____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 13, 2001 ____________________________________________________ Influencing Our Children by Randy Reynolds The story is told about a farmer and his son who went out to the pasture to bring a cow and her new calf into the barn. The cow was gentle and somewhat of a pet. However, she hid her calf from the farmer and ran to the other side of the pasture when she saw him approaching. ``How are we going to catch her?'' the son asked. The farmer replied, ``Son, all we have to do is go find the calf, bring it to the barn, and she will follow close behind.'' This proved true. When the cow saw the farmer carrying her calf in his arms, she followed. The son was amazed. Have you ever noticed that people always have strong opinions and advice about what other people and their children are taking part in, and how they would deal with it? Yet, when their own children are participating in inappropriate behavior, they sing a different tune. They are not as dogmatic about right and wrong and what should be done when their child becomes involved in wrong. It is even more tragic when a child's behavior begins to influence the parents and start them down the wrong path. But, whether we are taking about spiritual matters or moral matters in general, this kind of thing happens all too often. Very often we see the calf leading the cow. How many of you parents are convinced that movies and music have the power to negatively influence your children? Do you permit your children to watch movies and music videos, and listen to music that promotes evil or that glorify drugs, rape, or premarital sex? If you allow this, why do you allow it? Is it because you believe it is just a phase they are going through? While it is ok to accept a child's individuality, many parents go too far and allow their children to participate in things that are wrong. Other parents allow their children to do these things because they live in fear of their reaction. Parents, we must teach our children the difference between right and wrong from a very early age. Then, we must stand firm. Where do you stand? If you go to church, then you have probably heard quite a few lessons about the Prodigal Son, preached from Luke 15:11-32. While many lessons can be learned from these verses, one that is often overlooked is the fact that no matter how much the son disagreed with his father, and no matter how far away the son went, he knew where his father was. That is, he knew that his father stood for right, and he was firm in his resolve. The admonition is for parents to stand firm on the truth, as an anchor for their children. Whether we are talking about being consistent with young children or teaching our children to be grounded in God's Word, as parents we must first live the right life ourselves, and then fully expect our children to live according to the same standard. When you stand by your convictions and demonstrate them in your daily life, whether at home, work, play, or church, you teach and influence your children, no matter what their age. Your children must always know where you are. There is an old saying that says, ``Silence gives consent.'' This should serve as a warning to parents. Parents, we can't ignore sin and expect it to go away on it's own. Paul told Timothy, ``Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you'' (1 Timothy 4:16). In spiritual matters, there is no room for compromise. God's Word is truth, and deviation from it is sin. It is not easy to stay on course when those we love go astray. But remember, there is no reward in error. The praise of men does not reflect the praise of God. Turn to the account of Noah in Genesis chapters 5-9. Noah preached for 120 years to an unbelieving world and when he was finished, they still didn't believe. But Noah stood firm. And while he may not have been ``successful'' in the way the world measures success, please note dear friends, his resolve did influence his children. His determination to remain faithful to God, and his steadfastness even when faced with harsh opposition made an impression on his family. Our influence as parents does matter, especially when it comes to our children. However, we can't influence them if we are following them, and allowing them to dictate their rules to us. What about the influences our children find outside the home in their friends and classmates? How well do you know those whom your children call their friends? Do you know their parents? Will these other young people influence your children for the good or will they lead them in ways that are wrong? It is sad but true, ``Sin loves company.'' Our children must be warned about the enticements of sinners because sometimes they look for approval in the wrong places, and they look for acceptance with the wrong groups of kids. They don't know how much others can influence them, and that they are partnering with those whose heart Satan has filled. The apostle Paul says, ``Do not be deceived: ``Bad company corrupts good morals'' (1 Corinthians 15:33). Our children are with us for such a short time, and then they must face the world on their own. The task of lovingly providing them with the proper instruction is a serious one, and sometimes filled with sadness and disappointment. However, it is well worth the tears and the concern when we can see them mature into loving, productive, and faithful Christians. But parents, this won't happen if our children are ruling the home. -- Via The Exhorter, August 22, 1999 ___________________________________________ It Won't Wash Off! by Dan S. Shipley This early Friday morning finds it a perplexed governor that has come to sit on the judgment-seat just outside the Praetorium. Having already examined Jesus, Pilate has found him to be innocent. Now, he must face a hostile and prejudiced mob who wants to hear this innocent man declared guilty. Not only has Pilate found no crime in Jesus, he knows that ``for envy they had delivered him up'' (Matt. 27:18). And, with all this weighing on his conscience, his wife sends unto him saying, ``Have thou nothing to do with this righteous man'' (v. 19). Pilate represented a powerful government that prided itself in its good laws and their equitable enforcement. For an honorable and just judge, the verdict should have been easy in this case. But placative Pilate was on the spot. And he responds by ignoring his wife, his conscience and justice to become history's best known coward. ``So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it'' (Matt. 27:24). What justice! The innocent man is scourged and delivered to be crucified (v. 26) while the man who decrees it declares himself innocent! Pilate wasn't on trial. Yet, he feels compelled to vindicate himself by washing his hands and saying, in effect, ``I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE!''-- even when no one cared. Pilate should have known that responsibility is not a disposable commodity. It cannot be transferred; it won't wash off. Yet, many before and since have imitated Pilate's wash-pan ethics. Even in Eden we can see signs of this unwillingness to face up to responsibility. Adam says, ``The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.'' Eve says, ``The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat'' (Gen. 3:12,13). Like Pilate, each was saying, ``I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE!'' Their son Cain was saying the same thing in asking, ``Am I my brother's keeper?'' (Gen. 4:9). We see the Pilate problem in Aaron; we see it in King Saul; we even see it in the slothful one-talent man (Matt. 25:24). The Pilates of modern society blame guns, laws, poverty, affluence, heredity, environment--they are never without some kind of a ``wash pan'' with which to declare themselves ``NOT RESPONSIBLE!''--not even in the spiritual realm where men need most to see self-guilt and face responsibility. No man is without responsibility to God. Free-moral agency says it; stewardship says it (1 Cor. 4:2); knowledge says it (Jas. 4:17); redemption says it (1 Pet. 1:18-19), and certainly judgment says that all have responsibilities that are inescapable. Like Pilate's, they can't be washed off. Neither can they be blamed off; palmed off; regretted off; or ignored off! For the follower of Christ, it is a responsibility of freedom. We are saved to serve -- even if only with one talent. How inconsistent then, for Christians to stand where Pilate stood! -- excusing ourselves when we ought to be facing-up and steadfastly doing those things we know to be right. As elders, preachers, teachers, parents, and concerned Christians, may God help us to see and say: ``I AM RESPONSIBLE!'' -- Via Plain Talk, March 1976 ___________________________________________ Indifference to Indifference by Jim R. Everett Lackadaisical, nonchalant, slipshod, haphazard, careless, apathetic, listless, mediocre, slovenly, casual -- all give an added dimension to ``indifference.'' Disciples cannot be lackadaisical in their treatment of sin, nor can teachers be apathetic in dealing with a casual attitude toward immorality. The true glory of the church is not exemplified in the eloquence or charisma of its teachers nor in the strength and wisdom of its leaders -- it rests upon the moral fiber and character of its members. The theme and challenge of 1 Corinthians 5 is not so much the rebuke of incest -- though it was so bad that it was not even named among the Gentiles -- nor the condemnation of the man so sinning. It is a rebuke of the indifferent toleration of sin in the ranks of the disciples. The call by Paul is to deal with the sin to which they were indifferent. If they continued in their refusal to deal with the sinful man, he would be lost but there would also be a greater damage to the true light of the congregation and the loss of many more souls. A church can become so bad that it loses its illumination; and when the light of the church is as dark as the world, it is a worthless sham. Jesus said to His disciples, `ye are the light of the world...let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven'' (Matthew 5:14, 16). The church must stand unified in a commitment to ``Christ-like'' character, and it must accept nothing less than every member putting forth his best effort in that pursuit (cf. 1 Peter 2:22-ff). It must, therefore, also stand in solidarity in its condemnation of immorality and an intolerance for those who continue to PRACTICE immorality. And, when it becomes necessary to discipline a member who will not walk in rank with truth, every member must do his part to try and restore the erring brother (1 Corinthians 5:2, 5, 7, 9, 11 & 13; cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10-15). The church in Corinth was not only indifferent toward the sinful man, but they even ``gloried'' in their behavior and were ``puffed up'' about it -- the implication of the wording is that they were proud of their tolerance. However, Paul was not indifferent to their indifference. Are we nonchalant about sin? And, are we indifferent to indifference manifest by others? If so, we won't save the erring brother (cf. James 5:19-20); and the whole church will become contaminated and lose its true light. -- Via bulletin of the Cedar Park church of Christ ___________________________________________ News & Notes Let us continue remembering Donald Robinson in prayer (Joe Thompson's nephew), who was recently injured by a bull. The Gospel Meeting at Marietta begins Monday after next (May 21) and will run through Friday (25). The theme will be ``Going On Unto Perfection,'' and the topics and speakers are: ``The Elementary Principles of Christ'' (Monday, me); ``Laying the Foundation'' (Tuesday, James Finney); ``Those Who Were Once Enlightened'' (Wednesday, James Baker); ``Things That Accompany Salvation'' (Thursday, Scott Smelser); and ``Inheriting the Promises'' (Friday, Brad Hopkins). The Gospel Meeting in Piscataway, NJ, begins June 1 (Friday) and runs through Sunday. The evening services will start at 7:30; Sunday's services will be 9:15 AM, 10 AM, and 11 AM. (I'll be preaching back in Avondale Sunday evening.) My topics will be (and in this order): Noah and the Flood; What is a Christian?; The Trinity; The Need to Forgive; and The Need for Humility. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________