The Harvester

 

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AUGUST 2003 No. 212

 

 



REINCARNATION

 

[Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in the August 1981 issue of The Lifeline.]

 

Definition: Reincarnation is the belief that the souls of the dead successively return to the earth in new forms or bodies, as human or animals.

 

In recent news articles, I have noticed a number of well known people of our time who claim that they have lived in other times both in human and animal forms. This is a basic doctrine of Mohammedanism.

 

The time is ripe when someone may start a new denomination with this unscriptural doctrine as a basis. You may think that this doctrine is too ridiculous to consider. Alexander Campbell felt the same way in his day about the Mormon doctrine. He said that Mormonism is too ridiculous to consider; yet, Mormonism has grown rapidly.

 

The Bible never speaks of reincarnation; therefore, there can be no faith in it. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”(Rom. 10:17) “And as it is appointed unto men once <not several times> to die, and after this the judgment.”(Heb. 9:27) “A time <not several times> to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;”(Eccl. 3:2) “For that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life which God giveth him under the sun.”(Eccl. 8:15) The word life is singular, not plural. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”(Eccl. 12:7) It will not enter into another body of human or animal form. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”(2 Cor. 5:1)

 

In Ecclesiastes 9:3-10, Solomon emphasized that now in this life (not in other lives) is the time to labour for a reward. This aspect of man’s relationship to God has not changed since Solomon’s day. “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God shall bring thee into judgment.”(Eccl. 11:9) “Who will render to every man according to his deeds.”(Rom. 2:6) “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”(Gal. 6:7-8) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body <not bodies> according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”(2 Cor. 5:10) “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;”(Gen. 8:21) But if the doctrine of reincarnation is true, man is evil at birth because he has lived before.

 

God permitted Moses and Elias to appear on earth again (Matt. 17:1-5), but not as other people. That appearance was only temporary and for the purpose of teaching a lesson to show the Apostles that they, as well as we today, should hear what Christ teaches. In Luke 16:19-31, the account of the beggar and the rich man tells of the death and destination of two men: one went to Abraham’s bosom, the other to torment. Neither one of them was reincarnated.

 

Therefore do not be deceived; search the scriptures to see if the things being taught are true. Paul wrote, “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.”(1 Thess. 5:21) Make your calling and election sure by obeying the whole Gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation.

 

JOE YOUNG

142 Cleveland Rd.

Valley, AL 36854

 

 

THE  FEMALE  CHRISTIAN

 

Have we formed the wrong opinion about the duties and the importance of the sisters in the Church? Do you feel that if you are a female Christian that your only duty is to attend worship services? Do female Christians have duties to perform? Are there things women are forbidden to do? As we answer these questions, we will learn that sisters are to be workers for Christ and do have duties to perform.

 

Yes, I do think we have formed the wrong opinion. We act like all the work is to be done by the male members. Let’s look at some examples of important women in the Bible. Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, taught Apollos the way of God more perfect (this was done in private, not in worship services). “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”(Acts 18:26) Paul said, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.”(Rom. 16:3) Tabitha was a woman full of good works.  “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”(Acts 9:36)

 

The female Christian is not less important than the male in the sight of God. God is no respecter of persons.  “For there is no respect of persons with God.”(Rom. 2:11)

 

What are some of the works that sisters can do? It is the duty of every Christian, male and female, to study God’s word.  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”(2 Tim. 2:15) The aged women are to teach the young women.  “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good thing; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”(Tit. 2:3-5)  God made woman to help man.  “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”(Gen. 2:18 & 22)

 

A sister can help her husband with the teaching and correction of the children. Mothers usually spend more time with the children or maybe the father isn’t a Christian.  “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)  “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”(Prov. 13:24)

 

The sisters can do such work as the cleaning of the building, yard work and preparing the Lord’s supper.  The more work you do, the stronger you will become as a Christian.

 

There are things that women are forbidden by God to do and should always be in obedience to God.  Women are not to teach. “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”(2 Tim. 2:11-12)  Women are to be silent in the churches.  “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”(I Cor. 14:34-35)

 

As you can see, all Christians, male and female, are to be workers for the Lord.  Study the Bible and be an active member and you will grow and become a stronger Christian.

 

Submitted by

Loraine Howell

Lucedale, MS 39452

 

 


SEARCH  THE  SCRIPTURES

 

1.                             Who was the apostle to the Gentiles?

 

2.                             The first judgment the Lord showed Amos in chapter 7 was locusts. What was the second?

 

 

3.                             When the Jews brought Christ to Pilate, why didn’t they go into the palace?

 

4.                             What did Jeremiah tell God that he could not do because he was a child?

 

 

5.                             What purpose did the veil serve in the tabernacle?

 

 

 

     ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . .

 

and remember last month’s questions?

 

1. About what city is it prophesied that it will be rebuilt from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate?   JERUSALEM (Jer. 31:38)

 

2. From what did Jesus feed the multitudes, after John the Baptist’s death?   FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD AND TWO FISH (Matt. 14:17)

 

3.What happens to a house divided against itself?   IT WILL FALL (Luke 11:17)

 

4.According to Psalm 115, what will happen to those who make and trust in idols?   THEY WILL BECOME LIKE THEM (Psa. 115:8)

 

5.What did Rahab the harlot hide the spies among?   STALKS OF FLAX (Josh 1:6)

 

 

 

GOSPEL MEETINGS

 


DATES          PLACE & TIME                    SPEAKER

 

August                        New Bethel Church               David Burnham

 1 - 3               Cullman, AL                           (Ragland, AL)

(Fr-Su)                        7:00 evenings                                    & James McDonald

 

August            Antioch Church                      Ronnie Scott

 1 - 3               Douglasville, GA                  (Bloomington, IN)

 

August                        Mount Carmel Rd. Church    Harry Cobb

 3 – 10                        near Alvaton, GA                   (Wedowee, AL)

(Su-Su)           (studies in Daniel and Revelation)

 

August                        Owens Rd. Church                James McDonald

 4 - 8               Prattville, AL                          (Woodbury, TN)

 

August                        Rainsville, AL                         Wilbur Bass

 8 - 10                                                             (Auburn, AL)

 

August                        Durango, CO                         Wilbur Bass

17 – 22                                                           (Auburn, AL)

 

August                        Valley, AL                               Harry Cobb

22 – 24                                                           (Wedowee, AL)

 

August                        Verona, KY                            James McDonald

25 – 29                                                           (Woodbury, TN)

 

August                        Willow Oaks Church             James McDonald

30 – 31           Willow Springs, KY               (Woodbury, TN)

 


THE HARVESTER is a monthly publication intended to encourage all men everywhere to become laborers into God’s harvest (Luke 10:2). This paper is mailed free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please submit name, address, and all correspondence to:

            Ray McManus

            141 County Road 474

            Woodland, AL 36280

            Phone: (256) 449-9221

            Email: raymcmanus@hotmail.com