Random Articles
Sabbath-the Very Beginning
(Copyright) by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) “Why aren’t the preachers today telling their people the truth?” I heard blasting from my radio. I was on the way home after finishing my shift as a maintenance electrician at a well-known oil tool products plant when I was forever changed by those words. In my less-than-completely-sober state, I remember shouting back at my radio, “Yeah, buddy! Let them have it!” And, just what was the topic over which the radio personality was lambasting preachers? It was the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy as stated in Exodus 20. To be honest, the beginning of the change in my life […]
Are Polygamous Marriages Authorized by Scripture?
(Copyright) by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) There are those within the Christian community who claim that polygamous marriages are authorized — even commanded — by scripture. But does scripture really support that assertion? Or has scripture been misapplied to allow men to do what they want to do with women? The truth is important because the spiritual health of our sisters, and our brothers, is at stake. To understand the truth, we have to go back to the beginning—to the Garden of Eden. In the Garden we find that God paraded the animals two by two in front of Adam […]
Giving Thanks?
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) In the United States, we are rapidly approaching a national holiday known as “Thanksgiving Day.” On this day, people in the United States are told that they should focus on being thankful for everything they have, including a free nation, the freedom to worship God as they wish, for families and pretty much every good thing that they enjoy. However, the scriptures do not seem to limit what we should be thankful for. Indeed, even the time does not seem to be limited. We are told that we should be “always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of […]
Can There Be False Prophets… Today?
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) Virtually from the beginning of the existence of man there have been those trying to deceive man with false doctrines and teachings. We are even told that one of the last enemies of God to be put away is the False Prophet. Whoever these people are, we need to be aware of their existence and to work steadfastly to keep our minds free from their false teachings. This author hopes to guide the brethren in their quest to be one of those who it is impossible to deceive in the end. We first need to […]
Avoiding the Devil’s Details
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) There is among some of the brethren the tendency to want to make sure that everyone has exactly correct doctrine according to the Word of God. Some are kind and understanding of differences in understanding. Some are combative and accusative of the brethren. Certainly, it can be understood that good-hearted brethren want others to be sure that they are right before God so that they are accounted worthy to stand before Him at the end. However, as former presidential candidate Ross Perot said in his campaign speeches, “the devils in the details.” Our desire […]
Are Easter Celebrations OK?
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) We are rapidly approaching that time of the year known to many as “Easter” but to those of us in the Church as Passover season. Many professing Christians believe that God is pleased with the keeping of Easter. Indeed, some of us in the Church see no harm in keeping it. But is that really what God expects from His people? And a better question might be “Do we care enough about what God thinks to conform our acts of worship to His will?” To answer these questions, we must first learn exactly where the Easter traditions […]
America – Under a Curse?
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) Judging from what can be seen in the United States, some people sense that our nation seems to be under a curse. There’s good reason for that; the nation IS under a curse. How can I say that? Can I prove it? One does not have to be a prophet to see the curse coming. One merely needs to understand a few things. First, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Secondly, God does not change (Mal 3:6). What is this curse that God has pronounced on our nation? Here’s the first indication: Lev […]
“Unless You Change…”
by Royce Mitchell, Jr. (Manvel, Texas) What is the lesson that Christ was trying to teach us about ourselves when He took up a little child in his arms and proclaimed that the disciples needed to become like little children? Was Christ trying to proclaim a message to us? If so, what could that message have been? Perhaps a look into the scripture in question would be a good place to discover an answer! In Matthew 18, we find that the disciples had come to Christ with a question that had bothered them on more than one occasion. It […]