15 June 2008

Works Of The Flesh: Wild Parties

(Kent Heaton)

We live in a day that is full of extravagance. The norm of society is to express itself in loud indulgences of outward show that draw attention to self. Bodies are tattooed, pierced, painted, shaven and abused to give a picture to the world of self gratification and garish expressions of self identity. Music must be loud and indiscernible; life must be fast and furious; parties are filled with the glory of the excess of debauchery. Concerts become events of physical, mental and ear splitting droning of filthy language and thoughts craving to the chanting of an obscene pattern of licentious conduct.

In Paul’s description of the works of the flesh he attributes the character of drunkenness with the results of wild parties, reveling or carousing. The deed of the flesh is characteristic of “noisy and [defiant] mirth, the scenes of disorder and sensuality” (Albert Barnes). This deed of the flesh is connected with obscene music and sensual movements of the body. The Christian is not to be found in these dens of sinful activity.

Paul affirms those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). The apostle also reminded the brethren in Rome to “behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:13-14). This lifestyle was common among those who worshiped pagan gods and enjoyed the fruits of sensuality. Today we are more sophisticated in our desires and we find these kinds of things in our music, parties and recreational events.

Much of the music today (rap, country music, modern, rock, etc.) use lyrics that are obscene, immoral and decadent. Music videos portray sexual annotations of highly suggestive movements to arouse the mind and eye of the lustful heart. Often our children are invited to parties where drinking, drugs and sexual gratification are exploited. Adults join in with events that highlight the sensual desires of the flesh. The filth of the sensual mind has permeated the television for years and reaches a new low this fall when a show begins called “Swingtown” – exploiting the notion of couples who engage in sexual immorality.

Children of God must keep themselves pure in mind, body and soul. The impact of an ungodly world is becoming more prevalent in every facet of the media and among families. The apostle Peter exhorted the brethren to “live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:2-5).

Living for the will of God one must deny these allurements and recognize the impact they can have upon the family. Heed the warning of the Lord: “they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

The Purpose And Effectiveness Of A Memorial

(Dennis Tucker)

Before Moses’ death, the tribes of Gad, Rueben, and half of Manasseh asked for permission to remain east of the Jordan River. They saw the land was good and wanted to live there. God granted them permission to do so but reminded them of their responsibility to fight beside the rest of Israel as they conquered Canaan (Numbers 32).

After Moses’ death, Joshua and all the tribes came to the Jordan River. God separated the waters so the people walked through on dry ground. Afterward He commanded one man from each tribe to take one stone from the Jordan and keep it with them. Eventually the twelve stones were set up at Gilgal (Joshua 4:20). The purpose of the stones is stated in verse 7, “And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Those of that generation would not need such a memorial but eventually those present that day would die.

Their children and grandchildren would quickly forget if they were not taught about this event. The stones were intended to give each generation an opportunity to teach the next generation. “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stone?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord  your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:21-24).

The effectiveness of this “memorial” depended on the parents teaching their children its significance. The stones by themselves could not teach anyone.

In the New Testament, we have the memorial of the Lord’s Supper each week. Usually words are said to remind us why we partake of the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread. Those implements by themselves can not teach anyone, only when taught do they take on their intended significance.

This thought came to me, “What do our children and grandchildren think about the things we do or do not do?”

For instance, will they understand why we sing without instrumental music? Will they believe it is simply a matter of judgment or opinion? Or, will they understand the Scriptural way to sing praises in worship to God is with our voices and hearts (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19)? We may know the answer to the above questions but our children and grandchildren will not if we do not teach them.

Will they know why we observe the Lord’s Supper each and every Sunday? Or, will they believe this is a “church of Christ tradition.” Our religious neighbors offer the Lord’s Supper on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or some other time period. They think we are demeaning the Supper by having it every Sunday. Will our children or grandchildren believe the same thing? They will if we do not explain to them that the disciples came together on the first day of the week at Troas (Acts 20:7). Jesus commands us to observe the Lords Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) and Acts 20:7 gives us the only approved apostolic example of when to partake.

The question may come up why we do this every first day? The answer is because the Bible teaches this principle. The Jews under the Law of Moses were to keep the Sabbath Day. Which Sabbath Day were they to treat as Holy? Each and every Sabbath day was holy; God did not have to specify each Sabbath. This is what is called a necessary inference. One could not argue that they could break the Sabbath day because God did not say keep every Sabbath day. Each week has a first day, we observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week because that is our approved example and necessary inference in the Bible.

Will our children and grandchildren know why we do not have a kitchen in the building and do not come together to eat a common meal? Will they think it is because we are too cheap to purchase a refrigerator and a stove? Or, perhaps they will think we just don’t like eating with each other. It is our task to explain that the “church”, the saints came together to worship God. They had houses to eat in (1 Corinthians 11:22). We read of the church coming together to teach, sing, pray, give as they have prospered, and observing the Lord’s Supper. We do not read of the “church” consisting of playing games, eating cake and ice cream.

How about the subject of baptism? Will they understand that baptism means immersion and not sprinkling or pouring water on someone? Will they understand the purpose of baptism is to “wash away” ones sins; that it is in baptism the blood of Christ cleanses us of our sins. The above is taught in Ephesians 1:7; Acts 2:38; 22:16 and a host of other passages in the Bible. They will hear about baptism from our religious neighbors but what will they hear from us?

I could mention many more things but I think you get the idea. The things we were taught must be taught to the next generation. If we take it for granted that our children know these things we will be sadly disappointed and eventually the truth will be forgotten.

Faith Comes By Hearing The Word Of God

(Steve Fontenot)

According to an article that was published in the New York Daily Times, August 24, 2007, written by Helen Kennedy, "Mother Teresa," the famous humanitarian, had struggled with and lost her faith in God. According to her own letters, she felt "unwanted, unloved" by God, and instead of faith, had nothing "but emptiness and darkness."

In 1946, when she was a 36-year-old convent teacher, she thought "Christ spoke to her directly" and she felt "a deeply personal bond with Jesus" and recounted "conversations and visions" she had with Him. However, the heavenly voices she thought she heard, ceased, and "it was that loss that she mourned the rest of her life," spending "her last 50 years secretly struggling with doubts about her faith." "She felt abandoned by Christ, referring to Jesus as 'the Absent One.'" It seems her faith was built on hearing--hearing what she thought were voices, rather than on "hearing the word of God." When the voices ceased, so did the faith. How sad.

God intended for our faith in Christ to be built on historical, objective, evidence. "Go...preach the gospel... He who has believed" (Mark 16:15,16). "Therefore [based on the evidence presented-sf] let all the house of Israel know for certain the God has made Him both Lord and Christ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart those who received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:36,37,41). "Many of those who heard the message believed" (Acts 4:4). This was the work given to the apostles, prophets, and teachers of the 1st century--preach the Word. People were commended for "examining the Scriptures to see whether these things were so." Result..."Therefore many of them believed" (Acts 17:11,12). God's plan was, "Faith comes by hearing the word of God."

Abraham told the rich man, "They [the rich man's brothers on earth-sf] have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them." Moses and the prophets were long dead. His brothers had the writings of Moses and the prophets--they were to hear their written word.

The apostles, prophets, and teachers of the gospel in the 1st century are long dead. But, we have their writings. And this is where our faith should be based. "These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ" (John 20:31). "It seemed fitting ...having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you...so that you may know the exact truth" (Luke 1:3,4). "By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ," (Ephesians 3:4). "I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind This is now...the second letter I am writing to you" (2 Peter 1:15...3:1). God's plan still is, "Faith comes by hearing the word of God"--the written word of God!

A song in our songbook says, "You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him He's always near." What does the songwriter mean? What do we mean when we sing this? Is faith in Christ based on something "within my heart"? Yes, faith is "within my heart," but is our faith based on something "within" or something without--objective, historical evidence?

If someone asks us why we believe in Jesus, is our answer, "I know it because of what's within me"? One definition of faith is, "strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof" [Oxford Dictionary]. Is this how we view faith--a "spiritual apprehension" within--not dependent on proof? "I know that he is living...I see His hand of mercy..."? What if your friend you have been praying for dies? Does this mean Jesus is not living since you did not "see his hand of mercy" to give your friend life? Is our faith based on personal experience--"I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him, he's always near"? Maybe this isn't what the songwriter alluded to. But, if our faith is based on "spiritual apprehension rather than proof," on personal experiences, or on culture (mom and dad believed), when these fail we too may enter the terrible darkness of doubt where the saving of souls "holds no attraction. Heaven means nothing." (from Teresa's letters). Faith comes by hearing--not the voices within, not personal experiences, not parents, not the church--but by "hearing the word of God."

Build your faith on the Scriptures. Teach your children the evidences in God's Word. If you want to convert your neighbor, equip yourself to present the evidences the Holy Spirit has given us in the written word of God. Why? "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Then, in all the storms and uncertainties of life, faith can remain sure for the foundation upon which it rests is sure. “The word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you" (1 Peter 1:25).

If your knees are knocking, kneel on them. (Sign outside London Air Raid Post, World War II)

>        Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the stillness of our thoughts, the evenness of recollection, the seat of meditation, the rest of our cares, and the calm of our tempest; prayer is the issue of a quiet mind, of untroubled thoughts. (Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667; “The return of prayers,” Sermons)

>        What is the use of praying if at the very moment of prayer we have so little confidence in God that we are busy planning our own kind of answer to our prayer? (Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, 1958)

>        He that would pray with effect must live with care and piety. (Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living, 1650)