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Living Together - Right or Wrong?
Chuck Northrop

In this time of “live in” boyfriends and girlfriends, it is no wonder that many are confused about marriage. The world has long tried to destroy marriage and justify itself in its evil deeds while Christianity has uplifted marriage to the lofty plain that it deserves. The world has cried that marriage will be defeated and that it will not survive but like all things created and sanctioned by God, marriage is here to stay and is a viable part of society.

Nevertheless, some have chosen to live contrary to God’s law concerning marriage and have advocated that marriage is no longer needed, being outdated. Or by some perverse rationale, they reason: “You wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on. So, don’t get married without first trying out your mate.” It is often the case that those who cry such foolishness are the very ones who cry that they do not want to be treated like animals or inanimate objects. Yet, this is the very thing they are advocating. Dear reader, we are not talking about a pair of shoes, we are talking about humanity. Let us never be guilty of treating one we are considering to marry as if they are a pair of shoes!

In 1983, Newsweek reported that only 16% of college students considered it harmful “for a man and woman to live together before marriage” while 61% said it would be “helpful.” With such views, questions concerning “living together” must be answered. Entire Article

We Are Simply Christians
by Dale Smelser

Many are growing disenchanted with present religious forms which originated in the middle ages and have become meaningless. There is displeasure with denominational structures and dogma. Some, because of such views, have even decided that Christianity is not relevant today. We believe they have made that decision because they are not sufficiently acquainted with the Scriptures to be able to distinguish between the relevant gospel of Christ and what men over the centuries have attempted to add to it.

If some of these things have troubled you and you have felt a yearning to return to the simple, uncomplicated religion of Christ, stripping away all the nonessential elements of religion and simply abiding by the truths of Christ, truths which transform the soul and bind it to God, let us suggest that it can and has been done.  Entire Article

Infants and Sin
 

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:3).

This writer's first efforts at debating denominational error was with a Lutheran preacher. The issues were total hereditary depravity and infant baptism. We expected our opponent to argue that little children were only guilty of inborn or inherited sin — not personal sins of their own. So, we were surprised, indeed, when he said that infants were guilty of actual transgressions of their own. He was very insistent that infants needed baptism to remove both kinds of sins—inherited and actual.

He was the first one that we had heard attempt to specify acts of sin that infants and small children commit. I remember his using temper tantrums as one example. We insisted that if those little fellows were sinners, then Jesus would be saying that, "unless you are converted and become as little sinners, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." If not, why not?  Entire Article

Last Will and Testament
 

A feature of common law has come down to us from as early as the Hebrew nation through the Grecian and Roman empires. A man may make a statement concerning the disposition of his estate after death, but such a statement is not of force until there has been the death of him who made it. While living he has the right to do as he wills with his estate, no matter what his statement may have said. This statement is called his last will and testament. Even though it is so called, he may make another, and if it can be shown that there is a later one the former is superseded. This is described as characteristic of what is commonly referred to as the New Testament.

"For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth. "(Hebrews 9:16-17).

While he was upon the earth Jesus had the power to forgive sins. Since the New Testament had not been made effective by his death, he could make any conditions he chose, or could make forgiveness without conditions, without the necessity of abiding by the conditions of his will which would later be effective.   Entire Article

Depression: Cause and Cure
 

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression; but a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12:25).

According to one recent source, about one in five American adults — that’s over 46 million people — suffer some form of chronic depression, ranging from prolonged sadness to psychosis. Some of these unhappy people are undoubtedly victims of biological imbalances that require medical treatment.

However, in many cases the root problem must be sought in the hearts of the victims. Their depression is simply a state of mind they bring upon themselves by how they choose to think. This proverb points to anxiety as the chief culprit in creating mental gloominess. The Hebrew word means “fear, dread, anxious care.” When a person allows his mind to be consumed with worry over his problems — or potential problems — he is sure to become depressed.  Entire Article

Why The Gospel Is God's Power Unto Salvation

 
By R.L. Whiteside

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." (Rom. 1:16a).
In many sermons and articles emphasis is placed on "the" before "power," as if it were the deciding word in this sentence, whereas it is not in the Greek text. It seems odd that we should emphasize a word that Paul could have used at that place, but did not. Perhaps Paul's emphasis may better be seen by reading as follows: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power unto salvation." Paul emphasizes the idea that the gospel is God's power for saving men—not his creative power, but his saving power; not the power by which he created man, but the power by which he saves men. If men are saved at all, God must do it; and if God saves man, he does it by his own power—by his power for saving man. Paul affirms that His power for saving man is the gospel. That cuts off any other power or means for regenerating, or saving, man.  Entire Article

By Wayne Jackson

In the book of James, the inspired writer exhorts: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:14-15).

The sick are still among us. And virtually no one questions the fact that the church should have elders today, where qualified men can be found. Should elders, then, in connection with their prayers, be anointing the sick with oil?

Though this procedure has not been practiced by churches of Christ in modern times (as a general rule), some are suggesting that it ought to be a part of our ritual. How should this matter be viewed?  Entire Article