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Words of Wisdom Articles are mini articles that have been printed in the Oneida, TN, Independent Herald newspaper since September 2019. “Words of Wisdom” is published online weekly and available on: www.ihoneida.com/words-of-wisdom . Last week’s contribution was Don’t Keep It A Secret for May 6, 2024. This week’s contribution is What God Still Requires for May 13, 2024. 

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Solomon said: “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:11-12). Who turns street demonstrations or parades into destructive, flaming violence? Who keeps people divided along racial, ethnic, or economic lines? Who keeps feeding children “critical race theory” to create bitterness and hatred even before they learn to love? “The Wicked.” Like David, we ask God to: “Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred (Psalm 25:19). “The wicked” fill streets with “all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking” (Ephesians 4:31). Before Jerusalem’s destruction, Jesus predicted “lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). The lawlessness of hatred has a chilling effect on love. Look around. - May 18, 2021

This and other mini articles are available in Words of Wisdom Articles.

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In light of current events, my 2011 Fellowship Room submission, There's Rioting in Sections of London, is available in Bible Articles.

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QUESTION: What has caused so much rioting?

REPLY: What began as peaceful protests were commandeered by paid, organized gangsters who steered the crowd into a vicious riot. After days of destruction and stealing from businesses (both large and small!) in many American cities, the question comes back: Why? 

1) According to the political doctrine of Karl Marxism, all humanity is divided economically along lines of the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Everything Communists say and do will emphasize this distinction and magnify “class envy.” Jesus identified one man’s “class envy” of his brother’s inheritance as “covetousness,” which He then condemned (Luke 12:13-21; Galatians 5:19-21). The only “solutions” Communists offer and encourage the “have-nots” to use are violence, rioting, and bloodshed, the very sort of things Barabbas had engaged in (Mark 15:6-7; Luke 23:18-19; John 18:40). And, as in the case with Barabbas, governments, as represented in Pilate, seem to want Barabbas’ on their streets rather than those who preach and teach Jesus Christ! 

2) According to the Gospel viewpoint, however, Jesus Christ came to give His life a “ransom for many” (Matthew 26:26-29), and this Gospel should be preached to “every creature” (Mark 16:15-16), of every “skin color.” Not until one has been “buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:3-5) can salvation occur and service to Christ begin. In serving the Lord Christ, those Christians who are “rich in this present age” should trust in God, not material wealth, and learn to “do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). However, those Christians who suffer “in deep poverty” should also “abound in the riches of their liberality” because they, too, should first give themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, God’s grace will supply our needs when we supply our possessions for His use!

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. (2 Corinthians 8:12)

Christians do not mourn over what they do not have, nor become prideful in what they do have, because what one has or doesn’t have is not as important as each one’s willingness to serve God! In the churches of Christ, therefore, “class envy” (a.k.a. “covetousness”) should not exist! Certainly rioting, violence, and bloodshed are no part of the solution for a Christian. Those who follow the Marxist/ Communist doctrine become criminal to any society seeking to abide by godly principles. “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4), even to Marxists/ Communists and all those they use for their evil purposes, for “if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

- John T Polk II, June 7, 2020

More Bible based responses are available on my Questions Answered page.

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In light of the recent shooting incidents, my commentary #30 on Proverbs 10:24 - 25, Why Are You Running Away?, is available in Studies in the book of Proverbs in Commentaries.

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My commentary #58 on Proverbs 12:14, There Is NO Silent Satisfaction, is available in Studies in the book of Proverbs in Commentaries.

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Please find my Words of Wisdom as Audio and as Transcripts for the days:

3/06/2017: A Calendar Or the Cross

3/07/17/2017: Cross Caused Division

3/08/2017: Misunderstood Cross

3/09/2017: No Baptism, No Cross of Christ

3/10/2017: The Cross of Christ, Not Circumcision

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Transcripts from Words of Wisdom for the week of November 7, 2016 are now available on the Transcripts page.

The theme this week is Election 2016.

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My article What About "Hate Crimes"? is now available in Bible Articles. It first appeared in the Gospel Gleaner in Q1, 2003.

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