The Consequence of Confusion

by Steven C. Harper
www.cvillechurch.com

Have you ever had the occasion to be involved in a business operation that lacked real organization? I'm talking about those situations in which the operators have an idea about what they want to do and how to do it, but are not quite organized enough to the point that anything ever gets done. Most often, the problem is not that they do not have the capability to accomplish the tasks and goals, but that somewhere down the line, the tasks and goals have not been communicated effectively to all the employees, and more than a few are confused as to their proper role in the organization, with some just not knowing anything at all about what they should be doing. The consequence of the confusion is that nothing - or at least very little - gets done, and an organization that could have been successful fails.

Sad to say, such confusion is often the cause of many local churches not accomplishing much in the work they should be doing. Many members of local churches of Christ are confused as to their part in the work of the local church, and as a result, much work is being neglected and much is left undone. Part of the confusion has come about because individuals do not know the Scriptures well enough to know their part and their responsibilities, but some of the confusion has come about because those who are teaching and leading them have deceived them (either intentionally or unintentionally) by saying that whatever the individual Christian can do the church can do. The end result of that argument is that local churches have abrogated the individual's responsibilities by creating additional organizations, attaching it to the local body, and then going to great lengths to convince the members that the work they each should have been doing as individual Christians is now being accomplished through these unauthorized additions to the church Christ established.

Think about it for a minute: When your leaders tell you that you do not have to personally lift a finger (except to write a check or donate a sum of money) to accomplish some of the Christian's duties, how likely is it that the members will personally get involved in fulfilling those responsibilities? If I have been told all my life that "we" (the local church) are helping "widows and orphans" (vicariously, through another organization other than the local church itself, such as an orphans' home or "old folks" home), or if I am told "we" are bringing the gospel to the world (vicariously, through a missionary society), or if I am told "we" are feeding the hungry (vicariously, through a "food bank"), how likely will I be to help someone out when they come to me directly? The end result is that individuals have handed over their responsibilities to others to fulfill, and as long as they pay to have it done (no matter how small the amount they may actually contribute), they can rest at ease with the assurance they have "done their duty." This attitude is more common that what you may think, sad to say.

This is not a problem confined to the matter of human institutions, either. When it comes to hospitality, some apparently think the same way, for when they have an opportunity to show true hospitality, they will gladly point the needy one to a hotel, or, in some cases, literally take them by the arm to talk to the elders or to the preacher because they see it as "their job," not one of personal obligation. Especially for preachers who happen to be living in the house owned by the local church, they are often "expected" to accommodate any visiting preachers or Christians who just happen to be passing through. I am not making this up! I can explain this no other way than to say that those who act in this way no doubt believe that "they" are fulfilling their responsibilities because they have contributed money, either for the preacher's support or by monies that paid for the preacher's house, or because they believe the elders are acting "on behalf of the entire congregation."

And what about evangelism? This attitude is seen often when this subject arises. Though many will not come right out and say it, their actions belie their true feelings: that is "the preacher's job." Believing they have fulfilled their duty to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), they sit back and wait for "the preacher" to do it, never thinking about their own inactivity in this field. Some are offended when others say they are lacking in their responsibility to teach the lost, and will unashamedly point to their monthly report about how much "they" are "paying the preacher" or how much "they" spent (as a local church) on advertising or tracts or Bible class material or radio ads or billboards or whatever source of communication to which "they" have contributed.

Brethren, it pains me to have to write this about us, but it is true, nonetheless. This is a shameful attitude that has prevented us from accomplishing the deeds that we, as individuals, should be doing and, worse, we believe we are actually doing it. While many Christians are out there taking this meaningful and urgent task upon themselves (as they should), many others are neglecting - shirking - their responsibilities and convincing themselves (and others) that "they" are really working hard to do all the things the Lord would have us do.

It saddens me when I hear such attitudes among my brethren - and not because I am a preacher. It saddens me because I see how much we could be doing and how many could benefit from the teaching and hospitality and benevolence and love for others. I think about the death of Jesus on the cross and how He died in my place, and I wonder how many people may be thinking, "I have paid for my sins," because He died for them. If they think "they" are doing all these other things, why would they not think such when they see our Lord on the cross? God forbid!

Let us not be confused as to our individual responsibilities, brethren. Not a one of us is going to get into heaven because someone else did what we were commanded to do or because we paid for them to do it. In the end, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10) We will be judged for what we, as individuals, have either done or left undone (cf. Matt. 25:31-46). The consequence of this confusion will be lost souls. So, what are you doing?

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Truths That Help When Facing Temptation

by R.J. Stevens
www.cvillechurch.com

Life offers many good things. However, in the midst of this wonderful life we are confronted with the problem of temptation. From the beginning, God allowed the devil to put temptations in the paths of men. I am sure this is for our good or God would not have allowed it. Actually trials and temptations bring out the best in us when we react to such as we ought (Jas. 1:2-4).

Temptation is not sin but yielding is. God will not allow the devil to tempt us above what we can bear. In fact, God sends a way of escape for every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). Isn't that wonderful to know? Yielding to temptation will bring a few moments of pleasure to the flesh but no pleasure to the spirit. And yielding to sin will have a devastating effect on our lives for years to come. Oh, if we could remember to ask ourselves, "Is this short-lived pleasure worth the years of regret that I will experience?" Most of the time when we are tempted, we don't have our heads on very well. If ever there was a time when we need to pray, it is when we are tempted to do something that we know we ought not do. Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41).

Note some truths that will help:

1. Consider The One Who Is Doing The Tempting: Satan is responsible for temptation and is, in fact, called the tempter (Matt. 4:1, 3). He is our worst enemy and if he can influence us to yield to him, he has accomplished what he wants to accomplish. He wants us to lose our souls. We have permission to abhor evil, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom. 12:9). If I am to hate evil, then I must hate the source of evil, the devil. The word evil is of the "d" evil (Jn. 8:44; 1 Jn 3:8). When we are tempted, surely we don't want to yield to the one who introduced sin into the world, is a murderer, is the father of all deceit, and is the worst enemy we have.

Jas. 4:7 -- "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." In life, we have the choice of submitting to God and resisting the devil or resisting God and submitting to the devil. That's it! It is one or the other.

2. Realize That Each Of Us Has The Capacity To Sin: I once lost my temper on the golf course and the friend I was with put his arm around me and said, "R.J., Paul said in Eph. 4:26 - 'be ye angry and sin not' and you have the first part of that passage down really well." He was right because I was angry and sinned. It is easy to think something you ought not to think; say something you ought not to say; and do something you ought not to do.

God didn't make us sinners. But one of the essential things in overcoming temptation is to admit when we sin. If we are guilty of sin, then we have the capacity to sin. You don't have to be a Harvard graduate to understand that (1 Jn. 1:8-10). How strong you are today has nothing to do with the temptations you will face tomorrow. Don't think for a moment that you are too strong to yield to temptation. Some of the strongest people I have known have yielded to sin and fell completely away from God (1 Cor. 10:12).

The people of Israel thought they were strong but they yielded and it led to their destruction. If others have messed up their lives by yielding, I need to remember that I have the capacity to do the same. The wisest person is the one who learns from the mistakes of others. To realize that I can yield to temptation which leads to the loss of spiritual life here and the loss of eternal life in the world to come, will help me to think like I ought to think when confronted with temptation. There is nothing that is worth the loss of your soul.

3. We Must Remember That We Have A Merciful Father And Loving High Priest Who Are Willing To Forgive When We Repent: Christ left heaven to live on this earth, died on the cross, arose from the dead, and ascended to God's right hand to be our Mediator and Advocate. It will help us when we are confronted with temptation to remember how merciful God has been throughout our lives up to this present time. Our past sins have hurt Him enough. If I truly love Him, I don't want to hurt Him again.

It will help you when you are tempted to remember that temptation comes from the biggest enemy that man has ever known. It will help you when you are confronted with temptation to remember that you are not any stronger than David or Paul. We must admit that we are weak enough in the flesh to fall when we are influenced by the devil. However, let us remember that we are strong enough to stand against the wiles of the devil when influenced by the Lord. And when you are confronted with temptation remember that God loves you and wants you to come back home. He is willing to wipe the slate clean if you will repent. The hero of the parable of the two sons in Lk. 15 was neither of the sons; it was the loving father. Believing this and giving your life to the Lord is the best way to resist the devil (Eph. 4:27; 6:11).

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The Church Has no Business Dealing With Issues

by Tim Nichols
www.cvillechurch.com

This (the title of this article) is an ambiguous statement that we have heard many times over the years but have never once understood. These sentiments have been proclaimed from pulpits, whispered in conversation, and parroted in pews so many times for so many years that one might assume that it is a restatement of some Bible principle. It is not (unless the term "issue" is redefined so as to mean something not reflected by the dictionary). No passage of inspired scripture is as vague as this oft-repeated statement. What does it mean? As we look over the various options offered by the dictionary for the noun, "issue", we are unable to say for certain which option is meant and what is meant by the phrase. As we carefully study the Bible in search of some parallel phrase or similar sentiment we are unable to find a passage that would seem to say anything like this. I cannot help but suspect that many of those who say such things also have a poorly defined sense of what they are saying and an equally obscure notion of where it is taught in God's book.

I suppose that the most likely meaning is that we should not deal with matters in our teaching and preaching that are disputed or about which there are questions, but I cannot understand how anyone could say, and mean, such a thing in light of the Biblical injunctions to preach the word and in light of the realities that are around us.

People are lost in sin all around us. False doctrines are leading them further and further away from the source of the salvation offered by the God of heaven. Confusing conceptions of God, truth, and righteousness are destroying the faith of many.

Divine truth is the answer to absolutely every enduring human problem (Hebrews 4:12). It is God's means of guiding and directing us from here to heaven. Every truth that He has delivered for our benefit is precious and worthy of our diligent study and application. We have a duty to contend for the faith because it is so invaluable (Jude 3) and because it cannot be readily received by those who tenaciously hold onto competing ideas that are false (Titus 1:11). Every faithful child of God has a yearning to learn more and more of what God has to say to us in His inspired book (Psalm 119:103). No faithful Christian desires to remain ignorant of any part of what God is attempting to reveal (Hebrews 12:25).

Try to think of a Bible truth that has not been disputed. You cannot do so. The existence of God is a disputed question. The divinity of Christ is rejected by a majority of the world's population. Relatively few believe in the inspiration of the scriptures. These are the most basic truths on which Christianity is based. No right-thinking Christian would have us neglect these "issues." Abortion, the identity of the church, how to become a Christian, how to worship God, and all other "issues" addressed by truth are issues that we must address if we are to be faithful to our position as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). When the church abandons its post by refraining from teaching what the people of the world (and worldly "members") do not wish to hear, it ceases to be the salt of the earth (or at least it becomes worthless salt that has lost its savour -- Matthew 5:13). If we were to attempt the impossible task of dealing only with "non-issues" we would have no reason to exist, no message for the world, no truth to teach, no correction for those who need it (all of us), and no edification for the hearers of our delicate little, feel-good sermonettes who would be left without a word from God.

By the way, Truth edifies (1 Corinthians 14; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:11-16). Fluff does not. Opinion does not. Titillating tidbits and amusing anecdotes do not. Being pacified, mollified, or electrified is not the same as being edified. Your faith is built (edified) of only one material (Romans 10:17).

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E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com