Ironworks

Folklore is not true, though it may have a passing resemblance to true things. This does not make it accurate. Recently, I wrote about the idea of putting away myths in the new year. The only way to put away myths is to know the truth. Truth must be exhibited when we pray to the Father in Jesus' name. Truth must be proved when we give on the first day of the week. Truth must be observed as we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. Truth must be boldly proclaimed from the pulpit. Yes, truth must be observed in every song that we sing in praise of Jehovah. Certainly, this preacher would not remain in his position if he were to preach premillennial doctrine, Calvinism, or any other heresy. Each Christian must be sure that the words we sing are first true and suitable for the worship of God.            Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father

          The Pride of the Southland Band from the University of Tennessee plays “Rocky Top”, the unofficial fight song, gratuitously at all football games. The song is played so often that opposing coaches have been known to blast it over loudspeakers at practice the week before playing Tennessee. At every game you will hear it: After the extra point, Rocky Top, after a turnover, Rocky Top, after a big gain on offense, Rocky Top. When Rocky Top is played, Tennessee fans are happy. Regardless of which team you like in sports or even if you do not like sports, we can agree a cheerful song can change our attitude, mood, yes our entire disposition. When we sing we are reminded of why we have a reason to be happy. If you are a Christian, you know that there is plenty to be happy about. Let's examine a few of those reasons.  Jesus Saves “We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”             First, we sing because we are happy that Jesus saves. He came for that purpose t

                    When we hear the word “church”, several things may come to mind.  What do you think that the religious world thinks about that word? What do you think that those who do not follow any type of religious group think about it? It is evident in conversations with people that for the most part people think of a building and not what the church actually is. Often times you will hear people say they are “going to church.” What do they mean by this simple statement? They mean that they are going to worship, but they use the word church interchangeably with the thought of going to a building. Is the church a building? Or is it something more? Can we go to church? Is the church really the building of Christ? Do we need the church?           First, let’s consider the word that we get our word “church.” In the original text (Greek), the word is ekklesia. It means “called out.” The church is the called out, but called out of what? And why? Well, the church are those that are cal

          It has been said by many young people that they do not think they should have kids because of the state of the world. In the Lord’s church, we have done a pretty good job of making our brethren aware of the condition of the world. I think we all could do better in assuring our young people that raising godly kids is possible and it's God’s intention for His people.  God commanded it.            In the garden after God created a woman from the flesh of Adam, he said, “And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Gen 1:28). God said this knowing that He created man with free will, which means man could choose to sin. God still told Adam and Eve to have kids. The world was not simply created to be uninhabited. God made the perfect conditions that exist to sustain life.  Exam

          This week it was reported on archeology.org that the tomb of the Egyptian god Osiris was found opposite the Nile River from the city of Luxor. The article describes the tomb like this, “it was modeled on the mythical tomb of Osiris, and was intended to celebrate that god's mysteries. Below the Osiris statue the team found the tomb's burial chamber, and a nearby room was decorated with reliefs depicting demons and deities holding knives and meant to stand guard over the body of the tomb's occupant.” While I concede it is too early to know if the body found in the tomb is the alleged Osiris, I cannot help to think about what it means if it is.            If this is the body of Osiris, he joins a long line of men who claimed to be gods, yet found themselves to be mere mortals by the fact that they each have died. We could make reference to older mainstream religions such as Buddhism and we could go to Jingchuan County, China and find the tomb where (at least some of)

          “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests and the Levites.”  This command, in Deuteronomy 17:18, was the law for the days when the children of God would want a king.  Although, God wanted his children to have faith in Him, He knew that they would want to physically see someone.  This being the case, God gave certain instructions for this new king.  The FIRST thing he was supposed to do was write a copy of God’s law.Why would he need to do this? God in His infinite wisdom knew that this king should know the Law of the Lord before he could be a righteous king.  After he had written the law with his own hand; he would have had a descent grasp of the law.  And every day when he would apply his statutes he would probably be more equipped to remember that law which he had copied. If a king copied the law to know God’s law and will for him; then why should we not

     When I say the word “myth” it probably brings up various ideas in your mind. Perhaps you think about the various gods and superhuman characters of Greco-Roman mythology. You might be familiar with the one they call Achilles. The story of Achilles is that he was invulnerable in all of his body except for one heel because when his mother Thetis dipped him in the river Styx as an infant, she held him by one of his heels. In our modern era the term "Achilles' heel" has come to mean a point of weakness, especially in someone or something with an otherwise strong constitution. The Achilles tendon is also named after him due to these myths.   The Bible speaks of myths. The Koine Greek language utilizes the word muthos (μῦθος), 5 times. This word simply is defined as a speech, story, a fable. In the Bible, each time it is used it always means the latter, a myth (fable). Therefore, a myth or fable is something that we must not believe or give any credence to.  Pauls'