(There are four articles on this page)
Articles 1, 2, and 4 are written by Joe R. Price of Bellingham, Washington who is with us in our gospel meeting beginning today through this next Friday evening. The following articles give us a taste of the excellent lessons we can look forward to this week!
So This Is The Work Of The Church?
by Joe R. Price
The social gospel, designed to minister to the social needs of man, is one of the dominate features of this country's religious landscape. Baseball, basketball, volleyball, bowling teams, and hiking are just a few of the offerings churches around us provide their members and the “unchurched” alike. Many churches of Christ long ago joined this modern digression.
In addition to the social gospel, another trend is toward ministering to the emotional and psychological needs of members. Twelve-step programs to overcome addictions, singles groups, divorcee groups, seniors groups, and more are established to “support” those with emotional trials, low self-esteem, etc. The overriding emphasis of churches today is humanistic in its appeal. There is no time for the gospel. Indeed, the “whole counsel of God” is not being preached or heard (Acts 20:27; II Timothy 4:2-4). Such churches are not worshiping God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
No doubt some good is accomplished in the lives of some people through such programs. But, whose definition of “good” will we use? Good works are only spiritually beneficial if they conform to God's revealed will. Then, they please Him (Hebrews 13:20-21; II Timothy 3:16-17). And, pleasing God must be our first priority (Matthew 6:33; 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; Colossians 3:17). God's word nowhere authorizes the local church to participate in the social gospel or modern psychological techniques. Let the home see to these needs of men (I Corinthians 11:22, 34; I Timothy 5:8). “But, the family is not doing this work, so the local church must do it!” is the reply. “Must?” Says who, God or man? Too many are trying to please men rather than God (Galatians 1:10-12).
The work of the local church centers upon “the ministry of the word” and serving the needs of the saints (Acts 6:1-4; I Timothy 3:15; 5:16). Will we never learn that the wisdom of men does not meet with the approval of God (I Corinthians 1:21; Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 3:6)?
God calls us to totally depend upon Christ and obey His gospel, not the ways of men (I Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans 1:16-17). Will we ever learn?
About The Church Of Christ
by Joe R. Price
We Strive to be the Same Church Described in the New Testament
It is our purpose to be completely identified with the Christians of the first century. We believe this to be possible to all who will learn, believe, and be guided by the plain teaching of the word of God. Jesus declared such to be “the seed of the kingdom” (Luke 8:11). A fundamental truth in nature is that a specific kind of seed, when planted, will always produce after its kind. The word of God when planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed will produce Christians - just as it did in the first century - nothing more and nothing less. We are human, and therefore subject to error, so we recognize the possibility that we may be wrong in our application of the Scriptures. If we can be shown where we are wrong, by the Scriptures, we are willing and ready to change.
Our Emphasis is Spiritual, not Material or Social
Our building is designed to facilitate our work and worship. We place little emphasis on luxurious surroundings. While as individual Christians we seek each others' association socially, the church is not a social club or agency and therefore the Lord's money is not used to promote social functions or works. Our aim is spiritual (I Peter 2:5; I Timothy 3:15).
We Have No Human Authority
There is no man, or group of men who legislate for the church. We have no one to answer to but Christ. He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22). As was true in the first century, there is no inter-congregational organization, but rather independent congregations in different locations with Christ as Lord and Master. According to the authority of Christ, when a congregation matures to the point where men meet the qualifications, overseers (also called bishops, elders, or pastors) are appointed to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Such men are appointed only when the congregation determines that they meet all of the qualifications listed by Paul in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. They then have the responsibility to “feed the flock” with the spiritual food found in the Scriptures, and to be living examples for others to see (I Peter 5:1-3).
The Bible is Our Guide in Serving God
Therefore we have no man-written creed books to follow. We are governed in faith and conduct by the Bible alone. While recognizing and heeding the guiding principles of the Old Testament, we seek to conform to the teachings of the New Testament (I Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 1:1-2; I Peter 4:11). We accept the Bible as being both verbally inspired and infallible in content (II Peter 1:20-21; I Corinthians 2:11-13). Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given subject, its pronouncement is accepted as final. By its own testimony, no one may with impunity alter a single word of it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
Our Plea for Unity
We plead for unity among all who obediently respond to the doctrines and commandments given in the New Testament. Such is in harmony with the prayer of Jesus and the pleadings of the apostle (John 17:20-21; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). We consider such unity to be possible, or Jesus would not have prayed for it. We also note that unity and love for each other was a mark of discipleship in the early churches (John 13:34-35; Acts 2:44-46; Acts 4:32).And since division has always been the result of departure from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3), we believe that division can be healed by a return to the revealed word of God.
Destroying The Church From The Inside Out
by Micky Galloway
The death of a local church does not come suddenly. Neither is the home destroyed “overnight.” With the home it is usually the result of certain fatal steps taken over a lengthy period of time. As we travel the road toward the break-up of our homes, let us examine how our careless conduct will ultimately destroy the strength of the local church. Many of the problems affecting the church begin in our homes!
Selfishness. This is the number one enemy of a happy home life and is a killer to the local church. No one is willing to give up what he wants to do to submit to the will of another. The apostle Paul prefaced his statements regarding the husband/wife relationship with these words, “Giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:20-21). Consider also these words, “Doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Wouldn’t that solve a lot of ills in the family and in the church? Paul described Timothy, “For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state.” Notice the contrast in the next verse, “For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21). Often, what causes problems in our marriage, is the same thing that causes problems in the church. Jesus said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Maybe if both marriage partners denied self and learned to submit to the Lord, it would go a long way toward submitting to each other!
Disillusionment. Often before marriage, expectations are just not realistic. After we have been married for a while faults begin to show up in our companion that we did not notice in the courtship period. These faults grow into nagging sources of irritation. When it reaches the point of intolerance, each decides that he has made a terrible mistake in his marriage. Sometimes, we are disillusioned about what a Christian is. Jesus spoke of “counting the cost” of discipleship, “If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple … whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-35). Many are glad to become Christians if it means “social activities” or club-like membership, but when we learn there is work and responsibility involved then we look for faults with the church. Indeed, I have made a commitment that requires that I first give myself unto the Lord before all others. Perhaps it is the realization that “not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Upon reflection, I find this “too narrow” (cf. Matthew 7:13-14) to include those I want to include. Then “faults” with the church become magnified to the point of intolerance and we decide we have made a terrible mistake.
End of faithfulness. We give up. No further efforts are made to build a happy home. Communication ceases, love fades and gives way to bitterness. We find ourselves merely housekeeping and no longer enjoying and fulfilling the God-given purpose in marriage. This too, extends into our feelings toward the church. Having developed a selfish attitude, we explain, “I just don’t get anything out of it anymore.” The faults I find have now become intolerable and no efforts are made to build the church by my own personal faithfulness. I no longer support the Bible classes, attend gospel meetings or other special functions designed toward edification. My love for brethren and the Lord gives way to bitterness. I find myself merely housekeeping for the Lord and no longer experience the joy of being a Christian. As adultery invades the home, destroying our relationship with our spouse, spiritual adultery has already destroyed our relationship with the Lord and robbed the church of its most valuable assets - its members.
Sin destroys from the inside out. If we would preserve the happiness of our homes and secure the success of the church, we must strive to exclude sin from our lives. If you want to help strengthen the church for the future (including our children), let us begin in our homes!
The New Testament Church
by Joe R. Price
There are many churches in the world, all claiming allegiance to Christ. Yet, their differences in doctrine and practice are not only confusing, but also against Christ's prayer for unity among believers (John 17:20-21).
The Bible says there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). Since the “body” of Christ is the “church” of Christ, we may rightly conclude that there is only one church which pleases God (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). The church built by Christ pleases Christ (Matthew 16:18). We can read of and learn about that church in the New Testament.
The “church” is not a building or an ecclesiastical organization, it is the “called out ones” - those who have been saved from their sins (read Acts2:47).
God has not commanded man to “choose the church of his choice.” God wants you to choose HIS church, the church we read about in the Bible. Christ calls upon us to renounce the doctrines and traditions of men and obey only the commandments of God (Matthew 15:3, 6-9; 7:21-23). Will you?