By Jimmy R. Mickells
“And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:27-30).
I read an article recently where a brother in Christ was trying to justify one church helping another church in the work of evangelism. He used this passage (Acts 11:27-30) in an effort to prove his point. He said, “What does this prove? It proves that the church in Antioch sent support to the churches in Judea. Does it prove just for what purpose the church needed the funds? Did they have to account for every dime of the gift and show that it was not used in any way to preach the Gospel?” He went on to say, “So what does the passage prove? Just what has already been mentioned, they helped a church in need! What did that need include? We do not know, nor do they (non-institutional churches, JRM).”
Can we not tell from these verses what the need was? Did the church in Antioch send relief to help the brethren in Judea do their work in evangelism? Notice with me some of the things that are mentioned in this verse.
Luke says that there was a prophet, named Agabus, which came from Jerusalem to Antioch. He told these brethren, by the Spirit (under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit), that there was going to be a great famine throughout the entire world. The word “famine” is defined as “scarcity of harvest, famine” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 378). Bullinger says in his word study, “failure, want, esp. of food, hence, hunger, famine” (A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, p. 207). It sure sounds like the church in Antioch knew exactly why they were sending these funds to the brethren in Judea, to provide the benevolent needs of the saints because of the famine that would be in the land. That’s what the text says.
Upon receiving this information from Agabus, the disciples in Judea were willing and ready to aid their brethren from Judea. In verse 29, the text says, they sent relief to those saints who would be in need when the famine struck. Mr. Thayer defines the word “relief” as “the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection especially those who succor need by either collecting or bestowing benefaction; the care of the poor, the supplying or distributing of charities; to send a thing to one for the relief of want [A. V. to send relief unto], Acts 11:29” (ibid, p.. 137 & 138).
For one to make a statement that we cannot know what the needs of the brethren were in Judea, then to imply that those needs could have been the work in preaching the gospel, is to simply misrepresent what the text says. Some will go to extremes in an effort to prove what they want to believe .and teach. The needs that these brethren would have when the famine came would be of a physical nature. Relief was sent by the hands of Barnabas and Saul, delivered to the elders, so that these needs could be provided for.
In Acts 12:25, we read, “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.” These men had done the work they had been selected to do in Jerusalem and now returned to Antioch. The word “ministry” that is used in this verse is the same Greek word that is translated “relief” in Acts 11:29. They had taken that which was collected by the brethren in Antioch, traveled to Jerusalem, bringing this relief to supply the needs for the saints when faced with this great famine.
It seems to me that for one to try and justify one church helping another in the work of evangelism, some other verse must be cited to prove that point. This text (Acts 11:27-30) certainly does not teach such.
By Jimmy R. Mickells
“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
Do you think that Paul would be permitted to preach the things that he taught in the New Testament in churches throughout the world today? I don’t think so. I know there are things taught by various denominations that would contradict what the apostle taught on various subjects. Let me suggest just a few for your consideration.
What about baptism? Did you know that this apostle said that in baptism one can wash away his/her sins? When speaking of his conversion, in Acts 22, he told his audience what Ananias had instructed him to do. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Could he teach such a doctrine as this today in many of the churches across this land? No! They would not let such be taught. Many teach that you should be baptized, but that it has nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins. It is only an outward sign of what has already taken place inwardly. Paul said that the old man who is buried in baptism was dead in sin and that the one which comes forth from this watery grave was a new creature in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:1-18). Denominational baptism buries a man that they say is already alive (he has already been saved), not one who is dead. The Bible teaches us to baptize those who are dead in sin so that their iniquities can be forgiven (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, etc.). We better listen to Paul.
What about singing? Paul taught that one is to sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16). There was no instruction given about the use of instrumental music in our worship service to God. Yet the vast majority of churches today use some kind of instruments as they attempt to serve the Lord. Would the apostle be allowed to preach the truth on this subject, tell them they were just to sing, and then be welcomed back to preach at the next assembly? I suppose that some of the leaders would call him aside and say, “Now Paul, you know they had instruments in the Old Testament. If they could use them, surely it is alright for us to have the same. Above and beyond this, we like the way they sound and if we don’t have such we are going to lose our young people. We just can’t have such preaching here. You will have to find some other place to teach your opinion.”
What about the church? This great apostle said that there is only “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), and that the body is “the church” (Ephesians 1:22,23); Could he teach and preach that every where today? Such a message would not be very popular among the masses. It is generally believed and taught that there are many different churches today and that they are all pleasing to the Lord, though they advocate a host of different doctrines contrary to each other. Someone would probably tell Paul, “You and your kind think you are the only ones going to heaven.” Such truth is much to narrow for many.
What about purity of life? Do you think the apostle’s message against homosexuality would be well received in our society today? Notice what he said in his first epistle to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). He not only condemned the life style of the homosexual but also the fornicators, adulterers, drunkards, etc. There are some churches today that not only condone such immoral behavior but also encourage such by allowing their leaders and members to practice these very things. Paul you can’t preach such here, we’re open minded and willing to accept all regardless of their sexual preference and their choice of life styles.
I’m convinced that Paul would not be welcomed in the pulpit of many churches today simply because of what he preached everywhere he went. Would he be welcomed here? I certainly hope so. We had better listen to what the Lord has said to us through the writings of such men like Paul. He revealed the mind of God through the direction of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1:11,12).
By Jimmy R. Mickells
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).
Those who teach and try to prove that one inherits the sin of Adam use this verse as a proof text. Does it really say that David was born a sinner because of what Adam did hundreds of years before his birth? Are you and I sinners because of the action of another man? I believe with all my heart that the Bible answers these questions very clearly.
In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet plainly says that the son does not bear the guilt for his father’s sin, nor is the father held responsible for the iniquity of the son. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). We suffer the consequences of the sins committed by others on occasion, yet we are not guilty before God because of their sins.
The nature of sin itself denies the fact that we are born sinner because of the action of someone else. Sin is a transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4). It is not something that is transferred from one person to the other simply because they are descendants. Did Jesus inherit the sin of Adam when Mary gave birth to Him? The Bible says that He was without sin (1 Peter 2:22). To avoid the logical conclusion that Christ was born a sinner like all other babies, the Catholics teach the immaculate conception of Mary. Merriam-Webster define this expression (immaculate conception) as, “the conception of the Virgin Mary in which as decreed in Roman Catholic dogma her soul was preserved free from original sin by divine grace” (Online Version). This is how they try to avoid a very apparent contradiction in their teaching. The truth of the matter is, that no one is born a sinner, he becomes such when he violates the law of God and is accountable to Him.
The Bible tells us that the God we serve is holy and just (Psalm 7:11; 1 Peter 1:16). How righteous and good would the Lord be if He condemned a child to the fires of hell for an eternity because of what Adam did? Do you think a judge and jury in the United States of America would find a son guilty of a crime that they knew was committed by his father? I think not! It is hard for me to imagine that someone would make such a charge against a loving, caring, and compassionate God. Yet those who teach this false doctrine do just that!
When we stand before Jehovah in judgment, every man will answer for his own misdeeds, not the sins of someone else. Paul said, “who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:6-11). The apostle didn’t say that God would render to each one according to what Adam did. No, we’re held accountable to God because of our own failures or good deeds, not because of what mom and dad did or didn’t do.
What was David saying in Psalm 51:5? Robert Taylor said, “He was born into a world where sin abounds and where all ultimately do sin. He was born into a world where temptations to sin run strongly and to one of them – fleshly passion – he had surrendered in a moment of weakness” (Studies in Psalms, Robert R. Taylor, Jr. p. 56). Sin was all around him, yet he became a sinner when he yielded to his desires and violated the will of the Lord.
Notice these two passages; “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:15). “Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29).