You have probably heard the story of the fellow who was out of cheese, so he baited the mouse trap with a picture of a piece of cheese. The next morning the trap was sprung, having captured a picture of a mouse!
This reminds me of the efforts made by religious teachers (including some of my brethren), who try to attract souls to Christ without the real gospel. Instead, they substitute recreation, entertainment, and other social events in the hope of drawing large numbers who can then be "trapped" into becoming Christians. At least two things are wrong with this practice.
First of all, reaching the lost is not some kind of trapping expedition where the quarry is the unsuspecting sinner, who must be "baited" or "suckered" into accepting the Gospel.. While it is true that Jesus wants His disciples to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), most of the fishing done in that area had to do with nets, not fancy and deceptive baits. Jesus said, "Go and preach." He did not authorize us to sneak up on or entrap sinners.
In the second place, the real, unadulterated gospel is the only means God has given us to attract sinners. It alone is the "power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). The knowledge of God is, according to our Master, sufficient to draw sinners to Christ (John 6:44-45). The use of some phony, worldly "bait" will, like the story above, result in snaring phony, worldly converts. We still reap what we sow. Sowing carnality is not likely to bring forth spirituality.
If we are faithful and diligent in forthrightly proclaiming the gospel to the lost, those with good and honest hearts will receive the word with gladness and be saved. Those who reject it cannot be saved by worldly means. This is God's original, simple, and effective plan for reaching mankind. Who are we to suggest that we can improve upon the Divine plan by using the world's methods. We need to be satisfied with God's provisions which are more than adequate to accomplish His purposes. -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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"Why isn't the New Testament written in legal form; i.e., broken down into encyclopedic categories and lists? Instead, it contains much historical, biographical and personal material. Yet we are asked to believe that this is God's law for us today. How can this be?"
The above paragraph sets forth a question which we believe is legitimate and needs to be carefully considered.
As a point of fact, some of the New Testament does have catalogs or lists of things both right and wrong (see Galatians 5; 1 Corinthians 6; Ephesians 4-6; Colossians 3-4; etc.). Therefore, the negative effect of the question is somewhat mitigated. Our remarks will be directed to the bulk of the New Testament - why it should indeed be considered as our law and standard of authority.
Consider what would be lost to us if the New Testament consisted only of categorized lists of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots":
1. The personality of the speakers. Specific statements in legal form tell us very little about the law-giver. We may conclude that the author of a law forbidding stealing held stealing in abhorrence. Beyond that we are left in the dark. But not so in the New Testament. When Jesus laid down the law that we should "love one another," His inspired biographies reveal how He lived this law every day of His life. This serves to give a moral force to the law which would not otherwise be possible. Much of the "non-legal" portions of the gospel set forth the sinlessness or holiness of Christ. Man is more inclined to heed the precepts of a righteous law-giver than those of evil-doers. Therefore, the scriptures which tell of the holiness of our Lord do not distract from the authority of the New Testament. On the contrary, such accounts establish its authority!
2. Corroborative Material. The historical statements in the New Testament regarding rulers, customs and events, are necessary in that they furnish corroborative evidence for the accuracy of the gospel. The accounts of the miracles were given for the stated purpose of creating confidence in Jesus (John 20:30-31). That which serves to confirm a document surely cannot be cited as evidence against its authority.
3. Illustrative Material. Laws become exceedingly difficult to apply when dealing with complex situations. However, Jesus cut through this problem by demonstrating the truth in stories, illustrations, and parables. He couched the underlying law in language that only the hard of hard would fail to understand. Truths taught in "doctrinal passages" are exemplified in such historical books as Acts. The New Testament is thus made meaningful and alive for those who will recognize it.
There may be other considerations that should be added. But a New Testament without the above material is unthinkable. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable..." - 2 Timothy 3:16. Every word in the New Testament is there by God's design. Therefore, an encyclopedic catalog of laws would be far inferior to what we have now - God's living law for mankind. -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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Everyone can see that as the standards of morality decline in society, this has an impact among those who are children of God. That the practice of fornication has increased among young people in recent years, is a fact that few would deny. There are no "magical formulas" for parents and young folks with which to solve the problem. All we can do is remember that the Bible is God's word, and the practice of fornication is severely condemned therein. Read with care such passages as 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-6, etc. The fact that the words "fornication," "adultery," and related terms are used so frequently in the Bible should give us a clue as to the seriousness of the subject. These words are found no less than 92 times in the New Testament. By comparison, the words "murder," "killing," etc., are found only 32 times. That, in itself, should tell the sincere child of God why we should "flee fornication." (See also 1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22)
But, in spite of these plain statements regarding this sin, some claiming to be Christians continue their immorality. There are three subtle and widely-accepted arguments in defense of fornication which Satan has made familiar to all.
One of these runs something like this: "After all, a sin is a sin; fornication is no worse than any other sin. Since nobody is perfect, why be so concerned about this particular sin?" We reply by first observing that, of course, so far as God is concerned, 'sin is sin.' All sins condemn (Romans 6:23). But these facts should in no way lessen our abhorrence of fornication. It would be about like a Doctor who would suggest that we shouldn't be concerned about preventing heart disease, since there are so many other diseases which will kill us just as dead! There is a subtle error here which appears to be overlooked: While all violations of God's law are equally serious, so far as God is concerned, that is not true with regard to man! For instance both murder and lying are sins. However, I would surely prefer for a someone to lie against me rather than murder me! The point is, that the consequence of some sins, in this life, are more disastrous than others. Such is the case with fornication. Right out front, it involves two people. In fact, it could well involve more than two, if one or both of the fornicators are married. I can cite you more than one example where a single act of fornication has affected the lives of literally dozens of people in the wake of broken homes, broken hearts, bitterness, guilt-related neurosis, etc. The consequences of this sin cannot be minimized.
Another equally deceptive argument which tends to minimize fornication, offers "love" as an excuse. The entertainment media have so successfully sold the idea that fornication is acceptable as long as two people "really love each other," that even some Christians have swallowed it. In the first place, "love" never justifies a violation of God's law. Secondly, if one person really loved the other, as the Bible uses the term, he or she would not want that person to do that which alienates one from God. And, thirdly, the argument confuses love with lust. Love is selfless, in that it puts the interests of the other person before all other considerations. Lust is selfish, in that it uses the other person for personal gratification.
A third popular defense of fornication is the "consenting adults" argument. It suggests that, whatever the motivation for the act, if the people involved mutually agree, then it should be acceptable. But such reasoning blatantly disregards the word of God. Most civilized people have come to understand that dueling is still murder, even though both parties have "consented" to the duel. Fornication remains a violation of God's will, in spite of anyone's consent.
We must learn to respect the revelation of God, realizing that He knows what is best for His creatures. In spite of the moral atmosphere of our generation, our Lord continues to demand that we "Flee Fornication." -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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Thx kxyboard on my computxr is an old modxl. But it works quitx wxll - xxcxpt for onx kxy. I havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-fivx othxr kxys that function wxll xnough. But just onx kxy not working propxrly makxs a big diffxrxncx.
Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that that is a big problxm with thx church today. Too many fxxl that thxy arx unimportant and not nxcxssary to thx work. This is sorta likx my kxyboard - not all of thx diffxrxnt and uniqux pxoplx, arx functioning propxrly.
Wx may say to oursxlvxs, "Wxll, I am only onx pxrson. My pxrformancx won't makx or brxak thx church." But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx, bxcausx for thx church to bx xffxctivx, it nxxds thx attxndancx and propxr functioning of xvxry mxmbxr.
So thx nxxt timx you think that you arx only onx pxrson and that your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my kxyboard and say to yoursxlf: I am a kxy pxrson in thx church and I am nxxdxd at all timxs for it to function as thx Lord plannxd. -- (adaptxd from an old articlx of unknown sourcx) -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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The majority of people desire to have a good reputation among their friends and neighbors. This is only natural and certainly not harmful in itself. However, all of us have observed individuals who become so concerned with what others think of them, that they compromise their real feelings and even their convictions in order to maintain that reputation. Such people not only lose their individuality and initiative, but usually wind up disgusted with themselves and everybody else.
The apostle Paul tells us to make every effort to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). But he certainly did not mean for us to surrender any principle of truth to achieve this end. When the apostle Peter surrendered his convictions in Antioch in order to "get along" with the Jews, we remember that he was guilty of hypocrisy and "stood condemned" (Galatians 2:11-14). This example demonstrates how impossible it sometimes becomes to have a good standing in the eyes of others and at the same time remain true to the Lord.
You will recall that prior to beginning His public ministry, Jesus was said to be "in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). But when He began to preach the truth, Hemet increasing opposition. Yes, He had a good reputation to begin with. But His life ended on the cruel cross amid charges of usurpation and blasphemy - all because He refused to yield to the demands of public opinion.
In the very beginning of its existence, we learn that the church was "having favor with all the people" (Acts 2:47). But in very short order, violent persecution was poured out against it. By the time Paul arrived in Rome to face the emperor, the reputation of the church was as a "sect everywhere spoken against" (Acts 28:22). The cause for such change in the reputation status of the church is quite obvious. As the gospel was spread more widely, more opposition was encountered. When the church failed to surrender to such opposition and continued to boldly proclaim the truth, down when their "good reputation."
From these facts it is evident that we cannot order our actions merely to please men and, at the same time, be acceptable to God. Yet, we have occasion to see Christians courting the acceptance of their unbelieving neighbors by condoning and actually partaking with them in their worldly practices. The leadership of local congregations have been known to suppress teaching on certain "sensitive" and controversial moral or doctrinal issues. All of this is done in the name of avoiding criticism and securing the good will of the world.
Remember that Jesus said, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).
Faithful Christians, faithful congregations and faithful preachers need to be more concerned about what the Lord thinks of them than with what reputation they are held in the eyes of mankind. One minor concession made to the world on behalf of a better reputation invariably leads to the necessity of another, and another, and another. At last such compromise robs individuals of spirituality and congregations of their zeal and purity.
We need to be busy about the Master's business without respect to the shifting opinions of the world. If we are doing His will, we can rest assured that we shall not always maintain a good report. We shall be persecuted, reviled, and misrepresented. But while compromisers are courting the good will and praise of the world, we shall be endeavoring to maintain the favor of our loving Father. And, brethren, our efforts will not be in vain! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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So state the scriptures in 2 Peter 3:10 regarding the second coming of Christ. Some years ago in Alabama, this particular phrase took on more significance to my family and I after being victimized by a burglar who ransacked our house and stole things that were valuable to us.
To say the very least of it, this was an upsetting and frustrating experience. Such feelings were generated not only from the loss of property, but especially from the knowledge that such theft could have either been prevented or minimized. I knew the house had been burglarized before. I knew the chance of another such crime was high. Yet, I didn't make adequate preparation! I should have fixed that alarm system. I should have installed better locks. I should have.....etc., etc. But, it was too late for all of the recriminations and "should-haves."
This experience, as unsettling as it was at the time, will not compare with the coming of our Lord. His coming will be "as a thief in the night;" that is, it will be sudden and unexpected. It will be too late then to reproach ourselves because we have not made adequate preparation. After all, we know that He has promised to come back. We know He will mete eternal punishment to the sinful and unprepared. Oh, we can look back and think of all the opportunities to serve Him which we passed by. We can recall all of the "should-haves" that we could have done - but just didn't do it. But the outcome will be the same and the loss will be far more than some physical merchandise.
Dear reader, we have all been warned. Let us hasten to prepare ourselves against that great day when He shall come "as a thief in the night." -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, February, 1996
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