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.