Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

A Monument to a Boll Weevil In December of 1919, citizens of Enterprise, Alabama dedicated a monument to that dreaded foe of all cotton farmers, the boll weevil. What a strange thing to do, considering that small insect had almost devastated their economy during the past four years. Why, you ask, would they erect a monument to their arch enemy? Had that weevil not brought them pain and poverty? Yes, but it also forced them to diversify their economy, thereby enabling them to rebuild their financial foundations. The boll weevil had done them a favor, and they made the best of it. Often we learn our best lessons in the darkest hours of life. History records authors, poets and musicians who did their most memorable work when in pain, while suffering. The state of Alabama did not like the troubled times caused by the boll weevil, nor did they enjoy their hard times. But they were wise enough to learn from them. When you ponder the events the apostle Paul’s life, you note that he spent a great deal of his time incarcerated. His only “crime” was that of preaching God’s message, but in retrospect we see that much of his lasting influence is seen in those dark days of prison. He taught us how to live—and how to die. But it was not just the prison, it was Paul’s response to it that instructs and motivates us. When he wrote to the church at Philippi, he did not cry out for release. Instead, he spoke of his opportunity to defend the faith, to make a difference in the lives of others. He wrote: “I am set for the defence of the gospel,” Philippians 1:17. No cries for a lawyer; no plea for leniency; no tears for his own problems—just his determination to continue to take the gospel to the lost—and, to defend the gospel when it was opposed. When he was in trouble, suffering unjustly, he made a difference in a world where hard hearts were the norm, not the exception. No wonder Paul, upon seeing his Ephesian brethren (recorded in Acts 20:17-38) spoke positively of his previous problems. No wonder those Ephesians, upon hearing they would “see his face no more,” bestowed upon him such great affection. When days were dark for Paul, his light was shining brightly to all. Note some things Paul was able to do during that time: Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote many of his epistles, including the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. These books serve us today by teaching “sound doctrine” of God’s word. Paul said in Philippians 1:12f: “…the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places. And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” What if Paul had whined about his misfortune? What if, instead of taking full advantage of his opportunities, he had sulked in his bed all day, telling all about his unfair treatment? But he did not fall prey to fear, and his courage wrought similar courage in his brethren in Christ. While in Rome he converted Philemon’s servant, sending him back to his master. During much of these times, he suffered terrible persecution, as described in 2 Corinthians 11:22-30, including “stripes above measure...forty stripes save one [five times]... beaten with rods [three times]... stoned... shipwreck [three times]... hunger and thirst...in cold and nakedness...” For us today, Jesus told us we must “count the cost” of being His disciple, Luke 14:28. We may never face the degree of suffering Paul did, but we must “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13. The only “monument” you will ever need will be seen in the “treasures” you store up “in heaven”—plus, your life will have borne much fruit. Carl B. Garner

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 “For every hill I’ve had to climb, for every stone that bruised my feet; for all the blood and sweat and grime, my heart sings but a grateful song—these were the things that made me strong; For all theheartaches and tears, for glory days and fruitless years, and for the hopes I lived in vain; I do give thanks, for now I know these were the things that helped me grow” Author Unknown

Removing the Ancient Landmark “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set,” Proverbs 22:28. Moving an ancient landmark was a device of fraudulent men because such landmarks defined the boundaries of farms and estates. They marked the rightful inheritance of the heirs. Moving a landmark was a crime easy to commit and hard to prove. Therefore, God gave the sternest warnings against it in our text under consideration. The writer of Proverbs warned against this knowing there were dishonest men who would remove the landmarks, giving themselves more land and crops to harvest. They deceptively took property belonging to others, and thereby causing many disputes. Their fathers (ancestors) had set the borders when they received the land as their tribal allotment or when they agreed to buy a designated piece of land for an agreed price. However, by removing the “ancient landmark” one was able to illegally acquire property that was not rightfully his. Unfortunately, in some cases, once the landmarks were removed, it was impossible to determine their original location. I want to emphasize two comparable thoughts in relation to removing ancient landmarks in the Lord’s church today. Removing the ancient landmark on the distinctiveness of the church of Christ. God has set His boundaries on the one true church; the church of Christ, in the New Testament. Christ is her builder (Matthew 16:18), her head (Ephesians 1:22-23), and foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). The doctrine of the church of Christ is the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). In recent years in our brotherhood, some false teachers have sought to remove these ancient landmarks from the Bible. Like those in Proverbs 22:28, they are attempting to deceive (with their false teachings) and illegally acquire (the hearts of men) what is not theirs (the souls of men) by removing the boundaries (God’s authority) from the ancient landmark (the Bible). Unfortunately, the removal of the teaching on the distinctiveness of the church has made it very difficult for some to rightly determine the true church of the Bible. Removing the ancient landmark on the doctrine of Christ. The doctrine of Christ in 2 John 9 is the teaching of Jesus through the inspired writers of the New Testament. “The doctrine of Christ” is the same as “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), “the gospel” (Galatians 2:14), “the truth” (1 Peter 1:22), “the new testament” (Hebrews 9:15), and a number of other equivalent expressions. It includes, but is not limited to, the doctrine that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. Contemporary false teachers from among us have removed these ancient landmarks from their congregations. They have removed the teaching of God’s plan of salvation (Romans 1:16; 6:16-18). They have removed the belief and practice of opposing denominationalism (Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10, 13). They have completely removed God’s teaching on Christian fellowship (1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:11), and embraced most everyone and everything in denominationalism. I reiterate—not unlike those in Proverbs 22:28, they are attempting to deceive (with their false teachings) and illegally acquire (the hearts of men) what is not theirs (the souls of men) by removing the boundaries (doctrine of Christ) from the ancient landmark (the New Testament). Unfortunately, the removal of the teaching on the doctrine of Christ has made it very difficult for some to distinguish the pure gospel of Christ. Conclusion: A fearful responsibility rests upon Christians. We must determine to know and teach the truth (John 8:31-32). We must always teach it without alteration (Galatians 1:6-9). We must never “remove the ancient landmark”! (Jeremiah 6:16). Kevin Berry (SWSBS Student)