The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
April 1, 2007
In
This Issue:
Where
Would You Be If ______ Had Never Happened to You?
by
Steve Klein
Brylcream
Religion
by
Robert Harkrider
Where Would You Be if _______ Had
Never Happened to You?
Somerset Maugham, the English writer, once wrote a story about a janitor at St. Peter's Church in London. One day a young vicar discovered that the janitor was illiterate and fired him. Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny tobacco shop, where he prospered, bought another, expanded, and ended up with a chain of tobacco stores worth several hundred thousand dollars. One day the man's banker said, "You've done well for an illiterate, but where would you be if you could read and write?" "Well," replied the man, "I'd be janitor of St. Peter's Church in Neville Square." (From Bits and Pieces, June 24, 1993, p. 23)
Many times in life the things that appear at first to be misfortune wind up bringing us success or blessing in our lives. This is illustrated many times in the Bible.
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If Joseph had never been sold into slavery, falsely accused and then imprisoned, would he ever have been elevated to a position in Egypt that allowed him to preserve his family?
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Where would Daniel have been if he hadn't been taken into Babylonian captivity? Would he have had the opportunity to bring honor to the God of heaven before foreign kings?
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Where would Zaccheus have been if he were taller?
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Would the blind man in John 9 ever have become a believer in Jesus if he had not been "born blind"?
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What if the woman who touched the hem of Jesus garment to be healed had not suffered a "flow of blood" for 12 years? Would her faith have been as strong?
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Would the centurion have come to Jesus if his son were not paralyzed and dreadfully tormented? (Matthew 8:6).
When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was in Roman prison. But he was able to see the good that had come from his circumstances. "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, {13} so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ" (Philippians 1:12-13).
If we will but take the time to look at our lives, we'll often find what Paul found. Misfortune and adversity have resulted in positive outcomes. "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." (Psalms 37:5)
-- Steve
Klein
"A little dab will do you," is an often heard advertising slogan for Brylcream hairdressing. There are many people who obviously think of saving faith in these same terms, for they have nothing more than a "little dab" of religion.
An alarming trend toward nominal Christianity is increasing. It is made up of people who have become members of the church whose participation in the Lord's work goes little further than attending fairly regularly on Sunday mornings and giving financially what they consider a fair amount for "admission" to the services.
Though they are not Bible students, they usually consider themselves qualified to be critics of the preaching and program of work. While they may not visit the sick and wayward themselves, they become offended if no attention is given them while they are ill. Regardless of the fact that they are not actively participating in the work of the church, they usually consider themselves faithful because "a little dab will do you."
There is hardly a more effective instrument of the devil in destroying zeal and fervor than "name only" Christianity. It not only deceives the indifferent member into thinking his salvation is secure, it also is cancerous in nature spreading from one member to another.
Myriads of people are looking for an easy way to heaven, and this "Brylcream Religion" appeals to them. It satisfies their conscience and allow them to be saved (they think) on the "lay away plan" -- when it is convenient.
CHRISTIANITY INVOLVES DOING.
The person with this attitude never comprehends
true Christianity, nor does he ever receive the full benefits of its
blessings. The "pure religion and undefiled" of James 1:27
involves DOING. The real joy of being a Christian can be realized
only by "visiting the fatherless and widows in their
affliction"; not by delegating the work to the preacher or
somebody else. The greatest thrill in seeing others obey the gospel
is shared by the one who has had a personal hand in converting the
lost soul; not in waiting for others to teach them. Though having
visitors when ill brings comfort, there is a more abundant sense of
pleasure felt by the person doing the visiting. The deepest
inspiration or edification from worship is obtained by those who
participate in the singing, teaching, or bountiful giving; not by
those who have come to "enjoy the services" as spectators.
Not only does the person with a "little dab" of religion
fail to reap the great joys of Christianity in this life, he will
also lose his soul eternally.
The Bible teaches that Christians are to seek God first in their lives. (Mt. 6:33) The life of a Christian involves daily service, not part time activity. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). A living sacrifice describes active and interested participation. It is impossible to be a faithful Christian without belonging wholly to the Lord and His cause. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:19,20). Other statements show our manner of labor, "...always abound in the work of the Lord..." (1 Cor. 15: 58), and "...to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
"LITTLE DAB" WON'T DO
The average Christian is familiar with the
above passages, but in application he tends to omit himself from
their pointed meaning. We know that a "little dab" of
religion would not be sufficient for the preacher or leaders of the
church but through some unexplained way, we feel we can enter the
pearly gates with this small amount. By inspiration of God James was
addressing Christians when he wrote, "But be ye doers of the
word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be
a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding
his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his
way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall
be blessed in his deed" (Jas. 1:22,23). Let us not confuse a
slogan for hairdressing with the word of God. Hairdressing is only
for the head--not for the soul.
-- Robert Harkrider