____________________________________________________ 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 14, 1999 ____________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________