Newsletter Vol.2, #43—November 12, 2006

Matthew 9    ³³And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." ³⁴But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

What Do You Think During Our Assemblies?

Kenneth E. Thomas

Before each of our assemblies one of the faithful brethren are chosen to “make the announcements.” An attempt is made to make him aware of 1) Who is away from us. 2) Who is physically ill among us. 3) Sometimes births, marriages, and graduations from high school or college are announced. 4) We are informed about who has passed from this life. 5) Who has undergone tests of one kind or another and is waiting for the results. 6) We announce who has had surgery, etc. I am of the opinion that it is suitable to announce these things and many others which have an effect on the membership, whether it is good news or bad. Paul included in some of his epistles some very personal things and named the names of several people as the epistles came to a close. Do we listen intently to these announcements with a view to taking the appropriate actions or do we promptly forget or do we even hear those announcements?

What We Seldom, If Ever Announce!

The soul of man is of greater value than the combined wealth of the whole universe. “²⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ²⁶For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26) Have you noticed that very little (if anything at all) is announced about those who are showing signs of spiritual illness and are in danger of falling or have fallen away from the faith? In times past, in other congregations of the Lord’s people with whom I have worked, when I was aware of spiritual problems in the lives of some among the membership, I have stood before the congregation and brought such to their attention and admonished “...those who are spiritual to restore such a one...” (Galatians 6:1-4; James 5:19-20) Often our priorities are all mixed up! That about which we should be very troubled, troubles us little, or not at all; and that about which we should care less, becomes an obsession with some of us! Some who profess to be mature in the faith would become very upset if their lost loved one’s name was announced in an effort to get others involved in their spiritual recovery and restoration. This same person will become upset if their loved one’s physical problems weren’t taken into account and announced publicly and if they were not assisted in whatever way we were able!

If Your Child Was Lost, Possibly Abducted

 How would you as a parent and all of us as a friend or brother in Christ react? You know the answer to that question. We would as it were, “move heaven and earth” as we attempt to find that lost child! That’s exactly what we should do of course. Take a look at what has recently happened in Aruba, an island in the Carribean, due to the loss of a teen-age girl named Natalee Holloway. Much effort and money has been expended in searching for her and trying to find her body. Recently a search and rescue organization from Texas has been moved to that island with sonar and other expensive equipment and are employed in searching for Natalee. Already hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent willingly by many in the search, and much more will be expended. Am I opposed to such? Certainly not! One physical life is important. What I would like to have us see however, is that we often place a greater value on the physical life of a person (our sons and daughters and those of other Christians) than we do on their souls!

Some Resent Efforts To Save Their Loved Ones

 Often, those who would be extremely thankful to every one who made attempts to find a lost loved one or their bodies, would resent any efforts by the faithful to “restore their loved ones to the faith.” I know whereof I speak, I have been the brunt of unkind remarks made to me by a wife, husband, or parent when I made attempts to “save their loved ones from death”! Sometimes their remarks were subtle. Often a wife or husband will say to me, “Now don’t push him/her.” What she/he would really like to say, perhaps, but just doesn’t have the courage to say it, is, “Preacher, elder, or just John or Jane Doe Christian, leave my loved one alone.” In the case of wayward children I have actually had parents say exactly that. Perhaps this answers why many make few attempts to “restore the erring” to the faith.

 Members here who read the weekly “announcement sheet” which I prepare are aware of the fact that I make the following remarks on that sheet weekly: “Do you take notice of who is present and who is absent from our services each week with a view to encouraging those who show signs of neglect? Have you taken into account what you might do to help them attend more regularly?”

“Lost Sheep – Lost Coin – Lost Boy!”
(Luke 15:1-24)

Jesus addressed this matter in the above mentioned parables in an attempt to teach them (and us) where our priorities should lie. Let’s read about “a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost boy.”

 ¹Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. ²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. ³And he spake this parable unto them, saying, ⁴What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? ⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. ⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. ⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? ⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. ¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. ¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons: ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. ¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. ¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. ²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: ²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

It just seems to me that if the Lord would take up this much space on this matter in His holy word, He must have wanted us to take the restoration of a lost soul much more seriously than is often the case. What do you think?

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Kenneth E. Thomas kthomas@ntslink.net

"A word to the wise is sufficient."

Pekin church home page address:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/7017/pekin_ch.html