The following article is from the desk of Hardie Logan, one of the brothers at the Madisonville church of Christ.

Ever since Eve partook of the ‘forbidden tree’ in the Garden of Eden, man has tried to work around things that God meant and justify his sin. When God asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?”, Genesis 3:11, Adam immediately tried to justify himself replying, “The woman You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Later, in Genesis 4:8-9, when Cain killed his brother and God asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”, Cain tried to justify himself by asking, “…am I my brother’s keeper?”

All through the Old Testament, and even in the New Testament, we see examples of people trying to work around answering God and justifying sins they commit. And that has not changed, even to this very day.

Take the issue of what is called ‘cybersex’ or ‘phone sex’. Many people participate in such things, and if truth be known, many of those people think that if they do it online, and no one knows, then what’s the hurt? Two people communicating together, doing their own thing. They would even argue that it is no one else’s business. And there is little doubt that it must be billions of dollars business. Sex sells no matter how you band-aid it.

But it’s still immoral. Cybersex and phone sex cannot in any way be labeled as being righteous or noble or right or pure or lovely or admirable or excellent or praiseworthy in the eyes of man or God. No matter how you spin it, cybersex and phone sex are nothing short of “virtual adultery.” As James would say, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”- James 4:3-4.

But some people would argue, “It’s not real sex, so it isn’t sex.” But it actually is called ‘cybersex’ and ‘phone sex’ right? It is an act of luring another person into an ungodly affair. And when people do it, what are they fantasying about? Surely, they are not fantasying about Godly things, but about their own desires and lusts. A person that is immoral in their mind and with their desires will eventually become immoral in their actions. As Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as a he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

Jesus taught it in Matthew 5:27, “You shall not commit adultery…” and while there was no such thing as “cybersex” or “phone sex” back then, I would put forth that both terms are included as they are “virtual adultery” or “cyber adultery”.

Among Christians this should never be. Let us be a people that strive after righteousness, godliness and purity.

The following article is from the desk of David Bobbitt, one of the men at the Madisonville church of Christ. We invite you to give his words some thought.

Most baby boomers grew up watching television shows which featured talented animal "actors" achieving remarkable feats of intelligence, agility, or heroism.  In the 1950's and 60's, we followed the adventures of Lassie, marveled at the acrobatics of Flipper, and cried during the closing scenes of Old Yellar.  Mr. Ed, a horse, had even talked!  By the 1980's, Disney had discovered that the American public more readily warmed up to our furry friends who talked, hence the beginning of the era of the talking pet.  Disney championed the humanization of animals, and perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the era during which the animal rights movement began to gain momentum.  And Americans swallowed it hook line and sinker!  There are now pet saunas, pet salons, pet motels, exotic pet foods, clothing for pets, and even cemeteries for pets.  Banks give doggie biscuits to customers with pets who use the drive-thru window (cats are out of luck), and many ice cream shops offer a "pup cup!"  In a nation where poverty, homelessness, and hunger are still major issues, how can we as Americans justify spending more than $60,000,000,000 a year on our pets?

            Animals are part of God's creation and have played an important role in the emergence and growth of human civilization.  They made large-scale agricultural production possible, carried our warriors to victory, served as sources of companionship and entertainment, and in many other ways made the trials of human existence easier to bear.  Yet God never places animals on a par with humankind.  The world pushes its liberal agenda because it denies mankind its God-given right to "rule over and subdue" the earth.  (Genesis 1:28) Though it may be hard for some to believe, mankind is the crowning achievement of God's creative act.  We are made in the image of God and specially gifted intellectually, morally, and spiritually like no other creature under the heavens.  While God may love all his creatures, he has clearly differentiated between the value of human beings and the value of animals.  In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said:
 
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
 
            In Genesis 9:1-3, God gave the animals to Noah and his descendants as food.  Interestingly, at that time there were no restrictions placed on man as to which animals he could and could not eat.  All of that would come with the Mosaic Covenant.  These Scriptures raise some important questions.  If mankind is of more value than the animals, and the animals have been given to us as food, then what rights do animals really have?  Some Christians believe that their pets will be with them in heaven!  Do animals have souls?  If so, how are they redeemed?  Should we baptize our pets?  If we speak of the "humane" treatment of animals, are we humanizing them?  Certainly, we should never abuse or needlessly harm one of God creatures, but make no mistake about it, they have been put here by God for our benefit.

            Why does any of this matter?  Because those who would rationalize God's word in small matters will eventually do so with larger, more important ones.  A lack of respect for God's word breeds error.  Hear what the apostle Paul says to Timothy in chapter four of his first letter:
 
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.  They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer."  (I Timothy 4:1-5)
 
            Many people embrace the Scriptures only to the extent that they justify whatever lifestyle they subscribe to.  But whether we are like Thomas Jefferson and literally cut those Scriptures which are not to our liking from our Bibles, or we rationalize God's word to suit our own purposes, the result is the same – we generally do as we please.

            So go ahead and enjoy your pets.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  Abstain from eating meat if you so choose.  We have a responsibility to keep our bodies fit for God's service and for some, a vegan or vegetarian diet is the only way they can do so.  Yet beware of radical, anti-God messages which have no place in the church and don't forget where animals rank in the overall scheme of things.  Animals don't possess the same rights as mankind, they don't have souls.  In spite of what Disney says, no dogs go to heaven.

Not long ago, few questioned the reality of truth in our world. To deny established facts and well-known principles was viewed as foolish and unhelpful. Even among groups with bitter disagreements, they could still acknowledge a universal standard of truth that governed their purpose even while debating how it applied to their situation. Today, 58% of our countrymen in the United States deny moral absolutes.1 They instead affirm that morality is up to each person to decide for themselves. When that statistic is further investigated, the results become even more shocking. It reveals a nation full of people who refuse to accept reality for what it is. No, for they have found a better path: their own version of truth. Indeed, it is far easier to invent your own truth so that you do not have to conform to that which is universal for all people. After all, every person faces unique circumstances that exempt them from the norm, right?

            That is just the problem: it is not right. Truth is not a matter of circumstance or occasion. It is a bedrock foundation on which all that we are is built. To deny truth is not just a denial of facts and principles but a denial of what the Bible teaches. One cannot read the Scriptures and come away with the conclusion that truth does not exist or is irrelevant. When Jesus spoke of truth, He referred to it as a life-altering reality. He powerfully taught that truth sets us free from the bondage of sin (John 8:31-32). Denial of truth, then, is denial of liberty. When you deny the truth, you deny yourself liberation from the trap of sin. What you end up doing is submitting to Satan, who despises truth (John 8:44). Conversely, when you accept truth, no matter how challenging it is, you will find genuine freedom. That freedom will call you to abandon the paths of sin and live a life of righteousness for the Christ who purchased that freedom for you. Why then would we deny the truth?

            Later in John’s gospel, Jesus stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). One cannot follow Jesus without accepting the reality of truth, for Jesus Himself is truth. That refers to His existence, nature, and teachings. All that we read about Jesus in the Scriptures helps us see truth more clearly. Denial of the truth, then, becomes a denial of Jesus. That is perhaps one of the most disturbing parts of the thinking we find among the people of our land. The same people who deny truth will claim to accept Jesus and follow His ways. Such is an impossibility. We cannot reject the truth while simultaneously accepting the Savior who said He is the truth! If we refuse to accept the truth, then we will in effect refuse Jesus. Why then would we deny the truth?

            In His final recorded prayer, Jesus requested that the Father set His disciples apart by the truth (John 17:17). That truth of which He spoke was found in the word the Father revealed. To Jesus, God’s revealed word—which we have available today in the form of the Bible—is truth. It is not a half-truth or a partial truth, but the truth. It is no wonder that denial of truth tends to produce denial of what the Scriptures teach. All throughout the United States there are people who see the Bible as a book of fairytales and clever fables designed to deceive the minds of the simple. According to what Jesus taught, denial of the truth becomes a denial of the Scriptures. When we see the truth as subject to each person’s whims, no amount of evidence will change our minds. One person can take the Bible as the standard for all people while another can take it as a book of fiction and that will be alright to us. That perspective flies in the face of reality, fact, and principle. Archaeology, textual criticism, and other fields have proven the Scriptures to be true, but we must accept that truth exists and can be learned. It is through the Scriptures we learn truth and how it applies to our lives. When we learn it, we can then practice it and be pleasing in God’s sight. Why then would we deny the truth?

            Friends, the truth has not become a matter of interpretation. There remains a universal standard to which all people must conform. When they do, they will find liberty, Jesus, and the power of the Scriptures. While your own version of truth may bring you comfort and affirmation, it will not last. Eventually reality will come and demand your attention. Accepting truth may bring hardship and denial, but, in the end, it will bring lasting satisfaction that is not based on circumstance but on the bedrock of what is right. Let us all give the truth some thought.
 
Sources

1. www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AWVI-2020-Release-05-Perceptions-of-Truth.pdf

Within our fleshly families, we count our brothers and sisters either as some of our closest confidants or some of our most bitter enemies. One anonymous author quipped, “Siblings: your only enemy you can’t live without.” That may define the relationship some have with their brothers and sisters in the flesh. Sadly, it most often defines the relationship we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Siblings in Jesus have been afflicted with interpersonal conflicts and divisions from the first century to the present day. Wherever such an affliction is found, we quickly find a host of other ailments that, if left untreated, will produce more disease and, inevitably, spiritual death. How we view our brothers and sisters in the faith makes a great difference in our own spiritual health and the health of our congregations.
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            Consider how some are quick to dismiss the conscience of their weaker brethren. Rather than treat them with kindness and deference, the “stronger” brothers and sisters treat the weaker like punching bags. They actively mock the weak and hold them in contempt for their perspective. The opposite is also true: the weak view the strong as immoral and false. The weak then treat the strong in accordance with their viewpoint. Friends, neither the strong nor the weak have the right to trample on the other one’s conscience. The Holy Spirit is clear that liberty in Christ should not become a stumbling block, nor should we allow a weak brother to perish over some indifferent matter (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Furthermore, we cannot allow our personal scruples to become a doctrinal issue that divides us. It is fine to have personal convictions that are not in Scripture, but it is wrong to bind such on others (Romans 14:22-23). Whether we are strong, weak, or somewhere in between, let us not be dismissive toward each other. That is a sure way to treat our brothers as bothers.

            Evil suspicion is another way to treat our brothers like bothers. Oh, how often we have heard a brother or sister gripe about another and speak ill of their motives! They have said, “Surely brother so-and-so just wants to take control of the church for his own benefit.” Or they have stated, “Sister so-and-so does not care about anyone, but they sure like to make it seem like they do.” Do either of these statements sound like those who would say them are seeing the best in their brethren? We need to take heed to ourselves lest we dare speak evil of the motives of our brethren. It could be that we say more about who we are when we make such statements. Scripture clearly teaches us that genuine love does not think evil of others but instead looks to what is best (1 Corinthians 13:5). As a united family in Jesus, we should be willing to show such love toward one another.

            High-mindedness will also lead us to treat each other like bothers instead of brothers. At the heart of evil suspicion and enforcing matters of conscience is someone who elevates themselves above others. When someone views himself as better than those around him, he will naturally see anyone who disagrees as an opponent. If they do not fall into line, then he will seek to destroy them. Yet Scripture admonishes us to not think more highly of ourselves than is appropriate (Romans 12:3). Some are so busy seeing themselves as God’s gift to the brethren that they do not see the discord they are sowing through their attitude. Let us not walk with arrogance but instead adopt the same mind toward each other, realizing our opinions and ideas are not on a higher level than others (Romans 12:16). Brothers and sisters in Jesus must never forget that we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. It could be that such a reminder would help us avoid conflicts with our spiritual family.

            There yet remains one thought to consider: do you view your brothers as bothers? If you dismiss their conscience, view them with suspicion, and think yourself better than them, then you are eaten up with spiritual disease. You may think these perspectives are harmless, but inevitably, they will spread like cancer that devours the people of God. Friends, let us be quick to repent of these perspectives that lead us to view our brethren as lesser. We have all been bought by the blood of our Savior Jesus and should rejoice together in Him. Jesus’ desire is for His people to be united, not divided up over personalities and attitudes (John 17:20-24). We must then strive to abandon conflict and work to have strong relationships with each other that glorify God. Then, and only then, will we show a divided, chaotic world the Lord we serve.