____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ November 27, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Conspiracy Theorists (Gardner Hall) 2) The True Light (Clarence Johnson) 3) The Fellowship of the Unashamed (anonymous) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Conspiracy Theorists by Gardner Hall "Richard Nixon is a communist!" the man told me with certainty. "Why do you say that?" I asked. "He went to China to talk to them. Must be one of 'em," was the response. Another man told me something to the effect that all politicians, except for George Wallace, were either communists or communist sympathizers, and sometimes he wondered about George. I remember hearing from many conspiracy theorists during my teenage years in north Alabama. They were certain that communists from the Soviet Union were about to take over America with the willing complicity of most politicians. Those politicians were attacked with all kinds of exaggeration, innuendo, and quotes out of context. Thousands were convinced that Nixon, Kissinger, and other politicians of the 70's must at least have been fellow travelers. "Conspiracy Theorists" in the Bible Some tried to paint the apostle Paul as advocating, "let us do evil that good may abound" (Rom. 3:8). Paul was no softy, but his teaching on God's grace and his efforts to humble himself and avoid a harsh presence made him the object of unfair attacks, 2 Cor. 11:7-15. Many were sure that Paul was the leader of a great conspiracy against truth. He was the subject of personal attacks on his physical presence and speech, 2 Cor. 10:10. Diotrephes could find fault in almost everyone, including the apostle John. He prated against John and other faithful brethren with "malicious words" (2 John 10). The Difference Between Vigilance And Unfair Fault-finding Aren't we to be vigilant and watch for signs of apostasy? Absolutely! "The devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). Some arise from within the ranks of Christians "speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:30). Immodest clothing, ungodly entertainment, looseness on divorce, alcohol, dancing and other worldly practices are eating away at the moral fiber of the saints. And yet in this battle it is possible to do more harm than good with reckless cries of wolf. Wild, unchecked and undocumented accusations distract the focus from the real enemy and cause brethren to "bite and devour one another" (Gal. 5:15), rather than directing their energies against Satan. How can we distinguish between the vigilance that God commands and the ungodly fault-finders: Love for truth, fairness, and love for brethren. The vigilant lover of truth will check out facts before rushing to judgment. If possible, he will contact a brother whose teaching is being questioned before launching a broadside. He realizes that he must understand a position before he can deal with it properly. If he feels he must expose compromising doctrine, he will present that doctrine accurately without trying to embellish it. The fault-finder will pass along rumors. I once heard from a young Christian that a godly Texas preacher "believed in abortion." Of course the young Christian hadn't contacted the preacher, but I did. The preacher was aghast that such rumors were being circulated against him and sent me a cassette tape to pass on to the young man in which he plainly presented Bible teaching against abortion. An older preacher harshly accused a group of editors of not wanting many scriptures quoted. If he had taken the trouble to look at the most recent copy of the magazine they publish, he would have seen over 200 scriptures referenced in just that one issue. However, fault-finders are seldom interested in facts or in fairly representing those who are the objects of their attacks. If they read their writings or listen to their preaching it is simply to find fault, and not to understand objectively what is being said. They pass along rumors and hearsay, which they may sincerely believe. However, the bottom line is that they don't have enough love for the truth or their brethren to check out facts. They stir up those inclined to be suspicious, but actually are very ineffective in fighting worldliness and loose thinking. While brethren bite and devour one another, Satan continues to sweep away disciples into the world. To fight him, God needs vigilant, sober, and loving servants -- not hypercritical, fault-finding and unfair conspiracy theorists. -- Via The Stonegate Standard, October 16, 2005 ____________________________________________________ -2- The True Light by Clarence Johnson The apostle John was an eyewitness of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. He was, perhaps, Jesus' closest friend. It was he Jesus selected to care for Mary after the crucifixion (John 19:26-27). There is also strong circumstantial evidence that Jesus and John were first cousins, that their mothers were sisters. John used a description of Jesus that no other New Testament writer used -- "The Word." John referred to Jesus by that description in no less than five passages: John 1:1; John 1:14; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 5:7, and Rev. 19:13. As he opened his account of the gospel, John declared that Jesus (the Word) existed "in the beginning"; that at that time He was WITH God (the Father), and that "the Word" Himself WAS divine. He also tells us that Jesus took part in the creation of this universe and that "without Him nothing was made that was made." The declaration of the apostle Paul is in agreement: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Col. 1:16-17). After introducing his reading audience to the pre-existent "Word," John turned his attention to the man God chose to be the first to announce the presence of Jesus, whom he called the Light. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (John 1:6-9). Note that John, the son of Zebedee, is telling us of another man named John. This second one is, as we learn from other passages, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. See Luke 1:5ff. Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus' mother, were kinfolks. (The King James Version says "cousin," but the Greek word is more literally translated "relative.") John the son of Zacharias is most commonly known as "John the Baptist." The word "Baptist" describes one who baptizes. John the apostle tells us that John the Baptist was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify that Jesus is the Light -- the true Light who gives light to every man coming into the world. Later, Jesus said of Himself, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). For centuries, God had been gradually revealing His will through the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets and making Himself known to man -- but He was about to make Himself much more fully known through the manifestation of Deity in the flesh -- "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...." - Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, May 8, 2005 ____________________________________________________ -3- The Fellowship of the Unashamed I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, and small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up, for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. -- via Stonegate Standard, author unknown ____________________________________________________ -4- News & Notes Kevin Cowart, who was in a serious motorcycle accident recently, had a fever November 26 of 102.5. He was also treated for 2 different infections (with 2 different antibiotics). Though still in ICU, he is now no longer being heavily sedated, since the doctors want him to be more awake; so he has also been experiencing some pain, which has hindered the doctors from being able to do an evaluation; but they are planning to on Monday. On the positive side, Kevin was able to move his arm and hand recently, on the side that had previously been paralyzed. Bernard Young (the father of Susie Lykins, a former member and friend in Kentucky) is now undergoing radiation treatment for his lung cancer. In addition, Bernard's wife has been in the hospital the last few days because of pneumonia. She also suffers from back problems, due to different times she has fallen over the years. Susie requests prayer not only for her parents' physical condition, but for their spiritual condition as well. Mary Wallace (Steve's wife), who was recently in a serious car accident in Germany, had surgery last Friday and came through it very well. She will probably find out today (11/27) when she can leave the hospital. Steve thanks everyone for their prayers. Virginia Fontenot (Linda Poole Blevins' mother -- who are both members of the church in Lafayette) will be having surgery tomorrow (11/28 -- instead of 11/29, as previously scheduled) for a total right knee replacement. I also solicit prayer for Susie who recently had to have her pet cat of 15 years put to sleep. She is finding it emotionally difficult in missing her "little buddy" who used to always be there to greet her when she would come home. (For those who can't understand such a request, I once heard of another case in which a woman had been sadden over the death of her father, but found it even more of an emotional ordeal when her cat had died.) ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________