Church

By Kevin Rutherford

    The word “church” translates a Greek word that refers to those who are called out from society in general to a specific group for the purposes of assembly. The church spoken of in the New Testament is that group called out from society by the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the purpose of assembling together in worship and service to God. This group that has been set aside from the rest of culture is that body which is made up of the saved. It is the church which God planned from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:8-13), and which Jesus Christ established at the right time (Galatians 4:4-5). It is sometimes referred to as the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 24:14), the church of God (Acts 20:28), churches of Christ (Romans 16:16), house of God (1 Timothy 3:15), etc. Each of these references alludes to a particular identifying aspect of the church of the New Testament. The church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and Jesus Christ the Way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The church belongs to Christ and must therefore submit to the authority of Christ (Matthew 16:18).

    The church must also submit to the authority of Jesus Christ because He is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:13-18). That is, Jesus Christ has all authority over the church (Matthew 28:18). We must therefore do all things by His authority (Colossians 3:17). No man has the right to establish his own church, or to change the church which Jesus Christ established into something more suitable to the current whims and fancies of ever changing culture. The church must remain in submission to the one who established it, ad the one who has authority over it. Jesus Christ reigns as King over His kingdom (Revelation 19:16), Head over His body (Ephesians 1:22-23), Groom over His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33), and Firstborn over His house (Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 3:6).

    The way for the church to remain in submission to the authority of Jesus Christ is to abide by the New Covenant given by Jesus Christ (John 14:26; 16:13-15; Hebrews 2:1-4). The New Covenant is given from the Lord for all of mankind, but it also serves as the constitution, law, authority, and guide for all true churches of Christ (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5). To love, respect, revere, and obey the New Covenant is to love, respect, revere, and obey the One who gave it. No man has the right to go against New Testament authority in matters affecting the church or anything else. The New Testament is the authority and standard for Christianity. Apart from the New Testament one cannot have the genuine, authentic, true church.

    The authentic and true church is the one established by Jesus Christ, and over which Jesus Christ reigns. It is the one identified, sanctified, and made holy by the doctrine of Christ. It is the one church that has been purified and purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). Therefore, we must make a clear distinction between churches established by men which do not follow the will of Jesus Christ as set forth in the New Testament, and the genuine, true, authentic church of Jesus Christ described and patterned for us in the New Testament (Matthew 7:13-29).

    Every church established by men in opposition to the one established by Jesus Christ is a blind leader that shall be rooted up (Matthew 15:1-14). Every church established upon the wishes and whims of faddish people in contradiction to the Lord’s church that is established upon the Word of God, is the church that is entirely unacceptable to God (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). A fundamental principal regarding man’s relationship to God is that the Creator has authority over the creation (Jeremiah 10:23; Isaiah 55:8-9; Job 42:1-6; Matthew 7:21-22; Hebrews 5:8-9). Therefore, those who establish, create, and make their own church with expectation that God will just accept it are sadly mistaken. No man has the right to stand up in opposition to God and demand that God accept what man wants over what God demands (Matthew15:1-9). No man is wise enough to develop a church more perfectly suited to its purpose than God. Any man that thinks himself clever enough to outdo God and create a better church is a man that had better humble himself before God humbles him (Psalm 51:17).

    The New Testament teaches us about the church by providing the record of the work of Jesus Christ in preparation for the church (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). We learn about the church by reading of the early history of the church (Acts). In addition we can learn what God wants for the church bar studying and examining the inspired letters that were sent to the early churches (Romans through Jude). From the Lord’s reports concerning the seven churches of Asia, we can learn what God commends in contrast to what God condemns (Revelation 2 & 3). We can see what God demands and commands as we study the New Testament that has been given to us by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ established the church, gave us the New Testament to guide the church, and is the head and authority over the church. No one other than Christ can establish the church, and no one other than Christ should ever be considered the authority over the church.

- Kevin V. Rutherford preaches for the Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/

Tears Of The Poor

By Al Behel

    Thomas Carlyle once said, “The tears of the poor are the best epitaph of the dead.” Long ago King Solomon stated, “The righteous considers the cause of the poor” (Proverbs 29:7) and “He that has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will pay to him again” (Proverbs 19:17).

    One of my college professors was walking across a parking lot with another student when they were approached by a man asking for financial help. The student reached in his pocket and gave the beggar some money. The professor, a bit taken back by the unquestioning generosity of the student, asked, “Do you always do that?” The student answered affirmatively. When asked why he would give to a beggar who might misuse the funds without questioning him, the student replied, “I would rather err on the side of mercy than on the side of justice.”

    Giving to the poor is like “lending” to the Lord. God will repay what the poor cannot repay. The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) outlines three possible attitudes toward those in need. First, we may actively hurt or oppress them. Second, we may actively help them. And, third, we may completely ignore them. The robbers inflicted harm upon the traveler. The Samaritan showed active compassion in helping the man. But, the priest and Levite were simply indifferent toward him.

    Few of us would inflict harm on the poor or needy., but ignoring them is easy to do. But it is not the spirit of Jesus who said He had come to preach good news to the poor. Solomon commended the “virtuous” woman as one who “stretches out her hand to the poor...she extends her hands to the needy” (Proverbs 31:20).

    God does not bless me so I can be rich. He blesses me so I can be a servant. Each gift is a sacred trust. The extended hand is filled with compassion for the needy. Many around us are suffering. We are the body of Christ. That means we are his eyes that see their needs, his heart that feels compassion, and his hands that serve their needs. Many of those needs are for emotional and spiritual support as well as physical.

    God has no other hands, no other eyes, no other hearts, no other servants to make a difference to our world. He is counting on us to deliver a message of redemptive love and grace, and to lift hearts and lives that are struggling around us. 

- Al Behel preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://greatsmokymountainschurchofchrist.com/

The Weeping Christ

By Joe Chesser

    Every time I read the gospels, I am more impressed with both the humanity and deity of Jesus.  Of course, that’s why they were written, to help us get to know Jesus better and better, and thereby strengthening our faith and leading us to eternal life with Him (John 20:30-31).  But the particular thing about Jesus that caught my attention this time is found in Luke19:41-42:

          “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said,

           ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace –

            but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”

    There is another more familiar verse about Jesus weeping found in John 11.  On that occasion, the cause of Jesus’ tears was the death of a dear friend.  He loved Lazarus and his sisters, and he shared tears of compassion with Mary and Martha at Lazarus’ death.  But he knew those tears would be short lived.  He knew that in just a matter of moments the tears would turn to laughter and praise to God when He would call to His friend, “Lazarus, come out!”

    However, in Luke 19 Jesus’ tears were different.  On this occasion his compassion and weeping for the city of Jerusalem were not going to end in laughter and praise.  Unlike the situation with Lazarus, there was nothing Jesus could do to turn His weeping into joy.  His deity wouldn’t allow it.  As a whole, the people of Jerusalem were spiritually hard-hearted.  He would have loved to have gathered them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they refused (Luke 13:34).  They were unwilling to accept His help, even with their greatest needs.  Oh how He wanted to!  He longed with all His heart to help.  But all He could do was weep for them.  Even though He could see the ugly destruction that lay ahead of them and even though He had the power to protect them from that suffering, in the end all He could do was weep.

    Jesus didn’t love Lazarus any more than He loved the people of Jerusalem.  He wept for both.  Jesus doesn’t love any person more than any other person.  God showed how much He loves the entire world by sending Jesus to the cross (John 3:16).  For some, Jesus’ love and compassion will result in eternal life.  But for most, His love and compassion will result in death and destruction (Matthew 7:14).  The difference is not Jesus.  The difference is us.  Lazarus loved Jesus, believed in Jesus, followed Jesus.  Jesus’ tears for him ended in blessings.  On the other hand, Jerusalem did not believe in or love or follow Jesus.  His tears for them are the most heart-breaking of all.  They were tears about what could have been, yet in the end were tears without hope.

    Jesus’ compassion for people is evident in His tears.  He loves us more than we can know.  Jerusalem had the opportunity to believe in and follow Jesus, but they were unwilling to do so.  My prayer is that you will accept His offers of help by believing in Him, loving Him and obeying Him. You don’t want His tears to be hopeless.

- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com

Ten Little Christians

By Larry Pasley

Ten Little Christians standing in line

One disliked the preacher, then there were nine

Nine little Christians stayed up very late

One overslept, then there were eight

Eight little Christians on their way to Heaven

One took the low road and then there were seven

Seven little Christians chirping like chicks

One disliked the music, then there were six

Six little Christians seemed very much alive

but one lost his interest then there was five

Five little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore

but one stopped to rest , then there were four

Four little Christians each busy as a bee

One got his feelings hurt, then there were three

Three little Christians knew not what to do

One joined the sporty crowd, then there were two

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done

They differed with each other, then there was one

One little Christian can't do much 'tis true

brought his friend to bible study- - then there were two

Two earnest Christians, each won one more

That doubled the number, then there were four

Four sincere Christians worked early and late

Each won another then there were eight

Eight splendid Christians if they doubled as before

In only just ten years, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,

You belong either to the building or to the wrecking crew!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

    Church decline and growth is determined by many factors. Some of those are referred to in the poem above. The question for each of us is seen in the last line.

    Are we part of the building crew or the wrecking crew?

    If everyone in this congregation was just like you, would the church be growing or declining?

    May we be sure we are helping to build up the church not tear it down.

- 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

I Want To Go To Heaven

By Al Behel

“Every athlete exercises self-control…They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one…” (I Cor. 9:25)

    John “Pepper” Martin played for the St. Louis Cardinals and was the star of the 1931 World Series. Following one of those games Pepper was interviewed by a newsman. The first question he was asked was, “Pepper, what’s your chief ambition?” Without hesitating Pepper responded, “My chief ambition is to go to heaven.”

    The newsman who interviewed Pepper Martin laughed at his response and said rather sarcastically, “Oh, you want to play a harp, eh?” Martin shot back at him, “My friend, I don’t think that is funny. I know you don’t mean to be a smart aleck, but there’s something wrong with a person’s attitude when he’s flippant about serious things. If there’s anything foolish about reading the Bible every day and believing what it says, and if there’s anything funny about wanting to go to heaven when you leave this world, then I’m afraid life here isn’t worth living.”

    What a goal! To go to heaven. I’ve often asked people, “If you could go anywhere and do anything, what would you choose?’ The responses have been interesting. A common response is, “I’d like to go to Europe, Paris, or to Greece, etc.” I don’t remember anyone saying, “I’d like to go to heaven.”

    The Christian life is like running a race. In the ancient Olympic games the winner received a perishable wreath of ivy or pine. We are in a race for an imperishable wreath that will never decay. We want to go to heaven. Nothing we gain in life in our careers or accumulate through wealth will be taken into our caskets. Our friends will not go with us. We will go alone. All earthly treasures will be left behind. But, we look beyond these temporary trinkets to an eternal home where we will live for all eternity. In the words of our hymn, “Heaven will surely be worth it all.”

- Al Behel preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://greatsmokymountainschurchofchrist.com/

When Parents Learn

By Ron Thomas

    Children will always listen to words of instructions from their parents. This is both a compelling matter and a matter of love. Listen they will, but they learn so much more by the actions of their parents. Sometimes parents, even though they know this, do not allow this understanding to remind them of the importance of living righteously. From their parents, the children learn what is important in their lives. If the Lord is very important, the children learn this by the actions of the parents. On the other hand, if the Lord is not all that important, the children learn this by the actions of the parents as well. At some time in the future, when parents have learned (perhaps relearned) and come to value the Lord’s way differently than they have in previous years, they also learn they are too late to save their children because their earlier actions taught so well! Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6, ASV).

    The moral and spiritual grounding of each person is the starting place of the moral and spiritual grounding of the family. Without the Lord, the moral grounding drifts on the water like a piece of driftwood. Many people have a moral and spiritual grounding in place, but fail to implement it to firmly guide their lives. The byproduct is a family confused about what is important.

- Ron Thomas preacher for the Sunrush Church of Christ, Chillicothe, OH. He may be contacted through the congregation's website. http://sunrushchurchofchrist.com/

Such Were Some of You

By Clifton Angel

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

    We see it happening all around us. And we see it so much so that we may be tempted to become contempt and avoid anyone who is involved in such and refuse to help them. We may be tempted to become complacent and do not see the need to help anyone who is involved in such. And we may be tempted to become corrupt and be involved again with these ourselves. I say "again" because of the words in the next verse: such were some of you (1 Corinthians 6:11). "But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

    If we have been washed in the blood of Jesus, let us realize the great mercy, love, and graciousness that God has shown toward us through Him. Let us never become corrupt again. Let us never become complacent to where we do not do not see the need to help anyone who is involved in such. Let us never become contempt so that we avoid anyone who is involved in such and refuse to help them.

    Maybe you've yet to be washed in the blood. Jesus washes our sins in his blood (Revelation 1:5). Jesus washes away our sins when we submit to baptism (Acts 22:16). But baptism must be preceded by, hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17), believing that Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24), repenting of your past life of sin (2 Corinthians 7:10), and confessing your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:10).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/