____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ January 26, 1992 ____________________________________________________ "No I Don't Like Churches Or Preachers" by Bob F. Owen Several years ago I preached in a gospel meeting in the small community where my wife and I have lived for thirty-five years. Having formed many friendships in the community through serving on the city council, we saw a special chance to get some of these friends to study the Bible with us. We wrote a personal letter explaining our belief in the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and the necessity of doing only what we find in the Scriptures. This, of course, rejects the popular concept that any and every way of worship is acceptable to God. We mailed this letter to over two hundred acquaintances. During the week's meeting with the local church a number of these people attended. In the few weeks following the meeting, three of my friends saw me personally and explained why they had not attended. Each of these expressed quite similar reasons although they talked with me separately and had no idea of the discussions of the others. Their reasons impressed me greatly. To their great surprise, I agreed with much of the criticism and expressed total disapproval of the practices on the basis of Scripture--not just because of personal feelings. Perhaps you have shared some of these same feelings. Perhaps, too, you may be surprised to hear a preacher agreeing with your objections to ``religion.'' Each of my friends began with a statement which, in essence, said, ``I really do not have any respect for religion, or churches, or for that matter, for preachers.'' (I welcomed it when each assured me he liked me personally and was speaking of preachers generally.) Each, in separate ways, explained his feeling that churches were little more than tax-exempt social clubs and preachers were little more than public relationship managers. Each objected to the common place money-raising schemes and to the seeming hypocrisy of the leaders. None of these three saw ``church'' as a spiritually-oriented group with a major goal of eternity. All saw churches as parallels to the Heart Fund, the Red Cross, or another service organization trying to meet physical or social needs. My friends were surprised to learn that I disapprove the social gospel concept as much as they had and that where I preach the emphasis is on gaining heaven. Our churches do not build recreational facilities or sponsor youth ball teams or special outings for the aged. Our preaching is Bible-centered with the thrust of ``this is what God requires of us in order to go to heaven.'' The gospel of Christ is designed to save the souls of men, not to reform society or to create a heaven on earth. If one obeys God he will be a good citizen and a good father (or mother) and a good worker, etc., but these are side benefits to the real purpose of the coming of Jesus - ``to seek and to save that which is lost.'' I expect the feelings expressed by my friends are common to many people today. Their disgust with what they see as religion closes their eyes to true religion and to the Bible which teaches the truth. What a shame that those who parade as God's servants are in fact serving to drive people away from God! It certainly could be that they are like those of the days of Paul, And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is not great thing therefore if his ministers fashion themselves into ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Cor. 11:14-15). ___________________________________________ What About Acts 10? by Chuck Bartlett There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the subject of the Holy Spirit Baptism. Some contend that the Holy Spirit is poured out from heaven upon all saints because of what happened with Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. As one reads the 10th chapter of Acts, it soon becomes apparent that what happened with Cornelius, and those with him, was an unusual happening, which occurred to teach a valuable lesson. The Jews needed to know that the Gentiles had equal access to the gospel of Christ. Peter stated, after the Holy Spirit fell on those whom he was addressing, ``Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'' (Acts 10:47). In the 11th chapter of Acts, Peter relayed to the apostles and other brethren what happened with Cornelius and told about his vision and calling to help these Gentiles. This event in Acts 10 was not a common occurrence in the first Century, nor does it happen today. To reject that this was a special case and to view it as being a common and necessary act in conversions, consider the difficulties: 1. Why did the Holy Spirit fall on them while Peter was preaching, even before they obeyed the gospel? (Acts 10:44,47; 11:14) 2. Why did Peter say that nothing like this had occurred since the beginning (Pentecost)? (Acts 11:15). What about those who heard the gospel and obeyed it without the Holy Spirit falling upon them like it did with Cornelius and those at his household? (Acts 8:5-16). Why did the apostles have to come down to Samaria and lay hands on these Christians? (Acts 8:17). 3. Why were the Jewish brethren that traveled with Peter amazed that the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles, if it had been a ordinary reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit as taught in Acts 2:38? What happened in Acts 10 was an unusual event. Let us learn the lesson that Peter was taught and not make claims that ignore the facts presented in the word of God. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________