____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ August 4, 2002 ____________________________________________________ The Poison of Bitterness by Al Diestelkamp Bitterness is an evil that can develop and grow within a person almost unbeknownst to him. I am convinced that it is a tool which Satan uses to entrap even the very ones who have worked hard at ridding their lives of many other sins. The apostle Peter spoke of bitterness as a poison when rebuking the former sorcerer. He said, "I see that you are poisoned by bitterness" (Ac. 8:23). Simon's condition was not exclusive to him. None of us are immune to its venom. Husbands are warned against being bitter toward their wives (Col. 3:19). Though the inspired writer did not specifically mention the possibility, I have no doubt that wives can develop bitterness toward their husbands. Certainly, if a father fails to heed the apostle's instructions to avoid discouraging his children by provoking them to wrath (Col. 3:21), they will likely develop bitterness toward him. Preachers are prime candidates for this poisonous condition. Though most preachers are treated well by the brethren, occasionally they are not. Unreasonable expectations of the preacher and/or his family can cause resentment which, if he is not careful, will lead to bitterness. Or a preacher may expect brethren to live up to his expectations, and when they don't, he gets discouraged. Many able men have lost their influence, some even losing their faith, after being overcome with bitterness toward the brethren. The elderly (and those approaching old age) seem to be especially susceptible to bitterness. Perhaps the loss of energy, diminished capacities, health problems and the perception (real or imagined) that the younger generation doesn't appreciate us, opens the door to bitterness. Bitterness is the state of being "sharp and disagreeable; harsh; severe; piercing" (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). It can be brought on by a number of circumstances, including: discouragement, hopelessness, envy and jealousy. The New Testament has several things to say about this attitude: 1. It needs to be "put away" (Eph. 4:25-32). The apostle Paul lists it among many other sins, and among those which "grieve the Holy Spirit." 2. It is connected with "cursing" (Rom. 3:9-18). Christians who would never curse verbally may be guilty of "virtual cursing" by their display of bitterness. This may be only in thought, but if unchecked will eventually manifest itself in harshness. 3. It is a spiritual "poison" (Ac. 8:18-23). As already noted, Simon, who in becoming a Christian had to repent of his sorcery, was told that his bitterness was his poison that had him "bound by iniquity." Suddenly without the attention of the masses, perhaps he became jealous of the apostles power to convey the Holy Spirit by the laying on of their hands. 4. It can "spring up" unannounced (Heb. 12:12-17). Read these verses and note how the Hebrew writer tells us that we ought to be "looking carefully...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble..." (v. 15). If unchecked it can take hold of us so powerfully that, like Esau, we might not find place for repentance, even if we want to. It's one thing to identify a problem, and another to provide a remedy. By applying the scriptures I believe we can beat this villain on two fronts: First, we should help prevent it in others by avoiding what promotes it. For instance, a husband's bitterness can be lessened by the wife's attitudes and behavior (Eph. 5:25,28, 33a). At the same time a wife's bitterness may be avoided if the husband will treat her as God instructs (Eph. 5:22,33b). Parents' bitterness can be minimized if children will obey (Eph. 6:1-3), and children will be less likely to become bitter if fathers will listen to God (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21). All Christians should make a concerted effort not to be a discouragement to others. The younger Christians, in their enthusiasm and zeal must not leave the older generation behind. They need to understand that "change" (even though it is within authority) is unsettling to the elderly. Bring them along gently. Older Christians need to accept what they know in their hearts -- that change is inevitable, and as long as it is scriptural, it may even be desirable. Don't "quench the spirit" of the youth lest they become bitter. You can help a preacher avoid the pitfall of bitterness by being an encouragement to him in his efforts to teach the lost and edify the saints. Treat him as the brother he is, rather than an employe of the church which can be hired and fired at will. Knowing that envy and jealousy promote bitterness, we should avoid flaunting power, possessions, or any other advantage we have over others. Secondly, we must fight bitterness in ourselves by actively resisting it. To borrow a phrase from Barney Fife, "Nip it in the bud!" Treat it like any other temptation. Start by recognizing Satan as the source of bitter attitudes. When the symptoms appear, study and meditate on the scriptures instead of having a "pity-party." Be willing to rejoice with those who are blessed more than you -- replace envy with joy. And most of all, pray for help. Bitterness has the potential of consuming a person and draining him of his spirituality, and oh, how Satan enjoys that! -- Via Think on These Things, April-May-June 2002 ___________________________________________ Esau's Profanity by Jim R. Everett It is more difficult to categorize some Bible characters as altogether evil for the simple reason that, generally speaking, there was much that also identifies them as good. The evil identified with them surfaces in isolated cases. However, the character trait warned against and not to be emulated, is a flaw which is uniquely identifiable with a particular person. Esau was a profane person. When I read about Jacob and Esau, there is much to cause me to admire Esau more than Jacob (Gen. 24:25-34; 27:1-42). Esau was a loving son and there was a strong bond between him and his father Isaac. He loved the outdoors and as a hunter gratified his father's taste for venison. On the other hand, Jacob was a "mama's boy" who was conniving and deceitful. He took advantage of his brother's weakness in order to bargain for his own advantage. The boys were both human beings and, like all human beings, they had good and bad character traits. However, God made a choice of the youngest (Jacob) over the eldest (Esau), not for individual salvation, but for ancestral lineage (Romans 9:13). The one character flaw that providentially accomplished the lineage coming through Jacob was Esau's profanity (Hebrews 12:16-17). The birthright entailed rank and authority over the other children (Gen. 27:29; 49:3). It meant that the firstborn received a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17). And, in Esau's case, it would have brought the bestowed honor of being in the patriarchal lineage of Abrahamic, national promises. But, Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34); i.e., he held it in low esteem. That is illustrated in his selling it for a mess of pottage (Genesis 25:29-34). He held what should have been holy as common. This is why he is called "profane." If he had placed the proper value on his progenitor rights, he would never have sold them, especially for meager morsels. In fact, the value he placed upon his birthright is evidenced in the price for which he sold it. From Esau we should learn to curb strong impulses by reason and conscience. We should ever keep in mind the proper relation between the present and temporary and the future and abiding. And, we should learn to keep the sensuous subordinate to the spiritual. ___________________________________________ Keep Your Job by Steve Klein The following ad appeared in the HELP WANTED section of a newspaper. TIRED OF WORKING FOR ONLY $9.75 PER HOUR? WE OFFER PROFIT SHARING AND FLEXIBLE HOURS. STARTING PAY: $7 -- $9 PER HOUR. Now, maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that $9.75 is a little more than $9, and a good bit more than $7. I wonder how many people responded to the ad? If folks evaluated this opportunity the way many evaluate things in the spiritual realm, probably a lot did! Satan offers work that is easy and pleasurable, at least initially. He tries to make it sound as if the rewards of working for him are greater than those to be received from serving the Lord. Of course, the truth is that they are not -- in fact there is no comparison. In the end you're a slave working for nothing at all, and the retirement vacation he advertised as warm and balmy turns out to be an eternal sweat shop. Moses was able to see through all that. "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26). Today Satan places the modern treasures of Egypt before us every day. He would like us to think that the glittering pleasures of sin are worth pursuing, and that a life of simple faith and service has nothing to offer. Friends, read carefully between the lines of his HELP WANTED advertisement. If you are serving the Master, keep your job! -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, June 9, 2002 ___________________________________________ Loyal by Cecil F. Cox The word "loyal" is defined as, "true and faithful to love, promise or duty." "Faithful, true, devoted and constant" are given as synonyms. There are many passages in the New Testament that points out plainly that Christians are to be Loyal or Faithful to Christ (2 Timothy 2:2; Revelation 2:10; 17:14). The burden of this article is not to prove that we should be faithful to Christ; this we all will admit. Our question is: "Are we?" Some very pointed questions are in order. Am I true to my professed love for Christ? Am I true to my promises to Him? Am I doing my best in fulfilling my duties to Christ? Many would, if they would be honest with themselves, have to answer each of these questions in the negative. Love would demand sacrifice. Honestly, very few it seems really sacrifice. People are willing to serve the Lord as long as it doesn't interfere with what they want to do. When some must make a personal sacrifice to fulfill some responsibility to the Lord, immediately they begin to look for some excuse for their absence. And thus they justify (?) their lack of loyalty. Some excuses I have heard for a failure to do Christ's will are ridiculous. Next time before giving your excuse, think about it twice and see how it sounds. If people were true to their promises to Christ and their duties, much lukewarmness among us would be gone. The Bible condemns indifference in our duty to the Lord, and lukewarmness in our love for Him. It demands faithfulness and loyalty. -- Via Stand, May 1998 ___________________________________________ News & Notes After about a month and a half of chemotherapy, Frank Ragsdale's cancer has diminished by about 50%. Let us keep praying that all will continue to go well for him. He will be given a couple extra chemo sessions before beginning his radiation treatments. Steve Lefort (Harris' brother) is being treated for colon cancer. Let us also be keeping him in our prayers. I'll be preaching tonight (after our 4 PM service) at the 6 PM service of the Park Forest church of Christ in Baton Rouge. If you are visiting with us today, we are glad to have you. Please come again! ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________