____________________________________________________ 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 15, 2001 ____________________________________________________ Seeking Acceptance by Jim R. Everett All human beings, to some degree, seek acceptance from their peers -- how much depends on how much of a "people-pleaser" personality one possesses. Though some claim that they don't care what anyone else thinks about them, that is not likely. Because people are, to some degree, "people pleasers" there is an inherent danger all of us face -- we can be more concerned with acceptance rather than being desirous of pleasing God. Such was the case with the parents of the blind man (John 9:18-23) and many of the chief priests (John 12:42-43). God recognizes our responsibility, in many instances, to please others -- both husbands and wives should seek to please each other as long as God comes first. But when we are faced with a choice in religion of pleasing men or God, we must say with Paul, "...or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). Historically, when the so-called "Restoration Movement" began, it was looked down upon by "main-line denominations" and fought against on every turn by false accusations and prejudice. Disciples were mockingly called "Campbellites." They were charged with believing in "water salvation" and it was told everywhere that they thought they were the only ones going to heaven. At first, they were small struggling groups with few members. Since there was no central headquarters coordinating work was seen as a great handicap -- efforts to organize and cooperate churches together became the solution. After many years, the movement gained acceptability -- bigger buildings, larger memberships, larger budgets, bigger plans, etc., brought fewer differences with the community. Then in the middle 1800's when the division began which eventually produced two different groups -- The Christian Church and the churches of Christ -- disciples holding to the pattern of congregational independence and proper worship had to leave and start over. Frequently they were on the wrong side of the tracks, meeting in homes, struggling with few numbers and little resources. The Christian Church kept the buildings and numbers and fit in better in the community. And then, when the division began over institutionalism in the early 1940's, the same thing happened. Today, we may have moved into the danger zone of acceptability and that will cause us to pass into the "worldly" church stage -- I mean by "worldly" that we become so much like the world, the world is not offended by us. Jesus said, "beware when all men speak well of you..." (Luke 6:26). That statement was in a context following the beatitudes (vv. 20-23). There is in His statements a balance between heaven's approval and heaven's condemnation (vv. 20-26). It is not wrong, but rather desirable, that men speak well of us. In fact an elder must have a good report from those without (1 Timothy 3:7). Is it bad that the community sees the good in the congregation and speaks well of its members? Though the community may disagree, it can appreciate the zeal, stand for truth, and expressions of love for our fellowman. But most of the time when error is exposed and issue is taken with immorality of people, they do not respond favorably. And, while it may speak evil and find fault with the church, let us make sure that it is never justified. How much of a stir are we creating among the false doctrines and immorality of our community? Do we like it when we are so much at ease in Zion that we don't do or say anything that is offensive -- understand that being deliberately offensive and rude cannot be a defense for our lack of wisdom. But the gospel of Christ was very offensive to the Jews and Greeks, though for different reasons (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). Paul's preaching caused a big stir wherever he went and caused communities to try and kill him -- read the 13th, 14th and 17th chapters of Acts. We may seek approval and acceptability and by so doing attract those who otherwise would be offended by the message of the gospel -- that goal is wrong and the end result is a worldly church. Or we may seek purity of truth, being right with God, the salvation of souls, and being the kind of people we ought to be as God's people -- whether that is acceptable or unacceptable to man is of little concern to us. We are not to be a people who have a persecution complex or are intentionally rude and offensive. But, being distinguishable from false religion and the world's values will create opposition and scorn. We, none the less, have heaven's approval -- "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake...great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:10-12). To seek acceptance and soften our stand for right may produce a popular church but that is a poor substitute for heaven's approval. TO A GREAT DEGREE THE STRENGTH OF OUR STAND FOR TRUTH IS MEASURED IN THE INTENSITY OF OPPOSITION. ___________________________________________ Of Mice & Men by Matt Hennecke As I bent over to scoop up sunflower seeds for the bird feeder I noticed the mouse. Instinctively I recoiled, jerking back fast enough to drop the scoop. My pulse increased as I contemplated the furry creature. In the back of my mind I wondered how he'd gotten into the sealed container which held the fifty pounds of sunflower seeds. I leaned closer, taking note of the cute little fellow: light brown fur, beige colored tail curled in a gentle "S," and quite dead. That's right. His eyes were open and he looked very well-fed but, sure enough, he was dead. Taking a pair of pliers from my toolbox I picked up the mouse by his tail and tossed him into a snow drift just outside the garage door. How ironic, I thought. The little mouse probably thought he'd struck gold when he discovered all that sunflower seed. I can picture him happily gorging himself. I can almost imagine him thinking, "I'm rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing." Of course what the mouse didn't realize is that eating requires digestion and digestion requires water. In the midst of all his riches and wealth the little mouse died of thirst. That little mouse got me thinking about those of us living in the United States. As a nation we are blessed beyond compare. We have riches in abundance. A trip to the local grocery store is an amazing journey into the profusion of foods available to us. Yet, even in the midst of riches, many are dying of thirst. Our bodies are filled, but our souls are parched and dying. John said it well: "Because you say, `I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor..." (Rev. 3:17). We are like that little mouse who began to feel poorly while surrounded by plenty. We need "water." We cannot live without "water." Our souls long for it and will die without it. Are you thirsty? Jesus said, "the water that I give shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (Jn. 4:14). -- Via Think on These Things, April-May-June, 2001 ___________________________________________ Non-Prophet Organization by Robert F. Turner Pastor Russell said (Studies, II, 33) that "the seventh thousand or the Millennium" began in 1872. The same volume, p.101, says God's kingdom began "the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the `battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914...is already commenced." (The 1915 edition changed the above date to 1915...rft.) Judge Rutherford's HARP OF GOD, 1921, used the same general "prophetic rules" to reach the date 1874 "at which time...the Lord's second presence is due." In WATCHTOWER, July 15, 1894, we read, "They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the BEGINNING, but for the END of the time of trouble." Russell's STUDIES, VII, published by Rutherford, 1917, said "The spring of 1918 will bring upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the Fall of 1914." Then in 1920, Rutherford published his "Millions Now Living Will Never Die." "...It is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925...That millions now living will never die" (p. 97). WATCHTOWER, Sept. 1, 1922 said, "The date of 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914" (p. 262). "Our thought is that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures." WATCHTOWER, Apr. `23. But in the Scotland Trial (p. 120-121) Fred Franz admitted an error had been made by Judge Rutherford. In AWAKE, Oct. 8. `68, we read past failures were due to lack of evidence. "But what about today? Today we have the evidence required, ALL OF IT, and it is overwhelming!" THE WATCHTOWER, Aug. l5, '68, in an article "WHY ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975?" says, "The nearness of such an important date indeed fires the imagination and presents unlimited possibilities for discussion." In 1969 the ARIZONA REPUBLIC (Aug. 24) reported Erroll Burton (J.W.) as saying "within months, or at the most five years, the end of the world as we have known it will occur...." The L.A. HERALD-EXAMINER reported Watch-tower president Nathan Knorr's lecture: "Although he did not pinpoint the predicted date, Knorr did narrow it down to the `mid-seventies.' The year 1975 has been specifically mentioned in Witness publications." WATCHTOWER, Oct. l5,'74, p. 635 says: "The publications of Jehovah's Witnesses have shown that, according to Bible chronology, it appears that 6,000 years of man's existence will be completed in the mid-1970's." The writer hedged on saying this meant "world's end would come then," but he concluded, "So we can be confident that the end is near...." 1975 is past, and so J.W.s are busy trying to "cover" that failure and "try again." CAN ANY REALLY DOUBT THEY HAVE A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION? -- Via Plain Talk, March 1976 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Let us continue praying for Esther Kramer -- Olive Baker's sister in Florida, who had to recently have both feet amputated -- that she will not only heal well, but also adjust to this change in her life. Let us also be praying for the following people: Blanche Thompson, who has not been feeling well lately; John Thompson, who injured his finger--requiring stitches; Maria Joshi's grandmother who had a stroke; Margaret Mosier, who often has breathing problems; the Bates -- that all will go well in their upcoming move. Let us each make it one of our goals to try to be at every service! Free Bible correspondence courses are available upon request. Bible film slides are also available, if you would like to see these in your home. Greetings to all the visitors! Please come again! ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service, use "P.O. Box 421") (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 ________________________________________