The Independent Baptist:

"Plains Baptist Challenger"

December 2003

Wise Men Worship Him - By E. L. Bynum
How To Overcome Sin - By E. L. Bynum
Baptist Church Baptized Homosexuals - By Jenni Parker, Agape Press
Church Growth Movement
Baptist Give Free Lunch at the Local Bar - By Jim Brown, Agape Press
Is Jesus Necessary For Salvation?
The Truths About Military Deaths - The Missionary Challenge
The Truth about Prohibition

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Matthew 2:1,2.

It is tragic that human traditions and pagan religious errors have robbed so many of the truths concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. No birth was ever so important to both God and man as this birth. This birth must be a fulfillment of God's promises of the Messiah, beginning with Genesis 3:15. This birth was the only one that could provide a Saviour for lost and fallen man. How important then, that we sweep aside human traditions and pagan errors, and seek the truth as it is to be found in the Bible.

Even the year of His birth cannot be fixed with absolute certainty. Our calendar is off from 4 to 8 years at least. He was born while Herod was king and it is a well established fact that Herod died in 4 B.C.

Certainly He was not born on December 25th. For one thing, it is too cold in December for shepherds to keep their flocks by night in the open fields, as they were doing at the time of His birth. (Luke 2:8). He was born at a time when everyone had to go to their native city to be enrolled for taxation, and this would have been unlikely to have been scheduled in the middle of the winter. The winter was not a time to travel. (Matthew 24:20). December 25th was a pagan holiday long before the birth of Christ. It was established by Babylonian "sun-god" worshipers who looked upon this day as the birthday of the "Sun God." The worship of Baal was of course a part of the same false religion. The winter solstice comes on December 22, and is considered to be the shortest day of the year. As the days begin to lengthen, the "sun-god" worshipers would naturally rejoice. December 25th was a well-established day of revelry and licentious religious worship, long before anyone ever thought of making it Christ's birthday.

It was not until the 3rd Century that some Christians began to celebrate the birth of Christ on this date. It could be that those who established this date for the birth of Christ, really thought they could Christianize this pagan holiday. Needless to say, their efforts have tended to paganize Christianity. In 336 A.D. Emperor Constantine declared December 25th as a Roman holiday, because it was Christ's birthday.

The month and day of the passover, as well as other ancient festival days are well known. Why have we not learned that God has purposely concealed the date of Christ's birth for very good reasons? The reason is, that we might emphasize His death and resurrection. Why else did God allow us to know the month and day of His death and the day of His resurrection? Each Sunday we commemorate His resurrection when we come together to worship Him.

Certainly Santa Claus has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Even the word "Christmas" is pagan for it is an abbreviated form of "Christ Mass" which came from the Roman Catholic Church.

Again human traditions have been substituted for the truth of God's Word. Over and over again we have viewed a manger scene showing the shepherds and the wise men worshiping the new born babe. This is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. The shepherds were notified the very day of His birth and they found the babe in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12). The wise men found the young child in a house. (Matthew 2:11). There is quite a difference between a babe in a manger and a young child in a house.

The wise men had seen His star in the east, and it would have taken them a long time to have traveled from Babylon or any other eastern area to Jerusalem. When they talked with Herod, he inquired "diligently what time the star appeared." The word here translated "diligently" means exactly and is elsewhere translated perfect and perfectly. (Matthew 2:7). When Herod ordered the children of Bethlehem slain, in order to kill Jesus, he ordered that all of them be slain, "from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16). So Jesus could have been anywhere from a few months up to two years of age at the time that the wise men came.

While we do not know the time of His birth, we do know that He was born at the right time. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law . . ." (Galatians 4:4-5)

Men do not seek Jesus until the light of God has shined in their hearts. They did not seek Him who was born King of the Jews, until they had seen His star in the east. Remember that Daniel, Nehemiah and other true men of God had been carried captive into Assyria, Babylon and Persia. These devout Jews were witnesses in high governmental offices. Note that this was true of Daniel and Nehemiah. Daniel was even trained as a wise man among the Babylonians. With their devout testimony, and their Hebrew scriptures, they would have had ample opportunity of creating considerable interest in the prophecies of the coming Messiah.

Balaam had prophesied, "there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel . . ." (Numbers 24:17). Since this portion of the Word was written by Moses, it would have undoubtedly been carried into the captivity. It would be likely that copies of these scriptures so prized by the Jews would find their way into the libraries of the east.

The book of Daniel is rich in Messianic Prophecy and remember that it was written in Babylon. Daniel 9:24-26 gives the time table with absolute certainty for the appearance of "Messiah the Prince." Daniel describes this as 69 weeks or 483 years from the time of the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem. Since there were at least three such decrees made, the wise men might not have known which decree was meant. But at least they could have known approximately the time of the Messiah.

We hasten to say, that there is no scriptural proof that they knew anything about the prophecies of Balaam and Daniel. But we do believe that they followed the light that God gave them. They saw a star in the east that was different from anything they had seen before. However, seeing a star would not direct them to Jerusalem, unless they knew about the above scriptures or God spoke to them by a special revelation. God did speak to them in a dream after they arrived. (Matthew 2:12)

They did follow the light of God's Word when it was revealed unto them. (Matthew 2:5,6; Micah 5:2). They did follow the light of the star. (Matthew 2:9).

There are many men today with great knowledge, but unless they come to know Christ they will never be "wise men." "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . ." (Proverbs 9:10). "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God . . ." (James 1:5). According to James 3:15, there is a wisdom that is earthly, sensual and devilish.

Those who follow the light to Jesus Christ are the only ones who are truly wise.

Many would have been satisfied with a visit with wicked King, Herod, but not these wise men! They inquired as to where the new born King could be found. We do not know how many wise men there were. We do not know from which country they came. But we do know that they would not be satisfied with anyone less than Jesus. They had studied the knowledge of the east. They no doubt had talked with kings and generals, but the greatest audience they ever had, was when they came into the presence of Jesus.

They "fell down, and worshipped Him." Today, men are worshiping the god of science. Others are worshiping the god of material things. Their pursuit of "things" leaves them no time for God. Many are worshiping the god of lust and pleasure. Theories, thrills and things occupy 20th century man, so that he has no time for the true and the living God. But eternity will reveal that they who worship Him, are the true wise men. A poorly educated man who worships Jesus Christ is wiser than an educated genius who rejects Him as Saviour.

They gave Him "gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." These were gifts of great value, and no doubt had a typical meaning. GOLD was a fitting gift for a king, and particularly so in this case, since He is to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Frankincense was a fitting gift for a priest, for it was used in connection with sacrifice and priestly service. Since He was God manifest in the flesh, how fitting that they should offer frankincense unto Him. Myrrh was used in the embalming of the dead. (John 19:39). How correct that He who was to die for sin as a sacrifice should receive the myrrh.

Wise men will give their TIME, TALENT and TITHE to the Lord. In giving, it should be remembered that we should "first" give our "own selves to the Lord. "(II Cor. 8:5). God wants us to "present" our "bodies" as a "living sacrifice." (Romans 12:1). If we have done this, we will not mind giving our time and our tithes and offerings unto the Lord.

Many today are busy buying gifts for one another. How different the wise men, they gave to Him. Let us remember the lesson of the wise men, if we are truly wise we will give unto Him.

"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." (Matthew 2:12). When men come to know Christ, there is a change made in their ways. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Cor. 5:17). Paul said that the Thessalonian believers had "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (I Thess. 1:9).

It is sad that so many claim to know Christ, but go back to the same old way of sin and worldliness. Much modern Christianity has no cross, and no separation from the world. Christ came to save us from our sins, but many want to make salvation into a fire escape from hell. How foolish that some think they can have all the sin of this world, and all the salvation of the world to come. Wise men are changed. Wise men go back another way.

The Bible does not tell us what happened to these wise men after they went back to their own country. Perhaps eternity will reveal this story, if God be pleased to make it known. However, in the light of God's Holy Word, we know what true wise men should be doing today.

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE." (Proverbs 11:30). "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3). Paul said, ". . . I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (I Cor. 9:22). If you know Christ, may I urge you to use every scriptural means to bring others to know Him. This is wise!
If some unsaved one should read this message, we urge you to repent and turn to Christ in faith. It will be the wisest thing you will ever do. Bow before Him, acknowledge your sin, and trust in His saving grace.

Lesson 35 from the book "Learning To Live By The Bible." Those who have been saved by God's grace should overcome sin in their lives. Victory over sin can be obtained by the believer, if he will simply learn and obey the lessons from the Word of God. It is a disgrace to find so many people who claim to be saved, living very worldly lives. The purpose of this lesson is to provide the saints with the information that will help them to live saintly lives.

1. The Truth Was Given to Set Us Free.

2. A Believer Can Have Victory over Sin Because He Is a New Creature.

3. A Believer Can Have Victory over Sin Because He Is to Be Dead to Sin.

4. A Believer Can Have Victory over Sin Because He Has the Holy Spirit to Help.
Rom. 8:9-10, "9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
I Cor. 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
I Cor. 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
I John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

5. God Has Given Us All We Need for Life and Godliness.

6. God Instructs Us to Work out Our Salvation into Every Part of Life.

7. God Enables Us to Do So; We Do Not Have to Do it All Alone.

8. God's Abounding Grace Makes You Able to Overcome Any Particular Sin.

9. We Are Being Transformed into the Likeness of Christ.

10. You Are to Work at Breaking Sinful Habits and to Develop Godly Ways.
Eph. 4:22-24, "22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (See Eph. 4:25-32).
Col. 3:8-10, "8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
I Pet. 2:1, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,"
Eph. 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

From Learning to Live by the Bible, By E. L. Bynum

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has expelled a Cabarrus County church for failing to repudiate the lifestyles of two homosexual men the church had accepted as members and subsequently baptized. While the Convention has previously ejected three of its churches for ordaining homosexual clergy or blessing homosexual unions, the decision to kick McGill Baptist Church out of the state's largest religious body marks the first time the Convention has targeted a church for discipline simply for choosing to tolerate openly homosexual individuals in its congregation. The Convention's action was based on a 1992 policy that forbids churches to exhibit "public approval, promotion or blessing of homosexuality." In a comment to Associated Press, the Convention's leader, James Royston, called an openly homosexual lifestyle "un-Biblical and therefore un-Christian." But according to AP reports, Rev. Steve Ayers of McGill Baptist claims his church never asked the men if they were homosexual. "Jesus told us to fish for people," Ayers says, adding, "It's not our job to sort the fish. He'll take care of any sorting."

Jenni Parker, Agape Press

The dynamic church growth strategy that draws the crowds and builds megachurches has swept the nation and now even the world. One of the key leaders of the church growth movement is Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Southern California and director of the "Building a Purpose-Driven Church" workshops and related ministries. Warren says the purpose of "Purpose Driven" ministry is to reach the lost, and, to do that, the church needs to be styled after the local culture so the "seeker" will find the church to be exactly what he is looking for. The laid-back dumbed-down, contemporary seeker service will supposedly provide the unbeliever with God's message as it is specifically calculated to meet his "felt needs" in what is now a positive, non-threatening church experience.

Again, the stated purpose of this decided shift in the structure of the church and its methodology in ministry is to reach the seeker for Christ. But I sincerely believe that this shift entails a change in the message to the church as well and is inconsistent with the Biblical model of Christian ministry. God has gifted, by His Holy Spirit, "faithful men," pastors of churches, to fulfill their calling as ministers of Jesus Christ in preaching the Word to God's people assembled before the pulpit on the Lord's Day--Sunday (carefully consider Ephesians 4:7-16; 2 Timothy 1:13-15; 2:1-3; 4:1-5). God's under-shepherds must boldly proclaim sound doctrine, expose and oppose error and equip the saints for ministry, passionately and accurately expediting the "foundation of the apostles and prophets"--the written Word of God (Eph. 4:12 cf. 2:20). If any pastor has been truly called of God and gifted for ministry, then he must be driven by the purpose to glorify his Lord by faithfully and tirelessly discharging his duty to "preach the Word"! When the lost are present at the Sunday church worship service, be sure to "do the work of an evangelist" by giving the Gospel. But never minimize or water down God's apostolic mandate to preach "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27-31 cf. Phil. 4:9) to the church so that the saved may be edified and profit from the ministry of a faithful, God-honoring and Bible-preaching pastor (1 Tim. 4:12-16; 1 Thess. 4:1-2).

Warren, a Southern Baptist, recently wrote a column for Baptist Press in which he listed "ten essentials for giving purpose to your church" and said one "essential" involves changing the pastor's role:

You must change the primary role of the pastor from minister to leader. You can grow a church to 300 with pastoral skills or ministry skills, but for it to grow beyond 300 will require leadership skills. As a leader, you must learn to communicate your vision in very personal and practical ways. You must learn to motivate your church through your messages.

Oh, no, dear servant of the Lord. God's Word must be our message, not a purpose-driven leader's vision for dynamic growth. We must never change our hat from that of servant of the Lord and minister to the ones He has entrusted to us-the Bible way!-to that of a skilled motivational leader patterned after the successful organizational CEO. Granted, Warren does insist on the availability of systematic Bible teaching in different settings throughout the week, but what about the preaching from the pulpit on Sunday morning to the whole assembly? That is where and when the local church is to be evaluated according to the Biblical, apostolic blueprint given by Christ Jesus. Pastors, "fulfill the ministry" to which you have been called by your Savior. Christian, seek out a church where the pulpit is filled by Godly, doctrinally sound, "faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). DWC

Foundation

The Baptist Student Ministry at one Texas university is continuing its tradition of holding outreach events at a local tavern. Every fall semester, the BSM offers new students at Tarleton State University (tarleton.edu) a free lunch at Bostock's Bar and Billiards in Stephenville. Local churches provide food for the event, and the meal is typically followed by a message from a Christian speaker or musician.

Darrell Samuelson, director of the university's BSM, calls it a "seed planting" ministry that offers an opportunity for the ministry to reach students where they are. "We do have an evangelistic message at every lunch," Samuelson explains. "What we see is that the students who will go to this lunch ... will begin to trickle into Bible studies or into our worship time or into churches." Samuelson says critics of the bar ministry include some local churches. He says inviting church leaders to the event usually changes their minds. "I remember one particular pastor was very much against it, and I just invited him to come," he says. "He came and saw the crowd that was there. He heard the message that was given a clear gospel presentation and now he's one of our biggest supporters."

Jim Brown, Agape Press

Fewer than half of all Presbyterians believe that Jesus is necessary for salvation. This of course is heresy pure and simple, as the following Scriptures reveal."Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." (Revelation 1:5).

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, and I submit to you that this is the only way for sin to be cleansed and forgiven. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

It is a total mystery to me that anyone could seriously claim to be a Christian and believe that there is any way to go to heaven than by believing in Jesus Christ.

Please read the story below for a shock.

Nearly three-quarters of Presbyterians believe that the "absolute truth for humankind is in Jesus Christ," but fewer than half say that only Christians will be saved, according to a new church survey. The periodic poll of members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) found that 70 percent of members, 75 percent of elders, 71 percent of pastors and 55 percent of specialized clergy (such as chaplains) agreed that the "only absolute truth for humankind is in Jesus Christ." When asked if "only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved," 43 percent of parishioners, 50 percent of elders, 39 percent of clergy and 24 percent of specialized clergy agreed. The nature and role of Jesus in salvation has divided the church in recent years. A furor erupted in 2001 when one pastor rhetorically asked, "So, what's the big deal about Jesus?" and suggested there may be other avenues for salvation. A statement passed by the church's 2001 General Assembly affirmed salvation through Jesus but remained silent on the destiny of non-Christians. "Although we do not know the limits of God's grace and pray for the salvation of those who may come to know Christ, for us the assurance of salvation is found only in confessing Christ and trusting Him alone," the resolution said. In other findings, two-thirds of members and 80 percent of pastors and elders believe that "Jesus will return to earth some day," and 86 percent of members and 96 percent of pastors believe in life after death. While 93 percent of parishioners believe in heaven, only 78 percent believe in hell.

Almost every day America's major newspapers give front page numbers of soldiers killed in Iraq. Whenever a day goes by without a death, the radical news people seem greatly disappointed, because they are not reporting this out of love and concern for our military, but as a part of their war against President Bush. They sound like stuck records in repeating the President's statement that the major part of the War in Iraq was completed last May, but the Bush-haters constantly remind us that we have lost more GIs since then by accidents, snipers, suicide bombers and ambushes.

However, the radical news hawks leave out the fact that we have lost nearly as many soldiers in the States due to various accidents! But the deaths of these dedicated soldiers mean nothing to the anti-Bush hounds. Since I am also a veteran, I grieve when a GI gives his life for this Great Nation. (I served two years in the Korean War and 35 years in the Active Reserves.) I have lost count of the military funerals I have conducted.

But I am also saddened when any American is killed (many foreigners too!). The following statistics show how brutally deceptive the anti-Bush dogs are. It was reported September 11, 2003, (but not on the front page!) that during the year 2002 there were 2,900,000 car wreck injuries in America and 42,815 deaths, with approximately 60% alcohol related. Most of those dead were in their teens or early twenties, the age of soldiers. In fact, some of those killed were soldiers or reservists. This tragedy averages 117 killed every day of the year, with 60%, or 70, booze related. This doesn't count murders, suicides, those run over by cars, or home accidents. But such deaths, leaving grieving families, mean absolutely nothing to the Bush-haters. Such shockingly dishonest reporting is a classic example at how low the liberal extremists are. They care nothing for the truth. Facts mean nothing to them. Lies don't bother them.

The Missionary Challenge

Between 1919 and 1933, it was illegal to make and sell liquor in the United States. It was called the Prohibition Era. The following observations about that era are from the Cornerstone Challenge, December 1988:

We have all heard the stories about how prohibition was such a failure because even during that time when alcoholic beverages were illegal, there were black marketers, illegal whiskey was made in back rooms, etc. But what are the facts?

We often hear about how deadly and harmful drugs are. One of the most, if not the most, deadly drugs are that of alcoholic beverages. Not only is it legalized, but the government taxes it in order to increase its revenue. (Copied)