Articles
A Famine Of Adhering To God's Word
A Famine Of Adhering To God’s Word
Amos 8:11 – “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord.”
The word "famine" is one of those words we should be familiar with upon reading the Old Testament Scriptures. Famines, however, were not and are not limited to ancient times. Famines exist now. A famine of brotherhood exists in the United States. A famine of freedom, liberty, and justice exists throughout America. The prophet Amos realized famines were of various types and wrote: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).
A similar famine exists in America today. It is a famine of adhering to God’s word. A famine of adhering to God’s word is more detrimental and destructive to mankind than those of the flesh, because famines of adhering to the word of God affect eternity. This famine is not brought on by God, but rather it is fueled by individuals choosing to disregard the scriptures of the Lord as their authority. Hosea, a contemporary of the prophet Amos, recognized this truth when he said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
Men must know the truth if they are to be better and if the world is to be better off. However, truth, as it relates to the soul and to salvation, is found only in the Bible. This fact reveals the necessity of knowing what the Bible has to say to us today. It is unfortunate many people keep up with sports, their favorite television program, the latest fashions, the status of race relations, politics, and the advancements in the space program, but are behind in their knowledge of the Bible. The overemphasis on these worldly pursuits gives rise to the famine of adhering to God’s word, because one contributes to this famine through neglect and unpreparedness. Let us determine the extent to which this famine exists at our house of Biblical information.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know the word “reverend” is never used in the Bible as a religious title for preachers? Yet this is a practice which is so ingrained in the minds of most people; that an effort to eliminate it would immediately invite rejection and ridicule. But such reaction to the truth makes it nonetheless true (Psalms 111:9).
Did you know mechanical instruments of music were never used in the public worship of the New Testament church during the days of Jesus and His apostles? The fact almost everyone today uses such instruments of music by no means justifies the practice. The Bible says, “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and making melody with all your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19).
Did you know the Bible never speaks of, nor endorses denominational churches, but rather condemns them for their creation of division while Christ prayed and pleaded for unity? Christ's statement in John 17:21, “That they all may be one” is a divine denunciation of all forms of division. The Bible only speaks of one body, the church (Colossians 1:18). The terms "Baptist church," "Methodist church," "Pentecostal church," "Lutheran church," "Catholic church," "Congregational church," "Holiness church," "Kingdom Hall", are nowhere to be found in the Bible, the Book of God. We are commanded to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). We can never claim to "speak as the oracles of God" when we defiantly use such unscriptural expressions as those listed.
Did you know salvation, the forgiveness of sins, before baptism or without baptism is never taught by Jesus and His apostles after the giving of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20 & Mark 16:15-16) and the day of Pentecost (Acts 2)?
If you are seeking the truth, then the Wildercroft church of Christ is where you ought to be. Hear the pure word of God preached as it is written in the Bible. Truth is what the world desperately needs. Jesus said, "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free" (John 8:32). We encourage you to worship with us, a Christ-centered, Bible-centered family.
