____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ March 13, 1994 ____________________________________________________ "I Don't Want To Get Involved" by Don Truex In theory, none would deny the importance of the local body of believers. Our participation, however, sometimes belies the true sentiment of our hearts. Much of this discrepancy would be alleviated if we were to truly come to understand the concept of ``membership'' in the body. Listen to Paul: ``For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,'' (Romans 12:4-5). Membership in a local church implies much more than simply having one's name and picture in a directory. It acknowledges that we are willing to fulfill the ``one another'' obligations that are essential to the relationship, i.e., ``love,'' ``serve,'' ``bear with,'' ``admonish,'' ``forgive,'' etc. What can we do to be better involved in the local church? Let me suggest several things. First, realize your dependence. No Christian can function effectively by himself. Just as a hand severed from the arm ceases to function and will inevitably die, so also a Christian who does not participate with the other members of the body is destined to decay and die spiritually. Sometimes you hear a brother say, ``I don't need the local church. I can function just fine by myself.'' Really? Then you're saying you know more about spiritual health than the apostle Paul. He taught that one member can never say to another, ``I don't need you!'' (1 Corinthians 15:21). Second, emphasize equality. No member of a local body of believers should feel smug or superior to any other (Romans 12:3). God designed both the physical and spiritual body so that all the members are important. The applications of this principle are legion. Members of our physical body are quick to aid any injured member, do not ambitiously draw attention unto themselves, and will willingly imperil themselves in order to protect a weaker member of the body. So also in the local church, when we learn to ``bear one another's burdens'' as we do ``nothing through selfish ambition or empty conceit'' being certain to ``bear the infirmities of the weak''--when we do that, the body as a whole is strengthened. Third, work for unity. God designed the human body to love harmony and hate discord. In fact, when there is discord in the human body we say that it has a ``disease.'' The principle holds true spiritually as well. That's why Paul encourages us to ``endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace'' (Ephesians 4:3). Now, how healthy would the body be if every member functioned just like you? ___________________________________________ Who am I? by Steven J. Wallace Moses asked God, ``Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt'' (Ex. 3:11)? Many people today wonder similar things. 1). YOUNGER PEOPLE Some younger people may wonder who they are. Some may ask, ``Who am I that I should serve the Lord, when few others do?'' It can be hard for some young people to resist temptation whether in high school or in college. It can be hard for some to resist sharing in foolish talk or ``corrupt communication'' (Eph. 4:29). It can be hard to go against the flow when you are with your peers, but you can do it if you try. The reward is worth it. A person will attain more respect from respectable people if he/she refuses to partake of something evil. The conscience of the one who refuses to associate with the evil incident will remain clear and free, rather than often reflecting back to the impious time with resentment. Solomon once wrote, ``Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth...'' (Ecc. 12:1). 2). OLDER PEOPLE Some older people may ask, ``Who am I that I should keep laboring in the Kingdom?'' The older people who continue to press on with the bedrock principles laid forth in the Bible are highly appreciated. The Lord's church always used older folks to teach the younger. Imagine Timothy and Titus without Paul. Paul addressed them as his sons (I Tim. 1:2; II Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4). I am sure that Timothy's grandmother and mother, Lois and Eunice, help greatly with his faith (II Tim. 1:5). How could the church ever had elders if people are retiring from the duty to our Lord? We need active, older Christians to guide the younger. The Ethiopian eunuch recognized this principle before his baptism, when he said concerning the ability to understand scripture, ``How can I, unless someone guides me'' (Acts 8:30-31). 3). EVERYONE There are many people, younger and older, who have had to take a stand either for something that is right, or against something that is wicked. We need not concern ourselves with the thoughts of men, but rather, the thoughts of God. Moses had to confront error all his life. He ran from it at first (Ex. 2:15). He tried to make excuses later (Ex. 4:10-17). The Lord encouraged him, and Moses obeyed, becoming one of the greatest men to walk on earth. Later in life, Moses wrote, ``You shall not follow a crowd to do evil...'' (Ex. 23:2). This great statement has echoed throughout time to even now. The apostles answered the Jewish council, ``We ought to obey God rather than men'' (Acts 5:29). Instead of asking, ``Who am I that I should serve the Lord?'', we should rather ask, ``Who am I that I should serve sin and die?'' The Word of God ask, ``Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this'' (Esth. 4:4)? ``Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord'' (I Cor. 15:58). ___________________________________________ Write Today for FREE BIBLE COURSE ___________________________________________ The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (Matt. 7:28,29). "And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" (Matt. 9:35). ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________