____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 1, 2001 ____________________________________________________ Confessing Trespasses by Joe Fitch ``Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed'' (James 5:16). ``What's that? Confess faults? Me?'' Most folks won't! Some think they have, but they have not! Others have no idea what it is all about! Confession is disclosure. The word translated ``confess'' means to openly disclose or to declare. That same word is applied to a statement of praise -- ``For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name`` (Romans 15:9). The same word is used for thanksgiving -- ''...I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes`` (Luke 10:21). Judas ''...promised (same word) and sought opportunity to betray Him...``(Luke 22:6). All describe open disclosure of some kind. Confessing Jesus demands the same open declaration. ``Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven`` (Matthew 10:32). ``Deny``(v. 33) is not necessarily disavowal; it is also no statement at all -- no disclosure -- no affirmation. Case in point, the Jewish rulers: ``Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him`` (John 12:42). They said nothing -- no admission -- no confession. Confession of sin, is no different. Statements that hedge and hide do not fit the definition of confess. So ``confess your trespasses'' is disclosure (exposure) or it is no confession at all. ``I have sinned'' discloses but states only a basic fact. Details are not offered -- none may be required. However, a different scenario surely demands a different confession -- details necessary. ``I lied about you....'' opens such confession. It is confession only to the extent it is disclosure and admission. Confession is a practice. Grammatically, ``confess'' is a present imperative -- an ongoing practice. ``Confess your trespasses to one another'' is not a rarity -- an exceptional case headlined in the bulletin. It is the common practice for struggling Christians who share problems and victories with each other. Confession defines a support group where all war with sin. All help. All pray for each other. The practice continues as long as the situation. And how long will Christians struggle with sin? Confession is a practical essential. It is no ritual -- no mere formality, but rather a vital bond to struggling Christians. Disclosure helps win against sin. How long will the ``secret'' drunk continue his ``trespass''? Will he ever overcome his addiction in secret? The answer is written in the wrecked lives of people who tried. Is confession really necessary? Ask Alcoholics Anonymous. Confession is a cry for help -- the battle call for allies! Struggling sinners rally together against sin and the devil. But how can they pray for a brother -- how can they help or encourage -- if they are unaware of his problem? Enter confession! Our training is to cover up sin. We bury it, deny it, and put up a good front. No! No! True, that salvages pride and protects our image, but it also indefinitely perpetuates sin! Bury sin inside, and it will eat you alive from the inside. Hide sin, and it will deceive and destroy you. Put up a good front, and it will make you an adept liar and hypocrite. Keep it private, and you will fight sin alone -- no help. Confession is a bond of kindred souls. It lets all know they are not alone -- not exceptional in their struggle. ``I didn't know others had such problems; I thought I was the only one. I now feel like I belong.'' There is no real shortage of kindred souls; all congregations are filled with forgiven sinners who struggle with sin and lose a battle here and there. Any AA speaker begins with something like, ``Hi. I am John. I am an alcoholic.'' His acknowledgment launches his detailed ``confession'' of failure or success. What if we had to begin every sermon or comment to others with, ``I am Sam. I am a sinner...''? Don't hold your breath! And yet our advice might be more credible, suggestions more welcome, comradeship closer, and compassion fuller. We are often angry with sinners, impatient with sinners, unmerciful toward sinners, even mean to sinners. Why? Could it be we do not face up to our own sins? And what would ``confess your faults'' do for that problem? -- via The Exhorter, June 25, 2000 ___________________________________________ The Importance of Membership in the Church of Christ by Clarence R. Johnson It shall be our purpose in this study to consider a few Bible facts, and to ask some questions that might enable the reader to see for himself the importance of membership in the church of Jesus Christ. First, let us note that the Bible speaks of the church as the family or house of God, 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 3:15. How could one hope to be a child of God and not claim membership in the household or family of God? Secondly, the church is referred to in many passages as the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven, Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13, etc. Christ is the King who reigns over those who are citizens in that heavenly kingdom, Psa. 2:6-7; John 18:37. How could one hope to claim Christ as his King without holding citizenship in the kingdom over which Jesus reigns? Thirdly, the church of the Lord is viewed as His body, Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23. It is stated in very clear terms that Christ is the Head of the body, the church. He is also the Savior of the body, Eph. 5:23. By what stretch of the imagination could one claim Christ as Head and Savior without being a part of the body of Christ, which is His church? Finally, the church is viewed in the Scripture as a building made of living stones, 1 Pet. 2:5. The only foundation that can successfully be laid for such a building is Christ Himself, 1 Cor. 3:11. How could one claim to be built upon that foundation without being a part of the building? Many other such figures are used in the Scriptures to portray the importance of Christ's church, but surely the honest seeker can now readily see his need to be a part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. To do so, one needs only to believe the gospel, repent of his sins, and be scripturally baptized, Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38; 8:36-38; Rom. 6:3-5. Christ will add such an individual to His church. One does not have to join any denomination. His obedience to the commands of Christ will constitute him a member of the church of Christ, Acts 2:41,47, the kingdom of God, John 3:5; Rom. 6:4, the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:13, the family of God, Gal. 3:26-27. -- Via Susquehanna Sentinal, July 5, 1998 ___________________________________________ Time is Money A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his five year old son waiting for him at the door. ``Daddy, can I ask you a question?'' ``Yeah, sure, what is it?'' replied the man. ``Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?'' ``That's none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?'' the man said angrily. ``I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'' pleaded the little boy. ``If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.'' ``Oh,'' the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, ``Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?'' The father was furious. ``If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so selfish. I work long, hard hours every day and don't have time for such childish games.'' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy's questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money. After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn't ask for money very often. ``Are you asleep, son?'' he asked. ``No Daddy, I'm awake,'' replied the boy. ``I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,'' said the man. ``It been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for.'' The little boy sat straight up, beaming, ``Oh, thank you Daddy!'' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father. ``Why did you want more money if you already had some?'' the father grumbled. ``Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,'' the little boy replied. ``Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?'' -- Selected, author unknown ___________________________________________ Always Tell the Truth by Chuck Bartlett ``Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another'' (Eph. 4:25). There are many things that come as a result from telling the truth. Here are a few: 1. Some will gladly receive it (Acts 2:41). 2. You could be called a trouble maker (Acts 16:20,21). 3. You may be accused of being a liar (Matt. 26:63-65). 4. Enemies may arise (Gal. 4:16). 5. People may become upset (Acts 7:54-59). 6. Some may turn away preferring lies (II Tim. 4:4). 7. You may suffer persecution (1 Pet. 4:14-16). 8. Your works may be misinterpreted (Jn. 21:20-23). 9. Error may be exposed (II Tim. 4:2). 10. You may cause sorrow (II Cor. 7:9-10). 11. Fear might come as a result (Acts 8:20-24). 12. There may be a choice that needs to be made (Acts 2:37-38). 13. The most important result is: The Lord is pleased (Gal. 1:10). Sometimes man thinks that there are times when he is justified in telling a lie. That is just not true. Situation ethics promotes such erroneous thinking. When our Lord demanded that we speak the truth (Eph. 4:25), he meant at all times. -- Via Sound Doctrine, January 16, 2000 ___________________________________________ News and Notes We rejoice over the recent baptism of Whitney Frame! Let us pray that God will help her in her spiritual development and also do what we can toward that goal. Margaret Mosier returned home from the hospital Friday, but, so far, is not feeling any improvement since she went in. Hopefully, this will soon change. Let us pray that it will! ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________