The Law of Exclusion

Gopher Wood or Gopher Forest?

In seeking to impress upon the minds of individuals the importance of respecting the authority of God’s word we use the example of God commanding Noah to build the ark of gopher wood. When God commanded Noah to build the ark of gopher wood we note (and correctly so) that Noah would be in rebellion to God if he used any other wood to build the ark. As simple as this illustration may be we still find many who ridicule this example.

Several years ago (November, 1976) F. L. Lemley wrote an article which appeared in "Integrity" magazine entitled "The Law of Exclusion," in which he rejects and ridicules the idea that when God authorizes a particular thing then anything other than that authorized would be displeasing to God.  In an effort to prove his point he uses the example of Noah.

He says, "the assumption that gopher wood was a specific variety of wood cannot be proved" and "Some translate ‘gopher wood’ as ‘resinous wood,’ which is not a specific variety, but would include cypress, redwood, or other varieties." He goes on to say that one person had suggested that "it could mean wood from a nearby forest known as Gopher."

What Mr. Lemley fails to note is if what he says about "gopher wood" is true the example remains the same. If "gopher wood" simply means "resinous wood" then for Noah to obey God he could only use "resinous wood." To use non-resinous wood would be disobedience to God.  Suppose "gopher wood" referred to wood from a forest by that name. Would that change the force of the argument?  Certainly not! It would simply mean that Noah was to build the ark of wood from “Gopher Forest.” Wood from any other source would not be acceptable.

Let "gopher wood" mean whatever you want it to mean, but the fact still remains that God told Noah to build the ark of "gopher wood" and had he built it of any other kind of wood he would have been in rebellion to God. We can’t justify rebellion to God by making foolish quibbles.

- by James Hahn

 

Facts about watermelons

Mysteries of Life

Once when I was going to Columbus, Ohio, I stopped to eat in a restaurant and ordered a slice of watermelon.  I took the seeds home with me to plant in my garden.

That night a thought came to my mind.  How many watermelon seeds would it take to make a pound?  The next day I weighed them and found that it would take about 5,000 dried seeds.

A few weeks later I planted just one of the little seeds.  Under the influence of sunshine and shower, that little seed had taken off its coat and gone to work.  It had gathered from somewhere two hundred thousand times its own weight and forced enormous weight through a tiny stem and built a watermelon.  On the outside it had a covering of green and within that a rind of white and within that a core of red; and then it had scattered through the red many little seeds, each one capable of doing the same work over again.

What architect drew the plan?  Where did the little watermelon seed get its strength?  Where did it find its flavoring extract, and its coloring matter?  How did it build a watermelon?

Until you can explain a watermelon, do not be too sure that you can set limits to the power of the Almighty.  The most learned men in the world cannot explain the watermelon, but the most ignorant man can eat a watermelon and enjoy it.  God has given us the knowledge necessary to use these things and the truth that He has revealed to us is infinitely more important for our welfare than it would be to understand the mysteries that He has seen fit to conceal from our faltering view.

- by William Jennings Bryan

 

Each day is fresh and brand new with no mistakes

Well here we are in the New Year once again, all sparkly and fresh like a new snow fall ready for us to make foot prints in. I'm glad it's here, but I'm really not much for New Year celebrations. This year I had a hard day at work and was fast asleep in bed by 9:30 p.m. So, the New Year came in the old one ended and I missed it, but it really didn't need my awareness to happen anyway. After all, men set the date of the year, but God created the world, makes the days and that never changes.

How are you looking at the New Year? Myself, I'm looking at it with hope! Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 about folks who have no hope and I afraid that includes far too many in or world. Hope of what? Hope of eternal life, hope of a better life now, not based upon what we do necessarily, but based upon our relationship to Christ.

I love the line from Anne of Green Gables where she says, "Each day is fresh and brand new with no mistakes". That of course is true, but it usually doesn't stay that way very long, simply because we are human and mess up far too often, (1 John 1:10).

I love what Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3, that "God has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". Wow! "a lively hope"… in the Greek that means "Not lifeless, not dead, but vital and strong". (Strong's)

How is you hope and what are hoping in? I saw a sign the other day that said, "Life is full of choices, the problem is that sometimes we make stupid choices!" Some times I make stupid choices, but not when I choose to hope in Christ, to hope for eternal life, to hope of a better life here in this world because of my hope and trust in Christ Jesus.

There is an old hymn that declares, "My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus' blood and righteousness." I hope you can sing this song with all of your heart.

--Russ Lawson

Thrill-seeking worship

A Few Words about Our Thrill-Seeking Culture

In the recent years we have developed a thrill-seeking culture – a culture moved more by emotional stimuli than careful thought – that affects many facets of our lives.  I have not been to a movie in years, but I have seen trailers on TV and digital video, and heard people talk about them.  I have noticed many come away more enamored with the thrilling “special effects” while having only a sketchy memory of the plot or story behind the effects. At musical concerts, for the most part, the primary attention is given to special effects to create an emotional atmosphere than to thoughtful lyrics that convey real messages.

I fear this culture is affecting public worship. People are “going to church” - not to be challenged to think on spiritual things - but to be thrilled by the “special effects” generated by preachers and “worship leaders.” Rather than songs, clearly worded and sung to praise God and to teach each other - words primarily appealing to the head rather than to the arms and feet -  the order of the day is for “special effects” designed to give worshipers an emotional high. Sermons must be jazzed up with verbal and electronic special effects so that the audience can be thrilled rather than informed or convicted in their minds. I am not speaking of the use of visual aids, computer generated or otherwise. Visual aids are great tools when they truly “aid” the listener’s understanding, but when used for emotional, thrill and awe value, they are questionable to say the least. I saw a video a while back of a congregation partaking of the Lord’s Supper while an electronically produced large cross was “floating” around the auditorium. A little too much – me thinks.

As I read the New Testament I get the idea public worship is to be done from the heart in a solemn manner, glorifying God and seriously reflecting on the words uttered in the songs, prayers and discourses.

- by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.