There are a lot of young people who have had trouble waiting on this week to arrive. They are so excited about camp. Some of them have already packed and are ready to go. Since I am writing this on Friday evening before camp, which begins on Sunday, I anticipate that some will start counting down the hours by tomorrow afternoon. It is really good that young people want to be around one another. The last count I saw indicated 139 young people attending camp this week. (It would truly be great if adults and young people showed that much enthusiasm about the opportunity to worship God on a weekly basis). Each day at camp they will have a devotional to start the day, followed by classes for 1 1/2 hours. Vesper services every evening, a devotional around the flagpole before we go to our cabins, and then a devotional in the cabin before retiring for the night. That means they have 2 1/2 to 3 hours of Bible study and discussion every day and they are excited about going. Do not tell me that young people are not interested in learning about GodÕs word today. We also do a lot of singing, which the young and old alike enjoy a great deal. If you have never been to a Bible camp to hear young people sing, you need to find a way to do that. With close to 200 in total attendance, that is more than most of us get to see on a weekly basis. You just know the singing will be good. Did I mention the food!
Two thoughts come to mind as I think about camp: Young people and fellowship. ÒLet no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purityÓ (I Timothy 4:12). It is a whole lot easier to be a Christian in the environment of a youth camp. The challenge comes when they leave and go back into the world as they return to school or jobs, or wherever it may be. They get their batteries charged at camp, which helps to prepare them for what is before them. I also think about the idea of fellowship. Friendships are made at camp that will last a lifetime. Christians like to be around other Christians. We can be an encouragement to one another. Camp is a wonderful time for young people, but those of us who are older enjoy it as well, it just takes us longer to recover.
SPRINKLING, POURING, OR IMMERSION, WHICH?
If three preachers were to stand before an audience and preacher A were to say, ÒBaptism is by immersion only,Ó and preacher B said, ÒBaptism is by sprinkling or pouring only,Ó and preacher C replied, ÒIt doesnÕt matter whether baptism is by sprinkling, pouring or immersion,Ó you would have to determine which of the three were preaching the truth. Since the Bible teaches only one thing on any one doctrinal subject, all three could not be right. Therefore, two of the three would be presenting false views of the truth!
One of the best methods of clearing up the question, ÒIs baptism sprinkling, pouring or immersion?Ó is to define the word. The word baptism is from the Greek word baptidzo.
In Liddell-ScottÕs A Greek-English Lexicon (pp. 305-306) the references to this word in classical Greek are listed. This standard dictionary for classical Greek says the word is used in reference to a person being drowned, of a ship sinking, of soaking something in wine, of a person getting over his head and ears in debt, and of a young man getting into deep water (in an argument).
Joseph Henry ThayerÕs Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (p. 94) defines the word as follows: Òto dip repeatedly, to immerse, submerge, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water.Ó
W. F. Arndt and F. W. GingrichÕs A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (p. 131) has the basic meaning of the word simply as Òdip, immerse.Ó
The Greek word translated ÒsprinkleÓ in the New Testament is rantizo, the word for ÒpouringÓ is cheo. At every place where the word ÒbaptismÓ appears it is baptidzo, never rantizo or cheo.
Perhaps you are thinking, ÒIf baptism is a burial in water, where and when did sprinkling or pouring originate? In 1311, the Council at Ravenna officially adopted sprinkling as baptism. One thing is for sure, and that is, it did not come from God.
Beloved, innovations of man cannot possibly fulfill GodÕs plan of salvation! According to the Bible baptism requires:
* MUCH water (John 3:23).
* A GOING TO the water (Acts 8:36).
* A COMING UP OUT of the water (Matthew 3:16).
* Baptism is a BURIAL in water (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
* Baptism is to be administered in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).
* Baptism is FOR the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
* Baptism puts one into the body of Christ (Galatians 3:27).
* Baptism STANDS BETWEEN the alien sinner and salvation (Acts 22:16).
Have you been scripturally baptized? If not, then do as they were told to do on the day of Pentecost, Ò...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall received the gift of the Holy SpiritÓ (Acts 2:38). Having done that the Bible says, Ò...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be savedÓ (Acts 2:47). As Ananias told Saul of Tarsus, ÒAnd now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the LordÓ Acts 22:16).
-Gospel Gleaner, Vol. 16, #4,
Oct-Dec. 2000, Ivie Powell West
Plains, MO
BE A NEHEMIAH
How many times have you seen something that needed to be done but instead chose to ignore it? Or complained about a problem instead of stepping up to fix it?
Have you ever chosen not to mention Jesus to someone because you didnÕt want to get too involved with the person or family?
Nehemiah wasnÕt afraid to get involved. He was concerned about his people, GodÕs people. The wall of Jerusalem had been broken and the people were defenseless ( Nehemiah 1:3).
Had their enemies threatened, they wouldÕve been unsafe. The dilemma brought him to tears ( Nehemiah 1:4) and the plight of others inspired him to action.
Does it break our hearts that there are others who have fallen away from their first love? Does it bother us that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are discouraged and disillusioned? Do the eternal lives of others even concern us at all?
Nehemiah didnÕt complain about his lack of free time. He didnÕt call the preacher to fix the wall. He didnÕt call a business meeting to discuss fixing the wall. He didnÕt gossip about the dire circumstances either. He went to God and then he went to work. Nehemiah saw a problem and reacted the way he was meant to.
There are those in and out of the church who need Jesus. They need to be encouraged. They need to be lifted up. WonÕt you pray for them, then make a phone call, write a note, or drop in for a visit? ItÕs time to get involved. ItÕs time to get busy.
ItÕs time to be a Nehemiah.
--Forthright.net by P. Harrington