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Waldron Mission Fund |
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Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557 |
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JESUS CHRIST: THE HOPE OF THE HOME Robert Taylor, Jr. Perhaps each of us has seen plaques in homes where we have visited that suggest, "Jesus is the guest in this home" or "Jesus is the head of this home." It requires far more than a purchased plaque or one received as a gift for Jesus to be truly the real guest in a home. Submission to his will is the key - THE ONLY KEY - to his entrance into our hearts and homes - not just a plaque. If Jesus is really the head of a home, then he will not be the SILENT HEAD. I have an idea that is the ONLY JESUS that some religious people are interested in having within the family framework. They do not want a Spiritual Head who directs their lives, who controls their speech and who regulates their daily deeds. Jesus cannot and will not be silent in the homes he heads. He will speak in crystal clear terms to every member of that home. He does not speak audibly as he did in the homes of Simon Peter, Jairus, Mary and Martha or Zac-chaeus. But he still speaks. He speaks to us through his word. That is, the Bible from which he speaks commands for us to hear him. Clearly and convincingly the Bible says in Hebrews 1:1-2, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir or all things, by whom also he made the worlds;..." Later in this same epistle we read, "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh, For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:..." (Heb. 12:25). No amount of exhibited plaques in honor of Jesus in the home will take the place of listening to and obeying his will as he speaks to us from the word of God, the Holy Bible. (Jesus Christ: The Hope of the Home, pp. 8-9) Ed. Note: The above named book is one of more than twenty books by Robert Taylor, Jr. It comes in perfect binding on 127 pages with thirteen chapters and questions after each; thus making it excellent for class study on the home. One copy may be purchased for $5 postpaid. Order from Taylor Publications, P.O. Box 464, Ripley, TN 38063. Also request a list of all other books by the same author. |
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BULLETIN BRIEF
Vol. 6 SEPTEMBER 2003 No. 9 |
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A PARA-CHURCH BODY Jim Waldron The future preachers training camp held annually in June by the Alkire Road church near Columbus, OH is an example of how a local congregation is able to carry out the work of the church in training workers for the Lord's vineyard. In fact, churches all across this land ought to be spending time obeying 2 Tim. 2:2 in a serious manner rather than just giving 35 minutes on Sunday morning for Bible study.
Contrarily, Lads To Leaders, Inc. is a separate body from the body of Christ (Col. 1:18) carrying on the work of the church and billing the church for it. God is to be glorified in the body which he created not some modern day para-church body. As it is written, "to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3:21). Read the following which Mark Moser has written on this point. "LADS TO LEADERS" ANOTHER BODY Mark Moser When we refer to a separate body from the church we are referring to a para-church organization that works in conjunction with the church and/or does the work of the church. Many confuse L/L Inc. with being nothing more than a book store. Others have compared it to Christian colleges. Yet, such comparisons show a lack of understanding regarding the church, the state and the home. It is not the church's responsibility to fulfill the work of the home. This is why we support homes for orphans. When the natural home has deteriorate the church does not take the place of the home, but finds the means to help the child in a restored home. Rather than focusing on Christian colleges to train our children we should be emphasizing Christian homes. The home has the responsibility to teach our children (Eph. 6:1-4). Thus, Christian colleges are not an adjunct to the church, but an extension of the home. If a parent feels the college is sound and will benefit the child, then the parent certainly may enroll his or her child and encourage the school in its faithful service to the Christian family. The church should stay out of the business of sending funds to the colleges and treating that kind of business as a church. If L/L, Inc. wished to work with the home then they would not be stepping into the role as another body usurping the work of the body of Christ, the church. L/L, Inc., however, works with the church as an adjunct to the church. It solicits funds from the church, holds seminars for a costly fee for the church. It regulates rules and regulations for the local church, which pays its fees. One area that should help us see that L/L, Inc. is a para-church body is a practice that takes place after their conventions. The money collected during the worship service the Sunday morning following the convention is given to the L/L, Inc. to "defer" cost. By what authority can such take place? It is for this reason and others mentioned in my book that I encourage brethren to stop supporting this organization. Brother Mosher has published a critique of L/L, Inc. You may have a copy for $5.00 postpaid. You may request the book from him at 1508 Elm St, Crossett, AR, 71635. Phone: 870-364-2321 |
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Should We Clap Hands in Worship? Roy Beasley That's a good question, but before answering, let us ) consider three fundamental facts: FlRST, WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is an expression of love, an adoring gratefulness to God. It is not left to man to decide how to worship God. He has revealed this through His word, the Bible. Therefore, we need to turn to the Bible to see what it has to say about clapping in worship. SECOND, WE ARE MOW LIVING UNDER THE HEW TESTAMENT. Therefore, to learn what we must do today in worship, we do not turn to the Old Testament but the New Testament (Heb. 7:12; 8:7; 9:15). third, two kinds of commands: generic and specific. We can go (Mark 16:15) by car, plane, boat, or by radio and TV. How we go is not specified. On the other hand, the Lord's Supper names particularly the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread (I Cor. 11:23-25). That is specific. We have no choice. Now, what does the New Testament say about clapping in worship? No word! Nowhere in the New Testament is "clap" or "clapping" used in connection with worship. It is used several times in the Old Testament and twice it is used in connection with praising God, Psa. 98:8; 47:1. The first passage is used metaphorically speaking of the "hills clapping." The other is perhaps also used poetically. But, even if meant in a literal sense, it has no more connection with our worship in this Christian age than does the offering of incense, the sacrifice of animals, or instrumental music.
In New Testament worship we are to "praise" God. This word is translated from a word which could also mean applaud. Now, does this permit applauding or clapping hands in worship? Is it permissible to say, "Give God a hand?" Is this what God wants? The answer is that God is very specific when it comes to the praise we are to offer to Him. According to Hebrews 13:15 God requires something very specific, "By Him (i.e. Christ) let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips praise to His name." Here He reveals to us how we are to praise Him. It is with the "fruit of our lips." Not the clapping of the hands, but by the movement of the lips. That is specific. But, God is even more specific. We can make many sounds with our lips. We can whistle, hum or mimic instruments of music. What sounds does God require as we move our lips in offering praise to Him? In Romans 15:9 we have the specific answer: "...Therefore will I give praise unto Thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto Thy name."
Here, singing is specified as the offering of the “fruit of the lips in praising God in worship. Therefore, clapping is wholly out of order. 417 Welshwood Dr. #301, Nashville, TN 37211 |
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“Episcopal Church Approves Gay Bishop” Under the above headline USA TODAY (August 6, 2003, p. 3 A) reported the approval of V. Gene Robinson by the Episcopal General Convention as a bishop in New Hampshire. A "Rev. Susan Russell" said, "the General Convention has now said amen to what the Holy Spirit said to the people of New Hampshire when they elected Robinson." Here is another example of those who claim the direct operation of the Holy Spirit coming up with direct contradictions of what the Holy Spirit has actually said on an issue. Speaking of those who turned from the truth that God is the creator, the Spirit said, " God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts for one another, men with men committing what is shameful ..." (Rom. 1:26-27). In defining this evil the Spirit said to the men of Israel, "you shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination" (Lev. 18:22). |
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THE WAITING GAME Eddie Whitten Jesus said, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Mt. 19:9). Divorce, not involving fornication as its cause, is causing considerable consternation. The contention is that a man, say, divorces his wife, not for fornication, in civil court. Neither of them are eligible at this point to be remarried. Later, the man marries and cohabits with another woman. This new doctrine says, this adultery frees the wife to be remarried. The argument is that God's law cannot be overturned by civil law. The civil law has granted a divorce which God does not approve therefore it is not relevant to the situation if the husband later commits adultery. The theory is that, the civil divorce has no bearing on the case at all. Let us consider some of the ramifications of such a belief. Civil law is approved of God (Rom. 13). It is true that civil law cannot override God's law in any case. God's law prohibits murder (and all other crimes). However, men violate God's law, and those who are guilty will pay for their crimes in the end unless they repent. God has stipulated that men cannot divorce except for one reason, fornication. Men divorce for other reasons. In doing so, they have violated God's law, and if either of the parties remarry, they commit adultery and will pay for their crime unless they repent. God's law has not been overridden by civil law. The argument is made that, after a divorce not for fornication, when husband or wife commits adultery the other is free to be remarried. That, brethren, is what is called "The Waiting Game." How can it be otherwise? "Just wait until Joe marries Sue, thus committing adultery, then Mary is free to be remarried!" Please consider: Jesus said the man in this situation commits adultery: "AND whosoever marries her who is put away commits adultery." If, as it is said, the man's remarriage frees the wife (makes her eligible) to be remarried, it would be impossible for the one marrying her to be guilty of adultery, too! The argument is also made that motive is involved, i.e., if the wife pleaded with her husband not to divorce her (not for fornication) that when he remarries, thus committing adultery, she is free to be remarried. First, that cannot be found in Scripture. Second, what if (and that is what is also said, "what if) the offended wife, cannot wait for her husband to commit adultery, and SHE commits adultery, that would also, by that definition, free the husband to be remarried who had no intention of continuing the marriage! (This new system is also known as "mental divorce.") Fornication must be the cause of the divorce for the innocent party to be eligible for remarriage. Any marriage arising from subsequent adultery cannot be anything other than a waiting game! God condemns such an arrangement. 1350 N. Abrego Dr., Green Valley, AZ 85614 |