____________________________________________________ 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 8, 1995 ____________________________________________________ "Jesus Was No Good--He Made People ANGRY!!!" by Tom Edwards Can you imagine someone saying the above? Anyone who truly believes in the Lord would realize that Jesus certainly did no wrong simply because His message bitterly provoked some people (or should I say ``many''?)--even to an anger that was continually seeking ways to get rid of Him until it found its full expression on the cross of Calvary. No, we cannot blame the Lord for this cruel, merciless rage hurled upon Him by those who had no love for Him. Rather, this manifested anger was due to their own disregard of the truth. Though as Christians, it shouldn't be our intention to make other people upset, we need to realize that sometimes people will get this way (and even direct their anger back toward us) when we proclaim to them God's truth. For if Jesus--who, by far, knows how to be more tactful than any of us--upset people by His message; how could we think this would never happen with us? Sometimes, others become upset over hearing the gospel because of their lack of Bible understanding; but in some other instances, it is because of unbelief or because they love sin more than they love God, which causes them to become easily riled at hearing the Lord's message (John 3:19-21). In both the Old and the New Testaments are numerous examples of people becoming angry when hearing the word of the Lord. For instance, the crowd who listened to Stephen were so enraged by his speech that they were ``gnashing their teeth at him'' (Acts 7:54) and then picked up rocks and stoned him to death (v. 58). In the context, we don't read Stephen saying in his dying words, ``Lord, forgive me for making them angry,'' but we do read him saying, ``Lord, do not hold this sin against them'' (v. 60). The blame for this outrage was not on Stephen, but rather on these hatefilled persecutors whom Stephen addressed as being ``stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears'' (v. 51). They had become his cold-blooded murderers; and prior to his death, he had likened them to many of their forefathers by saying: ``Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become'' (v. 52). When people become angry with you for having spoken to them the truth, realize that it doesn't necessarily mean that you are to blame for their reaction--and, therefore, you need not always put yourself on a ``guilt trip.'' Remember the words of Jesus: ``Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you'' (Matt. 5:11,12). Peter states a similar thing: ``but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God'' (1 Pet. 4:13-16). Stephen had courage to stand for the truth even if doing so would result in his death. Paul was one who also had this kind of bravery. He once said to his own brethren in Galatians 4:16, ``Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?'' He, too, spoke God's word plainly and would never compromise it in order to please men and gain their favor; for if he were to do so, he would not be ``a bond servant of Christ'' (Gal. 1:10). When he had been staying at the home of Philip the evangelist in Caesarea, Paul was told by the prophet Agabus that he would be bound by the authorities in Jerusalem and delivered to the Gentiles. Though his friends had earnestly striven to dissuade him from going, Paul responded to their efforts by saying, ``What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus'' (Acts 21:13). This is deep commitment. Standing for the truth is not always easy, and others sometimes get upset with us for doing so, but is there any other way we can live and still make it to heaven? Remember the words of Jesus--and obey: ``Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven'' (Matt. 7:21). As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:22, ``And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.'' Let us strive to be tactful and not purposefully upset anyone with the word of God, but also realize that there will be those who will be angered when hearing the truth. Many were greatly upset when it was even Jesus Himself delivering that message; but, as we have seen, the guilt of their anger falls on them. In no way was it because of the messenger (in this case, Jesus), but, rather, it was because of the coldness that dwelt in their own hearts toward the truth. Let us teach God's truth in a spirit of love! ___________________________________________ GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION HEAR the gospel -- Romans 10:17; 1:16 BELIEVE in Jesus -- John 8:24 REPENT of your sins -- Acts 2:38 CONFESS your FAITH in Christ -- Acts 8:36-38; Matt. 10:32,33 BE BAPTIZED in water -- Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Pet. 3:21 REMAIN FAITHFUL throughout your life -- Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:36-39 ___________________________________________ ``Take Heed to...Singing'' by Bill Robinson, Jr. Of all the acts of worship we engage in, singing ranks among one of our greatest neglects and failures both individually and collectively. The thinking which spurs this neglect and failure is typified in the ``it doesn't make any difference how we sing'' attitude. The other attitude which contributes to our neglect and failure is found in the fault finding mentality which blames our singing [problems] on mechanics (I don't read music or they don't know music). Quite frankly, neither attitude understands the real problem! The real source of our neglect and failure in singing is that we do not ``give heed.'' It does make a difference how we sing. We are to sing with the ``spirit and the understanding'' (1 Corinthians 14:15). When we learn to ``sing with the spirit and the understanding'' it will affect how we sound. Someone has said, ``song and music are a language distinct from speech, they are the language of feeling.'' The Psalmist declared, ``It is a good thing to give thanks unto Jehovah, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High'' (Psalm 92:1). Just how good are our feelings toward Jehovah? Our singing is a good indication. It is time we got out of the thoughtless habit of attempting to render unto Jehovah an effortless worship in song, or anything else for that matter! Is there any command we can obey without devoting thought and effort in doing it and still be pleasing to God? Anyone who knows anything about the word of God would hardly think such could ever be the case. Singing is commanded by the word of God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). The revealed word of God being essential to our salvation; the inspired writer said, concerning the revelation, ``Therefore we ought to GIVE the more earnest HEED to the things that were heard, lest happily we drift away from them...How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation'' (Hebrew 2:1-3--CAPS mine for emphasis, B. R.). It is a pitiful reality that some brethren disdain singing to the point they refuse to attend a specific service because it is devoted to praising God in song! Do these folks disdain the thought of going to heaven?! We are made to wonder. The reason is because heaven is going to be filled with the joyful singing of those who have devoted thought and effort unto the praise of the Creator while on earth (Rev. 4:9-11; 5:9-11). -- abridged from The Castleberry Bulletin ___________________________________________ ONLY ONE ``T''IN DIRTY He was not too well educated and his manner was somewhat rough and crude. He became a Christian and was ``on fire for the Lord'' and kept pestering the preacher to help him be of some genuine service to his Saviour. In desperation, the preacher handed him a list of ten names with this explanation: ``These are all members of the church, but they seldom attend the services. Some of them are prominent men of the city. Contact them any way you can and try to get them to be more faithful. Here is some church stationary you may use to write them letters. Get them back to church!'' The man accepted the challenge with enthusiasm and rugged determination. About three weeks later a letter came to the church office from a prominent physician in the city--his name had been on the list. Inside the letter was a $1,000 check and this note: Dear Preacher, Enclosed is my check for $1,000 to make up for my missed contributions. I'm sorry for missing worship so much, but be assured that I will be present this coming Lord's day and every Lord's day following. I will not by choice miss worship again. Sincerely yours, M. B. Jones, M.D. P.S. Will you please tell your secretary that there is only one ``t'' in dirty and no ``c'' in skunk? -- author unknown (via The Dewey Avenue Bulletin, December 18, 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 ________________________________________