LightGrams
December 6, 2018
Volume 22, Number 43
Alcatraz is appropriately nicknamed “The Rock”. Located on a rock island in the San Francisco Bay, it was regarded in its day as the ultimate maximum security prison. In nearly 30 years of operation, only 36 men attempted escapes in 14 separate incidents. Three of those men have never been accounted for.
On June 12, 1962 the morning bed check revealed that brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris were gone. Lying in their beds were “heads” made of plaster, soap, and hair collected at the prison barber shop. To this day the fate of these men remains unknown. (To read the FBI’s account of this escape, click here.)
Last week three fake heads (modeled after the original fake heads) were unveiled in an exhibit at Alcatraz. The original fake heads are still locked away as evidence, since the case remains open. Using modern technology and 3D printing, the new fake heads closely resemble the old ones.
It gets kind of confusing, doesn’t it? Which fake head is the real one, and which is the fake? Were there actually real heads at one point? (My head is now spinning!)
When speaking of the church, who’s in charge? In other words, who is the head of the church? Paul gave that answer in Colossians 1:18: “And [Christ] is the head of the body, the church …” To Timothy he also wrote, “[Christ] is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords … To Him be honor and eternal dominion” (1 Timothy 6:15,16). Those claims seem clear enough.
Yet many have arisen through the years seeking to usurp the authority of Christ. Jesus warned against this: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’, and they will lead many astray” (Matthew 24:4,5).
One such individual was Diotrophes, about whom John wrote: “… Diotrophes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. … he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church” (3 John 9,10). Can anyone put themselves first if Christ already holds that position?
My physical body only has one head. Anything made of plaster and soap, though it may look like my head, is a fake. The same is true of the Lord’s body, the church. That body has only one head, and that is Jesus Christ.
“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.” (Matthew 24:24,25). Let’s make sure we’re not deceived by a fake head.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2018, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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