____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ February 7, 1999 ____________________________________________________ What Did God "Establish"? by Robert F. Turner World scholars seem to agree that the church was established in Jerusalem, the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. Acts 2 gives the record, and only a few with some creed to defend offer objection. But WHAT was established when the church was established? Foolish question?? Well, read Acts 2 carefully. Any ``dedication'' services? ``Chairman'' appointed? Any of the ``institutional'' procedure one would expect if today's common conception of ``church'' were correct? It just isn't there. Today the emphasis is upon the party--the church is something like a lodge, or ``Royal Order of Saints''--a society, somehow related to certain buildings. This conception is missing in God's record of establishment. Prophecies concerning the establishment of the church invariably refer to the relationship, or the basis for the relationship, between God and individuals. Isaiah says, ``the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains---'' referring to the establishment of God's law for all nations (Isa. 2:1-f). The promised kingdom was a promise of peace according to divine government (Isa. 9:1-f). The ransomed of Jehovah would walk in ``The Way of Holiness'' (Isa. 35:8-f). Little Red Wagon It seems many think of the church as something like a little red wagon. ``Established on Pentecost''--it stood ready to roll, and people could jump in and ride to heaven. But somewhere along the line a side-rail broke, an axle was bent, the tongue came loose, and finally a wheel fell away. Luther tried to put the wheel back on, but further bent the axle in his effort. Others replaced the tongue with a new but different instrument--unsuited to the purpose and function of the original tongue. Alas, the church was broken down and out of service. Then Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone determined to restore the church. They straightened the axle, replaced the tongue with an original model, repaired the side-rail and put the wheel back in place. Now people could again ride home to heaven. Have I stretched the picture? Perhaps--but only to emphasize what I believe to be an entirely erroneous conception of the church established on Pentecost. This is a denominational concept. It glorifies the ``party'' and does not properly distinguish between faithful and unfaithful people. WHO are The Church?? The word ``church'' is a collective noun, and it ``collects'' people. But not just any people. Christ's church consists of ``Saints and faithful brethren,'' ``a people for God's own possession'' (Col. 1:2; 1 Pet. 2:9). Of all the multitude gathered in Jerusalem, only those who ``gladly received his word'' and ``were baptized'' became members of the church (Acts 2:41). Members of the church do sin, but they are expected to repent and pray to God for forgiveness. Failing to do this, they are denied the fellowship of Christians (1 Cor. 5). A congregation of Christians who, collectively, no longer act in keeping with God's will is unworthy of a name and place among the churches of Christ (Rev. 2). The Lord's church consists of people identified with the truth--not just a people identified with a party. God's Establishment Unchanged What God established--truth--the New Covenant--never changes (1 Pet. 1:23-f). But the party--the people--could fall away (1 Tim. 4:1-f). First their attitude toward divine authority is altered; then their practices; then, usually many years later, their terminology. Because the rule is one thing, and the people who supposedly follow the rule is another, Paul said we must not measure ourselves by our selves (2 Cor. 10:12-f). One may ``stay with the building,'' ``stay with the preacher,'' ``stay with the elders,'' ``stay with 90% of the people''--and yet leave the church which God established. In fact, this is precisely the history of denominationalism with its creed-bound people. Christians today need to restudy their conception of Christ's church. We must rededicate ourselves, not to some ``party'' but to the Christ, and to His cause. I must know the truth, and obey it, regardless of the action of others--''in the church'' or out of it. I must remember that it is the purified and cleansed church--not the ``party''--that Christ promises to save eternally (Eph. 5:26-27). What God really established is firm and sure, and cannot be shaken (cf., Heb. 10:28). -- Via Plain Talk, January 1964 ___________________________________________ WHY DOESN'T GOD STRIKE THE WICKED? Why do the wicked prosper? Why doesn't God just zap them with fire from heaven? Why does He allow them to associate with His people? Is it right that the wicked practice evil with impunity while God is silent in heaven? The apostle Peter answers such questions in 2 Peter 2:9 where he said, ''...The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.'' It isn't a question of power, but timing. God is able; and when the time is ripe, He will remove the godly from temptation and punish the wicked. Since God is infinitely wise, we must rely on His judgment as to when to rescue us from temptation, and not give up when He puts off His vengeance on the ungodly. Believers will be tested, and God is not unmindful of our needs. We can count on His help in the right hour. In the meantime, we must rigidly hold to our faith in Him. It is true that God bears with the wicked for a time because according to 2 Peter 3:9, ``The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.'' Our problem is that we want God to thunder on the spot, and if He delays, it seems to us that He doesn't judge the world anymore. Nevertheless, Peter reminds us that the wicked will by no means escape their punishment, even if it isn't immediately enforced. Human government isn't perfect, and sometimes the innocent are punished and the guilty go free because our information isn't always sufficient for rendering the proper judgment. However, God is different. He knows all things, and within His own time, He will pass righteous judgment to all men. (Originally Written and/or Compiled by Tom Sutherland for Brief Phone Messages.) ___________________________________________ Real Love by Jere E. Frost Is there someone in this world you really love? I am not speaking of passion, an aching in the heart for, or even of an ecstatic delight in someone. True love transcends the realm of mere emotion. It involves emotion, all right enough, but much more! It depends more on the lov-er than on the lov-ee. The simplest and clearest proof of this is God's love for man. He loved us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8). The key to the love was in Him, not in us. He loved us, not because we were lovable, but because He is love (I John 4:8). It was love that spoke of forgiveness for those who with hatred and cruelty crucified him, even while he was on the cross. It is easy to ``love'' and think kindly of those who please us. Such love, if love is even the right word, does not require or reflect any noteworthy virtue or character. If we only love those who love and please us, we are no different than worldly men who react according to their own interests and feelings (Matthew 5:46). Agape' is the Greek word used in the New Testament for the love that is a virtue and issues from character. It is required of us toward God, family, brethren, strangers, and even enemies. It is the greatest of all virtues (I Cor. 13:13) and is uncommon. It is as uncommon to love and be conciliatory toward all men as it is common for worldly people to love those who please them. This is one of the ways by which we can distinguish the true followers of our Lord (John 13:35). Those who do not love are filled with excuses, that is, they have a self-justification in their own minds. I have known of brethren who would go for months and even years without even speaking to one another. I have known of fathers and sons fighting one another to the death, mothers and daughters deliberately hurting one another, siblings seeking to bring pain to one another, and erstwhile friends turning on one another. Yet all of them profess to love some folks, and can embrace and lavish tender care upon those they prefer. As ones altogether undeserving of heaven's love, but fully receiving it, each one of us is under solemn obligation to love. Never mind that everyone is not lovable. That's a given. Never mind that some may have done us wrong and hurt us. We must be willing; no, we must want to forgive. We must seek for reconciliations (Matthew 18:15; 5:23-24). An unforgiving spirit prevents us from receiving forgiveness from our heavenly Father (Matt. 6:14-15). Perhaps if we would keep a score of kindnesses received, and no score at all of hurts suffered, we would find loving others easier. A little more gratitude and a little less selfishness and self-pity can go a long way. -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, January 3, 1999 ___________________________________________ GROWING CALLUSED TO EVIL by Greg Gwin It is easy to tell if someone is experienced with hard physical labor. A simple look at their hands will show it. Those who work at such tasks develop thick calluses from the repeated exposure to their work environment. The things that once irritated them and produced sore blisters now no longer hurt them. They have grown accustomed to these abrasives; their bodies have adjusted to them, and there is no more adverse reaction. Sadly, too many Christians have developed a kind of spiritual callousness to the wicked world we live in. We are constantly bombarded by evil of every kind. We see it in person, we read about it, we view it on television, we hear it on the radio. We have unlimited access to it via the Internet and other media. Our neighbors are involved in it. Officials in high office are engaged in it. Initially all of this evil irritates us. We are upset and disgusted by it. But gradually, by long exposure to these things, we become hardened. We've grown accustomed to the evil, and it no longer bothers us. We have adjusted to it all and there is no more adverse reaction. We can view the immorality and not be shocked by it. We can hear of the perverted deeds and not be repulsed. We are ``street-wise.'' We know about illicit sex, drug abuse, and every sort of wickedness. We talk about them with ease. We have become calloused. The Lord does not want us to be this way. He desires us to live ``in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom'' (2 Cor. 1:12). He urges us to ``be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil'' (Rom. 16:19). He commands us to think on things that are ``pure, lovely, and of good report'' (Phil 4:8). Christian, are you keeping yourself ``unspotted from the world?'' (James 1:27) ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Ron Music has requested prayer for a couple people he works with: Butch Balderidge, who has lymphoma; and Jack Jarrell, who has a very rare kind of cancer. Let us be praying for these people. Being the first Sunday of the month, Rick Fleeman will be preaching for us tonight. Let us all be attendant and attentive. Greetings, Visitors! Please come again. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________