The Gospel Spotlight
(Electronic Edition)
(Romans 1:16)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation . . . .”
May, 2002 Vol. 1 - No. 3
The Gospel Spotlight is a
publication of the Sixty Fifth St. church of Christ
7115 West Sixty Fifth St.
P.O. Box 19062
Little Rock AR 72219-1062
Editor and Evangelist
Don McClain - donmccla@msn.com
Contents:
Hold Fast The Pattern - Keith Sharp
Can We Have Unity - George DeHoff
The Word - R.H. Bunting
From My EMail In Box - Daycare, Eating in the church, Orphan homes
Hold Fast The Pattern
Keith
Sharp
Introduction
Several years ago I arranged to have a study with a preacher in another church of Christ in the town where I lived about differences we had on the subject of institutionalism. He admitted he had not studied the subject much, but he wanted me to read a tract written by Athens Clay Pullias entitled "Where There Is No Pattern." The thesis of this brochure was that there is no New Testament pattern in the area of our disagreement, and, thus, we are free to do as we please without constraints from divine law. Our disagreement involved the organization and work of the church. If the tract is correct, there is no divine pattern for the organization and work of the church!
For a generation some brethren have cried, "We do lots of things without Bible authority!" In the last several years some have followed this plea to its logical conclusion. One brother claimed of the New Testament:
"Nowhere, nowhere, do I find a consistent diagram or blueprint of what life should be or what the church should be."
Another declared:
"I am willing to admit that I do not have faith in the binding nature of Divine Revelation."
This raises the question, Is the New Testament a binding pattern for people today?
Paul Says It Is
The apostle Paul plainly stated that the New Testament is a pattern. He commanded:
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13).
The author of Hebrews, in comparing the Old and New Testaments, appealed to the example of the construction of the tabernacle by Moses. The Lord commanded Moses, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5; cf. Exodus 25:40; also vv. 8-9). The Lord instructed Moses to build the tabernacle according to the divine pattern revealed on Mt. Sinai. Moses did just that (Exodus 39:42-43). As the result, "the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-35). This is a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" for us (Hebrews 8:5). Just as the tabernacle and all the service pertaining to it were set up according to the pattern made known through Moses, the New Testament church and all that pertains to it are ordered by the pattern revealed through Christ.
What the Pattern Is
The apostle even revealed what the divine pattern is. He described it as "the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me" (2 Timothy 1:13).
The New Testament pattern is composed of "sound words." The term "sound" means "to be well, to be in good health.... true and incorrupt doctrine" (Thayer. 634). Just as nutritious food is conducive to a sound body, even so "true and incorrupt doctrine" builds a healthy spirit. True doctrine is that which comes from God (John 17:17; Romans 3:3-4). But it must also be "incorrupt." Just as a small amount of deadly poison in otherwise healthful food can be fatal, a little human doctrine mixed with the doctrine of Christ is deadly to the soul (Galatians 1:6-9).
This pattern is composed of the "words which you have heard from me" (Paul). Since Paul was an apostle, the things he taught came through the Holy Spirit from Christ (Ephesians 3:1-6).
Therefore, the New Testament pattern on any subject is composed of everything the New Testament teaches on that subject.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,"that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
If we find everything the New Testament teaches about salvation, that is the divine pattern on salvation. The same principle is likewise true of the family, obligations to civil government, righteousness in business relationships, responsibilities to our neighbors, holy living, worship, organization of the church, work of the church, or any other subject which pertains to the salvation of one’s soul.
Responsibility to the Pattern
The apostle also made known our responsibility to this pattern. He commanded, "Hold fast the pattern of sound words." The phrase "Hold fast" means "keep" (Thayer. 266) or "steadfast adherence to" (Vine. 2:223). Just as Moses made "all things according to the pattern" and just as Noah built the ark "according to all that God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22; cf. vv. 14-16), so we must follow the divine pattern found in the New Testament in all we do (Colossians 3:17). To act in disregard of the New Testament pattern is to leave God (2 John 9-11).
Attitudes
The beloved apostle even informed us of the attitudes we must maintain toward the divine blueprint. He commanded us to follow it "in faith and love."
Since faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), in order to do things by faith, we must do those things and only those things that are authorized in the New Testament. Those whose lives are pleasing to God "walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7). If we practice and teach things not authorized by the Lord in His word, we are not walking by faith, and our lives are displeasing to God.
Further, we are to exercise love in holding fast this pattern. We must always speak and practice truth, but it must be done in love (cf. Ephesians 4:15). Love of the truth demands we preach and practice truth. Love of God requires our obedience to Him (1 John 5:3). Love of our brothers and sisters in Christ compels us to seek their good in all we do (1 John 3:16-18) and to never place a stumbling block before them to cause them to sin (1 John 2:10).
Conclusion
The division that exists among Christians is tragic (cf. John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3). If all would lay aside opinions and creeds and determine to believe, preach, and practice the pattern of sound words, the doctrine of Christ, we would all be one (1 Corinthians 1:10). Brother, sister, it must begin with you and me. Will you not determine to hold fast the pattern of sound words?
Meditate on These Things - April 29, 2002
Works
Cited
Thayer, Joseph H., A Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament.
Vine, W.E., An Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words.
Can We Have Unity
George DeHoff
I took a package to the
post office at Murfreesboro and had the clerk weigh it. He consulted his map to
find the zone to which it was going. He turned to his guidebook and told me th
amount of the postage. I took the same package to our neighboring town of
Woodbury and went into the post office. The clerk gave me the amount of the
postage -- and it was the same. This same package I then took to a little
country post office in the back of a store in one of our rural districts. There
the post master weighed it. With some degree of slowness -- for he was an
uneducated man -- he consulted his postal rate book and came up with the same
answer. These postal employees had not met in convention and decided to charge
me a certain amount for the mailing of this package.
They probably did not know one
another. THEY ALL HAD ON OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK AND WENT BY IT. They had unity. As
long as men insist on using their own creeds and opinions in religion, we will
have division.
WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO USE
THE OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK -- THE BIBLE -- WE WILL HAVE UNITY. (Let me say, just
here, that these postal workers in these different cities had to abide by the
postal guidebook or they could not be postal workers. Neither can we be true
Christians unless we abide by the Bible, JWS).
----------George DeHoff, Texas
Bible Banner.
The Word
R.H. Bunting
The authority in the
religion of Christ is the word of Christ. Paul wrote, "If any man think
himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that
I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37). By the
word "commandments", the apostle shows that the word he wrote was
authoritative.
The phrase, "of the
Lord", denotes supreme authority. The authority of the New Testa- ment is
emphasized when we remember it grants unto us "all things that pertain
unto life and godliness." (2 Pet. 1:3). Realizing the New Testament is
authoritative, faithful children of God have always pleaded with people to
unite upon God's Word.
Another fact I want us to
notice is that one must respect the SILENCE of the will of Christ. One must
abide (stay or remain) in the doctrine of Christ, and the way that is done is
to remain silent where the Bible is silent. John declared, "Whosoever
trans- gresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Son." (2 Jno. 9,10).
When one sees "no
harm" in going beyond the doctrine of Christ in matters of religion he is
show- ing a lack of respect for God's Word. The statement of the apostles on
circumcision points out the necessity of respecting the silence of the
Scriptures. "We gave no such commandment," declares the apostles of
Christ. Circumcision was not bound upon the Gentiles, and the simple reason
given by the apostles was "no such command- ment." The silence of the
New Testament is to be respected.
Can you show that your
religious actions are authorized in the Scriptures, or do you use the lame
excuse, "the Bible does not say not to"? Read 2 Jno. 9 again.
-R.H. Bunting in
Bloomington, Indiana Bulletin.
From My EMail In Box
Being subscribed to several
group email list I often come across posts that catch my attention. I generally
fight off the urge to respond and get involved in group discussions, but. . . .
. One of the lists to which I am subscribed, "The Gospel Preacher
List" had several post this past week to which I just couldn't resist the
urge to respond. One discussion centered around a church of Christ providing a
"Day Care," and another "How to deal with a young man who didn't
believe in 'eating in the building' and the 'church support of nursing
homes'." The emails received will be in italics with my responses
following.
Recently
I was in communication with a congregation that offers "DayCare". . .
. . I would be interested in others response.
One
responded -
"This sounds like a great program to teach children and influence their
parents."
WTH
To
which another responded - "Book,
chapter and verse please!" Art Loeber
To
which James 4:17
was given to support the idea by Randy Bowling of Byron, GA.
My response:
James 4:17 deals with
individual responsibility. "Let HIM who knows to do good . .
." - NOT that the church cannot do "GOOD" - but we MUST realize
that in order for a thing pertaining to the work of the church to be
"GOOD" it MUST BE an AUTHORIZED work for the church to be engaged in
(Col 3:17, 1 Thes 5:21). Individuals may engage in many things which the church
cannot! To blur the distinction between individual and corporate engagement is
to open up the function of the church to every WORTHY secular activity! . . .
If the church runs a daycare and such a work is authorized, then every level
and form of secular education and social involvement is also authorized. The
only thing restraining the church would be the preference of which secular
activity to engage in and/or financial limitations.
We should ever strive to
keep the church pure from secularism in both the areas of work and worship, for
the church is not a secular institution, but rather a spiritual body called to
carry out a spiritual mission, (1 Peter 2:5). Every secular burden we place on
the church we hinder it in fulfilling its true purpose . . .such a burden is
not a "GOOD" work, (see 1 Timothy 5:16). To bring social engagement,
recreational activities, and secular entertainment into the church is to
pollute the church - (Lev. 10:1,2; 1 Tim 3:15).
Sincerely,
Don McClain
After my
reply several questions were posted to the list to which I replied . . . The
questions appear in italics and my response follows . .
Would you
not agree that what I do as a representative of the church is different from
what the church does "AS A CHURCH?" For example . . Voting -
Attending sporting events - Recreational activities - Secular education, etc.
A group of
concerned Christians may act apart from using money taken out of the treasury .
. . . The question is and should be - "Is secular education or providing
social services an authorized work of the church?"
To act as a
group of individuals in such endeavors can again be done without involving
the local church! The church is bound by the scriptures to "teach the
word," not Mathematics, English, and Science. Just as the church has no
authority to exercise control in the realm of secular government it has no
authority to educate the populace or even its own members in the realm of
secular education. Its mission is spiritual, not secular. In order for the
church to provide a place and oversight for a work, the work itself must first
be authorized.
I have one
son graduating from a public school this year and another in the 8th grade . .
. The key is to BE INVOLVED as a Christian . . know what my children are taught
- participate in the learning process and iin all extra curricular activities -
This is a personal obligation - I do not have to burden the church with the
secular education of my child, nor should I!
In order
for a thing to be expedient it must first be lawful. The new cart David built
to transport the Ark to Jerusalem I'm sure was designed to be an expedient to
do a good thing . . . however God had specified the mode of transporting the
Ark. (1 Chr. 13:4,7; 15:2,13). The question again is - is the church authorized
to engage in secular education or provide social programs?
That is an
option, but I don't think that it is the best for everyone . . . It largely
depends on where one lives - the schools here in the state of Arkansas
generally speaking, are very conservative. The obligation of secular education
falls upon the parent - not the church. Maybe there are members of the church
that can help . . . . utilize that aide, but keep our hands out of the treasury
when it comes to our children's secular education.
An argument
in favor of an unauthorized thing cannot be made based upon what others are
doing. We should tell them that the church has an obligation to teach the
scriptures . . . . When the church does its work in this area, the
recipients of this edifying instruction become inoculated to the teaching
they may get from others.
Now you've
got it . . . Teach "the parents to train up their children in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord." Whose responsibility is it when it comes to
the secular education of my sons? It's mine, not the churches.
Thank you
for your questions and I hope that my response is taken in the spirit
in which it is written.
Below is another post
asking for help in dealing with a young man who is against eating in the church
and the church support of orphan homes.
We
have a young man attending that takes issue with eating in the building and helping
orphan homes, (I guess in anyway). He would like to study about this. Does
anybody out there have any experience with this. If so please email me any
comments you may have. - Steven,
Steven,
My name is Don McClain and
I am preaching for the Sixty Fifth Street church of Christ in Little Rock
Arkansas. We are a "non-institutional" group - meaning that we
believe that the church is sufficient to carry out the work God gave it to do
without the additions of humanly devised institutions. We believe in following
the Pattern as revealed in the New Testament pertaining to both the work and
worship of the church - preserving the autonomy and responsibility laid upon
each congregation to carry out its own work as well as emphasizing personal
responsibilities that the church be not burdened that it may focus upon its
primary work which is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ that the lost may be
saved and the saved remain saved. (1 Timothy 5:3-16)
I happen to agree with the
young man if he is referring to the church providing social and recreational
meals based upon 1 Cor. 11:22,34. This is not saying that it is absolutely
wrong to eat in the building, but that it is forbidden in scripture for
"the church" to engage as "a church" in social or
recreational functions. Such activities are not a part of the churches work or
function.
As for orphan homes, I have
never met anyone that advocated that orphans should not be helped. The
difference is that many, as I do, believe that the church, as a church, has not
been given the authority to help orphans in general, or/and to establish
another institution to provide for certain orphans. The church has a duty and
responsibility to its members . . including their children, but the church has
no obligation or authority to provide for orphans in general or to establish
another institution to do the work God gave it to do.
Individually, Christians
may help alleviate many social and/or entertainment needs as opportunity and
ability permits . . . but the church is not a social club nor an entertainment
center. Its work is spiritual and specialized, and when diluted and burdened
with secular, and social activities it can no longer function within its given
role as effectively as it should.
I encourage you to study
with the young man, and investigate the issue honestly. If you would like to
honestly investigate these questions with me . . I will gladly study them with
you - or send material dealing with this subject. If I can help - let me know.
Sincerely,
Don McClain
Schedule of
services
Sunday morning;
- Bible class; 9:00 A.M.
- Worship; 10:00 A.M.
Sunday Evening;
- Worship 5:00 P.M
Wednesday –
- Bible class: 7:00 P.M.
Free
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- Private Bible study
Just call 1-501-568-1062 or write to the above address specifying your interest, and we will provide these things – at no cost to you!
If you would like to be removed from this list - please reply to donmccla@msn.com and your name will immediatley be removed.
Elders
George Rumker 565-5782
Louis Sharp 565-0943
Bill Wharton 821-2760
Deacons
Glen Gray 758-1301
Bennie Stephens 562-7391
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Brady Speer 868-3547
Evangelist
Don McClain (R) 315-1953
(Study) 568-1062
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