Free Church Bulletin Articles
(These articles are from "‘The Beacon – Electronic Edition" - Columbia, TN)
Jesus Washed Feet, Should We?
In John 13, after Jesus had instituted the Lord's Supper, we find that
he washed his disciples' feet (vs. 4-16). Many times the question
arises, "Since Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, should we not
wash one another’s feet?" Some in the denominational world have used
this as justification to have a "foot washing service" as a part of the
worship to God.
Washing feet is also mentioned in Luke 7 where a woman washed the feet
of Jesus with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Then it is
mentioned in 1 Timothy 5 as one of the deeds that would characterize
some widows.
The usual mode of travel in Jesus' day was walking. The roads and
pathways were usually dusty. One of the signs of hospitality in that
time was to wash (or, have a servant to wash) the feet of a guest when
hey arrived in your house. This seems to be the thought in Luke 7 and
seems to be given as a symbol of hospitality in 1 Timothy 5. It is
certain that the lesson Jesus taught in John 13 was that of humility and
service.
Saints still need to be humble in the sight of God (James 4:10) and in
this humility be willing to do anything they can to relieve the distress
of another - including washing their body (not just feet). We should
show hospitality to those who visit us, but washing another's feet is
not necessarily the only way to manifest this. And, we all (not just
widows) should be active in doing good deeds.
To go through a ceremony of washing another's feet when they don't need
washing is NOT a show of humility nor godliness. So far as I can see it
is NOT something to be done in worship to God.
Let us leave it as the Bible does - a symbol of hospitality and good
works. Let us manifest hospitality in other ways and do all good works
expected by God - but let us not fall into a ritual of washing feet in
applying the Scripture improperly.
- by J. F. Dancer, Jr.
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Bible Classes
I attend because they help me grow in grace and knowledge. I share in
the lessons and thoughts from various ones. There my children learn
lessons that will help preserve them from the pitfalls of life and
prepare them for heaven and eternity. My participation shows to the
world my interest in the church and spiritual things - which may
influence others for good. My concern for others, my children and my own
soul will not let me willfully neglect such activity.
Now, suppose you make a list of reason why you do not attend the
classes:
§ "I'd rather sleep late.”
§ "!t's too much trouble to get up and get the kids ready. "
§ "There's something else I had rather do.”
§ "The teacher doesn't interest me."
§ "I'm good enough and know enough already. "
§ "I need the extra rest (so I can work more overtime and/or engage in
more recreational activities).”
Go ahead, make your list. Then present it to God when you pray! If you
think God will accept such excuses, I suggest you read (before you reach
judgment day) Matt. 6:33; Matt 25, and Rev. 3:14-21.
-by Hershel Patton
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Unjust Criticism
Abraham Lincoln said: "If I were to read, much less answer all the
attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other
business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean
to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what
is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out
wrong, then angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Others have suffered unjust criticism. Hannah moved her lips as she was
praying silently and the watching priest accused her of drunkenness.
Ahab said Elijah was a troubler of Israel. Jesus was said of his enemies
to have no regard for real religion or for the king.
So many Bible characters are said to have experienced unjust criticism.
Have you? And what should you do when you've explained, yet the
criticisms continue? Some of it may be vengeful "cheap shots" to keep
you stirred up. What should you do?
"Honest Abe" may well be reminding us of the Bible answer -- just keep
going. There's too much good to do to look back. It may be like Nehemiah
told his enemies seeking compromise. He knew it was a trick and said, "I
am doing a good work and cannot come down."
Frankly, there are some things we are just going to have to let the Lord
sort out at the end, and He'll do it right - don't worry. Our business
is to get on and keep on with life, doing the best we can.
- by Bob Hines
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Limiting God
God is "omnipotent", which literally means that He is "all powerful."
Sometimes we express this idea by saying that "there is nothing God
cannot do." That statement can lead to certain difficulties. For
example:
- Hebrews 6: 18 says that " ... it was impossible for God to lie." Here
we have something that God CANNOT do.
- Hebrews 13:5 gives God's promise to his faithful children: " ... for
He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. " Again, this
is a thing that God CANNOT do - He cannot desert His own.
- James 1 :13 tells us that " ... God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man." To tempt or be tempted is contrary to the
very nature of God.
With these things in mind, we can be more specific in describing God's
"omnipotence." God has the power to do everything that is in harmony
with His basic nature and His expressed will. But, He can never do
anything that would contradict His promises or violate His holy and just
character.
Often when discussing the subject of miracles we reference certain
Scriptures which show that no miracles are being performed today (e.g. 1
Corinthians 13:8-13). Sometimes someone will object by saying that such
a view "limits God" and that "God can do anything." These statements
expose a misunderstanding of God's power. He IS limited. There are some
things that He CANNOT do (such as perform miracles today). But, we are
not the ones who limit God. He has limited Himself. He has taught us in
His word that He will not do these things in our time.
Let us praise and honor our God. He has the power to do ALL things that
are according to His will.
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
Alcohol is the “drug of choice” for America’s youth/teens. Almost
three-quarters (72.5%) of high school students have had a drink. Four in
ten (41.8 percent) are current drinkers. Nearly 10% of all teenage
drinkers indulge in binge drinking, defined as having five or more
drinks in a row. . . Teens are influenced by advertising, parents and
their friends and this has a great effect on whether or not they will
engage in drinking and at what age they will start.
- via The Nat’l Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse, 2011
Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever
is deceived thereby is not wise.”
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“We usually admire the other fellow more after we have tried to do his
job.”
“There are some whose faith is not strong enough to bring them to
services, but they expect it to take them to heaven.”
Some Questions About Divorce & Remarriage
Must the innocent party divorce the spouse guilty of fornication? Certainly not. Fornication does not dissolve marriage, but instead gives the innocent party the right to dissolve the marriage. They are not obligated to do so. In fact, it could be a great lesson in forgiveness if they choose not to divorce.
Must a Christian take back a mate guilty of fornication in order to forgive? The question arises from a misunderstanding of the difference between sin and the consequences of sin. For instance, it is true that a murderer may be forgiven of his dreadful act, even by the family of the murder victim. It is also true that the murderer may still have to spend time in prison or even face death by capital punishment, and that sentence may be due to testimony given by those who have forgiven him. Forgiveness of sin does not absolve a person of the consequences of that sin. Likewise, the innocent party may forgive a mate of fornication, but because of the mental anguish caused by such a betrayal, may not be able to receive them back as a mate. Divorce is still the right of the innocent party and may be the consequences the fornicator pays for sin.
If the marriage bond is broken by God in a scriptural divorce, can the guilty party remarry, since they are no longer bound? Again, this is a misunderstanding. God allows the innocent party to dissolve the marriage, and frees them (the innocent) from their bond. The bond remains for the guilty. The guilty party who remarries is then guilty of adultery (Matt. 19:9).
Does Matthew 19 really give anyone the right to remarry, or does it just give the innocent the right to divorce? Matthew 19 discusses remarriage as much as divorce. Where there is no remarriage, there is no resulting adultery for the guilty. Therefore, when Jesus says, "Whoever divorces ... except for fornication, and marries another ... commits adultery," it is implicit in the statement that one who divorces for fornication and marries another does not commit adultery.
Since all the passages dealing with this problem are addressed to men divorcing women, can a woman divorce her mate if he is guilty of fornication? Clearly, this is just a question of semantics. Mark 10:10-12 addresses the woman who divorces and remarries without proper cause (fornication) and puts her actions in the dissolving of a marriage equal with that of the man. Granted, Mark 10 does not mention the exception, but Jesus' teaching on this matter must be gathered from all sources (thus Matthew as well). In addition, there are other passages in the New Testament addressed to "men" which are really addressed to all (see Gal. 6:1, Matt. 5:27-28). Therefore, we must conclude a woman whose husband commits fornication has scriptural right to divorce him and marry another.
What about the one who is innocent, but a sinful mate "puts them away?" Jesus gives the right to remarry only to those who "put away" their mate for fornication. If one is "put away" and then remarries, they commit adultery. Therefore, if an innocent party is "put away" for incompatibility, they commit adultery if they remarry.
Why is this issue so much debated recently? It is clear that we have let worldly ideas about marriage and divorce influence our lives as Christians. Many people seek for "ways out" for loved ones and friends who find themselves divorced without proper cause. As Christians, it is important to stand for what is right and true even when "the truth hurts." We do not wish for anyone to have to suffer the lonely life of a "eunuch for the sake of the kingdom of heaven," but we recognize that this is far better than being lost. Our desire to stand on the scripture compels us to continue to debate this vital issue with those who would distort His word.
- by Rusty Miller
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FIRST
The Bible tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). There is so much more involved with this than just attendance. "Seeking first" is an attitude as well as a commitment to the cause of Christ. "Seeking first" means such things as:
§ Putting others first (Phil. 2:3,4)
§ Being willing to give up things for the sake of others (1 Cor. 8:13)
§ Being wronged rather than going to court with a brother (1 Cor. 6:7)
§ Going the extra mile for another (Matt. 5:41)
§ Doing without things so you won't stumble (Matt. 5:30)
Is the kingdom important to you? Is it so important that you are willing to put it FIRST in your life?
- by Roger Shouse
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'Drive' A Mile In His Shoes!
We were talking about drivers on the interstate highways, and this fella said: "You can't believe the crazy stunts they pull. They think they're the only ones on the highway. You'd think they own the road!" I've said the very same things myself. When I made the remarks, I was talking about some of the truck drivers with their '18 wheelers'. But these comments were made by a truck driver talking about people who drive cars! Clearly, it is all a matter of perspective.
This may have some application to some of the problems, fusses and misunderstandings that sometimes trouble the Lord's church. Could it be that these might also be attributed to one's perspective? "They're not friendly over there." "No one seems to care about me, or my problems." "The preacher is too ... " "The elders don't ... " "Sister So-and-so never ... " Wait! Did you ever stop to analyze the problem from the other person's perspective? Often if we take the time to look at the situation from the other man's point of view we can gain some valuable insights that might help us work through the problem, resolve the fuss and clear up the misunderstanding.
God's word encourages us about such things: "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:2-5)
There are issues of right and wrong, truth and error, that demand that we take a firm stand - no matter what the consequences may be. But too often brethren have fought and divided - suffered bad feelings and alienation - over things that could have been settled peacefully by simply "walking (driving!?!) a mile in the other man's shoes." Think!
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
According to a 2002 study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, 60% of adults can’t have a ten minute conversation without lying at least once. But even that number makes it sound better than it really is; those people in the study who did lie actually told an average of 3 lies during their brief chat.
- via MentalFloss.com, 5/7/12
Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things I am tempted to think there are no little things.”
“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”
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“It Isn’t Any Trouble Just To S-M-I-L-E”
Years ago there was a popular television series called “Candid Camera.” Unsuspecting people would be caught on camera in some of the most bizarre and humorous situations imaginable. The reactions of these people were funny enough to conjure up a smile on even the bleakest face. People need something to smile about.
During his suffering Job fondly remembered an earlier time in life in which he interacted joyously with others. “When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them” (Job 29:24). Smiles are indeed precious things.
I once read that the hotel chain Holiday Inn was looking for 500 people to fill positions for a new facility. The hotel managers interviewed more than 5000 candidates for various jobs and immediately excluded all who smiled fewer than four times during the interview. These managers understood something about the important message of hospitality and friendliness smiles convey.
It thrills me to see people smile at church. It lets me know that they are happy to have the privilege of worshipping God and enjoying fellowship with their church family. Smiles reflect the joy in our hearts and the thankfulness we feel for God’s love, grace and mercy. Smiles let our guests know how glad we are to have them. Through the years I have noticed that a church made up of smiling people is usually characterized by unity, spiritual vitality, love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
On my desk is a short saying that I ran across years ago. I have tried unsuccessfully to discover its author. “A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.”
The smile you share with others today will not only bring joy and encouragement into their life, it will lighten your burdens and allow God’s image to be reflected in you. --Steve W. Reeves
Who Wrote the Bible?
Down through the years there have been those who have doubted the inspiration of the Bible. There are those who look upon the Bible as being nothing more than a dead letter, or some fable, or a group of fables that have been passed on from generation to generation. Others feel that the Bible is but a part of the revelation that is from God, and so and so on. Many who hold these views claim to be of God but such automatically places them in the category of the modernist or even the infidel.
In considering this question we can be sure that certain men did not have a part in writing the Bible. For instance, we know that the infidel did not write the Bible inasmuch as the Bible condemns such an individual. We read: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." (Ps. 14:1). Again, we know that the modernist did not write the Bible in that the Bible upholds the virgin birth of Christ, etc. (Matt. 1:18-25). We also know that a denominationalist did not write the Bible because the word reveals that there is but one true church. Paul stated in his day that there was but one body, or one church. (Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18). Then too, we know that a Catholic did not write the Bible in that the scriptures nowhere suggest that Peter was ever Pope, or even came near to being the Pope of the church. On the contrary, the Bible teaches that Christ is head of the church and is saviour of the body. (Eph. 5:23). Now we know that these individuals, and many others, did not write the Bible, or have part in writing the Bible, or else they would have penned it to suit their own doctrine, or doctrines. At any rate, we know that such individuals would not have condemned themselves by their own writings. Think seriously about these statements.
If the people mentioned did not write the Bible then who did? Well, the answer is very simple. The Bible itself reveals that inspired men of God took part in this great work. Peter tells us: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:21). Then the apostle Paul said: "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God." (2 Tim. 3:16). Hence, the Bible is from God. Since such is true, then it is a holy or divine book. The scripture nowhere contradicts itself, but rather agrees', even though a number of inspired men had part in penning, it. Many, many arguments could be given to uphold the Bible as being the pure word of God.
- by J. C. Choate
Forgiveness (2nd in a series)
Last week we learned that unilateral forgiveness can and should be offered when situations arise that do not involve sin. For instance, if someone ‘hurts my feelings’ or does something that leaves me feeling slighted - these may reflect bad judgment or carelessness, but there is no sin, and I can just let these things pass. I can forgive independent of the actions of the other person – and I should.
However, if sin has occurred, this changes things completely. In cases where sin is involved we are instructed to forgive just like God forgives: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). It’s hard to imagine how a statement could be any clearer. We are to forgive ‘just as’ God does. Therefore, it is important to observe how He extends forgiveness.
First, He is willing to forgive, and we should be, too. Unfortunately we sometimes act like we want to keep an issue alive. We carry ill will and have a ‘chip on our shoulder’. These things ought not to be. God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:3,4) and is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He is clearly willing to forgive, and we must be, too.
In fact, we could say that God is ‘aggressive’ about forgiving us. He “commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God didn’t have to do that, but He did. Our Lord taught us that we should have that same urgent desire to forgive those who wrong us. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18:15). Don’t wait. Take the initiative. Be like God. Be ‘aggressive’ in making forgiveness available to the one who has sinned against you.
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
In his book, Born Gay?, Dr. John Tay, clinical geneticist and former Head of the Division of Human Genetics at the National University of Singapore, talks about the contrast in opinion between public and the scientific community, on whether gays are born this way. He noted how public’s popular belief stems from the media play up of early scientific studies in the 1990s on brain structures, twin studies and the Xq28 gene. These studies have in fact been heavily criticized by fellow professionals to be flawed and biased. It must be noted too that other than the media headlines, the very same researchers of these studies have themselves confessed that they have not found anything genetic that is deterministic of the homosexual orientation.
Dr. Tay gave insight to the question of whether gays are born that way and they cannot change by explaining what genes really do to us: “The effects of genes on behavior are very indirect because genes make proteins, not preferences. The scientific truth is that our genes do not force us into anything. Genes are responsible for an indirect influence, but on average, they do not force people into homosexuality. The startling conclusion is that genetic factors are much less important than environmental ones in the causation of homosexuals. On this basis, the claim by homosexuals that ‘I am born that way, so I cannot change’ is simply not true.”
- via Homosexuality and Science, 11/5/2012
Romans 1:26-27 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
"Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he can only do a little."
“It is one of the beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself.”
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Four Biblical Reasons for Christians to Cover their Nakedness
Some Christians believe that biblical modesty pertains only to putting on costly clothing, and not to a lack of clothing. While the Bible certainly warns against showy, attention-grabbing garb (1 Pet. 3:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:9), God also address a lack of clothing.
An older preacher once told me that, in India, it would be wrong for preachers to tell Christian women to cover their midriffs. Likewise, he said, it is wrong to impose our "American custom" of covering our breasts on topless Christians in Africa. You heard me right. (This in a continent where HIV and AIDS are at all-time epidemic levels.) Another Christian once told me that if you converted a man in Africa, who had a harem of wives, it would be wrong to tell him to divorce all but his first wife ([see Rom. 7:2-4; Ezra 10]). Both of these men believed that biblical teaching, regarding nakedness and multiple marriages, pertained only to the violation of social móres. In like fashion, some Christians, who would never invite a guest into their home in only their undergarments, will, nevertheless, go to the beach, pool, park, or gym in attire that covers the same amount of flesh as their undergarments. In response to those who teach that nakedness, or a lack of clothing, is not addressed in the Bible, here are four Biblical reasons for Christians to cover their nakedness:
1. The word "naked" or "nakedness," in the New Testament, can indicate nudity or simply a lack of clothing, which the Bible treats as something that should be remedied - See Mt. 25:36-44; Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 5:3; 11:27; Jas. 2:15; Rev. 3:17, 18; 16:15; 17:16.
2. Displaying physical nakedness (a lack of physical clothing) in public, is viewed as shameful in both the Old Testament (Exo. 20:26; 28:42, 43; Isa. 47:1-3; Lam. 1:8; Nah. 3:5) and in the New Testament, where John says, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Rev. 3:18). The Lord's illustration, comparing (by analogy) the Christian's spiritual depravity with physical "nakedness," would have made absolutely no sense to the Laodicean church, unless there was a premise of "shame" in being physically naked, which would be understood by the Christians there. John's teaching was a spiritual precedent from God. It was not based on a "social móre" because nakedness wasn't considered a "shame" within the pagan Laodicean culture.
3. Removing clothing to expose the body to the opposite sex incites sexual arousal, which should be reserved for the "marriage bed" (Heb. 13:4; Prov. 5:18-19). The first reference to Solomon's bride having her clothes removed in his presence, was in her dream (S. of Sol. 5:3) only after their wedding ceremony (S. of Sol. 3:11), and not before; although some Christians today feel we can remove our clothing in the presence of the opposite sex when at the beach, pool, park, gym, etc.
- Is it any wonder that surveys find that roughly 90% of adolescent boys go to the beach to see girls unclothed, and 90% of adolescent girls go to the beach to be seen by boys unclothed?
- Is it any wonder that scantily-clad women are a lucrative marketing technique today?
- Is it any wonder that the best-selling book Every Man's Battle (Arterburn et al., 2000) specifically deals with the day-to-day problem many men have, lusting after scantily-clad women in advertisements, billboards, while exercising, driving, in the work place, while watching entertainment and on the internet?
- Is it any wonder that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is the most lucrative issue of the year?
- Is it any wonder that, when women in the world are trying to attract a man, they wear less clothing to get his attention? This was told to me by a former colleague, from another country, as a technique she used to woo her (now) American husband away from his former wife (Prov. 7:10).
4. Related to the previous point, the "shamefast" woman of 1 Tim. 2:9 does not want to be a stumbling block, inciting lust in men by her apparel, or lack thereof. Many women (or even men) do not realize the result that wearing tight, see-through clothing, or even a lack of clothing produces on the opposite sex. Psychologists, sociologists, Hollywood producers, executive advertising firms, and teenage men will readily admit that women exposing their thighs, backs and breasts induces arousal in men. Yes, this is an uncomfortable subject to discuss with our children and brethren, but it is the way God made us - a fact of life that must not be ignored. The World and Even Some Erring Believers Get the Point - Do We?
It is possible that for some Christians, who are advanced in years, for whom "the caperberry (i.e., aphrodisiac, JBG) is ineffective" (Eccl. 12:5, NASB), it may be easy to forget how easily the adultery of the heart was committed in their youth: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt. 5:28). Let's not forget the great battle against adultery of the heart, being fought by (1) young men (or women) with "raging hormones," and/or (2) single Christians who are not married and, thus, may be more-easily tempted to burn with lust ( 1 Cor. 7:8,9). The teaching in this article is not "Victorian tradition," but should be common sense, based on scriptural precedents, stated above. These are principles that even the world and many (otherwise erring) denominational believers understand. Do we?
- by Joshua Gurtler
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Forgiveness (3rd in a series)
We have been instructed to forgive others “just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Last week we observed that God is not only willing to forgive us, but He is also ‘aggressive’ in His desire to forgive. By that we mean that He ‘goes the extra mile’ to make it possible for us to be restored to a right standing with Him – and we should also be willing and anxious to forgive those who sin against us,.
With these points in mind, we must emphasize that God’s forgiveness is conditional. That is to say, He requires us to do certain things in order to be forgiven. For the alien sinner those conditions are clearly stated in what we often refer to as ‘the plan of salvation’. One must hear (Romans 10:17), believe (Hebrews 11:6), repent (Luke 13:3), confess Christ (Romans 10:10), and be baptized (Acts 2:38) in order to be saved. Omit any of these requirements, and salvation cannot be obtained. For one who has already become a Christian but sins again, the terms of pardon involve repentance, confession, and prayer (Acts 8:22). Would we argue that – since God has imposed these conditions – He is not a loving and forgiving God? Of course not! As already observed, He is willing and ready to forgive, but His conditions must be met.
What about us? What should we do when someone sins against us? The answer is obvious – forgive them “just as” God does. That means that it is proper to expect them to meet the appropriate conditions of forgiveness. Jesus taught that our forgiveness is to be conditional: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3).
Some are uncomfortable with the idea that our forgiveness should be withheld until the sinning brother repents. They suggest that the loving thing is to forgive unilaterally and unconditionally. But, think! In doing so we would not be taking important steps to bring our brother back from sin. We would not be motivating him to be right with God. We would actually be facilitating his continuation in a sin that can cause his soul to be lost.
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
Approximately 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. More accurately:
- 41% of first marriages end in divorce.
- 60% of second marriages end in divorce.
- 73% of third marriages end in divorce.
- via U.S. Census Bureau
Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce," says the Lord . . .
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
"Remember, the person who will gossip about others to you, will gossip about you to others.”
“Sometimes difficulties come, not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right.”
“You’re always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel – remember that!”
Narcissism
The ancient Greeks told the story of Narcissus, a young man quite proud of himself and of his appearance, who had little care and love for those who loved him. One day he saw his reflection in the waters of a pool; he fell in love with the reflection, apparently not aware it was of himself, refused to turn his gaze away from it, and died there.
Narcissus’ story has been used ever since as a warning to people regarding falling so in love with themselves that others are entirely forgotten. Narcissus’ name is now used for an ever growing tendency in modern culture: narcissism.
Narcissism is best understood as an attempt to satisfy one’s vanity, continually displaying self-absorption and proclaiming one’s perceived superiority in various attributes. One could rightly consider modern Western culture as the “Age of Narcissism.” The philosophy of the day exalts the individual as the godlike determiner of what is right and what is wrong. Since self-promotion is the surest way to get noticed in a competitive job market and business environment, those with narcissistic inclinations seem to get further than those who display more humility. The cult of celebrity is all about the formation of narcissists; we see far too many young people grow up on television before our very eyes becoming ever more self-absorbed, immoral, and thus intolerable. Marketing promotes narcissism, knowing that the more you feel honored by a retailer or brand or entitled to a given product, the more likely you will buy. Social media invites everyone to participate in narcissistic behavior: your profile is your way of telling the world about you, giving you the opportunity to post what you think and what is going on in your life. We need look no further than the increased popularity of the “selfie”: “Narcissus” can now show the world everywhere he goes, everyone with whom he meets, and it is without a doubt because his face is always there.
Truly the “pride of life” is manifest today in narcissistic behavior (1 John 2:15-17); the easiest thing for us to do is to go with the flow of our world and our culture and become ever more enveloped in narcissism. But is narcissism ideal? Should we be excessively in love with ourselves?
The world is filled with arrogance and pride, but it would not be so among those who made up the Kingdom of God (Matthew 20:25-28, 23:12, 1 John 2:15-17). Jesus Himself should be the model and pattern for those who would follow Him. He spent His life in service to others, even unto death (1 Peter 2:18-25, 1 John 2:1-6, 3:16-18, 4:7-21).
We ought to recognize the vanity and futility of narcissism. We are not God; we all fall short. We cannot think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but remain humble and seek to find ways to serve others and to consider their interests and needs (Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:1-11).
Narcissus proves to be a good warning to us: life cannot revolve around how awesome I think that I am. Instead, we should seek to serve others for God’s glory, and find ourselves far more satisfied than we ever could while wallowing in self-absorption. Let us resist narcissism and instead serve God in Christ!
- by Ethan R. Longhenry (edited for length)
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10 Reasons for Bible Study
1. The Bible yields food for the soul. It has the milk necessary for the spiritual growth of the babe, and meat to sustain the older, mature Christian (1 Peter 2:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-14).
2. A knowledge of the truth, and obedience to it, is necessary to be made free from sin (John 8:31-32; 1 Peter 1:22).
3. The Bible reveals God's view of man. It enables the student to see himself as God sees him, for the Bible is God's mirror of the soul (James 1:22-25).
4. A working knowledge of the Bible arms one against the difficulties and hardships of life. It has a message to cover every condition and problem. It can be used in every emergency from the cradle to the grave (Romans 15:4).
5. The knowledgeable Christian is able to comfort and edify the discouraged and brokenhearted (Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).
6. The Scriptures contain all good works that are pleasing to God and give all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).
7. One must study the Bible to have the approval of God, to be a ready workman, and to handle correctly the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15).
8. A knowledge of the Bible is the only safeguard against fatal error (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1).
9. The Scriptures are able to build us up and to give us a home in Heaven (Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:15).
10. The Bible will be our standard of judgment in the last day (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12).
- by David J. Riggs
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Forgiveness
Under instructions to forgive others “just as God in Christ also hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32), we have observed that God is 1) willing to forgive, 2) anxious to forgive, but 3) He forgives only when we have met His conditions of forgiveness, including repentance. We continue our study with some additional and important points about God’s forgiveness.
It is clear that when God forgives it is an absolute and total form of forgiveness. To often men never really get over something. Past wrongs and offenses remain an issue and are allowed to fester like an open wound. People are heard to say things like, “I’ll never forget what he did to me.” But, thankfully, God is not that way, and we need to imitate Him. The Psalmist wrote (103:8-12): “The Lord is merciful and gracious . . . He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” We should be extremely grateful for His absolute forgiveness, and we should treat others the same way.
Furthermore, God’s forgiveness is permanent. Once forgiven, He never calls up our past sins again. The Hebrew writer quoted the promise made by the prophet Jeremiah: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:16-17). Too often we will tentatively ‘forgive’ someone who wrongs us, but are quick to dredge up these old sins if that same person ever crosses us again. It is not that way with God, and it cannot be so with us.
(continued next week)
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
93% of teens ages 12-17 go online . . . 63% of teen internet users go online every day . . . 73% of teens are on a social network such a Facebook . . . 55% of teens have given out personal info to someone they don’t know, including photos and physical descriptions . . . 88% of parents know that their teens typically use the internet to communicate with people they don’t know . . . only 34% of parents regularly check their child’s social network sites . . . 67% of teenagers say they know how to hide what they do online from parents . . . 43% of teens say they would change their online behavior if they knew that their parents could find out what they are doing.
- via Social Media and Young Adults, Pew Internet & American Life Project
Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
"You are where you are and what you are because of your own choices and decisions. If you don’t like where you are and what you are, change your choices and decisions!"
“A smart person may know what to say, but a wise person knows whether or not to say it."
A Strong Church
Over the years, much has been written on how to build a strong church. And, no doubt, much of what has been written is good, scriptural, and should be applied. The Apostle Paul has given an inspired formula for a strong church in Romans 15:14: "Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able also to admonish one another." We would do well to constantly keep before us this passage.
A strong church is one that is "full of goodness." To be full of goodness is to be characterized by the excellence of the inner person which manifests itself in a quality of life that is attractive to others. A striving for moral excellence should characterize every member of a congregation in order for the church to be strong. Churches composed of members who are of questionable moral character are weak churches. Preachers who shy away from strong teaching on moral issues for fear such would diminish their numbers in attendance are making their contribution to the weakness of the church. The strength of a congregation is not to be equated necessarily to the number in attendance at its services. A congregation with thirty-five members who are full of goodness is more honorable in God's sight than one of several hundred members who are not.
A strong church is one that is "filled with all knowledge." This means that strong churches are not made up of people who are ignorant of the Bible. This is true because "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). One simply cannot have a strong faith based upon a weak understanding of the word of God. Our age is an age of shortcuts and convenience, but there is no shortcut to acquiring a genuine knowledge of the Bible. Nothing will take the place of honest, diligent study and meditation of the scriptures. We must study to be approved of God and to save our souls (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul knew that he could not expect to help build a strong church at Rome out of people who were too lazy to study and meditate on the word. Let us not make the mistake of thinking that we can allow emotional excitement, entertainment, or anything else, to substitute for the truth of the gospel.
A strong church is one made up of members who are "able also to admonish one another." That this might be true, two things are necessary: (1) sufficient knowledge of God's word in order to communicate it to another, and (2) the disposition or desire to do so. One cannot teach what he does not know, and one cannot know the Bible if he has not studied it with great interest. But all the knowledge in the world will not make a strong church unless those possessing that knowledge are of the disposition to communicate it to others. How sad it is that many members of the church do not have enough zeal to admonish their brethren or to encourage sinners to obey the gospel of Christ. Zeal without knowledge is just as bad as knowledge without zeal (Rom. 10:1-3; Lk. 12:47-48).
Let us all do our share (Eph. 4:16) so that the congregation will be a strong church.
- by R.J. Evans
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Global Warming
The so-called "climate crisis" preached by Al Gore and other environmentalist fear-mongers is of no concern to me. I trust in the promises of God. After Noah's family emerged from the ark, the Lord said, *"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease"* (Genesis 8:22).
Because the Creator said so, I am fully convinced nothing will permanently disrupt the normal progression of seasons or weather patterns. Certainly, exceptions have occurred from time to time. Seedtime and harvest have been interrupted by famines in the past (Genesis 12:10; Acts 11:28), yet seedtime and harvest always resumed. Night was once delayed when Joshua prayed for a miracle, *"so the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day"* (Joshua 10:13), but *"there has been no day like that, before it or after it"* (Joshua 10:14).
Cold and heat may fluctuate from place to place and time to time, but there will be no fluctuation so severe it results in the polar ice caps melting and a subsequent global flood. The Almighty promised *"Never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth"* (Genesis 9:11). He has given us the rainbow as a token of this promise (Genesis 9:12-17).
God's assurance that the seasons and weather will continue has but one condition: *"While the earth remains"* (Genesis 8:22). Someday, it will be no more, as Jesus said, *"Earth will pass away"* (Luke 21:33). Interestingly, it will all end in fire (2nd Peter 3:7; 10-12). That's the global warming to prepare for!
- by Bryan Matthew Dockens
Forgiveness (5th in a series)
We have been taught to forgive others “just as God in Christ also hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32), and so we have been looking at the specifics of God’s forgiveness. We’ve observed that He is ready, even anxious to forgive, but His forgiveness is granted when we meet the conditions set forth in Scripture. Once He forgives, the forgiveness is absolute and permanent. In all of these things, we should imitate our God. Furthermore . . .
It is simply amazing that God is willing to forgive us over and over – even when the same offenses are repeated again and again. The apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Note that these words were penned to those who were already Christians – those who had already been forgiven by God – yet the promise is that he will forgive even more. This ongoing willingness of God to extend additional forgiveness is incredible. And, we have been taught to do the same. When Peter asked Jesus, “how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” he thought he was being generous when to suggest “till seven times?” But Jesus said “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). This is surely a hard thing, but God extends that sort of forgiveness to us, and we should to one another.
It is clear that our Father never grows bitter against us and never ‘nurses a grudge’, and neither can we. Grudge holding is a sin (James 5:9), and we have been ordered to rid ourselves of bitterness (Ephesians 4:31). There is no room for these things in the heart of one who seeks to forgive like God does.
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
More than $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers each year. That's more than $35 million per day -- There are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or 1 in 11 people) in our nation today. -- Approximately 25% of shoplifters are kids, 75% are adults. 55% of adult shoplifters say they started shoplifting in their teens. – 89% of kids say they know other kids who shoplift. 66% say they hang out with those kids.
- via National Learning & Resource Center
Ephesians 4:28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
"Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.”
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”
“Your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice.”
“Do not misinterpret God's patience for God's permission.”
"Better to be of a Humble Spirit"
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble"
(James 4:6).
"Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before
a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than
to divide the spoil with the proud" (Prov. 16:18-19).
A person does not have to be proud, boastful or arrogant to
be great, as is believed by so many today. Moses was truly a
great man, and at the same time, "very meek, above all the men which
lived upon the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3). King Saul
was told by Samuel that "When you were little in your own eyes, were
you not head of the tribes of Israel?" (1 Sam. 15:23).
But with the passing of time, Saul became "big" in his own eyes and,
because of his proud, sinful actions, the Lord rejected him as king
(1 Sam. 15:23).
David, a man after God's own heart, was humble. His
humility is evident by some of his statements found in the Psalms.
He said, "My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall
hear of it and be glad" (Psa. 34:2). He also stated that "The
sacrifices of God are of a broken spirit, A broken and contrite
heart -- These, O God, You will not despise" (Psa. 51:17).
The Apostle Paul, from the world's viewpoint, had every
reason to be proud. He was highly educated, having been
"brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the
strictness of our father's law" (Acts 22:3). He had the honor
and privilege of being a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29). Paul
told the Philippians, "If anyone else thinks he may have confidence
in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless"
(Phil. 3:4-6). Yet, Paul was a man of humility.
Concerning the facts just stated, he went on to say, "But what
things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (Phil.
4:7). In fact, he later called these things "rubbish" (v. 8).
As an apostle, he spoke of himself as "the least of all the
apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9). He also spoke of
himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).
All through the scriptures, we can observe that God used
the ones of a "humble spirit" for His service. If we are going
to be truly great in the service to the Lord today, then we too must
be humble. Jesus said, "but whoever desires to become great
among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20:26). James tells
us to "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, And He will lift
you up" (Jas. 4:10).
The person of a "humble spirit" realizes that he is nothing
without God. He is genuinely happy to obey all of God's
commands and to receive His rich blessings. He is like an
empty vessel which only God can fill. Paul said, "For I say, through
the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as
God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3). May
we always remember that "God resists the proud, But gives grace to
the humble" (Jas. 4:6).
- by R.J. Evans
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Doing God’s Will
How do we make sure that we are
among the few who are saved and not among the many who are lost
(Matthew 7:13-14)? Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not
everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders
in Your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew
you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness". If we
believe and call Jesus, "Lord, Lord", we are still lost if we have
not done God’s will.
On Judgment Day many will be
pleading with Jesus, calling him Lord, Lord, and reminding him of
the many wonderful works that they had done in His name, but He will
say unto them, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice
lawlessness". Why? Why? They had not done the will
of the Father in heaven. The worst thing that will ever be
said to an individual is when the Lord on Judgment Day says to the
majority of people, "Depart from Me, I never knew you". There
will be no appeal to this decision. We have to get it right
the first time.
These people in the above
scripture seemed to be honest, but they were honestly mistaken as
the majority of people are today. Apparently they were good
people, because they had "done many wonderful works". But they
had not done the will of the Father, which is in heaven. No
single condition, that God imposes, can be ignored. God has no
non-essential commands. When we fail to obey a command of God,
we have just broken it. We must obey God by doing what God
says to do, when God says to do it, how God says to do it, and for
the reason God says to do it. Nothing is more important than
pleasing God by doing His will so that we can go to Heaven.
God’s will is found right in our Bibles.
- by Ron Boatwright
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The Mormons & "Two Sticks"
In studies with Mormons they will sometimes suggest a text
from Ezekiel 37:16,17 as support for the Book of Mormon. The passage
reads as follows: "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick,
and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his
companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph,
the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his
companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they
shall become one in thine hand." The Mormons explain the passage
thus: "Is not the Bible the stick of Judah? Then the Book of Mormon
must be the stick of Ephraim."1 The idea is that sticks
were used to roll up parchment scrolls. Two sticks then, according
to their interpretation, must represent two separate books - the
Bible and the Book of Mormon - which would ultimately be shown as a
unified revelation from God.
The Mormons are simply wrong about this text. Ezekiel was
NOT making any kind of prediction about separate written
revelations from God. The context shows that he was speaking of a
reuniting of a remnant of Judah and Israel. These were the two
sticks that would become one. He proceeds to show that the
accomplishment of this would be through the spiritual blessings
granted by God in Christ Jesus. Observe: (Ezekiel 37:18-26)
"And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying,
Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? Say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of
Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel
his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of
Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand
... And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains
of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be
no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms
any more at all ... I will save them out of all their dwelling
places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall
they be my people, and I will be their God ... Moreover I will make
a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant
with them: and I will . . . set my sanctuary in the midst of them
for evermore."
The Mormons are clearly guilty of perverting the Scriptures
when they attempt to use this text to support their corrupt
doctrine.
1 Talmage, James E.
The Articles of Faith
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
A poll by the Internal Revenue Service Oversight
Board asked how much, if any, is an acceptable amount to cheat on
your income taxes. 87% of respondents said, "not at all." Only
11% said, "a little here and there" or "as much as possible."
95% said personal integrity influences them to honestly report their
taxes, while 63% said fear of an audit did. Only 41% said they are
honest because they believe their neighbors are, too.
- via The Huffington Post, 2/27/13
1 Peter 2:13-15 “Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it
be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of
them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well
doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“Think right, act right. It is what you think and do
that makes you what you are.”
“Eternity will be a long time to think about what you
should have done.”
“The best things in life are not things.”
A Different Point of View!
Mark 2:1-5 tells about the unorthodox efforts of four
unnamed heroes who used faith and works to get a hurting friend to
Jesus. Hearing that Jesus was in a house in Capernaum, four men
sought to bring a paralytic to Jesus on a bed. Finding the house
full of people and their way to Jesus blocked, they uncovered the
roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down
the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith
He said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you.' "
This incident reminds us that faith brings a different
point of view in getting lost people to Jesus. Four men who believed
Jesus could make a profound difference in the life of their
paralyzed friend refused to give up when they found the way to Jesus
crowded and impossible to pass. What to do? Faithless, negative
thinking would have said nothing could be done and there were simply
too many obstacles. But one of them lifted his eyes and expressed a
different point of view: "We can get on top of the house, tear the
roof off and lower him down to Jesus." Faith helped them have a
different point of view! As a result the paralyzed man went home
with a newly healed body and a freshly cleansed soul.
Many Christians could use a different point of view. The
devil has convinced some in the church that our job as Christians is
to come, sit and listen. But the proper evangelistic mentality is
summed up in the words of Acts 5:20 - "Go ... stand ... speak." Some
insist nobody they know is interested in God, but Jesus calls us to
a different point of view. He says "the harvest truly is plentiful"
and "lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already
white for harvest" (Matthew 9:37, John 4:35). Could it be many
people are being kept from getting to Jesus because negative,
faithless thinking is keeping us from getting to them? Faith can
help us uncover the roof and see past what we alone can do to what
we can do with God's help. Has faith changed your point of view?
- by Dan Gulley
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The Importance of Evidence
Have you heard of the International Flat Earth Society?
There really is such a group, and they believe the Earth is flat
even though there are mountains of evidence to the contrary.
We would say that this is simply ‘crazy’!
Some suggest that believing in God and the Bible is just
like believing in a flat Earth. They imply that those who are
believers ignore reason and logic and blindly follow their faith
without any supporting evidence. But, the truth is that
believers understand the need for evidence and, in fact, the Bible
emphasizes essential evidence.
When the disciples of John came to Jesus asking, “Art thou
he that should come, or do we look for another?” He did not say
‘yes’ or ‘no’, but pointed them to the evidence that would provide
the answer. “Show John again those things which ye do hear and
see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up . . .”
(Matthew 11:3-5).
The inspired apostles were skilled at presenting the
evidence that would convince their hearers that Jesus was the Son of
God. For instance, numerous times the apostle Paul is
described as “reasoning’ with his students about the identity of
Jesus (Acts 17:2,3; 18:4,19; 24:25).
Do you know what you believe AND why you believe it?
Can you explain your faith to others? Are you “ready always to
give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15)? All of us should place an
emphasis on careful study and preparation in the matter of
evidences. Our own faith will be strengthened and our ability
to teach others will be improved.
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
Millions of children are currently being raised
by single or divorced parents. Single parents account for 27%
of family households with children under 18 . . . One in two
children will live in a single-parent family at some point in
childhood . . . One in three children is born to an unmarried mother
. . . The number of single mothers increased from three million to
10 million between 1970 and 2000.
- via US Census Bureau
Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye
fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
_______________________
Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“It's amazing how much work can be accomplished when no one
worries who gets the credit.”
“Having a sharp tongue may cut your own throat.”
“If we wait for the moment, when everything -- absolutely
everything -- is perfect, we shall never begin.”
“Life is like a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but
you can spend it only once.”
Who Cares?
Did you ever think about who turns out the lights and locks
the doors at the church building? It may seem a small thing, but it
could create some problems if no one did it. The point is, someone
accepts the responsibility that most members give very little
thought to. The same could be said of cleaning and maintaining the
building, parking lot, lawn, etc. Usually, some few willing souls
will volunteer their services — and most others are perfectly
willing to let them. Many Christians simply do not relate themselves
to such work, and worse, may not appreciate those who do. But, in
the absence of paid janitors and yardmen, why is any one member any
more or less responsible than any other? What if no members cared
about the appearance of a dirty building, or a weed-filled lawn or
broken windows? Such neglect would soon become embarrassingly
apparent.
On the other hand, other and more serious neglect is not so
apparent. Take, for instance, the erring brother. Whose
responsibility is he? Who cares? Must he finally embarrass the
church like an unpainted door or a broken window to merit attention?
God says, "Ye which are spiritual" should restore such a one (Gal.
6:1). As none will admit to not being spiritual, that makes the
erring member the business of every member! When Christians are
motivated by genuine love and concern for each other; when they have
the same care one for another (1 Cor. 12:25); and when each looks to
the needs of others (Phil. 2:4), little time will be wasted in
trying to figure out who has to go and help "save a soul from death"
(Jas. 5:20). What if no one in the whole church cared about the weak
brother? It's bad when Christians don't care about unkempt meeting
places; but it's far worse when they neglect the erring brother, one
for whose sake Christ died.
Equally important is the responsibility every Christian has
in regard to teaching the lost. The faithful are to be able to teach
others (2 Tim. 2:2). All are to be ready always to give answer
concerning their hope (1 Pet. 3:15). To that extent they can teach
others how to gain such hope. When the early Christians were
scattered abroad, they went about preaching the word (Acts 8:4).
Unscattered Christians can and should do the same. Paul writes of
how most of the Roman brethren were bold to speak the word of God
without fear (Phil. 1:14). The world urgently needs such bold
brethren speaking that same word today! But who will do it? Those
who turn out the lights and lock the doors? Only those who preach
from pulpits? God looks to His people — all of His people — to help
others in the way of salvation. The blessings of truth and salvation
are not to be hoarded, but shared — else, we risk losing them. Jesus
came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). How can His followers
not be interested and involved in the same work? How can they not
care?
Shunned and shifted responsibility has hurt the Lord's
church immeasurably. The slothful spirit of "doing-as-little-as-you-
can-get-by-with" may suit the world, but it is grossly inappropriate
for those who care — and those who have been blessed with God's
best.
- by Dan Shipley
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What Men Have Done to Hell
1. Atheists, skeptics
and modernists have eradicated it by their “wonderful” powers of
“reason”.
2. “Christian
Scientists” have attributed it to improper thinking, the figment of
bad imagination, or “malicious animal magnetism”.
3. Universalists have
removed the need of fearing it since they teach that all will be
saved anyway.
4. Unitarians and
others have decided that the only real heaven or hell are
encountered by men in this life by pleasant or unpleasant
experiences.
5. “Jehovah’s
Witnesses” have reduced it to annihilation, eternal non-existence
rather than eternal punishment.
6. Many Protestant
denominations have taken away any concern about being lost from
millions by their doctrine of “once saved, always saved”.
7. Catholicism has
assured millions that they will not go there because of her
sacraments and rituals, and has caused many to be more concerned
about an imaginary “purgatory”.
8. Many have sought to
remove the eternal duration and the awful torment of hell by their
own concept of God’s love.
But what the Bible says about hell remains true. You may
read about it in: Matthew 18.8-9; 25.41,46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9;
Revelation 14.10-11; 20:10, 15; 21.8.
- by Bill Crews
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Did Jesus Use Carnal Methods to Attract Crowds?
Many religious groups use a variety of carnal appeals to
draw people to their assemblies. For instance, there are suppers and
ice cream socials, ball games and entertainment events, etc. When
asked to justify these activities they will commonly refer to the
episodes where Jesus fed the multitudes. Some have said, "If you
first feed a man's body, then you'll have a chance to feed his
soul." Let's see if their reference to Jesus' activities will really
support their practices.
There were two separate instances in which Jesus
miraculously fed huge crowds of people with small quantities of
food. One time there were 5000 men, plus women and children (Mt.
14:15-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17; Jn. 6:1-14). On another occasion
there were 4000 men, plus women and children (Mt. 15:32-38; Mk.
8:1-9).
In both instances, the people had followed Jesus to hear
His marvelous teaching and to see His amazing miracles. There had
never been a promise of food to draw them. In fact, both episodes
show the people following long distances and for a long time before
they were offered food. For example, in Matthew 15:32 we read:
"Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have
compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three
days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away
fasting, lest they faint in the way." Do you see it? The people
were not lured to follow by an offer of food. The food came
AFTERWARDS, as an act of compassion. The people had NOT
come in anticipation of being fed.
We have one reference where Jesus suspected that the people
did, indeed, come with a desire of receiving food (Jn. 6:22ff). On
that occasion He DID NOT feed them!
Those who would use the example of Jesus feeding the
multitudes to justify their carnal practices today are simply wrong!
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
In 2010, more than one in four religious congregations had
fewer than 50 people in attendance.
- via Faith Communities Today
Psalms 122:1 “I was glad
when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
________________________
Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“Afflictions are light when compared with what we really
deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the
Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by
comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.”
“Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. Why
shouldest thou be afraid to die, who hopest to live by dying!”
“If our principal treasure be as we profess - in things
spiritual and heavenly - then woe unto us if it be not so!”
“No man treats a motor car as foolishly as he sometimes
treats other human beings. When the car will not go, he does not
say, "You are a wicked motorcar, and I shall not give you any more
petrol until you go." He attempts to find out what is wrong and set
it right. It should be so with our fellow man.”
“A faith of convenience is a hollow faith.”
“A man without religion is like a horse without a bridle.”
________________________
Serving God by
Serving Others
Those who are obedient to the gospel become servants of
righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). As servants, they are to serve. They
are to be doing those good works for which they were created in
Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10). In fact, they are to be "zealous" for
those works (Titus 2:14).
Romans 12:1-2 encourages Christians to be "living
sacrifices" for the Lord. That is accomplished when we start living
for the Lord and doing those things His will would have him do. One
of the things the Lord wants His disciples to do is to serve others.
He illustrated and emphasized this in John 13.
At what many have come to call the "Last Supper," Jesus
paused, girded Himself with a towel, took water, and washed His
disciples' feet. He told them, "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and
you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I
have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his
master; nor is he who is sent greater then he who sent him" (John
13:13-16). Jesus was not binding the rite of "foot-washing," rather,
He was showing that those who would be His disciples were to be of a
mind to serve others, regard their needs, and do what they could to
help them.
James declares that if one is going to have a saving faith,
that serving others is an essential aspect of that faith. In the
second chapter he states, "What does it profit, my brethren, if
someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save
him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and
filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for
the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does
not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17). One can profess again and
again to be a Christian and to have great faith, but if he does not
see to the needs of his brethren he, in reality, has no faith.
Serving others is an important matter to the Lord. When He
depicted the judgment scene in Matthew 25, He stressed how it
important it is to Him and how it should be to us for He showed that
it affects one's eternal destiny. To the righteous He said, "'Come,
you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took
Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited
Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will
answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You,
or thirsty and give Youdrink? When did we see You a stranger and
take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick,
or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to
them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the
least of these My brethren, you did it to me.'" (Matt. 25:34-40).
The unrighteous were told to depart because they had neglected to be
of service to others (Matt. 25:41-46).
Opportunities abound for those who would be like Christ to
demonstrate their love for Him by their service to their brethren.
They can start by giving their brethren a friendly hello and a warm
greeting. They can speak a kind word of encouragement; send a card
to the sick or those absent from services; prepare a meal for the
shut-ins; visit the sick, elderly, the weak, or discouraged; help
the sick and/or elderly with chores; provide financial assistance
when needed; and, of course, pray for their brethren.
It is vitally important for all Christians to actively
serve their brethren for in so doing, they serve the Lord.
- by Gene Taylor
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Concerning the Accomplishments of Spasmodic Attenders
The “lukewarm” Christian/‘spasmodic attender’ accomplishes
these things:
1. He frustrates the elders in the
obligation they have to feed the flock (Acts 20:28).
2. He sets a bad example for his
children, neighbors, members of his family that are not Christians,
etc.
3. He illustrates that the joy of service
is not his.
4. He treats the building up of the
church as though it is nothing at all.
5. He proves by action that he has not
counted the cost of his discipleship.
6. He thinks that minimums constitute
faithfulness disregarding the Lord’s teachings on the subject (cf.
Lk. 17: 10).
7. He shows his lack of concern for the
faithful brethren who break their necks to be consistent and
faithful in the matter.
8. He parades - for all to see - the
price tag he puts on the church, the work of the church, and the
overall influence of the church.
“And this, knowing the season, that already it is time
for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us
than when we first believed. The night is far spent, and the day is
at hand ... “ (Romans 13. 11, 12).
- by Harold Turner
___________________________________
M-D-R: Would God Require Separation?
What should we say about a situation where a person desires
to obey the gospel, but they have been divorced for an unscriptural
reason (Matt. 5:32; 19:9) and are now remarried? There has been lots
of controversy on this subject, but it is clear that the basic
concept of repentance necessitates a severance of the unscriptural
marriage. Without this, the adultery continues (Romans 7:2,3) and
forgiveness is impossible.
Some brethren have gone to great lengths in attempts to
justify the unscripturally divorced and remarried couple remaining
together. Very often an emotional appeal of this nature is made:
"I just can't believe that God would require such a
difficult thing." "How could a loving God demand it?" "What about
the children?"
These questions can be easily answered by referring to an
historical situation that developed in the days following the return
of the Jews from Babylonian captivity. They violated the law of God
by inter-marrying with people from other nations (Ezra 9: 1-4; Deut.
7:3). What were they instructed to do to resolve this sinful
situation? Separate from those mates! Note:
"And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye
have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the
trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God
of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from
the people of the land, and from the strange wives."
(Ezra 10:10-11)
The difficulty of this action was compounded by the fact
that children had been born to many of these unions (Ezra 10:44).
But God's will was clear, and his faithful people saw that it was
taught and obeyed. Will we do the same?
- by Greg Gwin
___________________________________
Trends . . .
Amount the U.S. spends annually on imported toys:
$23,631,000,000
Amount spent by the next 10 highest toy-importing
countries combined: $21,729,000,000
- via Harpers Magazine
Luke 12:15 “And he said
unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
___________________________________
Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure
for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more
tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who
serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.”
“Never underestimate the difference you can make. Step
forward, reach out, help.”