by R. L. Morrison

Many years ago I read something in which an old gospel preacher (I do not remember his name) said, "I can state my position on any Bible subject on a post card, and have enough space left to tell the folks "Howdy". I thought then, and still do, what a wonderful thing to be so well acquainted with the scripture and have the ability to state one's position in such a manner. I fully realize that I do not have the knowledge or ability which I believe he had. However, I want to try to give some "post card" answers to some Bible questions. My "post cards" will be somewhat larger than his were.

1. How many churches are there? I do not know. New ones are springing up like mushrooms in a California cow pasture after a spring rain. But if you mean revealed in the Bible, there is only one. Jesus said, "I will build my church", singular, not plural (Matt. 16:18). Paul wrote in Eph. 2:22-23 and Col. 1:18 that the church is the body and the body is the church. In 1 Cor. 12:20, he wrote, "Yet but ONE body." Therefore there is only one church revealed in the New Testament.

2. Is water baptism essential to salvation? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21). Can one be saved without calling on the name of the Lord in baptism? If not, is baptism essential to salvation? It must be, according to the scriptures.

3. Does the church of Christ believe the Old Testament? I cannot speak for the church of Christ. But, the New Testament teaches: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for out learning" (Romans 15:4). Yes, the Old Testament was written by inspired men, just as the New Testament was written by inspired men.. This does not mean that men today are to obey it or live by it, but it does teach by example. It too, is the word of God, inspired by God.

4. If you believe the Old Testament is God inspired, why do you not obey its commandments, like observing the Sabbath? Beginning with Exodus 19, and concluding with Malachi, we find the account of God dealing with the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the Old Testament law (Ex. 20:1; Deut. 5:1-4). This law was never given to the Gentiles as nations, but to the Jews only. Paul wrote, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). "Lo I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first (law) that he may establish the second (law)" (Heb. 10:9). The second law, the gospel, or the New Testament, is for all mankind. We are to obey the new law, not the old one which required Sabbath keeping.

5. Why do you people refuse to use instruments of music in worship? There is absolutely no authority in the New Testament for the use of mechanical instruments in worship. Every reference to music in worship in the New Testament refers to vocal music, or singing. Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16 and Hebrews 2:12 all state emphatically the kind of music to be used in the worship of God. Many object, but the objections of men do not change what the New Testament teaches. If we are to worship God in TRUTH we must abide in what the New Testament teaches, for it is TRUTH.

6. Why do you partake of the Lord's Supper every Sunday? Doesn't that make it too common and cause it to lose its significance? "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them" (Acts 20:7). Paul spent seven days in Troas, including the first day of the week. IF the event referred to was just a common meal, it could have occurred on any day. But every week has a first day. Following the New Testament pattern, Christians assemble on the first day of the week to worship, a part of which is partaking of the Lord's Supper. If this makes it too common and causes it to lose its significance, the problem is in the heart of the worshiper, not in the commandment to do so.

7. In John 15:5, Jesus said "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Is this not a description of the religious world today? Is not each church or denomination a branch of Christ, the True Vine? Although many sincere religious people believe this, it is not what Jesus taught. The problem is that people STOP reading too soon. Verse 6 says: "If a MAN abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch." The individual Christian is the branch, not the denomination. By the way, have you ever seen a vine that bears a different kind of fruit (or whatever) on each of its branches? No? Now make the proper application to Christ, the true vine!

8. Does not the Bible teach that one is saved by grace through faith? (Eph. 2:8). If this is true, why do you teach that more than faith in God and in His grace is required to be saved? Yes, the Bible teaches that one is saved by grace through faith. But that is not ALL the Bible teaches on the subject of salvation. No one can know the will of God on any subject until he has learned ALL that God has said about it. The Bible also says that man is saved by the blood of Christ; (Rom. 5:9), by the death of Christ (Rom. 5:10); by obedience to the form of doctrine the apostles delivered, (Rom. 6:17-18), by belief and a confession of that belief, (Rom. 10:9-10), by baptism (1 Peter 3:20-21). There are other things by which men are saved, but this should be enough to show that a man is not saved by any one or two things alone. There is no scripture that says man is saved by "faith only," which is taught by many denominations today.

9. Why do you teach that one must be a member of the church of Christ to be saved eternally? Are there not good, honest people in all denominations who are serving God, and who will be eternally saved? First, I do not teach that ONLY members of the church of Christ will be saved. Infants, who cannot know or understand the gospel are subject to death, many slain in their mother's womb, daily. They are not saved, but safe, having never sinned, and will be saved eternally. Then there are those whose mind has never developed to the point of being able to understand the gospel or the difference in right or wrong. Such a one is not responsible and will be saved eternally. John wrote: "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). This new birth places one in the kingdom or the church which Christ purchased with His blood. Outside that church or kingdom there is no salvation. Sincerity, honesty, or feelings, do not, and cannot save a sinner.

10. Many churches today require their members to "tithe." This means they give one-tenth of their income to the church. The churches of Christ do not so teach. Why?

Under the law law of Moses, God required the Israelites to pay the tithe. However, this was not all that was required of them. There were other things involved that required a part of their increase. They were required to offer animals in sacrifice, pay a temple tax and also make some provision for the poor. This possibly could have taken as much as 25% of their increase.

The new covenant, the gospel of Christ, makes no such requirements. The apostles taught Christians: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him" (1 Cor. 16:2). In the second letter to this same church, Paul devoted the eighth and ninth chapters to the subject of giving. I suggest that you carefully read these chapters. You will find that every Christian is to give as he purposeth in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity. So the amount one gives is determined by the giver. But each one should remember that "God loveth a cheerful giver." No, the New Testament, which is God's law for men today, does not require tithing.