Barnes church of Christ

“Joan of Arc” is a classic example of how a television program is able to get viewers to believe in something that just isn’t so. The program continually portrays Joan’s claim that God was leading her by means of the appearing of a saint Catherine. Since this was based upon a “true” story, such no doubt deepened the conviction of those who already believe in visions, and opened the door for many others.
But, we should not be so quick to believe something just because the TV said so. Did you see or hear about, the movie, “Noah’s Ark”? The reviews tore to shreds the director’s gross misrepresentation of what actually occurred. Another special feature was not exempt from the whims and discretion of the director’s desires. He said “this new Cleopatra differs from its predecessors (the 1917, 1934 and 1963 versions)….In the past Cleopatra has always been defined as a scheming, conniving woman. I think that’s a very old-fashioned notion. Our Cleopatra is….” and then goes on to explain how he had decided to present her. Is it not obvious then? Since there are no regulations to control them, directors can define and present true stories however they want. Thus, just because you saw saint Catherine appear to Joan on TV, don’t be so quick to accept it.
The truth of the matter is, even if the real Joan thought she saw this vision, she didn’t. God was not continuing to appear to her to lead her to do His will because neither Joan nor Catherine were Christians! Rather, both were members of the apostate group which fell away from the true church. No, there was no vision from God between these two.
Furthermore, if God (or His messengers) appeared to Joan (or any one else since the completion of the NT), then 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3, Jude 3 and many other such verses are lies! These passages of Scripture teach that God has given to man his finalized revelations in which we have everything we need for our lives and the working of His will. Thus, if God has to subsequently give another revelation to reveal His will, then the NT was not the final revelation, nor does it have everything God said it had. Thus, God (Who knows all), lied! (Titus 1:2).
So, who are you going to believe? God, or Joan and the TV?
Gary Henson

“Joan of Arc” is a classic example of how a television program is able to get viewers to believe in something that just isn’t so. The program continually portrays Joan’s claim that God was leading her by means of the appearing of a saint Catherine. Since this was based upon a “true” story, such no doubt deepened the conviction of those who already believe in visions, and opened the door for many others.
But, we should not be so quick to believe something just because the TV said so. Did you see or hear about, the movie, “Noah’s Ark”? The reviews tore to shreds the director’s gross misrepresentation of what actually occurred. Another special feature was not exempt from the whims and discretion of the director’s desires. He said “this new Cleopatra differs from its predecessors (the 1917, 1934 and 1963 versions)….In the past Cleopatra has always been defined as a scheming, conniving woman. I think that’s a very old-fashioned notion. Our Cleopatra is….” and then goes on to explain how he had decided to present her. Is it not obvious then? Since there are no regulations to control them, directors can define and present true stories however they want. Thus, just because you saw saint Catherine appear to Joan on TV, don’t be so quick to accept it.
The truth of the matter is, even if the real Joan thought she saw this vision, she didn’t. God was not continuing to appear to her to lead her to do His will because neither Joan nor Catherine were Christians! Rather, both were members of the apostate group which fell away from the true church. No, there was no vision from God between these two.
Furthermore, if God (or His messengers) appeared to Joan (or any one else since the completion of the NT), then 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3, Jude 3 and many other such verses are lies! These passages of Scripture teach that God has given to man his finalized revelations in which we have everything we need for our lives and the working of His will. Thus, if God has to subsequently give another revelation to reveal His will, then the NT was not the final revelation, nor does it have everything God said it had. Thus, God (Who knows all), lied! (Titus 1:2).
So, who are you going to believe? God, or Joan and the TV?
Gary Henson

Not all churches are of which you can simply “just go” (cf., Ephesus, Rev. 2:5; Sardis, Rev. 3:2b-3; Laodicea, Rev. 3:16-17). Choosing a congregation is a crucial decision because you will become a part of that congregation and will eventually become what it is –and if it is a church that has been rejected of God, then you are putting your eternity in a dangerous position. (Cf., Prov. 1:10-11a, 14a, 15-16a; and, 4:14-15). So, how should you choose a congregation?
Ask These Questions:
I. Is The Congregation Faithful To The Scriptures? (Rev. 3:8; 2 Cor. 2:9).

II. Is The Congregation Worshipping In Truth? (John 4:24; Mat. 15:9). The five acts of worship are specifically: singing, praying, the Lord’s Supper, contribution, teaching the Word.

III. Are The Preacher and the Teachers Teaching The Bible? (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Cor. 2:2). Do not choose based upon the entertaining, spell-binding, make-me-feel-good preaching ability of the preacher (1 Cor. 2:1,4-5).

IV. If There Are Elders, Are They Elders Doing The Work of Elders? Do they watch over the spiritual condition of the church? (Acts 20:28). Do they use their authority only on expedients?

V. Do The Men’s Business Meetings Exhibit Brotherly Kindness? They must work together; Respect each other’s views; Able to “disagree without being disagreeable.” Yes, choose a congregation whose men exhibits brotherly kindness (2 Pet. 1:5-11).

VI. Is The Congregation Active In The Work Of The Church? (Rev. 2:2-3,19). The work of the church is: evangelism; edification; and benevolence. Avoid the congregation which focuses on the social.

VII. Are The Youth Active In The Work Of The Church? The youth are members of the church too! Avoid the congregation whose youth are there merely for the social—it will influence your children!

VIII. Does The Congregation Love Each Other? (Rev. 2:19; 1 Pet. 1:22).

IX. Does The Congregation Need Your Help? This does not mean that it is wrong to choose a congregation that is not as needy, but it certainly is something you ought to consider. But, you need to make sure that, when you choose a congregation, you are going there to help. [cf., 1 Cor. 12:12f (body)].
Gary Henson

NOTE: In a Sunday high school class I taught in Harrah, we had been reviewing, discussing and replying to various denominational tracts that are passed out in our area. It is impressive and encouraging to read the work of those youth. Included in this bulletin are some of the replies I kept which were made to one of those tracts. –Gary
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1. Admit you need Jesus (Rom. 3:23). 2. Turn from your Sins (Mark 1:15). 3. Give your Life to Christ (John 1:12). 4. Believe that He came and that He will save you (John 3:16). 5. Follow Christ in Obedience (John 8:31). What to Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

REPLIES OF THE STUDENTS:

To Whom It May Concern,
Your five steps to receive Christ are not wrong, but they do not include all of the steps. Your first three are about Repentance. The fourth step is Believing, and the fifth step is continuing to obey God. You have left out two of the steps the Bible teaches. In your tract nothing is said about baptism. In Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 we are commanded to be baptized in order to be saved. The other step is confessing that Christ is the Son of God. In Romans 10:10 it is taught that confessing is essential to salvation.
Also included in your tract is “What To Pray.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say these are the words you are to speak. In Matthew 6:5-13 is the model prayer. This is where Jesus is teaching them how to pray–not telling them what to pray. We find in verse six of Matthew chapter six that He tells us to pray to the Father, not to Jesus. Also in the model prayer, Jesus begins by addressing the Father–not Himself. If He was teaching them to pray and wanted them to pray to Him, would He not tell them they should pray to Jesus?

To Whom It May Concern,
This pamphlet was handed out, and I was wondering, do you see anything wrong with it? At a glance, no; but if you really look at it you see many things. If you read this you would think that this is all you have to do to be saved, when in all actuality, at the top it clearly states “5 Steps To Receive Christ.” Receive Him where? How? Who knows!
“#1 Admit you need Jesus.” Well this could go along with hearing the word. “#2 Turn from your sins.” This as well could go along with repentance. “#3 Give your life to Christ.” This goes along with repentance as well. “#4 Believe that he came and will save you.” Believe is good. “#5 Follow Christ in obedience. That’s not so bad but it still goes with repentance. Three out of five ain’t bad!
However, if you want the truth, read: #1 Hear the word of God (Rom. 10:14). #2 Believe the word of God (Acts 10:43). #3 Repent (Luke 13:3,5). #4 Confess Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 10:9-10). #5 Be Baptized! (Mat. 3:14).

To Whom This May Concern,
In your article, you listed five steps to receiving Christ. I Disagree with this.
The five correct steps to receive salvation: 1. Hear (Acts 19:5); 2. Believe (Mark 16:16; John 3:16); 3. Repent (Acts 2:38; Mark 1:15); 4. Confess (Rom. 10:10; Phil. 2:11); 5. Be baptized (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 19:5). If you read in the Bible these verses you will see this is what one must do to be saved.
Your steps are scriptural, we all have sinned and need Jesus, but this is not a step to receive salvation. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. In all the accounts written about several different ones being saved, none are mentioned to have done this. In Acts chapter two we read about conversions. They heard the word, believed what Peter said was true, and they were told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the scriptural way to be saved. It says nothing of believing and repenting only, which are the two steps you have that are the correct steps.
Now I would like to make mention of the prayer you have at the end of the column. To begin with, we are not told to pray to Jesus. In Matthew 6:9 we are told to pray to our Father in heaven. Secondly, you cannot pray to be saved. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see an example of a sinner praying and being saved. Instead, we see examples of them repenting, confessing, hearing, believing, and being baptized.

Everyone agrees that the Holy Spirit is somehow involved in converting the soul. However, not all agree as to how. Many believe that the Holy Spirit exerts some power directly upon them to get them to be saved. Others believe differently. Since the Bible has the answers to all religious questions (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3), what does the Bible say?

First Peter 1:22-23 reads, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…being born again,…by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” It is obvious that this is referring to the act of conversion by the use of the phrases: “purified your souls,” and “being born again.” These souls were converted by “obeying the truth through the Spirit.” The truth is the Word (John 17:17), and this corresponds with the phrase, “by the Word of God.” Of course, the Word of God—the Scriptures—was given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-13; 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16; John 14:26; 15:26). Thus, 1 Peter 1:22-23 teaches that a soul is converted (born again) when he hears and obeys the truth (the Word of God; the Scriptures) through the Spirit (as the Holy Spirit inspired their writing). Yes, the Holy Spirit converts people by telling them what to do by means of the Scriptures which He inspired—not by a direct supernatural influence.

This means, of course, since the Holy Spirit does not convert by a direct influence, then those who claim such a conversion are claiming an experience that the Holy Spirit does not do. To such we plead the reading of the Scriptures, for only therewith does the Holy Spirit convert (1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Cor. 7:10; Rom. 10:9-10; Mark 16:16). None of the accounts of conversions in the book of Acts in which divine intervention is mentioned does the Holy Spirit directly operate upon the human heart. Rather, every case of conversion is the result of the person being taught by the teaching of a human teacher. (See: Acts 2:1-47; 8:4-25; 8:26-39; 9:1-8 & 22:3-16; chapters 10 & 11; 16:6-15.)
Gary Henson