PENKNIFE RELIGION

 

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 36:22-24

 

Jeremiah 36:2-3  TAKE THEE A ROLL OF A BOOK, AND WRITE THEREIN ALL THE WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO THEE AGAINST ISRAEL, AND AGAINST JUDAH, AND AGAINST ALL THE NATIONS, FROM THE DAY I SPAKE UNTO THEE, FROM THE DAYS OF JOSIAH, EVEN UNTO THIS DAY.  IT MAY BE THAT THE HOUSE OF JUDAH WILL HEAR ALL THE EVIL WHICH I PURPOSE TO DO UNTO THEM; THAT THEY MAY RETURN EVERY MAN FROM HIS EVIL WAY; THAT I MAY FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY AND THEIR SIN.”

 

            At this writing we’re told that Jeremiah had preached for about 23 years trying to persuade Judah to turn from her wicked ways back to God.  It is now the fourth year of the reign of king Jehoiakim and God gives instruction that the things that  had only been spoken for all these years be summarized in a scroll.  Jeremiah used Baruch, a scribe that served him, to write the words that God had given him.  Verse 10 says that when this roll was written that Baruch, at Jeremiah’s instruction, went to the house of God during a feast day, to the higher court at the entry of the new gate and read God’s word “IN THE EARS OF ALL THE PEOPLE.”

            And Mi-chai-ah was there and he went to the king’s house, to the scribe and princes and told them about this event.  So they go and get Baruch to come and read to them as well and after his reading they were afraid because of all the “EVIL WHICH I (God) PROPOSE TO DO UNTO THEM; THAT THEY MAY RETURN EVERY MAN FROM HIS EVIL WAY:”  So they decided the King needed to hear Jeremiah’s words.  But they were also cautious because they told Baruch and Jeremiah that they should go hide because apparently they anticipated and feared the king’s wrath.  They brought word to the king and he wanted to hear the words on the roll.  Jehudi brought it in and began to read but the king is not having any part of this.  He takes a penknife or a scribe’s knife used to sharpen his quill or pen cuts it up and burns it as the text we read describes.

            The king didn’t even have the patience to hear the entire reading as his princes did but apparently in a rage cut it to ribbons and fed it to the fire.  This is about as imprudent, blatant rejection of the Word of God as man could imagine.  He was determined to do whatever he willed as king of Judah, what God or his prophets said made no difference.  In fact if you read further you will find that he tried to apprehend Jeremiah and Baruch to punish them for bringing him the word of God.  God allowed Jehoiakim to rule Judah for only four more years, they didn’t even bother to bury him when the king of Babylon ended his rule.  God wouldn’t even allow his son take over Judah’s throne but another son of Josiah, Zedekiah ruled in his stead.

            There are millions of people in this world today with the mindset of Jehoiakim.  In the balance of our lesson we will look at a few.

 

The Infidel’s Penknife

 

            Jehoiakim heard only three or four pages of God’s word when he completely rejected it.  He never heard it all, didn’t want to hear it all and never once considered the truth contained in it.  There are men and women today of the same mind.

 

Genesis 1:1  IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH.”

 

But many of mankind today don’t want to hear that.  They through science falsely so-called have created for themselves theories regarding the beginnings of the earth and the universe that completely deny the existence of God.

 

Genesis 1:31 - 2:1  AND GOD SAW EVERY THING THAT HE HAD MADE, AND, BEHOLD, it was VERY GOOD. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE SIXTH DAY.  THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE FINISHED, AND ALL THE HOST OF THEM.”

 

            These people don’t want to hear about a higher power that rules this universe. They apparently don’t think that men have souls, or that we’re any different from the other mammals on this earth that we call animals, else we wouldn’t have had a holocaust in Germany, we wouldn’t have abortion on demand in this country, we wouldn’t have people such as members of PETA walking the streets of our city who believe that animals have the same rights and status in this world as men.  There we have the fruit of the influence of the Asian religions taught in our colleges and universities that we spoke about on Wednesday night a few weeks ago.  They not only don’t believe; but wouldn’t even consider that God causes to be recorded twice, first in Psalms 14:1 and again in:

 

Psalms 53:1  ….. THE FOOL HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, there is NO GOD. CORRUPT ARE THEY, AND HAVE DONE ABOMINABLE INIQUITY: there is NONE THAT DOETH GOOD.”

 

They are like those described by Paul in his writing to the Christians at Rome:

 

Romans 1:28  AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN their KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT;”

 

God has hidden himself from them by giving them a reprobate mind by allowing them to become so spiritually corrupt that they will never find or turn to him. 

 

The Penknife of Modern Theology and Philosophy

 

And then we have the compromisers, those who claim to be followers of Christ or even our brethren but peddle the devil’s doctrines by teaching the false science of organic evolution in “our” so-called Christian colleges.  Colleges who in order to be considered academically wise, modern and up to date peddle various forms and theories of theistic evolution. Colleges with professors who like Esau in Genesis 27 have sold their spiritual birthright for something not worth much more that that bowl of pottage.  There are a number I could name but one of the most influential and popular speakers among many who claim to be part of the church of Christ is John Clayton of South Bend, Indiana.

This is in reality the same kind of rebellion against God as that of Judah’s king.  They cut out of their Bibles the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis, teaching that it is a myth or hymn and could not have been written by Moses or inspired by God.  They try to rewrite the Bible by creating and promoting false versions, so-called translations, such as the very popular New International Version and its various derivatives that deny the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and incorporate the false doctrines of John Calvin among many other things.

            They deny the existence of a heaven or a hell as described by Jesus himself and others by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  They ignore the need for atonement for their sins, since they claim that God gave us no law to follow thereby removing the need for any repentance.  They teach and practice situation ethics and show remorse for wrong doing such as created the uproar in the Catholic denomination recently, only if they get caught.  Yet they claim to believe in Jesus Christ and worship the God of heaven.  God in his infinite wisdom warns His followers:

 

“BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST.” Colossians  2:8 

 

“LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS: FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMETH THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE.  BE NOT YE THEREFORE PARTAKERS WITH THEM.” Ephesians 5:6-7 

 

“O TIMOTHY, KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST, AVOIDING PROFANE and VAIN BABBLINGS, AND OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED: WHICH SOME PROFESSING HAVE ERRED CONCERNING THE FAITH…..” I Timothy 6:20-21 

The Penknife of Denominationalism

 

            Then we have those that wield the penknife of denominational teaching.  They claim to believe the Bible but create to themselves versions that cut out the last eleven verses of Mark chapter 16 or reduce it to a footnote because in it Jesus says:

 

Mark 16:16  HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED.”

 

teaching the necessity of baptism for salvation so clearly and plainly that it cannot be denied.

            They cut out of their teaching that:

 

 there is ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING;” Ephesians 4:4

 

 “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.” Colossians 1:18

 

by denying that Jesus Christ established one body, one kingdom, one church by their claim that any and every denominational organization that calls itself a church is part of the body of Christ.

            They cut away Christ as their head by denying that all power and authority has been given to Jesus Christ on earth as he so states in Matthew 28:18 and look to their governing boards, conventions, and earthly headquarters to provide direction for their churches in all matters including those pertaining to doctrine.  Creating and requiring men to answer to man-made, and man-ruled organizations rather than to God.

            They cut away the importance of the name Christian, applying it to anyone who breathes and claims to believe in Jesus Christ rather than using it as described in scripture.  In Acts 11:26 those who were the first to be called Christians were true followers, true disciples of Jesus Christ taught by none other than the Apostle Paul and the preacher Barnabas.  Unless we’re teaching and following the same doctrines today we do not have the right to use the name.

            They cut away the example of the commandment to observe the Lord’s Supper each and every Lord’s day as directed and practiced by the church in the first century.  Matthew records that Jesus directed us how this is to be done:

 

Matthew 26:26-28  AND AS THEY WERE EATING, JESUS TOOK BREAD, AND BLESSED it, AND BRAKE it, AND GAVE it TO THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY.  AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND GAVE THANKS, AND GAVE it TO THEM, SAYING, DRINK YE ALL OF IT; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.”

 

Paul explains his direction came from Jesus Christ and also tells us why:

 

I Corinthians 11:23-26  FOR I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD THAT WHICH ALSO I DELIVERED UNTO YOU, THAT THE LORD JESUS THE same NIGHT IN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK BREAD: AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BRAKE it, AND SAID, TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.  AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO he took THE CUP, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE, AS OFT AS YE DRINK it, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.  FOR AS OFTEN AS YE EAT THIS BREAD, AND DRINK THIS CUP, YE DO SHOW THE LORD'S DEATH TILL HE COME.”

 

Paul also records for us how often and when:

 

Acts 20:7  “AND UPON THE FIRST day OF THE WEEK, WHEN THE DISCIPLES CAME TOGETHER TO BREAK BREAD, PAUL PREACHED UNTO THEM, READY TO DEPART ON THE MORROW; AND CONTINUED HIS SPEECH UNTIL MIDNIGHT.”

 

            They cut away or ignore the verses of scripture that would keep them from worshipping God as they please rather than as He pleases by refusing to accept that we are to worship:

 

 “SPEAKING TO YOURSELVES IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD;” Ephesians 5:19

 

            They cut away:

 

Galatians 5:4  CHRIST IS BECOME OF NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER OF YOU ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW; YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE.

 

teaching that once a man is saved he cannot be lost, he cannot fall from the protection of the grace of God.  In fact the Methodist Discipline can be quoted as teaching that once saved, always saved is a “most wholesome doctrine, full of comfort.”

 

The Penknife of Some Church Members

 

            But what about us?  Those of us who are not of the new denomination that exists in this country calling itself the Church of Christ but who follow the “old paths”.  Who speak “where the Bible speaks” and are “silent where the Bible is silent”, who claim that we must do all that the Bible through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as he guided Jesus’ disciples directed us to do.  And this is the attitude that mankind should have because we’re told by Jesus Christ:

 

 “AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.” John 8:32

 

by Peter who was given the keys to the kingdom of God:

 

 “IF ANY MAN SPEAK, let him speak AS THE ORACLES OF GOD; IF ANY MAN MINISTER, let him do it AS OF THE ABILITY WHICH GOD GIVETH: THAT GOD IN ALL THINGS MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BE PRAISE AND DOMINION FOR EVER AND EVER.  (and then we hear the phrase that means let this always be so, an) AMEN.” I Peter 4:11

 

Because Jesus said:

 

 “HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY.” John 12:48

 

            But there are some things where, unfortunately, some of those the Lord’s body wield their penknife as well.

 

            Some try to cut away the need for faithfulness, refusing to acknowledge that the receipt of God’s ultimate blessings is conditional.  But Jesus said:

 

 FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THOU SHALT SUFFER: BEHOLD, THE DEVIL SHALL CAST some OF YOU INTO PRISON, THAT YE MAY BE TRIED; AND YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION TEN DAYS: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.Revelation 2:10

 

            Some try to cut away the need for regular and frequent attention to the worship of God by willfully ignoring:

 

“NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS; BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: AND SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.” Hebrews 10:25 

 

and all those verses that precede it.  Which we covered in a lesson just a couple of weeks ago.

 

            Some folks like to cut out the scriptures that teach that we are to give as God has prospered us.

 

 “NOW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS, AS I HAVE GIVEN ORDER TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA, EVEN SO DO YE.  UPON THE FIRST day OF THE WEEK LET EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE, AS God HATH PROSPERED HIM, THAT THERE BE NO GATHERINGS WHEN I COME.” I Corinthians 16:1-2

 

These folks seem to be a whole lot poorer on Sunday morning; a whole lot less prosperous than they are on any other day of the week.

 

            Some folks like to cut out the part that talks about helping the needy:

 

“PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD AND THE FATHER IS THIS, TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION, AND TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD.” James 1:27

 

and if they don’t cut it out completely they try to restrict this command to give to only those who profess to be members of the church that Jesus built.  But Paul very plainly writes in:

 

Galatians 6:10  “AS WE HAVE THEREFORE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL men, ESPECIALLY UNTO THEM WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.”

 

            They like to cut out the admonition to study the word of God; ignoring Paul’s admonition written to his son in the faith but directed in principle to us all:

 

 “STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” II Timothy 2:15

 

and Paul follows with the further admonition to shun profane and vain babbling.  Vain and profane babblers is exactly what we become if we don’t:

 

 “LET YOUR SPEECH be ALWAY WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EVERY MAN.” Colossians 4:6

 

 “BUT SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS: AND be READY ALWAYS TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH YOU A REASON OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR:” I Peter 3:15

 

            Others like to cut away their responsibility to teach others in spite of the of the commission given us by Jesus:

 

Mark 16:15  AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.”

 

They like to cut away to need to love others in spite of:

 

Hebrews 13:1  LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE.”

 

or the need to follow and obey those with authority over us in spite of the fact that we’re directed to:

 

 “REMEMBER THEM WHICH HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU, WHO HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU THE WORD OF GOD: WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW, CONSIDERING THE END OF their CONVERSATION.” Hebrews 13:7

 

 “OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU, AND SUBMIT YOURSELVES: FOR THEY WATCH FOR YOUR SOULS, AS THEY THAT MUST GIVE ACCOUNT, THAT THEY MAY DO IT WITH JOY, AND NOT WITH GRIEF: FOR THAT is UNPROFITABLE FOR YOU.” Hebrews 13:17

 

            Others would cut away the need to be an example:

 

I Timothy 4:12  LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH; BUT BE THOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS, IN WORD, IN CONVERSATION, IN CHARITY, IN SPIRIT, IN FAITH, IN PURITY.”

 

Especially if it requires quitting something that they want to do.  Did you ever wonder why that the world calls the taxes on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages “sin taxes.  Do they think they might understand something about the use of these things that some of us don’t want to understand?  Your speaker was guilty of this one for a long time.  But if you hit a mule between the eyes long enough and hard enough sooner or later you’ll get his attention.  For some of us that may be what it takes.

 

But This Does Not Alter God’s Word

 

            Man can cut away, erase, mar, tear, and ignore the Word of God but he cannot destroy it, he cannot make it of none effect.  He can rewrite it to suit himself but when he does it ceases to be the Word of God and is devoid of any power because:

 

“…FOR EVER, O LORD, THY WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN.” Psalms 119:89

 

“THY WORD is TRUE from THE BEGINNING: AND EVERY ONE OF THY RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS endureth FOR EVER.” Psalms 119:160

 

It is still through His Word that we are saved or sanctified:

 

 SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH.” John 17:17

 

That Word that will never pass away; Jesus said:

 

 HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY: BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY.” Matthew 24:35 and Mark 13:31

 

That same Word that will judge us:

 

John 12:48  HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY.”

 

            But there are those that have the spirit or mindset of the king of Judah, Jehoiakim, outside of the family of God who will be destroyed:

 

“AND TO YOU WHO ARE TROUBLED REST WITH US, WHEN THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: WHO SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER;” II Thessalonians 1:7-9

 

There are also those within the family of God who will also be destroyed.  Those who fall away permanently, never to be restored to the family of God:

 

“FOR IF AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME, THE LATTER END IS WORSE WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING.” II Peter 2:20

 

and one of the things we are to never do is to try to cut away part of the Word of God because we don’t like it, we don’t think we should have to follow it, or by ignoring or neglecting it because it will determine our ultimate end:

 

“FOR I TESTIFY UNTO EVERY MAN THAT HEARETH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND from THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.” Revelation 22:18-19

 

Invitation, there may be those….

 

William L. Schwegler, Sunset church of Christ, Shreveport, Louisiana; November 17, 2002