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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).
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June 30, 2002
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Restoration Now!
by Andy Diestelkamp
Great cynicism has been expressed about our
willingness as humans to learn from the past and its
mistakes. George Santayana warned, "Those who cannot
remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George
Bernard Shaw said, "If history repeats itself, and the
unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of
learning from experience!" G. W. F. Hegel put it bluntly, "We
learn from history that we do not learn from history."
Perhaps a quote from Will Durant explains why this is. "We
spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too
little on the last six thousand years."
Since the first century those who have professed to
be Christians have had to deal with issues (just read 1
Corinthians). The first churches had internal squabbles and
doctrinal disagreements, and we are not immune from such.
Everything from worldliness to traditions have a great
impact on how we think and reason and even how we read
Scripture. This in turn affects how professing Christians
and the churches of which they are a part act. It doesn't
take but one generation of warped thinking to produce
apostasies.
Historical texts (both inspired and uninspired) are full
of examples of these digressions from doing the will of God
to doing the will of man. Occasionally, some will awaken to
the major drifting that has occurred and attempt to restore
the original ways. True restoration rarely goes over well.
The implication that we have drifted from the truth doesn't
sit well with most people, especially with those who, like
Pilate, question if there is such a thing as truth.
Restoration is a dominant theme throughout the Bible.
Beginning with Genesis 3, when sin caused man to be denied
access to the tree of life, God's word points us to the hope
of that access being restored (Rev. 2:7; 22:14). The message
of Scripture is that man is the consummate sinner and God
the ultimate restorer (Job 33:26-30). God offers restoration,
but He does not force it. He will allow us to suffer the
consequences of our sins. This truth comes through clearly
in God's dealings with His chosen people of the Old
Testament, the Israelites (Is. 42:21-25). When sin has
overtaken a people, someone needs to cry out for
restoration and deliverance. It is against God that we sin;
and, thus, restoration must involve a return to His ways
and obedience to His will. This is no less true today.
The basis for restoration is not what we think would
be best. We are the sinners. We are the ones who have
broken fellowship with God. The solution to the problem
cannot come from us (Prov. 14:12; 16:25; Jer. 10:23). This
does not mean that we have no ability to choose to do right,
but that the correct way of life is not of human origin.
What is right, true, and correct is determined only by God.
Another dominant theme in Scripture is the need to
base restoration on a divine pattern. Again, God illustrated
this for us in His dealings with the Israelite nation. Read
Exodus 25:9,40; 26:1,7,11,30, and note the details! Could these
be ignored? Of course, Israel fell away several times and
neglected the temple and the law. When men set their minds
on restoration, they were not at liberty to do it just any
way their hearts desired (2 Chron. 24:1-4,12,13). Going back
to the original is what restoration is all about.
The Mosaic covenant was a copy and shadow of
heavenly things (Heb. 8:1-6). Though it is now obsolete (vs.
13), we can see why so much emphasis was placed upon
following the pattern. Now that we are under a better
covenant established on better promises, it would seem that
faithfulness to the revealed pattern would be all the more
important.
Many churches are following popular opinion and are
more concerned with pleasing men than with pleasing God.
Political correctness appears to be more important than
scriptural correctness. Believers, it is time for restoration.
Let us throw off the creeds and traditions of men and get
back to the pattern of sound words (2 Tim. 1:13,14).
Of course, this restoration call has not resonated well
in our current culture. However, this call is not just for
other churches. It is a call for us. With each generation
comes the need to point back to the pattern of God's word.
If we fail to do this, then before you know it we will have
raised up a generation that may be religious and following
patterns, but not divine patterns. Restoration never stops!
It must continue with each successive generation.
If we expect others to be willing to restudy and
reevaluate their faithfulness to the divine pattern, then we
must be willing to do the same with every doctrine and
practice. Failure to do this will just lead us into doctrines
of men, human creeds, and the elevation of our traditions
over the commandments of God. It happened to Israel. It
happened to the Pharisees. It even happened to those who
named Jesus as Lord. If it could happen to them, it can
happen to us. Therefore, we need to be diligent to present
ourselves to God as workers who need not be ashamed (2
Tim. 2:15).
Are we willing to restudy and restore and then reject
any traditions that hinder restoration, or are we content to
simply be part of the Church of Christ denomination that
has its roots in the American Restoration Movement?
Are we going to take the course that the so-called
Disciples of Christ took and the Christian Church is taking?
No, thank you! True churches belonging to Christ will be
content to align themselves with Scripture and feel no
loyalty to anything or anyone other than Christ.
-- Think on These Things, January-February-March,
2002
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"God Bless America" Required Belief in God
by Kent Heaton
Red, white and blue permeates every part of the
American way of life. It has been a long time since such
honor was bestowed upon "Old Glory." In the Sixties, it was
burned, today it is a symbol of honor. Bumper stickers
proudly hail the message of what a great country we live
in. Many, who never knew the words of the song, "God
Bless America," now sing in warm tones of patriotism its
majesty message. Throughout the land, signs bear the
message of "God Bless America." Can it be that we have
remembered again the message that our country was
founded upon? What can be the meaning of those three
words that has stirred a nation to unity?
The phrase implies a need of a blessing to be given
to this land by God. By virtue of its plea, one is
recognizing there is a God. Secondly, a statement of faith is
acknowledged that the greatest good that America can
receive is by the hand of God. It is interesting that this
change in thought for America comes at a time of war and
national crisis. To ask a blessing from someone is to
recognize the ability of the giver to give what is needed.
What people are asking when seeking God's blessing is the
admission of His existence and power.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him." Asking God's blessing upon this
country is for the people of this land to believe that "He
is." What are the consequences of believing that God exists?
It begins with Genesis 1:1 -- "In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth." From this passage comes the
foundation of whether one pleases God or not in doing His
will. Faith is necessary to ask the blessing of God.
This establishes that man came from God and not a
chance evolution of nature. Genesis 1:27 shows the
beginning of man: "So God created man in His own image; in
the image of God He created him; male and female He created
them." To ask God's blessing upon America is to admit that
man was created in the image of God. Since man is created
in the image of God, man has a responsibility to be
submissive to the Creator. "O Lord, I know the way of man
is not in himself; it is not in man that walks to direct his
own steps (Jeremiah 10:23).
The second part of asking God's blessing upon
America is to acknowledge that He can perform what is
being asked. Faith is believing that God is a "rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him." The qualification of
receiving the reward or promise is to "diligently" seek God.
While our nation is at a time of crisis, many people turn to
God in a figure. They never acknowledged Him before nor
sought to serve Him, but in the midst of a storm, His name
is cried unto for deliverance. God rewards those who seek
Him each day. The blessing God bestows upon us is not for
prosperity, peace and safety or the "American Ideal." God's
blessing upon a people is based upon their reception of Him.
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).
Our nation is best represented by what God said of
Israel in Jeremiah 7:28: "This is a nation that does not obey
the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction.
Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth."
How can God bless a nation that leaves God out? How will
God bless a people whose will is their own? Can God bless
America? He can and will if He chooses. To invoke the
blessing of God requires duty, faithfulness and belief to
receive the generous portion of God's blessing upon all men.
God will bless America in accordance with what America
thinks of God.
-- via The Exhorter, 12/09/01
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Pilate, the Roman Governor
by Clarence R. Johnson
As Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, He
clearly acknowledged that He was born to be King of the
Jews, Matt. 27:11; John 18:36-37. While in the context of
Matt. 27:11, we might take note of the insight this passage
gives us into the character of Pontus Pilate. Were it not for
the writings of the New Testament Scriptures, we would
know almost nothing about this man.
We note that Pilate was well aware that the charges
made against Jesus were unwarranted. The governor never
received an appropriate answer to the question in Matt.
27:23, "What evil has He done?" And when he finally gave
the order for Jesus' crucifixion, Pilate symbolically washed
his hands and pronounced Jesus to be a just man, verse 24.
This passage also reveals that Pilate not only
understood that Jesus was not guilty of any crime, but he
had also come to realize the motive of those who cried out
for Jesus' destruction. "He knew that because of envy they
had delivered Him," verse 18.
With the knowledge that Jesus was innocent, that His
accusers were motivated by envy, Pilate's conscience was
stirred. His wife's dream, which caused her to plead for him
not to harm "that just Man" (vs. 19), must have added to
his inner turmoil. Yet the enemies of Jesus had him "over a
barrel." Jesus had indeed admitted to being a King, vs. 11.
Pilate understood that Jesus' kingdom was not of this world,
thus He was not a political threat to the Roman Empire, John
18:36. But he also knew that Caesar might not understand
that fact. And when the Jews argued, "If you let this man
go, you are not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12), they had
found Pilate's weak point. He dreaded immensely to crucify a
man he knew to be innocent -- but he feared even more for
word to get back to Caesar that he had released a man who
claimed to be a king.
Before giving in to the cries of the violent mob who
sought to destroy Jesus, Pilate tried three tactics. First,
when he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Him
to be tried by Herod Antipas, who was the tetrarch of that
region, Luke 23:6-12. Jesus made no defense, and Herod
soon sent Him back to Pilate. Then Pilate hoped the mob who
cried out for the blood of Jesus would accept His release in
keeping with the tradition that one prisoner was to be
released during the Passover season. They refused. Finally,
Pilate had Jesus scourged and brought before the mob,
hoping they would see His pain and anguish, and have
mercy on Him, Luke 23:16; John 19:1-4. At this point, Jesus'
enemies knew they had won. If their pressure would
persuade Pilate to scourge a man he knew to be innocent, a
little more pressure and he would crucify that same
innocent man. Let us not miss the point of the power for
evil in the sin of compromise. We must not give in to sin.
-- via The Susquehanna Sentinel, April 14, 2002
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News & Notes
The gospel meeting in Lafayette (LA) that was
announced in last week's bulletin has been moved up a week
to July 7-12. It will be at 7:30 through the week nights.
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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