THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27). The great struggle in life is found on the battlefield of the heart. The law of God is in conflict with the law of sin (Romans 7:13-25) and while the “spirit is willing, the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The wise man exhorted in Proverbs 4:23-27 to keep the heart with all diligence and be careful how one speaks. As with the human body, the eyes are given to give direction. When the eyes cannot see properly everything suffers.

While there are many tools the devil uses in hindering our path, the eyes are a prime target. If he is able to change our focus or cause us to lose our focus, he will have a greater power and influence over us. Those with diminished eyesight need assistance. Spiritually when our heart loses the focus of serving God; either we will trust God to lead us or we will allow Satan to direct our steps. Rich Atchley wrote in his book, ‘Sinai Summit’: “Too often we make the mistake of thinking that Satan is antireligion. He’s not. He doesn’t even mind our worshiping Jehovah, as long as we mix in a few other gods for good measure. In fact, Satan doesn’t mind our choosing good or even doing good sometimes – as long as we’re doing it because we think it’s a good idea. What Satan objects to is our doing good because we have put God first.”

When we lose focus on righteousness we turn toward unrighteousness. This does not have to be “blatant” sin but rather a dulling of the eyes toward those things holy. Our efforts are no longer concentrated on serving God. The areas of concern in life dim from view as we fill ourselves with “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” and the word is choked and we become unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). Apathy sets in and the spirit is weakened from neglect. As the spiritual immunities begin to weaken we become more susceptible to the larger influence of sin. After time spiritual sickness takes our eyesight completely and we are blind with hearts that are hardened (John 12:40).

Losing focus is a malady that hinders our growth. It leads us to be dull of mind and ineffective in fighting courageously the fight of faith. Losing focus will lead to taking our eyes off of Jesus. We stumble more; we have fear for not being able to see clearly; we are easily led in the wrong path; we find no happiness. What is the answer to our calamity? Jesus described the church at Laodicea as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” His advice was “to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:17-18).

The cataracts of sin must be removed to restore our focus. This can only be done by returning our focus upon the word of God and its author. “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You” (Psalms 119:37-38). Examine your eyes and see where your focus is. What is the focus of your life? “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you” (Proverbs 4:25).

The question which also serves as our title should challenge us all to diligently and honestly search the word of God for the truth. The One who created us has specific expectations and desires for His creation. If we love God, then we will “find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).

As the Lord Himself said, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23–24).

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Do we really want to know the truth? Too many people don’t want the truth, but rather an aversion of the truth they can swallow. As the apostle Paul wrote, “All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

Ultimately, the issue is authority — it always has been and it always will be. God is the creator and we are the creation — He makes the rules and we are supposed to obey them (and He has created us to make the choice ourselves whether or not to follow Him). Throughout mankind’s history, though, we have tried in vain to change this; thus we strive to make mankind the creator and God our own creation — “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:20–23).

After His death and resurrection, but just moments before His ascension back to heaven, Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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” (Matthew 28:18–20). All authority belongs to Jesus — “And God placed all things under [Jesus’] feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22–23).

Jesus said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). He also said, “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say” (John 12:48–50).

Real men obey Jesus! “If you love me, you will obey what I command. . . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 14:15, 23–24). The issue is authority, and the question remains: Can you find your church in the New Testament?

Do we find its name in there? Do we find that the church we’re with is organized as the New Testament church was organized? Is salvation taught in our church as the New Testament teaches it? Is its worship what we find the first-century, New Testament church doing in the way they were doing it? Most of us want to believe that, yes, we’re a part of a church we find in the New Testament. But have you ever really looked in the Bible to find it out for yourself? There a churches whose names cannot be found on one page of the New Testament! There are churches that are not organized in the simplicity found in the New Testament! There are churches that teach a form of salvation that is not found in the New Testament! There are churches whose worship does not even come close to what we find in the New Testament!

Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear” (Mark 4:24). We are each responsible for ourselves before God: “Each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Truth is not what our family or friends believes to be true — God’s word is truth (John 17:17).

A popular notion of our generation is “attend the church of your choice.” Sectarian bodies, promoting this concept, have tried to make themselves as attractive as possible to the general population in order to increase their membership. There are some churches that focus on a particular group of people, i.e. there are cowboy churches, biker churches, trucker churches, etc. Others advertise a “come as you are” policy. Not surprisingly, some churches of Christ have followed suit. What are the implications of this “come as you are” idea? What does it really mean?

Come as you are—your sins are welcome here! This is really what most people think, that they can be part of a church without having to make any changes in their lives. They can remain in their sin and they will be accepted as they are. Unscriptural marriages, doctrinal error, human traditions are all welcome. Perhaps this is the result of false teaching on the grace of God that has become so prevalent (that God ignores the “small sins”). Maybe it’s the influence of Calvinism which teaches that you can’t really do anything about your sins because salvation is “wholly of God.” Either way, such a notion is contrary to the teachings of the New Testament.

The Bible teaches that if we are to be saved we must change. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:9-10). Does putting off the old man and putting on the new imply that we can come as we are or does it imply that we have to change? “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). If we’re to lay aside our sin, we can’t come as we are. “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6).

One cannot be a part of the Lord’s church without being a Christian, and baptism is essential in becoming a Christian. Part of that process is to “do away with” the “body of sin.” The verb “done away with” (katargeo) means “to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish” (Thayer). We must change, and our sins done away with. Thayer defines the word repent (metanoeo) as “to change one’s mind.” By its very definition the concept of repentance is contrary to “come as you are.”

Come as you are—and bring your casual and irreverent attitudes. After the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Moses told Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified’” (Leviticus 10:3). Reverence is also taught in the New Testament, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). There are many ways that we can show irreverence toward God. Here are a couple:

1. Appearance. Most of us attempt to dress appropriately for whatever situation we may find ourselves. We dress differently for doing yard work than for going to a nice restaurant. We dress better still if we attend a funeral or some formal function. Our dress reflects our attitude toward each situation. Yet, some feel free to come to services dressed like they are about to mow the lawn!

True, the Bible does not give us a “dress code.” If you would wear blue jeans and a tee shirt to your mother’s funeral, if it’s the best you’ve got, then by all means wear it. There may be times when we’re traveling or getting off work when we just don’t have time to dress appropriately, but that’s not the point. The point is when we choose to dress in a casual manner for a serious occasion. Studying about our Lord and commemorating His death is a serious and solemn matter. That needs to be reflected in our appearance. “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?” (Malachi 1:6)

2. Whispering, note-passing, and lack of attention. In worshipping God our external actions must be correct, but our minds must also be involved. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?” (1 Corinthians 14:15-16). While the context of this passage is the controlled use of miraculous gifts in a first century worship service, the idea that we must worship “with the understanding” is universal. Our minds must be involved in every act of worship (1 Corinthians 11:27-28; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Ephesians 5:19; etc.). Inappropriate behavior while we should be worshipping demonstrates a profane and irreverent attitude.

Come as you are—and we’ll require nothing of you. Some are more concerned having a body in the pew and a few more dollars in the collection plate than with the church functioning in its proper capacity. “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). To imply that people can be a part of the church, do nothing, and then be saved is deception of the worst kind. Those who don’t want to do the Lord’s work need to repent (change their minds). When one becomes a child of God they take on certain responsibilities, whether they want them or not. This is why Jesus cautioned us to “count the cost” (Luke 14:26-33). “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27).

Should we tell people to “come as they are?” Not if we love them. Not if we want their souls to be saved. Such an approach is deception. The message we should convey is that sinners need to leave their sins behind (Hebrews 12:1; 1 Peter 4:1-2), transform their thinking (Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20), and start serving God (1 Corinthians 4:1; Hebrews 12:28).