THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

One thing that every disciple needs to do often is to take a careful look at himself and make some honest evaluations about how he is doing and what could be done to grow. We need to be careful and not allow our opinion of ourselves get in the way of making an accurate evaluation. James wrote, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:22-25).

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Perhaps of first concern is "Is my faith the faith"? This is because there are many, many different faiths across the earth, but there is only one faith that is what the Bible calls "the faith" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Is my faith according to the Scriptures? We have the responsibility to look into the word of God and ask ourselves, “Have I done what is necessary to become a Christian?” I am not in the faith if I simply do what my parents did (whether they were right or wrong). I am not in the faith if I simply do what "many people" believe or practice. Is my faith according to traditions of men, or according to the Scriptures (1 Timothy 4:6; 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:3)?

To be "in the faith" that faith must be exhibited in our lives. Faith can never grow, or even be tested at all, if it is not active. Jesus talked about the power of faith, and figuratively described it as being able to move mountains. Men and women of faith can accomplish so much simply because they are empowered by faith, but only if that faith is active. Otherwise, it is dead.

I have designed several web sites. I am no expert, by any means, but I have used maybe a half dozen web design programs through the years. If you had asked me about one of these programs before I had used it, I would not have been very helpful in providing any useful information. It would only be after I had actually used it that I could tell you how its features worked and how it compared to other design programs that I have also used. This is also what is demanded of the Christian; putting our faith to the test! Only then can we discover the various features of the faith.

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!" There is one thing that you can do better than anyone else on this earth. While everyone can look at your life and deeds, only you can test yourself in a way that goes beyond outward appearances. Sometimes outward appearances do not fully tell what is within a person's heart. This is because we can pretend to be something we are not. The Pharisees were notorious for appearing to be righteous (Matthew 23:28), but their faith and righteousness was false. It was insufficient (Matthew 5:20).

The same can happen today. Only I can examine myself to see if I am in the faith with reference to what is within. I pray in the assembly, and others know that. But do I pray in private? I contribute to the Lord's cause on the Lord's Day, and others know that. Do I contribute when no one is watching but God? Paul's admonition was that these brethren look at themselves that they might know how they might better themselves, put away those things that must be put away, and ensure that they are truly in the faith.

Worship is more than words, though it does consist of words of praise and devotion. Worship is more than actions though certainly activity as has been appointed by God is involved. Worship includes true adoration of and reverence for God. It is from the heart and is genuine. There are many, many more "worshippers" of God than there are "true worshippers" of God! "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers" (John 4:23).

The Pharisees came to God, saying some of the right things, but believing or meaning little of what they said or did. They did not seek to give God their best, to truly honor Him, or to put His will even above their own; they came to God on their own terms and acted as if that was acceptable. Their worship was more about pleasing themselves and impressing others than it was about glorifying God (Matthew 15:9; Colossians. 2:20-23).

My worship and indeed all my walk "in the faith" ought to be an expression of what is truly on my heart. If I am "in the faith" then my worship will be founded upon my heart's desire to be pleasing to God in showing my sincere love for Him.

It is seldom a problem of not knowing what sin is. At the very least, most behavior that is sinful on a moral basis (lying, cheating, and stealing) will be questionable even to one new in the faith. Sometimes, doctrinal error may be more difficult to discern. That is why we need to be diligent in learning the Lord's will (Hebrews 5:13; Philippians 1:9,10; 1 Thessalonians 5:21,22).

Honesty with self is demanded here. We must not intentionally overlook, excuse our own flaws. When sin is discovered, there ought to be a willingness to put it away. That mindset is called "repentance" in the Scripture. Repentance involves the change of heart that results in "showing sin the door." To help me in this, the Lord promises forgiveness if I will confess sin to God (1 John 1:6-2:1). This would include "secret sins" (Psalm 66:18). For example, not only do I stop taking revenge on others, I even stop myself from imagining it or dreaming about it. Our success in these things depends on getting the heart right and that process is not completed overnight. It is a part of "working out our own salvation" as we continue to walk by faith (Philippians 2:12).

Even when it is not a sin, those who seek to give God excellent service desire to excel in "the faith". We are not looking just to get a passing grade, but to get an "A+". This means we will seek to grow in positive spiritual attributes, to reach beyond what is acceptable to what is excellent. If this becomes our goal, then we are well on our way to passing the "final exam". That is the ultimate purpose, after all.

The funeral is over. Family and friends have gone. The echo of songs and sermon has faded. Silence settles like fog over this cemetery as I walk amid the graves. Serious reflections flood my thoughts uninvited.

Look at those two headstones side by side. One is inscribed to Susie, a three-year-old victim of a childhood disease; the other marks the grave of “Granny” who died a few months later at the age of eighty. What solemn reminders of the unannounced visits of the grim reaper. None are exempt. All tread the way to the grave. The dust claims the moldering body; all are penniless. The influential could not persuade death to pass him by; the rich could not buy another minute. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die ...“That even includes me! It seems so unreal that I must die! The haunting refrain returns — ” As the life of a flower, as a breath or a sigh, so the years glide away, and alas, we must die.”

Look at the inscriptions. All express hope for a resurrection. Doubter’s words are not inscribed on tombstones. Scriptures best express man’s hope. But no doubt some would prefer ‘ever to wake. Many are not prepared; many have been deceived. Resurrection means judgment.

Ah, look at this grave — the plot and plight of the procrastinator. “I am going to come as soon as I get all straightened out.” And my joking barb in reply, “Don’t wait until the undertaker straightens you out.” Somehow, I found no humor in the thought when they called to say he was dead.

However, I remember a funeral that was even harder. Let me see. There is the grave by that big Oak. He was a faithful Christian for years before he quit — said he was not having much fun. He knew his duty and expected to return to the Lord before he died. I guess he died sooner than he expected. What a gamble to lose!

I learned at his funeral of the sorrow of people without hope. The family knew the Bible, and they knew his willful sin. He robbed my sermon of all comfort and his family of all hope. It was so sad!

It was such a contrast to the funerals of the righteous. All lament their death; none doubt their future. It is not difficult to find words of comfort and hope. Even more, righteousness must be consolation to a man on his deathbed knowing that life is ebbing away. He could say, like Paul, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness...“

Over here lies my friend. He was not a Christian — it may have been my fault. I wanted to say something to him about his soul but never did. I was afraid I might offend him or say the wrong thing. Oh, how I wish I had tried! May God forgive me! A cold shudder passes over me when we sing, “You Never Mentioned Him To Me.”

The sun is setting. I must leave, but I will come again to think. It is strange to learn such important lessons about life in a cemetery.

“The true object of the Church of Christ has been greatly misunderstood by even the members themselves. Its design was never to bring about a state of indolent peace and ease with any given standard of morality. But its object was and is to induce the members of that church to submit themselves unreservedly to the law of God.

Peace in the Church of Christ is not only impracticable, but even undesirable unless it is attained by the whole church coming up to the perfect standard of God’s law. Until this is attained, continual, earnest effort, investigation and discussion upon the part of the members of the church must be kept up until they all come “in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The unity and harmony of the faith are to be attained, but only through “the knowledge of the Son of God.” A unity. then, of faith itself, is desirable only so far as it may be in complete harmony with the teachings of the Bible. The schisms and divisions of Christendom are certainly to be deprecated as the works of the evil one. Yet, a union of these sects in error, would certainly be a more fatal, and more to be dreaded calamity.

The great object of the church then, is to assist its own members and the outside world in learning the truth of God. the law of Christ, and their persuading and encouraging them to obey that law. Its true unity then can never be attained by compromising the truth, or winking at and tolerating error, but by a diligent and earnest, and continual striving to learn the whole truth, and to teach it to others; by an increasing effort to bring the church up to the perfect standard of Christian truth and Christian practice.

We should be much more fearful of tolerating error, which breeds sin, than of tolerating investigation. We should be more anxious to make the impression upon the world that we will use every means in our reach, and make every effort possible, for the discovery of truth, than to make the impression that we are in perfect peace and undisturbed quiet. Such an impression will command the respect of every man that values truth higher than popularity, and will give a new, high, holy, incentive to activity and energy in the Church of Christ.”

The above is from the pen of David Lipscomb, printed in the Gospel Advocate, February 20, 1866. (pp. 123-124)

The years 1865 - 1875 are said by some historians to be crucial years in restoration efforts. Missionary Society problems were joined by first battles over mechanical instruments in worship, and “modernism”. There was a fight in progress re. schools operated by brethren (Kentucky Univ.) and churches were dividing — liberal and conservative, “anti” and “progressive”. Knowing this, we see the above article in its proper setting, and are better able to see its application in our own day.

§ A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is the true token of greatness. (Elbert Hubbard, 1859-1915)

§ “I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.” A forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note, torn in two and burned up, so that it can never be shown against the man. (Henry Ward Beecher, 1858)

§ An hour spent in hate is an eternity withdrawn from love. (Ludwig Boerne, 1786-1837)

§ As soon as I believed there was a God, I understood I could not do otherwise than live for Him alone. (Charles De Foucauld, 1858-1910)

§ Pharisaism does not mean wearing a cloak of righteousness; it means sincerely believing that one is more righteous than one really is. (Ralph Barton Perry, 1944)

§ It is not well for a man to pray cream and live skim milk. (Henry Ward Beecher, 1858)