Doing GOOD to Those Lost in Sin By Al Diestelkamp
Not all preaching
is done in pulpits. In fact, since it is so difficult to get
people to come to our assemblies or Bible classes, perhaps the
most effective "preaching" takes place when one shares
his or her faith with someone else.
The "live, and let
live" philosophy so prevalent in our time makes it more
difficult to confront those lost in sin. They don't think it's
any of our business to teach them what they need to do to be
saved. They
don't perceive
our concern for them as "doing good" to them.
It's easy for us to see
that if their physical lives were in jeopardy, that we would
be remiss not to warn them about it, but for some reason we hesitate
when it comes to their eternal safety. Whether they realize it,
or not, the most good we can do for "all men" is to
direct them to the gospel of Christ, which is found only in God's
word--the Bible.
Jesus said His purpose
in coming to earth was to "seek and to save that which is
lost" (Lk. 19:10). As disciples and followers of Jesus,
this also should be our "mission" in life. He told
His disciples that He would make them "fishers of men"
(Matt. 4:19).
Jesus gave what we call
the "great commission" to His apostles just before
His ascension. He said "All authority is given to Me in
heaven and on earth. Go, therefore and make disciples of all
the nations..." (Matt. 28:18-19). Lest we think that this
commission was given exclusively to the few men who heard it
on that occasion, Jesus went on to say, "teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you..." (v.20).
That makes this commission applicable to all of us who have been
"baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit."
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By Rick Liggin
It is not uncommon
in some churches (both in denominational churches and in those
that supposedly belong to Christ) to hear folks complain about
"doctrinal" sermons. "We don't want all that theological
preaching!" they will say. "Just tell us what we're
supposed to do!" Said differently: "We don't need to
know all the right doctrines; just give us practical teaching."
Of course, this isn't
altogether a bad thing! Sometimes "theology" has very
little to do with what the Bible actually teaches. It often confuses,
clouds, or even corrupts Bible doctrines, instead of accurately
explaining them.
But in a very real sense,
there can be no correct practical teaching without correct theology.
In other words, there is no right practice without doctrinal
accuracy.
"Why is that?"
you may ask. Simply because all doctrinal teaching is practical;
it all has some kind of application! Doctrine is supposed to
affect a person's conduct--how he acts or behaves. And so, one
cannot know what he's supposed to do until he correctly understands
the doctrine of Christ revealed in the Bible. It is precisely
that--the doctrine of Christ--that motivates and gives power
to practical application. Without doctrine, there is no practical
application! In fact, it is often a misunderstanding of Bible
doctrines that leads men to disagree over what the correct practice
ought to be. The point is that some people disagree about what
they're supposed to do, because they don't correctly understand
the doctrine of Christ.
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By
David Diestelkamp
I listened to
the radio as a political analyst lamented the fact that many
people have made a decision concerning who they will vote for,
yet almost every one of them he spoke to did not have any idea
what the politician was advocating or what qualified him for
governing.
He concluded that most
Americans were being swayed by what he called "slogan politics."
The example he gave was one politician's mantra: "Change."
It says a lot, but at the same time it says almost nothing. Change
what? And how? It raises questions, but answers none.
My point is not to criticize
the politician, but to point out that people they interviewed
on the radio who favored this politician all spoke of "change"
and how he was the one who would bring change and how wonderful
change would be. When asked for details of the what the changes
would be, how they would be accomplished, or whether the politician
was qualified to bring them about--every one that was interviewed
admitted they had no idea--they just liked him and his idea of
"change."
The analyst pointed out
that this was a dangerous national mindset--that the politician
with the best marketed slogan would win without having to prove
himself to be best qualified and possessing a workable plan.
He strongly urged investigating if there is anything behind the
slogan before voting.
I am not writing about
the election. All the above sounded very familiar to me. That's
because "slogan politics" is also used in "slogan
religion." People make decisions about religion based on
who has the best sounding lines, or what is most appealing to
them, not on a studied comparison with the truth of God as revealed
in His word.
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Do You Have Any Enemies? By Al Diestelkamp
In a call from the local
fire department in the middle of the night, I was told that the
storage shed at our church building was on fire. When I arrived
there was nothing left but a few smouldering remains. When the
fire chief examined the site, the most likely cause was that
the fire was intentionally set. One of his first questions to
me was, "Do you have any enemies?"
After I answered, "No,
not any that I'm aware of," I soon felt somewhat embarrassed
having to admit that. Jesus said, "If the world hates you,
you know that it hated Me before it hated you" (Jn. 15:18),
and the apostle Paul wrote, "Yes, and all who desire to
live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim.
3:12).
Is it possible that our
lack of enemies is because we aren't godly enough? Or are we
just too timid to count as "accursed" those who would
preach "any other gospel"? (Gal. 1:8-9). A few years
ago I wrote a tract with the title, Is Your Preacher Telling
You the Truth? In it I pointed out that preachers who are telling
people that they were born sinners, or that baptism is not required
for salvation, or that once they are saved they cannot fall from
grace, are not telling the truth. More than one Christian criticized
the message as too blunt. Perhaps we have succumbed to our pluralistic
culture.
After the fire was out,
and I reflected on the chief's question, I was actually relieved
that he didn't ask if we have any disgruntled members. Though
I'm sure that we don't have any who would stoop to arson, I couldn't
have honestly answered that question without risking an investigation.
AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com
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Q&A's
about Church Socials
By Leslie Diestelkamp
Two questions
are asked of me: (1) Why doesn't the church have more socials?
and (2) Why can't we have parties in the basement of the church
building?
The New Testament authorizes
every act and activity of the church. It provides us with all
that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). It completely
authorizes us in "every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
In worship and work, all that God wants is made known by the
"oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). We must not add to,
or take from the word of God (Rev. 22:18-19), and we must not
"go beyond what is written" (1 Cor. 4:6).
Social activities are
not included in the authorized acts of the church. It is very
good to have social functions, but they are "home activities."
If there are not enough of such, then the homes are failing.
Let us not push upon the church that responsibility which belongs
to the home. If it is advisable that Christians associate more,
then let us not fail to provide such association, but let us
keep it independent of church functions.
But some ask, "Since
the church building is not sacred, and since our homes are not
large enough to accommodate large groups, why can't we use the
basement?
Actually the church building
is not sacred. On the other hand it is not a carnal, worldly
place either....
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By Steve
Fontenot
Duties are based on relationships.
"Love your neighbor" is a duty we have, not because
we are Christians, but because we are "neighbors" (Lk.
10:27,29,36--"Which...proved to be a neighbor...?").
All men, whether believers or unbelievers, sustain this "neighbor"
relationship and therefore have this duty.
Only those who sustain
a relationship to a wife have the duty to "love your wife"
(Eph. 5:25--lit., "men love your women") Which one?
The one you sustain a relationship to as a husband. Christians,
though they are Christians, who sustain no relationship to a
wife do not have this duty.
Citizens are to "be
in subjection to the governing authorities" (Rom. 13:1).
Which one--U.S. or Canada? The one to whom they sustain the relationship
to as citizens. The relationship begets and circumscribes the
duty.
Christians, because they
sustain a relationship to Christ, partake of the Lord's Supper
(1 Cor. 10:16,17). They may happen to be neighbors, parents,
and citizens, but that is not why they have this duty. It is
because they are "in Christ." So with singing in the
name of Christ (Eph. 5:19,20), praying through Christ (1 Tim.
2:5), growing in the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), and giving
to have fellowship in the gospel of Christ and to relieve those
who are saints in Christ (Phil. 1:5; 4:15; 2 Cor. 8:4,5).
As individual duties are
based on relationships, so are the organizations these individuals
form. As the relationship begets and circumscribes the individual's
duty, so with the organizations these individuals formed based
on those relationships.
A group of neighbors may
form an organization to provide for duties that arise out of
that relationship, e.g. the Cancer Society. While Christians
may be part of this organization, so may atheists. The organization
grows out of the "neighbor" relationship, is composed
of people who--whether Christians, Jews, or atheists--are members
of this organization because they are "neighbors,"
and is designed to provide for duties that grow out of that relationship.
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