____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 21, 2001 ____________________________________________________ Making Our Lives Clear by Tom Edwards Imagine this: you run across some sheet music, and the first line says, "I don't want...to ever see you...go away," with musical rests (pauses) between "want" and "to" and "you" and "go." What are these lyrics really telling us? Ambiguous, isn't it? By singing the lyrics this way (with the pauses between "want" and "to" and "you" and "go"), it would seem that it could mean either that 1) an individual doesn't ever want to see a certain person leave; or 2) that an individual doesn't want to ever see a certain person, but would prefer that he or she would just go away. So here we are, a bit perplexed, over two possible -- but opposite -- meanings. Which one is right? Of course, hearing the above statement read with the proper inflection would probably make it easy to determine what is actually meant; but, unfortunately, we don't have that advantage when seeing it in written form -- and especially when indicative punctuation is missing -- nor do lyrics sung, with a pleasant voice, always make the inflection as clear. We would, therefore, probably have to hear the rest of the song to determine, by other desires and actions expressed (or, at least, intended actions), which view we should take on the above statement. Perhaps this also reminds us of that often repeated cliche that "Actions speak louder than words." For though good words are important (and we should be clear in them), actions are even more so. For instance, loving Christ consists of more than merely a statement acknowledging that we love Him. For isn't even the word "love" itself very ambiguous from today's different uses of it? But Jesus makes it clear that the love we are to have for Him is that which prompts and manifests obedience. For He states in John 14:21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me...." So it is by our very life that we make clear to God -- and to the world -- whether we truly love the Lord or not. Real Bible love for Christ, therefore, goes beyond mere sentimentality or other emotional feelings. Though we can still have these feelings, we must couple them with faithfulness to His commands -- and, of course, having strong, positive feelings toward doing such, will make the commitment all the more easier and a joy to carry out. Since this is so, what then of the one who does not keep these commandments? Can it be said of him that he truly loves the Lord? He might still appreciate Christ and have strong emotions toward God, but the one who doesn't obey the Lord does not really love Him in the Bible sense of the term; for it is Jesus Himself who describes the one who does not love Him as being the one who "does not keep My words" (Jn. 14:24). We need to strive to live unambiguous lives, which do not send out a confusing or double signal; for our lives are being read. As Annie J. Flint's song tells us, "We are the only Bible the careless world will read. We are the sinners' gospel. We are the scoffers' creed. We are the Lord's last message given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?" ("The World's Bible"). What is our life saying to the world? Are we giving a confusing message or conflicting ones? Have we allowed worldliness to smear or blot out the message of the Gospel, which should be clearly seen through our lives? Paul said of the Corinthians, "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Cor. 3:2,3). When God's word can be clearly seen in our lives -- by the way we live -- much good can result. Peter exhorted godly women to be submissive to their husbands, so that if any of them be unbelievers, they might be "...won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior" (1 Pet. 3:1-2). That's influence! Her life manifests a pure message of Christ, and that life has drawing power to the gospel! The opposite, of course, is when a person is all talk, but no life to back it up. We call this being a "hypocrite," a term which originally referred to a stage actor who was only playing a part. He doesn't sound too genuine, does he? By professing one thing and living the opposite, the hypocrite's life belies the good he teaches, sends out a double-signal, and mars his influence. And consider the adverse effect that this can have on others -- and the exact opposite of the godly woman's influence mentioned above: In Romans 2, Paul told those Jews who were teaching one thing, but living the opposite, that "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." The double-life of these Jews had cast a bad reflection on the God they claimed to serve; and the world seeing this, was prone (as a result) to not want to have anything to do with the God of the Jews -- even finding their God an object to curse at. As Christians we must be concerned with living in such a way that we will never bring reproach upon the Lord or upon His church by our own misconduct. If our service to God, however, emanates from a heart fully given to Him, it will be clear to the world who we are; and we, too, will be that "light of the world," which is liken to a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14). Jesus, therefore, commands us to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (v. 16). In this verse, we are again made aware of how a godly influence can help change the lives of others: it can cause them to "glorify your Father who is in heaven." This is certainly the exact opposite of what the aforementioned hypocrites, by their sinful lives, were inciting others to do. No doubt this "such a way" that the Lord refers to would include what Paul spoke of in Philippians 2:14-16: "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." May our prayer be, "Lord, help us to not only make Your message clear in our preaching and/or teaching of it; but to also help keep our lives unblemished by the mire of sin -- and made pure, clear and harmonious by the great and wondrous, transforming power of your word. Amen." May we each live lives that will clearly manifest our faith in God, our submission to Him, our love for Him above all, and also our love for one another. So let us be clear in not message only, but also in our very lives as well! ___________________________________________ The Abridged Bible by Dan S. Shipley Strange as it may seem, one of the most popular versions of the Bible has never been published. It is what I call the Abridged Version. Its contents may vary considerably, depending on the discretion and tastes of the abridger. His method of abbreviating the Scriptures is very simple...elimination by ignoring. He merely disregards all passages except those he chooses to recognize and emphasize. Scissors couldn't be more effective! Many seem satisfied with only a slight abridgment, maybe one or two verses. One popular unpopular verse among the "discreet" abridgers is 1 Cor. 16:2...you know, the one about giving as prospered on the first day of the week. Some don't much like the "giving" part; others don't care for the "as prospered" part and still others would like to ignore or minimize every week giving. Otherwise, they are apt to be as strong as horse radish on most of the remaining 7,958 verses in the N.T. Another popular verse among the less-active scripture pruners is the one about not forsaking the assembling (Heb. 10:25). Now, they'll debate baptism at the drop of a "sprinkle"...more than likely quoting the right passages in doing so. Likely, they can tell you what the NT has to say about the work and worship of the church. Trouble is, you never know if they'll be present for the work and worship because they have forsaken what God says about "not forsaking." Abridgment of Divine truth is serious business, even when done in "small" portions...and even when done by those claiming to be Christians. On the other hand, many abridgers seem perfectly willing to disregard greater portions of Scripture. Some, in fact, have been known to wind up with little more than a one-verse Bible! Take, for example, the singular emphasis often given to a passage like Jn. 3:16 -- almost as if it were the very epitome of the gospel. True, this beautiful verse does say much, but it doesn't say everything. The faith it mentions is all-important, but not all that is important! When seen in the light of other NT teaching (as all passages should be), the faith of Jn. 3:16 can be understood and appreciated as the kind that includes works of obedience, rather than excluding them. It is a passage to be complemented by others (such as Jas. 2:24) and not arrayed against them. Whether one passage is emphasized to the exclusion of others or whether just one is excluded and all others emphasized, the sin is the same. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all. For He that said...said also..." (Jas. 2:10,11). To disregard law is to disregard the lawgiver; whether in one instance or many is academic. What men need to hear and heed today is what Paul said he preached nearly 2,000 years ago: THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD! (Acts 20:27). All Scripture was given by inspiration and given for a purpose...and that purpose involves making man complete, as God would have him (2 Tim. 3:16-17). An abridged gospel cannot make a complete man! Only one thing can, and that's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but.... -- Via Plain Talk, October 1976 ___________________________________________ "Though He Slay Me" by Robert F. Turner Among the many examples of Job's steadfastness is this: "Behold, He will slay me; I have no hope; nevertheless I will maintain my ways before Him. This also is my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before Him" (Job 13:15-16). The footnote reads: "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him." When the going gets rough, we tend to seek a "scapegoat" -- we must put the blame on someone other than ourselves. But why do those who have made such a show of trusting in God "take it out" on Him? This indicates the shallowness of our faith. Job did not have to enjoy good times to realize the importance of godliness. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." And his reasoning was excellent. "A godless man shall not come before Him," i.e., there is no future in the opposite course. Must we "make a deal" with God? IF you will bless and prosper me, I will toss you a few crumbs? When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were threatened with the fiery furnace should they refuse to worship a pagan god, they replied, "We have no need to answer thee in this matter." (I.E., Our decision to serve Jehovah has long ago settled any opposite appeal.) "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." That is to say, whether God sees fit to save us or not, we will not doubt His power, nor cease to serve Him. Better to die faithful than to trade our souls for a few years. Paul asked God to remove a "thorn" from his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-9) but accepted, without wavering, the answer: "My grace is sufficient for thee." And Peter got to the heart of matters when asked if he would "go away"; he replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." "The trying of your faith worketh patience..." (Jas. 1:3-f), if there be genuine faith to try. "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Prov. 24:10). Are they not shortsighted who forsake the kingdom because of tribulations? (Acts 14:22) -- Via Plain Talk, March 1975 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Let us continue to remember Margaret Mosier in prayer. On top of her regular health problems, she has been battling with a terrible cough over the last several days. It is this week that the gospel meeting in Washington, NJ, begins, with James Baker preaching October 26-28. Though normally on the last Wednesday of the month, our "Sing Night" will be this coming Wednesday (24th). We look forward to hearing John Thompson next Sunday morning as our last-Sunday-morning-of-the-month speaker. Welcome, Visitors! Please come again! ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service: 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://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/avondale ________________________________________