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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"
(Matt. 28:19,20).
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November 15, 2015
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Contents:
1) Are We "Committed" in Our Marriage? (R.J. Evans)
2) "As Long as It Doesn't Harm Anyone" (Doy Moyer)
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-1-
Are We "Committed" in Our Marriage?
by R.J. Evans
Commitment is the cement which keeps the bricks of marriage in
place. Sadly, many couples in our selfish, self-indulgent
culture do not make a genuine commitment when they marry. I
believe the Scripture gives four basic, clear principles that define
the necessary commitment for marriage. Too many among us
approach marriage concerned only with self --
"what's in it for me?" Commitment demands something other than that.
1. Commitment between marriage partners begins with a deep trust
in one another (1 Cor. 13:7). This means that we do everything
possible to maintain trust. Nothing is done to violate the
promise, the vow, or in any way destroy the priority of the two
remaining "one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Trying to make one's spouse
jealous is foolish, juvenile, and can be a precursor to serious
marital problems.
2. A solid marriage demands deep devotion to one another
(Eph. 5:22-25). This takes the commitment from a promise to a
passion. It means that we cannot live the promise without
total effort to meet the needs of our mate. It means that we would
never abuse, use, or take advantage of our spouse. We protect
and provide for one another -- supplying each other's needs.
When our spouse is sick, we care for them with deep devotion and
loving concern. In such a marriage, we each fulfill our God-given
roles (1 Cor. 7:1-9; Eph. 5:22-29; Col. 3:18-19; Titus 2:1-6; 1 Pet.
3:1-7).
Also, a devoted husband or wife will not indifferently sit by and
allow someone else to use, manipulate, mistreat, or take advantage
of their spouse. This is especially true of a husband toward his
wife since he is primarily her provider and protector (Eph. 5:25,
28-29; 1 Tim. 5:8). This principle is illustrated in Paul's attitude
toward the Corinthians. He told them: "For I am jealous for
you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one
husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor.
2:2). But then notice his deep concern for them in the next
verse: "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ" (V. 3). Likewise, he earlier gave them proper
instruction, "lest Satan should take advantage of us" (2 Cor.
2:11).
3. A happy home is where the husband and wife are dependent on
one another (Gen. 2:18). Here there is developed a
strong sense of mutual need and dependence. The husband and
wife see the other as strength to their own weakness -- a God-given
complement (Gen. 2:18, 23). No one will be allowed to come
between the husband-wife relationship -- not parents, grandparents,
children, in-laws, or friends. Also, jobs, hobbies, outdoor
activities, sports, etc. should never be allowed to drive a wedge
between a husband and wife.
4. An unshakable determination to succeed is the standard
equipment in the home that is outfitted for a lifetime of
happiness. Just as the Apostle Paul pressed toward the goal of
heaven (Phil. 3:14), the faithful couple presses on toward making
their marriage a success. Nothing happens without complete
effort. If we will make it work...it will work. More
than that, it will be to God's glory and our joy.
With these truths as our constant companions, the strong winds of
adversity and trials will never blow our marriage apart. "Therefore
what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matt. 19:6).
-- Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales,
Louisiana, August 30, 2015
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-2-
"As Long as It Doesn't Harm Anyone"
by Doy Moyer
One of the most prominent moral justifications heard today is that
as long as the practice doesn't harm anyone, then it is right and
should be allowed. The primary argument this is being used for today
is gay marriage, to no one's surprise. However, it carries broader
applications, and those applications aren't just about politics.
"The practice is not harming anyone, so you need to let them do what
they want."
Doesn't that just make sense? How can we not agree with that?
First, the argument from "no harm" makes assumptions not only about
what "harm" is or is not, but also about who should or should not
perceive something as harmful.
We might notice that when people talk about what doesn't "harm"
anyone, they don't really define what they mean. They assume that
everyone's on the same page, and proceed to argue from their
assumptions. Interestingly, some of the same people will argue
against all religion on the basis that they believe religion "harms"
people, showing that "harm" is often a matter of perspective.
What does it mean to "harm"?
"Harm" means to injure or do damage to something. Something good can
harm something bad, and something bad can harm something good. Truth
will injure the false, and what's false can damage the cause of
truth. The issue shouldn't be so much, "does it cause harm?" but
rather, "is it right or wrong?" What we should always be concerned
about is doing what is right, and "no harm" isn't to be equated with
"right." "Harm" is too fluid of a concept to be anchored to
"right" or "good." If what's good harms what's bad, then that's as
it should be.
Is there such a thing as universal harmlessness? Is there really a
practice that is totally and completely harmless to everyone and
everything in all circumstances? When people say that a practice
"doesn't harm anyone," are they making some universal statement of
truth? Or are they focusing on a particular circumstance? Are there
bigger issues that we ought to think about?
What of something considered harmful to one group or person, but not
another? Do we ignore part of the equation in order to push an
agenda? Who gets to decide that? Who is the authority on what harms
people?
There are different kinds of harm, including physical, emotional,
and moral harm. These seem most obvious, but let's also consider the
idea that something can be subtly harmful overall because it chips
away at and destroys the structural foundation of a society. When it
comes to matters like living together apart from marriage, having
children apart from marriage, easy divorce, or gay marriage, we are
looking at practices that challenge the infrastructure of the
family, which in turn harms the structural foundation of our
society.
By redefining marriage or family, against both God's revealed will
and all conventional wisdom of many thousands of years, we are naive
if we think that there is no harm to the structural foundation.
Of course, the worst of all harms is spiritual in nature. Sin is
always the real harm, so if something is sinful, as defined by God,
then it is absolutely harmful to the ones who practice the sin as
well as the surrounding society. We all ought to desire avoiding
that.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people"
(Prov. 14:34).
If we take something that is sinful, then argue that it is
acceptable because it doesn't cause anyone "harm," then we have
misunderstood the true nature both of what is harmful and the
consequences of sin. We are no different from those who called good
evil or evil good (Isa. 5:20).
Rather than asking whether something is harmful, we need to ask
whether some- thing is right. "Right" isn't defined by our own
selfish perspectives, but by a Creator who ultimately knows what is
most beneficial or harmful to all of us.
Finally, the gospel addresses the situation in that it calls on us
to repent of sin while offering forgiveness and reversing the
eternal effects of what sin does to us (Acts 3:19). When we deny the
harm that sin causes, then we deny the power of the gospel to
overturn our sinful condition. This will result in irrevocable and
permanent harm to us, and none of us can afford that. This is why we
need to diligently teach the truth that will set us free from sin
(John 8:31-32). This isn't about taking a political position; it's
about reaching a lost world that needs to come home to God.
-- Via Search for Truth, November 15, 2015, Volume VII, Number 16
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"...'I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live. And everyone who lives and
believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (Jn.
11:25,26).
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-3-
News & Notes
It was good news to hear of Danielle Howard's kidney
transplant Friday. All went well; and the kidney is already
functioning, though it is not "fully awake" yet. After
spending several days in the hospital, Danielle is now in a nearby
apartment to be able to easily return to the hospital every day for
about a month.
Judy Daugherty is now in a nursing home for rehabilitation.
There will be a Gospel Meeting at the Golden Isles church of
Christ November 20-22 (Friday -- Sunday). Keith
Crews will be the guest speaker. Friday and Saturday
services will be at 7 PM, and Sunday's will be 2 and 3 PM.
The church meets at 445 Touchstone Parkway, Brunswick, GA. The
sermons will be on the following topics:
Friday: How to Become a Christian
Saturday: Pattern of the Lord's church
Sunday 2 PM: A Woman's Contribution to the Local Church
Sunday 3 PM: A Man's Contribution to the Local Church
The WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/the-gospel-observer-november-15-2015/
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes
(Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24;
John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the
remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal.
3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation
can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM
(worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)