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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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“The Mutiny on the Bounty.” Many recognize these words as the title of some well-known novels and movies. Clark Gable and Charles Laughton starred in a movie of the same name in 1935. Another Mutiny on the Bounty was released in 1962, starring Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando. More recently, Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson starred in The Bounty in 1984. Each of these movies and other novels are based on actual historical events. The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny aboard a British Royal Navy ship, the HMS Bounty, on April 28, 1789. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the notorious captain, William Bligh. Bligh and 18 of his loyal followers were cast adrift in a small open boat; they later made it to safety. Fletcher Christian and eight fellow mutineers, along with six Tahitian men and 11 women, set sail in Bounty hoping to elude the British Royal Navy. On January 15, 1790, they rediscovered Pitcairn Island, which had been misplaced on the Royal Navy's charts. The passengers of the Bounty settled on the island, and to prevent the ship's detection, the ship was burned on January 23, 1790, in what is now called “Bounty Bay. “ Although the settlers were able to survive by farming and fishing, the initial period of settlement was marked by serious tensions among the settlers. In just a few short years, alcoholism, murder, disease – even a civil war – took the lives of most of the mutineers and all of the Tahitian men. John
Adams and Ned Young were the last two surviving
mutineers. In
order to establish a new and peaceful society among
the remaining inhabitants of Pitcairn Island, they
turned to the Bible as their guide.
Adams and Young sought to follow On September 17, 1814, the crews of two British ships, the Briton and Tagus, found the community on Pitcairn Island. John Adams, nine women, and some children were the sole inhabitants. The British commanders were charmed by the physique, simplicity and piety of the islanders. What they witnessed in the lives of Adams and his “congregation” is testimony of the power of God’s Holy Word! When God’s Word is taught and obeyed, lives are changed. The Bible tells of God’s love for mankind. He loves us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son to die for us so that we can have forgiveness and be set free from the tyranny of sin (John 3:16; 8:32). This is the Gospel – the Good News – that is the power to change our lives and save our souls eternally (Romans 1:16). God will save those who obey the Gospel: believing in His Son (Acts 16:30-31), turning from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). When we obey the Gospel, we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), with a new standard of living (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and a new hope for life eternal (Titus 1:2). YOUR life can also be changed IF you will read God’s Word and obey it! David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood * Information gleaned from Wikipedia.com and the website of the Government of Pitcairn Island: http://www.government.pn/Pitcairnshistory.htm To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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