____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ December 18, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Sin-Sick Soul (Robert F. Turner) 2) The Real Test (Phillip Mullins) 3) The Constant Battle with Impatience (Al Diestelkamp) 4) Which Do You Believe? (Clarence Johnson) 5) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- The Sin-Sick Soul by Robert F. Turner I had occasion recently to visit a modern State prison, and had an interesting visit with the Chief Warden. Unlike the old time jailer, this man was a doctor of psychology, with graduate work and much experience in penology. He studied the behavior patterns of criminals and miscreants; analyzing, differentiating, seeking for causes and cures. One of his statements struck me with great force. "We can deal with the psychotic with drugs -- put the mind in a state of neutrality -- analyze -- block out undesirable traumas; but, with the sociopath, we can only apply a combination of matters (religion, a job -- to give self-respect, and the like) and maybe we can move the patient in the right direction." I'll try to translate this into Plain Talk -- but make allowance for my non-professional, layman concepts. He was saying that we can work on the mind, like an IBM machine. Mechanically we block off a section, repair the "short" or remove cross-purpose elements; but the moral character -- shall I say, the soul -- is different. We can only set desirable goals before the soul -- be patient; seek to motivate, move in the right direction. The mind of man is sometimes closely associated with his "spirit" or the "inner man" (Rom. 7:18-f) though complicated and intricate, yet has certain measurable and predictable functions. A "sick" mind can, in many respects, be treated mechanically. We may discover a "traumatic" (wounding) experience in the patient's past, and lead the patient in a rational detour of this injury. Or by drugs, and some suggest by surgery, we may remove or seal off the scar. But there is more to the inner man than a "natural" IBM machine. What can be done for a man whose conscience is seared? Who has lost, or destroyed, his sense of moral right? An impenitent sinner?? The doctor calls this man "sociopath" and defines this as "inferior for undetermined reasons." The doctor is a sociologist and tends to think of the man only as he relates to mankind, or society. But I could not forget the man's relation to his Maker. I saw the patient as not only out of touch with his fellow man, but also (and more important) out of touch with God. And, to me, God is not a social development, but Eternal Deity -- existing prior to man, creating man even as the potter works with clay (Read carefully Rom. 1:18-32; 9:16-23). When man fails to "glorify" God, mindful of His constant august presence, and is not "thankful," recognizing his dependence upon God, then he is cut free to drift upon purely human (social) standards. "God also gave them up to uncleanness...unto vile affections...over to a reprobate mind" (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28) (See Vol. 5, No. 4, p 5 Plain Talk). I was happy to hear that the Warden recognized "religion" as a motivating force for good. But if this "religion" is nothing more than a facet of society, it is doomed as a cure. The soul that is sick will respond to nothing short of the Great Physician. We must recognize SIN as SIN, and get forgiveness in Jesus Christ. -- Via Plain Talk, Vol. 5, No. 7, September 1968 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Real Test by Phillip Mullins It is always easier to walk with the crowd, to agree when everyone else is agreeing, to go with the flow. However, it is how we stand when we have to stand in opposition that is often the real test of our faith in God. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). To be a true Christian means to oppose evil. To stand with Christ often means to stand against people and ideas that are set against Him. While a Christian is to be patient and loving, he or she is not to be passive. A Christian is a soldier in a war. Christ displayed such a character. While He was meek and gentle, He could also be aggressive and bold: "I tell you, no: but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men..." (Mark 7:8). "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves" (Matthew 23:15). It was not that Jesus was trying to be offensive, but in standing for what was right it was necessary for Him to oppose certain beliefs, teachings, and even people. It was necessary to tell people what they needed to hear rather than what they wanted to hear. Some religious people who claim to follow Christ are not willing to oppose anything or anybody. They believe the way of Christ dictates a totally positive approach where one never challenges any belief or practice, even if it is in clear opposition to the way of Christ. How much do you believe in God? How much do you trust the Bible as God's word? How convinced are you that Jesus is God's Son? How committed are you to the Bible's standard of righteousness? If you are truly faithful to God and firm in your devotion to His will, then you must stand against whatever opposes these things. It is easy to speak up for Christ when others are doing the same. The real test, though, comes when we must speak for Him when others are speaking against Him or His word. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7). -- Via The Manslick Road Speaker ____________________________________________________ -3- The Constant Battle with Impatience by All Diestelkamp Since patience is a virtue (2 Pet. 1:6), it should be no great surprise that Satan would often challenge us with the temptation to be impatient. Most people have had a lot of practice being impatient. We have grown accustomed to having what we want, when we want it. When that doesn't happen, we frequently become impatient, which inevitably leads to other problems. A child may throw a tantrum if he has to wait his turn, or if his parents won't buy what he wants -- right now! This immature attitude may simply be validation of the old saying, "The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree." Many young parents have insisted on having -- from the get-go -- every advantage their parents had worked many years to obtain. Instead of patiently putting up with a used vehicle until they could afford to buy a brand new car, they go ahead and buy one anyway. Often a second family income is necessary to pay for a luxury, and that demands a second car which might not otherwise be necessary. The problem with impatience is that it is a chronic condition.... Getting what you want becomes a habit that is hard to break. Before "wants" are paid for, we convince ourselves that we "need" other things, and we need them now! Impatience in material matters is bad enough, but it's especially destructive when it rears its ugly head in even more important areas of life. If patience has not been developed early in life, young people will likely become impatient in fulfilling their sexual urges, and will convince themselves that they "deserve" the pleasures reserved for marriage -- especially if they are "in love." Christians must fight against impatience in dealing with one another. We are commanded to "be patient with all" (1 Thess. 5:14), including the unruly, fainthearted and weak. In all our teaching we must show patience (2 Tim. 2:24). We may even become somewhat impatient with our own pursuit of righteousness. For that reason we are warned not to "grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal. 6:9). God promises great things to "those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality" (Rom. 2:7). Even when our righteousness brings trouble to us in the short-term, we are reminded to be "patient in tribulation" (Rom. 12:12), for as we are reminded in another place, "be patient until the coming of the Lord...Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (Jas. 5:7-8). -- Via Think on These Things, January-February-March 2005 ____________________________________________________ -4- Which Do You Believe? * Universalism teaches, "He that believeth NOT and is NOT baptized shall be saved." * Catholicism teaches, "He that believeth NOT and is baptized shall be saved." (case of infants) * Denominationalism teaches, "He that believeth and is NOT baptized shall be saved." * Jesus Christ teaches: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Which do YOU believe? -- Clarence Johnson (via The Susquehanna Sentinel, August 2, 1998) ____________________________________________________ -5- News & Notes Though Kevin Cowart has his "good days and bad days," he continues to make progress in his recovery. For the last several days, he has been waiting for a room to become available at a rehabilitation clinic in New Orleans. In the meanwhile, he has been moved today (12/18) to a different hospital floor, where he will begin therapy. ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________