This article discusses three levels of faith: personal faith, congregational faith, and "the Faith" (God's commandments). Personal faith refers to individual beliefs that are not necessarily proven by scripture but sincerely held. Congregational faith consists of beliefs held collectively by a congregation, such as dress codes or Bible translations, that guide but are not mandated by God. "The Faith" encompasses the essential doctrines and teachings delivered by God that all Christians must adhere to. The problem arises when personal or congregational beliefs are imposed on others or presented as on par with divine truth. Christians must accept one another's liberties as long as core Faith is not violated.

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Are we confident that our light is bright
Vol. 47 June 21, 2022 Number 24
THREE LEVELS OF FAITH
Benjamin R. Phillips
A friend and fellow preacher recently relayed to me a bit of wisdom an
elder gave him one day in passing. This elder told him that there are three
levels of faith and confusion of those faiths is what is causing so much trouble
in the church. The three levels named by the elder were personal faith,
congregational faith, and “the Faith.” It struck me because I had never heard
this put in such fashion.
The individual faith is that which a person holds within himself. It
may not be something that he can prove scripturally, but he believes it with
every ounce of his being. Two Biblical examples of this individual faith can be
found in Romans 14: the one who would not eat meat offered to idols and the
one who exalted certain days. Paul did not condemn either of these beliefs but
taught the brethren to bear with one another and recognize the differences.
Our modern example might be one who believes you should not wear shorts
at all, no matter how modest they are. Can this be proved from the text? No.
But is it wrong for them to personally believe it? Not according to Paul.
The congregational faith is that which a congregation holds
corporately, but again is not necessarily part of God’s commandments.
Elderships are responsible for their individual congregations and must make
the appropriate decisions. One such Biblical instance appears to be the head
coverings in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:5-6), which appear to
have been tied to a social situation in the city of Corinth. In another part of the
Roman empire a woman being uncovered may not have been the same issue.
Our modern equivalent could be an eldership that requires the King James
Version to be used from the pulpit. The Bible does not specify translation, but
elderships have taken such efforts to prevent perverse modern translations
from invading the congregation. This is well within their power of oversight
(Acts 20:28).
“The Faith” is that which was delivered by God for all time for all
people (Jude 3). It is that system of faith by which all men are saved and by
which men serve God (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). It is that faith in which we are to
continue and stand (1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 1:23). The faith is not
negotiable It was given by God, stands upon God, and will forever be upheld
by God. The faith is that in which we are to be united (1 Corinthians 1:10).
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ELDERS
Mike Childers ............. 397-6453
Dennis Hallmark......... 255-5557
Mark Hitt .................... 322-0917
Bobby Lindley ............ 260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan ................ 419-5552
Ricky Lindsey............. 255-8136
Jeff Mansel.................. 871-0357
Jimmy Spearman ........ 840-8957
Michael Wilson........... 891-0891
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder (731)879-9196
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office.......................... 842-6116
Fax .............................. 842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship........................9:00 a.m.
Bible class..................10:15 a.m.
Worship......................11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes......7:00 p.m.
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

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One’s individual faith and a
congregation’s faith must adhere to “the Faith.”
The problem is that many are taking their
individual faith and trying to apply it to others,
or a congregation is trying to take its beliefs and
force them upon other congregations. A study of
Romans 14:1-15:13 will show that we are to
“receive one another, just as Christ also received
us, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). And such
reception should not be so that we might dispute
our belief with the other person (Romans 14:1).
We need to accept each other and our individual
beliefs as long as they do not violate “the Faith.”
So, the next time you think about
condemning a brother for his actions, you had
better check to be sure your condemnation is a
matter of “the Faith” and not a matter of your
faith. Remember, “So then each of us shall give
account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not
judge one another anymore, but rather resolve
this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to
fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:12-13).
~~~~~~~~~
Family Breakfast
Our monthly family breakfast will be
held this Sunday, June 26 in the
multipurpose room from 8:15-8:45 a.m.,
before worship services. A light break-
fast will be provided. Please come and
enjoy this period of fellowship.
Sympathy
We extend our sympathy to Ashley Davis in the
loss of her grandmother, Lynda Coleman, on June 13.
Funeral services were held in New Albany June 16.
Tuesday Mornings with
the Master
Don’t forget Tuesday Mornings with the Master
every Tuesday in the multipurpose room from 10-11
am. Anyone who can come, and help is welcomed.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Hallie
Donald & Logan Brown who were
united in marriage June 18 in
Amory. We wish for them a long
life of happiness together.
Fellowship for 40s & 50s
Age Group
We have decided to
start a Friday night
fellowship meal for
those in their 40s and
50s. The elders have
agreed and we will have
our first meal at the
building in the multi-
purpose room this Friday, June 24th beginning at
6:30 pm. We ask that you please bring a finger food
and join in for a fun night of card games, food and
much needed fellowship. Also, if you have friends
who are not members of our congregation or friends
who are members who haven’t been active for a
while, please reach out and invite them. This could
make for an excellent way to break the ice for an
invitation to worship with us. We plan to have these
every other month. If you have any questions at all,
please see Heather DuBois or Amy Voyles.
Congregational Singing
The Danville congregation
in Biggersville will host a
gospel singing this Friday,
June 24 from 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Refreshments will be served
in the fellowship hall following the singing.
Girls’ Joyful Rebellion
The girls’ Joyful Rebellion group are invited to
Natalie Mansel’s home this Sunday, June 26 at 3:00
p.m. for a pool party. Please bring your own towel
and sunscreen. See Cassie Blackwelder for more
information.

3. Daily Bible Reading
June 22 .................................................... Psalms 105-106
June 23 .................................................... Psalms 107-109
June 24 .................................................... Psalms 110-115
June 25 .................................................... Psalms 116-118
June 26 ............................................................. Psalm 119
June 27 .................................................... Psalms 120-130
June 28 .................................................... Psalms 131-138
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Hollie Bowlin (June 26), Lisa Lindsey
(June 27). Anniversaries: Will & Ashley Davis
(June 25).
Our Sick
Betty Long is at Cedars, room 712, for physical
therapy. Ricky Johnson is home recuperating from knee
surgery. Jake Donald & Mary Morgan Lyle both had
their wisdom teeth removed Monday. Ray Scribner,
Hugh’s brother, is in ICU at NMMC. Eric Baker, a
relative of Katherine Mansel & friend of Andy Baldwyn,
continues his chemo & radiation. Terry Blackmarr, a
friend of Daniel Morton, has cancer in her spine. Melvin
& Debbie Duke’s 5-month-old grandson, Maverick, will
undergo surgery for craniosynostosis on July 1. His
parents are Matt & Cheyenne Duke. Chase Stanford is
home with strep.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Annie Martin,
Bettye Davis, Steve Kelly, Barbara Bishop, Bob Smith,
Doug Wallace, Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons, Stella
Pittman, Caroline Willis, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Sheba
Tuggers, Brian Carver, Lacy Plaxico, Michelle Maclean,
Freida Gardner, Linda Butler, Pam Gassaway, Donny
Dulaney, Ricky Britt, Larry Kennedy, Nathan Hale
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
EMYG News
VBS 2022 was a huge success! Being able to help
with this VBS, Journey through James, was a blessing
to so many kids, as well as myself. Learning about the
lessons James has for us was an amazing experience.
Alex Blackwelder did a great job planning and
executing the whole ordeal. Big thanks go out to all
those who helped with planning, teaching, and
wrangling kids’ activities throughout the week. Thank
you to all those who helped us film Booster's wild
journey through Tupelo. VBS was a great way for me
to grow personally by watching how the kids truly
soaked up the word of God. Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a
child in the way he should go: even when he is old he
will not depart from it." Thank you, East Main, for
helping to make this such a success! Alex Tucker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a Hill Far Away
Few songs have words of such intensity as these
written by George Bennard: “On a hill far away stood an
old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame.”
As our mind’s eye catches a glimpse of Calvary, we see
the great cost at which our salvation came.
Here is a story that brought tears to my eyes. The
author is Tim Miller from Cranberry Township,
Pennsylvania (related in Leadership magazine).
“My nine-year-old daughter Jennifer was looking
forward to our family’s mini-vacation. But when our
vacation arrived, she became ill, and a long-anticipated
day at Sea World was replaced by an all-night series of
CAT scans, X-rays, and blood work at a hospital.
As morning approached, the doctors told my
exhausted little girl that she needed to have one more
test, a spinal tap. The procedure would be painful, they
said. The doctor then asked me if I planned to stay in the
room. I nodded my head, knowing I could not leave
Jennifer alone during the ordeal.
The doctors gently asked Jennifer to remove all her
clothing. She looked at me with childlike modesty as if
to ask if that were all right. Then they had her curl into a
tiny ball. I moved my face as close to hers as I could and
hugged her.
When the needle went in, Jennifer cried. As the
searing pain increased, she sobbed and cried repeatedly,
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” her voice becoming more
earnest with each word. It was as if she was saying, “Oh,
Daddy, this hurts soooo bad. Please, can’t you do
something?”
My tears mingled with hers. My heart was broken. I
felt nauseated. Because I loved her, I was allowing her to
go through the most agonizing experience of her life,
and I could hardly stand it. (We later learned that
Jennifer’s illness was not serious.)
In the middle of the spinal tap, my thoughts went to
the cross of Christ. What unspeakable pain both the Son
and the Father went through at the cross for our sakes (2
Cor. 9:15).”
We owe a debt that can never be fully paid—the best
we can do is give ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom.
12:1-2). —Garvis Semore
Via House to House Heart to Heart, Archive 2267

4. Men to Serve Sunday, June 26, 2022 a.m.
Announcements..................................... Wade Bryan
Bible Reading..........................................Xan Rogers
Opening Prayer ....................................... Perry Hand
Lord’s Supper
Chad Willis
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer.....................................Jake Kennedy
Ushers .............................Ian Reed & Mike Childers
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ...........................Bobby Joe Lindley
Closing Prayer........................................... Joe Minor
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Opening Prayer ..........................................Mark Hitt
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 6-15-22 .................................................... 173
Sunday 1st
Worship, 6-19-22 ...................................... 165
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 169
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 120
Contribution (budget $9,334) ................................ $7,548
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
Maywood Christian Camp
Our week at Maywood Christian Camp is July 17th
-23rd
. Please go
online and register ASAP if you plan to attend either as a camper or a
staff member. The cost for campers is $180. If you are staff, your
children may attend for $90. Register at maywoodchristiancamp.com.