____________________________________________________ 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 15, 1995 ____________________________________________________ FAST SERVICE CHURCH?? by Rick E. Harlow I recently ran across an article in the ``Portsmouth Daily Times'' stating that the First American Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, was about to introduce ``fast service church'' for those individuals who wanted to get their weekly mandatory worship service in. The preacher there, Thaine E. Ford, has promised to get folks in and out in 22 minutes. Services would include a sermon, hymn singing, scripture reading and prayers. The sermon would be limited to eight minutes. Mr. Ford stated, ``There's no room in this service for a long-winded preacher.'' A footnote to the article stated, ``But plenty of time will be allotted for passing the collection plate.'' Isn't that special? I have one thing to say concerning Mr. Ford and his ``fast service church'' and that is shame, shame, shame. However, I guess that is what many folks want today and Mr. Ford is just supplying a product based upon popular demand. In the article there was no mention made of the Lord's Supper being partaken of. I guess that they could have individuals waiting at the front door to distribute the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine as folks were on their way out. I realize that this is not happening in a church of Christ (that I am aware of). However, there are some individuals who may be reading this article and thinking ``that sounds like a good idea to me!'' Once again I say shame, shame, shame. Instead of individuals looking for ways to get out of serving God they ought to be looking for more ways to serve Him. The attitude which led to the formation of the ``fast service church'' is an indication that many folks have their priority list ``all out of kilter.'' I would suppose that there are very few individuals left in our society today who have the attitude of the Psalmist. ``I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord'' (Psalm 122:1). How glad are you when you have the opportunity to gather together with other Christians to worship God? To those individuals who dread having to spend a few hours each week with ``those of like precious faith'' I would ask one question. If you don't like spending time with your brethren in the worship of God now, what makes you think that you're going to enjoy Heaven in eternity? Think about it!! I cannot promise that I will have individuals in and out of a worship service in 22 minutes. But I will promise to always preach the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ in a loving yet firm manner. I will try to encourage and admonish as necessary. This is the kind of preaching that is pleasing to God. ``Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine'' (2 Tim. 4:2). Brethren, if it was good enough for the apostle Paul and other 1st century Christians, it ought to be good enough for us today!! Fast service church? No, thank you!! I like my worship service the old fashioned way. Like they did in the 1st century. -- Via The Harvester, December 25, 1994 ___________________________________________ DO AS YOU PLEASE?!?! by Richard Fleeman For some reason, many have come to the conclusion that God has no specific plan for how a Christian must live. You'll hear things such as ``Join the church of your choice'', ``Just do what ever feels right'', and numerous other phrases. Let's look at this logic in light of the scriptures. One false concept is that to be saved, all you have to do is believe. As soon as you acknowledge in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God then you're saved. Consider Acts chapter 9 and chapter 22. Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus. We see that Saul was convinced he was to serve Christ. He was so serious that he did not eat or drink for three days (Acts 9:9). Can anyone deny that Saul believed? I think we all have to acknowledge he certainly believed. Yet was this good enough? The answer is NO! Even after Saul's encounter with Jesus and his strong desire to serve the Lord, we find Ananias giving Saul the following advice: Acts 22:16, `And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' It is obvious that Saul, even after meeting the Lord and desiring to serve Him, still had his sins. If Saul was ``saved on the road to Damascus'' as some would argue, then he was saved in his sins. The fact is, Saul was not saved until he did as Ananias instructed him. Saul arose and was baptized for the remission of his past sins. He was then saved. This makes sense. After all, that's what we find God commanded all throughout the New Testament (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21). So from this example we can deduct that Saul could not just do as he pleased, not just do what made him feel good, and not just believe. He had to follow the precepts given him to be right in the sight of the Lord. Others in the past have felt they could overlook God's commands and do as they pleased. Although some of these examples are from the Old Testament, we can still learn lessons from them. Think of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2). Although God commanded not to offer strange fire, they saw nothing wrong with it. What happened? God punished them; He killed them. Possibly the reason some doubt God will punish them is because they feel He is entirely a God of love. We cannot deny God is loving. A very popular verse is John 3:16. From it we learn that God loved the world so much that He allowed His Son Jesus to die for our sins. However, many fail to overlook the other side of God. God is also a wrathful person, an avenger. Repeatedly He punished and even brought death to His own children throughout Old and early New Testament times. Do you remember when Israel gathered more quail than God permitted? Num 11:33-34, ``But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.'' Do you think He has changed? Has He like some earthly fathers ``mellowed out'' in his old age? The answer is NO!! The Lord Himself says that He does not change (Mal 3:6). We find in Matthew 25:41 that God created hell for the devil and his angels. Among many other verses, we find in Matthew 10:28 we are to fear the one ``who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.'' Do you think this is an idle threat? It is not!! God will also banish any of His creation (man) to hell if they do not obey His voice. Consider the logic of those who think ``just do as you please'' and you'll be saved. If this were true, would not most people be saved? Aren't most people doing in this life what they feel is right or what they like to do? Wouldn't this contradict what we find in Mat 7:13-14? Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Have no doubt that God is willing to punish you. Think of all the Old Testament characters smitten dead on the spot. Think of the suffering He put Israel through for murmuring. Think of David's son dying because of the sins of his father (2 Sam 12:18). I encourage the reader to take their Bible and see if the things in this pamphlet are so. If they are, then why not do as Saul did? Obey that form of doctrine that is laid out for us in the New Testament. Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16), serve the Lord faithfully till death (Rev 2:10), and gain a home in heaven (John 14:2). ___________________________________________ WASTED YEARS I looked upon a farm one day, That once I used to own; The barn had fallen to the ground, The fields were overgrown. The house in which my children grew, Where we have lived for years-- I turned to see it broken down, And brushed aside the tears. I looked upon my soul one day, To find it, too, had grown With thorns and thistles everywhere-- The seeds neglect had sown. The years had passed while I had cared For things of lesser worth; The things of heaven I let go While minding things of earth. To Christ I turned with bitter tears, And cried, ``O Lord, forgive! I haven't much time left for thee, Not many years to live.'' The wasted years forever gone, The days I can't recall; If I could live those days again, I'd make him Lord of all. -- author unknown ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________