____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ June 21, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Antidote to Apostasy by K. L. Chumbley It's regretful that some people are so blinded by their own prejudices and opinions that they cannot accept those passages of scripture which clearly teach the possibility of apostasy. Apostasy literally means a standing away, and we use it in reference to someone who has deserted the truth. All right thinking individuals understand the Biblical teaching that a Christian can so sin or conduct their lives as to be eternally lost. Realizing this, we need to be concerned with what we can do to counteract the wiles of the Devil, lest we go back into the darkness from whence we were delivered. I believe Jude gives us the ``antidote to apostasy.'' Jude's epistle is concerned with the problem of apostasy and throughout the letter we find cases of apostasy and the inevitable reward for such: condemnation and destruction. In answer to the question his readers were probably asking, ``What can we do to safeguard our souls?'' Jude gives three points for study and application. 1. v. 17 -- ``Remember...the words...of the apostles.'' In their writing, the apostles offered words of hope (Phil. 3:20-21), comfort (Rom. 8:35-39), exhortation (Heb. 12:1), instruction (II Peter 1:5-8), encouragement (I Peter 4:16), and warning (Gal. 6:7-8). Certainly by having their words ingrained in our minds and hearts, we will become ``steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,'' I Cor. 15:58. 2. v. 21 -- ``Keep yourselves in the love of God.'' This is very similar to Jesus' word in John 15:9, ``continue ye in my love.'' The way in which this is accomplished is told in verse 10, ``If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.'' There can be no apostasy as long as there is full and complete obedience. ``For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.'' I John 5:3. 3. v. 23 -- ``And others save with fear....'' Whereas Jude's first two statements were of an individual nature, i.e. things we can do for ourselves, this statement is something that we can do for others: rescue the perishing. We are our brother's keeper and we have a spiritual responsibility to watch for our brother's soul. ``Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.'' James 5:19-20. By strict adherence to these principles we can withstand the darts of the wicked one and keep ourselves from falling so that we may stand ``faultless before the presence of His glory.'' ___________________________________________ NEWS AND NOTES Charlotte Haines requests prayer for her husband Tom who has been suffering from schizophrenia that led him into the recent shooting of three people in Alabama while influenced by a severe delusion. (One of the men shot was a police officer.) Tom was also wounded in return. On latest report, no one was killed. It is sad that many of those whom Charlotte had informed about her husband's condition--years prior to this tragic incident--did not believe her. If Tom had received medical treatment and/or the proper medication, this lamentable outcome would have probably been avoided. Charlotte worries for her husband and, I'm sure, is also concerned for the others who have been hurt. Let us be praying for her, her family, and those involved. Mrs. Ernest Hamm, Carol Music's mother, is still undergoing testing for heart pains. Thus far, they have traced it to her gall bladder and will now examine that more thoroughly. One of our members, Bobbie Beasley, will soon begin her 5-year participation in a national cancer prevention research program. She will be given either Tamoxifen or a placebo to take twice daily, but will not know which one she is taking. She asks that the brethren pray that her ``decision to participate was the right one and that the experience will be beneficial with few, if any, negative side effects.'' Special thanks to Donna Jo Roberts who has made several contributions to help out with the work in this area. Donna is not a member here, but has visited a few times and appreciates the bulletin the church mails out. She writes, ``Thanks a bunch for the `Gospel Observer.' (Keep `em coming.) Do so much enjoy them!! Dave (my son) and I are always anxious to do the Bible Quiz!'' Though we never solicit any kind of outside support, we do appreciate the thoughtfulness of this concerned saint and others who have done likewise. We were glad to have Salina Vierheller with us last week as she was visiting with her sister Michelle Fleeman. Several of our members are away on vacation today: the Musics and Ola Cunningham. They will be back soon. We had a total of twenty-one visitors last month. To those of you who helped make up this number, it was good to have you with us; we look forward to seeing you again soon. If you would like to participate in a call-in radio program or just tune-in, set your radio dial to WTCV 1520 A.M. from 10:00 to 10:30 every Saturday morning for Bible Talk. If you're calling from the Portsmouth area, use 932-6111; from the Greenup area, dial 473-5086. Would you like to have a free Bible course mailed to your home? If so, send your address and request for ``Free Bible Course'' to the address shown on this bulletin. ___________________________________________ Being An Imitator by Tom Edwards Often we see many similarities between peoples--and not just within the family unit--such as with mannerisms, voice-likenesses, likes and dislikes, and in other areas as well. In view of this, we should be concerned with the type of role model we project--especially for our young people. I read of one such incident in which a woman had taken her parrot to the vets because it had been coughing very persistently. She was worried about it. How surprised she must have been when the doctor informed her that her bird was simply imitating its cigarette-smoking owner. When Paul exhorted the brethren by saying, ``Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ'' (1 Cor. 11:1), he did not mean for the saints to merely ``parrot'' him. Rather they were to obey the Lord from their hearts to the same degree and with the same determination as the apostle Paul did. In this way it wasn't a mere mimicry or a superficial ``copycat'' likeness, but the manifestation of a new life that was being developed within the one who had taken God's word to heart and allowed its transforming power to change him for the better as he responded to it with his faith and obedience. There are various reasons why people strive to emulate others: some do so for the sake of their own ego; others, in order to be accepted by their peers. This can often lead to trouble, and we must take heed to John's admonition: ``Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good....'' (3 John 1:11). Do you think there are many people today who do things without even questioning the moral or ethical nature of such? Remember, it isn't necessarily the majority that justifies a practice. Nor does long-time usage per se make something acceptable to God. I heard a story about a woman who would always cut off one-fourth of her turkey and broil just the other three-fourths. When explaining why she did it this way, she said it was because that was how her mother used to do it. When the mother was asked the reason for preparing her turkey this way, she responded with the same answer as her daughter. When the grandmother was finally asked, they all soon learned that she had done it this way because her broiler was never big enough for the entire turkey. In serving God, we can know the reason for why we should imitate the apostle Paul. If we do, we shall inherit everlasting life. Simply knowing this can help us to better make the necessary changes in our lives as we set our sights on that far-surpassing goal of heaven's blissfulness and ``imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises'' (Heb. 6:12). ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________