Long Hill Baptist Church, Trumbull, Connecticut.

September 1, 2010
Pastor Bob Hammond 

Praise God for a busy and productive summer.  It's hard to believe that it's back-to-school time already!   This week, please encourage our young people to understand how they can honor Christ through their school work.  

Let's encourage our young people to embrace learning as preparation to serve Christ more fully.   When schoolwork is approached as training to serve your savior, an entirely different level of motivation is possible.

2 Timothy 2:15 is the verse that we most often use to encourage study:  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  However, this verse would seem to apply primarily to the study of Scripture. What about English, history, math and the natural sciences?  Is it important for a Christian student to master these subjects, too?  Yes!  Our students need to understand that their academic development is directly linked to their preparation to fully serve Christ. 

A student who fails to master the parts-of-speech in English class will struggle to develop a full understanding of Scripture.  Similarly, a student who fails to develop a strong understanding of world history cannot fully comprehend Bible history - or current events.   And a student who fails to glimpse the beauty present in both mathematics and the design of the natural world misses the opportunity to appreciate the mind of Christ.

Parents - please don't miss the opportunity to encourage your students to embrace their schoolwork as part of their preparation to serve Christ!

Pastor Bob Hammond

According to the New York Times, on August 13, 2010, the Food & Drug Administration approved a new product, Ella (ulipristal acetate), as “emergency contraception.” The manufacturer claims that Ella is “safe and effective in preventing unintended pregnancy for up to 120 hours - or five days - post-unprotected intercourse (UPI) or contraceptive failure.” 

However, according to Jeanne Monahan, Director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, "The FDA opted against including the critical fact that Ella can cause an abortion on a baby already implanted in its mother's womb in the drug labeling information.”  And "since Ella is chemically similar to RU-486 (which has been the cause of at least six deaths reported to the FDA in less than six years),” says Monahan, “it is likely that the serious health concerns for women will be similar.”

How should Christians view Ella and other so-called "emergency contraceptives?" Christians should rely on the Bible for guidance in formulating a response to any issue. Our goal should be to allow the LORD to align our thoughts and actions with His words -- rather than to our own political or moral sensibilities.   After all,  we were created for the purpose of pleasing God! (Rev. 4:11).

The Bible is clear that the LORD cares deeply for the well-being of unborn children:

1.  Moses taught that a man who kills an unborn child should suffer punishment:

Exodus 21:22-23 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.  ²³ And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life." 

 2.  In Jeremiah 1:5, the LORD told Jeremiah that he was “formed” by God – and known by God before he was born:

Jeremiah 1:5   Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 

 3.  In Psalm 139, David indicates that the LORD “covered” him in his mother’s womb:

Psalm 139:13-14   For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.  ¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

It is clear that Ella must be rejected by Christians.  The Bible says that the LORD “formed” us and “knew” us while we were still in our mother’s womb.  Ella is a product with clear potential to end the life of an unborn child.  In the Old Testament, the LORD prescribed punishment for those who harm unborn children.

Please pray that Christians will develop a Biblical perspective on so-called “emergency contraception.” And please pray for women who have undergone abortions.  We praise God that the sin of abortion is a sin that is covered by the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Pastor Bob Hammond

At Long Hill Baptist Church, we believe that Christians must learn to yield to the Holy Spirit as we seek to conform our lives to the words of God.  Indeed,  in Ephesians 3:16,  Paul reminds us that the Christian walk is dependent upon our being "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." 

We humbly acknowledge that we are fully dependent upon the LORD and the spiritual gifts that he imparts to us "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

However, as careful Bible students, we must reject the teaching that the LORD is commonly using the sign gift of tongues today.   When tongues are experienced, we should be reminded to test our experience against the clear teaching of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 12 lists tongues among the so-called sign gifts:

1 Corinthians 12:8-11   "⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  ¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  ¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

However, the Bible clearly teaches that tongues were intended as a sign to unbelieving Jewish people:

1. Isaiah prophesied tongues as a sign to the Jewish people (and their rejection of tongues)
    
   Isaiah 28:11-12   "¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  ¹² To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear."
   
   
2.  The Bible specifically indicates that tongues are not for believers:

1 Corinthians 14:20-22   "²⁰ ¶ Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.  ²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.  ²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."

Just as the Bible predicted the beginning of tongues, the Bible predicted the cessation of  tongues

1. Paul indicated that the sign gifts would cease when their purpose was completed.
   
   1 Corinthians 13:8-10   "⁸ ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."
    
2. Tongues are not mentioned in Scripture after Acts 19

How are the tongues spoken in the contemporary Pentecostal-Charistmatic movements different than Biblical tongues?

1. Biblical tongues were heard as an actually earthly language (not as unintelligible language)

Acts 2:6-11  (Pentecost)  "⁶ Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  ⁷ And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  ⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  ⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  ¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  ¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

The same Greek word used for tongues in Acts 2 (glossa) is the word that’s used for tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14.  There’s no reason to think that the tongues that we hear at Pentecost are any different that the tongues that Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians. (D. Cloud). 
 

2.  The Biblical use of tongues was accompanied by an interpreter 

1 Corinthians 12:10   "¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"

1 Corinthians 14:27-28  "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God."

Pastor Bob Hammond

At Long Hill Baptist Church, we praise God for equipping us with His words!  We're aware that the debate around Bible versions has, at times, been less than gracious.  Our desire is to graciously communicate the rationale for a our decision to continue using the King James Bible.   We recognize at least four key reasons for using the King James Bible:

The Kings James Bible is an accurate translation of the correct version of the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament. 

It uses the Hebrew and Greek texts that have been received by God’s people throughout history.  These underlying texts are commonly known as the Textus Receptus – which simply means “received text.” All of the other modern Bible translations used a different underlying Greek New Testament.    They made this decision because, during the 19^th century, additional Greek manuscripts were discovered.  These newly-discovered manuscripts were judged to be “older and therefore better” than the words of God that have been traditionally received by God’s people.  Consequently, the newly-discovered manuscripts were used by academicians to produce a new version of the Greek New Testament (the so-called Critical Text).  This is the Greek that underlies all modern translations, including the New Internal Version (NIV), New American Standard Version (NASB), New Living Translation (NLT), The Message, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the New Living Translation (NLT).

At Long Hill Baptist Church, we reject the notion that God could have hid his true words from his people until the 19^th Century. 

To do so would have made it impossible for God’s people to live according to His words – as required by Matthew 4:4.  In Matthew 4:4, Jesus taught that we are responsible to live according to his words:

“…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Furthermore, the clear Biblical teaching that God promised to preserve His words obliges us to reject the idea that His true words would need to be restored by man through an academic process.  In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said that his words would never pass away.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) 

In the Old Testament, the Book of Psalms teaches:

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  ⁷Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7)

We recognize that some of the modern Bible versions used an undesirable approach to Bible translation.

The so-called dynamic equivalence (or paraphrase) technique was used to produce many of the modern Bible translations, including the New International Version (NIV) and the New Living Translation (NLT).  This approach to translation attempts to preserve the basic ideas of each scriptural passage – without attempting to make a word-for-word translation.  While this approach produces translations that are generally easy to understand, it necessarily denies readers access to “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4).   Fortunately, our King James Bible uses a more rigorous technique – formal equivalence.  This approach attempts to preserve the meaning of each individual word and phrase – and therefore results in a translation that is closer to the original Greek and Hebrew.

The King James Bible reflects a level of grammatical precision that can’t easily be achieved with contemporary English.

In John 3:7, Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  The pronoun “ye” is the second-person plural form of “you.”  Jesus used the plural form to make it clear that all men must be “born again” by repenting and placing their faith in him alone.  He desired for people to understand that it wasn’t just Nicodemus that needed to be born again.  However, most modern translations read, “You must be born again.”  By choosing to use more contemporary English, modern translations cloud the true meaning of the words that Christ spoke.

What’s the Best Way to Begin Learning the Bible? 

• Recognize that the Holy Spirit helps our understanding.  Pray and ask Him to help you understand God’s words;
• Be baptized and join a local church.  Never forget that “the house of God, … is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)
• Attend Sunday School and worship services. Also, make every effort to attend the Wednesday night Bible Study and prayer meeting.  These are our primary times for teaching and preaching the words of God.
• Get involved in one-on-one study with a mature believer.  We call that  "discipleship."  Benefit from those who have gone before you! 
• Be sure to take time to inquire about and to learn the meaning of unfamiliar words used in the King James Bible, e.g. ye, thee, thou.  These aren’t just “old words.”  Rather, they represent very precise translations of the underlying Greek and Hebrew – a level of prevision that would be nearly impossible in modern English.
• Read good books that introduce the Bible in simple, easy-to-understand language.  See the Pastor for recommendations.
• Read the Bible!  If you're new to the Bible, you may wish to begin in the Gospel of John.
  
   

Pastor Bob Hammond

Acts 4:29:  "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word."

On Monday, March 8, I was privileged to accompany eight of our church members to the New England Historic Rally at First Baptist Church in America, Providence, Rhode Island.  Bro. David C. Gibbs, III of the Christian Law Association preached a message that challenged us to stand firm in our Christian convictions - despite increasingly more difficult challenges from our secular culture.

As we gathered in the meeting place of the church that Roger Williams founded in 1638, Bro. Gibbs reviewed the current threats to religious liberty in the United States -- ranging from the homosexual movement to activist courts to openly anti-Christian legislators at every level of government.  In 17th-century colonial America, Roger Williams was unlikely to have anticipated many of the specific threats that we face today.  Yet, he was keenly aware of the need to secure religious liberties.  For Williams, that began with planting a New Testament church that would boldly teach people the truth of God's word.

Today, our world is clearly more complex than that of the 17th century.  But the answers to the people and philosophies that threaten our liberties remain the same.  That's because neither our God nor his words have changed one jot or tittle.  Our God remains in control; He remains sovereign over even the most grievous anti-Christian legislators and judges throughout this land.  His words remain the same and His requirements of His people remain the same:  We're called to be people of prayer who boldly speak the truth of Christ.  And we're called to be people who serve our Savior through our local church.

At the close of the service, Brother Gibbs asked two questions.   First, he asked, during the past year, how many people had spent a full hour in prayer on any given day.  He then proceeded to inquire how many people had led at least one person to Christ during the past year.  His are convicting questions. Until more of us can offer God-honoring answers to these questions, our churches will remain weak -- and our country will remain on this same wayward course.  

If we desire to move in another direction, we must become people of prayer who will boldly and regularly share our faith in Christ.   Anything less is certain to bring increasingly greater threats to the liberties that we most cherish.   With that reality in mind, I challenge each of us -- including myself -- to spend significantly more time in prayer today.  I challenge each of us to boldly share the gospel with at least one person today.  And I challenge each of us to be in church this week.  These were the building blocks that formed the foundation of our great nation.  And these are the things that still hold power to correct the course of our families, our churches and our country.

Praise God for His faithfulness to His people!

View photos from the New England Historic Rally here.