____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 20, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Attitudes Also Teach by Robert F. Turner "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment" (Jas. 3:1). Surely we know James is not discouraging teaching, but seeks to impress us with the serious responsibilities of teaching. A careless remark, misuse of scripture or the like, uttered in private conversation, may have a devastating result when repeated, multiplied, and applied in a way you may never have dreamed. How much more when the teaching is done from the pulpit, or written, to be embalmed for generations unborn. Yes, we can take ourselves too seriously -- imagine we have influence totally unreal; but better this than irresponsible scattering of tares. Yet, teaching must be done; and as none of us are infallible but are subject to err in teaching, a second safeguard must be employed. We must develop an attitude toward our work that promotes humility rather than "editorial arrogance"; that permits speaking or writing with conviction without feeling that all who differ with us are Satanic ogres, bent on corrupting the brotherhood. If our motives are right we can teach truth and correct error without leaving the impression we think we are savior of the church. If we truly love souls, and our purposes to lead people out of darkness into light, all the more reason to cultivate their confidence and impress them with our fairness and good will. We defeat these noble purposes when we pounce upon every conceived missed word or wrong judgment as grist for our mill. A teacher assists hearers and readers to know and understand more perfectly, and encourages them to live a better life. Reproof and rebukes are made with a heavy heart, not as haughty ego trips. So, there are two requirements of the godly teacher. The content of his teaching must be pure and right; but he must also do his job in the right way, with the right spirit. Our text seems pointed more toward the latter. Bitter envy and strife must give way to wisdom from above -- that is pure, peaceable, gentle, etc. (Jas. 3:17-f). -- Via Plain Talk, March 1983 ___________________________________________ "Therefore all your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128). Holy Hatred by Andy Diestelkamp Warning! Proceed with caution! The following opinions will be classified by some as hate speech. What a convenient label we have invented for words which we...hate. Do not misunderstand. There is such a thing as speech that is hateful and sinful, but let us not draw the irrational conclusion that all hate is therefore sinful. Certainly, the attitude of hate is often condemned in scripture. Jesus positively said that the second greatest command in the Law of Moses was, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk. 12:31). The legalistic Pharisees imagined a loophole. It doesn't say you can't hate your enemy! Jesus set them straight on that when he said, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 5:43,44). The beloved apostle John had some strong words for those who hate their brethren. He declared them to be in darkness and blinded (1 Jn. 2:9-11); he calls them murderers (3:15); and, if they claim to love God, he calls them liars (4:20). Was this hate speech? Of course not! Rebuke, chastisement, and correction do not equal hate. In the very context of the Law of Moses from which Jesus quoted "Love your neighbor" it says, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor and not bear sin because of him" (Lev. 19:17,18). Our culture has developed this warped concept that rebuking someone else's behavior, lifestyles, choices, etc., is hateful. It scoffs at the concept of hating the sin, but loving the sinner. The world demands that the only way to love someone is to accept his/her choices and refrain from any criticism, rebuke, or correction. The Scriptures teach otherwise. God's Word says that true love is seen in patient and diligent correction (Heb. 12:7-17; 2 Tim. 4:2-5). This truth is further seen in the fact that hate can be a legitimate emotion. While hate is an emotion that we have a very difficult time handling in a godly way, it is nevertheless necessary. The God in whose image we are created hates certain things. He hates idolatry (Deut. 12:29-32; Gen. 15:16). He hates vain worship (Isa. 1:13-15; 29:13; Amos 5:21-27; Matt. 23:23). He hates immorality. Proverbs 6:16-19 contains a list of seven things that God hates: haughty eyes, lying tongues, hands that shed innocent blood, wicked hearts, feet swift in running to evil, false witnesses and the divisive. We must hate what God hates! Jesus praised the church in Ephesus for hating "the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (Rev. 2:6). We love God's Way and therefore "hate every false way" (Psa. 119:104,128,163). "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Prov. 8:13). "Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate" (Amos 5:15). Hate is a powerful emotion and is often used improperly; but let us never forget that love was never intended to be used to cause us to tolerate something we should hate. When we tolerate what should be hated, justice and righteousness are neglected. The world will pressure us to love what God has condemned. In this call for "love" the world will appear to be taking the high road, but it can't be the high road when the tolerance of sin masquerades as love. Love of the truth requires us to hate that which is false. Love of righteousness requires us to hate unrighteousness. Love of God requires us to hate that which is against God. Hatred of these things, however, does not require or even allow us to take the law into our own hands. It requires us to shun evil, expose darkness and stand for truth; but vengeance belongs to God (Rom. 12:17-21). If the worldly hate what you say or what you stand for they will malign you, threaten you, attack you and perhaps even kill you. Christians must never use these carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10:3,4). However, hate is not inherently carnal. As in most other things in life, disciples of Jesus will manifest their faith by the godly way in which they handle even such things as their hatred of sin. We must exercise self-control while hating what is evil. If Satan can't get us to hate God's ways, then maybe he can turn our zealous hatred of every false way into a passion which rationalizes and justifies the virulent, caustic and vengeful power tactics that have become common in politics and labor disputes. Party spirit can easily infect us so that we begin to think that our indignation is of the righteous variety, when in fact it has less to do with being defenders of the truth and more to do with tradition, position, influence and power. Beware brethren, if we bite and devour one another, we will consume one another. Do not use your stand against falsehood as an opportunity for the flesh. Hate sin, but love one another (Gal. 5:13-15). -- Via Think on These Things, July-August-September ___________________________________________ "Nobody Tells Me What To Do" by Jim R. Everett "Nobody is going to tell me what to do" is an attitude altogether too common in our current culture. It is a result of pride and self-will and takes issue with required "submissiveness" (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:6-10). Parents do their children a grave injustice by not teaching them to have respect for authority and to accept obligations and responsibilities they have in life. Surely, an essential part of child's growth is independence -- within reason. But the child left to himself without restraint, who is not taught respect for the authority of parents, is a child who will be rebellious against all authority -- cf. Prov. 29:15-17. Do you as a child resent your parents telling you what to do and do you yearn for the day when you will be away from home and the control of your parents? You better enjoy home while you can -- this "making your own decisions" thing is not all it is cut out to be. Also, learning that there must be the respect for civil authority is critical to being a good, productive citizen but it is even more crucial to a proper relationship with The Lord -- it is the humble and submissive heart in which God can work. God is God -- The Ruler of the Universe Because God is God, the creator, he is sovereign and has the right to tell the created what to do (Micah 6:8; Matthew 28:18-20). His power demonstrates his sovereignty, for the same power to heal is the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-ff; 9:25-26). When Jesus commanded demons to come out, they had to respond to his authority (Mark 1:22-26). Though his sovereignty is inherent in his nature, not all men acknowledge his right to rule their lives. Therefore, how we perceive God determines how we will respond to him (Romans 11:22; Matthew 8:5-ff). It is Either "Now" or "Later" God does not force obedience, though He has reacted to man's disobedience in times past directly and the consequences were disastrous -- note Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6-11). Samuel told Saul that "rebellion is as witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Having traced the sequence of events in Christ's existence from perfect equality to humility in flesh then to exaltation finalized, Paul affirms that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:5-11). It is either now or later -- it will happen, even if it is wrenched from defiant lips. God wants from man loving obedience -- but do not be mistaken by believing that freedom to choose means that we escape final accountability for our actions (cf. Matthew 25:14-30; 31-46). From Authority to Authoritative How we treat the word of God says everything about our real respect for the authority of God. If man does not believe in God, he will not submit to a way of life he describes as "mythological superstition." Even among religious people there are those whom I describe as the "humble arrogant" -- while displaying themselves as humble and pious they disregard the need for authority from scripture for religious practices. If we believe in the true God, then accepting scripture as the revelation of God is no problem (John 7:17) -- we want to know what God wants us to do. Conversely, those who want their own ways, find that understanding the Bible is fraught with many difficulties. Closing their eyes, they say, "We cannot see" (cf. Isaiah 6:1-6; Matthew 13:13-17). That perception is the beginning of all substitution and perversion. If I am wed to my preconceived ideas, I will always seek to justify what I am doing rather than understanding heaven's decrees. The real test comes when there is a conflict between God's will and mine. If I obey God as long as God says what I like, then that is not real obedience -- it is self-serving and my own will I am doing, not God's. However, if my perception of God is that He has the right to tell me what to do and I want to do whatever He wants, I do not really have many problems about understanding what he says and complying with His will. God wants to have fellowship with us but it will only be upon the surrender of our wills to his. He is the Lord who has the right to tell us what to do -- it is EITHER NOW OR LATER. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________