Memorial Day Musings

Following Easter we did a verse-by-verse study of I Corinthians chapter 15 in our Bible Class here at Rosedale Court.  I had made a few sermons on this text over the years of ministry, but must confess I that passed over verse 33 too quickly:  "Be not  deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners!" My King James Version seems difficult to understand, until you really think about the context, which of course, is the chapter theme: .the Gospel based on the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I recall shamefully  how some of my peers in early years and later in the Service literally communicated information to me which then did help to "corrupt good manners" or habits or convictions contrary to my upbringing and to the Word of God.  Since I (like everyone else) was already a sinner by nature, it only encouraged wrong thinking and subsequent wrong actions and lifestyle.   My old German Bible puts it:  "evil babbling corrupts good manners" and the modern version says that "a bad lifestyle corrupts good habits."  Another old English view is "bad company good morals doth corrupt" and preacher John Wesley long ago commented that "Discourse contrary to faith, hope or love, naturally tends to destroy all holiness!"  In other words, following worldly unbiblical counsel can destroy a life, a home, even a nation.  On this holiday we duly remember those who have died to protect our country, and we respect and honor those who are presently serving.  But when we hear now that those Christians presently in the Service are forbidden to share the Gospel with their compatriots, and, at the same time we learn that 22 veterans are committing suicide each day (!) we strongly believe our freedoms, especially religious freedom, must be preserved, even fought for.  When we read or hear the misleading teachings of atheists, evolutionists, humanists and "Christian" teachers who deny the truths of creation, salvatio and resurrection of the body, and corrupt the minds and hearts of needy sinners, then I urge my readers to hold fast to the simple, but sublime Good News "wherein ye stand; by which ye are also saved...how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to  the Striptures!" (I Corinthians 15:1-4).  And, for those of us who have rejected the "babblings" of our day, let us heed the 34th verse of the same wonderful chapter:  "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame!"  Let (true) freedom ring!