WILLIAMS REPORT FROM SOUTH AFRICA
P.O. Box 324, Eshowe, 3815 South Africa.
E-mail: bible@netactive.co.za; ph. 011-27-35-474-2656
Send checks to: Stephen Williams, 25904 Pepper Road, Athens, AL 35613.
Ph. 256-233-1357. E-mail swill@hiwaay.net
Correction: I reported that Prince Gideon, who attended the wedding of Abraham Mthethwa, was a polygamist. I am happy to correct that report. He has only one wife.
News for April
Neighborhood meeting planned for July—The Eshowe church has booked the Mpushini Park Hall, which is in the Eshowe area where Indians live, for a 5-night meeting July 4-8. Indian brethren from Durban will preach four nights and I will preach one night.
Samuel and Gloria White visit—Gloria (Maydell) and Samuel White, newlyweds, visited us April 6-11. He preached at our Friday night and Sunday night services. David Ngonyama brought a large number of visitors on Friday night. Some of them are associated with the liberal church of Christ in Empange-ni. David is studying with them. On one occasion he had a class with them in the building of the liberal church. He was able to point to the kitchen as an example of the unauthorized things they practice. Quite an object lesson!
We certainly enjoyed our visit with Samuel (25) and Gloria (21). I have a high opinion of both of them.
Home classes with visitor, classes planned with two Christians, another family—I had two classes with a lady. A class with two of our young Christian ladies is planned.
Two restored—We were greatly saddened to learn that a school teacher and a high school student both became pregnant. After we talked with them, each repented and confessed to the church. Within weeks the high school student lost her baby at about 6 months because of high blood pressure.
Tembinkosi Apleni—The young preacher who lives at King William’s Town is getting worse. The attack severed, or injured, a nerve in his neck which paralyzed his left arm. Now his left leg is becoming paralyzed. He drags his left foot when he walks.
Since his attack he has baptized a 21-yr.-old girl and is finding others who are interested in the gospel. Keep praying for him.
Joel Williams plans to preach in South Africa—Our grandson Joel, plans to come to South Africa in January. We believe he will be a great asset. Pray for him.
1 May 2005
Laying a Foundation articles to be published. I have st the first five of nine articles based on Hebrews 6:1-2 to The Preceptor. Bro. Danny Brown indicates that they will probably be published. I wrote these several years ago as a series of lessons designed for babes in Christ. Look for them in future issues of The Preceptor. (The formor editor of the journal for a number of years was Stanley Lovett. It has been owned and edited for a number of years by Danny Brown of Beaumont, Texas and is of a consistently high standard. $15 per year, P.O. Box 22283, Beaumont, TX 77720.)
WRITING FOR OTHERS
TO READ AND LEARN
Garreth L. Clair
When I set down at the computer keyboard, it is my intention to write about a subject in such a way that the information that I impart may aid some searcher on their way to becoming informed about the subject under consideration. This is my objective in all cases where I write an article about a given subject that has it’s origin in the Bible. I am not interested in becoming involved in an argument or a debate with anyone, if you do not value the information that is contained in any article that I write, ok!
The important thing for my readers, is that my understanding of the Bible is a personal thing, I know that everyone will not agree with my thoughts but that does not obligate me in any way to personally take offense if someone disagrees with my conclusions, you see! The only one that I am seeking to please in this life is God. If, therefore, one out of every 100 people who read my concepts of the Bible’s teaching is benefited, I am successful in my mission to help someone understand better God’s will for their life. You see, I am not concerned now nor have I ever been concerned about what others think about me or my handling of God’s Written Word, but I am greatly concerned about pleasing God - [cf. 2 John 9-11, “9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (NKJV).]
SOME TRADITIONAL AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT
Whenever anyone makes an attempt to teach others about God and God’s plan for mankind, he may encounter and irritate other people who have been conditioned to believe a different concept of the teaching of the Bible. I will insert a list of areas where I have experienced disagreement with others, perhaps you could also prepare such a list, but please note the list.
Disagreement over the doctrine of one church only [many or just one?]
Disagreement over baptism [mode, purpose, what to say, etc]
Disagreement over the name of the church [collectively, local]
Disagreement over the doctrine of infant baptism [sprinkling babies]
Disagreement over marriage [grounds, who may remarry, what constitutes a divorce, etc.]
Disagreement over the acts of worship [assemble, singing, praying, Lord’s Supper, teaching, giving, etc.]
Disagreement over the Holy Spirit [baptism, miraculous gifts, the simple gift, etc.]
Disagreement over the matter of living the Christian lifestyle [recreation, entertainment, dress, language, social drinking, regular attendance, child rearing, husband wife relationship, etc.]
Disagreement over sexual purity [homosexuality, adultery, pre-martial sexual relationships, etc]
Disagreement over the nature of the Bible divisions [Patriarchal, The law of Moses, Christian {dispensations, are the 10 commandments binding today?, etc]
Disagreement over the meaning of the qualifications in Titus and Timothy, elders [what do the words mean; one child, believing children, husband of one wife, etc.]
Disagreement over the plan of salvation [faith only or {hearing+ belief+ repentance+
confession+ baptism and living faithful till death} or pray for salvation or wait for the Holy Spirit to move one, etc]
Disagreement over the authority of the Bible [is the Bible alone sufficient for all things for mankind today, etc]
Disagreement over music in worship [vocal only or vocal+ instruments or choirs+ mechanical music, etc.]
Disagreement over the second coming of the Lord [literal 1,000 year reign of Christ in Jerusalem verses Christ is reigning now, etc]
Disagreement over the role of women in the leadership of the church [the Bible teaches men only versus we live a new world today the Bible needs to be updated to include women not exclude them, etc.]
Disagreement over contextual interpretations:
Example [oneness of the items mentioned] - Ephesians 4:1-6, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism ; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (NKJV).
Example [the purpose of baptism - “for the remission of sins”] - Acts 2:38-39, “38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (NKJV).
Example (frequency of the Lord’s supper, etc] - Acts 20:7-8, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (NKJV).
Example [name of the members of the church] - Acts 11:25-26, “25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (NKJV)
Example [days of creation {i.e., eons evolutionists philosophy} of time or 24 hour days?] -Gen 1:3-5-Gen 2:1-3 -
Day 1 - Genesis 1:3-5, “3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day” (NKJV).
Day 2 - Gen 1:6-8, “6 Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day” (NKJV).
Day 3 - Gen 1:9-13, “9 Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day” (NKJV).
Day 4 - Gen 1:14-19, “14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day” (NKJV).
Day 5 - Gen 1:20-23, “20 Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens." 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day” (NKJV).
Day 6 - Gen 1:24-31, “24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (NKJV).
Day 7 - Gen 2:1-3, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (NKJV).
CONSIDER THIS:
As we write about these and other disputed areas of the Bible by diverse religious teachers from many different doctrinal philosophies I expect to have continued disputes with their views. As I stated at the beginning of this article, regardless of the views of other writers or educators my writings will be rooted in my understanding of God’s Written Word, and there I will make every attempt to stand -
2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (NKJV).
1 Thessalonians 3:8, “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord” (NKJV).
Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (NKJV).
Ephesians 6:11-20, “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand .
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (NKJV).
Romans 14:4, “4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand , for God is able to make him stand” (NKJV).
EDITOR’S NOTE:
We do pray that you will read and study our writings that have their origin for thought in God’s Book, please feel free to share your ideas with us but understand this; I will stand on the truth alone. Since Many people do not know what the truth is, I include this last Scriptural reference for you consideration; John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (NKJV).John 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (NKJV). The “truth” Jesus teaching will be our judge, “SOMEDAY“ - John 12:48-49,48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (NKJV).
Articles Selected or edited by Garreth L. Clair—5/5/2005
glclair@sbcglobal.net
| Our prayer is that we will be able to aid in the great work of teaching and encouraging people from all walks of life to take a little time and look at the evidence for God’s existence, His love for mankind, and His Holy Book (i.e., the BIBLE).
PSALMS 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
NKJV BIBLE
NEWS AND RELIGIOUS VIEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL OCCUR ON THIS PAGE REGULARLY.
The information that we will deal with from throughout the world will be printed in the English (i.e., American) language. The news and events will be gleaned from existent news sources, both electronic media and printed media. We will always give the source and credits for the origins of our NEWS ITEMS.
THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS COMING!
There will never again be a great flood to cover the whole earth, but there will be another day of judgment coming for all mankind. As one reads the account of the first judgment of humanity in - Gen 6:5-10,
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah . Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. NKJV
God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a great flood - Gen 9:15-17, 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah , "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me a. NKJV
God's second judgment is coming - Rev 20:12-21:1,
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire . NKJV
Prepare now and avoid the clamity that is to befall the wicked - Eccl. 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. NKJV
Editor, Garreth L. Clair
April 18, 2005
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