PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD
Edited and Published by Jack Critchfield
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Volume 6 Issue 3 |
March, 2002 |
I do not know where I found the following article, nor do I remember the author. I do, however, see in this article an insight into the nature of our world today and why the cause of Christ has become a bastion of social clubs and places for entertainment. A working knowledge of the word of God is no longer important to most people. They would rather spend time and energy pursuing avenues of interest that take energy and desire away from the important matters of spiritual consequence. Religion has become a temple of fun, food and frolic. Christians lives have become overwhelmed with the pursuit of material gain. Time is swallowed up in the busy work of being busy about busy things. Consider the following:
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, "We can't keep the Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."
"So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!" "How shall we do this?" shouted his angels. "Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6 or 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work."
"Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, the VCR, and their CD's going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes and computers with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering, free products, services and false hopes."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Let them be involved in soul-winning. But, crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family, unity for the good of the cause."
It was quite a conversation in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and rush there! Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.
" Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content…See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (1 Tim. 6:6-8; Eph. 5:15-16)
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Carl Vernon
A great amount of misunderstanding, confusion, and disunity, both within and without the church, stems from improper attitudes toward the Scriptures. A few examples of each might be helpful.
REGARDING CHRISTIANS:
The need has never been greater than the present for members of the Lord's church to completely BELIEVE IN AND RELY UPON the inspired word to regulate their lives. If God is glorified, it must be through us, His children (1 Cor. 6:19,20), and His word reveals His mind and will to us. Too many times we reason (?) concerning our lives and activities about as follows: (1) "What I'm doing is no worse than others are doing." (2) "We want to be popular." (3) "Other congregations are engaged in it," or (4) "Bro. So-and-So says he thinks it is all right!" BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Or, have we come to the place that we don't much care what it says?
We can always get some good friend to agree with us, but that doesn't make up for an improper and unhealthy attitude toward the Bible. We have always pointed out to others the danger of simply disregarding the Bible when a desired practice fails to harmonize with Bible teaching. Now, the lesson needs to be learned by us.
It is not enough to profess to believe what the Bible teaches about doing good "unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10), which, to be sure, is our individual Christian duty--BUT WE MUST BE DOING IT!
It is not enough to profess to believe what the New Testament teaches about "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25) -- we, as CHRISTIANS, SIMPLY MUST NOT BE GUILTY OF THIS SIN. Our attitude toward the Bible many times makes the difference with regard to our being faithful or unfaithful in attendance.
It is not enough to profess faith in the New Testament admonition to "be not conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2), but our attitude toward this teaching should cause us to comply with the rest of the same instruction: "BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
REGARDING THOSE NOT CHRISTIANS:
1. Your attitude toward Christ and His word will cause you to believe in Him as both Lord and Saviour, if it is the proper attitude. Jesus says that faith in Him is a must. (Jno. 8:24; 3:16).
2. The proper attitude toward what He has taught will cause the believer to repent of past sins. (Lk. 13:3;Acts 2:38).
3. The good confession of faith in Christ is made only by those whose attitude toward the Word that teaches concerning the confession is as it should be. (Rom. 10:9,10).
4. One's proper attitude toward the Scriptures will cause him, as a penitent believer, to be baptized into Christ. The attitude toward the Scriptures that will bring salvation is that which will cause one to comply with its teaching in order to have its promises. Baptism "washes away sins" (Acts 22:16), puts one who believes "into Christ" (Gal. 3:27), and gives "remission of sins." (Acts 2:38).
WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE NEW TESTAMENT?
via The Impression of April 27, 1958
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We cannot control the evil tongues of others, but we are responsible to bridle ours.
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The Attitude Of Jesus Toward Sin
Carrol R. Sutton
Much is said about dispositions and attitudes. Attitudes are very important because attitudes determine conduct. Our conduct is certainly important because our eternal destiny is determined by conduct.
Many people represent Christ as meek and lowly but fail to show other aspects of his character. They seem to think that Jesus Christ was a "softsoaping" compromiser. Although Jesus was indeed meek and lowly, His attitude toward sin was not one of compromise and weakness. Let us now consider the attitude of Jesus toward sin.
JESUS RESISTED EVIL
In Matt. 4:1-11 there is a record of the temptation of Jesus by the devil. On each of the three specific counts mentioned Jesus replied by saying, "It is written." He resisted temptation by appealing to the Word of God. We learn from Heb. 4:15 that He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." On one occasion when Jesus found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money, He showed His displeasure by making a scourge of small cords and driving them all out of the temple. He "poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables." He said: "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (See Jno. 2:13-17).
We should "resist the devil" and be will flee from us. (See Jas. 4:7). Our resistance to the devil should be "steadfast in the faith." (See 1 Pet. 5:8,9). Yes, Jesus not only did not engage in evil, but He openly and vigorously resisted sin!
ANGERED BECAUSE OF SIN
"And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath day, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other." (Mk. 3:1-6).
Observe the fact that Jesus "LOOKED ROUND ABOUT ON THEM WITH ANGER, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts." His soul was stirred to righteous indignation by sin. He hated sin! We learn from Prov. 13:5 that "a righteous man hateth lying..." Israel of old was commanded to "hate the evil, and love the good..." (Amos 5:15). The psalmist said in Psa. 119:113 "I hate vain thoughts..." and in Psa. 119:104 he said: "Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way..." We learn from Eph. 4:26 that we should not sin although we may become angry. There may be times when we would do well to be angered because of sin, but we may mistake the times.
JESUS CONDEMNED SIN
In Matt. 26:24 Jesus said, "...woe unto that many by whom the Son of man is betrayed..." Luke tells us in 17:1,2 that Jesus condemned those who would cause others to sin. In Lk. 17:3 Jesus said: "...If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him..." We read in Jno. 8:34 that Jesus said: "...who-soever committeth sin is the servant of sin." In Gal. 2:11-14 the apostle Paul condemned the sin of hypocrisy although it was practiced by the apostle Peter.
We read in Mk. 6:17 where John condemned adultery although it was practiced by Herod. Surely, to follow Jesus, we, too, must condemn sin!
JESUS DENOUNCED SINNERS
Jesus hated sham and hypocrisy in religion. He fearlessly denounced the Scribes and Pharisees because of their sins. (See Mk. 7:1-13 and Matt. 23). He pronounced "woes" upon them and denounced them as hypocrites. He even said unto them: "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. 23:33). If we would do our duty, we will endeavor first to be right ourselves and then condemn sin and denounce sinners as did Jesus. (See Matt. 7:5; Rom. 2:1,21).
WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE?
Really, dear reader, what is YOUR attitude toward sin? Do you sincerely strive to RESIST EVIL? Are you ANGERED because of sin and do you really HATE EVERY FALSE WAY? Are you willing to condemn sin and denounce sinners, and support and encourage those who do? Or do you walk easy and tread lightly and not get "involved" when sin is prevalent and needs your attention?
Do you compromise the truth by "justifying the wicked" and "condemning the righteous?" If your attitude toward sin is not like the Saviour's, then do not be hypocritical by claiming to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. YOU shall recieve a "just recompense of reward."
via The Instructor, Vol. 6, No. 7 July 1969
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The American Psychiartic Association (APA) is on record claiming that Reparative Therapy for homosexuals doesn't work. But that position is being undermined by a new study from a very influential man. Columbia University psychiatry professor Dr. Robert Spitzer made a landmark presentation to the APA recently. Spitzer told the nation's psychiatrists that his research shows homosexuals can change their sexual orientation.
"I interviewed 200 subjects who claimed that they had changed their sexual attraction from homosexual to heterosexual," Spitzer said. "Essentially what we found is that first of all, in terms of sexual attraction, the vast majority had made major changes."
Does that mean Spitzer believes homosexuals can change to heterosexuality? "Absolutely! Absolutely!" he said. "I approached this quite skeptically and I've been convinced otherwise."
What makes Spitzer's new position monumental is the fact that he was the chief architect in the APA's 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of disorders.
Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, said the findings will be difficult to ignore. "This is clearly a historic event in the history of psychiatry's understanding of homosexuality," said Nicolosi.
Was Dr. Spitzer's work influenced by a religious bias? "I am an atheist, Jewish, secular humanist," said Spitzer. "I was before this study, and I continue to be one now."
He said there is no reason to believe that those he interviewed were lying about their change from homosexuality. The research included people with five years of recovery currently engaged in healthy heterosexual relationships.
Mark Cowen
CitizenLink
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
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Glen Young
The ability to reason from observable evidences to reach a conclusion is God given. We refer to this ability, as man’s freewill to choose. The ability to reason manifests itself every time we make a judgment about a person or thing. Therefore, with this ability there comes grave responsibility. It is so serious a responsibility that there are admonitions in scripture warning us to judge with righteous judgment.
Jesus warns, "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24) Jesus’ statement implies that mankind will make judgments from time to time. These judgments are to be made upon whether or not an action or thing is acceptable to God (righteous).
Peter and John challenged the Sanhedrin of their day to judge if it was right to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19). Paul asked the Corinthian brethren the rhetorical question; "Do not ye judge them that are within?" (1 Corinthians 5:12) He then instructs Christians not to go to law against one another but to let brethren judge in any legal dispute that may arise (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). In 1 Corinthians 10:15 Paul continues by saying, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say." He then charges the brethren to judge whether it is seemly [correct] for a Christian woman to pray to God unveiled (1 Corinthians 11:13). It is undeniable that men can and do make judgments. Hence, those who would be righteous must judge with righteous judgment.
When Jesus said that we are not to judge according to appearance, He was warning us not to make judgments before we have understood all the evidence. Paul makes this point concerning his own stewardship as an apostle of the Lord. In first Corinthians chapter four, he encourages them to accept him as a steward of the mysteries of God (1). He then says a steward must be found faithful (2). Next, he addresses the possibility that man’s judgment can be faulty by saying, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord." (3-4) Paul knew that judgment without understanding could be faulty, hence his statement about man’s judgment. His own judgment of his stewardship did not justify i.e. declare him righteous. Only the Lord can justify. The reason man’s judgment may be faulty is because of his propensity for prejudice (Proverbs 24:23).
Paul concludes the thought by saying, "Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God." (5) The way righteous judgments are made is by considering the evidence as Paul illustrates with the judgment of the Lord.
Jesus warns us about making judgments, which are not righteous. He said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you." (Matthew 7:1-2)
Man’s judgment is tainted by prejudice when he measures others by a standard he does not apply to himself. Jesus’ warning is that the measure with, which you judge others, is the measure He will use to judge you. Whatever we require of others, we must be willing to apply to ourselves.
Paul describes this sad state of affairs when he penned, "Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things." (Romans 2:1) Man is left without excuse before God when he sets the standard for others higher than he is willing to go himself.
The failure to judge righteous judgment hinders the cause of Christ. It causes non-Christians to view Christians as hypocrites. It stops local churches from growing by forbidding the establishment of elders and deacons. This happens when men are examined for these works and found unfit because of an improper understanding of the qualifications. And not only this, your soul will be lost eternally!
The Road Creek church of Christ Bulletin, 10/10/99
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"The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."
---------Socrates.
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Jack Critchfield, Editor & Publisher
403 Coit Way, Salinas, Ca. 93907
(831) 772-9557
jcritch@a1above.net
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