Newspaper Page Text
Page 4B, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What The Bible Teaches
Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church
iary’s
Musings
By Gary Collier
Special to the Ledger
By Frank Taylor
The words of the
Apostle Paul to Timothy
are
tell
ing:
"Let
no
man
de
spise
thy
youth;
but be Tay | or
thou
an example of the believ
ers, in word, in conversa
tion, in charity, in spirit,
in faith, in purity." (I Tim.
4:12). Apparently, Paul
had reason to believe that
there might be some who
because of their advanced
years would be reluctant
to be taught by someone
younger in the faith. An
ticipating this, he admon
ishes his son in the faith to
be an example to believers
in more than just words,
but in qualities befitting a
servant of the Lord. The
snare of thinking that we
are beyond the point of
not being teachable—for
whatever reason—is a trap
that can easily snag any of
us. Perhaps it is because
we have been a Christian
for many years that we
bristle at the thought of be
ing corrected by someone
other than ourselves. Or
maybe because of those we
associate with that we feel
we are beyond instruc
tion in a certain issue. Or
maybe it is just a matter of
simply refusing to admit
that we are wrong—a lack
of biblical understanding
(and an abundance of arro
gance and spiritual pride!).
For whatever reason, the
excuses for not having an
openness of heart and an
attitude that is "easy to be
entreated" (James 3:17) are
difficult to justify in the
light of Scripture—even
though we may not be con
scious of harboring these
attitudes. The Bible is filled
with examples of those
who thought they were
beyond being teachable.
The Pharisees scolded the
man born blind who, after
receiving his sight extolled
the One who had opened
his eyes. His clarion
testimony only served to
infuriate the proud Phari
sees. Incensed, they chided
"Thou wast altogether born
in sins, dost thou teach
us?" (John 9:34). They
could not bear to think of
someone less instructed
and younger than they to
be in the position of teach
ing them. Likewise, the
nation of Israel as a whole
demonstrated an attitude
of not being teachable and
arrogant. Three times they
are accused of being "dull
of hearing" with hearts and
eyes closed to the Word of
God. Isaiah was the first
to utter these words during
his ministry (Isa. 6). They
were reiterated by the Lord
Jesus to the nation during
the time of His earthly
ministry (Matt. 13) and
cited again by the Holy
Spirit at the close of Paul's
ministry as the root sin of
Israel in his day (Acts 28).
Additionally, the Athenians
in Acts Chapter 17 also
evidenced an attitude of
arrogance and not being
teachable. After hearing a
convincing argument for
the Gospel by the Apostle
Paul, their response indi
cated the condition of their
hearts: "some mocked,
while others said we will
hear thee again on this
matter" Acts: 17:32. For
tunately, some did believe
to remind us that God's
Word will not come back
void. But the epitome of
not being teachable attitude
is vividly pictured by the
scene in Acts 7 at the de
fense of Stephen just prior
to his martyrdom. After
a convicting message that
struck at their consciences,
the Bible says in Acts 7:57,
“they cried out with a loud
voice and stopped their
ears...". They were through
with being taught what
they didn't want to hear
anyway.
We are tempted to
dismiss these examples
of not being teachable
attitudes by unsaved men
and women as inapplicable
to the Christian. Yet at its
Several years ago an
editorial in a national
publication raised some
very significant
questions. This
is what the ar
ticle had to say:
“Where are all
of the so called
born again,
evangelical
Christians? It is
estimated that
over 60 million
adults in America claim to
be born again, yet crime
continues to accelerate at
an alarming rate. There are
epidemics of drug addic
tions, alcoholism, sexu
ally transmitted diseases,
divorces and teenage preg
nancies. Are not Christians
supposed to be the salt of
the earth and the light of
the world? If there are so
many Christians, why is
there such little evidence
of their influence in our
society?’’
Ouch that hurts! But I
am afraid it is the truth.
As we come to Matthew
5:13-16, these four verses
summarize the function
of believers in the world.
Reduced to one word, that
function is “influence”. We
core is the attitude that the
believer must also do battle
with continually—the atti
tude of arrogance and pride
which is sin. As long as
the "old man" is allowed to
get some air, he will make
every effort to revive and
stir up trouble. Thus we
have the exhortation, "put
off" this corrupt expression
of our former self (Eph. 4:
22). The Corinthians forgot
See Bible,
page 5B
are called to minister to the
world while being sepa
rated from its standards
and ways. We are to
be in the world but
not of the world. By
definition, an influ
ence must be differ
ent from that which
it influences, and
Christians therefore
must be different
from the world they
are called to influ
ence.
Jesus tells us in Matthew
5:13, “You are the salt
of the earth.” This verse
literally reads, “You and
you only are the salt of
the earth.” Jesus is saying
that only Christians are
the salt of the earth. So the
question that needs to be
answered is: What does it
mean to be the salt of the
earth?
First of all, it means to be
an example of purity. Salt
was connected with purity.
The Romans said that salt
was the purest of all things,
because it came from the
purest of all things, the
sun and sea. We need to be
See Words,
page 5B
You say “to-may-to”, I say
“to-mah-to.” You like va
nilla, I like chocolate. You
prefer the ocean, I prefer the
mountains. What’s up with
that?
To me it proves the
incredible creation powers
of God. You don’t believe
me? Okay, see if you can
pass this test then. Take a
sheet of paper and draw 100
faces. Can you make them
all look completely, totally
different? Or do they look
like the same person drew
them? Yeah, that’s what
I thought! Yet God does
it around the globe every
day with thousands of new
babies.
Think of the incredibly
diverse personalities that
God has given us. Many
times siblings are as differ
ent as night and day even
though they share the same
bloodlines. I’d say God
has a pretty good sense of
imagination, wouldn’t you?
Add to that our unique
and different backgrounds.
Some were raised in pov
erty. Some were raised in
wealth. Some were raised
by parents with liberal lean
ings. Others were raised in
ultra-conservative homes.
Some traveled the country
and the world as military
brats. Others hardly ever left
their neighborhood.
All of these combined
forces shape us and affect
the kind of adults that we
are. Some things in our lives
are negative - and we learn
from them. Mentors cross
our paths and help guide
our values and preferences.
Every person reading this
has a wonderful and unique
story that is all theirs.
Now take all of those vari
ances - different personali
ties, different backgrounds
and different influences
- and put them in a church
family together. Is it any
wonder that misunderstand
ings and family squabbles
happen? It’s almost as
predictable as watching two
oncoming trains headed
for each other on the same
track. Of course we don’t
always agree with each
other. Of course we don’t
all see the same things the
same way every time. It’d
be pretty vanilla if we did,
wouldn’t it? (Even if I like
chocolate!)
What God expects from
us is unity. Read St. John 17
if you don’t believe me. Je
sus prayed to his father that
we would all be one “so that
the world may believe that
thou has sent me.” When
we love each other enough
to overlook faults, forgive
misunderstandings and are
able to work together in
peace and love, it makes a
statement to the world who
is watching us that God’s
love is real.
It’s a test and it’s one that
a church must pass to fulfill
its true calling. Anything
less should require an ex
amination of every member,
starting with the pastor
and his family and going
from there. We are Christ’s
ambassadors (II Cor. 5:20).
Doesn’t He deserve our best
behavior?
Does your church pass the
test?
Gary Collier is pas
tor at Christ’s Sanctified
Holy Church located at
791 White Pond Rd. He
welcomes your thoughts at
garybcollier@gmail.com
or at 854-3003. You may
access and share “Gary’s
Musings” by going to http:
//cshcl.com/archived_
musings.htm
Words of Grace
By Steve Futch, Pastor
Alpha Baptist Church
Futch
Attend The House of Worship of Your Choice This Sunday
Lee County Church Of Christ
Eddie Garcia, Minister
Bible Study 9:30 AM
Worship..10:30 AM & 6:00 PM
Mid-Week Bible Study
7:30 PM
Smithville Baptist
Lance Fendley, Pastor
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Worship...11 AM & 7 PM
Wed. Prayer Service. 7:00 PM
Philema Road Baptist
Dan Harris, Pastor
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wed Bible Study 7:00 AM
Alpha Baptist
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Discipleship Training 6:00 PM
Evening Worship 7:00 PM
Wed. Prayer Service 7:30 PM
Antioch Baptist Church
Rev. Lem Wright
1st and 3rd Sunday
Sunday School 9:00 AM
4th Sunday
Worship Service 10:00 AM
Friendship Baptist Church
Grady Morey, Pastor
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Service 11:00 AM
Wed. Supper 6:00 PM.
Wednesday Service.. 7:00 PM
Phillip Grove Baptist
Rev. A.L. Johnson
Sunday School 10:00 AM
1st & 3rd Sunday 11:00 AM
Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Pastor Steven A. Tuck
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Worship Service 11:15AM
Tuesday
Bible Study 7:00 pm
Albany Bible Church
Pastor Pete Daughtry,
Sun. Bible Class.. 9:30 & 11:00
Bible Class - Mon & Wed...7:30
Christ’s Sanctified
Holy Church
Rev. Gary Collier
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m.
Wed. Bible study: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday service: 7:00 p.m.
Kinchafoonee Baptist
Rev. Charles (Chuck) Smith
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Evening Worship 7:00 PM
Wed. Services 7:30 PM
Smithville United Methodist
Pastor - Jan Conner
Worship 10:00 AM
Sunday School 11:00 AM
Palmyra Baptist
J. D. Bolden
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Morning Worship.... 12:00 PM
Bible Study (1st Sun) 5:00 PM
Eve. Wor. (1st Sun).. 7:00 PM
McAfee Grove
Missionary Baptist
Minister Robert Lewis Morgan
First & Third Sundays
Sunday School 10:30 AM
Morning worship 11:30 AM
Second & Fourth Sundays
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Macadonia Baptist Church
Sunday School 10:30 AM
Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM
First Sunday
Morning Worship 11:45 AM
Third Sunday
Evening Worship 6:00 PM
CrossPoint Baptist Church
Dr. Darwin Bullock, Pastor
Sunday Worship 11:00 AM
Small Groups....Sun. 6 PM
Youth....Wednesday 7:00
www.crosspointbaptist.org
Jordan Grove Baptist
Rev. R. 0. Calhoun
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Worship Service 11:00 AM
First Baptist - Leesburg
Leesburg Church Of Christ
Bro. Howard Bouldin
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Morning Worship ....11:00 PM
Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wednesday Evening. 7:30 PM
Zion Hope Baptist
Rev. H. L. Holsey
Sunday School 10:30 AM
Sunday Worship 11:30 AM
House Of God
Saints In Christ
Elder A.F. Caldwell, Pastor
Sunday School 10:30 AM
1st, 2nd, & 4th Sundays
Morning Worship ...,11:45AM
2nd & 4th Sunday
Evening Service 6:30 PM
Wed. Bible Study 7:30 PM
Fri. Sharing Ser 7:30 PM
For any corrections or additions to the Church Page, Contact The Lee County Ledger at 759-2413
Albany Community
Seventh-day Adventist
Church
Pastor Steve Rose
Saturdays
Bible Study 9:30 AM
Worship 10:40 AM
Wednesdays
Prayer Meeting 7:00 PM
Unity Church of Christianity
Rev. Joanna Gabriel
Dial-A-Prayer 435-7077
Morning Worship ....11:00 AM
New Hope AME
Rev. Alfreda Williams
every 1st and third Sunday
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Sunday Worship 11:00 AM
Leesburg Church of God
Rev. Jamie Baggett
Morning Worship 10:40 AM
Sunday School 6:00 PM
Wed. Fam. Training 7:00 PM
Wooden Grove Baptist
1 st & 3rd Sunday Services
Worship 11:00 AM
Weekly
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 PM
Lifegate Church
Sunday Service 10:00 a.m.
Wed Prayer Service 7:00 p.m.
Thundering Springs
Baptist Church
Calvin King - Pastor
Sunday School 9.45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Church Training 5:00 PM
Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wed. Prayer Services 7:00 PM
Leesburg United
Methodist Church
Pastor Mike Lyons
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Worship 10:30 AM
Children’s Choir 6:00 PM
Youth Meeting 6:00 PM
Wednesday Supper 5:45 PM
Pioneer Clubs 6:30 PM
Youth Bible Study 6:45 PM
Adult Bible Study 6:45 PM
Green Grove Baptist
Smithville, GA
Rev. H. Waters
Sunday School 11:00 AM
Every First Sunday
Morning Worship 11:45 AM
Kingdom Vision Christian Center
Rev. Earl S. Harrison, Pastor
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Sunday Worship 11:15AM
Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM
Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Rev. Connie Brantley
Hickory Grove Road
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Worship 11:00 AM
CRAIG
MATHIS,
LLC
TRIAL LAWYER
101A Pecan St.
Leesburg
759-2243
Colony
Member FDIC
located on Robert B. Lee
Drive in Leesburg - 759-2800
and 2609 Ledo Rd 430-8080
Member FDIC
The Future of
Banking is Here.
EXPI?ESS=
^=LANE
275 Hwy. 19
South,
Leesburg
759-9791
Advertise
Your
Business
In This
Space
Hughes
Lee Vista
ACE Hardware
Store Hours
Monday - Friday 8-6
Saturday 8-4
436-8998 432-0037
The
Lee County Ledger
Your Hometown Source of Local News
759-2413
i¥latf)eU)£i
Funeral Home
Crematory/Memorials
Mike Mathews - Gary Mathews
3206 Gillionville Rd.
Albany, GA 31707
435-5657
Leesburg Cemetery
Ximkeit-Stm
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Crematory and Memorials
Crown Hill Cemetery
1503 Dawson Road • P.O. Box 92
Albany, Georgia 31702-0092
Phone: (229) 883-4152
“Service Since 1880”
Leesburg First Baptist
Rev. Bobby Harrell
Worship I 8:30 AM
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Worship II 11:00 AM
Evening Worship 7:00 PM
Wednesday
Church Supper 5:30 PM
AWANA 6:20 PM
Prayer Meeting 6:30 PM
Youth Meeting 7:00 PM
Sovereign Grace
Baptist Church
Steven Youngblood, Pastor
Morning Worship ...,10:30 AM
Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wednesday Awana ...6:30 PM
Amazing Grace
Baptist Church
Pastor, Dr. Ron Baxley
Morning Worship
& Sunday School ....10:45 AM
Evening Worship
& Youth Choir 6:00 PM
Wednesday 6:30 to
(Youth only) 8:00 PM
Mt. Hope Baptist Church
Pastor: Rev. M. W. Willis
Services 1st Sunday
Sunday School 5:00 PM
Church 6:00 PM
Services 4th Sunday
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Church 11:00 AM
Piney Grove #3
Pastor W. G. Groover
Sunday School 10:00 AM
2nd and 4th Sunday
Worship 11:00 Noon
Emmanuel Community
Baptist Church
Al Bryant, Pastor
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Morning Worship ...,11:00 AM
Every Wednesday
Bible Study 6:30 PM
Shady Grove
Baptist Church
Rev. Sterlie Calhoun, Pastor
1st and 2nd Sunday
Worship Service 11:00 AM
Every Sunday
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM
Liberty Primitive
Baptist Church - Smithville
Elder Larry White - Pastor
Morning Worship ...,10:30 AM
St. Matthew Missionary
Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. H. C. Wilson, Pastor
Sunday School 10:00 AM
2nd. Sunday Worship ...11:00 AM
4th. Sunday 7:00 PM
■BANK
A provider ofSynovus Financial Services
Member FDIC
430-7000
1531 U.S. 19 South
Leesburg