AN OPEN BIBLE AND AN HONEST HEART

I have always believed that it takes two things to go to heaven. It takes a heart that is honest and a Bible that is open. The fog of religious confusion and division makes finding true Christianity difficult in our day. The Bible speaks of unity. (Ephesians 4:4-6, John 17:20-21) We did not want nor cause the denominational division of our day; we were just born into a world of religious confusion. In less than a 10 minute walk from where I preached at the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Greenville, Alabama, you could physically touch at least six or seven church buildings. At each place, different things are believed, taught and practiced. The Bible says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) Jesus promised that He would build His church. He also promised that nothing would prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18-19) He kept both promises. His church is in the world today. Let us study our Bible carefully with an honest heart, so that we can know the truth. When religious discussions are going on our favorite statements should be, “SHOW ME IN THE BIBLE.” Study the Bible with an honest heart. Make sure when you read or hear words from the Bible that they are in their context. My son, Philip Box, who preaches for the church of Christ, in Elba, Alabama says that we need to read the Bible with 20/20 vision. When you read a verse in the Bible, you should read about 20 verses above it, and 20 verses below it to make sure you are studying the verse in its context. Everything that we hear religiously cannot be right; so let’s start saying, “Show me in the Bible.” What I say or what you say is not important, but what God says is everything.

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama  36037 USA