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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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October 21, 1990
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Contents:
1) Alcohol Usage Drops! (J. F. Dancer, Jr.)
2) Three F's of Modern Religion (James Hahn)
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-1-
Alcohol Usage Drops!
by J. F. Dancer, Jr.
The June 1990 issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY carried an article by Howard
A. Snyder in which the following paragraph appeared:
"Consider the facts: Per-capital consumption of alcohol dropped
significantly over the last decade. According to a story in the New
York Times, from 1980 to 1987 beer drinking was down 7 percent; wine,
14 percent; and distilled spirits, 23 percent. Impact, an industry
source, projects that these trends will continue past the end of the
century. A 1989 Gallup poll indicated that the percentage of Americans
who occasionally drink alcohol fell from 63 percent in 1987 to 56
percent now."
This article shows that the use of alcoholic beverages is decreasing in
the United States. I assume Mr. Snyder has his facts correct. He gives
several reasons for this decrease. Among them were (1) personal health,
(2) resistance to harmful addiction, and (3) concern for others.
These surveys were not taken among saints (although there may have been
some included incidentally) but among the people of the
world.
If the people of the world can see the dangers in the continued use of
alcoholic beverages I wonder WHY the people of God cannot. Is it that
some of us don't want to see it? So, maybe it is a "will not" rather
than a "cannot"! Jesus said there were some ways in which the
children of this world were wiser than the children of light (Luke
16:8). Could this be one of them? Are they more honest?
The body of the saint belongs to God (1 Cor. 6:19,20). Should we not
use care that we don't defile it because of that? Should we not be
careful to not take into it that which is certain to destroy it (even
slowly)? And since it has been proven over and over again that alcohol
is a strong addictive should not saints strive to see that they abstain
from that which takes away their self-control (1 Cor. 6:12)? I believe
so!
And if anyone is concerned about others it should be God's
people. How can we bring them to Christ if their body and mind
have been destroyed with alcohol? The gospel is the power of God to
save those who believe (Rom. 1:16; Mk. 16:15,16) and obey it. But if
their mind has been destroyed by alcohol, how can they be taught?
Yet, in spite of all of this, wine bibbing (social drinking) is
defended by some saints, even a few who claim to be preachers of the
gospel! Even with the decreases Mr. Snyder wrote about,
alcoholism is still in the third largest health problem in the United
States and every year over 10,000 under age 25 are killed in alcohol
related traffic accidents. What defense is there for this useless waste
of human lives and in most instances the eternal destruction of their
immortal souls?
Probably the world will NEVER cease (to a much greater extent) the use
of alcoholic beverages. But let saints of God take their stand for
complete devotion to the God they claim to serve. Let us keep our
bodies clean and pure as a temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19,20). Let us never
be brought under the power of anything save the Spirit of God (1 Cor.
6:12). And let us truly love the lost and do all within our power to
lead them to Christ by both word and deed!
In doing this we will truly shine as lights of the world (Matt. 5:16;
Phil. 2:15). Our lives will be becoming to the gospel of Christ
(Phil. 1:27) and we can both save ourselves and some of those who
hear us (1 Tim. 4:16). Beverage alcohol will not help us to do
that! Choose to serve God!
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-2-
Three F's of Modern Religion
by James Hahn
If you are familiar with the things going on in many modern religious
groups you do not have to think too long to reach the conclusion that
the "three F's" of modern religion are "fun, food, and frolic".
The social gospel so dominates the thinking of many that they are
convinced that the church's only purpose for existing is to provide for
the physical and social needs of men and women (also children, TTE).
Emphasis upon preaching of the gospel and the spiritual needs of
mankind is unheard of in many churches.
I am sorry to say that this attitude even exists among some groups
which still identify themselves as churches of Christ. Recently I was
given copies of a bulletin published by a group in this area which
claims to be a church of Christ. In just one issue of this bulletin
there appeared announcements of their monthly dinner following the
morning service; a Sunday night "fellowship" after the evening service
for which they were going to order pizza and encouraged everyone to
bring a salad or dessert; a CFS dinner costing $7.50 per person; an
appeal to bring in cash register tapes from local supermarkets to be
exchanged either for cash or computers; a chili supper and art, craft
and antique auction; and a fall festival.
To be a church "of Christ" our teaching and practice must be "of
Christ." As we read the teaching of Christ we find that "the
early church was given to the preaching of the gospel; providing what
was needed for those lost in sin. Christ came to "seek and to save that
which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Paul said the gospel of Christ is the
"power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). When churches become
involved in providing the "three F's" they do so without the authority
of Christ.
Please understand that there is nothing wrong with individuals doing
the things announced in the bulletin we referred to earlier, however,
we need to understand that such activities are NOT the work or
responsibility of the church. Paul's admonition to the Corinthians,
"What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?" (1 Cor. 11:22) seems
to be most appropriate for those caught up in these activities.
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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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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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