____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 16, 2001 ____________________________________________________ "Believe Like Me -- Or You're Dead!" by Tom Edwards Though we don't approve of all the conflicting religions in our world today nor the diverse array of denominations that are seen in contrast to the unity of God's church set forth in His word, still we can be thankful to live in a land that affords us with freedom of religion. It is certainly one of the reasons that so many early settlers had crossed the vast ocean to come to this new land. They wanted to throw off the shackles of state-enforced religion and be able to choose for themselves their own religious affiliations -- to believe and practice their faith as they saw fit -- and without being punished for doing so. Therefore, within America's constitution is the law that demands the separation of church and state -- a law, which was never initially made -- just so many years later it could be cited -- to keep prayer out of schools or to prohibit the Bible from ever being taught in a public school; but, rather, its design was to keep the government of this new nation from being able to legislate what the state religion would be for its citizens or from having other governmental control over churches. The only exception to this, as David Barton points out, is when any religious activity became "...a direct menace to the government or to the overall peace and good order of society..." ("Does America Really Have a Godly Heritage?"). Some examples of this, which the Supreme Court later specified, are "activities such as human sacrifice, bigamy or polygamy, the advocation of immorality and licentiousness, and so on" (ibid.). But when it came to "orthodox religious practices, the government would not interfere" (ibid.). Freedom of religion, however, does not mean that we have to approve of or accept what others believe and practice; but it does mean that we recognize the freewill and the civil right that each person has to affiliate himself with the religious body of his choosing -- whether spiritually right or wrong -- providing it doesn't physically endanger the lives of others or violate those other laws of the land, which would cause the government to have to act. We often preach and teach against various religious groups that we believe are contrary to truth, and try to instruct them; but, still, we realize we can never threaten or coerce anyone into accepting what we believe to be right -- and would certainly never think of physically destroying anyone who would differ. True, there was a time when God demanded of His people to put to death the heathens of the land, such as during the "Period of the Conquest" in the Mosaical Age, when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, took possession of Canaan (book of Joshua). The "iniquity of the Amorite" had become full. After hundreds of years, God's patience with them had finally become exhausted. But nowhere do we read of similar physical violence His people are to engage in when it comes to spiritual matters in the New Testament Age. Rather, we find the exact opposite. For instance, when James and John asked the Lord if He wanted them to command that fire come down from heaven and consume those Samaritans who were not willing to accept the Christ, Jesus rebuked them, saying that they did not know what kind of spirit they were of. He then went on to say that "the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's live, but to save them" (Luke 9:52-56). The Medieval notion that there must be Crusades in order to do physical battle with the enemies of Christianity must have been very detestable to God -- as well as to true believers who knew better. For the Bible teaches that the Christian's battle is spiritual in nature -- and not physical (Eph. 6:12). Therefore, we are to put on "the full armor of God," which consists of loins girded with truth, and the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14), feet shod with the preparation of the gospel (v. 15), the shield of faith (v. 16), the "helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (v. 17). When I thought about the inhumane terrorists' acts upon the hundreds of innocent victims last Tuesday, it made me wonder just what these terrorist view as a "better world." Is it one in which people can be so coldhearted and callous that they would animatedly rejoice over the decimation of so many innocent victims? What a pathetic world that would be! Yet, we saw a microcosm of that when haters of America jubilantly fired guns into the air, rejoicing over our nation's tragedy and sorrows. What a shame that people can be so twisted in their thinking, and have hearts so devoid of compassion for their fellow man! For those who commit these terrorists' acts, believing they're serving God and will be eternally rewarded, they're in for a major jolt in the judgment day! For just as the apostle Paul once believed he was doing right in persecuting Christians and consenting to their death (Acts 26:9,10) -- and had done so in all good conscience (Acts 23:1) -- he finally was made to realize how wrong he had been, after having met the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). And, as a result, Paul soon began viewing himself as "the chief of sinners," for having consented to murderous acts that were so egregiously wrong (1 Tim. 1:15). With all the different, major religious bodies in the world today, as well as all their various offshoots, such as the numerous denominations that make up "Christendom," we should be thankful that each group has not suddenly taken up the notion to slaughter those from all the other groups who don't believe the same way as they do. Could you imagine a world being that crazy? Just even one group like that is too much! This, again, is why I'm thankful for the religious freedoms we have in America -- as well as in other countries -- and the love and respect many people do have for others, though differing in beliefs, simply because we are fellow human beings and should act as such. And those of us who are Christians can pray -- and strive to teach others in love and gentleness -- that we might all come to a thorough understanding of God's word, in order that we might believe by it (Rom. 10:17), live by it (Rom. 1:17), and be saved by it (Rom. 1:16). Anyone today who would take the life of another simply because that person holds to a different belief (and one which certainly brings no harm to anyone nor violates any laws of the land) is clearly guilty of murder and will have to face earthly consequences -- as well as those eternal consequences in the great hereafter when he will "stand before the judgment seat of God" (Rom. 14:10). "Believe like me [in religious' matters] -- or you're dead" might be in the thoughts of some misled fanatics today, who believe that it is God's will to destroy anyone who doesn't believe as they do; but it is certainly not the thought nor desire that should ever have residence in anyone. For we need to realize that even that thought -- without any physical action -- could make us murderers, as well (cf, 1 John 3:15) -- and no murderer will enter the eternal kingdom of heaven. Rather, he'll end up eternally banished from the love, goodness, and mercy of God (Rev. 21:8). ___________________________________________ "They Kept Right On" by Dan S. Shipley For the second time the apostles had been imprisoned and given strict orders not to do further teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:28). Now, after their third arrest and facing almost sure prospects of death, the highly regarded Gamaliel intervenes in their behalf, resulting in their release with a beating and a warning to "speak no more in the name of Jesus." The remarkable response of these dedicated men is seen in the last two verses of Acts 5. Not only did they rejoice in being considered worthy to suffer for His name, but "every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (NASV). That "they kept right on" speaks volumes in regard to the faith and character of these godly men -- and it shows us why Jerusalem (v. 28) and the whole Roman empire (Col. 1:23) had come to be filled with the gospel message in a relatively short time. And neither was such dedication limited to just these apostles. In Acts 2 we read of how other saints also kept right on "in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (v. 42). Later, when scattered abroad because of the great persecution against the church, they still kept right on "preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). In persecution, in poverty; in prison, in palaces; in public, in private; in season and out, let it ever be said to their credit, they kept right on teaching the gospel. Without benefit of newspaper, radio or television; without auto or airplane; even without comfortable meeting places in good locations, they kept right on! For a time many of the young churches were without elders and "full-time" preachers, but you know what? They just kept right on! Sure, they had their "church" problems. They had squabbles, false teachers, divisions, weak and sinful brethren to be reckoned with. So they reckoned; no doubt some quit. But the faithful just kept right on anyway. The pressing need of our day is for saints like that -- men and women of such faith and character as to keep right on serving God without having to be begged and pampered; men and women concerned enough about lost souls to keep right on trying to help save them. Our need is for the abiding sense of urgency that motivated our first century brethren -- the kind that made Paul say, "I press on." Without it, we're not likely to fill even the local church with the teaching of Christ, much less our neighborhoods and cities. What a tragedy that so many who profess allegiance to such an urgent cause would do so little to advance it -- or would give up at the slightest obstacle or discouragement! -- and this in the midst of the most favorable circumstances possible. Oh we of little faith! Just think of the amazing results possible if every member in every local church would begin and just keep on doing all he knows to do for the Lord (as per 1 Cor. 15:58)! Why, we may just keep on having good results, like in the first century. Why not resolve to put away our intermittent and sputtering efforts of the past, realizing what we could do -- and then, just keep right on doing it? -- Plain Talk, September 1975 ___________________________________________ Self-Correction by Robert F. Turner One day a preacher walked into my study and placed a quarter upon my desk. "Here's your money," he said. "I surely wasn't thinking straight when I chipped into that pool." We had been fishing together some days previously, and he thought I had had part in a "pool" which was given to the man who caught the first fish. When he was convinced that I had no part in the gambling game, I helped him identify the men who had been in his boat. He returned their money with apologies for participating in the caper. Perhaps these worldly men thought he was a real "square," but in my book that man's stock soared. He had proven himself equal to one of the most demanding requirements of Christianity -- that of self-correction. The betting incident was unknown to brethren who might have criticized. Among the participants he was "Hale Fellow, well met!" This was the popular thing to do. Correction took money he could have used, time, a fifty-mile round trip -- and most of all, it required humiliating self-censure. Saving faith exists only among those who trust in Christ, not in themselves (Matt. 16:24). Obedience to commands, per se, does not make a Christian. A follower of Christ is truly submissive to Christ as Lord -- self is crucified in obedience or the effort is wasted. He is a Jew who is one "inwardly" (Rom. 2:28-29), who "delights in the law of God after the inward man" (Rom. 7:22). The ultimate test for Christianity in man comes when that man, separated from all external inducement and coercion, motivated only by his desire to serve God, corrects himself in keeping with that which he believes to be the will of God. It ain't easy, brother!! This takes us to the core of the "free will" controversy. It tests our faith in God, obviously; but it also tests our faith in the very nature of the man whom God made. God said man could "repent and turn" -- now we must demonstrate that God knew His product. The man with the beam is not only a poor mote remover (Matt. 7:1-5); his myopic vision is so self-centered, he fails to see the way to heaven. -- Plain Talk, November 1975 ___________________________________________ News & Notes In view of the September 11 tragedy, we certainly have much to be praying for. May God heal all the brokenhearted who have lost loved ones, restore the injured to good health, help the world to bring the terrorists to justice, and make them truly aware of the horrendous error of their way. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service: P.O. Box 421) (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________