The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 25, 2007
In
This Issue:
Fools
by
Steve Klein
Two
Ways to Keep Members Faithful
by
Bill Hall
Fools
Jesus is warning us about the consequences of mean spirited name-calling in Matthew 5:22 when he says, "But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22). No one likes to be called a fool; so, Jesus' instructions here might be thought of as merely an extension of the teaching of Matthew 7:12 - "whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them."
As much as I don't want to be called a fool, I would really hate for someone to call me a fool and be right! The Bible is very clear about the fact that moral and spiritual fools are alive and well on planet earth. Just because no one has called you a fool lately doesn't mean that you're not one. Each of us needs to examine himself and determine whether or not he is a fool in God's eyes.
God says that we are fools&ldots;
-
If we are atheists. How can anyone look at God's wondrous creation and enjoy His marvelous blessings day by day, and yet deny that God exists? Apparently, some smart folks don't have much sense! Psalm 14:1 states, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" If I am living life as if I will never have to answer to the living God, I am a fool.
-
If we trust in riches. To the rich man who trusted that he had "many goods laid up for many years" God said, ''Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' (Luke 12:19-20). How foolish it is to trust in riches when either the riches or our lives could be taken away at any moment. No wonder gospel preachers are to "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17) If I believe that money will solve all my problems and make me happy, I am a fool.
-
If we are quarrelsome. "Any fool can start a quarrel" (Proverbs 20:3). It doesn't take a lot of smarts to pick a fight. It's so easy, even a caveman could do it! The consequences of starting a fight are little more difficult to deal with. Marred relationships, ill feelings and bitterness are just a few of the fruits of being quarrelsome. If I like to start fights, I am a fool.
-
If we don't take sin seriously. Proverbs 14:9 states that "Fools mock at sin." Sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). It is responsible for the eternal destruction of souls. To laugh it off and pretend like it is "no beg deal" is foolish indeed. Jesus came to earth, lived and died "to take away our sins" (1 John 3:5). If I fail to take sin seriously I do not understand its destructive power nor do I appreciate what Christ has done to save me from it -- and I am a fool.
Truly, it is foolish to be foolish when it comes to spiritual matters. "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise" (Ephesians 5:15).
--Steve
Klein
There are two ways to keep members of the church "faithful." The first way is to be sure everyone is involved. Have a project for each member, and make sure that he feels important in his role. Praise him for the good job he is doing. Make him feel needed; make him feel that the well-being of the whole congregation rests firmly on his shoulders. That will keep him "faithful."
There are two problems with this method. In the first place, it encourages the creation of projects that are not remotely related to the work of the local church. One member plays on the church ball team; another leads the Boy Scout troop; another is an active member of the "Dorcas Society"; another plans the program for the men's luncheon. Everybody is busy all right, but in activities that are not authorized in the New Testament.
In the second place, members are often given roles for which they are not qualified. A lady is chosen to teach a class, not because she is qualified, but because she needs to be involved. A man is appointed a deacon to help him to be "faithful." Another man is appointed to serve the Lord's Supper for a month in order to encourage him to be present each Sunday that month. This method thus places "the cart before the horse," for no one should ever be assigned any work in the Lord's service who is not already faithful and qualified for the work to be done (II Timothy 2:2).
The second way to keep people faithful is to develop within them a genuine love for the Lord. When people love the Lord, they will be faithful, and it won't take some kind of "special" project to keep them faithful. They will also be involved: in worship, in study, in prayer, in godly living, in sharing the gospel with a friend, in helping the needy. I have known literally hundreds of Christians who have never in their lives been appointed to any special work, but whose love for the Lord alone keeps them faithful. There is no superficial faithfulness on the part of these; theirs is a faithfulness that is real.
Special responsibilities are fine for those who are qualified, but the man who requires some special duty to be faithful has never learned what true faithfulness is.
-- Bill Hall