DOING GOOD TO THOSE LOST IN SIN - By Al Diestelkamp (from THINK page 1)

It is quite clear that the gospel is not always received well by those who hear it. Christians in the first century, when faced with extreme persecution for their faith, "went everywhere preaching the word" (Ac.8:4). I doubt that this aggressive evangelism was viewed by others as "good," but indeed it was.

The apostle Peter describes us as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people" (1 Pet. 2:9). This description is not to inflate our egos, but is our divine calling to "proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." In order to be effective proclaimers of Christ, Peter goes on to beg us to have honorable conduct so that when those in the world think we are evildoers, they may by our "good works which they observe, glorify God" in the end (vs. 11-12).

This same message was conveyed by the apostle Paul as he urged us to "become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..." (Phil. 2:15-16).

In teaching His disciples of the urgency of their mission, Jesus, in the parable of the great supper said: "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Lk. 14:23). Though we cannot actually "compel" people to obey the gospel, we must convey the message as compelling as it really is.

We must resist any temptation to make the gospel more attractive to men by appealing to the carnal man. We do people no favor by withholding truth from them, even though it may be unpleasant to them. The apostle Paul's effort to "become all things to all men" (1 Cor. 9:19-23) did not include compromise of truth. No matter how "acceptable" sin or false doctrine becomes in the world, we still have an obligation to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

Who will do good to the lost? Solomon, in his wisdom, wrote: "He who wins souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). Think about it! If we don't take the gospel to the lost, who will? Like the prophet Isaiah, our response to this calling should be, "Here am I! Send me" (Isa. 6:8).


AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com

Return to THINK page 1.

THE NEED FOR DOCTRINAL SERMONS - By Rick Liggin (from THINK page 1)
At the root of the problem is an artificial distinction that we sometimes make between "doctrine" and "teaching." What do we normally think of when we hear the expression, "doctrinal sermon"? I would venture to say that most folks probably think of some theological explanation of some Biblical topic that has little or no real practical application. But folks, that, in and of itself, demonstrates a misunderstanding of the word, "doctrine" or "doctrinal." Let me be absolutely clear about this: there is no Biblical distinction between "doctrine" and "teaching." Doctrine is teaching! The truth is: all "teaching" is "doctrinal." And that means that all of our sermons had better be "doctrinal" or else they are not correct.

What we really need are "doctrinal" sermons that accurately explain what the Lord wants us to know and how that information is supposed to practically affect our conduct. We need sermons that accurately explain God's Word and at the same time help us make the application to our lives. Doctrinal sermons will be practicaland practical sermons must be doctrinal!

So, don't you dare let yourself get bored with "doctrinal" sermons! Listen carefully to every sermon. To learn what the Bible teaches...listen for the doctrine! And then listen for practical application of the teaching...listen for that part of the doctrine too!

RICK LIGGIN
315 Almond Drive, Washington, Illinois 61571
Email: rcliggin@gmail.com

Return to THINK page 1.

SLOGAN POLITICS RELIGION - By David Diestelkamp (from THINK page 1)
As in politics, many if not most, people have strong ideas about religion (for or against)--yet most cannot give the facts as presented in Scripture. They may be attracted to a warm "God is love" slogan, but have little idea what that means. Others cling to the "bad things shouldn't happen if God is good" motto, but many have never really investigated whether God really is good or if evil is His fault.

People often choose churches to worship with based on externals--buildings, choirs, music, entertainment, childcare, social programs, eloquence of the preacher, etc.--rather than if the church is the church Christ built (in organization, worship, teaching, and service).

The same is true for morality. "Right to life" and "pro choice" are mottos to rally around--but they don't prove anything. "I was born this way" and "safe sex" are debated, but we need to set aside the slogans and emotion and simply ask what God in His word says about it.

See, slogans and mottos appeal to us because they tell us what we want to hear and we can interpret them to suit our situations. "Change" is nice in politics--I want change in healthcare, you want change about the war, your neighbor wants tax changes, while another wants change in social security. We are all divided--but one word makes it look like we are together. In religion words like "love," "faith," and "forgiveness" are used, but interpreted and applied in widely diverse ways. The religious world is terribly divided, but some wrongly assume these misused words bring us together.

Slogans are generally easy to understand on the surface. They are nicely packaged and repeated a lot. We are comfortable with them because they don't require a lot of thinking or effort, and they become very familiar. This is exactly what the advertising industry is banking on. But the religious world has tapped into this as well.

A nicely professionally packaged church attracts a lot of people. I was recently told that there is now a shortage of music and play directors in communities because denominational churches are hiring them for their professional productions. And the preachers' sermons are filled more with pop psychology and self-help than Scripture. One very successful denominational "pastor" makes no apologies for not using the Bible in his lessons. But the messages are simple, catchy, all positive, nicely packaged, and repeated a lot.

Jesus sent His disciples into all the world to preach His gospel to everyone. He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 18:19-20).

True disciples are not made with slogans and mottos. Disciples, real followers of Jesus, come from being taught "all things" that have been commanded by Jesus. It requires the listeners to look beyond the surface to learn what God says and what He really means in His word. Only then will we be ready to cast our vote: "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

DAVID DIESTELKAMP
940 N. Elmwood Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60506
Email: davdiestel@yahoo.com

Return to THINK page 1.


Q&A's ABOUT CHURCH SOCIALS - By Leslie Diestelkamp (from THINK page 1)

Money for the building was given to be used in spiritual work. Remember, we do not object to eating in the church building, but we do object to making the church building an "eating place." It is not wrong to laugh in the church building, but it is certainly wrong to make it a "house of laughter." The church house is not "the house of God" (1 Tim. 3:15), but it is God's house (Jn. 2:16).

The house in which I live is not sacred, but some things are not appropriate there. A doctor's office is not sacred, but who would say it would be a good place to repair automobiles? A hospital and sheet metal shop don't belong in the same building. So the church and the world should not be housed from the same treasury.

A drinking fountain, a rest room or a nursery are made to expedite a spiritual service. But a social hall is to give vent to a social urge. Pews, classrooms, lights and fans are purposefully paid for by the church because of their usefulness in aiding us to do what God said for us to do, but for the congregation to provide recreational facilities does not contribute to the doing of that which God directed. Paul wrote: "What? Have ye not houses to eat and drink in?" (1 Cor. 11:22). He was condemning the practice of making a feast with the Lord's supper, but at the same time he gave us the necessary inference that there is a difference between homes and meeting places provided by the church.

Let us keep the church in the "church business." It is always safe to do that which we know is right, without addition or subtraction. Let us use every facility we have to expedite the Lord's work, and let us avoid anything that would minimize its nature, which is altogether spiritual.

____
This article first appeared in
Truth Magazine, November, 1962

Return to THINK page 1.


INDIVIDUALS, RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - By Steve Fontenot (from THINK page 1)

A group of citizens may form an organization to provide for duties related to their government, e.g., the Democratic Party, or, Republican Party. While Christians may be members of that organization, the organization does not grow out of their relationship to Christ but their relationship to a government. One would not expect that organization to use its funds to preach the gospel of Christ, but that would not mean the individuals in that organization were opposed to gospel preaching. That duty is based on a different relationship.

Now, if Christians band together to form a group to provide for responsibilities they share--not because they are citizens, parents, or neighbors--but because they are "in Christ," the New Testament calls that a church "of Christ." I would no more expect it be engaged in cancer research or political activism than I would the Cancer Society or the Democratic Party to preach the gospel. It would be foolish to accuse the individuals who compose such a group as unloving toward those who have cancer or anti-government just because none of the group funds and activities further cancer research or a political agenda.

If this reasoning is correct, it should be supported by the historical facts of what churches under apostolic direction did and were told to do. Not one statement, example, or implication can be cited where churches of Christ in the New Testament engaged in any activities but those "in Christ"--preaching the gospel of Christ, acts of edification in Christ, and benevolence to those in Christ (needy saints).

Duties individuals have are based on relationships they sustain, and the organizations they form are designed to provide for the peculiar duties growing out of these respective relationships. This helps us to understand why a church "of Christ" exists and to understand its unique "in Christ" activities.

STEVE FONTENOT
18542 Crestline Road, Humble, TX 77396
Email: sp63@mac.com

Return to THINK page 1.