Posted by editor on July 17, 2011 under Bulletin | 
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WHAT IT LEADS TO
I hate to admit this, but a man once told me he did not like my sermons, and wanted me to change the subject and content of my preaching. I asked him to identify my errors, and he said I was preaching the truth, but he was afraid of “what it might lead to.” (I was preaching on the work of the church, and congregational independence.) I replied that I realized one might make a “hobby” of truth and “beat to death” a subject (he did not accuse me of this), but that I could not see how TRUTH, properly balanced, could lead to anything but that for which it was given, viz., to make men free from error and sin (John 8:32-32).
On the other side of the coin, we frequently find timid souls who hibernate in inactivity, and equate doing nothing with soundness in the faith. They may acknowledge that the work proposed is in keeping with the scriptures, but if it calls for some unaccustomed activity — a change from the status quo — they fear “what it might lead to.”
Life itself is a movement — we exist in a state of flux — and direction is influenced by every facet of life. Change (even in that which is good) will affect attitudes and viewpoints, and could involve new temptations.
BUT REMAINING AT REST ALSO AFFECTS ATTITUDES AND VIEWPOINTS, AND COULD INVOLVE NEW TEMPTATIONS. The monastic life is no guarantee of sinlessness. It may BE sin in itself.
No man steps twice in the same flowing stream. The stream is moving, and his second step is into water that was yet above him when the first step was taken. We may begin to do something in good faith, and with ample authority; and find later that circumstances are now such as to make the continuation of our work wrong. It takes a good man to face this, and let divine authority, rather than his own traditions, guide his life. Many will let tradition overrule the application of God’s word to his life. BUT FEAR OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN (when no scriptural principle is violated, nor scriptural warning ignored) MAKES FOR “FALSE SOUNDNESS.”
Truth never “leads to” error, and right is not the father of wrong. This is the point of James 1:13-18 and 1 John 3:6-ff. We sin when we quit following God and follow Satan.
Although “times change” and new circumstances constantly arise, we have an unchanging standard, suited to all ages. We are faithful only when we ACT upon its teachings. The church is the “pillar”, not the “pillow” of God’s truth (1 Tim. 3:15). – by Robert Turner
Posted by editor on July 6, 2011 under Bulletin |
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THE CHRISTIANS’ APPAREL: INSIDE AND OUT – by Larry Rouse
The real measure of a Christian lies on the inside. Jesus repeatedly warned those who admired the hypocrites of that day that it was “out of the heart” that one’s actions arise (Matthew 12:34-35, 15:18-19). Later, our Lord confronted these men with the plainest and strongest words of His ministry. “For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Mt 23:25-26). In every application we make of God’s word we must first start with the heart.
Does it Matter What a Christian Wears?
The subject of clothing is a highly personal one and one that commonly provokes great emotion. Many who claim to be Christians place this subject as off-limits to the Lord and especially to those who teach His word. How many times have I heard someone say: “It doesn’t matter what you wear, but what is inside your heart is all that matters!” Is that really what the scriptures teach?
The scriptures plainly address the relationship of our hearts to what we wear. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV). What is the condition of the heart described in this verse, and what is the kind of dress that will follow?
Essential Elements in the Heart of the Christian
Modest apparel is a product of shamefacedness and sobriety, qualities that ought to be in the heart of every Christian. The English word “shamefacedness” is a good translation of the Greek word “aidos.” Greek lexicons define this word as meaning “the idea of downcast eyes; a sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect.” The word “sobriety” indicates “soundness of mind, self-control.” In essence, the Christian will not seek to draw the attention of others to themselves through their clothing. They will not be trend setters, seeking the latest fashions regardless of the message conveyed to others by those fashions.
Consider the importance of shame. Shame comes from previous instruction concerning right and wrong. For shame to profit you, there are two things you must posses: proper teaching and a good conscience. Someone has likened the conscience to an alarm clock. If you heed its alarm and then act, then you will be “awakened” and thus helped to fight sin. However, if you chose to ignore it, by “going back to sleep,” or in others words, by continuing in your sin, then you will, in time, no longer hear the alarm of your conscience. Paul describes the terrible consequences of those who reject sound teaching as “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2).
Too Much Clothing or Too Little
Shame will keep a Christian from seeking attention by distinctive displays involving “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” (1 Tim 2:10). It also will avoid attention by having too little clothing, which is a great problem in our culture. The scriptures teach that public nakedness should always produce shame. When Christians had given in to a practice of sin, God likened the shame that they should have felt as being like the expected shame found in physical nakedness. God described them as being: “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” He then urged them 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 3:17-18).
In the scriptures, nakedness is insufficient clothing, not a complete absence of clothing. The priest, while clothed, could still reveal his “nakedness” by not properly covering from “the waist to the thighs” (Ex 28:41-42). In the Garden of Eden, after the first sin, Adam and Eve were still naked when they made the equivalent of men’s swimming trunks (Gen 3:7, 10-11)! God provided sufficient clothing when he had made them “tunics of skin”. This tunic is defined in lexicons as being: “generally with sleeves, comingdown to the knees.” If you want to be sure to avoid nakedness, then this example ought to provide us a safe guide to follow.
Your Clothes Convey a Message
The Old Testament describes the “attire of a harlot” (Prov 7:10; Gen 38:13-15). A woman can dress in such a way as to encourage men to pursue immorality with her. Here is where many women fail to understand how their dress can affect men. The scriptures give emphasis towards the woman concerning her dress (1 Tim 2:9-10) and give emphasis towards the man in how he looks at a woman and thinks (Matt 5:27-30). As a rule, men are more susceptible to visual stimulation, and as a result, the modern day pornographic industry has geared its primary attention to men. Ladies, please do not judge your clothing on “how it looks to me,” but also be open to teaching concerning how it affects others.
Clothing during Worship
It ought to go without saying that men and women should always dress modestly in public settings and especially when gathering together to worship God. In recent years, with the advent of the “non-traditional” services, has come the philosophy of “come as you are.” It is common in these gatherings to see an open display of immodesty by those who claim to be Christians. I understand that for the new Christian, and certainly for the visitor from the community, that they may not yet have received the proper teaching to guide their consciences. But when a gathering of Christians has become a demonstration of a people that no longer “know how to blush,” then a serious examination of hearts needs to take place (Jer 6:15; 8:12). Should we then have a dress code? When we have shamefacedness and sobriety in our hearts, along with a willingness to talk with mature Christians about these things, then I am sure our clothing will reflect it. When we come to worship with the people of God with a heart of reverence and love, with a desire to pursue holiness, then our clothing will reflect it (Heb 10:23-29).
Be honest, what message does your clothing reveal about your heart?
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A CORRUPT WORLD – by Rick Duggin
Though no one can predict the future of our nation, we can say with confidence that God is in control, His cause will triumph, and He judges nations. ‘The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
Gibbon’s famous work, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, lists five reasons for the fall of Rome. There are several parallels between ancient Israel and Rome, and even more disturbing, between Rome and America………………….
1. The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society. American families are under attack by humanists, homosexuals, and Hollywood. Some don’t even know what a family is any more (Matthew 19:4-9).
2. Higher and higher taxes: the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses or the populace . America is on the greatest spending binge in history. Many have forgotten how to work; they expect the government to support them (2 Thess. 3:10; I Timothy 5:8).
3. The mad craze for pleasure: sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal . Many Americans are so obsessed with sports that they have no time for Bible studies or attending the worship services when the saints assemble together. (2 Timothy 3:4; Hebrews 10:25).
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within – the decadence of the people. Babylon’s wall, water, and wealth could not prevent the Persian invasion (Daniel 5). No armament can protect a nation that has rotted from within – not even America’s.
5. The decay of religion: faith fading into mere form; losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. Most churches have become social clubs, pursuing entertainment to attract bigger crowds. Many audiences no longer expect to hear book, chapter, and verse (2 Timothy 4:1-4). They have replaced the house of prayer with food, fun, and frolic (Matthew 2 1:12-14).
Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.
Posted by editor on July 5, 2011 under Bulletin |
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IMPERFECT CHURCHES – by David King
Have you ever belonged to, or even visited, a perfect church? Probably not. Churches are made up of people, and if people are not perfect, it’s a safe bet the churches to which they belong are not perfect either.
Imperfect churches are not new to Christianity. Even in the early days of the new religion, churches routinely struggled with internal problems. Some were cold and formal (Ephesus, Sardis). Others were plagued with bickering and infighting (Corinth, Galatia). There were freeloading deadbeats (Thessalonica), holier-than-thou elitists (Antioch of Syria), and personality conflicts (Philippi). Virtually all of them had to deal with doctrinal squabbles of one kind or another. Even the original “mother church” of Jerusalem, under the direct guidance of the apostles themselves, had its share of hypocrites and problems. The one church we know of that thought it was in pretty good shape (Laodicea) was actually confusing perfection with stagnation.
Cultural differences aside, a modern Christian thrown into the brotherhood of first-century churches would probably feel exactly the same frustration that so many of us feet today—”Can’t anybody get this right?” Yet for all their problems, somewhere in the mix of those early churches were a lot of good people who comprised “the Lord’s church”. The fact there were tares mixed in among the wheat does not cause us to reject the idea all of them were striving for. Whatever their imperfections, we still look to them as the model. Some of those churches undoubted eventually lost all semblance of trying to obey God and became apostate bodies. But God did not slap that label on them the first moment they made a mistake. He was longsuffering with them, willing to bear their weaknesses if He saw a willingness to learn and improve.
So how does a Christian, striving to do the right thing, deal with an imperfect church? Does he just shrug his shoulders and pretend everything is cool? No! The early churches were rebuked and prodded into doing better. We cannot settle for complacency. Does he mount a crusade to stamp out all the ‘”error,” however small, until the group achieves his image of what a church ought to be? That kind of self-righteous excess usually creates more problems than it solves.
The best any of us can do in an imperfect church is to live our own lives as close to the image of Jesus as we can, and teach others to do the same. As long as we share a fundamental respect for the Lord’s word as our guide in that endeavor, and are willing to change, our imperfections are a demonstration of God’s grace in an imperfect world.
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THINGS THAT ARE PRECIOUS – by Jim Bell
There are very few things in life that we might consider to be “precious”. A new car with all the latest options might be nice and luxurious, but it is hardly precious. A new house a family has been anticipating moving into might be beautiful, but even a new home is not thought of as being precious. However, when we see a new born baby being held in tenderness, that is something we would all say is “precious”.
The word “precious” is an adjective which means “of high price or great value; very valuable or costly”. There are very few things in scripture that is spoken of as being precious. This word is unique in the writings of the Peter as he refers to those things that we as Christians should view as “precious”.
1 Peter 1:18-19 – “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” The blood of Christ is precious because it is the only thing that could save us from our sins. All the gold and silver of the world could not buy a man the forgiveness of just one of his sins, much less, the numerous deeds he has done contrary to God’s Will. It took something more precious that all the material wealth of this world to redeem us to God. It took the precious blood of
Christ, the Lamb of God. He was the perfect lamb without spot or blemish that went to slaughter for us that we might be saved. See also I Peter 2:7
I Peter 1:7 – “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Our faith is precious. It is of great value because it is that which can sustain us through the fiery trials of this life. Without a genuine faith, we could not survive the testing that we face. God makes us a promise that we will not be tempted above what we are able to bear (I Cor. 10:13); but He allows us to be subjected to the trials of life because these can produce endurance and spiritual maturity (James 1:2f)
1 Peter 1:4 – “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” In Christ, we have many wonderful promises. These promises are precious. They are of tremendous value to those who stand upon them by faith. Such promises as: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). …” he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised (James 1:12).
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish (John 10:28). These promises are sure because God cannot lie and He alone has the power to grant these unto us. However, these promises are not for everyone but only those who appropriate them by faith and seek to be obedient to Him. In other words, these “precious promises” are conditional upon us and our response to His Will.
Let us as Christians come to have a greater appreciation for the things which are more valuable and important that the material things of this world. Let us cherish the things that belong to us in Christ that are “precious”.
