Does Faith Ignore Reason & Knowledge?
Scott Perry Immanuel Kant, considered by many the most influential thinker of modern times (Encarta 2000), said in his Critique of Pure Reason, “I have found it necessary, therefore to deny knowledge in order to make room for faith.” Is this ever necessary for the Christian? Must we at times deny knowledge or reason to believe what God has said? No. This is never the case.
Bible faith is always founded upon rational evidence. God requires us to believe the record He has given us (1 John 5:9-11), and His record does not contain any falsehoods about anything (John 17:17). In fact, Jesus said for those who “believed” on Him to continue in His word in order to “know” the truth. So, Bible faith does not ignore reason and knowledge. What then, did Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 5:7, when he said, “[W]e walk by faith and not by sight”?
First, Paul was referring to the fact that while on earth we are absent from the Lord and, therefore, not in His presence (5:6). When He comes, then we will “see Him” (1 John 3:2), but until then we walk by faith. Second, Paul did not mean that we disregard rational evidence (what is seen) to have faith, as Kant has said, but that faith is greater than sight. Faith includes and supercedes what is seen. There is no need to disregard sight (or rational evidence) because the Bible doesn't contradict it! Are some things hard to be understood? Sure. But God rewards the student of His word who “diligently seeks Him” (Heb 11:6). THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
Scott Perry The church has the same mission our Lord had while on earth-- “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). When we were children we loved to play the game “Hide and Go Seek,” but how much fun would that game have been had the one who was to seek not fulfilled his duty in seeking out those who were hiding? That feeling is a good description of the condition of the lost in our world. If we don't look for them who will? Recall the exhilaration you felt when you were caught or almost caught. What a happy time in our lives. It can be the same today, and we don't even have to count to 50 before we begin seeking!
Joy awaits the seeker and the one hiding in the world of sin through the avenue of Bible study and final obedience to the word of God resulting in salvation. This is what Jesus said to the multitude in Zacchaeus' house, “Today is salvation come to this house, for so much as he is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9-10). The mission of the church is not exactly the same as Jesus' because He came to the lost sheep of Israel (Matt. 15:24), and before His death, the apostles were sent only to the house of Israel (Matt. 10:5-6). Hence, Jesus' reference to Zacchaeus being “also a son of Abraham.“ We, however, are commissioned indirectly to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Jew and Gentile), and “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16).
We accomplish this by the means of “preaching the word” (2 Tim. 4:2), and everyone who is of the truth will hear the “voice” of Jesus as He told Pilate on that fateful day in Jerusalem (John 18:37) c. A.D 30. As one commentator put it, “Pilate would have done well to have continued asking Jesus questions.” However, not everyone who hears the truth of Jesus will question it objectively or continue to ask questions about Him and salvation; not everyone who hears will agree or obey (Matt. 10:34-37); in fact, some may violently oppose us (Matt. 10:26-33). Some may hate us for condemning them (10:22, 24-25), but we are still to go with the assurance of having the Father's watchful eye over our every move (10:29-31). [NOTE: Our attitude should not be one of judging or condemning (John 3:16-17) even though it is a necessary inference if they disobey]. We will not be miraculously endowed with the word as the apostles were, but we will have, sufficiently, the very words that they spoke when we carry our Bibles with us (10:19-20; 2 Peter 1:3). Whoever receives us, receives Christ, and whoever receives Christ, receives the Father who sent Him (10:40), but whoever rejects us, rejects Christ and the Father (John 3:16) calling for and keeping upon himself the wrath of God (John 12:48; 3:18). VOLUME 41 NUMBER 13 MARCH 29, 2004 OUR SICK Richard Lowe had surgery on Thursday and went home on Friday.
Jennifer Poole is to have surgery today (Monday) at Baptist Hospital.
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THANK YOU Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness over the past year, during my mother's illness and death. You have been such a blessing for us. We greatly appreciate the calls, cards, food and prayers during the last two weeks. We are so blessed to be a part of this Christian family. Brenda Henson and family.
I want to thank you so much for the thoughtful goodies you sent me. It is always nice to know that someone is thinking of you. I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful congregation to come home to. Thank you again. Sarah Griffin.
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KEEPING THE FAITH LECTURESHIP The Keeping The Faith Lectureship at the West End Church of Christ in Conway will be April 2-4. April 2nd at 7:00 PM, April 3rd at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Scott Perry will speak at 9:30 AM and Wayne Brewer will speak at 5:00 PM on April 4th. They meet at Jim Stone Elementary School, 4255 College Avenue.
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The Ladies Food Team for April is Sue Horton, Jimmie Sue Howell, Nell Warren, Deloris Pigue, Kim Brewington
SERMONS FOR APRIL 4 Morning
God's Plan For Unity (Ephesians 4:1-4)
Evening
Barnabas – The Exhorter (Acts 4:36-37)
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Daylight Saving Time Begins April 4
Set clocks forward 1 hour
SEARCH
April 4
THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST
Millions have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ.” It has bee positive proof that, in spite of the determined efforts of some, belief in Christ is not dead in America. What is amazing is that many preachers who see the movie as having great evangelistic potential, have never preached a sermon about His crucifixion. Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified…” Let's get back to that kind of preaching and watch the church grow. Food needed for the pantry for April is cereal, meat in a can and ketchup. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 2-4……..Evangelistically Speaking
Lectureship at Mars Hill in Vilonia
April 2-4...Keeping The Faith Lectureship
at Conway
April 4……...Bible Bowl Practice at 3:30
April 6………………...All Comers Class
April 10..Gospel Meeting Planning Meeting
April 13……………….All Comers Class
April 24…...Church Workshop with R.C.
Thompson
OUR RECORD MARCH 28, 2004 A.M. WORSHIP 237
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 191
P.M. WORSHIP 191
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 167 CONTRIBUTION 7657
BUDGET 6845
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MEN TO SERVE
April 4, 2004
Blake Poole Gary Poole
Stan Smith Gene Sullivan
Scott Perry Harold Pigue
Dave Tollett Wendell Thompson
Evening Doyce Tarkington
Jim Wallace
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR April 7 Keith Golden
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USHERS FOR APRIL Morning Tim King & Wally Davis
Evening Greg King & Nicolas Lowe
Wednesday Rick & Danny Wooldridge
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GREETERS FOR APRIL Greg & Cheryl King
Blake Poole
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ELDER CHAIRMAN April Roger Horton
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