____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 29, 2002 ____________________________________________________ God's Rules Have Reasons (Conclusion) by Jarrod Jacobs Obedience To Our Parents Paul wrote to the Ephesians and said, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6:1-3). These words are similar to the statement made by Moses in Deuteronomy 4:39-40. "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever." In Deuteronomy 5:16, we read again, "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." When Paul wrote the Romans, he placed the sin of being "disobedient to parents" in the same category as: "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, ... Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful," and being "worthy of death" (Rom. 1:29-32). Therefore, we see that in both the Old and New Testaments, righteous living and being obedient to our parents was conducive to a long life. If a child, or young adult refuses the counsel of his/her parents, how can we expect them to respect God's authority? If they refuse and reject the authority of their father, will they not also refuse and reject the authority of the policeman, the governing officials, yea, even God Almighty?? Yet, God has commanded children to be obedient to their parents. Why? "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6:3). Generally, disobedience shows the world that a child or young adult is living a life of recklessness. When these people play "fast and loose" with life, there are going to be consequences to suffer, up to and including an early death (Gal. 6:7). If you do not believe this, talk to John Belushi, Chris Farley, Tupac Shakur, Janis Joplin, Hank Williams, Keith Whitley, Kurt Cobain, and countless others who engaged in acts of which we know their mothers and fathers disapproved; and acts of which we know God disapproved (1 Tim. 5:22)! Some may have not died from their actions, but consider Magic Johnson who has AIDS, and is living on "borrowed time" as we say. Do you imagine Magic's mother brought him up to think that women were nothing more than sex objects to be used and thrown away? We could continue thinking of people who are either dead or dying because of their disobedience to their parents, and of course for their disobedience to God. An obedient life saves us from the riotous behavior that characterizes so many. Being a model citizen as our parents taught us to be also keeps us from jail, and from the dangers awaiting those who go to jail. (Remember Jeffrey Dahmer? After being jailed for his heinous crimes, he was then killed by another inmate.) Children and young adults need to see that being obedient to their parents is for their own good. Parents have been down the same road their children are walking. They have made the same mistakes, and want nothing more than for their children to avoid the pitfalls, and live a life free from the consequences they had to endure when they rebelled against their parents and God, and suffered for it. Therefore, children must obey their parents in the Lord. "For this is right"! God's will has been given to us for many reasons. First and foremost is for the salvation of our souls; but also God's rules have been given to us that we might have an enjoyable and profitable life upon this earth. Conclusion Lest we get the wrong idea, we need to understand that this life is unfair. Since it is not fair, some may not always face earthly consequences such as we have described (Ps. 73; 1 Tim. 5:24). While at the same time, others may have to suffer though they have lived righteously (Consider: Job, Paul's "thorn in the flesh", etc.). Since we live in a moral world, it will not always be that men suffer for their sins while the righteous are blessed (Eccl. 8:14). We may not be able to determine the "cause and effect" in each and every case. Nevertheless, it is clear from what we have seen so far that there generally will be physical consequences and there will always be spiritual consequences to suffer when we engage in that which is against the will of God. Yes, God wants people to enjoy this life, from the young to the old. We need to remember, though, that there is a judgment coming for all of us, and God has a reason for that (Eccl. 11:9-10; Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10; etc.)! God's rules have reasons, and it is high time that we respect His laws and follow them. How much better this world would be, both physically and spiritually, if we simply followed the Lord's will. -- Via Watchman, March 1999 ___________________________________________ Remembering Roland Lewis by Tom Edwards Though it was about a 60-mile round-trip for him, for more than 8 years Roland Lewis had preached at the Northeast church of Christ in Clearwater, Florida, where I had fortunately met him, during a major transitional period in my life. It was the first church of Christ that I had ever attended, coming out of denominationalism; and I'm glad that brother Lewis was there to help me through that time. To better explain this, let me take you down Memory Lane to 1977: For several years, I had been faithfully attending various denominations up to that period; but I was becoming discouraged by all the religious division in the world and -- not knowing any better -- was in the process of looking for another denomination to become affiliated with. It was during that time, however, when I was first invited to the Northeast church of Christ. But when I found out on my initial visit that baptism is part of God's plan for saving man (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38), I was flabbergasted; for none of the denominations I had attended, over a period of many years, had ever taught that. It was, therefore, actually traumatic to realize that I had been so wrong -- on such an important issue -- for so long (by accepting the false plan of salvation that many denominations were teaching). About three weeks after my first visit -- and after much study on the purpose for water baptism -- I was baptized into Christ to benefit from His atonement and become a Christian (Gal. 3:26,27; Rom. 6:3,4). But then just shortly prior to that following Sunday's service, I had become very discouraged by an influential friend whom I was trying to teach the truth to; but who had actually dissuaded me -- rather than me persuading him. He thought that the idea of having to be baptized to be saved was just "a bunch of baloney." And I, who was just a few days old in the Lord -- and had already somewhat (at some times) shatteringly felt that I had "left the majority (of denominationalism) for the minority (of the Lord's church)" and, to some degree, uncomfortably finding a few of the teachings I was hearing in the church of Christ to be initially "strange," was beginning to think that maybe my friend is right: that the church of Christ is wrong. I then became so discouraged that when that Sunday morning came, I didn't go to church anywhere -- which was so highly unlike me. I felt very much out of place for just staying home -- instead of attending services -- but I was terribly confused and didn't know where to go. "Could it be that they're all wrong?" I thought. Fortunately, Roland Lewis came by to see me that Sunday afternoon. I told him my problem. He listened, and he spoke. He encouraged me back to church for that Sunday evening in 1977, and I have been attending the Lord's church ever since. And not just attending, but also taking an active part in the services -- and glad to do so. I have now been preaching for about 22 years, and have also been a guest speaker (such as to hold a gospel meeting or to help out a church that doesn't have a preacher) for close to 60 different congregations. Plus I have taught the Bible through live call-in radio programs, TV sermons, computer bulletin board services, the Internet, weekly church bulletins, "home studies," Bible classes, door-to-door work, call-in "Bible Messages," and other means. I mention these things out of an appreciation toward brother Lewis who was certainly an important link in my life toward my having a walk with God. And I'm also made to wonder how many other people have gone on to serve the Lord or to do so in a better way because of the good influence, sound teaching, and helpful encouragement of brother Lewis. While attending at the Northeast church of Christ, years ago, I always found brother Lewis' sermons to be well-delivered in a clear and organized manner, which made it easy to follow, to take notes of, and to understand. The topics were especially helpful for me, since I had been taught prior of so many wrong things when in denominationalism. It was so good to be able to see these truths for myself that I needed to learn. I was sorry to recently hear that Roland Lewis passed away July 19, 2002, at 86 years of age. He leaves behind his wife Olive, of whom he was married for 63 years; his daughter Sherry Holmberg; his son Brent; a sister, Jaxie Palmer; a brother, John E.; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many others who are friends and brothers and sisters in Christ who greatly respect and will long remember brother Lewis. For most of his adult life, he was a preacher. He was also a co-founder of Florida College in 1946 and worked there as the school's business manager, registrar, academic dean, as well as taught a "Home and Family" class for 30 years. He had also been a longtime member of the Hillsborough County School Board (1968-88) and the Temple Terrace City Council (1955-68). Though born in San Antonio, Texas, he lived more than 50 years of his life in Temple Terrace. And as his son has pointed out, his father, who was "very conscientious," "really respected by the people," and "seemed to stand for things that people identified with," "became the first living person to have a Hillsborough school named after him." He "really was a disciplined person" and "did things that he thought would help others." His daughter includes that her father was a caring man in whom "There was no hypocrisy in anything he asked us to do"; and that "He believed in discipline but with love." The article in the St. Petersburg Times speaks of him as one who "believed strongly in educating people academically as well as spiritually." I am grateful that Roland Lewis had taken the time, those many years ago, to encourage me back to church, when I had so soon wandered away as a newborn babe in Christ, and to help me better grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord by teaching those truths I needed to know (2 Pet. 3:18). Yes, I am glad that brother Lewis had been a part of my life, and that his good influence will live on. As the Hebrew writer tells us of Abel, though he had passed away thousands of years ago, "...he still speaks" (Heb. 11:4); and I am thankful for the way that Roland Lewis will continue to "speak" to me by the godly influence he had set forth, and which had made an indelible impression upon my life -- as well as upon the lives of so many others. The world was made a little brighter by brother Lewis; and though that candle is now gone, the light of it still warmly shines in the hearts and memory of those who knew him. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________