Barnes church of Christ

This question certainly cannot be answered by looking at the denominations today. They are organized in so many different ways (presidents, pastor systems, popes, synods, general assemblies, presbyteries, councils, conferences, etc.) we would find no definite answer. Thus, we must look to God and His Word to find out what He has said.
The HEAD of the church is Jesus. “And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18). Again, “And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body” (Eph. 1:22-23). Who is it that is the head of the church? It is Jesus. How many heads does one body have? One. Then, is there any room for any one (or any one group) to exist and function as a head on earth? No. Both verses also mention that this headship extends to what extent? All things. Is there, then, need for another head? No.
Serving under the head, and leading over each local congregation of the church, God ordained ELDERS. On Paul’s missionary trip, as he and Barnabus established churches in various cities “they had ordained them elders in every church” (Acts 14:23). Titus, while on the island of Crete, was to “ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). When a major relief effort was sent from the western churches to the churches in Jerusalem and all Judea, they “sent it to the elders” (Acts 11:30). When a crucial problem arose posing a serious doctrinal threat to the church “the apostles and elders came together for to consider this matter” (Acts 15:6; see also verses 2,4,22,23). 1 Timothy 5:17 makes clear that elders were men who ruled. Thus, in the preceding verses, we learn there is a position in the church which is referred to as “elders;” that there is always to be a plurality of men who serve as elders of a congregation [Note the “s” in the verses]; that the elders do have a ruling authority; and that the elders of a local congregation ruled only over that congregation and had no authority over any other congregation.
It is also important to understand that these elders were called by other terms. When Paul “sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” he also called them “overseers” [or “bishop”] (Acts 20:17,28). Furthermore, in verse 28, he told these elders/overseers “to shepherd the church of God.” Thus, they were to be “shepherds” or “pastors.” Thus, just as Christians may also be referred to as “saints,” “children of God” and “disciples,” the elders are also referred to in the Bible as those who are “overseers/bishops,” “shepherds/pastors” or “presbyters” (which is another English word for elders). Thus, from Acts 20, the careful student learns that God, by means of the three pairs of words, did not establish three different positions; rather He ordained one position but calls them by three (six in English) different terms.
At this point, it must be made very clear that “pastor” is not another term for “preacher.” First, as has been shown, “pastor” is a term for the eldership of a congregation–not the preacher(s). Second, pastors are listed separate from the evangelists (Eph. 4:11) which means that they are not the same. Third, Paul was a preacher (1 Tim. 2:7), but he was not a pastor because the qualifications of a pastor/bishop/elder is to have a wife and children (1 Tim. 3:2,4; Titus 1:5-6) of which Paul had neither. Thus, with but a little study, anyone can see that the “pastor system” (in which the preacher is in charge of the church) is not how Jesus organizes His church.
Then serving the church under the oversight of the elders are the DEACONS. Paul wrote to the church “in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Phil. 1:1). The qualifications of these men are listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-12. As the elders make decisions regarding the work of the church, the deacons are to serve and help the members of the church fulfill these projects (compare Acts 6:1-6).
Tell us plainly, how did Jesus organize the church? Jesus is the sole head; then within each congregation are elders and deacons.
Gary Henson

QUESTION: Is God unjust for punishing people in eternal hell if they never even heard of Jesus?

ANSWER: The answer unfolds from the teachings of a series of verses.

The first is Romans 1:19-20. “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” This makes clear that God has provided mankind with abundant evidences from which each can easily reason to the existence of God. [See also, Psa. 19:1-2; Heb. 3:4]. Such evidences are: teleological in that design in nature (as in any animal, plant, man, ecosystems, etc.) demands a Designer; cosmological in that cause (sun, stars, earth, man) necessitates a First Cause; and moral law (inborn law that murdering, stealing, etc., is wrong [Rom. 2:15]) implies a Law Giver.
Second, having supplied man with abundant evidence regarding the existence of God, God has also so made man that he should then seek and find God. This is taught in Acts 17:26-27, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Thus, with such a God-given desire, man should seek to find if He has revealed His Will to man.
Third, the Gospel of Jesus had been preached to the whole world. Colossians 1:23 makes this clear, “And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Furthermore, with the thousands of missionaries throughout the world, the Bible is now everywhere. While it is true that there are a great number of false teachers, the fact is, the Bible is throughout the world, and the man who has come to know that there is a God and who is seeking after God can read the Bible and understand it (Eph. 3:3-4) and come to know the Truth which will set him free (John 8:32).
Thus, (1) since every person can know there is a God, and (2) since every person should then seek God; and (3) since the Gospel is available to be found, then if they are not saved on earth it is not God’s fault, and thus, He is not unjust for punishing them in eternal hell.
Gary Henson

[Note: the above does not relieve the Christian from his responsibility in teaching others about Jesus (Mark 16:15); rather, it encourages us by revealing there are doors that are open!]

QUESTION: Acts 16:14 reads, “And a certain woman named Lydia…whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.” Doesn’t this mean that the Holy Spirit directly touched her heart thereby causing her to understand that what Paul had to say was from God and that she ought to listen and accept what he said?
ANSWER: While it does say that “God opened her heart,” it does not tell us how He opened her heart. Thus, to understand how God opened her heart, we must learn what God means with the word “heart.” When God speaks about the heart, He is speaking of that part of the man which: thinks (Mat. 9:4), understands (Isa. 32:4), knows (Prov. 14:10), can doubt (Mark 11:23), can purpose (2 Cor. 9:7), devises (Prov. 16:9), loves (Mat. 22:37), reasons (Mark 2:6,8) and can receive God’s laws (Heb. 8:10; 10:16). Thus, biblically, the heart is the rational thinking part of man.
How then, does God cause the human heart to open up and be receptive to him? He tells us: “the precepts of God gives understanding to the heart” (Psa. 119:104). Thus, God speaks to us through His Word, then our heart–the rational thinking part of man–reasons with it (Acts 17:2-3) either accepting it (Acts 17:4) or rejecting it (Acts 17:5). Those who accepted it were those whom the Lord opened their hearts–by His Word.
This is precisely what happened with Lydia. Notice, she first heard the Word of God, and then by that hearing the Lord opened her heart. Furthermore, in Acts 2:36-37, the Word of God (Peter’s preaching) pierced (opened) their hearts. Lydia’s case explains that God does open hearts; Peter’s case explains how He opens hearts.
In spite of the attempt of many to make it appear so, the Bible no where teaches that the Holy Spirit directly touches the heart causing people to feel or think certain things. Rather, it is all done through His Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Gary Henson

THE CALM
Jesus, the Master of the storms of life, tells us how to obtain the peace that He had given Peter: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Although we still have storms of tribulation, we can have peace within by the means of “these things I have spoken unto you.” Thus, this peace is acquired by learning and living the life as taught by Jesus and His Word. Furthermore, we must have full assurance of faith in God (Rom. 4:20-21). The problem with those in the boat was their “little faith” (Matt. 8:26). For this they were rebuked. We must have the great faith as did the centurion (Matt. 8:5-13) and the woman of Canaan (Matt. 15:21-28), both of whom had no doubt in the power of Jesus. The God who, with words, created a universe and calmed a raging storm, is the same God whose words can give us peace. Thus, when we have full assurance of faith in God and His Word (Heb. 11:1), and when we learn that Word, live by His principles and have the outlook on life that He did, we then obtain His peace.
This truth (that peace is acquired through the Scriptures) is revealed in several verses. To those in the storm of bereavement, Paul concluded his words with, “wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). It was the words of God—the Scriptures—which could give them comfort. We are also told that the Scriptures which were written aforetime are able to give us comfort (Rom. 15:4). Again, it is the Word of God that gives comfort in Psalm 119:49-50, “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” In the same psalm we are told, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm. 119:165).
How, then, can we have this peace in our storms which Jesus had and Peter learned? It comes through the Word of God. However, a vital aspect of obtaining this peace is told in Philippians 4:9, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” A person can hear and learn what the Bible teaches, but until he lives that life, there will be no peace in the storms. In the storm at sea, Peter had Jesus in the boat, but he did not have Him in his heart. In the storm in the jail, Peter had Christ living in him (Gal. 2:20). Peter now lived the way Jesus taught. He looked at life the way Jesus did. Then, as the storm came on the outside, there was not a storm on the inside.
In order to be able to endure the storms of life, we cannot wait till they come to get ready to deal with them. Rather, we must daily and diligently prepare by learning, loving and living the Words of the Master of the storm, and then we will be able to calmly handle death, or any other storm (Matt. 10:28; Psalm 23) and say, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm . 4:8).
This account, which is presented in our song, accurately portrays the overpowering storms that humans often encounter. The lesson that is taught is a lesson that gives us great assurance and comfort: Jesus can give us a calm in the midst of our storms! He Himself is our example as He slept through the storm, and, just as Peter gained this same peace, so can we as we have great faith in God and live by His Word.
Gary Henson

THE CALM
Jesus awoke, saw the situation and rebuked the wind and sea. Just as there had been a great (megas) storm, there was now an equally great (megas) calm. Jesus spoke to the storm “peace (pephimoso),” which means “to muzzle” as one would strap leather around the snout of a dog to silence his barks. Thus muzzled, both wind and sea “ceased (epausanto)” (Luke 8:24). The same word is used in 1 Peter 4:1 in which one is to have “ceased from sin.” One is not to cease from sin in a gradual tapering off, but rather is to halt from sinning from that moment forward. Such an amazing and unnatural cessation of a storm is also made evident by the reaction of the men–they marveled. They who were experienced with wind and water knew this was not the natural manner of the dying of a storm. There was always the waving agitation of water until equalization was achieved. Wind would die down–not stop. They knew that is was not mere coincidence that a storm had ended naturally when Jesus had spoken. Rather, they knew that the winds and waves obeyed His will. Yes, Jesus calmed the storm.
The lesson that is being taught cannot possibly be missed: Jesus can give us calm in the midst of our storms! As we suffer our storms of illness, accidents, bereavements and heartaches, Jesus can still the tempest. This is not to say the He will bring our loved ones back to life, restore the damage done to our body by disease or accident, or any other such mending by supernatural means. Rather, it does mean, as we go through these storms, He can calm the storm within.
Although Jesus was in the same boat and in the same storm, He slept peacefully. Thus, Jesus showed us that we too, if we faithfully follow Him, can likewise have this peace within as we go through our storms of life. Notice carefully what He told us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Here, Jesus assures us that we can have the same peace that He had. As He had peace in the storm, so can we.
Without doubt, Peter was one of the men who was in the boat at sea. Did Peter, the panicky, learn this peace? Did Peter receive this peace that Jesus said He would give? Years later, Peter was in prison and was about to be executed (Acts 12). Was he panicking as he had done so in the boat? No. He was sleeping peacefully in the midst of danger–just as had Jesus in the boat! What a change! Same man; same kind of storm (life-threatening); but he handled it differently. Yes, Peter obtained the peace that Jesus had and gave, and so can you.
Gary Henson

The song, Master, The Tempest Is Raging, lyrics the cry of our hearts as tragedies of life overpower us, stripping away all earthly security and hope. Expressed in music seemingly so natural, no other song voices our soul’s anguish so appropriately. This is due to the fact that the song is closely based upon an account (Mark 4:35-41) written and revealed by Him who knows perfectly man’s life and heart. It is this incident in life of some of the disciples from which the song is written. Yet, with the violent storm, the desperate cry and the Master’s deliverance, this incident pictures storms not unlike those which are encountered by His disciples (as well as all mankind) today.

THE STORM
“There arose a great storm of wind” (Mark 4:37). The Sea of Galilee is 600 feet below sea level. The mountains of Lebanon to the north reach over 9000 feet and are covered with snow most of the year due to the frigid high altitude. As the air heats and rises above the sea, the cold and heavier air in the mountains is sucked down to fill the void. This avalanche of air will increase with intensification if it falls in and forces through the gorges leading to the lake. It is as the account in Luke describes it: “there came down a storm of wind on the lake” (Luke 8:23). Thus, due to the features of the land, these storms can be extremely violent and can come very quickly.
This particular storm was unusually violent. In the Greek it is described as a megas storm. Megas is a word that is used “of natural events powerfully affecting the senses, i.e. violent, mighty, strong”. Oklahoma has its wind, and it has its days of stiff wind, but one day in the mid 1980’s, there was the infamous day-long wind of 70 mph. This was an unusual, megas wind! Furthermore, Matthew calls the storm a seismos. From this word, we obtain our English word seismograph–an instrument used to measure earthquakes. Seismos is also used in Acts 16:26 in referring to the earthquake that shook Paul’s prison doors open, and appears in Revelation 11:13 in which it symbolically shook and destroyed one-tenth of a city and killed 7000 people. Still yet, Mark describes the storm as a lailapse, which means: “a hurricane, whirlwind.” Then to this he adds the word, megas.
Due to such violent wind rushing onto the sea from the cold peaks of the mountains, the water became turbulent with mighty waves. Not only was the boat tempestuously tossed, it was filling with water. Mark conveyed the situation with the word, semidzo, meaning: “to fill full.” This is the word which is used in John 2:7 to describe the first miracle in Cana when the water pots were filled to the brim. Matthew described the condition with another word which means “to cover up or over.” The waves were not merely slapping the side of the boat, they were rising above and coming down and over the boat.
This was truly a mega, seismatic, hurricane of a storm. The wind was mercilessly tossing them about, and the water was rising above and pounding into the boat. These men, some who were fishermen, knew what was happening–they were about to die (Luke 8:23-24).
Does not this storm at sea perfectly describe our storms of life? Our storms break upon us just as fast as we: get that certain initial pain; listen to the report from the doctor; answer the phone or the door or open the letter which unleashes the storm. Our tragedies come just as unexpected; just as violent; just as relentless; and just as consuming. Thus we can truly sing: “Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o’er-shadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh.“
Furthermore, notice that this storm at sea come upon these men even though they were with Jesus and were sailing the course which He directed. While it is true that God’s directions help us to avoid many problems of life (Prov. 3:1-2), the Christian must realize that not all storms of life are averted just because he is a Christian. There are still the accidents, illnesses, deaths and even the additional storms just because one is a Christian (2 Tim. 2:12). If you have ever encountered situations as these, you know that the One who knows man’s life and heart has perfectly presented your storm in the account upon the sea.
Gary Henson

As God was leading the Hebrews through the wilderness, He had Moses take a census of the people (Num. 1). From this seemingly unimportant information, we learn some rather crucial and encouraging lessons.
First, God has an enrollment of His people. In verse two He said, “take ye the sum of the people.” Although God already knew the exact number of the people, this census assured them that God did have such a record. Likewise, we can be assured and “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Yes, God does have an enrollment of His people in our day.
Second, everyone who is enrolled is a soldier. In verse three, those who were to be numbered were “all that are able to go forth to war.” Likewise, we who are enrolled are to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3); “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12); and our armor is that of a soldier (Eph. 6:11-19). Yes, every- one who is enrolled is to be a soldier who fights for God.
Third, God knows exactly those who are His. Due to the census, God made clear that He knew tribe by tribe and person by person those who were His. Likewise, “the Lord knows them who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19). Thus, take courage, do not lose hope, do not be in despair–no matter what happens around you, if YOU live faithfully, God will not make a mistake and overlook you–because God knows exactly who are His.
Indeed. Mighty profound lessons from some old, dry information.
Gary Henson

QUESTION: Is Ezekiel 37:16-17 a prophecy of the Book of Mormon?

ANSWER: Please read Ezekiel 37:16-17. [Mormons claim that the two sticks were scrolls and that Judah’s stick represents the Bible while Ephraim’s is the book of Mormon which was written by some of Joseph’s descendants who made it to America (and translated by Joseph Smith). Thus, they say, the Bible and the Book of Mormon are to be joined (used) together.]

A reply to this is actually very simple due to the fact that God placed a safeguard against such erroneous manipulations of His Word by giving the explanation in subsequent verses! But, before considering those verses, it is interesting to notice the setting in which the verses in question are found. Chapters 33-48 contain words of (1) hope to Israel when they were (to be) carried away into the Babylonian captivity of 586 BC, and (2) promises of return to their homeland. Even the vision in the first part of the chapter (hopeless dry bones of which God restored with flesh and life [37:1-14]) signified that God would “place you in your own land” (37:12,14).

Immediately following this vision is the message of the two sticks of which God explains Himself in verses 21-22. One stick represented the nation of Israel and the other the nation of Judah. Both of these nations (not books) would be united into one kingdom. Thus, a message of hope to Israel (while in Babylon) that they would be returned to their homeland–and not a prophecy of the Book of Mormon.
Gary Henson

The Premillennial doctrine of the 1000 year reign (or, the millennium) [point 8 on chart] teaches that the kingdom of Jesus is to begin when He becomes victorious at the battle of Armageddon and takes His throne in Jerusalem. The nation of Israel is to be supreme over all nations, and the saints are to rule with Jesus at Jerusalem. This situation is to last 1000 years.
The premillennialist doctrine of the 1000 year reign is false because: those who are to reign with Jesus for 1000 years are to reign in heaven—NOT earth. Revelation 20:4-6 are the verses from which this premillennialist doctrine is based. The first and last part of verse 4 reads, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them…and they reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Notice, those who reigned sat upon thrones. However, every time the word “throne” is used in the book of Revelation (44 times), the throne is located in heaven. The exceptions are the three times it refers to the throne associated with Satan! Thus, those who are reigning are either reigning with Jesus in heaven, or elsewhere with Satan! Furthermore, the verse makes clear that those who reigned with Jesus were those whose entity was their souls, “…and I saw the souls of them….” The scriptures teach that man has a body while on earth and a new body when in eternal heaven (1 Cor. 15:36-54), but the only time man exists as a soul without a body is the duration from the point of death to the beginning of eternity (Jam. 2:26; 2 Cor. 5:1-9). At such a time they are with God (Eccl. 12:7; Phil. 1:23; Luke 16:20-31) and not on earth! Truly then, the Bible teaches that those who reign with Jesus are those souls who reign with Him in heaven–not earth!
The premillennialist doctrine of the 1000 year reign is false because: those who reign with Jesus during this era are those who were martyrs. Those who were to reign with Jesus for 1000 years are those that “were beheaded for the witness of Jesus…” (Rev. 20:4). Thus, all those who have not been beheaded for Jesus will not be reigning with Jesus 1000 years. But, how many of the premillennialists have been beheaded?! Since premillennialism maintains all saints will reign with Jesus, it is obvious they have built a false doctrine upon a misinterpretation of this verse.
The premillennialist doctrine of the 1000 year reign is false because: immediately following the 2nd coming (thus, before this “1000 year reign on earth”) there is no more earth. Regarding the coming of the Lord, 2 Peter 3:10 states, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” Thus, when Jesus comes the second time, He will take all humanity from earth to Judgment (Mat. 25:31-32) and then annihilate the physical creation. Thus, there cannot be a 1000 year reign on earth which begins at His coming because there will not be an earth upon which to reign.
The premillennialist doctrine of the millennium is false. The Bible does not teach it. Rather, the Bible teaches that life will continue as it is now (Mat. 24:36-41) until Jesus returns the second and final time to resurrect and judge all to either eternal damnation or eternal bliss (John 5:25-29).
[Sixth of six in a series of the misinterpretations of Premillennialism] Gary Henson