The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at New Georgia

Tim Johnson, editor

January 30, 2005

 
In This Issue:
"Religious Beliefs Get in the Way of Activities"
by Steve Klein

How Much Have You Grown?
by Derek Chancelor

 
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"Religious Beliefs
Get in the Way of Activities"

      The newspaper headline above caught my eye this past week.  It was the headline over Annie's Mailbox, the advice column formerly authored by Ann Landers.  Someone had written in complaining that her atheist sister-in-law would not attend her son's baptism because the sister-in-law thought that, "it would be hypocritical to sit through a church service she did not believe in."   Here is a woman who is an ATHEIST whose "religious beliefs" would not allow her to engage in a certain activity.  I am afraid that there are some professed Christians who would not allow their religion to so restrict them.  But the fact is that having sincere beliefs of any kind will prevent us from doing certain things.  Even an atheist understands that. 

  There are many things that the world accepts and expects that the religion of Jesus Christ prohibits.  Participation in certain activities must be denied! "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).  It may be that everyone else is engaging in a given activity, but a Christian does not do everything everyone else does "You should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk&ldots;" (Ephesians 4:17). We are to "Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

  For those whose religious beliefs are found in the New Testament, the following activities are clearly prohibited

  • Revelry (partying), drunkenness, lewdness, lust, strife and envy. "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:13-14).  It may be that you used to engage in some of these things before becoming a Christian, but now your religious beliefs should surely get in the way of these activities. "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries" (1 Peter 4:3).  "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).

  • Corrupt speech, filthy language, lying, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephesians 4: 4:29, 31). "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:8-9).

  • Sexual immorality, unclean desires and passions, immodest dress.  "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire&ldots;. (Colossians 3:5).  "In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel&ldots;" (1 Timothy 2:9).

    The religious beliefs of a Christian will not only get in the way of engaging in these activities, they will also get in the way of giving any indication of support or approval to those who do engage in these activities. Paul told Timothy, "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22; cf. Ephesians 5:7).

  There is little difference between a horse that jumps the fence every time he feels like it and a horse in a pasture that has no fence.  A religion that does not "get in the way" of certain activities is like having no religion at all.

-- Steve Klein

How Much Have You Grown?

"...But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Pet. 3:18) "...As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..." (1 Pet. 2:2) In this article let's examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5), and look at areas that we should have grown in.

  In Faith? Is your faith still growing, or has it reached a plateau where it has been for several years? Have the trails, temptations, and persecutions that have come your way made you more dependent upon the God of Heaven? Have the events of the past years taught you that, "&ldots;all things work together for good to those who love God." (Rom. 8:28) In the midst of life and death, good and evil, prosperity and adversity, have you seen what a truly grand thing it is to be a child of God?

  In Knowledge? How much do you know about the Bible, right now, than you did two years ago? Have you acquired enough of an understanding of the Book so as to teach others the simple plan of salvation? Can you give answer to those who ask you why you are what you are? Do you find yourself more and more turning to the scriptures to answer the problems that perplex you?

  In Attitudes? Has there been a real improvement in the attitude toward matters that before were unimportant to you? What is your attitude toward attending more than one service a week? Has it improved over the past years or are you the same person you were a few years ago? What is your present attitude toward personal work? Do you still consider it a job for someone else? What is your attitude toward preaching that is intended to help you but clashes with what you are doing? Do you go home and "sound off" to everyone that will listen about how fanatical the preacher is, or do you think over carefully the sermon and seek to find out if it is what the Bible teaches. Is your attitude that of doing only what you think you can get by with or do you seek to "abound in the work of the Lord?" (1 Cor. 15:58)

  In Love and Understanding? Has your love for the brethren increased in the past year? Do you consider them and their problems and try to understand and appreciate them? Are you motivated to think the best of them first and think the worst last? Have you come to the realization that, just as there are those "quirks" in their personalities that you must overlook, they have to overlook many things in yours? Have you experienced the great joy of "loving the brethren" and found that peace of mind that comes when you are moved and motivated in all things by the spirit of Christ?

  Will You Try? Will you try this year to grow in faith? Will you seek to gain more knowledge of God's immutable work? Will you make a true effort to improve your attitudes? Will you make the first step toward your brethren in manifesting love and understanding? God grant that you will, and may this year end with you and me truly pleasing our Lord by having grown "in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

-- Derek R. Chancelor