____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ May 16, 1999 ____________________________________________________ The Folly of Worldliness Jere E. Frost GOD CALLS UPON US to be spiritually minded, to abhor what is evil and to cleave to what is good (Romans 12:1,2). Yet temptations, both brazen and subtle, seek to steal away our hearts from the beauty and simplicity of divine truth and holy living. It was love for this present world that caused Demas to forsake the right way (2 Timothy 4:10). Many professing Christ have been similarly enticed and enthralled by worldly desires. John gives us five reasons why it is sheer folly. ``Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever'' (I John 2:15-17). 1. He alienates himself from God. ``If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.'' It is impossible to love God and the world at the same time for they are utterly incompatible. Though we have the capacity to love either, seeing we have the power of choice, there is no way we can love both. The love of one precludes love of the other. The language can be even stronger. When we walk in sin we not only demonstrate a lack of love for God, but we make ourselves an enemy. Note in the following passage that God is not set forth as the enemy of the sinner, but rather the sinner in his own mind is set forth as the enemy of God. ``And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled'' (Colossians 1:21). ``No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other'' (Matthew 6:24). 2. He is wrong. ``For all that is in the world is not of the Father, but is of the world.'' Everything that is ``of the world'' in the passage is that which appeals to the baser nature of man. It is therefore that which is low, selfish, unworthy and vain. All that it offers can be summarized in the three divinely made points: (1) lust of the flesh, (2) lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life. By ``lust of the flesh'' we see the craving desire to indulge in sensuality and pleasure. It is low, disgraceful living. ``Lust of the eyes'' depicts essentially greed and covetousness, the eager desire to possess for the sake of possessing. The ``pride of life'' is the love of status and glory in the eyes of others. It is concerned with image, not character or usefulness. These three pictures show not only the vileness of our conduct, but the corruption of our hearts, when we let sin seize our souls. 3. It is temporary. ``The world passeth away, and the lust thereof.'' This plainly declares that there is no lasting gain or advantage in sin. The pleasures of sin, as Moses wisely discerned, are ``for a season'' (Hebrews 11:25). But the consequences are eternal, and they must be forever suffered in hell's agonies. An eternity lost! And for what? -- a moment's pleasure, a bauble that glitters, or a puffed-up pride. 4. There is a better way. ``But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'' This is the way of nobility and character. It is attended in life by a peace of mind and renders one useful to God and man in the highest sense. And seeing that it is God who made man, and who best knows man, and whose will is set forth as a guide for man, it naturally and necessarily follows that this is the only way man can attain a full measure of happiness and hope. Is it not the height of folly for a man to disdain and reject the privilege and pleasure of ``walking in the light'' with his God? Righteousness is infinitely better than a life of sin. 5. Eternal life. ``He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'' What a glorious triumph! This old earth, and all that pertains to it, is destroyed. The pleasures and lust of sinful society, ``the world,'' and now without attraction or appeal. The glitter is gone. But he that did the will of God abides, and his treasures survive the world, and he himself is clothed with a new body, like His, ``for we shall see him as he is'' and ``so shall we ever be with the Lord'' (I John 3:2; I Thess. 4:15-18). Wherefore, brethren, love not the world, but rather love God with all your heart, soul and mind. You will be glad--both here and hereafter. -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, April 25, 1999 ___________________________________________ Learn In Silence by Chuck Bartlett Paul, while writing a letter to Timothy, gave an admonition concerning women; he said, ``Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence'' (I Tim. 2:11,12). This is one of those verses that is widely misunderstood and misapplied. Let us begin by acknowledging four basic principles. 1. Titus was told to exhort the older women that they should teach the younger women (Titus 2:3,4). To remain silent in this area would violate God's word. 2. Women, who are married and have children, have duties to fulfill as a parent. We are told in Ephesians 6:1,2, that mothers are to be obeyed, along with the fathers. This implies that a woman can and should instruct their children. As we can see, it would be hard to instruct if one has to remain silent. 3. There is a universal command that states, ``always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you....'' (I Pet. 3:15). If a woman were questioned about her faith and always refused to defend her faith, she would violate this command. 4. Husbands and wives can and should teach people when there is an opportunity. In Acts 18:24-26, Aquila and Priscilla, took a man aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him. Having noted these four points, we can now proceed to examine I Timothy 2:11,12. This text states that the woman is not permitted to teach, but we know she does teach--other women, children, those who ask about her faith, and others who are wrong about things. Some have failed to understand that the word ``silent'' in these verses does not mean a closed lip; rather, the word means ``quietness.'' This is the same word used in II Thessalonians 3:12, describing the duty of all saints to work in quietness. This doesn't mean ``to say nothing''; but it is more a demeanor, which Paul pointed out to Timothy (I Tim. 2:9). Another important fact to be aware of is that the Timothy text is not talking directly about the church when it comes together. This is a general rule concerning the place of women. Paul taught this principle to the brethren at Corinth when he wrote, ``But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God'' (I Cor. 11:3). Men and women need to remember their place. There is always a danger for a woman to cross the line from speaking in a submissive manner and that of usurping her authority. It is just as wrong for a husband, or teacher in an informal Bible study class, to allow a woman to lead the class. It's one thing to answer a question, read a passage, defend your faith, etc., but it is something else to run the show. Obviously, there is a grave responsibility for a woman to guard against sinning in this fashion. Let us not bind or loosen where the Lord hasn't. -- Via Sound Doctrine, April 25, 1999 EDITOR'S note: As Chuck points out in this lesson, the command for a woman not to teach (1 Tim. 2:12) does not mean that she is not to teach--period. And he gives us examples in which she is to do so. In addition, we can note that the command not to teach is modified with the phrase ``over the man.'' That is the key. She is not to teach (or usurp authority) ``over the man,'' for that is what would be wrong. For a similar idea, consider Acts 4:18, ``And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.'' Were the authorities commanding the apostles ``not to speak'' period? No; but what they did command them was that they were not to ``speak...in the name of Jesus.'' In other words, they could say whatever they wanted to say, providing it didn't have anything to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Ella Mae Maynard (Carol Music's aunt) who recently passed away. Others that you night know who have also passed away recently: Harry Lewis' wife Wilma (of Evansville, Indiana); Robert Jackson's wife Juanita (of Nashville), and Rick Harlow's mother Phyliss (of Sciotoville, Ohio). Let us be praying for the family and friends of these people. ___________________________________________ Why Saul And Not Me? by Bill Hall When one studies the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, he is immediately impressed with one unique feature. Saul saw the Lord (Acts 8:1-18; Acts 22:3-16; Acts 26:4-20--Observe: one must study three chapters in the book of Acts to get a full picture of Saul's conversion). In all other accounts of conversion after Pentecost, the Lord appeared to no one. He did not appear to this writer when he was converted. Further, there is strong evidence that He did not appear to the reader. Why, then did He appear to Saul? Some have thought that He appeared to Saul to save him. If so, the Lord didn't know it, for when Saul asked, ``Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?'' Jesus replied, ``Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do'' (Acts 9:6). If so, Ananias didn't know it, for when Ananias was sent to Saul, he told him, ``And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord'' (Acts 22:16). Saul was still in his sins when Ananias came to him and would still be in his sins until he obeyed Ananias' instructions. Why did the Lord appear to Saul? We should let the Lord Himself tell us: ``I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness...Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee'' (Acts 26:16,17). The word ``apostle'' means ``one sent,'' especially one who is sent of God. Saul, in being sent by the Lord to the Gentiles, would become the apostle Paul, the specially commissioned apostle to the Gentiles. The Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus, not to save him, but to qualify him for that great work. The Lord's appearance to Saul did not take away Saul's options. The Lord does not force anyone to serve Him, and He did not force Saul to do so. Saul faced obstacles that might have hindered others: His teacher, Gamaliel, would be disappointed in him; so would his parents; so would his fellow-Jews generally. Too, Saul knew that severe persecution would be his as a Christian. None of these proved to be a hindrance to Saul, however. He laid aside the obstacles. He was ``not disobedient unto the heavenly vision'' (Acts 26:19). The lost person of this generation does not need to see the Lord to be saved. He should not wait, hoping for some heavenly vision. If he will do what Saul did, he, too, will be saved. The Lord did not appear to me because I was not to be an apostle. But the Lord did save me, and He will save the reader. Why not obey? -- Via The Old Path II, April 5, 1998 ___________________________________________ Free Bible courses are available upon request. Why not enroll for one today? ________________________________________ 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 fax number: (603) 687-2097 Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________