Images of Jesus

Berean Baptist on December 23, 2014

It has come to my attention that our web page statistical analysis show that one of the top reasons people visit our website is to find images of Jesus. I would like to briefly explain why you will not find pictures of Jesus on our site.

The Bible teaches that we are not to make images of anything that can be used as an idol to worship (Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 5:8-9). We believe this command includes images of Jesus. While we are very much aware that some would protest that they do not worship these pictures, it is clearly evident they have some special meaning to them beyond that of an ordinary picture. Whether consciously or subconsciously, placing value on a picture of Jesus is tantamount to a form of worship.

Should we not think it strange that there are images of ancient rulers from the Egyptians to the Romans, and there are statues and paintings and busts and engravings of many ancient philosophers, but the person that impacted the history of the world in the greatest way had no image of Him preserved? If not during Christ’s personal ministry, then why not a painting or image from those that remembered Him after He died and then arose from the dead? Why didn’t the apostles carry an image with them to show their converts the one in whom they put their trust? Why in the letters to the many churches that were begun in the last part of the first century is there no mention that anyone thought it was necessary to have a picture of Jesus? There were certainly many that remembered Him, but even the apostles never saw fit to make a drawing or sculpt a statue to show their converts what He looked like. Instead, they taught their converts to look to Christ by faith. They did not need visible evidence of Him.

We do not believe images of Jesus are absent except by design. God does not want us to have them else He could have easily preserved them. He was meticulously involved in the careful preservation of His Word, so why not an image that helps remind us of Him? The simple reason is that we have the reminder of His Word. Christ is the Living Word which is the medium through which He gives pictures to our mind.

No one knows what Christ looked like. The only description comes from Isaiah 53:2 which tells us there was no physical beauty in Him that would make us desire Him. He was plain, common, and ordinary. Yet, when did any artist paint Jesus to be anything other than a handsome, desirable man? Some even depict Him as a blue-eyed Jew! What actor in any Passion movie is ugly? The beautiful pictures of Jesus only enhance the idea of making Him an idol to worship.

In the Old Testament, there is a peculiar story about an image Israel preserved with good intentions. In Numbers, we are told about a serpent of brass that was put on a pole. Israel was to look to this serpent and by faith they would be healed from snakebites caused by their disobedience to God. Jesus referenced this serpent in the famous passage of John 3:14-21, stating the serpent on the pole represented His lifting up to be the Saviour of the world. The brazen serpent was preserved until the time of Hezekiah about eight centuries later. No doubt the image was kept to remind the people they were to trust in God and look to Him for their spiritual healing. However, in Hezekiah’s time the people had begun to worship this image and burn incense to it as an idol. In other words, it was a well-intentioned idea gone badly. Hezekiah destroyed the image which action is commended in scripture as one of Hezekiah’s reforms.

God never intended for Israel to keep the brass serpent, and in the same way He does not intend for us to keep idols or images of Jesus. Since God is a perfect God, if He wanted us to have an image of the perfect Son of God, He would give us a perfect image. There would be no guess work as to what He looked like. So, it sounds like a good idea, but no ideas are good that are against the scriptures.

You will not find images of Jesus here. If you want to know what He looks like, read about Him in the pages of the Bible. You will find His love, His mercy, and His grace. You will find His part in the sovereign plan of God to save unworthy sinners like you and me. You will also find a picture that many refuse to believe. He is the judge, the God of wrath who punishes those who do not believe. If you trust Him, one day you will see Him. No picture painted by men could ever do Him justice. God wants you to see Him in His glory, a picture that will never disappoint.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Exalt Christ in Song

Berean Baptist on August 14, 2013

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:3)

Each Sunday morning when our services begin the choir calls the church to worship. Our current song selection is the short chorus He is Exalted which is a good choice because as our first act of worship our attention is immediately focused on Jesus Christ the one who is worthy of worship. Revelation 5:12 declares, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Singing praises that acknowledge the right of our Lord to receive worship is well pleasing to God. Scripture commands us to sing spiritual songs and make melody in our hearts which in turn makes the song service an integral part of our worship.

It is very important that we worship God with songs that have words and music that honor Him. When the apostle John was allowed to see into heaven, he was awestruck by the thousands upon thousands that sang the praises of the Lamb. Would it surprise you to learn that heaven sings a song that was first sung on earth? What kind of song could be sung here that would be a proper song for heaven? One of the songs John heard was the song of Moses. We know the lyrics of this song because they are recorded in Exodus 15.

The first stanzas of the song are very much unlike songs heard in churches today. Moses’ song began with an execution. Israel sang about the destruction of Pharaoh and his armies in the Red Sea. They were singing about the wrath of God and His vengeance upon His enemies. Would you consider it odd if we were to begin our services singing about hell rather than heaven? It might be strange but it would not be unbiblical. Deliverance from death and hell are excellent reasons for worship. Gospel presentations should begin with God’s wrath on sinners. We cannot know we need the Saviour unless we know there is something to be saved from.

If we should begin our services singing about hell, we would not want to sing four stanzas about it and then quit. Neither would we start a gospel presentation and stop with the bad news of condemnation. There is more to talk about and there is more to sing about. The good news is the salvation found in Christ. The good news is that we can be delivered from the wrath of God because Christ died to take away the cause of God’s wrath. Our sins are the cause and Christ’s death is the remedy. The penalty for sin is everlasting punishment in the fires of hell. Jesus died in our place, suffered our hell, and paid the penalty for us.

Moses’ song goes on and other stanzas speak of the glorious expectation of heaven (Exodus 15:17). The saints in heaven sing this verse because they experience this promise of God made good. The song also contains our familiar theme, the exaltation of Christ. Verse 18 says, “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.” This is also a familiar refrain in heaven: “…there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

As you sing, pay attention to the words. Choose songs that magnify Jesus Christ. Carefully consider the words of In Christ Alone, O Magnify the Lord, And Can it Be, and My Heart Is Filled. The gospel is presented in these songs; and friends, this is worth singing about!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Mike Creiglow October Missionary Letter

Berean Baptist on October 6, 2009

Caixa Postal 24

699980

Cruzeiro do Sul,

Acre, Brazil

Dear Brethren,

The last thing I told you last month was about trying to finally  getting our jeep. Well it was still quite a process, but it did come through. We closed the deal way back in March, but Just got it in late September. Even at the last minute things got balled up. Even to get the title from the government you have to go through a broker. The dealerships all have one on call. The broker sent his runner to pick up the pile of documents for my car at the dealership  and on his way back to the office was held up at gunpoint. All the documents were lost. They had to start all over. This added yet another 3 days to the whole process. Well we did finally get the car on a barge to Porto Velho. I flew from Manaus to pick it up. My son-in-law, Dauro flew from Cruzeiro to drive the jeep from Porto Velho to Cruzeiro do Sul. The trip is 1300 Km or about 800 miles. Much of the road is patch quilt, 2 lane pavement. The rest is dirt and some of that was mud. The trip went well though and we are thanking the Lord that we have the car here in the garage. I had prayed for 7 years and the Lord hás answered.

There are 2 small towns (county seats) here in the Acre where we didn’t know if there are Baptist churches.  These are between here and the capital. They both have a population of about 5000. We stopped in to see. One hás a church, but we haven’t figured out what or who they are. The other hás no baptist church at all, so we are already praying for some more missionaries. Please pray with us. In fact during the coming months I plan to visit all 22 “municípios” (same as your county seats) in the state to see where there are Baptist churches, what kind and if they are doing anything. I do know that there are 27 churches in the Acre Baptist convention, but 24 of these are charismatic. Almost all of those churches are in or near the capital, Rio Branco. Anyway, I want to see first hand, so we can make our mission plans for the rest of the state.

Well I finally got my Dad back down for  a few weeks. He hás been preaching to our church and our chapels. He Will, no doubt, tell you the details. The folks here are really enjoying. Actually, I am, too, a little!

Besides the camps that I told you about in my last letter, we have had 3 more. One was a training camp for leaders, another was for couples, and the other was the annual ladies camp. This particular couple’s camp is also done each year, but is different from the regular one, in that everybody goes on motorcycles. We had 40 couples. I can’t get Beverly to saddle up, but I went along anyway, all by my lonesome. Don’t you feel sorry for me? All the other guys had their wives hanging onto them. Poor little ole me! I had to ride up to Salém for 2 hours and ride back without  my love hanging on for dear life!  Come to think of it, maybe that is why she won’t ride with me anymore. Anyway camps have been great this summer season.

Crowds have been just average at church these past few weeks. There have been a number of folks saved. We had one o four newest  preacher/pastors, Ezi Lopes to preach on a Sunday night a couple of weeks back. He had preached several times on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. Sunday night is pretty intimidating for most first timers. Ezi felt the pressure. It was great though and there were 8 professions of faith that night.

God bless all of you. Thanks for all of your prayers and support. Hope you can get over the financial crisis so that you can get back to giving as before. Since the regular offerings have been down we have taken a hit on average of $500.00 the past 2 months. I will pray for you, too.

In Christ,       Mike Creiglow

Richard Bennett, Converted Roman Catholic Priest

Berean Baptist on September 17, 2009

We are pleased to announce that Bro. Richard Bennett, a former Roman Catholic priest, will be with us for Sunday services on October 25th. For 22 years, Bro. Bennett was a priest of the Dominican Order. At the age of 48, he was converted to the true gospel of Christ and began a dynamic ministry of witnessing to Roman Catholics. He is now a staunch defender of the faith and a truly remarkable witness.

Bro. Bennett will speak in our Sunday School hour on the subject of evangelizing Roman Catholics. In the morning and evening preaching services, he will give an adaptation of his message entitled, “The Mindset of Catholicism Permeating Evangelicalism.” This was delivered recently at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. We are truly blessed to have this opportunity to hear Bro. Bennett.

More information about Bro. Bennett’s life and ministry can be obtained from his web site at www.bereanbeacon.org .  There are some great articles that are well worth your time. Don’t miss this exciting, intriguing Sunday with Richard Bennett!

Which Version is the Bible?

Berean Baptist on May 27, 2009

To The Reader – The Sounding Of An Alarm

In the King James Bible, Isaiah 14:12, 15 reads:

How are thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!… Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell.

However, the New International Version pens:

How you have fallen from heaven O morning star, son of the dawn…but you are brought down to the grave.

Indeed, the New American Standard and all the modern versions read almost exactly like the NIV (except the NKJV). Yet historically Isaiah 14 has been cited throughout the Church as the singular biography and identification of Lucifer [G.A. Riplinger, New Age Bible Versions, (Munroe Falls, OH: A.V. Publications, 1993), pp. 40-55]. In verse twelve of the King James, Lucifer is in heaven; in verse fifteen Satan is in hell, and the continuing context establishes that Lucifer and Satan are one and the same being. The new versions have removed the name “Lucifer” thereby eliminating the only reference to his true identity in the entire Bible – yet the change in these versions is not the result of translation from the Hebrew language….

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The Failure of Fundamentalism

Berean Baptist on May 27, 2009

Transcript of a Lecture by Phil Johnson

During this hour we’ll be talking about the failure of the fundamentalist movement in the 20th century. Just from the title of this seminar which, by the way, I did not choose; someone else made that title I thought, some of you are thinking I’m going to come in here so hostile to fundamentalism that I thought maybe I should wear a Kevlar vest and a plastic raincoat. But I opted not to do that, so please don’t throw anything; I’m not protected…

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