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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).
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February 14, 1999
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Must Be 21 to Attend
by Andy Diestelkamp
It was October 31, 1998. My family and I had just
enjoyed some good food, fun and conversation with those of
like faith in their home. After leaving their home we
traveled through the suburban sprawl of Chicagoland,
making our way on unfamiliar roads toward our next
destination. Even in areas without newly planted
subdivisions the roads connecting such communities can
become quite congested, so it was no surprise to suddenly
be confronted with bumper to bumper traffic. Was it an
accident? No, apparently the slow-down was caused by
people turning left off of our two-lane into the parking lot
of a church building. How refreshing! The lot was packed
and more were trying to squeeze in. As we passed by the
entrance, we saw a sign that indicated that it was a
Lutheran church building. There was another sign that said
``Haunted House.'' There was a zealous parking attendant
waving a flashlight and wearing an ugly mask. How
disgusting!
Did no one see the flagrant incongruity of a church
using horrific scenes of evil and darkness to entertain
people? ``Something is wrong with this picture,'' is all I
could think at the moment. Upon reflection, however,
perhaps it was not that great a contradiction. Paul did warn
Timothy ``that in latter times some will depart from the
faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of
demons'' (1 Tim. 4:1). Perhaps they were just celebrating
the source of their doctrines. More likely, they were just
``speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience
seared with a hot iron'' (1 Tim. 4:2). I wonder if that large
crowd returned the next morning (Sunday) to celebrate
Christ.
After that frightening scene we arrived safely at the
home of some saints where we spent the night and arose the
next morning to go worship with others. A few blocks from
their home we passed a Roman Catholic church building. I
think the sign said, ``St. Paul's.'' There was another sign
next to it. It was one of those yellow rental signs with the
black moveable letters. It told of an upcoming event, but I
can't tell you what it said exactly because my eyes were
immediately drawn to the red letters which said, (I am not
making this up) ``MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND.'' Now, I know
those weren't the words of Jesus! Maybe they marked the
boundary of the ``red light district.'' They were advertising
their ``Casino Night.''
What was going on in the Roman Catholic Church that
now one must be 21 to attend? Did no one see the flagrant
incongruity of a church using alcohol, gambling and who
knows what all to entertain people? ``Something is wrong
with this picture,'' is all I could think at the moment. Upon
reflection, however, perhaps it was not that great a
contradiction. Paul did warn Timothy that ``perilous times
will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of
money, boasters, proud, blasphemers . . . unholy . . .
without self-control . . . lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its
power. And from such people turn away!'' (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
Let's do that. Let's turn away; but we must turn away
from not only the people who promote such nonsense, but
from the carnal disposition that concocts such foolishness.
Only the gullible who are ``loaded down with sins'' and ``led
away by various lusts'' would fall for such swill. ``Men of
corrupt minds'' devise these schemes, ``but they will
progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all''
(2 Tim. 3:6-9).
Most in the world, including many in the religious
world, mock those ``who carefully follow'' the ``doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, [and]
perseverance'' of Christ's apostles (2 Tim. 3:10). Let's not
let that deter us knowing that ``all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.'' Sure ``evil men and
impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived, but as for you, continue in the things which you
have learned and been assured of'' (2 Tim. 3:12-14).
-- Via Think On These Things
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Three Answers to One Question
by Robert F. Turner
Could one question be given three differing answers,
and all answers be correct? Seems unlikely doesn't it? Yet
this is the case in the N.T. book of Acts when the question,
``What must I do?'' (to be saved) is asked.
The expressed answer given to the Philippian jailer
was ``Believe!'' (See Acts 16:25-34 for full account.) Some
insist that this expressed reply is complete, and hence
salvation is by faith only. However, a consideration of the
expressed replies given this question on other occasions will
show the fallacy of such reasoning.
When some of the Pentecost multitude asked, ``What
shall we do?'' they were told, ``Repent, and be baptized.''
(See Acts 2:6-38-f. for details.) And when Saul asked what
to do he was directed to Ananias, who told him to ``Arise,
and be, baptized.'' (See Acts 9:1-18 22:6-16 for the record.)
If only the expressed reply is to be considered we
would have to conclude that the jailer was saved by faith
alone, and that those on Pentecost were saved by
repentance and baptism (i.e., without any faith) and that
Saul was saved by baptism alone--without either faith or
repentance. Of course none of these conclusions are valid.
Why Did The Answers Differ?
Because the questions were asked by people in
different circumstances. A man in Burnet may ask how far
is it to San Antonio?'' and be told, ``100 miles.'' In Marble
Falls this question would get a different answer. And in
Blanco, the same question would get a third, and different
answer. Yet all would be part of one great truth.
There is no indication that the Philippian jailer had
either knowledge or faith in the Christian system; so he was
told to believe, and then ``they spake unto him the word of
the Lord.'' He repented, as indicated by washing their
stripes; and he was baptized, as stated in Acts 16:38. Thus
he truly believed (vs. 34).
But those on Pentecost heard the preaching of Christ
before they asked their question. The preaching ``pricked''
their hearts; i.e., they believed. Then they were told
``repent and be baptized.''
And Saul (later called Paul) had already believed, and
had spent three days penitently praying, when he was told,
``Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.''
Where Are You??
Your status or condition before God must be
considered in answering your question, ``What must I do?''
The Lord will save ``all who will obey'' (Heb. 5:9) and has
given one gospel to all (Gal. 1:8 Rom. 2:11). Have you
proven your faith by full and complete obedience to His
will?
-- Via Plain Talk, February 1964
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Examples Can Authorize
by Tracy Schell
Do we need authority for all that we believe and
practice? May we speak where the Bible does not speak? Has
God given us all the information we need to worship and
please him, or has he left that up to our discretion?
Assuming you believe the Bible is the divinely inspired word
of God, let's take a look and see what we can learn.
``If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God'' (1 Peter 4:11).
We may not substitute the oracles of man for those of
God, as people are apt to do. There seems to constantly be
in man the desire to circumvent the word of God and not do
things his way!
One way people attempt to get out of doing God's will
is by dismissing half of his holy word by claiming it's not
essential because it doesn't contain a ``command.'' Does this
mean unless a passage says, ``go'' or ``do'' or has some
other action verb in it, that the passages cannot be used
for doctrine?
``All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works'' (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
The inspired scripture has a wide variety of uses in
instructing the man of God. Note that we are not told that
any scripture is non-essential or not profitable for doctrine.
On the question of when to partake of the Lord's
Supper, some say you can partake any day of the week
because Jesus' only comment to his disciples was, ``as often
as ye..." (1 Corinthians 11:26). But the question of when is
given to us quite clearly:
``And upon the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto
them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his
speech until midnight'' (Acts 20:7).
While this clearly answers the question of when in my
mind, there are some that say this is merely the recording
of an event and that it carries with it no other meaning. A
brief review of principles of hermeneutics is in order.
Approved apostolic examples and necessary
implications are just as compelling and instructive as
express commands. They partook of the supper in Troas on
the first day of the week. We have a clear and
unquestionably approved example. We have no other
historical record in scripture about when they took the
supper. If we follow their example, we are on unquestionably
safe ground.
The implication of the passage is that, since they were
gathered to break bread on the first day, which is also the
day on which we know there is an express command to lay
by in store (I Corinthians 16:2), that this was their practice.
It is not said that ``upon the first day of the week, because
Paul was there...." Rather, it was on the day on which they
gathered to break bread that Paul came and preached to
them.
My brethren, do not be deceived by perverted
teaching that contradicts the obvious. Instead, heed Paul's
warning to the Galatians:
``I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you,
and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any
man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed'' (Galatians 1:6-9).
Yes, we need authority because we are required to
speak as the oracles of God. We have authority of
communing on the first day of the week, and are on safe,
apostolic ground to urge the practice on all.
-- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of
Christ, February 7, 1999
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NEWS & NOTES
Carol Music has requested prayer for her brother Dan
Hamm, who was recently hospitalized for a heart attack. He
has been undergoing testing to determine the cause.
Let us also be praying for my landlord, Ken Kazee. He
is now in the process of going through several tests that
will lead to his second hip-replacement, which has been
needful for some time now.
John Pitman and his wife Lou are away in Charleston,
West Virginia, today, where John will be preaching for the
Daugherty Street church of Christ.
Rick Fleeman did a fine job in preaching for us last
Sunday night. His topic was ``Intercession,'' which dealt
with various examples of God and man carrying this out.
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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
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