Manasseh and Reversion

 

      Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.  2 Chronicles 33:1-5

                  Dear brethren, what are we doing here in this moment? Are we building up or breaking down? Are we veering to the left or right or keeping the straight path of the Lord? Manasseh king of Judah departed from the good path of his father Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a man of faithful prayer who had sin in his latter years, but humbled himself before the Lord afterward (cf. 2 Chron 32:25-26).

Manasseh Tore Down and Attempted to Rebuild

                  The Scripture teaches that Manasseh did as the very nations that Jehovah had driven out in the time of the conquest of Canaan. The evil that the Canaanites committed was exactly what Manasseh was carrying out when he reigned in Jerusalem (cf. Deut. 18:9-14; 2 Kings 21:6). This evil king was known for his shedding of innocent blood to such a great degree it was described as filling Jerusalem with blood from end to end. (cf. 2 Kings 21:16). Moreover, he restored all the evil that his father had worked so hard to cast out and cast down. He built altars to the false gods of the nations in the Lord’s temple.  He later faced Assyrian captivity for a short time, which led him to repent at least partially. He attempted to undo all that he did, but it was not fully effective because the people still clung to the unauthorized worship in the high places (cf. 2 Chron 33:17).

Do Not Tear Down the Labors of Faithful Brethren

                  What could this have to do with the church of Christ in the 21^st century? We are in danger of trampling on the work of our brethren who came before us, a group of men and women who stuck to the old paths. The faithful brethren believed that the Bible teaches absolute truth on all matters and that we are the church described in the New Testament. There are many who would love to see a more progressive approach taken to the Scripture under the guise of words such as inclusive, and grace-centered. Unfortunately, when inclusivity means allowing the worship of false gods, we cannot take part. When grace-centered means allowing, advocating, and accommodating sin, we cannot take part. I have hope that some of the brethren will come to repentance in their error. We must always remember that what we teach today and what we right today follows us. If we are blatantly teaching error today, some will cling to those very unauthorized practices tomorrow.

Our Obligation to Every Generation 

                  The Lord’s church has an obligation in every generation to be the beacon of hope which is the same as the standard of truth. We strive to maintain our bond of peace by our commonality in the things of Christ. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all (Eph 4:4-6). May we strive daily to reach the lost with the pure Gospel of Christ sown with integrity daily.  

 

Grace and Peace,

R.D. Beavers