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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"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).
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November 27, 2005
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Contents:
1) Conspiracy Theorists (Gardner Hall)
2) The True Light (Clarence Johnson)
3) The Fellowship of the Unashamed (anonymous)
4) News & Notes
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-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
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-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
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-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
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-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.)
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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
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