The greatest book

Holy Bible, Foundation for Faith

After the global flood. Abraham, a man of stature and stalwart faith, was selected by God to be the father of a great people who were chosen preserve and preach the truth about God, the Creator, to all people of the world.. Many great, good, men and women followed, but the mission assigned the “chosen” failed.

The brilliant Moses and his slave mother Joshebed, charismatic David, courageous Daniel, Isaiah the prophet, faithful Ruth and the virgin Mary, along with many others, stood tall and loyal to their Creator and obedient to His ten rules for better living.

But as a nation, founded and organized by God, its collective faith veered off course and its religious practices eroded into a ritualized “form of godliness denying the power thereof.” Under the rule of King Ahab, men of god like Elijah feared for their lives.

As a result, prophecies of a coming Messiah were misconstrued. The “chosen” expected a leader who would deliver them from political oppression rather than a spiritual power who would open heaven’s gates to an eternal kingdom. Not only did religious leaders reject the promised Messiah, but plotted his death.

Front and center in the pursuit and killing of Christians stood Saul of Tarsus, a devout Jew of Roman citizenship. He stood by, holding the cloaks of those stoning Steven.

Intent on tracking down and arresting followers of “The Way,” his life changed forever on the outskirts of Damascus. Stopped in his tracks by Christ Himself, Saul reversed course and devoted the rest of his life to sharing the gospel with the gentiles. He carried his new, born-again ID as Pau, the Apostle, champion of Christianity.

Ever since “chosen” religious leadership rejected the Messiah, Jewish culture has endured discrimination, contempt and even the mass murder of the Holocaust. Born-again Christians believe all humans are created by God and do not discriminate against any other race, color or creed. They recognize the devout Abraham was a direct ancestor of Jesus’ honored mother May.

Christians also treasure the Old Testament that tells the story of creation; introduces the miracle workings of God on Planet Earth since the beginning of time; and set the theological and historical stage for the coming of Jesus, God’s “only begotten Son” to make eternal life available to all who “obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” The promises are there in the Old Testament.

Acts 8 describes an angel arranged encounter between the Apostle Phillip and the CFO of Ethiopia. Philip found the Ethiopian executive puzzled after reading the writings of the prophet Isiah. Philip explained the prophecy pointed to the good news of the Messiah having been fulfilled in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The honest hearted Ethiopian asked to be baptized and Philip obliged. This conversion took place three centuries before the Old and New Testaments had been correlated.

Augustine (Aurelius Augustinus), 354-430, Bishop of Hippo, converted to the Christian faith, answering the prayers of his devout mother, played a pivotal role in merging the Old and New Testaments into today’s Holy Bible.

Aided by the translating skills of Jerome, a scholar fluent in Greek(384), Augustine is believed to have been instrumental in the formal ratification of the Scriptural canon by the Synod of Hippo, 393.

WLJ

"The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways His Wonders to Perform"

Pastor Anglebarger, a devout Christian minister, most likely felt disappointed, if not discouraged! Two Libby sisters, Catherine (Cassie), and the widowed Annie, ninth-generation descendants of John Libby, had attended the Pastor’s series of public Bible studies but ignored his invitation to join his York Street, Denver congregation.

Walking into a church doesn’t make a person a Christian any more than walking into a garage makes you a car.

Astute Bible students, Cassie and Annie looked for more than a superficial, name-brand religion; a pro-forma social club faith; or a cosmetic cover for political nationalism parading under a religious label. The Libby sisters were searching for that transforming identity that delivers intuitive obedience to God’s commandments and a lifestyle reflective of the character of Jesus Christ.

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22, 23 “…Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12,13

The Denver Pastor’s inspired, Bible-based message, reaches beyond a ritualized creed or sectarian nuances. Listeners were invited to join a fellowship of believers, united by love for God and powered by the Holy Spirit.

Three years passed.

After reviewing the accuracy of every word spoken from the pulpit by Pastor Anglebarger, and offering many personal prayers for guidance, the truth about God triumphed. Annie and Cassie, together with children above the age of accountability, were baptized into the York Street Church fellowship of committed Christians.

The news upset Cassie’s next-door neighbor. He was the Sunday School teacher of Cassie’s son, Varner. After Sunday services in a local church, the distraught neighbor would routinely rush next door to set straight his family’s friend. Unprepared for her three years of intense Bible study, he routinely would leave her home, trying not to vent frustration. It took time, but eventually, the honest, kindly neighbor became convinced Cassie’s Bible theology resonated with God’s truth. He, and his family, joined Anglebarger’s congregation. More than that, this devout gentleman became a Seventh-day Adventist minister.

In more than a century since that “failed” series of Bible lectures delivered in the York Street Church, nine of Cassie’s own descendants entered the Christian ministry. As to that neighbor, his name was Vandemanm. He had a son named George, founder and host of the telecast, “It Is Written.”

Unknown hundreds of other Christians trace their spiritual roots back to that Denver Bible lecture series that “failed.”

Numbers mean nothing when the silent power of God’s Holy Spirit is working on human hearts. Once truth inspires the honest souls who live as free moral agents, the simple beauty of the everlasting gospel overwhelms hearts, and truth triumphs.

Mathew 25 confirms God’s judgment is not influenced by brand-name religion or pro-forma rituals. “Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” First Samuel 16;7 God, the righteous judge, recognizes only two classes: evildoers, or the righteous who “obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

While we can’t begin to comprehend how God moves “His wonders to perform,” I can verify, as fact, this story of the “failed” series of Bible lectures happened early in the twentieth century. Cassie, that lady of sterling character and Bible scholarship, lived an exemplary life of Christian love. Cassie was my own, dear Grandmother.

WLJ