February 2006 Edition

Welcome to re:thinking magazine. Below you will find the titles, with a short synopsis, of the various articles appearing in this issue. We are interested in any feedback you may have, whether positive or not, so feel free to e-mail us at allan@allanturner.com. If you wish to correspond directly with the writers, their e-mail addresses are provided at the end of their articles.

Editorially Speaking: Stare Decisis, A Gored Ox, and A Nation Without God

Stare decisis is a term we’ve heard over and over again in connection with the John Roberts and Sam Alito nominations to the Supreme Court. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s some hypocrisy going on and it all has to do with whose ox is being gored. In the second part of this editorial, Allan talks about the fact that we are quickly becoming a nation without God. He reminds us that the Christian needs to be at work trying to do something about it. If you want to read more about what Allan thinks, click here.

By Women, For Women: “Nothing But the Truth”

My thanks to Lydia for writing the first article in this new section of the magazine. It is intended to be an area where Lydia and others will address issues that directly impact female Christians in the godly exercise of their kingdom duties. To read what she has to say, click here.

Our Devotion To God

The word devotion means “ardent attachment or loyalty.” This is exactly the word that ought to describe every Christian’s relationship to God through Jesus Christ. In this article, Frank helps us to understand just how to accomplish this. To read what he has to say, click here.

The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit (Part VI)

In this final of several articles on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Wayne continues to deal with the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the word. To read his concluding remarks, click here.

Are Business Meetings A Scriptural Expedient In The Absence Of Elders?

Many congregations, for one reason or another, do not have elders to shepherd the local church. It has become the normal custom in churches of Christ to have the men of the congregation—meeting in what is termed a “business meeting”—try to fill the gap created by the absence of elders. But, is this a scriptural expedient? Randy has been very good at challenging our thinking and he has done so once again in this article. To read what he has to say, click here.

Why Genesis Matters (Part VII)

In this seventh in a series of articles on the importance of the book of Genesis, Doy concentrates on Genesis 3:15. To read this installment, click here.

The Church Without Laity (Part IV)

The church purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ is unique (cf. Acts 20:28). It is most unfortunate that it remains a church unknown to most. It is, astoundingly, a church without laity, and it is this feature that Allan will be focusing on in this series of articles. To read the fourth installment in this series, click here.

Announcing A New Book entitled The Christian & War: A Study That Asks Whether A Christian May Scripturally Function As A Punitive Agent Of The State And Other Related Questions

This book is scheduled to be published in the next several months. It is a much needed and updated look at a most important subject. Unfortunately, many young Christian men and women are enlisting in the military today without having thoroughly studied this issue. The author has a definite point of view and some will, no doubt, think his thesis quite controversial. Nevertheless, the author believes it is a point of view that the thinking Christian must become familiar with. To view the table of contents and read the first chapter, click here. (Please note that doing so will take you off site. To return here, you’ll have to click the “return” button on your browser.)