Robert Milligan – Concern Over Influence

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Robert Milligan(1814-1875) was influential member of the church. He served as co-editor of the Millennial Harbinger with Alexander Campbell and W.K. Pendleton. He penned several great books which are still widely used including, Scheme of Redemption and his commentary – The Epistle to the Hebrews. He was a preacher, and also served as an elder.

He was also a great scholar. He served as a professor at Washington college (Pennsylvania), State University of Indiana, Bethany college (West Virginia), and as President of Kentucky University. He, through the years, taught a variety of subjects including: mathematics, chemistry, natural history, and English literature.

His Concern For Others

Milligan, while a young professor, until the end of his life, was afflicted with severe pain. He suffered from inflammatory rheumatism. Also, he suffered with neuralgia of the brain, which afflicted the optic nerve, and rendered his eyes very sensitive to light. So much were his eyes affected that he often looked down, and not in a person’s eyes, due to the light. As he aged, he frequently relied on others to read to him, in order to spare his eyes from the work.

Brother J.W. McGarvey wrote: “He consulted many eminent physicians in regard to his maladies, and he was repeatedly urged to drink daily a portion of strong whiskey or brandy, with the assurance that it would add at least ten years to his life. But he steadfastly refused to do so, and said that he would rather die ten years earlier than to live by the daily use of intoxicating liquor. And this was not so much because he feared the affects on himself, as because he dreaded the influence it would have on others, and especially the young men, to know that from any cause he kept up such a habit” (Addendum to Milligans’s “The Epistle to the Hebrews,” p. 514). Can you imagine what some students would have thought or been encouraged to do, if they saw Professor Milligan carrying a bottle to his house? He wanted no part of it.

May we each develop that kind of concern over our influence, and for one another. (Note: I am not suggesting that it is necessarily wrong for alcohol to be used for medical reasons, or that Milligan definitely made the the best decission.  But, we should always consider how our actions in all areas might influence others.) Consider the following passages: Matthew 18:6; Romans 14:19, 21; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:13; 2 Corinthians 8:21;  Philippians 2:5.

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Various Instructions for New Converts

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

The church at Thessalonica had not existed very long when Paul wrote his first letter to them.  He closed the letter with various instructions for these recent converts.  These instructions are valuable for every convert.  Let’s notice…

1.  Comfort and Edify One Another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Christians are to help each other stay strong in Christ.  They are to comfort each other when death and other difficulties come (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:14).  They are to use their tongues to edify (Ephesians 4:29), and encourage one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).  “Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19 cf. 15:1-2).  James Coffman wrote, “The responsibility of Christians is to do, practice, say and engage in only those things that contribute constructively to the building up… of fellow Christians.  It is not enough merely to refrain from saying what will discourage or damage another, or from practicing what will offend another or from doing what may tempt another.  The mandate is to do what will help the spiritual life and growth of fellow Christians” (1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, p. 61).

2.  Esteem and Love Those Who Labor Among You and Are Over You in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

It is easy to criticize those who have public roles of leadership.   Some pick to the point of causing some men to want to “throw in the towel.” If this picking is over opinions and non-salvation issues this is a shame.  The Hebrew writer said, “Let them do so (rule – B.H.) with joy and not with grief, for such would be unprofitable to you” (Hebrew 13:17b).

In truth, their hands should be supported (cf. Exodus 17:11-12).  They should be remembered in prayer.  They should be esteemed for their work.  If they rule well, according to the Bible, they should be considered worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17).   “They watch all for your souls, as those who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17).

3.  Be At Peace Among Yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15).

A lack of peace and harmony in the church is counter-productive.  It will hurt the church’s influence in the city.  It will discourage and not encourage brethren.

We are to be a peaceful people.  Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).  Paul instructed us, “if it is possible as much as depends on you live peaceably will all men” (Romans 12:18).  Again, “We… who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification” (Romans 15:1-2).  The Hebrews writer said, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

4.  Rejoice and Pray With Thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Affliction and persecution are mentioned five times in Paul’s letters to these Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 3:3; 3:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1:6).  They faced many trials.

Yet, they were to stay focused on reasons they had to rejoice and be thankful in Christ.  Consider these words: “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19);  “The dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall ever be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).  “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live with Him.  Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11).  “It is a righteous thing with God… to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7).

Let us focus on the joy that awaits, and upon God’s goodness to us.  Paul describes these things or “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). His love is a love “which passes knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19).  “Oh the depth and the riches of God’s saving grace flowing down from the cross for me!  There the debt for my sins by the savior was paid in His suffering on Calvary.  Oh what marvelous mercy, what infinite love!  What immeasurable grace I see!  By His blood I am cleansed; I am happy and free thru His suffering on Calvary!” (Song: Oh the Depth and the Riches by Tillit S. Teddlie).

5.  Quench Not The Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

These words are paralleled with, “Do not despise prophesies.”  Remember that the use of miraculous gifts could be suppressed by the one who possessed such gifts (cf. 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Corinthians 14:32).  Franklin Camp wrote, “It is a command relative to miraculous gifts” (The Work of the Holy Spirit in Redemption, p. 190).  It may be that some were afraid of boldly proclaiming the message because of the opposition in society, and were not using the God-given abilities which they possessed.

We too can quench the Spirit`s influence and suppress the powerful word of God. We do so by letting fear keep us from proclaiming  the word  to others. We do so when  we will not listen to it ourselves. We do by not using our abilities to His glory.  H. Leo Boles remarked, “Indifference, lukewarmness, and idleness all hinder the work of the Holy Spirit.  To discourage the work of the Lord is to quench the Holy Spirit” (The Holy Spirit: His Personality, Nature, Works, p. 168).

6.  Test All Things (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

God’s people are not to be spiritually gullible.  We are to put things to a scriptural test.  The Bereans are commended because, “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).  John warns, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  Being taught wrong is no excuse.  “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14 cf. Genesis 3; 1 Kings 13:11-ff; Colossians 2:8, etc.).

The test is not the end of the matter. Once the testing is completed a decision and response is needed.  If the message is true, receive it and hold fast to it.  If the message is found to be not true, abstain from it.

These are indeed very good words for all of us to ponder.

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Thought Provoking Stats For Parents and Teens

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Here are some stats that I have come across in my reading, and have filed away in my files. If accurate, they are thought-provoking.  I want to share them with you.

1. FATHER IN THE HOME

W. Bradford Wilcox, an assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, has written an article entitled, “Who’s Your Daddy? There’s more to fatherhood that donating DNA.” He mentioned these stats “one study of 6,403 boys carried out by scholars at Princeton and the University of California at San Francisco found that boys raised in single parent homes are twice as likely as others to end up in prison…

University of Arizona Psychologist, Bruce Ellis, who studied 762 girls in the United States and New Zealand, found that girls who saw their father leave the family before age six were more than six times as likely to have a teenage pregnancy as girls whose fathers stuck around through their entire childhood.

A study of all Swedish children between 1991 and 1998 found that those in single-parent families were twice as likely to attempt suicide and 50% more likely to succeed in committing suicide than children in two-parent families. Pioneering work by Bruce Ellis suggests that the timing of puberty is linked to the presence of a biological father: Girls who grew up without their biological fathers experience puberty (and therefore are more likely to have sex) at a significantly younger age than girls who grew up with their fathers” (The Weekly Standard, Dec. 12, 2005).

Maybe God knew what He was doing when He designed the home as He did, and specified that it is only within marriage that a man and woman are to “know” one another.

2. DATING AGE

Marilyn Morris, founder of an organization on teen abstinence, Aim for Success, has included these statistics in a book she’s written: “91% of all girls who started dating at age 12 have sex before graduation. 56% of all girls who start dating at 13 have sex before graduation. 53% of all girls who start dating at age 14 have sex before graduation. 40% of all girls who start dating at age 15 have sex before graduation. 20% of all girls who started dating at 16 have sex before graduation” (ABC’s of the Birds and the Bees, p. 48 – she borrowed these stats from Josh McDowell’s book, How to Help Your Child say ‘NO’ to Sexual Pressure).

Let’s remember that we are to be about the business of “Train(ing) up a child in the way he should go…” (Proverbs 22:6). Children need restraints. They should not be left to themselves. “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15).

3. BEHAVIOR CORRELATION

Marilyn Morris also includes these statistics, “Teenage boys who have had sex are: 6 times more likely to drink alcohol than virgin boys; 4 times more likely to smoke cigarettes; 5 times more likely to smoke marijuana; 4 times more likely to use other drugs; 7 times more likely to consider dropping out of school; 3 times more likely to run away from home; 4 times more likely to be arrested by police; 7 times more likely to be suspended from school than virgin teenage boys.

‘Teenage girls who have had sex: 6 times more likely to drink alcohol than virgin teenage girls; 7 times more likely to smoke cigarettes; 10 times more likely to smoke marijuana; 4 times more likely to use other drugs; 4 times more likely to drop out of school; 18 times more likely to run away from home; 9 times more likely to be arrested by police; 5 times more likely to be suspended from school; 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than virgin teen girls.” (ibid, p. 237 – stats taken from “Premature Sexual Activity as an Indicator of Psychosocial Risk, Pediatrics, Feb. 1991).

What I want you to consider is that misbehavior in one area of life is often an indicator of what may be going on in other areas. If your child’s friends have lack of self-control, or a lack of respect for authority in one area of life, likely that is not the only area.

A good parent warns his children about “evil company” (Proverbs 1:10-15; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 22:24; 1 Corinthians 15:33). Let us seek each day to “provoke not (our) children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

4. BOY FRIEND AGE

“According to a report published by the California Department of Health Services, men 20 years old and older father five times more births among junior high aged girls than do junior high school aged boys. On average, when a 12-year old or younger girl becomes pregnant, the father of the baby averages 22 years of age. When junior high aged girls become pregnant, the fathers of the babies are usually five years older than the mothers.   When high school girls became pregnant, the father averaged nearly four years older” (ABC’s of the Birds and Bees, p. 52 – stats taken from California Vital Statistics – 1992).

Parents, don’t allow your child to get in a situation where they are “unequally yoked.” It is our duty to protect them.

5. TEEN MOM/ SINGLE PARENT

“Fact: About 1 million teenage girls get pregnant each year. That is 1 out of 5 sexually active girls. Pregnancy is the top reason why teenage girls are hospitalized. 7 out of 10 adolescent mothers drop out of high school. When daughters of teen mothers grow up they are 50 percent more likely to have children before they are married.

“When sons of teen mothers grow up, they are 2.7 times more likely to spend time in prison than sons of mothers who delay childbearing until their early 20’s” (ibid, p. 151 – stats from two sources: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, Sex and the American Teenager, p. 41 and Rebecca Maynard’s Kids Having Kids, A Special Report for the Robin Hood Foundation).

“Children of single parents are six times as likely to be poor” (Rush Limbaugh, See, I Told You So, p. 98). “About 50 percent of all unwed mothers go on welfare within one year of the birth of their first child. More than 75 percent go on within five years” (Bill Bennett, The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, p. 65). William Galson and Elaine Kamarck who served in the Clinton – Gore administration concluded, “The best anti-poverty program for children is a stable, intact family.” (ibid, page 63).

The Bible warns, “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). It also makes clear that the decisions of one generation can effect the next (Genesis 18:19; 1 Kings 15:26; 2 Kings 21:19-21; 2 Chronicles 22:3).

As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children these things; and to point out (physical difficulties aside), the spiritual consequences to sin (if not repented).

6. UNMARRIED COHABITATION

The world sometimes argues for a “trial marriage.” “Let’s live together for a while and see how it goes,” it’s reasoned.

Marilyn Morris cites three studies on this idea. (1) The first is from the University of Wisconsin. She writes, “sociologists at the University of Wisconsin stated that ‘recent national studies in Canada, Sweden and the U.S. found that cohabitation increased rather than decreased the risk of marital dissolution” (ABC’s p.41 – ref. Elizebeth Thomson and Ugo Colella, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1992). (2) “Another study documented in the Journal of Marriage and Family stated that the divorce rate is 50% higher among those who lived together before marriage” (ibid, – ref. Larry Bumpass, The Role of Cohabitation in Declining Rates of Marriage, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Nov. 1991; 53, 913-928). (3) “An Australian study found that couples who cohabited before marriage were more likely to divorce than those who did not cohabit before marriage. They … ‘separated more often, sought counseling more often, and regarded marriage as a less important part of their lives than those who did not live together before marriage” (ibid – ref. John Cunningham and John Antill, Macquarie University, 1994).

Don’t believe Satan’s lies. God’s ways are always best. Let’s teach our children that “Marriage is honorable in all…” (Heb. 13:4).

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The Lord’s Prayer

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

The context: Death was near.  Jesus knew it.  He, with concern for His disciples, prayed.

Let us observe for whom and what He prayed.

1.  Himself (John 17:1-5)

“Father, the hour has come” (John 17:1a).  The reference is to the time for His death (John 7:30; 8:20; 12:23-24; 12:27 cf. 17:1a).

“Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (John 17:1b).  He prays for Himself.  There is nothing wrong with praying for self (Matthew 6:11; 6:12-13a; John 17:1; Luke 22:46; 1 Peter 5:6-7).

However, His prayer for self was not entirely selfish.  He desired to be glorified, so that He could be used to glorify the Father.  Prayer should not be purely selfish (James 4:3).

Consider the following prayers: (a) David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous spirit.  Then, I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted to You” (Psalm 51:12-13).  (B) Solomon asked, “I am a little child. I do not know how to come out or come in… Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:7-9).  (c) Hezekiah prayed, “O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his (Sennacherib`s) hand, that all the kingdoms of earth my know that You are the LORD God, You alone” (2 Kings 19:19).  (d) The early church prayed, “Now Lord, look on their(The Sanhedrin`s)  threats, and grand to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word” (Acts 4:29).  Paul requested that the church at Ephesus pray for him so that he might “boldly… make known the mystery of the Gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).  (e) He asked the Colossians to pray “that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3).  (f) He prayed to be able to see the brethren at Thessalonica so that he could “perfect what is lacking” in their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10).  (g) He wanted to visit Rome to help them be “established” (Romans 1:11).  Are you noticing a pattern?  Pray for self?  Yes.  Pray selfishly?  Never!

Suggestions: Instead of praying “Father restore my health” with the thought so that I can spend my time pursuing my own pleasure, it would be better to pray “Father restore my health so that I may be of greater service to You.” Instead of praying “Father bless my business” with the thought so that I may be a wealthy man, it would be better to pray “Father bless my business so that I may have greater ability to support Your work.”

2.  His disciples (John 17:6-19)

He prayed for their unity.  “I pray for them… that they may be one as we are” (John 17:9a, 11).  How much were they to be one?  The model is found in the unity of the Father and the Son.  Wrap your head around that!  Unity is important.  Jesus said, “I am glorified in them” (John 17:10).  Whatever we do is to be to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).  This includes our unity.  “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

He prayed for their sanctification.  “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one… sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:15, 17).  He did not want His disciples to be monks living recluse from the world.  His disciples were to be the salt and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).  In order to be a good example to the world, they needed to live it (1 Peter 2:12).  They needed to be sanctified, set apart by the truth, living in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-19).

He prayed that they may know His joy.  “These things I speak… that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).  Concerning Jesus, we are told, “Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

It is good to pray for others.   Consider Paul’s prayers: (a) “I pray to God that you do not evil… that you do what is honorable” (2 Corinthians 13:7).  “I pray, that your love may abound still more and more…” (Philippians 1:9).  “We… do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…” (Colossians 1:9).

3. Future believers (John 17:20-26)

He prayed for their unity. ” I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they may be one, as You Father, are in Me and I in You; that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). This is the second time unity is mentioned in this prayer. A lack of unity leads to unbelief. It becomes an excuse for not being a Christian, not a legitimate excuse, but an excuse none-the-less. Paul also was concerned about unity. He wrote “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).  Again he wrote, “let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind” (Philippians 3:16).  If we are serious about leading the world to Christ, then we must be serious about Biblical unity.

He wanted them one day to be in heaven.  “Father I desire that they whom You gave to Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me” (John 17:24).  The Father gives souls to Jesus through the New Testament message (John 6:37 cf. 6:44-45).  Jesus wanted these souls one day to be with Him.  Jesus earlier told the disciples, “I go and prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).  However, this prayer includes others who would be taught by the disciples, and come to believe (John 17:20, 24).  It will only be possible to be with Him in glory by being glorified (1 John 3:2 cf. Philippians 3:20-21).

It is appropriate for us to be concerned about others, and pray for them, even for potential future believers.  We should pray, for example, for opportunity to study with others (Colossians 4:3).  We can pray that they come to know Christian joy (John 17:13); that they be kept from the evil one (John 17:13), sanctified (John 17:17), and unified (John 17:11, 21) to the glory of the God (John 17:1).

May we learn to pray like Jesus. Let us be a people of prayer.

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The Four Chambered Heart (Is Thy Heart Right With God?)

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

The physical heart is composed of four chambers.  (1) The right ventricle (lower, right chamber) pumps deoxygenated blood into the lungs where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide.  (2) The left atrium (upper, left chamber) receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it into the next chamber.  (3) The left ventricle (lower left chamber) pumps oxygenated blood through the body.  (4) The right atrium (upper right chamber) receives the deoxygenated blood and pumps it to the right ventricle where the process starts all over.  A septum (wall) keeps the oxygenated blood (left side) from mixing with the deoxygenated blood (right side); valves in the system keep the blood flowing in the proper direction.  All of this points to intelligent design.

Spiritual Heart

Like the physical heart, the spiritual heart has four chambers.  It’s time for a heart exam.  Are all four chambers of your spiritual heart pumping and healthy?

1.  The Intellect

It has been said that the spiritual heart is, “The thinker in the head, not the thumper in the chest.”  The spiritual heart: (a) thinks (Genesis 6:5; Esther 6:6; Job 17:11; Psalm 139:23; Acts 8:22; Hebrews 4:12); (b) meditates (Psalm 19:14); (c) understands (1 Kings 3:9; Proverbs 2:1-6; 15:14; (d) believes (Mark 11:23; 16:14; Luke 8:14; 24:25; Acts 8:36-37; Romans 10:9-10).

How’s this first chamber?  Where are your intellectual thoughts?  Do you meditate on God’s Word (Psalm 119:11, 97, 99b)?  Do you think on wickedness (Proverbs 6:18; Matthew 5:28)?  God wants your mind (Mark 12:30).  He cares about your heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

“Purer in heart, O God, help me to be…”

2.  Conscience

The Spiritual heart can be “pricked” (KJV) or “cut” (NKJV).  This is what happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37).  If men are going to be saved, their hearts must be soft enough to care about right and wrong (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10).

It is sad that many do not even blush at sin (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12).  They are past feeling (Ephesians 4:19).  They have hardened their hearts (Proverbs 28:14; Hebrews 3:8, 15; 4:7).  They have seared their consciences (1 Timothy 4:2).

How is this second chamber? How is your conscience?  Does sin still vex your soul?  Does it bother you at all?

“Give me the heart of a servant.  Tender and faithful and true.  Fill me with love, so that the world may see you.”

3. The Will

The Spiritual Heart: (a) purposes (Daniel 1:8; Acts 11:23; 2 Corinthians 9:7); (b) has intentions (Hebrews 4:12-13) and (c) obeys (Romans 6:17). External actions originated in the heart (Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 11:8; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 6:17).

Let’s grant that you intellectually understand God’s will, and even believe it in the first chamber. Let`s also grant that your conscience is tender enough to be bothered by sin in the second chamber. What about this third chamber? Do you have the will to do His will?

“Have thine affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God?”

4.  Emotion.

The spiritual heart has emotions.  The Bible speaks of the heart having: (a) anguish (2 Corinthians 2:4); (b) desire (Romans 10:1); (c) love for others (Colossians 2:21; 1 Peter 1:22); (d) love for God [(Matthew 22:36; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27); heart = emotions (feelings); soul=being (life’s existence); mind = intellect (brain); strength = energy (effort, muscle)].

How is this fourth chamber? Are you emotionally connected with God?  Do you truly love Him with all your being?

“As the deer pants for the water so my soul long after You.  You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship You.”

Conclusion

So, how’s your heart?  Are you pumping in all four chambers?  “Is thy heart right with God?”

Some one suggested to me that when trying to discern whether one is of the age of accountability all four chambers of the heart should be considered. Some intellectually know the purpose of baptism, but have no real consciousness of sin, or determined will which cannot easily be dissuaded.

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Life in Blood

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

“The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). How true this is! Man could not live without it. Blood performs many functions for man: (1) oxygenates cells; (2) removes carbon dioxide and other waste from cells; (3) transports nutrients to cells; (4) transports hormones; (5) transports and regulates heat; (6) provides defense against disease; (7) clots, preventing minor cuts from resulting in total bleed-out.

Human blood provides strong evidence for creation and intelligent design. Let’s notice…

 Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide

The circulatory system is pumped by the heart.  The heart is composed of four chambers.  (1) The right ventricle (lower right chamber) pumps deoxygenated blood into the lungs where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide.  (2) The left atrium (upper left chamber) receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it into the next chamber.  (3) The left ventricle (lower left chamber) pumps oxygenated blood through the body.  (4) The right atrium (upper right chamber) receives the deoxygenated blood and pumps it into the right ventricle where the process starts all over.  A septum (wall) keeps the oxygenated blood (left side) from mixing with deoxygenated blood (right side).  Valves in the system keep the blood flowing in the proper direction.  How could such a system have evolved?  “Evolutionists have a difficult time explaining how the heart could have evolved to serve as a blood ‘pump’ since the heart itself requires oxygenated blood” (Brad Harrub, The Truth About Human Origin, p. 455).

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the lungs.  “Alveoli are grape like bunches of very small air sacs.  Each person has approximately 750 million of these.  All of them together likely have a surface area which is about 25 times that of skin.  Spread out flat, they would cover as much as 600 square feet.   Compare a room of about 30 by 20 feet.  Each alveolus is covered with a network of capillaries.  These capillaries are so small that red blood cells must pass through them one cell at a time, through the very thin walls of the capillary.  The blood gives up its waste, that is carbon dioxide, and takes on refreshing life-giving oxygen.  Now note carefully that without this exchange, this interchange, of carbon dioxide and oxygen no human being could live more that a few moments.  The body’s entire blood supply must pass through these small blood vessels every few minutes.  The blood goes in one end a dark blue-black and out the other a bright cherry red, day and night this process must go on without interruption… Now we all know that one cannot live if that interchange stops longer than five minutes, and yet every evolutionist would say that for such a complexity to develop it would require not only thousands but millions of years!” (The Warren-Flew Debate, p. 116-122).  Again, “the tension of oxygen is lower in the venous blood than in the alveolar air, but the venous blood has a higher tension of the carbon dioxide.  The pulmonary capillaries and the air in the alveoli are separated by membranes which are so delicate as to be freely permeable to these gases – that is oxygen and carbon dioxide.  The differences in the relevant pressures are favorable to a rapid inward diffusion of oxygen (from alveolar air to blood) and an outward diffusion of carbon dioxide (from blood to the alveolar air).  Now notice, you have got to get oxygen into your blood and it has got to go all over your body or you will die.  And you have to get the carbon dioxide out of your blood and out of the air you breathe or you will die.  And that has to occur within at most a five minute period” (ibid, p. 214-216). This cries out design.

Pre-birth/ Post-birth

Prior to birth, things function differently.  The unborn child does not breathe through the lungs, but the mother breathes for the child.  The mother’s bloodstream provides the aeration for the child’s blood.  Dr. Russell C. Artist explains, “until birth, the blood is diverted around the perfectly developed but not functioning lungs by a systems of bypasses… one of these is a small opening between the right auricle (part of the atrium) and the left auricle… it is called foramen ovale… The opening…the foramen ovale…is in embryonic life guarded by two flaps of tissue that permit the blood to flow through the opening.  At birth, and of course instantaneously, because of certain pressure relationships, the flaps are closed never to open again… eventually new tissue grows across the opening, and in the majority of people this shortcut is completely sealed off in adult life… The other bypass in the system of circulation before birth is a short and thick vessel, covered by a tough sheet of smooth muscle.  This unique blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus, is designed to carry the blood from the pulmonary directly across to the great aortic arch, thus eliminating the passage of blood through the lungs… Now we come to the muscle that contracts only once.  This short-circuit, which we call ductus arteriosus, is clamped shut at the moment of birth by a ring of strongly contracting muscle… This tiny muscle remains firmly contracted until the bypassed blood vessel has withered away and then, it too degenerates and disappears, after contracting only one time!  That it is absolutely essential for the two bypasses to function properly at the moment of birth… lies in the sobering fact that in the case of failure there are no second chances” (Dr. Russell C. Artist, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” Gospel Advocate, January 23, 1969, quoted in Roy Deaver’s Commentary on the Book of Psalms, Vol. 2, p. 236-239).  This cries out design.

Clotting

“Run flat” tires are designed to provide a temporary seal to punctured tires. This enables the tire to continue to be used for a limited distance at reduced speeds.

The human blood system also has an ability to seal. “Blood clotting has to work within very narrow restrictions. When a cut occurs in an organism with a pressurized blood circulation system like ours, a clot must form quickly or the organism will bleed to death…When a cut occurs, the clot has to stop the bleeding all along the length of the cut, sealing it completely. But blood clotting must also be confined to the area of the cut or the entire blood system of the animal could solidify killing it” (Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins, pg. 141).

How does blood clot?

Many things must work correctly for beneficial blood clotting to occur. It takes a chain of events.

 1. About 2 to 3 percent of the protein in blood plasma consists of a protein called fibrinogen. Normally, fibrinogen is dissolved in the plasma like salt is dissolved in ocean water.

2. When a cut occurs, another protein, called thrombin, slices off several small pieces from two or three pairs of protein chairs in fibrinogen. The trimmed protein is now called fibrin. Fibrin has sticky patches exposed on its surface that had been covered by the pieces that were cut off. Fibrin proteins aggregate making a protein meshwork that entraps blood cells. This forms an initial clot.

3. Thrombin initially exists in an inactive form, prothrombin. Prothrombin must be activated into thrombin before it can trim fibrinogen into fibrin. Two other proteins, called stuart factor and proaccelerin, cut off a small portion of the prothrombin to make the active thrombin.

4. Prothrombin cannot be transformed into thrombin by the presence of the stuart factor and proaccelerin without being modified. Ten specific amino acids called Glu residues must be changed to Gla residues which allows prothrombin to bind the calcium and then stick to the inside, exposed surface of the injured cell. An additional component, Vitamin K, is necessary for this modification.

5. The stuart factor must be activated for it to play its role in transforming prothrombin into thrombin. This can occur in two ways. One pathway is called the intrinsic pathway. The other is called the extrinsic pathway. The intrinsic pathway begins with trauma to the blood vessel, exposing blood to collagen. The extrinsic pathway begins with trauma to vascular walls, or extravascular tissue by exposing the blood to tissue factor.

6. What prevents the blood from completely solidifying, shutting down circulation, and leading to death?

(a) A protein called thrombomodulin lines the surface of the cells on the inside of the blood vessels.   Thrombomodulin binds thrombin, making it less able to cut fibrinogen.

 (b) Protein C is activated by thrombin. It is an anticoagulant.

(c) A protein called antithrombin binds to the active (but not the inactive) forms of most clotting proteins  and inactivates them. Antithrombin is itself relatively inactive unless it binds to a substance called heparin.   Heparin occurs inside cells and undamaged blood vessels.

7. Proteins are also involved in clot removal. They are activated at the proper time by biochemical signal.

[ Info from: (1) Michael Behe, Darwin’s Black Box, Chapter 4; (2) Of Pandas and People, Chapter 6 ]

“Why is the blood clotting system an example of intelligent design? The ordering of independent pieces into a coherent whole to accomplish a purpose which is beyond any single component of the system is characteristic of intelligence… It is like a car engine… which fails to work if the fan belt is missing, or the distributor cap, or the spark plug… When the system is lacking just one of the components… severe health problems often result. Only when all the components of the system are present and in good order does the system function properly” (Pandas and People). The cries out design.

Blood Shape

“In humans, red blood cells are anucleated (i.e. they are devoid of nuclei)…All cells require a nucleus for reproduction and maturation even red blood cells have a nucleus during their very early stages of development…As the red blood cell matures and is ready to leave the bone marrow, it expels its nucleus… in humans, the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) often are so narrow that a nucleated red blood cell would have a difficult time passing through them… However, without the nucleus present, the red blood cell is flexible, and is able to fold over on itself. The anucleated red blood cell`s shape… can best accomplish this feat” (Brad Harrub, The Truth About Human Origin, p. 455). How could such be accomplished by blind chance? This cries out design.

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The Model Prayer

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Jesus set forth a model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).  It is brief, consisting of a mere sixty-six words in the New King James Version. Yet,  it is rich. Great prayers do not have to be long prayers.

Let’s notice:

1.  “Our Father in heaven”

We are to pray as children of God.  He cares for us.  “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7:9-11).

2.  “Our Father in heaven”

He did not say, “My Father,” but “Our Father.”  Physically God is the Father of all.  Spiritually He has a family (Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 2:19 cf. 4:4-6).  We are to pray as part of a family.  We are to be mindful of others (cf. Romans 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:15-16; Philippians 1:3-4; Colossians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4-5; 3 John 2).  We should also remember that one cannot be successful in his prayer life and mistreat others (1 Peter 3:7; Matthew 5:23-24).

3.  “Hallowed by Your name”

The term “hallowed” means “to render or acknowledge to be venerable” (Thayer).  God is to be approached with respect.  Think of how God is approached in the prayers of the Bible: “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, Our Father, forever and ever.  Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours” (1 Chronicles 29:10-11); “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You” (2 Chronicles 6:14); “O LORD My God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty who cover with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain” (Psalm 104:1-2); “O LORD God of Israel, the one who dwells between Cherubim, You are God, You alone… You have made heaven and earth” (2 Kings 19:15); “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17); “Lord, You are God, Who made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them” (Acts 4:24).

4.  “Your Kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Kingdom, as used here, refers to the church (Matthew 16:18-19; Mark 9:1 cf. Acts 1:8 cf. Acts 2:4 cf. Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:6, 9).  We should not pray for the kingdom to come; it has come.  However, we still should be mindful of the kingdom in our prayers.  We should pray for its increase.  We should pray for its well-being.  We should pray for its holiness.  Moreover, we should ever pray for His will to be done (cf. Matthew 26:39).

5.  “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Some think this refers to spiritual bread (cf. Matthew 4:4; Job 23:12); However, hermeneutics rules teach that “All words are to be understood in their literal sense, unless the evident meaning of the context forbids” (Dungan, Hermeneutics, p. 10).  It is absolutely proper to pray for physical things (1 Samuel 1:10-ff; 2 Kings 20:1-ff; James 5:13-15; 5:17-18; 3 John 2).  We should pray understanding how dependent we are on God (1 Timothy 4:4-5 cf. Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; James 1:17).  Caution: this should not be viewed as a way around work (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

6.  “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

The term “debts” refers to sins (Luke 11:4).  It is proper to pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).  We should understand that our forgiveness is conditional.  One of the conditions is that we too are to be willing to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15-35).  We should pray understanding how dependent we are on God for our forgiveness.

7.  “Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”

A common Bible idiom is The Idiom of Permission which speak of God as doing something, when in reality he only allowed it.  God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13).  However, He does allow us to live in a world in which we are tempted.  We should pray to God when facing temptations for His providential help (cf. Matthew 26:41).  Prayer is a part of our preparation for spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:13-20).

8.  “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.”

The model prayer closes with more words of praise to the Father.  This model prayer was not provided to give us the words to pray. These exact words are not repeated in any of the recorded prayers in the New Testament. However, this model prayer does provided us with thought about appropriate content for prayer. Notice the contents of this model prayer: two parts exaltation of God (Matthew 6:9, 13b); three parts spiritual petitions (Matthew 6:10, 12, 13a); one part physical petition (Matthew 6:11). Furthermore, It is simple. It is something we each should be able to do. May we be a people of prayer!

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In The News: What Will Future Homes Look Like?

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Some months ago, (this article was first written in February 2006) there was a big push for America to recognize homosexual marriage.  The mayor of San Francisco was licensing and performing such marriages, defying the state.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts decided to recognize such marriages.  While at the same time many states were considering propositions and amendments to clearly define marriage to be a union of a man and a woman.

During this time, I remarked to my wife that this might well open up a ‘Pandora’s box.’  If two men can be considered married, then why not recognize polygamy as practiced by the fundamentalists Mormons and Muslims?  Why not polyandry (one woman with multiple husbands)?  Surely, there would be some soon pushing for equal recognition in these areas if marriage could be expanded to include two from the same gender.  After all, if they love each other, who are we to say ‘no’?

In The Weekly Standard, December 26, 2005, there appeared a piece entitled, “Here Comes the Brides: Plural Marriage is Waiting in the Wings” by Stanley Kurtz.  Kurtz tells of three strange ‘marriages’. (1) A marriage recognized between a husband – Victor de Bruijn, his wife of eight years – Bianca, and a third – Mirjam.  Victor is heterosexual.  The two women are bisexual.  This marriage occurred in the Netherlands, in the town of Rosendale, on September 23, 2005.  This legally is not recognized as a marriage by Dutch law, but is recognized as a cohabitation contract.  This isn’t a typical polygamous relationship.  It is actually a ‘three-way marriage,’ polyamory.  The writer asked the question, “If every sexual orientation has a right to construct its own form of marriage, then more changes are surely due.  For what gay marriage is to homosexuality, group marriage is to the bisexual.”  (2) A marriage between husband – Serge Regnier, and wife of four years – Christine.  Christine’s sister, Katrina, wanted children so the two added her to their relationship.  Serge’s love from childhood, Judith, became ‘available’ so they all agreed to add her.  The man now has three wives, thirty children and more are on the way.  The three wives say that they don’t mind adding a fourth if ‘she was nice.'”  This ‘marriage’ is not recognized as a legal marriage in the Belgian town of Marcinella, where they’re from; But, this situation has opened arguments in Europe for multipartner marriages.  (3) The marriage of Koen Brand and his wife in the Netherlands.  Koen is bisexual and has a relationship with another bisexual who is also married.  One wife is uncomfortable with the situation.  Koen’s own wife is open to forming a threesome.  It is possible one marriage will end and the three remaining will form a polyandrous marriage.

The Unitarian church, which was a power behind the legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, is also calling for the recognition of polyamory (group marriages).  Unitarian ministers are already performing joining ceremonies for polyamorous families.

Folks, have we been silent too long?  Is it not time to take a stand? Regardless of what state and national laws recognize as  marriage, should not the church be vocal?

Let’s teach very clearly that God instituted the home.  He created Adam and Eve.  He didn’t create Adam and Bubba and Eve.  He didn’t create Adam and Eve and Becky.  When Jesus was asked about marriage, He returned to the Garden (Matthew 19:4-5).  So should we!

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In The News: Where Will You Die?

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

One of the most heinous crimes in Texas history was committed at about 3 a.m. on June 13, 1983 in Houston.  It was on this date that Karla Faye Tucker (age 23) and Danny Garrett (age 37) murdered two people by hammer and pick-axe.  Tucker would tell friends, and later testify that she felt a surge of sexual pleasure with each blow of the pick-axe.

Victim one: Jerry Lynn Dean (age 27).  Tucker had feuded with Dean for several months.  He had once parked his Harley Davidson in Tucker’s living room, and it had dripped oil.  Dean was married to Tucker’s best friend, Shawn.  Dean had allegedly physically abused this friend.  Tucker and Garrett – after three days of partying, drugs, and drinking – decided to intimidate Dean and steal his motorcycle.  They gained access to Dean’s apartment from keys which Shawn had supposedly lost and Tucker supposedly found.  Once inside, the plans changed to murder.

Victim two:  Deborah Thornton (age 32).  She and her husband had argued on the evening of June 12, 1983.  She left home angry.  She went to a party, and there she met Jerry Lynn Dean.  She returned with him to his apartment.  Never before had she met this man; but she would die in his bedroom.  Tucker, after the murder of Dean, discovered Thornton hiding under bed covers against the wall in Dean’s room.  She too was murdered.  She left behind a husband and a child.

How sad!  This woman, probably, never imagined that her life would come to an end on that night, or in this situation.  But it did!

How will your life end?  Will it end while you are in the grips of sin, or will you be found walking in the light (1 John 1:7)?  Let us each realize that the activity in which we engage may be our last.

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Austin McGary – A Radical

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Austin McGary (1846-1928) was a Texas lawman.  He served as sheriff of Madison County.  He once disarmed and arrested the notorious John Wesley Hardin.  Later, he worked for the State of Texas transporting prisoners to penitentiaries.

In the early 1880’s, he began to give serious thought to religion.  He had been raised a Methodist, but had not been a religious man.  He made a careful study of the Campbell-Owen debate (1829) on the evidences of Christianity.  He listened to Harry Hamilton preach in Madisonville on principles of apostolic Christianity, at the urging of his sister.  He continued to study as was baptized into Christ on December 24, 1881.

Soon after his conversion McGary became deeply disturbed over how denominational people were being “shaken” into the church; that is, their denominational baptisms were being widely accepted, and with a hand-shake they were being counted as church members, even though they had not been baptized for the purpose of having their sins washed away.  He was especially concerned that this practice was defended by some of the biggest names in the brotherhood.  “Generally speaking, David Lipscomb and the brethren associated with the Gospel Advocate took the position it was not necessary that a man understand that his baptism was ‘for the remission of sins,’ but that any man who was immersed with a sincere desire to obey God was in truth and in reality baptism into Christ – even though he had thought he was already in Christ and had his sins forgiven before the act of baptism” (J.D. Tant – Texas Preacher, p. 59).

McGary knew something must be done.  He decided to combat the error in print.  He started a publication called “The Firm Foundation” in September 1884.  “When the first issue of the Firm Foundation came out only 500 copies were published, and many of them were shoved under the bed, for McGary did not know whom to send them to.  But in short time men and women came to his support by the thousands, and before the first year was out, the paper was read all over the state of Texas, and in many other states” (ibid, p. 60).

According to the Bible, candidates for baptism: (1) have been taught about the kingdom (church) and the name (authority) of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12); (2) believe (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:35-39);  (3) repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19 cf. Matthew 3:7-8);  (4) Confess Jesus (Acts 8:35-38; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 4:14; 10:23);  (5) Understand the purpose of baptism (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16)  (6) Should be immersed (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12) in water (Acts 8:36-39; 10:47 cf. John 3:23).

Some branded McGary a radical and a hobby rider.  W.H. Bagby wrote in the Christian Standard, “We know of no departure from the faith in modern times so hurtful to the course of New Testament Christianity as this hobby which the Firm Foundation was established to advocate” (West, The Search For Ancient Order, Vol. 2, p. 406).

However, in time he persuaded  many.  J.D. Tant said, “I met almost the first issue (of The Firm Foundation) with hatred because it condemned me for trying to palm off on God my sectarian immersion for scriptural baptism” (ibid, p. 60).  Tant had been immersed as a Methodist.  However, “After three months of seeking rest and finding none, I got on a borrowed horse and rode one hundred and twenty-seven miles to Austin to get John S. Durst to baptize me” (ibid, p. 61).

We need more “radicals” as Austin McGary.  We need more who will take a stand, even when doing so is not popular.  Let us say as Paul, “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publically and from house to house… I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 27).  Remember that one man of conviction can make a difference.  John Kennedy said, “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.”  Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  E. M. Forster, “One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.”

 

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