Newsletter Vol.2, #7—February 12, 2006
Matthew 7 28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Complacency continued from last week
By Bob W. Lovelace
Jeremiah 8:8-9 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. [9] The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?
Question: What kind? Some translations reference the false pen of the scribe that works falsehood. They converted God's word into a lie!
Jeremiah 8:11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
Note: The one who speaks peaceably to you, but inwardly he sets an ambush for you! (Cf. Jer.9:8).
Ezekiel is a "they say" book if I ever saw one!
Ezekiel 8:12 "...for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth."
Question: What kind? The wicked idolatrous elders who thought the world belonged to the devils, and worshipped them in hidden chambers! (Cp. Ps. 24:1)
Note: These sayings are supposed to be more convincing when presented in combinations!
Ezekiel 9:9 "...for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not."
Ezekiel 12:26-27 "...the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.' "
Question: What kind? The kind that can always put off God's judgment and think that it is never at hand (Cf. verses 22-23; Cp. Amos 9:10.) The carnal in churches of Christ often feel this way (Cf. 2 Cor.12:20-21).
Ezekiel 18:25 "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal."
Question: What kind? The one looking for a loophole who will give a typical childish response to discipline and say, "That isn't fair!"
From the book of Malachi:
Here is a book that teaches God knows every little petty thing Christians say about Him and the work of the church they belong to.
Malachi 1:12-13 "...in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. [13] Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! ..."
Question: What kind? The ones who complain and sneer but give the very things they complain and sneer!
Those who promise to do better and make others think they are, but who actually offer less (Cf. 1:14). These are God's to curse!
Malachi 2:17 "When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"
Note: These saying of complacency deceive some into thinking God can be a friend to sin (Cf. James 4:4).
Malachi 3:14-15 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance,
and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? [15] And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Question: What kind? The kind who had not done well so now they have an excuse to say this!
From the book of Zephaniah:
Zeph.1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.
Note: The word "settled" means ~ to shrink, that is, thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water): - congeal, curdle, dark`, settle (Strong's).
JFB commentary: "The effect of wealthy undisturbed ease ("lees") on the ungodly is hardening: they become stupidly secure (compare Psalm 55:19; Amos 6:1).
Conclusion: "And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Question: What was Peter's answer? Read 2 Pet.3.
Set for the Defense of the Gospel
by Harry Osborne
The apostle Paul affirmed his resolve to stand with the truth of God by saying, "/ am set for the defense of the gospel" (Phil.1:17). Was such a responsibility solely for Paul due to his unique place as an apostle or did other Christians also have the same duty? Since that gospel was defended by apostles in the first century, are modem Christians free from the task of defending it from present day assaults? Can preachers, elders and saints of our time legitimately excuse current failures to use the Spirit's sword to expose error by claiming that modem Christians lack the apostolic credentials to undertake this task?
The culture around us disdains those who defend Bible truth as an absolute. They teach, as fundamental, the tenets of relativism. They assure us with absolute certainty that we cannot know anything for certain. To assert that the principles and actions of another are wrong is to commit the cardinal sin of our age: intolerance. In many schools, our children are taught that "diversity" should be celebrated. The desired "diversity" was first limited to accepting those of diverse races and economic backgrounds. If it had stayed at that point, all of us could heartily "Amen" the concept because such is clearly taught in Scripture (Acts 10:34-35; Rom.2:7-11; James 2:1-9). However, the proponents of accepting and celebrating "diversity" went on to include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, false religion, and a host of other sinful actions in the category of "diversity" and "alternate lifestyles" which are to be accepted and celebrated. It is at this point that the child of God must see the shift in definition and oppose any movement to accept sinful principles and action. God has always demanded that His people hate, reject and oppose every evil way (Psalm 119:128; Rom.16:17; 1 Cor.5:11; Eph.5:6-12; 2 Jn. 9-11).
We expect a world that loves sin would seek to justify its evil action and silence the opponents thereof (John 3:19-20; 7:1,7; 15:18-21). Isaiah said, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isa.5:18-23 cf. Ezek.15:22-23). The wisdom writer of old noted God's condemnation of those who would justify evil and tolerate its continuance (Prov.17:15; 18:15; 24:24). Solomon later notes the response characteristic of the one set for the defense of truth:
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them (Prov.28:4).
It is a sad fact that many brethren are now praising the wicked, justifying their acceptance, quelling their tongues from the mandatory rebuke of evil, and, instead, pronouncing condemnation upon those who do contend with the wicked. The opponent of wickedness is labeled a "watchdog," "unloving," a "self-appointed guardian of orthodoxy," or a "neo-Pharisee." From pulpits to kitchen tables, from Bible classes to college campuses, from "gospel papers" to preachers of repute, a growing cry is heard for tolerance of "diversity" in doctrine and practice where sin is involved. Its current momentum began from brother Ed Harrell's plea for continued acceptance of brother Homer Hailey despite his teaching and application of error on divorce and remarriage (Christianity Magazine, Nov.1988). It gained steam when none of the editors of that paper challenged the error. The speed of the movement increased when esteemed brethren stepped in to defend and praise our "historical practice" of accepting those who teach some doctrinal errors and sinful practices. It accelerated even more as some lauded our doctrinal diversity as a proof of rightful "autonomy" and "non-sectarianism." It reached terminal velocity when we were told by many in our own area (Florida-LF) that we could receive brethren who advocate the "Big Bang" theory, stellar evolution, a 15 to 20 billion year old universe as consistent with the Bible, acceptance of Baptists and Methodists as "Christians" while abiding in those doctrines, and even suggest that Muslims and atheists may be saved while remaining in such infidelity.
To be continued