A Publication of the Piedmont church of Christ

Piedmont Primer

Vol. 1, Issue 3

Page One

Is it Bible trivia or trivializing the Bible? By Brent Veyon

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Rom. 10:2-3

1. What was the name of the rock band, Jesus hired to      attract people to the Sermon on the Mount? 2. Which one of Jesus disciples was the 'Youth Minister'? 3. How many people heard the word of God during the      'Temple Matzo-Ball League Championships'? 4. How many games of 'Ring-Around the Romans,' did the      Ethiopian eunuch attend, before he asked to be      baptized? 5. In the first christian bake sales; did they use only      unleavened cakes? 6. When raffling off "Corinthian Leather Sandals," did they      give fellow christians a discount on the tickets?      Are these trivia questions based on the Bible?  No!  So, why even ask such questions?  Is this not what many are doing and teaching, and calling it worship or service to God?  This is done

by many groups today, in one form or another.  However, on what do they base their teaching.  One thing we know, you won't find actions like these in the Bible!  Nevertheless, do you ever wonder where people come up with these kinds of additions to God's word?  If it was not instructed by God, it doesn't belong in worship to Him.  For, "those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) [emphasis added]     Some may say they have "faith," these things are acceptable.  However, if you can not find it in God's word, do they really have faith in God?  Maybe the better question would be:  Is faith a source of knowledge or is faith the outcome of knowledge (Rom. 10:17)?  Are all those words in the Bible meant to be replaced with a pleasant feeling someone might have?  What are all those words for, if not to give us the knowledge needed to produce faith?     I do not believe in God because "I feel" like He exists.  I believe in God because of the knowledge acquired from the world around us, combined with rational thought, and the acknowledgement of historical record (Psalm 19; Rom. 1:18-20).  All these combined will bring anyone to the certanity (faith) of God's presence.  It is the knowledge God revealed in His word (Rom. 16:25-26), which is the basis for our christian faith.  This God revealed knowledge is the substance and the evidence that produces our belief and trust in its truthfulness; a.k.a. faith (Heb.11:1).  Faith is simply the belief and trust in the knowledge we accept as true.  Question is:  Is our belief and trust in God, or is it in our own feelings?     If you are looking for the truth, you will find what you need to hear in God's word.  If you're looking for gimmicks, there are plenty of places that will tell you what you what to hear. (II Tim. 4:3-4)

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