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December 2003: 7,
14, 21, 28
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"Are
Church Bulletins Wrong?"
By Paul R. Blake
(The following question was
asked by a conscientious brother in Ohio who wanted
to know if it was scriptural for a congregation
to print and mail a bulletin to disciples in other
congregations. His concern was that it might be
a violation of local church autonomy. This answer
might help us better understand this important
aspect of church organization. ---prb)
........"My
questions surround scriptural support for a congregation's
(not the individual's) responsibility to the brotherhood.
What obligation does a congregation have toward
the evangelism, edification and benevolence of
the brotherhood? Specifically, what scriptural
pattern can we point to for a congregation to
undertake the responsibility and work of compiling,
editing, publishing and distributing in a bulletin
for the purpose of edifying those that read it?"
........Perhaps these
passages will be a good place for both of us to
begin. "Then news of these things came to
the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they
sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch"
(Acts 11:22). The church at Antioch did not solicit
Jerusalem to send Barnabas, but the Jerusalem
disciples saw a need and offered their services
through the evangelist Barnabas. Antioch still
retained their autonomy and could have refused
Jerusalem's offer of help. Instead, the context
appears to indicate that they profited by Jerusalem's
foresight and generosity.
In addition, the missionary journeys of Paul,
Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, Luke, et al, manifest
to us an example of devout men working in cooperation
with one another to establish local churches and
to re-visit those local churches to encourage
them to be faithful and grow. On occasion, they
were commissioned by congregations that sent them
to the work. These congregations supported the
preaching of truth without interfering in the
work of the other local churches.
........In Romans
15:25-27, the Jerusalem congregation is credited
with sending evangelists to the brethren in Macedonia
and Achaia, who themselves send financial aid
in return to famine stricken Judea. These examples
show approval of one congregation taking an interest
in the spiritual welfare of another. However,
the structure of that interest must be limited
by the specifics of the examples.
........1) The assistance
offered must be authorized. They sent messengers
with the word of God, an authorized work of the
church.
........2) The assistance
can be accepted or refused by the receiving congregation.
Antioch, Achaia, and Macedonia received the preachers
but still retained the right to refuse their help
(the right of local, self-government).
........There is
no violation of autonomy in this. When Tomlinson
Run holds a meeting and invites Wellsburg, Lisbon,
Toronto, New Cumberland, Westside, et al, no autonomy
is violated by our invitation; we are offering
the gospel and asking them to come and hear it.
Second, they retain the right to come or not to
come. If TR mailed out its bulletin to the same
congregations, we would be offering gospel teaching
to fellow disciples in other places. They retain
the right to read it or to refuse it. Autonomy
is not violated.
........Sociologically,
I've noticed we have become a bit hyper-sensitized
to charges of violating autonomy to the extent
that we are uncomfortable, even with authorized
relationships between brethren in neighboring
congregations. I think there are two reasons for
this.
........First, our
battles over institutionalism have left us with
the fear that we might inadvertently slip into
a cooperative church action, or some other violation
of autonomy. Second, we have allowed the advocates
of the current fellowship digression to define
autonomy for us. Autonomy only means that local
churches make decisions for themselves in matters
of expediency and in the practical aspects of
carrying out the work of the local church. It
does not mean that each local church must operate
quarantined from the influence of devout disciples
from elsewhere. Nor may autonomous local churches
make decisions in matters of doctrine without
consequence.
As a member of a congregation in northeastern
Ohio, you might find this bit of history interesting
and perhaps even relevant to your good questions.
The following was taken from the old Brown Street
bulletin, The Enlightener.
........"Recently,
we have received several notes accusing Brown
Street of violating the autonomy of other churches
by mailing the Enlightener to their members. That
same sort of censure was levied against the paper
in its infancy. (He quotes Cecil Willis, former
editor of the Enlightener) 'Some who do not understand
the Bible teaching on autonomy have inferred or
plainly stated that the Brown Street church is
violating the autonomy of other churches when
it mails its bulletin to persons who are not members
at Brown Street. Instead, it appears more likely
that the elders and preachers who so maintain
are trying to control the reading material of
the members of each respective church. The Catholic
Church has an "index" of proscribed
reading material. Some elderships would like the
prerogative to tell members what they can and
cannot read'" (James W. Ward, Cecil Willis,
"Autonomy and the Enlightener," The
Enlightener, 11/70, vol. 6, no. 4).
........In short,
the church has the obligation to carry the word
of God to all of the world. To assert that local
churches may only teach the lost in all the world,
but may not edify the saved in all the world,
carries the onus of the burden of proof. Suppose
TR decided to mail its bulletin to disciples who
request it at a neighboring congregation to encourage
and edify the saints there, and we did so based
on the example of Jerusalem sending Barnabas to
Antioch. Now suppose some brother objected. The
burden of proof falls upon him to prove why we
cannot follow this New Testament example in doing
an authorized work. When one objects to a scripturally
authorized work, he must supply evidence why it
is wrong. None exists for this. Your stated concern,
"because it might violate autonomy,"
is not enough to answer the burden of proof. Thank
you for asking such a good Bible question.
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"It's Just A Building"?
By Monroe Pressnell
........My house is
just a building, but it's mine. I paid for it. The
fact that it's mine is recorded at the local courthouse
and all the neighbors know that it's mine. I may allow
certain activities to go on at my house but because
it's mine you must have my permission to conduct those
activities in my house. You may not have activities
in my house just because it's convenient or it's just
the right size or because that's where lots of people
would come for that kind of event. The key to what
happens at my house is "who owns my house."
........Many times when
we question people about activities taking place in
a church building, their reply is "it's just
a building." Let me suggest that it is not just
a building. That building was paid for by the Lord.
(Money that was laid by in store upon the first day
of the week, into the treasury of the church, the
Lord's church, was then the Lord's particular treasure
and could only be used by the permission of the Lord
as taught in His Holy Word). The fact that it's the
Lord's is recorded in heaven and all the people in
the community knows that it belongs to the Lord (or
at least they should know that it does). The Lord
allows certain activities to go on in His building,
but because it's His, we must have His permission
to conduct those activities there. We cannot use His
building for events just because it's the right size
building or because it's convenient for many people
to meet and they would come to certain activities
held there. We must have His permission to use His
place. The key to what happens in the house of the
Lord is who owns it. People cannot make those decisions
for the owner.
........We have just
completed a new auditorium where I worship. We built
that building with the Lord's money because He give
us permission to do so (Heb. 10:25). We did not build
a kitchen, game rooms, or a family life center, because
the owner has not given us permission to do that.
We will use this new building for activities that
we have permission from the owner to do. We'll meet
there to worship the Lord in song, in prayer, in study
of His word, in partaking of the Lord's Supper, in
giving as we have prospered. We do this because the
owner has given us permission to do so. But you say
the building is not the church, and I agree. Still
the Lord's money purchased that building just like
my money purchased my house. Don't you think that
the Lord has the same rights about a building that
He funded as I do a building that I funded?
........The Lord has
given us instructions about what goes on in His building.
To do other things there surely does not please Him.
I wonder how many people who say in reference to the
church building "it's just a building" feel
the same way about the house that they own -- would
they allow activities in their house without their
permission? Would they give the Lord as much respect
as they demand? Think about it! (Gospel Power, Vol.
10, No. 48, Nov. 30, 2003)
Changing the Label Makes Sin
More Dangerous
........One of America's
great needs is to recognize sin for what it is. We
are too prone to explain it away, or to soften its
horrors. Wilbur Chapman tells of a distinguished minister
who preached on sin, and one of the leading members
came to talk to him in his study. He said to the preacher,
"We don't want you to talk so plainly about sin,
because the more our boys and girls hear you talking
about sin the more easily they will become sinners.
Call sin a mistake if you will, but do not speak so
plainly about it being just plain outright sin.
........The preacher
took down a small bottle from the shelf marked "POISON"
and showed it to the visitor. It was a bottle of strychnine.
He said, "I see what you want me to do. You want
me to change the label. Now, suppose I took off this
label marked "Poison" on this bottle, and
put on some mild label, such as "Oil of Anise,"
don't you see what happens? The milder you make the
label, the more dangerous you make the poison!
........And so it is
with sin. It is hideous and horrible and no amount
of whitewashing will change the picture. It must be
branded for what it really is if we are to escape
its blighting devastation. (Contributed)
A
Bible Riddle
Contributed by Edith Nuzum
........A person quite
lovely is my name.
........My name in the
Bible not often is seen.
........I was one of
four before the Flood,
........Whose name in
the record since has stood.
........Another in the
Bible is known by my name,
........Whose husband
and son were both men of fame?
........All my People
had to suffer a curse,
........Because of a
sin of which none is worse.
........My brother is
known much better than I,
........But my name you
can find if you honestly try.
A Moment's Wisdom
God cannot use you until you are willing
to have the world point the finger of scorn at you.
If a man could have half his wishes he would double
his troubles.
It takes a wise man to recognize a wise man.
There is this difference between happiness and wisdom:
he that thinks himself the happiest man, really is
so; but he that thinks himself the wisest, is generally
the greatest fool.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom
is humble that he knows no more.
Wisdom is only found in truth.
He who learns the rules of wisdom without conforming
to them in his life is like a man who ploughs in his
field but does not sow.
He who provides for this life, but takes no care for
eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
A man can do what he ought to do; and when he says
he cannot, it is because he will not.
People do not lack strength; they lack will.
Wait in prayer. Call on God and spread the case before.
Express your unstaggering confidence in him. Wait
in faith, for unfaithful, untrusting waiting is but
an insult to the Lord. Wait in quiet patience, not
murmuring because you are under the affliction, but
blessing God for it.
It is not from nature, but from education and habits
that our wants are chiefly derived
Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have
more.
How few our real wants, and how vast our imaginary
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The Legends of
Christmas
(Edited)
..........Christmas
takes its name from the Roman Catholic "Christ's
Mass" or celebration of the Christ. This "mass"
was first celebrated on various dates beginning about
200 AD, but was finally set on December 25 by Bishop
Liberius of Rome in 354 AD. The December date, which
almost coincides with the winter solstice (December
21), became a popular festival of Western Europe during
the Middle Ages. But as late as the nineteenth century,
Christmas celebration was suppressed in Scotland and
New England because of some religious differences.
December 25th is a Roman Catholic "tradition"
-- not New Testament doctrine.
..........All professed
Christian nations have traditions which have become
a part of the Christmas season. For example, England
has contributed the tradition of decorating with holly
and mistletoe, caroling and gift giving. The Christmas
tree is a medieval German tradition, and the carol
"Silent Night" also comes from Germany.
The United States first made Santa Claus popular in
New York, popularized the Christmas card about 1846,
and made the major contribution of commercializing
Christmas. Christmas is a collection of traditions
from many nations. It is not New Testament teaching.
..........Saint Nicholas,
one of the most popular saints honored by the Greek
and the Latin churches was actually a real person
who lived in the 4th century in Myra, Asia Minor,
which is presently Demre in Turkey. Traditionally,
he has been honored on December 6 by the Latin Church
and on December 19 according to the churches (Ukrainian)
which follow the Julian calendar. Santa Claus is actually
a heathen character from the dark ages. Santa Claus
is not a Biblical character or New Testament doctrine.
..........In his youth,
Nicholas entered a monastery and later became an abbot
and then a bishop. After suffering persecution and
imprisonment, he was freed by emperor Constantine.
He died in 352 and his relics were preserved in Myra
for seven centuries, until some Italian merchants
sent an expedition of three ships and 62 men to Myra
and, through a ruse, carried off his remains. They
were deposited in the church in Bari, Italy on the
Adriatic Sea on May 9, 1087 where they have remained
to this day. Many traditions relating to Saint Nicholas
as the special guardian of maidens, children, scholars,
merchants and sailors, have come down to our day.
..........There is a
legend that connects St. Nicholas with the tradition
of giving presents secretly. There was a nobleman
in Patana with three daughters but he was too poor
to provide them with a dowry for marriage. He was
almost on the point of abandoning them to a sinful
life when Nicholas heard of his problem. That night
he took a purse of gold and threw it in an open window.
The nobleman used it for a dowry the next day, as
he did a second purse he found the next night. Curious
about his benefactor, the third night he watched and
caught Nicholas in the act, but he was told not to
reveal the saint's identity or generosity. Ever since
then, St. Nicholas has been identified with the tradition
of gift giving.
..........St. Nicholas
is the most popular saint in the Ukrainian church
after St. Vladimir, as is shown by the fact that there
have been more churches named after St. Nicholas than
after any other saint. Some scholars believe that
it was through the great popularity that the Saint
enjoyed in Kievan Rus-Ukraine in medieval times that
his popularity spread to Western Europe, and particularly
to Belgium and Holland.
..........Over the past
200 years, as the traditions around Christmas have
grown and the importance of this winter festival brightens
the season, Saint Nicholas has been absorbed into
the tradition. It was the Dutch settlers who brought
the St. Nicholas customs across the ocean to New York.
The white bearded Saint Nicholas in a red bishop's
costume was transformed into Santa Claus in the United
States and Canada, and eventually the tradition re-crossed
the ocean to England. Ultimately, poet Clement C.
Moore (Twas the Night Before Christmas) and Coca-Cola
were to become responsible for the image of the jolly,
fat man with a white beard, smoking a pipe, and wearing
a red suit with white trim and shiny black belt and
boots.
..........Tradition plays
a great part in the lives of many different peoples
of many different countries and origins, and it is
for this reason that many different countries continued
to celebrate Christmas on various dates from December
to March. A March date would really be more correct,
for the shepherds were in the fields when Christ was
born (Luke 2:8).
..........What Christians
Should Know About These Legends:
Christians should know that there is not one mention
of Christmas in the Scriptures.
Christians should know that the birth of Christ belongs
in the dispensation of the Law of Moses.
Christians should know that the New Testament only
authorizes and commands the observance of the death
of Christ (1Cor. 11:23-26).
Christians should know that they must not partake
of any religious practice that is not authorized in
Scripture, and that it is sin to engage in any denominational
activity (Eph. 5:11).
Christmas celebrated as a day for sharing with family
and friends is harmless as the Fourth of July. Christmas
observed as a holy day honoring the birth of Christ,
dishonors the will of both the Father and Son, and
brings judgment on the celebrant. (Edited from Internet's
Ukrainian Christmas, and Dan Billingsly's Three Golden
Balls of Christmas ---prb)
............................................................A
Treatise on Truth
Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be
equally outraged by silence.
Truth exists, only lies have to be invented.
To hear truth and not accept it does not nullify truth.
..........A man protesting
against error is on the way toward uniting himself
with all men that believe in the truth.
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live,
the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that
God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it
probable that an empire can arise without His aid?
--Benjamin Franklin
..........Spiritual truth
is more essential to a nation than mortar to its cities'
walls. For when the actions of a people are unguided
by these truths, it is only a matter of time before
the walls themselves collapse. --Charles Lindbergh
If you tell the truth, you have infinite power supporting
you; but if not, you have infinite power against you.
Truth is always the strongest argument. -Sophocles
..........The only significance
of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom
of God; and this can be done only by means of the
acknowledgment and profession of the truth by each
one of us. --Leo Tolstoy
There is no problem in dealing with error if truth
is presented intelligently and in love.
..........It is truth
that stands out with startling distinctness on the
pages of the New Testament, that God has no sons who
are not servants.
Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but it
is not everyone that sincerely wishes to be on the
side of truth.
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The Vapor of Time
By Kent E. Heaton, Sr.
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The Need for
Divine Guidance
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Perseverance
and Patience
Yet another
A Moment's Wisdom |
The Vapor of
Time
By Kent E. Heaton, Sr.
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow
we will go into such and such a town and spend a year
there and trade and get gain'; whereas you do not
know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are
a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall
live and we shall do this or that'" (James 4:13-15
RSV).
…..One of the great
challenges of life is to understand the brevity of
time. In the mind of man, life is full and vibrates
with activity with little thought to the sudden end
of time. As the seconds of the clock tick away the
eye seldom glances to the mist of time that quickly
fades. The New Year brings many plans, hopes and dreams.
Resolutions are made that were broken 365 days ago
and new goals are set. Children anxiously look forward
to the end of the school, young hearts plan weddings,
careers are set in motion and lives are planned for
the coming year. How different it will all be in 365
days.
…..James reminds
us that life is not about tomorrow or even about today.
We have plans that we make and fully expect to achieve
those goals. However, life gets in the way so often
to remind us that we do not know what will be on the
morrow. Whether one believes in God or not the nature
of life is still the same. The difference is that
those who believe in God understand the complex nature
of life and are able to live with contentment. Those
who do not allow God to rule in their lives will only
find heartache and confusion.
…..Time is a vapor,
a mist, a fog - a breath. In the early morning hours
the mist clings to the ground in the delicate balance
between night and day. Our lives are hung in the balance
between life and death in the same manner. Daniel
told Belshazzar that Jehovah held his breath in His
hand "and whose are all thy ways" (Dan.
5:23). The vapor of time is determined by the Creator
and man can only measure time but he cannot control
it. What man can control is the manner he spends time.
…..David understood
the nature of life when he writes, "Jehovah,
make me to know mine end and the measure of my days,
what it is; let me know how frail I am. Behold, thou
hast made my days as handbreadths; and my life-time
is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his
best estate is altogether vanity. Surely every man
walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted
in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who
shall gather them" (Psalms 39:4-6 ASV). The vapor
of time is the frailty of the mortal flesh. When men
seek the gain of the world and attain it, what have
they gained? Death removes the worldly gain from the
possessor and gives it to those who will possess it.
…..How short life
is! As we grow older we realize that time is swifter
than a weaver's shuttle (Job 7:6). The greatest wisdom
is the understanding of making each day count toward
the final day of our death. We die as we live, but
die we must. The difference in the life lived is the
living of a life with the Lord's will in mind. This
is an acceptance of the guiding hand of Jehovah in
whom we live, we move and we have our being (Acts
17:28). In the early morning hours, grasp the mist
in your hand and as it fades before your eyes, behold
your life. Then look up to the stars of heaven that
beckon with sparkling glory to the presence of an
Almighty Creator who loves you and wants you to love
him. In all things, the Lord's will be done. "And
this, knowing the season, that already it is time
for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation
nearer to us than when we first believed" (Rom.
13:11).
The Need
for Divine Guidance
…..A ship was wrecked.
As the sailors were making their escape in small boats,
suddenly two of them sprang overboard, swam back and
entered the ship. The soon reappeared with something
in their hands, and swam at great risks to their boats.
They had forgotten to take their compass. As you set
sail Christian, into the great, unknown sea, forget
not to take with you God's compass, which contains
sure and explicit directions, for it is His compass
alone that will guide you to the safest harbors and
the strongest fortified ports. (GBF Hallock, 1923)
Good Influence
…..As a young Christian,
I thought that our group's evangelism efforts should
focus on celebrities. My theory was that the poster
people could influence more folks for Christ than
us ordinary-Joe types. Occasionally I would hear of
a celebrity conversion, but I was usually disappointed
that not many seemed to follow. That taught me an
important lesson: God doesn't build His kingdom on
the fragile backs of star power. Glitz doesn't go
very far with the Lord, and Isaiah tells us why, "This
is the one I esteem: He who is humble and contrite
in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2
(BY DIVINE DESIGN, Nashville, 1995, p.97)
The Preacher and
the Soap Maker
…..A preacher and
a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker
said, "What good is religion? Look at all the
trouble and misery of the world! Still there, even
after years -- thousands of years -- of teaching about
goodness and truth and peace. Still there, after all
the prayers and sermons and teachings. If religion
is good and true, why should this be?"
…..The preacher
said nothing. They continued walking until he noticed
a child playing in the gutter. Then the preacher said,
"Look at that child. You say that soap makes
people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster.
Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world,
over all these years, the child is still filthy. I
wonder how effective soap is, after all!" The
soap maker protested. "But, preacher, soap cannot
do any good unless it is used!" "Exactly,"
replied the preacher, "Exactly!" (Lowell's
Treasury of Humor: He Who Laughs, Lasts)
Perseverance
and Patience
…..Winston Churchill
took 3 years getting through the eighth grade because
he had a problem with English. Years later Oxford
University asked him to make an address at their commencement
exercises. With some of the usual Churchill fanfare
(the cigar, cane and top hat) he settled in at the
podium. Churchill eyed his adoring crowd and said,
"Never give up." After several seconds of
silence, he rose up on his toes and repeated, "Never
give up." Churchill then reached for his cane
and hat. His address had concluded.
Yet Another
…..Following his
childhood dream of drawing comic strips, a young man
was advised by an editor in Kansas City to give up
drawing. He kept knocking on doors, only to be rejected.
Finally, a church hired him to draw publicity material.
Working out of an old garage, he made a pet of a mouse
in the garage who ultimately became famous. The man
was Walt Disney and his friend became Mickey Mouse.
A Moment's Wisdom
By perseverance the snails reached the ark.
The Danish have a proverb: The next mile is the only
one a person really has to make.
The glory of the Christian life is not characterized
by an absence of trials, but the ability to come through
those trials by faith to receive a crown of life.
(Kent E. Heaton Sr.)
Victory is a thing of will.
Victory is a matter of staying power.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in
rising every time we fall.
You never really lose until you quit trying.
The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this.
Irritations get into his shell. He does not like them.
But when he cannot get rid of them, he uses the irritations
to do the loveliest thing an oyster has a chance to
do. Make a pearl.
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