____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ May 2, 1993 ____________________________________________________ The Care of the Elderly by David A. Padfield The ten commandments were given by God at Mt. Sinai to govern His people (Exodus 20:1-17). These commandments can be divided into two sections. The first four commandments deal with one's relationship to God, the last six deal with one's relationship to his fellow man. In Exodus 20:12 we read, ``Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.'' Brother R. L. Whiteside made the following comments on this verse: ``This is the first commandment with promise. The parent that is worthy of the name seeks to preserve the health of his child and to keep him out of unnecessary dangers and exposures. The thoughtful child knows that the parent knows best what is good for him. One thing greatly lacking these days is a proper reverence for parents. Parents are greatly to blame, because they do not train their children to respect their will and wishes. Obedience to authority must be learned, and if that is not learned in the home, the child has a rocky road before him. If a child is not taught to respect the authority of parents, he is not likely to respect any other authority. Such a child is a criminal in the making. This commandment is plainly and pointedly set forth in the New Testament (Eph. 6:1,2).'' (Bible Studies, Vol. 1, pg. 204). Most people think of ``honoring father and mother'' only in terms of a young child or teenager being obedient to their parents. I believe this is only part of the issue. In the New Testament, our Lord applied Exodus 20:12 to those who sought to escape the burden of caring for their aging parents (Mark 7:10-13). Apparently, children (some of whom were no doubt parents themselves) exempted themselves from their obligation to ``honor'' their parents by declaring their money was ``dedicated to the temple.'' They didn't actually give the money to the temple, but they intended to do so. They then claimed they did not have the ability to financially care for their own parents. America today is full of children who do the same thing. Since the command to honor one's parents is repeated in the New Testament (Eph. 6:1,2), wouldn't those who seek to be relieved of this duty be just as guilty of sin as those to whom Jesus spoke? Greek law said children were morally and legally bound to support their parents. Philo, a contemporary of our Lord, said, ``When old storks become unable to fly, they remain in their nests and are fed by their children, who go to endless exertions to provide their food because of their piety.'' ``As Aristotle saw it, a man must himself starve before he would see his parents starve. Plato in The Laws has the same conviction of the debt that is owed to parents: `Next comes the honor of loving parents, to whom, as is meet, we have to pay the first and greatest and oldest of debts, considering that all which a man has belongs to those who gave him birth and brought him up, and that he must do all that he can to minister to them; first, in his property; secondly, in his person; and thirdly, in his soul; paying the debts due to them for their care and travail which they bestowed upon him of old in the days of his infancy, and which he is now able to pay back to them, when they are old and in the extremity of their need.''' (Daily Bible Study Series, William Barclay). In 1 Timothy 5:3,4 we are commanded to ``Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.'' The word ``repay'' is translated as ``requite'' in the King James Version. Goodspeed translates this verse as, ``to return the care of those who brought them up.'' We live in a time when sacred duties are often turned over to the state. Some Christians expect public charity to do what private piety ought to do. I have met children who expected the church to support their parents even though they were capable of doing so themselves. Some churches are excusing those who so sin and actually become a party to their sin by accepting the obligation in their stead. However, the New Testament still says, ``If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows'' (1 Tim. 5:16). The church is not to be charged with the care of aged saints, when children are still alive and capable of attending to their needs. Nearly everyone desires a large house and a nice car. But, how could anyone strive for these things and leave their own parents in need? ``Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses'' (Luke 12:15). I can just hear some of these ingrates crying, ``But it would be too crowded for them to stay at our house!'' That might be true. Your parents' house was probably crowded when you were young too. Others claim it would be too expensive to care for their parents. Your parents no doubt made sacrifices for you when you were in need many years ago. Others bemoan the fact that they wouldn't have any privacy if their parents came to stay. Well, you can ask your own parents about that one. ``Repaying your parents'' might mean you live in a crowded house, drive an older model car and wear faded clothes. Christians in the first century ``sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need'' (Acts 2:45). If they could do this for those whom they barely knew, shouldn't children be willing to do the same for their own parents? Children who neglect this obligation are worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8). Taking care of an aged parent is simply repaying the love they gave us in our time of need with love in their time of need. ___________________________________________ "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). ___________________________________________ The Empty Tomb by Roger Hillis In spite of all the statements Jesus had made about His resurrection, the disciples did not seem to anticipate it. But when they went out to preach the gospel, the basis of their message was the death and resurrection of Christ, a message of power and salvation (Philippians 3:10). As the disciples approached the empty tomb on the third day after Jesus' crucifixion, they were confused (Luke 24:4). Where was He? What did the empty tomb mean? It meant... That Jesus is the Savior Jesus did many miracles during His lifetime for the purpose of showing WHO He was (John 3:2; 20:30-31). His greatest miracle, the one which proved His divinity, was His resurrection. ``{He was} declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead'' (Romans 1:4). This validated all of His claims--only begotten Son of God, one with all authority, the Christ, Lord, Savior! That salvation is available for all. ``But we see Jesus...crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone'' (Hebrews 2:9). ``And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him'' (Hebrews 5:9). That we will all be raised from the dead. ``And God has both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power'' (1 Corinthians 6:14). Jesus is called the ``firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep'' (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). In the last day, all will be raised (John 5:28-29). That we will all be judged. ``Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all, in that He has raised Him from the dead'' (Acts 17:31). ``So then each of us shall give account of himself to God'' (Romans 14:12). The resurrection of Jesus is the very foundation of the Christian's faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-24). It is the one argument for Christianity that all must answer. If Jesus is not the Son of God, how did He come back to life? If He is (and His resurrection proves it!), then everything else He said is true. How, then, can you reject Him? Examine the evidence and obey Him today. ___________________________________________ Repentance 'Tis not enough to say, I'm sorry and repent, And then go on from day to day Just as we always went. Repentance is to leave The sins we loved before, And show that we in earnest grieve By doing them no more. -- Selected (actually title not known) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________