____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ March 2, 2003 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Modern-Day Tithers (Tom Edwards) 2) The Power of the Gospel (Steve Klein) 3) Consider One Another (David Dann) ____________________________________________________ -1- Modern-Day Tithers by Tom Edwards Many denominations today teach the need for their people to tithe -- a term that literally means a "tenth," and which is to be the portion of their income that they put in the collection plate. In addition to the tithe, some denominations also take up the "love offering," which is another contribution given above that of the tithe. Is Tithing for Today? Many of our religious friends are making the same mistake that Judaizers had made hundreds of years ago. They, too, were binding requirements of the Law of Moses on Christians. As Paul writes in Galatians, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold, I Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you...You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace" (5:1-4). Circumcision was just one aspect of the law -- so was tithing (Mal. 3:8-10; Matt. 23:23). Since they both came from the same system of law -- the Law of Moses -- would not the principle still be the same if we substituted the circumcision in Galatians 5 with tithing? In other words, "...if you pay tithes, Christ will be of no benefit to you...You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace." This is not to say that it is wrong for someone to give 10% of his income to the Lord -- anymore than it would be wrong for one to be circumcised today. But either would be wrong, if one believes that it is a specified requirement for salvation that the Lord is demanding. Paul, for example, had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3); but it was not so that he could be saved. To the Judaizers, however, who felt that Titus needed to be circumcised for his salvation's sake, Paul would not allow it (Gal. 2:3-5). The When and the How of Giving Though the New Testament gives authority for a weekly collection on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1,2), and shows the limitation of how that money is to be used, it nowhere commands a specific percent of one's income that that person is to give. It is a matter between the giver and God. Paul points out that the giving should be from one's prosperity (1 Cor. 16:1-3) as he "purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). In the previous verse, he states that "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (v. 6). The Lord Himself taught that "...'It is more blessed to give than to receive"' (Acts 20:35). So this provides us some instructions in our giving, but nowhere do we see of a specific percent that we are to use for our basis. The Law of Moses -- How Long and Who For? The Law of Moses, which teaches tithing, was brought to an end at the cross of Christ (Col. 2:13,14; Eph. 2:13-16). To go back to it, which is a system of works (Gal. 2:16) and not of faith (Gal. 3:12), causes one to fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). The Law's termination can also be inferred from the fact that it was to serve as a "tutor" to lead men to Christ that they could be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24). But now that "...faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (v. 25). So the Law of Moses -- with its command for tithing -- came to an end at the cross of Christ, and the New Covenant --with its command for giving -- was then established. According to Deuteronomy 5:2,3, the covenant that the Lord made with His people began at Horeb; and, therefore, was not something that He had also made with their forefathers. In the same chapter, verses 12-15, we note that the Sabbath (part of the Law of Moses) was given as a type of memorial to the Israelites in view of their great deliverance from Egyptian bondage. In Exodus 31:12-17, clearly, the Sabbath was not for everyone; rather, it was given as a sign between God and the children of Israel. The Law of Moses, therefore, was never to be for all people of the world; but strictly for His chosen people, the Israelites. And though that period lasted for about 1,500 years, it then came to an end with the establishment of the New Testament by the death of Christ. So though it is not wrong in itself for one to give 10% of his income as a contribution to the church, it is wrong if he is doing that because he believes that the Old Testament tithe (of 10%) is still binding on him today. ____________________________________________________ -2- The Power of the Gospel by Steve Klein Paul declared in Romans 1:16 that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. The reason for this was, "It is the power of God to salvation." When the Gospel is taught, there is no doubt that we must let the Gospel do the work, but there is still work we must do. Let me illustrate. Not long ago, I took up the game of golf. Now if you don't know anything about golf, it is harder than it looks. One important tip I received was, "Let the club do the work. If you will do this, you will swing much better." Now what does that mean? Can I leave that club in the bag and expect the ball to be hit? Can I take the club out and just hold it? No I must still swing the club. If I don't, the ball will never be put into play! The same thing is true of the Gospel of Christ. It is indeed the power of God to salvation, but it must be used. Until we take up the sword of the Spirit and use it, sin will not be defeated and souls will be lost. How can one use the Gospel of Christ? First, we can use it to persuade men to be saved. Some people will object and say that we need not persuade men, that the gospel alone will do this. It is true that we need not use the enticements of this world. The term "persuade" means, "to prevail upon or win over, to persuade, bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations" (Vine's Dictionary of N.T. Words p. 179). We have the example of Paul when he tried to persuade King Agrippa and the others who were listening to become Christians (Acts 26). In II Corinthians 5:11, he used the gospel to endeavor to persuade men to be saved and live responsibly before God, in view of the judgment day. It is true that we can offer nothing of ourselves to people, but we can offer them the gospel of Christ with all the blessings that come with it. Furthermore, we can live consistently with the gospel. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Paul admonished Timothy to, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16). The life of a Christian should be a reflection of the life of our Savior (1 Pet. 2:21; 1 Jn. 2:6). When Christians live consistently with the teachings of God and continue to obey the Lord, they will be seen and God will be glorified. But professed Christians living inconsistently with God's will hinder the cause of Christ. Paul instructed Titus to "adorn the doctrine of God" by "in all things showing yourself {to be} a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all {things}, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Tit. 2:7-10). What do our friends and neighbors see in our lives? Finally, there are blessings in Christ of joy and peace that one can experience. Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4). Peter likewise said, ". . . whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see {Him}, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8). The life of the sinner is miserable in comparison to the life of a Christian. Sin's pleasure lasts for just a short time (Heb. 11:24-25), while the peace of God and the joy that comes with it last for an eternity (1 John 2:17). Christians can rejoice in the Lord regardless of the circumstances. God did not intend for man to be miserable. That is why He gave the Gospel, and this joy is one that is offered to all men if they will simply obey the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 5:1-2). Indeed, the Gospel is God's power to save, and in it He has provided the means and the motivation for people to be obedient to it. How are you using the gospel of Christ? What Must I Do To Be Saved? You Must: Hear the Gospel -- Romans 10:17 Believe the Gospel -- Romans 1:16 Repent of your sins -- Luke 13:3 Confess your faith -- Romans 10:10 Be Baptized into Christ -- Gal. 3:26,27 Continue in the Gospel -- Col. 1:23 -- Via the Bulletin of the Church of Christ in New Georgia, November 3, 2002 ____________________________________________________ -3- Consider One Another by David Dann In the tenth chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, we are given instruction concerning the attitude that we should have toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. The inspired penman writes, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:24,25). Of vital importance to our lives as Christians is the fact that God has not left each of us on our own; instead he has given us a spiritual family. As the Lord's people, Jesus calls us to express a high standard of love for each other. In John 13 he said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Not only are we to love one another, but we are to love one another in the same selfless, compassionate, considerate, and sacrificial way that Christ has loved us. We can only hope to fulfill this command if we truly consider one another. We need to consider one another: In Spiritual Growth In his exhortation to the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20, the apostle Paul gives us a good example of the attitude that we ought to have in being considerate toward the spiritual needs of our brethren. "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears" (Acts 20:30-31). Paul felt a deep concern for the spiritual growth and well-being of his brothers and sisters in Christ. As Paul recounts his physical suffering for Christ in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, he concludes with the following: "Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" (2 Cor. 11:28-29). We would do well to follow Paul's example in helping one another to grow spiritually. In Spiritual Weakness "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:1-2). We are each responsible for helping one another overcome the sins that may cause us to struggle spiritually. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). It is important that we have the kind of considerate attitude toward our brethren that will cause us to do anything in our power to keep them from forsaking the way of truth. In Physical Weakness "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:16-17). In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus warns us of the consequences of neglecting to minister to the physical needs of our brethren: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not" (Matt. 25:41-43). We must be willing to help one another in times of physical weakness. In Times of Joy "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Rom. 12:15). We are often able to sympathize with our brethren in times of sadness, however, it is also important that we sympathize with one another in times of joy. We are given a good example of this considerate attitude in Acts chapter 15 where we read of Paul and Barnabas bringing good news of their success in the gospel to brethren in Phoenicia and Samaria: "And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren" (Acts 15:3). Conclusion "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Phil. 2:3-4). How is your attitude toward your brothers and sisters in Christ? -- Via Sound Doctrine, September 19, 1999 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________