____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 31, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Behold, The Pattern by Jeffrey L. Dorton Congregations that have existed for any amount of time have pretty well made a stand on congregational cooperation. Soldiers who fought battles of the 50's and 60's need to know how much they are admired and appreciated. The appeals made by liberal brethren did not waver the cry of ``What saith the Scriptures?'' or ``Where is the Pattern?'' No amount of emotion or sympathy could change the truth. Let's not forget the debates, discussions, divisions, and tears. For what? For the truth that God has given us. There is not a week that goes by that our congregation does not receive a request for benevolent support. With the present economic situation pretty much the same over the country, it would be safe to say that this happens to other congregations as well. Time is devoted in business meetings considering these requests. Have we considered the pattern when we come to this type of cooperation? Is one congregation authorized to give directly to a benevolent case in another congregation? In Philippians 1:5 the congregation has fellowship with the evangelist in the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 2:25-30, 4:14-20; 2 Corinthians 11:8-9--in these instances the church sent to Paul directly in support of his preaching. No example of benevolence here, this is evangelism, let's keep that in mind. In Acts 11 Antioch sent relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. Famine had made them destitute. The point to be noticed is that in verse 30 the relief was sent to the elders among the brethren who dwelt in Judea. The contributing church did not send directly to the needy person or persons, as was done in the case of evangelism, but sent to the elders of the local congregation for distribution. I believe this is the divine pattern. A congregation that takes from its treasury and gives to an individual in another congregation directly without going through the receiving church is lacking authority for its actions. Who better knows or should know the spiritual and physical well-being of its members than the local church and its elders? Who better to cry out for help than the church? Equality is possible in benevolence when this is done (2 Corinthians 8:13-14). However, when individuals begin to do the asking and receiving, the New Testament pattern is side-stepped because congregations respond to the individual and not to the local congregation. The individual has no right to ask or receive money from congregations other than the one of which he is a member. Hence, churches are to interact, not individuals to churches or vice versa. In essence, if the individual who is the benevolent case asks for and accepts funds from other congregations, he becomes the sponsoring agent replacing the local church. This is not the pattern for benevolence in the New Testament. Remember brethren, not able to help and not willing to help are two different things. Sometimes a church will help a needy member with a token amount and then rely on other congregations to take up the slack. For example, a congregation may have a member with a need of $20,000 while they have $50,000 in the bank. They give the needy one $5,000 (``be ye warmed and filled'') and expect others to chip in while $40,000 is earmarked for paving the parking lot! Who among us can think that such a thing is actually benevolence? Just think, would it have been right for the churches of Macedonia to give while they were in poverty and Jerusalem had money in the bank? If a church accepts or allows the individual to accept benevolence while they could take care of the problem, they then become a type of sponsoring church. If not, why not? Why should other congregation(s) be asked to make a sacrifice that they themselves are not willing to make? When benevolent requests are made full detail of the monies that are needed, the bills owed, etc. are generally stated. These are all 99% made from the individuals that need relief. Sometimes, a side letter from someone who worships with them (i.e., elder, preacher, etc.) stating how faithful and deserving they are of relief. I am not doubting the genuineness of any requests. But, when was the last time your congregation received a benevolent request from a congregation for one of its members? Would such a letter contain a description of the problem, giving you a detailed report of their own financial condition and plans that they had to relieve their own benevolent problem so you as a congregation could make a decision about them? The point is--we have failed to consider all things. Whose responsibility is it to ask for relief? What needs to be considered about the congregation of which the benevolent case is a member? Who do we write the check to? To what extent should the congregation with the benevolent case be involved? Does the individual or the church let you know when the need has been met? Think on these things. Brethren, it doesn't matter who is involved, how long we have done it or how much emotion is involved. Too many times the determining factor for helping those outside your own congregation is how well known the person is, who the parents are, or what ``position'' they hold in their respective areas. We must always remember ``Behold, the pattern.'' -- Via With All Boldness, May 1994, Volume 4, No. 5 ___________________________________________ SIX THINGS ``CHURCH MUSIC'' DEMANDS by John Isaac Edwards There are a total of ten passages in the New Testament which deal with ``church music'' (Matt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26; Ac. 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Heb. 13:15; Jam. 5:13). From these ten passages, let's consider six things ``church music'' demands. 1) Speaking. In Ephesians 5:19, Paul wrote, ``Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs....'' To stay within the confines of Bible authority, speaking must characterize the music of the church. This speaking is to be done ``to yourselves,'' that is, one to another, and should not be left to a select few such as a choir. 2) Teaching. Colossians 3:16 says, ``Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.'' If when the church comes together there is singing, but no Bible class or lesson delivered from the pulpit, one cannot rightfully say that there was no teaching. One of the methods through which the church teaches is through its music. 3) Admonishing. ``The difference between `admonish' and `teach' seems to be that, whereas the former has mainly in view the things that are wrong and call for warning, the latter has to do chiefly with the impartation of positive truth'' (Vine). The music of the church demands warning based on instruction (Cf. Col. 3:16). 4) Understanding. The music of the church, whatever kind it is, is designed to be understood. Paul said, ``What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also'' (1 Cor. 14:15). We must place emphasis on our music, for it must be understood! 5) Singing. The Hebrew writer recorded, ``I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee'' (Heb. 2:12). The apostles sang praises (Matt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26). While in prison, Paul and Silas sang praises to God (Ac. 16:25). 6) An instrument. Without an instrument, the music of the church would be vain. Paul revealed, ``Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord'' (Eph. 5:19). The specified instrument through which the church is to ``make melody'' is the heart. The heart excludes any other type of instrument! -- Via Ellettsville Church Bulletin, January 27, 1994 ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________