____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ February 25, 2007 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Lukewarmness (Loren N. Raines) 2) The Next Generation (Steve Klein) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Lukewarmness by Loren N. Raines In a letter directed to the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:15- 18) it is noticeable that there is not one single good thing for which the Lord could commend this church. Certainly this is a sad state of affairs. Notice the charge: "Thou art neither cold nor hot." If there is anything that is more nauseating to the Lord than a lukewarm church member, it is a lukewarm church. No wonder be says, "I will spue thee out of my mouth." In order for a doctor to diagnose a case he must know what part of the patient is afflicted. Man's nature is composed of four parts: the intellectual, the emotional, the volitional, and the physical. These involve the head, the heart and the hand. We can think, feel and act. When we are afflicted with lukewarmness all parts are diseased to a degree, but the disease seems to center in the heart. Physically, heart disease is always dangerous and often fatal; the same is true spiritually. We should not minimize the importance of the intellect, nor should we over estimate the value of the heart. Some people put all of their heart into religion, but not enough of the head. They have a super-abundance of zeal, but as Paul said of his Jewish brethren, "they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." First, we must know the Lord's will. We must discover what he wants us to do and how he wants it done. This acquisition of knowledge involves the head or the intellect. But knowledge alone will not suffice, for we are required to be "doers of the word and not hearers only"; doing involves the hand. But the hand will do but little unless it has the cooperation, the motivation and the driving power of the heart and will behind it. The emotional part of our nature must be enlisted -- there must be zeal, warmth of feeling, ardor of affection, fervor of love. A car may have a perfect motor and faultless wheels, yet fail to function. A mechanic may find that this failure is due to a defective transmission. Likewise, knowledge of what to do, and the physical strength to do it are insufficient. The heart must be enlisted in order to transmit knowledge into action. In diagnosis, doctors look for symptoms. What are the symptoms of lukewarmness? One of the symptoms is smugness or Self-complacency. The Laodiceans said, "We have need of nothing." It is hard to help people who feel no need of help. Many, like the Pharisees, feel themselves good enough. They are satisfied with their state of religious development. We should never be satisfied, but always unsatisfied. Like Paul, let us "press on" to greater knowledge, greater service, and greater attainment. Let us reach forth to the goal. Self-righteousness is dangerous. Another symptom of lukewarmness is unconsciousness of disease. A frostbitten limb is quite comfortable. "Thou knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, and blind and naked." Some forms of cancer do their fatal work before the patient is aware. Wise Christians consult the Great Physician frequently. Numerous causes contribute to lukewarmness. The process of refrigeration is natural. Watch the iron cool when it is taken from the forge. We must be kept in close contact with the forge of God's love through study, prayer, worship and fellowship. We need much help to counteract the refrigerating influence of the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Many professed Christians are afflicted with this disease. Let us follow the prescription of the Great Physician: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire." This purchase involves the exchange of values. We must sacrifice some things that may be gratifying to the carnal man in order to possess the "true riches." We all have need of the "white raiment" of Christian character, otherwise we will be found without the robe of righteousness at the judgment. Let us put off the old man: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication; and put on the new man: bowels of mercies, kindness, meekness, long-suffering and forgiveness, lest the shame of our nakedness appear. Balaam's eyes were apparently closed with the lust for material gain so he could not see the angel of the Lord in the way. Many eyes are thus afflicted today. Let us "buy eyesalve" that we may see our need, poverty, disease and sin. With eyes thus healed, we can lift them up and "look on the fields that are white already to harvest." It is only with an eye "single to God's glory" that we can "approve things that are excellent" or distinguish things that differ. Only discerning eyes can distinguish between the commandments of God and the doctrines of men. Apparently, there are some today who, like Balaam, have had their eyes closed either by the lust for gold, or the desire for popularity. Are you afflicted with the fatal heart disease of lukewarmness? If so, listen to the Lord's admonition: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Let us use our intellect with which to acquire knowledge of God and his will; let us use our hearts to transmit this power to our bodies that there may be a performance of that which we know to do. Let's use our heads, our hearts, and our hands in the service of the Lord. -- Via Truth Magazine, V:9, pp. 21-22, June 1961 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Next Generation by Steve Klein As Solomon looked at life under the sun, he observed that "One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4). With the passing of each generation, knowledge, values and even faith are handed down from the older to the younger. Paul thanked God for the "genuine faith" of Timothy, which he says, "dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5). Sometimes the older generation does not do a good job of transmitting what it should to the generation that follows. Sometimes the younger generation refuses to receive what was left them by their forefathers. When this occurs, the consequences are almost always negative. British anthropologist John D. Unwin conducted an in-depth study of eighty civilizations that have come and gone over a period of some four thousand years. He discovered that a common thread ran through all of them. In each instance, they started out with a conservative mind-set with strong moral values and a heavy emphasis on family. Over a period of time, the conservative mind-set became more and more liberal, moral values declined, and the family suffered. In each instance, as the family deteriorated, the civilization itself started to come apart; and in all eighty cases the fall of the Nation was related to the fall of the family. In most cases, that civilization fell within one generation of the fall of the family unit. (from Zig Zeiglar) The effectiveness of one generation in bringing along the next generation not only has ramifications for families and nations, it also has great ramifications for God's people. The reality is that the error that one generation accepts in moderation, the next will accept in excess. In this way, standards of personal morality, decisions regarding the work of the church, and doctrinal soundness can degrade tremendously from one generation to the next. There are churches which were once faithful that have changed so drastically from what they were a generation ago, that if someone from the previous generation rose from the dead and visited, they would think they had walked in on the worship assembly of a completely different religion. The Psalms have a lot to say to us about the need to faithfully transmit God's truth from one generation to the next (cf. Psalm 22:30; 71:18; 78:4-6; 145:3-4). There is an especially poignant passage in Psalm 48:12-14, where faithful Israelites are instructed to "Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; {13} Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. {14} For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death." Just as the Israelites needed to know exactly how everything was to be in Zion so that they could pass the information on to the next generation, the older generation of today needs to know exactly how things are to be in the church in order to pass that information on to the next generation. What will the church at New Georgia be like a generation from now? Much will depend on the job we do today of passing down truth, helping the young develop their abilities, and being examples of diligent laborers ourselves. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, December 3, 2006 ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes One of the things I'll always remember about Joe Pine is the great effort he put into coming to church. This was especially true in the last year he was able to be with us. It appeared rather difficult for him in just making those few steps from his car to the building and back -- but he kept thankfully coming as long as he could; and he would greet us with friendly smiles, words of encouragement, and his own good-natured humor. We missed the time thereafter, when he could no longer be with us; but continued to remember him in our prayers. Though his body was laid to rest in Canton, Texas, on February 24, his memory will live on in those who knew and loved him; and he will, therefore, be like Abel who, though he is deceased, "he still speaks" (Heb. 11:4). Joe was born in Mobile, Alabama, but lived the majority of his 93 years in Texas, before spending about the last 30 of those years in Denham Springs, Louisiana. We want to especially be praying for his wife Maxine with whom he had been married for 64 years, for his daughter Sheila Watts, and his son Craig, for his son-in-law Billy Watts, and his and Sheila's sons Jody, Joshua, and Jacob, and also for the other family members and friends. Though it is sad when loved ones part, yet much comfort can be received through the realization that they had been Christians. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul states: "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Here are also some more people that we who are Christians can be praying for: Bill Collette was recently diagnosed as having colon cancer, which appears to be localized in about a 7-inch area. He will be having surgery this Thursday (March 1) to remedy this problem. Mr. Caldwell (April Humphrey's grandfather) is again back in the hospital due to cancer. Sheila Watts has been having nerve-pains in her back. Gene Calloway will soon have to have surgery on her hands to eliminate the numbness from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carl Crews (Bill's brother) has been having pain in his lower back. There will be a Gospel Meeting at the Northshore church of Christ in Mandeville, March 9-11, with Kenny Marrs of Birmingham, AL. He will be dealing with the topic of "Depression and the Christian." ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________