The Trumpet
The Trumpet is a monthly paper offered to the good folks of Faith Bible Baptist, Toledo Ohio, and is the work of the pastor. He assembles the articles and edits them as a ministry to his church. We offer it to those who read our Web Site but in a different format than is presented to the Church. The purpose, is simple, to generate spiritual thought, and to encourage spiritual discussion within the body. Where credit can be given, it is, but there is no claim of originality. Further, the Trumpet is an avenue of current and future events scheduled for The Faith Bible Baptist of Toledo.
May the Lord bless you as you read this months issue of The Trumpet.
Pastor Tim Goodman
December 2012
**********************
Thankful for His Birth
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:4-7)
The birth of Christ has forever changed our world.
Outside of Hodgenville, Kentucky, stands a house that looks like any other house. But this house is special. It is the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest Presidents. On a plaque near that house is a record of a conversation between two Kentuckians on the day of Lincoln’s birth: “Any news down ‘t the village, Ezry?” “Well, Squire McLain’s gone t’ Washington t’ see Madison swore in, and ol’ Spellman tells me this Bonaparte fella has captured most o’ Spain. What’s new out here, neighbor?” “Nuthin’ nuthin’ a ‘tall, ‘cept fer a new baby born t’ Tom Lincoln’s. Nothin’ ever happens out here.”
One of the greatest Americans to ever lived came from such humble beginnings in a small town in Kentucky. What these men didn’t realize was that the birth of Abraham Lincoln would forever impact the country in which they lived.
A far greater birth that was overlooked was the birth of Christ. Two common people, in a foreign town, staying in a barn, witnessed the birth of the Saviour of the world. Even Christ’s earthly parents could not fathom the impact Jesus would have on the world. As they held Him that night, they held the promise God made to Adam and Eve hundred of years before.
November is almost over, and December is about to start. This is the time of the year for shopping for presents, enjoying cooler weather, and decorating for the Christmas season. It’s a time of the year many people enjoy. Yet it’s also a time of year many people misunderstand.
How often are Christmas carols that praise the birth of Christ sung out of joy of the season rather than out of praise to God? There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the festivities of the season. Many people will decorate their houses with Christmas trees, wreaths, and even nativity scenes; but don’t forget the real reason for the season. Don’t forget to celebrate the birth of Christ.
That first Christmas was full of praise and singing. When the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, they filled the heavens with song and praised God’s gift. What a sight it must have been!
Just as the angels praised God for His Son, so we should make sure we take time to praise God for the birth of His Son. This season is about more than presents and family; it’s more than snow and snowmen; it’s more than hot chocolate and warm fires. This season is all about giving thanks-thanking God for sending His Son to earth to be our Saviour.
This season as you decorate your home, take time to think of the birth of Christ. Take time to thank God for sending His Son. Make this time a teaching moment for your children and focus their eyes on the Saviour. As a family, remember that Christmas is all about God’s gift of a Saviour to take away the sins of the world. Thank Him for His wonderful gift.
**********************
Parson to Person
(You may come to the conclusion as you read this article that I am dark and gloomy and discouraged, but I assure you by the time I finish writing this article I will be bright and sunny again.)
Here we are in the last month of the year, and if you believe the doomsayers’ the last days of human existence. There is a cartoon on this page that pokes fun at those doomsayers. Now don’t get me wrong I believe in the end of the world but not the same way that they do. I believe the Lord is coming and we will see the end of the world as we will come to an end. Some may ask, “Is it the end of the world?” In a word, No, I do not think so. While some are pre¬dicting mass chaos, food short¬ages, economic collapse and jungle-like survival scenarios, the truth is no one knows what will happen tomorrow. And another truth is, something like that is a pos¬sibility every single day, with or without the Mayan Calendar.
What should Christians be doing? First, they should not panic. Nothing happens to us except that which has passed through God’s counsel. Second, Christians should not be caught unpre¬pared. The way to be ready is to be saved and tell as many people how to be saved too. We may not know the when but we do know the what. We know what will happen next on God’s time table. We need to resist the temp¬tation to connect the Mayan Calendar with the rapture, the tribulation period or any other aspect of the second coming of the Lord. Jesus could come anytime, Mayan Calendar-ready or not.
I believe there times when we get tired in the fight, but we cannot give up the fight. We know that giving up even for an instance will mean certain death. We must keep fighting the devil’s temptation in our lives because giving up even for a second will mean almost certain death spiritually. We can never let up!
Consider the Nitty-Gritty realism of our current challenge. Are we under pressure? Yes! Do we get confused sometimes? Yes! Do we face harsh criticism? Yes! Are we knocked down sometimes? Yes!
That’s life, that’s reality, that’s the truth for every follower of Jesus. If you thought anything different, you better go back to the recruiting office and have a chat with whoever signed you up because being a Christian doesn’t mean getting a free pass through life—far from it!
What does this mean for us? We talk a lot today about the “victorious Christian life.” I’m all for that as long you understand victory the same way Paul did. Sometimes when I hear people talk about “victory,” it sounds like they want some sort of experience that will deliver them from the trials and struggles of life. They want to be lifted to a higher plane and a “higher life” that will preserve them from trouble. It just doesn’t work that way.
Someone said, “Too many Christians want life to be like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride at Disney World. You float along in a little boat where you see menacing pirates with their sharp swords. And it seems like they are going to get you, but they never come close. So you have a “thrill ride” but you are never really in danger.” Life isn’t like that.
So what are we to do? Run to the cross! Run to the cross and lay hold of Jesus Christ who loved you and gave himself for you. Trust him completely as your Lord and Savoir. And for all who do know him, rest in this truth. Whether we live or whether we die, no matter what happens tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we need not be afraid. You may live another 50 years or you may die in the next 24 hours. In the ultimate sense it doesn’t matter for all things are in the Father’s hands. William Barclay said, “No man need fear the years, for they bring him nearer, not to death, but to God.”
We have challenges ahead of us but we also have opportunities ahead of us as well. We have a busy schedule ahead of us. The Christmas Banquet was moved to the 14th and I am really looking forward to the banquet On the heals of that we have the Children’s Christmas Program on the 16th. The Christmas Ensemble Cantata is on the 23rd. I am excited about our Christmas special this year the name is “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.” I trust you will enjoy it. The Candle Light Service will be at 6:00 p.m. on the 24th. We will finish out the year with our New Years Eve “Watch Night Service,” starting at 7:00 p.m. This is a fun evening every year won’t you plan to be here with us.
Well I’ve been prattling on for quite a while so let me close with my reminder that Linda and I love you and pray for you often. May the Lord Bless our efforts together this year!
Pastor Tim Goodman
***********************
Living by the Basics
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Living the Christian life requires many things, but one of the basics is faith.
Living the Christian life without the basics of faith is like driving in the car with no oil, washing clothes with no soap, or playing in a football game without a helmet or pads. Without a life of biblical faith, many Christians struggle with discouragement, despondency, doubt, and despair. Other Christians, who have placed their faith in self or others, are equally discouraged. It is a very discouraging thing to try to live the Christian life without faith. As our verse says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Webster’s dictionary defines faith as “belief that does not rest in logic; confident belief in the truth.” Faith cannot be explained, and it cannot be understood. Faith tells us to believe and trust God for the impossible. Faith also believes that God’s Word is true. If God’s Word were not true then we would have no basis for our faith! Since we were not present at the creation of the earth, we must trust that what God’s Word has told us is correct. That is faith!
Faith is not a new concept for us. We see and even experience faith every day! When you fly on an airplane, you exercise faith. Oh sure, you trust the pilot, but you also trust the plane’s equipment! Have you ever seen a plane’s engine before you’ve flown on it? Have you ever checked to make sure the fuel tank was full of gas? How do you know that the maintenance crew fixed each piece of equipment properly? You don’t! It takes faith to believe in things you cannot see!
We can often trust a plane to take us where we need to go, but we struggle to trust God to guide us and provide for us. You may say, “Well, the plane has proven itself. I’ve seen many planes that have flown and made it safely.” Beloved, I’ve seen many Christians step out by faith and trust God and make it safely! God has proven Himself real time and time again! The only way you will be able to experience this for yourself is if you walk through the terminal of faith and into the blessings of God!
Living the Christian life requires many things, but one of the basics is faith. It takes faith to believe that a God you have never seen will save you from your sins and reserve a home in Heaven for you. It also takes faith to believe that same God will provide for you day by day. It takes faith. How strong is your faith? Do you believe that God can and will provide for your needs? Trust Him and let Him work out the details of your life today!
***********************
Baptist We Should Know
Baptists We Should Know
Baptist and the Bible Societies
By Thomas Ray
In 1793, William Carey, the man recognized as the father of modern missions, arrived in India. He found a society enslaved by idolatry, superstition, and cruelty. He knew if India was to be reached for Christ the Bible must be translated into their language. This task presented a formidable challenge because the people spoke several languages and dialects. Fortunately, Carey was a brilliant linguist and during the next 41 years he and his associates would translate the Bible into 44 languages and dialects.
A few years prior to his death Carey recognized that his most important work, the Bengali Bible, was in need of revision. Carey’s failing health prohibited him from attempting the revision. That responsibility fell upon the capable shoulders of fellow missionary William Yates. Yates and his co-laborers produced a revision that was declared to be far superior to the original. In 1832, the Baptist missionaries requested funds from the British Bible Society to print Yates’s revision. They expected no difficulty even though a pedobaptist (advocating infant baptism) paper in 1829 had published an article attacking Carey’s translations, accusing him and the Baptist translation of sectarianism because he translated the Greek word baptizo with words that meant “immersion.”
A pedobaptist scholar published an article defending Carey and his translations. He reminded the society that if Carey’s translation was sectarian, then most ancient translators were guilty of the same offence because they also translated the baptism passages with “immersion” or its equivalent. He also noted if they rejected the Baptist translation they must also stop funding the Arabic, German, Dutch, etc. translations since they also used words that meant immersion.
The article temporarily silenced the critics. But unknown to Yates, two pedobaptist missionaries had written a letter demanding that the society refuse to fund the Baptist translation. The society’s scholars carefully examined Yates’s revision and unanimously agreed it was superior to its predecessor. The society engaged in a heated discussion about the pros and cons of funding the project, however, in the end they chose to reject the Baptist application unless Yates would agree to replace the word “immerse.” This he refused to do. The Baptist missionaries were disappointed but they were confident that God would provide the necessary funds. In 1835, the Baptist missionaries submitted a request to the American Bible Society seeking their assistance. They provided a complete explanation of why the British Bible Society had rejected their application. They were convinced their request would be favorably received based upon the fact that the American Society was already funding Judson’s translation, and he translated baptism with a word that meant “immersion.”
The society took Yates’s request into consideration but it soon became obvious the pedobaptist-controlled society would reject the Baptist application. All 12 of the Baptist members of the board resigned in protest over the Society’s decision. Since Adoniram Judson was America’s most famous and beloved missionary, the American Bible Society, not wanting to lose the power of Judson’s name to solicit funds, sent the Baptist Missionary Society a check for $5,000 with one stipulation – the word “immersion” must be replaced with a neutral word or transference. The Baptist Missionary Society returned the check. Judson had stated he would rather cut off his arm than change God’s Word.
The American Bible Society told their translators to take Judson’s Bible and remove all words translated “immersion.” Their plan essentially was to change Judson’s translation without his approval to suit their particular pedobaptist beliefs. Surprisingly, the British Bible Society had utilized this same tactic altering Yates’s revision without his knowledge or permission. In April 1887, Baptist delegates gathered in Philadelphia and formed the American & Foreign Bible Society. The society, though vehemently opposed by the American Bible Society, was a great success. It not only provided funds to print Judson’s Bible, but also Yates’s revision. The American & Foreign Bible Society during its lifetime would contribute over a million dollars to print Bibles that enabled missionaries to leave a legacy that continues to this day.
***********************
How to Become a
Member of
Faith Bible Baptist Church
By Profession of Faith and Baptism
If you will receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and follow Him in baptism by immersion, we welcome you into our fellowship.
By Letter
As a Baptist whose church membership is elsewhere, if God directs you here we will be pleased to welcome you into our church family. We will happily take care of appropriate details for transferring your membership.
By Baptism
If you know in your heart that you have been saved and want to become a member of Faith Bible Baptist Church, we invite you to join us by baptism. This gives testimony of your salvation and your obedience to His direction.
By Statement of Faith
In the event church membership records are not available for a transfer of membership, or if you were once a Baptist church member, we will accept you upon your statement of faith.
You may express your desire to fulfill any of the above by presenting yourself during the invitation at the close of each worship service. Of course, any decision assumes your commitment to being faithful in prayer, church attendance, tithing and participation in our Lord’s work at Faith Bible Baptist Church.
***********************
