Voice Of
Liberation
fl
BY REV. CJ. WESLEY RANEY
IS THE NEW TESTAMENT VALID?
We ere all familiar with the game of whiapering something in the ear
of one person, and then have that person whisper it into the ear of someone
else,a nd so on until the message has been passed to the last person in the
group. The larger the group is, the less likely you will recognize any part of
the original message.
The words and activities of the New Testament happened nearly 20
centuries ago. If we cannot repeat messages accurately tdo one another
today, then how can we know that the things we are reading in the New
Testament are valid facts? As far as we know, nothing that Jesus said or did
was written down until at least 20 years after He died. Paul was the first
person to write about Jesus. Mark, the first of the gospels to be written, was
probably not written until 35 years after Jesus died.
Some people say that we cannot trust the New Testament writings
about Jesus, for they do not tell us the facte about Jesus, only about the faith
of His followers. These doubters teach that the Christians made up stories
about Jesus, and that Jesus’ teachings were only what the writers claimed
He said and in their words. The Christians are said to have changed
whatever they wanted to change to fit their beliefs and practices.
The place to begin answering these criticisme is the same place the
Christians of the first century began—with the Resurrection of Jesus. The
Resurrection of Jesus is the central evidence of Christianity. By this, the
apostles were turned around.
After the arrest of Jesus, every one of His disiples deserted Him (see
Matthew 26:56). They thought that their dreams were over, and that it was
time to run. It was customary in the first century to award the followers of
a master whatever honor or dishonor befell the master. The disciples were
fearful of their own lives after the crucifixion of their Master.
How, then, can we explain that within a few days, they could not keep
quiet about this same Jesus? Simon Peter was terrified to admit to an
insignificant maiden that he ever knew Jesus (John 18:17). But later the
rulers could not squelch his words about this same Jesus (Acts 4). The
disciples were at first terrified to whisper about Him, but later they were
thrilled to shout about Him.
How could these changes take place if there were no resurrection?
Some people say that the disciples expected the resurrection, and that their
strong expectation played tricks on their minds. But the fact is, the disciples
never expected the resurrection. In fact, they didn’t even believe the first
reports that it had happened. They believed that He was gone from the i
tomb, but they did not believe that He had risen (John 20:8-9).
The angel’s message to the women, “He is risen,” did not bring joy, but
fear (Mark 16:8). They simply did not believe it. Mary wept and wanted to
know, “Where have they taken him?” (John 20:11 -13). This disciples did not
believe until Jesus showed them the scars in His hands and feet. Then, they
talked with Him and saw Him eat. They saw Him perform miracles, build
a fire, and fix breakfast.
The risen Jesus remained on the earth 40 days, performing many signs
so people could believe He was alive. John testified that Jesus performed
“convincing proofs.” In I Corinthians 15:5-7, the apostle Paul says that the !
resurrected Jesus appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time. Paul
also aid that most of these people were still alive at the time in which the *
Letter to the Corinthians was written. This was Paul’s way of saying, “If you (
don’t bolieve the resurrection, check it out. There is abundant evidence all
around us.”
People could deny that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, but they
could not put down the resurrection any more than we can deny the fact that
Mrtin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.. Who would
believe a writer who said that Dr. King died of cancer? No one would believe
that now because there are too many eyewitnesses around. The facts about
Jesus were written down while the eyewitnesses were still alive. The facts
told by the eyewitnesses spread across the Roman Empire. Today, we can
be sure that the New Testament, and the facts about Jesus, are valid. God’s
Word is trustworthy?
Come
iLet’s Thinl
BY EVA L. PERRY
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
One who is Saved. II Timothy 1:9.
One who is being Sealed. Ephe
sians 1:13.
One who is Seated. Ephesians 2:6.
One who is Sanctified. I Corinthi
ans 6:11.
One who is Secure. John 10:28.
One who is Sustained. II
Corinthian 9:8.
One who is a Son of God. Romans
8:14.
One who is a Saint I Corinthians
1:2.
* One who is a Servant. Colossians
3:24. *
One who is a Supplicant. I Timo
thy 2:1.
One who is a Soldier. II Timothv
2:3.
One who is a Stone. I Peter 2:5.
One who is a Stranger. II Peter
2:11.
One who is a Sheep. I Peter 2:25.
One who is a Steward. I Peter
4:16-19.
One who will see the Savior. I
John 3:2.
THE WORD OF GOD
The Word of God is very plain,
To those who from their sins
Refrain;
And seek to walk with Jesus here,
He makes their Bible vision clear.
The Word of God is understood,
By honest hearts who never
Would
Go wrong because of selfish gain,
Or choose to walk a hidden lane.
The Word of God is now revealed,
To those who covet to be sealed;
And always practice perfect love,
And live as harmless as a dove.
Constant Bible study gives rise to
so many poems in my heart anc
mind—I do enjoy my task in life. T<
God be the glory far ever!
Again I must say—Read youi
Bible prayerfully and think!
Muhammad
Speaking
At Duke
_DURHAM—Imam W. Deen
Muhammad, the fifth son of Nation
of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad'
and spokesman for Muslims in
America, will speak at Duke Uni
versity on Thursday, April 16, at 7/
p.m. in Page Auditorium, West’
Campus.
Sponsored by the Black Student
Alliance of Duke University,
Muhammad will speak on “The
Impact of Islam in America.”
Tickets, which are free to the'
public on a first-come, first-served
basis, are now available from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. at the BSA office in the
Bryan Center on West Campus,
684-4164, and at Page Box Office,
684-4444.
Muhammad, the only American
invited to attend the Islamic Confer
ence on the Persian Gulf, also was
invited to Duke to speak to the class
of friend and associate C. Eric Lin
coln, a Duke religion professor and
author ofa book on black Muslims in
America.
Muhammad is spokesman for
Muslims in America, a group includ
ing African-American, ethnic and
white Muslims. He is credited with
establishing direct interfaith dia
logue between leaders of Al-Islam,
Christianity and Judaism across
the globe.
In 1988 Muhammad represented
Muslims at the World Parliament of
Religious Leaders for Survival of
the Earth and Its Environment in
Oxford, England. That same year,
he represented Muslims at the sign
ing of the First Amendment Charter
for Religious Freedom in Wil
liamsburg, Va.
Last fall, Muhammad became the
first Muslim to give the invocation
at the opening of.the Senate.
For more information, call 684
4154.
Some say a raccoon’s
footprint looks a lot like
one that would be left by
a small human being.
Min Jailed For
Tricking Money
For Black Votes
LEESBURG, 0*. (AP>-A nun
jailed pravioualy on miadamaanor
charge* of duping paopla out of
money now la accused of tricking
three Lee County politicians Into
giving him money for black votes,
police said.
Ivory Johnson, 33, of Albany, was
charged with getting $388 over a
recent weekend from three candi
date*, whose identities were not
released.
Johnson told the candidates in
the southwest Georgia county ha
was with the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People and could get the organise*
tion to endorse their campaign—for
a price, authorities said.
Sheriffs Deputy Dennis Parker
said the men believed Johnson. On*
of the men gave Johnson $106, one
gave him $100 and the third forked
over $20. he said.
Johnson was charged with theft
by deception, a misdemeanor,
Parker said.
He was arrested in Albany when a
car he was riding in wds stopped by
oolice at a grocery store. Parker said
a man driving the car was unaware
that Johnson was being sought. He
was not charged.
Parker estimated that Johnson
had been arrested at least 40 times
before on similar charges.
“He’s either representing a
church or he’s got a sick relative or
he’s representing a service organi
zation,” Parker said. “He’s changed
up a little, but he’s a good con man.”
jremenlei, Kenneth
NAACP president, H. B.
of tin Rileigh-Apex NAACP1*
Tha event wee held an Saturday,
...i.
March 21 at S p.m. In tha Shaw University Gym. Wilkins
has served for 2 years as chairman of the steering
committee and the branch members wanted to say thank
you by giving him a gift.
You & Your
Child
by Eileen Adams
Raising Cooperative Kids
Some people tend to
think that a competitive
nature is something that
is taught and implanted
in our children. That’s
true, not only in part —
we as people are bom
with a necessary aggres
sive energy if For no other
reason than to be able to
survive. Also, parents
teach their children when
they’re very young that
it’s good to be “first”; that
is to say that parents
make things “games” for
T
kids, like being the first to
find the peanuts in the
supermarket, and, there
fore, kids learn to
compete.
During the early ado
lescent years, youngsters
take greater responsibil
ity for their thinking.
This, then, is the time to
emphasize the impor
tance of fair play and co
operation. To do this,
encourage your children
to participate in sports,
such as relay races, which
are collaborative as well
as competitive. This will
serve your child well, as
they will learn coopera
tion as well as competi
tiveness. You see, while
the word “competitive”
conjures up a negative
image, it is indeed a nec
essary facet of the indi
vidual who wishes to
achieve. In a way, a
healthy sense of competi
tiveness can be seen as
desire and ambition — in
a healthy sense.
Laodicea
United Church Of Christ
2004 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh. N.C. 27610
Phono: 832-8784
Prayer Line: 828-PHAV
Radio Ministry (WCLY, 1550 AM)
Saturday—7:00 P.H.
Sunday worantp 11:00 a.m.
RiMo Study Wed., 8:00 p.m.
R*v. Q. Waslay Nanay, Pastor
RUSH METROPOLITAN
A.M.E. ZION CHURCH
558 East Cabarrus St.
Raleigh. N.C. 27601
(010)832-6270
Sunday Schol.9:30 a.m.
Morning Worship. 11:00 a.m.
V.C.E.6:00 p.m.
Evening Worship.7:00 p.m.
Prayer Service.7:30 p.m.
Office Phone:
C.E. WILLIE, IH (919)832 5628
Mlnisler (919)821^1979
FIRST COSMOPOLITAN
BAPTIST CHURCH
1515 Crosslink Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
DO. W. B LEWIS. PASTOR
Sunday School.
Morning Worship.11:01a.*
Baptist Training Union.»:00 p.m.
Teachers Meeting a Piayer Service
Wednesday. T:30p.w.
I
Wake Baptist Grove Church
902 Main Straat Gamar. N C
Ragular Sunday School 9:45 am
8 00 & 11:00 am
TUESDAY
^ Continual Wftnaaa Training 7:00 - 9 00 pm
WEDNESDAY
^Saad For Tha Sowar Bibia School 7:00 pm
THURSDAY
Lay Inatituta For Equipping 7 00 - 9:00 pm
TUESDAY A FRIDAY
Inlareaoaory Prayar 5:00 am
OUTREACH MINISTRIES
Siyfu. CtMpki, ijoUtn fy* ?>mik e* CMdrtn.
LBp—UU UOfiut Mu.<umary unfa,
Muir Vuuniry Cnni'n Mmutry. <* Othtr*
772- 6123
WAKE CHAPEL
BAPTIST CHURCH
lUM* N.C. 27001
I S76-4ASA
I
AAHVICAA
.• A 11 0.M.
.9:30 l.n.
.79«- T verity
.I p.* Tverity
httvri M*. J. Wilkins, Jr.
1001 L Martin Otraat
Italalflh, NX. 07001
Phono: 133-9758
MARTIN STREET
BAPTIST CHURCH
INTIP TO WORSHIP
•DIPART TO SIRVS
IwMoy MM.1:00 A M.
MomM| WonMp?. 1100 A.M.
MMTioM«|UMm.5:00 Ml.
I
Pnyor MooWpOAIi SMy .... 7:00 P.M.
M. CHARLES T. MIUOCK. PASTOR
Free Transportation
Lincoln Park Holiness Church
13 Heath Street • Raleigh. NC 27610
(919) 932-5119
BISHOP EllE RATCLIFF, JR.
Pastor
BISHOP EUE RATCLIFF, SR.
Fournier
9:00 A.M. Sunday School
11:00 A.M. Morning Worship
6 30 P M Evening Service
Sunday
School
Lesson
THE CRUCIFIED SON
OF GOD
Mark 15:22-28
Victims of crucifixion often
J suffered two or three days
' before dying, but Jesus was
on the cross only from 9 a.m.
to S pan. Although the dura
tion of Jesus’ physical agony
was relatively short in com
parison with other crucifix
ions, the depth of His suffer
ing cannot be measured.
To lessen their extreme
pain, crucifixion victims
were given wine drugged
with myrrh. Jeeus, however,
refused to have His senses
' dulled in any way until the
end. During those six hours,
the Son of God experienced
the total impact of our sin.
The trappings of this cruci
fixion were not unusual.
Sinoe their pay was so low,
soldiers on crucifixion duty
usually received the victims’
possessions as part of their
wages. Customarily, a sign
indicating the crime of each
man being crucified was
posted above his head. To
most of the people in the
crowd, this was an ordinary
execution soene—a gruesome
but frequent event that was
usually soon forgotten.
This particular crucifixion,
however, had worldwide
importance. Hanging on the
oenter cross between two
thieves, the Son of God be
came the focal point of his
tory. As He suffered,“the
scripture was fulfilled.”
The mob at the foot of the
cross represented the de
- praved side of human nature.
Possibly some of the same
people who had proclaimed
Jesus as the one “that cometh
in the name of the Lord” the
previous Sunday now hurled
insults. Not completely trust
ing Pilate or the Roman exe
cutioners, the chief priests
and the scribes had oome to
Golgotha from Jerusalem to
make sure the execution was
properly carried out.
Pray For Peace!
Join us each Wednesday evening at 7:30
p.m. as we honor the Black Madonna,
Queen of Peace and pray for an end to
War and God’s own Peace for or World.
... 11 . ... ■■ ■ ■ ■ s,
Q(U+\t£.
SUNDAY MASS
9:00 AM
11:30 AM
4 parish m the Roman Catholic
.tradihon small enough to call
home
Peartree Lane at Poole Road
Ralegh. North Carolina
ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE
Attend Services
FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH
101 S. Wilmington Street
(DOWNTOWN RALEIGH)
Phone 832-1649
Church School.9.30 a m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
i
PASTOR: Rev. Nathaniel Boykin
Living Waters FelowiWp Canter
3309 Cadar Springs Drive
RaWgh, N.C. 27603
Phone No. 831-1200
PASTORS: DOS. JAMES 0 ALLOW* HOLMES
SERVICES
SUNDAY... 9:30 *.m. MUCAL TEACHING
11:0Oi.m.MUUSEaW0nSMP
WEDNESDAY 7:00 Ml- MO-WEEK SERVICE
“Wtenq 6 Determined To Sorve”
Gethsemane Missionary
Baptist Church
Bunn, North Carolina 27508
(919) 498-9981
Sunday School . 9:45 i.m.
Won hip Strvlct.11:00 i.m.
I "Saving the Bunn area tor God so
that we can Save the World!"
DB. JOSEPH C. PAIGE, PASTOR.
Minitltr K.l. Duniton, Associate Poster
Hov. Outer Wnqht, Associate Potior
- " .!