____________________________________________________ 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 7, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Measuring Yourself by Joe Fitch "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12). Does "measuring" yourself have a strange ring? It should not; we do it all the time. We frequently measure our girth and weight -- then vow to diet. And in more critical things, we often measure both ourselves and others. The issue is not measuring; the ruler we use is critical. "I see lots of weird people -- they are not like me. Others are just plain stupid -- they disagree with me. Next come the fools -- I never do as they do. My measuring stick? Me! How did I get so smart -- so perfect that I became the measuring stick to judge everyone?" The "I ruler" is definitely the wrong measuring stick. Those who use it surely "are not wise." "I am better than all those hypocrites at church." Maybe you are right. "Little Jack Horner" stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum, and said: what a good boy am I." Feel like a "good boy"? Well, better than the worst -- the jerks -- is no great recommendation. They "are not wise" who use that ruler. Better than hypocrites may still leave you miserably wrong -- and going to hell with all those jerks and hypocrites. The "hypocrite ruler" only gives false comfort. "But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39). "Those who draw back" are "quitters" headed for hell -- as are all who justify themselves by using "quitters" as a measuring stick. "Those who believe" are entirely different. Heroes of faith offer great role models -- worth emulating. This is far different from "comparing themselves among themselves" --- patting one another on the back saying "I'm OK; you're OK." The heroes of faith beckon to a higher plane -- to a remarkable measure of faithfulness. Consider Timothy's measure -- "...no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state"(Philippians 2:20). Add Stephanus' household -- "...they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints" (1 Corinthians 16:15). Include Dorcas who "...was full of good works and charitable deeds" making "tunics and garments" for the widows (Acts 9:36, 39). Remember also Barnabas who "having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet" for the poor saints (Acts 4:37). Do you see the measuring stick? They set it high! Call to mind a host who "wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves" who "had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- of whom the world was not worthy." They were God's righteous saints -- "tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35). Stand beside them; measure yourself -- if you dare! Ah yes, they surely raise the bar of excellence. Measured by such men inspires determination to stand up -- to measure up. With Paul, they exhort, "Therefore I urge you, imitate me" (1 Corinthians 4:16) Listen to them! Measured -- and inspired by such devout men, no one fails or acts unwisely. Truth is also God's absolute measuring stick. Truth has no favorites -- shows no partiality -- never bends to suit situations. Truth is the criteria for final judgment. In any age -- in all situations, truth is pure and untarnished. Nothing replaces it. Wise men listen to truth -- then compare their conduct and character to God's measuring stick. They want to do right and really try to measure up -- even though they miss the full measure of truth's mark. Truth's measuring stick still beckons upward. Wise are those who seek it diligently -- and follow it. "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is our practical measurement. He goes before -- shows the way. He shows how a son of God conducts himself. Christians --sons of God -- measure themselves by him; His "image" is their goal. They forgive "just as" he forgave (Ephesians 4:32). "And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Where did we acquire this lofty, self-sacrificing measure? "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us" (1 John 3:16). Christians pledge to the Father to "always do what pleases Him" (John 8:29) -- just as Jesus. In all things, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Need an ideal rule for measurement? "look...unto Jesus." -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, June 30, 2002 ___________________________________________ The Second Coming of Christ by William Woodson The Lord's Supper is properly observed with an awareness, among other reasons, that thereby we "show the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26). How significant is this realization that we look backward to the body and blood of the Lord and that we also look forward to His coming again. It is remarkable that the Second Coming of Christ has been the occasion of confusion and uncertainty. As one listens to or reads from some advocates of views concerning this event, there are numerous confusing words and ideas, which are presented. Consider for a moment the following: The Rapture, The Tribulation, The Time of Jacob's Trouble, The Two Resurrections, The Time Clock of the Lord, etc. Such terms as the rapture, the time clock of the Lord, and the two resurrections are not found in the Bible; the theory that gives meaning to these terms is not taught in Scripture. Little wonder that such views produce confusion. The Bible does not confuse us concerning the Lord's return. Note these brief statements concerning this vital theme: 1. Jesus promised that he will come again (John 14:3). This promise was echoed at the time of the Lord's ascent (Acts 1:11); at his return "every eye will see him" (Revelation 1:7). 2. The time of the Second Coming is not revealed; no signs of it have been recorded for us to use in seeking to set its date, whether soon or late. Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36). He repeated that no one knows that hour of the coming of the Lord (Matt. 24:42,44; 25:13). Assured of its reality, we wait in patience and hope for this fulfillment of Christ's word. 3. The resurrection of the dead will be at the time of the Lord's return, stated in several verses to occur at the "last day." Jesus said He will raise the dead on "the last day" (John 6:39, 41, 44, 54). This will be the time of what Paul calls the "last trump" (1 Cor. 15:52). Also, the judgment, said Jesus, will be at "the last day" (John 12:48). 4. At the Lord's return all will be gathered before him for the judgment (Matthew 25:31ff). Paul stated that at the Lord's return "Then cometh the end" (1 Cor. 15:24). The destiny of those who hear the voice of Christ, calling the dead from the graves, will be determined by whether they have been righteous or unrighteous in this life. Of this Jesus spoke concerning "the hour that is coming" (John 5:28-29). These clear words concerning the coming of Christ, the last day, and the hour of the resurrection do not provide or allow for an elaborate scheme of human device concerning a supposed rapture, two resurrections of the dead, a thousand year reign on earth, or a host of other purported teachings concerning His return. Better by far to rest content with the clear truth of the revealed word. -- via Pillar of Truth, May 2002 ___________________________________________ Terms For Unity by Jerry Fite Do the Scriptures promote diversity of beliefs? Is religious division caused by a complicated Bible? Or, does God reveal one way, and set it forth for a common understanding? Before we drown in the sea of religious division with a cynicism that despairs of ever finding solid footing for a common ground, or out of desperation for some semblance of unity, we acquiesce to the erroneous theory of "Be sincere, and believe what you want" -- let us examine God's word for the divine grounds for unity. We Must Unite in God's Facts of Oneness "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all" (Eph. 4:4-6). From the time that we heed the gospel call to the final reward of eternal life in heaven, God's people are surrounded with oneness. We have only one Father over us to whom we must submit. He has authorized only one Lord to serve. The Lord Jesus Christ is served by only one faith. Only one baptism brings all into fellowship in one body. Each member of the body longs for the one hope of heaven provided by the Lord. God did not create the many religious bodies which promote diverse and mostly contradictory faiths. They exist because man has not agreed to accept the facts, and be governed by God's oneness. We Must Unite in Respecting God's Authoritative Word. The revealed message of the gospel of Christ is the infallible standard for faith, doctrine and practice. The gospel of Christ is the one faith. We must receive it, Gal. 1:8-9, 23. Our teaching and manner of life must be "according to" and "worthy of" the gospel of Christ (1 Tim. 1:10-11; Phil. 1:27). Since God does not authorize any other message for our guidance today, we can unite by appealing to none other. But we must make the appeal. How can Jesus be our ONE Lord when we do not honor all that He has enjoined, and follow His methods of doing His work? How can He be truly our one Lord if we add man's wisdom and teachings to what we practice religiously? By not adding to nor subtracting from the authoritative word we remain with God, and promote the unifying gospel, 2 John 9. We Must Unite With a Pure Heart When we preface our wherefores with, "That's old fashioned, it will not work today," "It's not fair," or "I deserve to be happy," and not with, "Thus saith the Lord," we will disrupt unity. It was not that the Corinthians could not be united in speech, will and purpose that caused division; it was because their hearts were contaminated with the desire to promote and praise men, 1 Cor. 1:10-12. The solution was not to get a degree in "higher criticism," but rather "not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Cor. 4:6). The "destructive heresies" of 2 Peter 2 was not a problem of intellect or an unintelligible gospel, but a problem of the will. Peter speaks of men who would desire to throw off the bonds of God's authority to serve self. Their hearts would be contaminated with a selfish desire to fulfill their lascivious lusts, and entangle others in corruption. The solution was not to present a more intelligible faith, but "contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered" (Jude 3). For unity to exist, we must also keep our hearts free from jealousy that leads to faction, James 3:14. Only God knows how much division and faction has been blamed on a complicated Bible when the real culprit was a contaminated heart. We Must Unite With a Loving Heart God tells us to "put on love which is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:14). Striving to obey God's commands and consequently seeking the well-being of our neighbor is love. Such action will promote the peace of God. Only a humble heart can love. The humble will love by foregoing liberties in deference to another's weak conscience. Only the humble heart can manifest "forbearing one another in love" (Eph. 4:2). If we love God and seek the well-being of man, we will be quick to measure our teaching and practice by the infallible standard of God's word with those who disagree with us. We will recoil from impugning the motives of those with whom we disagree. That only creates divisive fall-out, and a further barrier to unity when the issue is settled. Jesus prayed that believers would be one "in us," not with some contrived unity apart from the directives of the Father and Son (John 17:21). God commands unity, and has made it practical for us. We do not have to create a new platform for unity, for the divine terms are already given. Let us be a people "giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). -- Via Christianity Magazine, Jan. 1989 ___________________________________________ News & Notes We sincerely extend our condolences to the family and friends of Marlene Smelser who recently passed away. She, along with her husband Dale, had been living in Maryland (near D.C.), where he preaches. An additional funeral service will be conducted for her in Athens, Alabama, due to her many friends there; and that is also where the burial will be. Ron and Carol Music are now back in New York where she is being treated for cancer of the liver. Over the last several months, she has undergone numerous chemotherapy sessions that -- on last report -- had reduced all her tumors to just a "trace," so we are now looking forward to hearing the new results on how well her last session of treatments went. Let us continue praying for her good health! Today, the Gospel Meeting at Lafayette begins with Roy Fenner (from Metairie) doing the preaching. The meeting will last through Friday and start at 7:30 weeknightly. Let us also continue to remember Frank Ragsdale and Joshua Watts in prayer that God will aid them through their treatments and help them to heal speedily. I'm sure they will both appreciate it. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________