____________________________________________________ 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 13, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) "Being Past Feeling" (O.C. Birdwell) 2) God's Word: Can You Put Up With It? (Steve Klein) 3) God Said "Sing" (Warren Berkley) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- "Being Past Feeling" by O.C. Birdwell The apostle Paul warned the Ephesians about the danger of walking as the ungodly people walked (Eph. 4:17). He said that they (the Gentiles), "being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (v. 19). These people, "being past feeling," walked in ignorance, alienation, and vanity of mind because of the hardening of their hearts. To such people God will send "a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11,12). One "past feeling" is pathetic indeed. There is hope for one as long as he has not reached spiritual insensibility. But when he has become callous and hardened in heart to the extent that no response whatsoever is given to the preaching of the gospel of Christ, a sad and almost hopeless situation exists. Do you suppose any today are "past feeling"? "Being past feeling" may cause continuation in worldliness. Many love the association of the devil and his servants more than God and His people. Sectarianism is the result of men "being past feeling." They feel no restraint in relegating the New Testament to the back seat. "Will worship" is prevalent and replaces the will of Christ. Men's names are worn; their doctrines are obeyed. Hearts are hardened against the truth. Some at Corinth were "past feeling." They were "puffed up" concerning sin (I Cor. 5). Demas loved the "present world" (2 Tim. 4:10). The Laodiceans were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17). They were so far "past feeling" that they could not see their actual condition. In the nineteenth century men in the church of the Lord contended for missionary societies and instrumental music in worship because they were "past feeling" any respect for the authority of the scriptures. Modern day innovators are "past feeling" that anything is wrong when churches donate to missionary and benevolent societies. They see nothing wrong with church camps, socials, dining halls, recreational facilities, or a church chorus (they are still opposed to a choir!). One can get no response from such people with an appeal for an open investigation of the scriptures. They are "past feeling" that the scriptures are a complete guide and feel free to encourage the church to act in areas where the Bible is silent. Our plea is for men to feel a proper respect for the authority of the scriptures. Let the church be what Christ intended it to be, and let it do what the New Testament authorizes. Let us again call upon all men to speak as the "oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11). -- Via Truth Magazine XV: 18, p. 2, March 11, 1971 ____________________________________________________ -2- God's Word: Can You Put Up With It? by Steve Klein Have you ever had a boss, or a teacher or a parent who got under your skin by constantly pointing out your faults, correcting you, and demanding that you do better? If so, you may have found the situation very hard to put up with, especially if you were not personally motivated to perform well in your role as employee, student or child. Most of us have a hard time putting up with correction and criticism unless we have a deep desire to improve. It takes a little courage and determination to continue to look into the mirror every morning and see the numerous aspects of our appearance that need attention. It would be easier to forego this morning ritual and just go about the day "as is." (From the looks of things, I think that this must actually be the approach that a few young people in our society are taking.) Even so, it takes some determination to continue looking into the word of God and allowing it to criticize and correct us. Like a mirror, the word of God reflects back to us images of our imperfections (James 1:23-25). It is critical of us and it demands improvement. But unless we want to improve, we won't put up with it for long -- we will either stop looking into it, or we will purposely put out of our minds the glaring faults it reveals. In Hebrews 13:22 the inspired writer appeals to brethren to "bear with the word of exhortation." The phrase "bear with" is translated from a Greek word that means to "put up with...endure, forbear, suffer" (Strong's Dictionary). Is there a Bible passage that causes you to cringe every time the preacher refers to it? Is there a verse that you don't like to think about because when you do it makes you feel guilty or uncomfortable? Are there parts of God's word that you have a hard time putting up with? If so, you have three choices: You can stop looking, you can choose to forget what you see, or you can decide that you want to improve yourself and become fit for the kingdom of heaven. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 13, 2005 ____________________________________________________ -3- God Said "Sing" by Warren Berkley When people visit our assembly and express their curiosity about our vocal music, I reply with this simple expression of our conviction: God said "sing." I make it clear that the absence of the man-made instruments is not a matter of economics (cannot afford one) or preference (we just like to sing). It goes much deeper than any "church of Christ" or "restoration" heritage or tradition. It has to do with faith and our desire to follow God's instructions. We are convinced He said "sing." When a man offers a gift to his wife, the considerate thing to do is to offer a gift that will please her. She is the recipient of the gift. I may want a rifle, a new computer or a truck. But if I'm going to give something to her that she will appreciate, I will select something I believe will please her not me. I will take into consideration all I know of her, in particular, what she has said she likes and wants. My gift will be based on her will not mine. As God's people, we want to offer worship to Him in response to His greatness and grace to us. In offering that worship, what's important? What I want, or what He wants? You will agree, the most important thing is what God wants. The right course to take is to offer that worship to God that I know will please Him. How can I find out what pleases Him? I can consult His Word! I don't need to even consider human preferences, denominational practices, historical precedence or majority desire. I do not need to bother myself with a "market study" or poll of human opinion. If I want to know what pleases God I can read what He has said about worship, determined to worship Him in spirit and truth (Jno. 4:24; 2 Jno. 9). This quest takes me to the New Testament. I want to know what the apostles of Christ did, since these were the men through whom the will of God was conveyed (1 Cor. 1:1; 1 Cor. 2:10-12). The apostles -- in their practice and instruction -- endorsed only one kind of music in worship to God, vocal. If any instrument is involved at all it is only in the figurative sense, the heart (Eph. 5:19). Paul and Silas, "at midnight...were praying and singing hymns to God" (Acts 16:25). To the church at Corinth Paul said, "sing with the understanding" (1 Cor. 14:15). He instructed the saints at Ephesus: "speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). In another place he wrote: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). Is anyone cheerful? "Let him sing psalms" (Jas. 5:13). (See also: Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26; Rom. 15:9 & Heb. 2:12.) This clear and simple evidence demands the kind of admission you will read in the Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (p. 1163): "There is no record in the N.T. of the use of instruments in the musical worship of the church." Or in A History Of The Christian Church (p. 112): "Singing formed an essential part of the Christian worship, but it was in unison and without musical accompaniment" (Lars P. Qualben). Other early historians and writers agree: "Simply singing is not agreeable to children (Jews), but singing with lifeless instruments and with dancing and clapping is. On this account the use of this kind of instruments and of others agreeable to children is removed from the songs of the churches, and there is left remaining simply singing" (Justin Martyr, 139 AD). Augustine describes the singing at Alexandria in 354 AD by saying "musical instruments were not used. The pipe, tabret, and harp here associate so intimately with the sensual heathen cults...it is easy to understand the prejudices against their use in the worship." Strange isn't it? All the years of controversy; all the debates, disputes and division. Then you open your Bible and focus on what God said. There it is: God said "sing." Don't you think this is what He wants us to do? Why did Noah use gopher wood in building the ark? God said "gopher wood." Why did Abraham leave his homeland and venture into Canaan? God said "go." Why did Joshua instruct the Israelites to march around Jericho? Because God said to do that. Why did the apostles wait in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended into heaven? That's what Jesus told them to do. Why do Christians today partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week? God has communicated His will regarding this memorial in the New Testament. So, why do we sing? God said "sing." This is serious because, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (2 Jno. 9). -- Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, September 12, 2004 ____________________________________________________ -4- News & Notes Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following people in prayer: * Maxine Pine (who has been having some health problems). * Joe McGregor (who experiences severe arthritic pain). * Clarence Johnson (who will begin chemotherapy March 14 for leukemia. This will continue every third week, for a total of 4 to 6 treatments; and he solicits prayer that it will not interfere with his work). ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________