Taking A Second Look
One of our local newspapers, The Fort Smith Times Record, reads: "A Judo and Karate for Christ program will be held Saturday, June 10, at 7 p. m. at the Grand Avenue Baptist Church with four men from Temple College Chattanooga, Tenn. , presenting the program. Throwing techniques of Judo and the program will be climaxed in giving testimonies for Christ." Back when I was a child we used to go through all that trying to get the opponent to say "uncle" or "calf rope"; but now that the churches are using such holds to get "testimonies for Christ", I think they are taking the matter a bit too far. Most religions of our time have turned their places of worship into play-houses and banquet halls. More and more I am beginning to understand the statement that Paul quoted in I Corinthians 10:7: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. We are rapidly moving back to the time described in Romans 1:25 and 16:17-18. "Who changed the truth of God 'into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."