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 . . .
.”
August, 2002 Vol. 1 - No. 6
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
Into
What Then Were You Baptized? - Don McClain –
The
Slippery Slopes of Sin - By Don McClain
The
Truth Shall Make You Free - By Dan Richardson
Chaste
or Chased? - Steven Harper
A
Good Recipe For Gossip - Via Kevin Maxey
I Don't Mean To Gossip
BUT . . .
Kevin Maxey
Into What Then Were You Baptized?
Don McClain
We begin by asking our
readers a very important question - "Have you been baptized?" If not,
then in order to receive the remission of your sins, you must be, (Acts 2:38,
Acts 10:48)! If your answer is yes, - I then turn to another very important
question - "Into what were you baptized?" Does it matter? Paul
thought so, and so did this certain group of disciples. (Acts 19:1-5)
Paul first asks these
twelve "disciples" - "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when
you believed?" Had they received any miraculous gifts, and if not, he
could lay hands on them. (Refer to Acts 8:14-17). The apostles alone had this
ability, (Acts 8:18), and Paul, being an apostle was willing to provide these
disciples with this important aide during the period of miraculous gifts. This
in fact was done later in the text, (verse 6). (It is another study all
together, but I will simply state here that the period of miraculous spiritual
gifts have long since ended).
Their answer? "We
have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." This set
off the little light bulb in Paul’s head - "Something is wrong with their
baptism if they do not know about the Holy Spirit," so Paul ask yet
another question - "Into what then were you baptized," (
synonymous with "When you believed" above)?" If they had
been baptized into Jesus Christ, they would have surely known about the Holy
Spirit. Notice Paul did not ask them whether they had been baptized or not -
for he knew the answer to that! They professed to be disciples - therefore the
question was not "If" but "Into what?" Paul’s question not
only implies the importance of baptism, but also what one "knows,
understands, and believes" regarding his/her baptism is important.
Their answer? "Into
John’s baptism." What about John’s baptism, was it sufficient? Would
it be sufficient for you today? The apostle Paul pointed out to them - "John
indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they
should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
Consider what McGarvey had to say regarding the baptism of John in relationship
to the text under consideration -
"This, then, forces us
to the conclusion that they had been immersed with John’s immersion after it
had ceased to be administered by divine authority. Apollos had been recently
preaching this obsolete immersion in Ephesus (Acts 18:24,25), and these persons
may have been immersed by him. If so, they submitted to an institution which
had been abrogated more than twenty years, and this was the defect that led to
their reimmersion."
John’s baptism was a
baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:11), "For the remission of sins,"
(Luke 3:3), temporarily authorized by God, (Matthew 21:25-27), but not
sufficient at that time because it was NOT in the name of Christ, or in other
words, it was not authorized by Christ.
- Those baptized, but not according to the authority of
Jesus Christ, has a need to submit to the Lord’s commands and be baptized
in the name, (authority) of Jesus Christ.
- Strong faith and honest convictions, when possessed in
error, are not enough to be obedient and pleasing to the Lord.
- One cannot be taught error pertaining to one’s
salvation and particularly baptism; believe that error, and then be
baptized right.
What about your baptism?
Your answer could be one of
many possible answers - :
"I
was baptized when I was a small child . . . I really don’t remember." Baptism can only be obeyed by those
who understand what it is that they are doing and why! If you were too young to
remember then you need to be re-immersed. (Sprinkling or pouring does not
constitute baptism at all - if you have not been immersed then you have never
been baptized!)
"I
was baptized to please my parents . . . ." - You were not then baptized into
Christ! You should be baptized again - and this time to obey the Lord Jesus
Christ.
"I
was baptized ‘because’ I was saved" - I am sorry, but I must tell you as humbly as know how,
you were not baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ is UNTO the remission of sins, (Acts 2:38). Paul was told to "arise
and be baptized and wash away your sins," (Acts 22:16). Peter says "21The
like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter
3:21), Jesus said – "He that believes and is baptized shall be
saved," (Mark 16:16).
"I
was baptized into a denominational church," (Baptist church, Methodist church,
etc.) - These are not churches of the Lord - He only built one and it is His!
When one is baptized in the name of the Lord, he is baptized into the body
(church) of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Lord adds the saved to THE/HIS
church, (Acts 2:47).
"I
had the understanding when I was baptized that I was baptized unto the
remission of sins, but I didn’t know anything about the Lord’s church." Would there be any significant
difference between your baptism and the disciples Paul met in Ephesus? Remember
Paul’s question? "INTO WHAT were you baptized?" May I ask you again -
"Into what were you baptized?
If you examine yourself and
come to the understanding that you were not baptized according to the teachings
of Christ, our plea is for you to follow the example of these disciples . . .
"5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus." They didn’t hesitate to obey the Lord. They made certain that
their baptism was acceptable to the Lord. Are you confident about your baptism?
Are you confident enough to risk eternity?
The Slippery Slopes of Sin
By Don McClain
Stop the presses -
"News Flash" - "Sin is extremely dangerous." What’s that
you say? - You knew that? But the way you live . . . flirting with sin as you
do, you must like living dangerously!? Going where you go, doing what you do, -
You need to stop and think about what you are flirting with! Sin is not to be
toyed with, experimented with, or laughed at! There is NO SUCH THING AS SAFE
SIN! There is nothing on earth, or in the spiritual realm, more dangerous.
Would you knowingly infect
yourself with the Ebola virus, which can have a fatality rate of up to 90%?
There were 358 cases in Zaire in the summer of 1976 of which 325 died. If you
were with the Center of Disease control, and you were called in to help with an
outbreak of the Ebola virus, wouldn’t you be careful? If you lived in Zaire at
that time - would you be worried? Would you take precautions to protect
yourself? Silly questions you say? Well sin is a lot more serious than the
Ebola virus! And most seem to have little to no concern about sin around them
or even in their lives.
Did I hear you say
"But, I can get forgiveness for my sins?" - True enough, but let me
warn you, when a person willfully flirts with, and experiments with sin, having
the attitude - "I’ll get forgiveness later" - look out! Sin will
always carry you further than you want to go, and there is a point from which
there is no return. It is like standing on the edge of a cliff wanting to see
the beauties of the valley below - but you are not content with what you can
see from a safe distance, so you get closer and closer to the edge - One slip .
. . . . can you hear the fading scream?
True, there is no sin for
which you cannot repent and get forgiveness, (Saul of Tarsus) - but there is a
line, which when crossed, a person will not be willing to repent - therefore
there can be no forgiveness. (Hebrews 6:4-8). When the deceptiveness of sin is
contemplated, and the effects that it has on the mind and will of the one which
it possesses is understood, then it is not difficult to see that a person can
reach the point of no return without even realizing it - scary huh? Where is
that line? Good question! Consider with me the stages of sin -
Desensitization
- We see sin as not
being so dark - so evil - so dangerous. A little leaven isn’t that bad we may
think, (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Sin no longer appears to be the
insidious enemy that it really is. You see - Sin is deceptive from the
beginning!
Entertained
in the mind -
thoughts of sin begin to enter the mind and they are not dealt with
immediately, as they should be. - Sin is not recognized as the detestable, evil
that it is. It is therefore allowed to reside within the mind as a seed that it
may grow into briars and weeds cluttering the mind with vain thoughts and
worldly desires.
Associations
change - The next
step is quite natural - we want to be around those closest to our beliefs and
values! The one entertaining sin in his heart and his life will less and less
enjoy the company of the righteous. Assembling with the saints will not be a
joy - but a cramp on his lifestyle. The righteous will appear to be
narrow-minded for they disapprove of the sin that you now harbor in you heart.
Oh, how sin changes the attitude of the heart in which it grows!
Taking
Part - Rather than
abstinence, participation in sin becomes easier - the conscience is troubled, but
little - like a rubber band tight around your finger - the briars and weeds of
sin has such a grip on the conscience that it is nearly completely numbed. You
have cut off your association with those who could influence you, and help
revive your conscience before it is too late . . . Where will sin take you from
here?
Habit
- Sin then becomes
your life - No matter how miserable you now feel - no matter how low you have
allowed sin to drag you - you find its chains hard, nearly impossible to break.
Sin has become your life - you even reach the point where you no longer feel
shame when you meet a Christian who in times past tried to warn you, and
encourage you, but to whom you paid little attention. Your conscience is dead
(1 Timothy 4:2) - your guilt is but a memory, you have no shame - you are gone
- you will not allow the word of God to pennetrate your stubborn and rebellious
heart. - Like King Saul, you will never find it in yourself to truly humble
your heart before God that you may be forgiven.
The
end - DEATH -
(Romans 6:23) - spiritual death, i.e. separation from God. The person that dies
in their sins will be separated eternally from God and the glories of heaven.
But that’s not all - the flames of his torment will surround him and be his
reward for eternity. - Sin is a dangerous thing - nothing to play with. Sin is
more dangerous than a nuclear bomb exploding in our lap - if not forgiven the
consequence of sin is eternal.
Just one sin will separate
you from God, (James 2:10). But usually sin doesn’t stop with just one - The
slopes of sin are slippery indeed, and every slope begins with the first sin!
You never stop where you originally intend to. That’s why the Hebrew writer
warned, "12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God; 13but exhort one another daily,
while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the
beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15while it is said:
"Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion." (Emphasis mine D.M.) - (Hebrews 3:12-15).
Do you think that you have
passed the point of no return? If you are willing to repent - (change your mind
as well as course of action), then you haven’t. There is still hope for you! If
you have never been baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins - then
you must, (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) - If you are willing to obey
Christ, then there is hope for you! . . . If you have been baptized into Christ
but you have allowed sin to again entangle you, (2 Peter 2:20), then you must
confess, repent, and pray, (Acts 8:20-24; 1 John 1:9), if you are willing to do
these things then there is still hope for you! There is a way to stop your
downward slide and to gain or regain the joy of your salvation! Turn from sin
today - while there is hope! Stop sliding! - Besides - Time is something else
that is slipping from us all - no one is guaranteed another breath! - Repent
NOW!
The Truth Shall Make You Free
By Dan Richardson
"If you abide in
My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) The need for truth in one’s life is
as important now as when Jesus first spoke it. The consequences of rejecting
truth has eternal consequences. Even if one has been able to possess all the
world offers - possessions, pleasure, power - and yet neglects the words of
Christ, he stands in a miserable condition before God.
In our time, truth has been
"watered down" by the efforts of some and redefined to cater to man’s
whimsical notions and for his convenience. We are told, "There are no
absolute truths" in religion, but such absurdities are never uttered as it
relates to other areas of knowledge. For example, imagine someone in the field
of mathematics stating there are no absolutes, that 2 + 2 doesn’t always equal
4. They would be quickly labeled as unqualified. To those who honestly seek the
favor of God, all such efforts to minimize and nullify truth are clearly seen
as efforts to justify themselves in unlawful practices (Matthew 7:21-23). Let’s
see the truth about "truth".
THE SOURCE OF TRUTH
Jesus identified the source
of "truth" as His word (John 8:31). In Christ "...are hidden all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3), and He declares,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me." (John 14:6) The truth of God, in Jesus Christ, is accessible
to man through the revelation He has given, the Bible. (John 17:17)
Man’s spiritual
misdirection can be traced to the fact that he looks for truth in all the wrong
places: human traditions, doctrines of men, one’s feelings, family beliefs,
popular opinion, etc. The Bible warns us concerning these things (Colossians
2:8). Therefore, for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we
must go back to the Bible: (1) It is the authoritative standard by which truth
is determined, religious unity achieved and our eternity judged (John 12:48;
Revelation 22:18-19). (2) It is the "seed" of God’s kingdom, containing
the "power unto salvation" (Luke 8:11-15; Romans 1:16-17). (3) It
cannot be changed by the presumptuous efforts of man (Galatians 1:6-9). (4) It
is eternal, as God who gave it (1 Peter 1:23-25).
THE NATURE OF TRUTH
The scriptures reveal the
nature of truth: 1) Truth is "light" (Psalm 119:105), guiding us in
the ways of righteousness and, at the same time, exposing the evil that will
cause us to stumble and fall. Just as we would use a lamp to direct us safely
through the night, we should use God’s word to show us the way in a world
darkened by sin.
2) Truth is a
"sword", our divine weapon to "fight the good fight of the
faith" (1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). As a good soldier,
armored up and fully prepared to do battle, the Christian recognizes who the
enemy is, and is not ignorant of the devices he uses against us (2 Corinthians
2:11). Truth is for "...casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). With such, we
will be victorious in our personal battles with temptation and, likewise, in
helping others to be "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 1:9-13).
3) Truth is a "mirror"
(James 1:22-25), for our personal examination. Just as we regularly use our
mirror to check out our personal appearance, so we recognize the necessity of
using "truth" that we may see what improvements need to be made in
our character and actions before God. Though some prefer to use God’s word more
as binoculars, always looking with scrutiny for the faults of others and never
considering themselves, the emphasis in scripture is that of personal
application. Only then can one be prepared to help others toward a better
understanding of God’s will in their lives.
WHO CAN FIND TRUTH?
Truth is available to all,
but not all will profit by it. Why? First, one must look where truth may
be found. God’s prophet, Hosea, exposed the sin of Israel when he declared,
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6)
Instead of holding faithfully to the law of God, they chose to rely on the
instruction of priests who had "forgotten the law of your God" and
seek council in their idols. What a lesson for our time.
Second, one must look for
truth while it may be found. Many, who give little thought of their
accountability to God, only deceive themselves by refusing truth in their
lives; it will not change their accountability to God, nor the demands of His
truth in their lives. All will reap what they sow (Galatians 6:7). Our
opportunities of obey God are limited. No one has a perpetual lease on life.
Life is short: "It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away." (James 4:14) So, with an understanding of our limited
opportunities, as well as the extreme importance of Christ in our lives, with
urgency we should respond to truth: "Seek ye Jehovah while he may be
found; call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Again,
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Third, one must look for
truth in the way or manner that leads one to truth. The Bible places a
great premium on the character of he who is confronted by God’s truth.
Open-mindedness and honesty in dealing with the word of God are essential if he
is to genuinely obey. Paul thanked God for such as response to truth by the
Romans: "But thanks be to God, that whereas ye were servants of sin, ye
became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were
delivered" (Romans 6:17). Power of man’s choice is likewise revealed in
Jesus’ words, as he lamented the unbelief of the Jews of his day: "O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are
sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Matthew
23:37)
Are you willing to obey
Jesus? The truth will give you freedom from the bondage of sin. Your eternity
depends on your choice.
Chaste or Chased?
Steven Harper
In the June 16, 2002
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, an editorial by Betsy Hart of the Scripps Howard
News Service appeared, entitled "Dressing Kids Like Britney." Within
this article the author lamented the troubles she had finding decent summer
wear for her "soon to be 6-year-old daughter" at the local Target
store. Having a daughter who was also then a "soon to be 6-year-old,"
it got my attention, so I read it a little closer than other articles. It seems
I am not the only one who has noticed that the indecency of clothing styles is
aimed at an ever-younger audience.
Within the article, the
author complained about the inability to find anything "appropriate for my
little one" when shopping at the popular retail store. She further stated,
"I think dressing a not-yet 6-year-old like she was Britney Spears is at
best silly, and at worst unnecessarily sexualizing our littlest girls."
[Applause from me!] The author then referred to a Washington Post article on
the subject and noted how they discovered "you can find terry-cloth
bikinis at GapKids, metallic-looking bras and bikini underpants labeled 'Girl
Identity' in the girls department at Sears, and thongs (dental floss that
passes for underwear) for girls ages 7-14 at abercrombie (the kids' division of
Abercrombie and Fitch)." And to top it off, she cited a recent ABC News
interview of a 5-year-old (5!) on the subject who said, "I like to look
sexy." I thought, as the author then stated, "Where'd she get that
from? Or worse, does she actually know what it means?" To hear such words
coming out of the mouth of a five-year-old would have been cause for calling
the Department of Human Services to report the parents in the not-too-distant
past. Now, it seems like it is "no big deal."
The author carried over the
complaints to the older girls, too, pointing back to "the old days"
when dress was more for "fun" than to look like (sexually promiscuous
girls). [I substituted the definition for the actual word, which may be
offensive to some.] She then said that the lack of desire to look like
(sexually-promiscuous girls) "apparently is not the case with way too many
teenage girls right now, in both middle and high school. In fact the battles
between parents and these girls over modern dressing standards have been dubbed
'the whore wars.' Some of these girls reach their objective. They look very
provocative and very sexy." She then referred to one girl's comments to
the Post on the issue who said, "if they're (the boys) bothered it's their
problem," to which she then commented, "Give me a break. The whole
point of what these girls are doing is to 'bother' the boys, and they know
it." She asks, "Further, are these girls and the adults in their
lives really so dopey as to believe these teenagers are not sending an overtly
sexual message to boys?"
If I wanted to sit down and
write an article myself, I could not have hit the nail on the head any better
than what Betsy Hart has done. The fact is, the indecency and the overt
'sexualization' of children is getting younger and younger and many seem to be
turning a blind eye to it all, while simultaneously wondering why there has been
a rash of young girls kidnapped and sexually molested — and even murdered. Some
actually talk as if there could not possibly be any correlation between these
two facts.
I listened incredulously
last week to a local radio talk show that actually discussed the
recently-released statistic that sexually-related crimes invariably increase
during the summer months each and every year. The participants in the
discussion (one of whom was a state government official) tiptoed all around
saying what one glaring factor was for this, instead talking about
"increased alcohol consumption" (can't argue with that), aggressive
behavior brought on by "oppressive heat" (huh?), and the simple fact
that people got out more often in the warmer months. I was waiting to hear, but
no one ever cited, the fact that these "summer months" were when the
amount of clothing seems to decrease in reverse relation to the temperature's
increase. It is during these "summer months" that some don't wear
enough clothes to wad a shotgun shell, as a nearby preacher often says. [If you
don't know how much that is, pick up a dress off of a Barbie doll; it's less
than that.] Does no one really think that the lack of clothing has anything to
do with the increase of sexually-related crimes perpetrated upon these younger
and younger victims? Wake up, people!
What is even more
bothersome is that fact that many youngsters whose parents are Christians do
not seem to realize this, either. It seems as if some Christian parents do not
have any compunction about "dressing their kids like Britney," and
some even come to the worship assembly dressed in this manner. To some, it's
not "their problem" if they attract attention with clothing that used
to be worn exclusively by streetwalkers, or at least people with lower moral
standards. Some feign surprise that anyone would be offended by clothing that
bared their midriffs or exposed so much that not much was left to the
imagination. Have we become so blind to the devices of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11) that
we do not see that we are becoming his willing accomplices?
The apostle Paul instructed
Timothy "that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety
and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." (1
Tim. 2:9, 10) The point of this is, a godly woman does not seek to dress to
attract or to "bother" the opposite sex, but will behave as a godly
woman should and adorn herself with good works instead. Those good works should
be what attracts godly men to her, not how much of her body is showing. Godly
men are not looking for such to be their lifelong companions. Paul would also
instruct Titus to have the older women teach the younger "to be discreet,
chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
may not be blasphemed." (Titus 2:5) It seems some have confused the words
of Paul and are instructing their daughters to be "chased" instead of
"chaste."
Brothers and sisters,
fathers and mothers, let us not further blur the lines between the holy people
of God and the worldly. Have them put on Christ, not Britney. —— Steven C.
Harper
A Good Recipe For Gossip
Via Kevin Maxey via an old issue of "Minister's
Monthly"
1.
Take a harmless event.
2.
Add an ugly motive.
3.
Stir in own opinion.
4.
Add a suspicious tone.
5.
Put in a measure of, "they say."
6.
Add imaginary details to heighten the taste.
7.
Sprinkle well with spice of rumor.
8.
Heat slowly over the flame of envy.
Serve
secretly and as often as possible to any who will give attention.
I Don't Mean To Gossip BUT . . .
Kevin Maxey
Have you ever said this?
You know you shouldn't gossip, but you make a quick disclaimer and do it
anyway. Though God clearly condemns the talebearer (Lev. 19:16), the busybody
(2 Thess. 3:11), the backbiter (Rom. 1:30), the slanderer (Prov. 10:18), the
whisperer (2 Cor. 12:20), the evil surmiser (1 Tim. 6:4), the secret revealer
(Prov. 20:19), and the gossip (1 Tim. 5:13), do you still try to figure out a
way to justify your piercing arrows of verbal poison? You may quickly agree
that gossip is a sin, but are you guilty of redefining terms, making excuses
and calling your evil words good (cf. Isa. 5:20)? Here are eight common reasons
people use to falsely justify gossip.
"I don't mean to
gossip, but . . ." Putting a disclaimer in front of something sinful does not make it
acceptable. The thief is not exempt from guilt just by saying, "I don't mean
to steal, but . . ." The murderer is not absolved of blame by explaining,
"I don't mean to kill, but . . ." Saying, "I don't mean to
gossip, but . . ." does not pardon you from the sin you are about to
commit. Slanderers make this excuse because they know they are "saying
things which they ought not" (1 Tim. 5:13). God charged Israel with
slandering Him, but they denied it. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken
against you?'" (Mal. 3:13-15). Though the Israelites denied their sinful
speech, God still held them accountable. Denial does not change the truth.
"Promise not to
tell anyone . . .Can you keep a secret?" Just because something sinful is
kept secret does not make it right. God condemns "whisperers" (Rom.
1:29; 2 Cor. 12:20). Do not underestimate the damage of the cowardly whisperer,
for a "whisperer separates the best of friends" (Prov. 16:28).
Saying, "You didn't hear this from me" does not magically free you
from accountability. If you don't want people to know you said it, why are you
saying it in the first place? The slanderer will pull you off into a corner and
check to make sure no one else is around before he sows his discord. The
whisperer does his work in secret because he knows he is doing something
shameful and wrong (John 3:19-20). No human whisper is so quiet that God cannot
hear (Psa. 90:8; Jer. 23:23-24).
"But what I am
saying is true . . ." The sin of gossip is not isolated to the
spreading of misinformation. While gossip can refer to spreading lies and
rumors, it also includes circulating "intimate or private . . .
facts" (American Heritage Dictionary, 569). Just because the juicy tidbit
you wish to reveal is true does not mean it is fair game for public
conversation. Some love to dig up the past and say, "Did you know that she
used to . . .?" Paul told the brethren at Corinth to not dwell on the past
sins of the restored brother. "This punishment which was inflicted by the
majority is sufficient for such a man, so that on the contrary, you ought to
forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much
sorrow" (2 Cor. 2:6-7). Even if the information is true there is no
justification for using it to tear someone down, cast evil suspicion, or revel
in one's personal problems. Some matters, even if true, are to be kept private.
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you
and him alone" (Matt. 18:15). Don't go spread it to the church. Deal with
it privately.
"He's a nice
guy, but did you know . . . " Do you try to offset your gossip by throwing in some nice
compliment to go along with it? "I can't stand her, but she sure is a good
cook." "He is an excellent Bible student, but did you hear about the
problems he's having with his wife?" Do not think that throwing in a few words
of flattery will diffuse your arrows of slander. How many times have you seen
people just tear someone to shreds and then to ease their conscience they tack
on one good comment at the end, as if that excuses their sharp tongue? The
damage has been done. "He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips" (Prov.
20:19). "They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips
and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips"
(Psa. 12:2-3). You can't sugarcoat the poison of gossip with empty praise.
"I only gossip
with my best friend." Some contend, "Now, I don't share these things with
everyone. I only talk this way with my mother." When does practicing sin
become acceptable if you agree to do it with only one person? "Now wait I
minute, I know stealing is wrong, but I only do it with my husband. I don't do
it with anyone else!" Agreeing to practice evil with a secret partner does
not make it right, it makes it a conspiracy. There is no mother-daughter
slander exemption clause or husband-wife gossip confidentiality privilege
anywhere in the Scriptures. God will punish those who scheme evil in secret
(Psa. 64:5-7).
"But he did me
wrong."
Some brethren think the rules concerning gossip don't apply to their enemies.
No matter what someone has done to you Jehovah commands you to "repay no
one evil for evil . . . but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:17,21; 1
Thess. 5:15). Though others may speak evil of you, you are "to speak evil
of no one" (Tit. 3:2). God has not given you a license to slander your
enemies. "But you don't understand what he did to me!" Jesus
understands. Follow His example, "who, when He was reviled, did not revile
in return" (1 Pet. 2:23). This same One who was crucified by His enemies
says, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you
may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:44-45).
"I was just
seeking counsel." The Scriptures teach that the wise man will seek counsel. "Where
there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there
is safety" (Prov. 11:14; 24:6; 12:15; 15:22; 19:20). It is a blessing to
be able to go to a respected brother for advice about a difficult situation.
But be extremely careful not to turn your counseling session into a gossip
session. Don't be guilty of people bashing, evil surmising and revealing
secrets under the cloak of "seeking counsel."
Are you guilty of using any
of these excuses to justify your gossip? If so, "You are those who justify
yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts" (Luke 16:15; 10:29).
Repent and refuse to participate in any form of gossip. "Let no corrupt
word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification,
that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Eph. 4:29).
From The Rogers
Reflector - July 28th 2002
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
- Bible correspondence courses
- 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
Karl VanDevender 315-5464
Kevin Webb 842-3743
Brady Speer 868-3547
Evangelist
Don McClain (R) 315-1953
(Study) 568-1062
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