortune, it occurred to them: “This is a day of good news, and we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning, we will be punished. Let’s go to the king’s palace right now and tell the good news.” (2 Kings 7:3-9)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) reminds us that we too have Good News. Christ died for our sins and has conquered death. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) We have forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope in him. What better news could we hope for?
Unlike the four lepers, most of us today sit on our Good News. We don’t tell our neighbors, friends, or relatives. Instead, we sit in our building wondering why the world doesn’t come to Christ.
It wasn’t always that way. In fact, history shows the church has gone through three great periods of growth. Luke records the first period in the book of Acts. Beginning on the day of Pentecost with 3,000 conversions (Acts 2:41), the church was soon up to 5,000. (Acts 4:4) Later, Luke tells us: “Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” (Acts 5:14) In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he claimed: “The Good News has been preached all over the world.” (Colossians 1:23)
What is now called the Restoration marked the second period of growth. The church, which abandoned denominationalism for New Testament Christianity, reached 225,000 members according to the 1860 census. Churches of Christ became the fastest growing religion and the seventh largest religious body in the United States.
But it was not to last. Forty years later the church divided, and those who remained faithful to New Testament Christianity were a small minority.
From 1945-1965, the church experienced its third growth period. The Lord’s church double in size, and again became the fastest growing religion. Mission work around the world expanded rapidly.
All of that is past history. Yes, the church is still growing — but barely. A recent study on churches of Christ revealed an annual growth rate of 1.6% from 1980-2000. The world’s population grew 32% during this same period. So what happened? Why isn’t the church growing as it once did?
Our modern culture is partly to blame. Certainly, people aren’t as receptive as they once were. Today, the public wants entertainment. Reason and logic has long since been replaced by emotion and excitement in both public discourse and worship services. If you have any doubt, look at the religious broadcasts on television. There was a time when such programs was roundly criticized as “holy roller” emotionalism. Now it’s mainstream.
During the times of church expansion, Christianity was God centered. That’s no longer the case. It’s become man centered. For many, the question isn’t does a particular congregation teach the truth? But rather what benefits does that church offer me?
Furthermore, respect for authority at all levels has diminished and that even includes respect for the Scriptures.
However, the church itself is primarily to blame for our sagging growth. The Lord’s church no longer regards itself as distinctive. Many inside the church believe we are just another denomination. Oh, maybe we are right on a minor point here or there, and the other churches are mistaken. But nothing critical.
Those who take such a view are woefully ignorant of the very purpose of the church. Churches of Christ are not trying to be the only right denomination; in fact, we not trying to be a denomination at all. We’re trying to replicate the church we read about in the New Testament, the one Christ established — Scriptural in worship, organization, and practice. That is a church without human creeds, traditions, manuals, or hierarchies.
Other problems with the church include: We make fewer demands on our members. Knowledge of the Bible, which was once widely acclaimed, is no longer emphasized in our congregations. Likewise, personal evangelism is no longer stressed. We don’t even invite our friends, relatives, and neighbors to worship.
Somehow we expect people to come, but our Lord said, “Go.” (Mark 16:15)
How the church has changed over the past fifty years! We have traded Gospel Meetings for lectureships, sermons for seminars, and outreach for entertainment. Back in the 1950’s and 60’s we had city-wide evangelistic campaigns. Jule Miller’s “Visualized Bible Study Series” filmstrips were used to convert thousands. And each Christian was a personal evangelist. (Acts 8:4) But none of that is true any more.
Okay, Rod Rutherford, I believe most of us will agree that’s a fair statement about condition of the church in the early twenty-first century. So what can we do about it?
Rutherford issues a church-wide challenge: We must develop a sense of urgency. Why? Because all of those outside of Christ will be lost. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7)
The Gospel is the only power to save. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
The Gospel must be preached. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 15:16)
Moreover, we need committed leadership. The church will never rise above its leadership! Elders must be personally involved with the program of personal evangelism. And preachers must “do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
Rod Rutherford concluded his sermon telling us there are 6,749,140,950 souls alive today. Only our generation can reach those souls. The fields are “ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35) This is a day of good news; let us not be silent!
His sermon made an impression on me. How about you? Will churches of Christ rise to the occasion to spread the Good News of Jesus and a return to New Testament Christianity? Surely, we will account to God for everything we do and everything we do not do.
For those who want to know more about churches of Christ, I recommend Mack Lyon’s In Search of the Lord’s Way television program on Sunday mornings on the Inspirational Network. Check for time and channel in your area. On the internet, thebible.net/searchingfortruth/ John Moore narrates a six part video introduction. It’s all free. Check it out.
ODONNELL
Apr
23
Filed Under Christian Love | Comments Off
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