By Scott Bowman
In his autobiography, Number 1, Billy Martin told about
hunting in Texas with Mickey Mantle. Mickey had a friend who
would let them hunt on his ranch. When they reached the
ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked
with his friend. Mantle’s friend quickly gave them
permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a
pet mule in the barn who was going blind, but he didn’t have
the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to
shoot the mule for him.
When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry.
He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was
wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn’t let them hunt.
“I’m so mad at that guy,” Mantle said, “I’m going out to his
barn and shoot one of his mules!”
Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested,
“We can’t do that!” But Mickey was adamant. “Just watch me,”
he shouted. When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of
the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule.
As he was leaving, though, he heard two shots, and he ran
back to his car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle,
too. “What are you doing, Martin?” he yelled.
Martin yelled back, face red with anger, “We’ll show him! I
just killed two of his cows!”
Billy Martin was a great teller of tales, and many doubt
that this event really happened. But it does illustrate a
very real truth. Anger can be dangerously contagious. As
Proverbs 22:24, 25, puts it: “Make no friendship with an
angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest
thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
- Scott Bowman (via
House
to House Heart to Heart); submitted by Joe Slater,
minister of the church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website:
http://justinchurchofchrist.com
The Australian coat of arms
pictures two creatures, the emu, a flightless bird, and the
kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a
characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens.
Both the emu and the kangaroo can move only forward, not
back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it
tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is preventing from
moving in reverse by its large tail. Those who truly choose
to follow Jesus should try to be like the emu and the
kangaroo, moving only forward, never back (Luke 9:62,
Philippians 3:13-14).
Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.” Philippians 3:13, 14
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.”
- via
The Encourager,
the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ,
Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the
congregation. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By Larry Pasley
John 14:12-14 12 "Most assuredly, I
say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he
will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My
name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus said those who believe in Him
will do greater works than he did, referring to the miracles
he performed.
How is it possible for us to do
greater works than the mighty works and miracles which Jesus
performed on this earth?
Jesus healed all kinds of diseases,
blindness, deafness, epilepsy, cast out demons, fed
thousands will small amounts of food, stilled the storm, and
even raised the dead.
How could we possibly do anything
greater that those things?
All of those things were physical benefited the people only in this life.
We have the opportunity to bring
about healing spiritual diseases by bringing people to Jesus
for salvation from sin through his blood.
The greatest need people have today
is not physical. This life is temporary and all the
illnesses, diseases and problems are temporary also. The
greatest need every individual who has ever lived or will
live, on this earth is salvation from sin and the penalty of
sin, hell.
When we meet the spiritual needs of
people and deliver them from the power of Satan and
therefore from the fires of hell, we are doing something
much greater than any miracle which relieved some physical
ailment or problem.
I believe that is what Jesus meant
when He said we would do greater works than those He had
done.
We have great power available to us
and also a great responsibility to use that power to bring
souls to salvation.
Jesus came to seek and save the
lost. (Luke 19:10) And He died for us so that we would live
for Him. (2 Cor. 5:15)
If you are a Christian you should
be living for Him. He came to seek and save the lost.
Are you seeking and saving the
lost? If not, why not.
-
Larry Pasley serves as a minister with the Jackson Street
church of Christ in Alexandria, LA. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website at
http://www.JacksonStAlex.com
By Kevin Williams
“God is Spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4.24).
Several principles can be gleaned from the above passage.
God is not human, He is Spirit. God is to be the object (or
audience, if you will) of our worship. Worship has
requirements, there are some things we “must” do. One
requirement is to worship God in spirit, having the right
attitude, motivation, etc. Another requirement is to worship
God in truth, patterned after what He has told us in His
Word. All these are noble truths taught by this passage.
There is also another truth taught
here that needs some emphasis. It concerns the command to
“worship.” Worship is defined as “(fall down and) worship,
do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to,
welcome respectfully” (Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich 1958,
p716). Note that worship is a verb! It is something that is
done.
Several passages of Scripture
illustrate this point well…
• “And Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the
donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we
will come back to you” (Gen. 22.5).
• “For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose
name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Ex. 34.14).
• “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the
LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psa. 29.2).
• “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before
the LORD our Maker” (Psa. 95.6).
• “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the
Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had
come to Jerusalem for to worship” (Acts 8.27).
• “And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so,
falling down on his face, he will worship God and report
that God is truly among you” (1 Cor. 14.25).
• “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard
and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel
who showed me these things. Then he said to me, See that you
do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your
brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of
this book. Worship God” (Rev. 22.8,9).
I know that the Bible teaches that
we are to attend worship. I also know that it is our duty as
faithful members of the Lord’s church to contact those who
are not “attending” to let them know that we miss them and
to encourage them to be present in the assembly of the
saints. Hebrews 10.25 has been part of the New Testament of
Christ for nearly 2,000 years and it is not going anywhere.
We do have responsibilities to fulfill as Christians.
Now consider this. As seen in the
passages listed above, to worship God is more than mere
attendance. It is an action aimed toward God that is done by
the faithful child of God. It is fulfilling God’s desire for
us to pray to Him, sing praises to Him, preach His Word,
remember His Son at His Supper, and give to Him as we have
prospered through the week. It is praising Him, revering
Him, bowing to Him, symbolically prostrating ourselves
before Him. It is giving God what He wants in His way. It is
participatory in nature. I have to do it in order for it to
be done. No one else can do it for me. No one else can do it
in my place. If I am not a participant in worship then I am
not worshiping! Dwell on that statement for a moment.
Consider the implication of what is being said. Then, ask
yourself the following question: “When I come to worship, do
I worship?” Sounds simple doesn’t it. It really is! And at
the same time it is a major factor that determines if God
accepts what I am doing in the assembly. No worship is done
by observing!
Resolve, therefore, to be a
participant and not an observer! Think about it! ...Kevin
- Kevin Williams preaches for the Walnut Grove church of
Christ in Benton, KY. He may be contacted through the
church's website:
http://walnutgrovechurchofchrist.org/
By Kevin Rutherford
The old song says,“Time is filled
with swift transition.” How true that is. Our lives are
passed in the blinking of an eye. James said our lives are
like a vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away (James 4;14). Every year in this world, 56,130,242 people die. That
is about 4,677,520 per month, 153,781 per day, 6,408 per
hour 107 per minute and nearly two per second. Assuming it
takes you about five minutes to read this article, 535
people in this world will have died from the time you
started until the time you finished. Time is getting away
from us very quickly, and some day we will be numbered among
the dead.
Because life is but a micro-dot on
the time line of eternity we must make the most of our
lives. Solomon wanted to make the most of his life, but
ended up wasting so much of it instead. After realizing the
vanity of multiple women, wine, wealth, he finally came to
the realization that one’s life is not well spent unless God
is placed first in the life. After all we have been created
for the purpose of serving God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Making the most of our lives
involves spending time engaged in activities that are
beneficial to us physically, Eating right and exercising are
important. After all, there is some benefit to exercise (I
Timothy 4:8). In addition we are to be self-disciplined, and
we are to take care of the body God has given us to use
(Galatians 5:23; I Corinthians 6:19).
Making the most of our time
involves spending time with family and friends. God wants us
to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We can’t do that if we don’t spend
time with them.Too many families are splintering because the
members of that family have become too busy to spend time
with one another.
Making the most of our time
involves serving God. Spending time on the bodies’
health,and with family are certainly involved in serving
God. However, serving God goes far beyond that. God must be
first on our list of life priorities (Matthew 6:33). We need
to make sure that we are using our time to worship Him,
learn from His Word, pray to Him, teach the gospel among the
lost, and spend time with fellow Christians. It is our
service to God that is going to count on the judgment day
(Revelation 20:13).
By the end of this hour 6,408
people will have died. Some day you and I will die. Solomon
said,“the living know that they shall die” (Ecclesiastes
9:5). Don’t waste your life in the pursuit of the vain and
the foolish. Spend your short life in service to God.
Don’t die with doubt. Live with hope, and die with hope.
Faithfully serve the Lord and confidently expect the reward
(II Timothy 4:6-8).
- Kevin Rutherford, St. Louis, MO; via the
Belvedere Beacon, the
weekly bulletin of the Belvedere church of Christ,
Belvedere, SC. Ken Chumbley preaches for this
congregation, and he may be contacted at their website:
http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org
By Johnny Hester
According to a story I read, during
the final days at Denver's old Stapleton airport, a crowded
United flight was canceled. A single agent was rebooking a
long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry
passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket
down on the counter and demanded, ":I HAVE to be on this
flight AND it HAS to be FIRST CLASS!
The agent replied, "I'm sorry sir.
I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these
folks first, and I'm sure we'll be able to work something
out." The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, "Do
you have any idea WHO I AM?"
Without hesitating, the gate agent
smiled and grabbed her public address microphone. "May I
have your attention please?" she began, her voice bellowing
throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at the
gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW IE IS. If anyone can hlep him
find his identity, please come to gate 17."
To say the least, this man
overestimated his own importance. The word of God warns,
"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among
you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to
think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has
allotted to each a measure of faith." (Rom. 12:3).
Each of us would do well to
remember that even at our best "All of us have become like
one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like
filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the
wind our sins sweep us away" (Isa. 64:6).
We are all undeserving of the mercy
and grace that God has bestowed upon us through the loving
gift of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17). It is only
through His virtue that I have become a person of value.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that
we should be called children of God! And that is what we
are!" (1 John 3:1).
Who am I? I am a child of God! But
it is through no merit of my own. As a baptized believer I
simply answered "yes" to his loving offer - the gift of
salvation. With that truth always in our minds, let us all
live in genuine thankfulness for his amazing grace.
- Johnny Hester preaches for the Shady Acres church of
Christ, in Sikeston, MO. He may be contacted through
the church's website at
http://www.shadyacreschurch.com
By Joe Chesser
One of the most challenging things for humans to do is to
try to get a glimpse of God. Even though we are the
highest of God’s creation and are the only thing He made in
His image (Genesis 1:26), we still have severe limitations
in understanding God. We’re just not capable of
it. God put it this way: “As the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). How much
higher are the heavens than the earth? No one knows,
for the ends of the heavens have yet to be discovered.
But we do get the point. There is just no comparison
of humans with God.
Even so, there are many ways God has allowed us to get a
tiny glimpse of His nature and character. “The heavens
declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). Creation tells
of His eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20).
He has revealed certain things through his prophets and
spokesmen (Deuteronomy 29:29). Our clearest vision of
God is found in Jesus: “If you really knew me, you would
know my Father as well” (John 14:7).
The trouble is that even people who lived at the same time
as Jesus and saw and heard Him every day still didn’t seem
to connect the dots any better that we do. It’s just
tough for humans to see God. And a big part of that is
because we allow our human limitations to constrict our
thinking. It’s much easier to create God in our image
than it is to allow Him to transform us into His.
Let me illustrate what I am saying by using the miracles
Jesus did. Most people then and now saw the miracles
as an end in themselves. There were people who were
blind, so Jesus gave them sight. There were people who
were deaf or lame or sick, so Jesus healed them. He
fed thousands of people with one boy’s lunch. He
walked on water and calmed storms. So people began to
follow Him wherever He went so that they could be healed or
get something to eat (Mark 3:7-10; John 6:26).
But for most of them, that’s about as far as their feeble
minds would allow them to go. They didn’t connect the
power of healing the physical afflictions with the power of
doing far greater things. They were satisfied with
sight, hearing and food. But Jesus wasn’t. He wanted
them to use his power of healing as a springboard of faith
to see who He really was, the One who could give them food
that would feed their souls (John 6:27). He wanted
those healed of physical blindness to see more than
trees. He wanted them to see God! He wanted the
raising of the dead to show that He can give new life to the
soul. Jesus clearly used the healing of the paralytic
to help the spiritually sick crowd to open their eyes and be
saved: “‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins …’ he said to the
paralytic, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’”
(Mark 2:10-11).
Lord, open our eyes to see what You see, so we can become
what You are!
- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland church of Christ,
Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website:
http://www.cofcfruitland.com/
By Jimmy W. Cox
All of us are aware that so very
many things change so often that we could easily decide that
everything changes. Some would even think that God’s Word
should change so that it "would be adapted to modern times."
However, this idea is false. John 17:17 says: "Sanctify them
through thy truth, God’s Word is Truth." To add to God’s
Word or take things away from it, will bring damnation.
(Rev. 22:19).
Human nature has not changed – All kinds of sins are still
being committed – the lust of the eye, the lust of the
flesh, and the vain glory of life. Rom. 6:23– "The wages of
sin is death." That is why we need a Saviour.
"But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood. Therefore he is able to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:24-25).
Mankind still has needs that can
only be met by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Mankind still needs spiritual guidance. "It is not in man
that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23). We need
salvation from sin. "For all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23). Only Jesus Christ can supply
that need. "For the son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and
save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10).
We need encouragement because of weakness. (Read Gal.
6:1-2). We need sympathy because of sorrow. "Rejoice with
them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Rom.
12:15). Man needs hope because of death. Since Jesus
overcame death, he has power to raise us also. (Read 1 Cor.
15:20 and 15:32).
Jesus Christ is unchanging. "Jesus
Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Heb.
13:8). He is still man’s only saviour. "Though He was a Son,
ye He learned obedience by the things He suffered. And
having been perfected, He because the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him. (Heb. 5:8-9).
Let our Lord provide you with all spiritual blessings. (Eph.
1:3). Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John
8:24); Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38); Confess Christ
publicly (Rom. 10:9-10); Be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38,
Rom. 6:3-5). Be faithful the rest of your life (Rev. 2:10).
- Jimmy W. Cox lives in Sandy Hook, MS and attends the
Columbia church of Christ in Columbia, MS. He may be
contacted at
coxsandyhook@yahoo.com
By Jim Faughn
Remember answering machines?
For many of our younger people, it
may be difficult to relate to anything other than “voice
mail.” It may surprise them to learn that there was, in
fact, a way to leave a message with somebody before the
invention of cell phones and voice mail. However, answering
machines have not quite yet gone the way of the horse and
buggy. It is still possible to call something we now call a
“landline” and leave a message on one of those devices.
I was reminded recently of an
experience I had a number of years ago with an answering
machine. I dialed the telephone number of a woman who had
lost her husband several months earlier. At least I thought
it was her number that I had dialed. I began to wonder,
though, because of the message I heard on the machine. I was
listening to a man’s voice. At first, that surprised me, but
it only took me a couple of seconds to realize that I had,
indeed, dialed the correct number. I was listening to the
voice of her late husband.
As technology continues to develop,
newer ways of preserving voices and images are available.
Those who have the “know-how” can even put images and voices
of those who are no longer living together with those who
are. They can produce something that makes it appear that
the dead and the living are working together, performing
together, or having a conversation with one another.
Families are often comforted by hearing the voices and/or
seeing images of departed loved ones.
However, the ability to communicate
past the time of our earthly demise has existed for a long,
long time. Consider what is said about Abel in Hebrews 11:4:
“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice
than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God
commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his
faith, though he died, he still speaks (ESV, emphasis
added).
I suppose we could call it our
legacy, our influence, our impact, or any number of other
things, but what we do now can continue to “speak” long
after we are gone. In Abel’s case, he was “speaking”
thousands of years after his death.
I wonder what message I’m leaving
on my machine. How about you?
- Jim Faughn serves as an elder and preacher for the Central
church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website:
http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org
By Ivie Powell
The attitude of “What’s in it for me?” has become so ingrained in
the public that the religious world has built facilities to accommodate
both the spiritual and the physical man. This is done all under the
disguise of “meeting the needs spiritually, physically and emotionally.”
It would not be surprising to learn many are erecting medical
facilities in their building. Thus, the whole man’s needs, spiritually,
physically and emotionally will be met all in one complex. It should not
surprise us if many of our brethren follow in like pursuit. After all,
so many have patterned their “appeal” after the denominational world!
Brethren, when the church assembles on the Lord’s day, it is for
one purpose and only one purpose, that being to worship God “in spirit
and in truth” (John 4:24)! The Lord has set forth only five acceptable
expressions in New Testament worship:
• Singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
• Praying (Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 5:17).
• Preaching (Acts 2:42).
• Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29; Acts 20:7).
• Contribution (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
Any addition or subtraction from these five authorized areas of
worship is without Bible authority (Col. 3:17) and is a flagrant
departure from the word of God (2 John 9-11; Rev. 22:18-19)!
There are only three ways Scripture authorizes:
• Direct command (Acts 10:48).
• An approved Bible example (Acts 20:7).
• Necessary inference or implication (Matt. 3:16).
There is no doubt that orchestras, dramas, choruses, testimonials,
recreation and entertainment have an appeal to the flesh. However, New
Testament worship is not based on man’s likes and dislikes, but solely
on biblical authority (Col. 3:17)!
The diligent student of God’s word quickly observes that all of the
aforementioned are the direct result of man’s departure from God’s
word. Whenever biblical authority is set aside, then, man will resort to
his own devices, and when that takes place, biblical chaos ensues!
When speaking of worship, the attitude of some is: “What’s in it
for me?” Well, that really depends on what you bring with you. If you
bring an attitude of sincerely worshiping God “in spirit and in truth”
(John 4:24), then you will receive the following:
• You will have a greater knowledge of God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15)!
• You will be preparing for a better and happier life (Phil. 4:4; 1 John 1:4)!
• You will be assured of the hope of eternal life for the faithful (Rom. 8:24-25; Titus 1:2)!
• You will be drawn closer to God (John 4:23-24; James 4:7-10)!
• Your faith will be strengthened (Rom. 10:17; Col. 3:16)!
• You will acquire a deeper insight into the truth found only in God’s word (James 1:25)!
• You will be admonished in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16)!
• You will have the fellowship of brethren who need your strength and in turn will strengthen you (Acts 2:42)!
• You will be preparing for your eternal home with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and all the saved of all the ages (Rev. 21:22)!
• You will be prepared for the uneven journey of the many wiles of the devil (Eph. 4:10-18).
• You will be strengthened in the Christian graces that are needed in remaining faithful (2 Peter 1:5-13)!
With all of these and many other positive aspects, why would any
Christian not want to faithfully assemble with the saints on the Lord’s
Day (Heb. 10:23-25)?
- Ivie Powell; via the
Nile Street Notes,
the weekly bulletin of the Anna church of Christ in Anna, IL; R. W.
McAlister preaches for the congregation and may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
By Gus Nichols
Perhaps some reader has tried to be
a Christian, but failed. If so why not try again? Great
success does not always come from a single effort.
Worthwhile things are worth trying and striving for, even if
we must try again and again. In the year 1917 a tornado
destroyed our home, blew us away and ruined our crops on a
farm before it tore into Carbon Hill, Alabama, and left the
dead and the homeless in its wake. But we did not give up
and quit. The next spring we found ourselves planting again,
and soon we were growing a crop.
Life is very much like that.
Wars are not usually won by a single battle. But battle
after battle must be fought before the victory belongs to
those who win the last battle.
Very few spend a long life in the
service of Christ without getting discouraged and, for the
moment, giving up in despair. But those who overcome the
world are they who (if need be) try again and again—who
refuse to surrender to the evil one. If they fail, they go
down fighting, soon to rise again.
It is easy to give up and quit when
the going gets rough, as it most certainly will sooner or
later. Long roads usually have some detours and rough places
over which one must travel in order to reach the desired
destiny. The Christian life is like running a race.
“Wherefore, seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
“I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:26-27).
If one falls, he should get up and
try again. The new birth is a sort of “Land of Beginning
Again” (John 3:5). So is a restoration of an erring child of
God. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one
convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the
sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from
death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
- Gus Nichols; via
The
Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert
City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle
preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website:
http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By Garland M. Robinson
The work of the church is unique.
The New Testament authorizes the church to work in three
areas: 1) Evangelism — teaching and preaching the Gospel
(Mark 16:15-16), 2) Edification — teaching and instructing
its members (1 Thess. 5:11; Col. 3:16) and 3) Benevolence —
helping those in need of the necessities of life (James
1:27; Gal. 6:10).
To do the work God has commanded
the church to do requires money (the funds necessary to
carry out the work). God has given instruction “where” and
“how” the church gets its money to do its work. It is by the
free-will offering of its members. The Scriptures authorize
a collection to be taken up each first day of the week. In 1
Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, “Now concerning the collection
for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of
Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let
every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered
him....” A famine had made many destitute of the necessary
things of life. Churches of Christ everywhere were
instructed to help the needy. This passage tells them how to
do it.
In the New Testament, you never read of
the church of Christ having chariot washes, bake sales,
rummage sales, 10K walks, etc., etc. to raise money for its
work. There is no Scripture that authorizes the church to
solicit (request, seek, beg) money, food, clothes (material
goods) from non-members (the general public).
Therefore, you should never see the
church of Christ soliciting material things from those who
are not members of the church in order to help the church do
the work God has commanded the church to do.
- Garland M. Robinson; via the
Nile Street Notes, the weekly bulletin of
the Anna church of Christ in Anna, IL; R. W. McAlister
preaches for the congregation and may be contacted through
the congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
