The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
October 12, 2003
In
This Issue:
Out
of Self and Into Thee
by
Gilbert Alexander
The
Irony of it All
by
Steve Klein
"Out of Self and Into Thee"
Ego gets in the way of obedience. We like to do what we want to do. We like to think that we are independent, that we are in control, that we know what is best for us. It takes a lot to humble us, to bring us to our knees, and to convince us that we have little control over most things that happen to us and around us. Only when we have learned how little we are and how totally dependent we are upon God will we become pliable enough for God to mold us into vessels fit for His service. Sometimes it takes a lot of pounding and pummeling by the troubles of life to soften us sufficiently.
How many times do we say, "I know what I ought to do", and then do nothing about it? How many times do we parry pleas and exhortations to repentance by saying, "I know", and then excusing ourselves from repentance by some worldly rationalization, pointing to the imperfections of others or by questioning our own ability to control ourselves? Is the problem ego, self-deception, or just simple unbelief?
"All have sinned&ldots;" (Rom. 3:23). Why then is it so hard for us to say, "I have sinned?" "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8). "For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). Do we really believe in judgment to come? It is a s certain as death (Heb. 9:27,28).
Christ died for us. He purchased (redeemed) unto Himself a special people, His called-out (church). When we obey the gospel, being baptized into Christ, we become His property (I Cor. 6:19,20). As His servants, we are fully obligated to obey Him in all things (Rom. 6:17-22). We do not retain a degree of independence from His will. When we learn to make His will our own, we will have learned one of the greatest and most difficult lessons of life. Jesus Himself, in the flesh, submitted Himself wholly to the will of the Father, even in dying on the cross (Matt. 26:39; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 5:8). Are we servants greater than our Master?
God has sought to move us through fear and through love. He has shown us the better life we can have, the only hope we can have, and the happiness that can be ours through an obedient life. He has warned us of the wrath to come. But none of these things will move us until we take control of self and humble ourselves truly and completely before Him.
If we will stop and consider all the things we cannot do for ourselves and all the tings that no other humans can do for us, then surely we can realize our weakness and we can learn to trust in the strength of the Lord. Let us win a great victory by conquering our own ego, and then we can live so as to win the final victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
By Gilbert Alexander
Recently a North Alabama volunteer fire department lost its firehouse. Yep, it burned to the ground. It seems that one of the fire trucks had an engine problem and caught fire after being parked inside the firehouse. It is kind of ironic that a place that was in the business of fire fighting and rescue would itself be lost to a fire. Even more ironic that the cause of it was a vehicle designed solely for the purpose of extinguishing fires.
God's people are in the business of pulling sinners "out of the fire" (Jude 23). The church is designed to save people from the fires of hell and help folks to put out the burning desires of the flesh which "will eat your flesh like fire" (James 5:3). But when churches lose sight of their mission and actually fuel the fires of worldliness and put people on the path to hell, it's more than ironic. It's sad.
Like the fire engine starting the fire in the firehouse, it is often the very ones God has placed among His people for the purpose of guarding and protecting them who create these problems in the church. Church leaders, "pastors" and preachers too often set fire to God's house. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that "from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:30).
It is sad and ironic to see churches sponsoring dances (lasciviousness) and raffles (gambling/covetousness) and gospel-rock concerts (revelry, sacrilege). It is equally sad to see the millions of dollars churches spend on building recreational facilities including gymnasiums, ball fields, volleyball courts, playgrounds and fellowship halls. While recreational activities and eating are not wrong in and of themselves, they are fleshly pleasures that are already over-abundant in our society. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). When churches lead Christians to focus more on the fleshly and worldly, and less on the spiritual and heavenly, they are sparking the fires that burn men's souls. Oh the irony of it all.
By Steve Klein