____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ June 30, 2002 ____________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ "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 ___________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________