____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 21, 2007 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Joy of Winning Souls (Doug Seaton) 2) The Solution to Episcopalian Church Problems (Steve Klein) ____________________________________________________ -1- The Joy of Winning Souls by Doug Seaton This article is being written for the purpose of waking some of us out of sleep and reminding us of God's purpose for us in the world. The most valuable possessions in the world are souls. Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26) Once we recognize the value of our souls and the value of the souls of others, we will want to do all we can to save souls. Winning souls is thrilling, adds true meaning to life, and starts a fire burning Satan can't extinguish. The reason many churches are dying is many Christians forgot how to win souls to Christ. Many have not experienced the joy found in winning souls. If you are interested in the most effective method of soul-winning in the world please read carefully and apply the things you read from God's word. Leading souls to Jesus Christ is simple. It takes love for God, love for the souls of others, and love for our own soul. This love will cause us to examine the Scriptures and find the secrets of soul-winning. Notice how Andrew led a soul to Christ. "Again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. . . One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:35-42). Andrew led his brother to Christ by his enthusiasm in finding Christ, his joy in discipleship, his determination to find his brother, and his urgency in bringing him to Jesus. Enthusiastic converts to Christ are the best soul-winners in all of the world. This enthusiasm can't be taught in "how to" seminars. This enthusiasm comes from putting on Christ, being born again, or in other words from being saved. The convert truly being born again and knowing Christ is his Savior can't help but be excited. This enthusiasm causes one to be a joyful disciple. It's refreshing to see new converts joyfully give up a life of sin and ask, "What else does Christ want me to do?" A disciple is a follower or one learning. Disciples want to work and the best time to begin working for Christ is immediately upon one's conversion. There are plenty of people to teach the contacts and friends of new converts so send them out and let them do all they can and, if needed, let others help in the teaching. If you are not a new convert just think about your own conversion to Christ as you work to tell others about salvation in Jesus Christ. Remember we are not "selling" the local church, we are "selling" Christ. People coming to Christ will of course see the need to be faithful, active members of his body, the church. They will want to work and worship with others of like precious faith. When folks are converted to Christ, churches in local communities will flourish. Andrew didn't wait for his brother to ask about Christ; he went out to find him. Too many are waiting in their offices for sinners to come and find them. Too many churches put an ad in the paper and look for the building to be full. We aren't selling cars; people generally will not come to us, we must go to them. The personal touch works. You can't see another's joy and enthusiasm in mass media advertising. "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:15) Too many Christians expect the preacher to find the lost and too many preachers have limited their teaching to the walls of a building. The Gospel message is a message to be taken to the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). A lot of men would do well to put down the denominational commentaries and take up the sword of the spirit which is the word of God, and seek some sinners. As Andrew found his brother, he compelled him to come to Jesus. Notice he "brought him to Jesus." Peter saw the urgency in Andrew's face and heard the urgency in his voice. We know this because the text shows us that Peter did come to Christ. As we seek that which is lost we need to remember the words of Paul, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16). Notice also the admonition of Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2. "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." All need to get busy now teaching others about Jesus Christ. Like Andrew we will rejoice and those coming to Christ will rejoice as we lead others to Jesus Christ. Are you presently doing your best in leading others to Christ? Have you joyfully told your friends, family members, and fellow workers, what Christ means to you? Have you studied God's word with them? Remember the power is in the gospel and the daily lives of Christians is often what causes lost souls to look at the Bible which can save their souls (Rom. 1:16; Matt. 5:13-16). Start today to lead a soul to Christ! -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 1, pp. 3-4, January 7, 1988 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Solution to Episcopalian Church Problems by Steve Klein For those unfamiliar with it, the Episcopalian Church in America is a denomination that has its roots in the Church of England. These churches, along with Episcopalian denominations in other nations, are collectively referred to as Anglican churches. They trace their common beginning to the 16th century rift over the issue of divorce between King Henry VIII of England and the Pope of Rome. American Episcopalian's have been in the news a lot lately because of controversy within the denomination over the ordination of a homosexual bishop and the blessing of homosexual marriages. While many Anglicans in America approve of these practices, some do not, and most Anglican Church leaders outside of the U.S. firmly disapprove. The division among Episcopalians has become so sharp that some American Episcopalians are leaving the denomination. In September 2007, "the members of St. Clement's church in Central El Paso decided to leave Episcopal Church USA and the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. 'We feel that we have been released from an institution that is not really excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ,' said Rev. Bill Cobb of St. Clement's Church" (Reported by KFOX-TV). On October 2, 2007, the Fort Worth Star Telegram carried the following quote from a local church official identified as the "Rev. Ryan Reed" president of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. He said, "To submit to and comply with the current direction of the General Convention would mean for us to embrace a distortion of the Christian faith that our forebears would not recognize as a continuation of the Apostles' teaching and fellowship." On September 18, 2007 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that David Wardell and more than 100 other former members of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church had left the Episcopalian church "and aligned themselves with a Nigerian bishop. Their new congregation is called All Saints Anglican Church." The report goes on to state the following: Three other metro Atlanta congregations operate under the authority of a Bolivian bishop. Episcopalians across the U.S. are joining more conservative foreign church provinces and forming their own organizations because they believe American church leaders are sliding into irrelevance and sin. "They are just changing scripture to, like, anything goes," Wardell said. About now, you may be asking yourself, "Why should I care about the problems of this denomination?" Well, because their problems are mirrored in the problems of many religious groups, and can even be seen to some degree within churches of Christ. By seeing the solution to Episcopalian Church problems, maybe we can see the solution to ours as well. What's the solution? Follow the Bible! Follow it completely. Don't add to it. Don't take from it. Just follow the Bible. Accept the Scriptures as the complete and perfect guide that they claim to be (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Don't just give lip service to following the Scriptures. Don't complain about how a given practice like homosexuality is not approved by the Scriptures and then turn around and accept seventeen other things that are not approved either. Jesus said, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. {9} And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8-9). If you'll notice in the news reports cited above, the very Episcopalians who were complaining about the unscriptural practices of their denomination are still doing the following: * Participating in a form of church government that is NOT what the Bible describes. One of the dissenters quoted above is a "president" of a "standing committee" of a "diocese." Where is the Scripture for any of that? Individual churches in the Bible had bishops (or elders), deacons and saints (or members) (Philippians 1:1). There was no over-arching earthly regional organization such as a "diocese." Such is unscriptural and contrary to the Scriptural plan. * Naming their churches after "saints." No church in the Bible was ever named after a disciple, let alone after a person who had been canonized by the Catholic denomination. No church in the Bible ever named itself after Clement or Andrew. Not only was such not practiced, it was expressly forbidden. The great apostle Paul forbade Christians from calling themselves after him, or Peter or Apollos. "Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,'or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' {13} Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). * Calling their leaders "Reverend" even though the BIBLE says that this is God's name (Psalm 111:9). Now, the purpose of this article is not to expose every unscriptural belief and practice of the Episcopal Church. Our purpose here is to challenge all men to go to the Bible for every belief and practice, not just for the ones that make us comfortable with what we are already believing and doing. From our perspective, it is clear to some that well-meaning Episcopalians have a large blind spot here. It makes me wonder if the Lord sees something similar when He looks at us. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, October 7, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________