1. A conscience you can live with. The apostle Peter said that in obeying the command of the Lord, and has a clean conscience (I Peter 3:21). After becoming a child of God, one continues to live for the Lord, and thus be able to live with himself His conscience is clean!
2. A cause you can live for. The man of God has a great cause to live for; he lives for the cause of Christ. In his everyday life he strives to bring others to the Lamb of God. He takes advantage of every opportunity to build up the faith of others. He has a cause to live for!
3. A company you can live with. When one lives with the Lord, he lives with the best people on earth. He assembles with others of like precious faith to worship God. He works with others for the same cause. He is able to enjoy their fellowship on earth. When you associate with the people of God, you know that life is worthwhile!
4. A goal at the end of life. The man in Christ has a goal when this life is over, the crown of life that Paul speaks of in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. We know that we will die, yet we know that we can live with the Lord when this life is over! Life with Christ is worthwhile.
As a result, the slightest mistake or oversight can mushroom into big trouble by those who are determined to make-something-out-of-it. For instance a classroom teacher or student makes an erroneous statement about some subject. In the discussion that follows hasty and unkind remarks are exchanged. Someone is publicly embarrassed who could have been corrected in a spirit of love and meekness. Likely, it will not be long before the "opposition's" every word and action will be suspect. More "proof' of softness or false teaching will soon be uncovered and extensively advertised. Some will believe it, sides will be formed and God's People will likely be divided. And all because some Christian wanted to save face, wanted to help a brother be wrong instead of right. Those who are determined to, make so many mistakes; they are seldom without something to make something-out-of, so the controversy continues.
Those who would "follow after things which make for peace" (Romans 14:19) must follow after humility. Few qualities go further toward promoting and maintaining peace than lowliness of mind. When we are of the same mind, the same love and of one accord; when we in lowliness of mind count each other better than self (as instructed in Philippians 2:2-4), then controversy will seldom be heard of Just enough humility to admit some personal wrong would go far in reconciling brethren; but failure to do so can only encourage more controversy.
Like humility, longsuffering is also essential in following after peace. Many find it hard to bear with the ignorance and faults of immature Christians. Others are shortsuffering with personalities and distasteful qualities they see in some brethren. Longsuffering issues from love (I Corinthians 13:4); we forbear one another in love (Ephesians 4: 1). We therefore suffer long with all brethren, not because of what they are (lovable), but because of what we have (love.). Where there is no longsuffering there can be no lasting peace.
Finally, even when controversy is unavoidable (as in matters of faith), its hurtful effects can be lessened with Christ-like behavior. To act otherwise is not only sinful, it can alienate and embitter brethren so as to make further teaching impossible. Being on the side of truth must never be construed as license to mistreat others. On the contrary, the very truth we seek to defend demands conduct befitting peacemakers and peacekeepers. Let's live it.
1. That you were never able to see all your workers on the job at the same time.
2. That a slight headache or company coming justified a worker in taking the day off.
3. That rain and threatening weather kept about forty per cent of your workers away from the job.
4. That your worker worked only when they felt like it, and when questioned about phases of their work, would immediately show their tempers and threaten to quit.
5. That when slightly dissatisfied with some minor thing in the company, they would threaten to quit the working force and start another company, or move to one already in business.
6. That after you have committed yourself for several thousands of dollars worth-of work during the year, only a "faithful few" helped you succeed.
7. That week after week your employees would misappropriate funds belonging to the owner of the company, which should have gone to the working capital of that company.
8. That your business was the biggest business in the world, yet was supported only by free-will contributions.
These things may be suppositions to the business man, but they are realities every waking hour to the elders of the Lord's churches. Is it any wonder the work of an elder is the most serious work in the world? "But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceedingly highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." (I Thes. 5:12,13)
This is surely one of the most damnable of all false doctrines which curse the land this day. It does more to produce indifference in the hearts of the people toward the church, and to diminish respect for the church, than anything I know. It leads men to deny the essentiality of the church altogether. So strong a grip has the doctrine secured on the hearts of men that it is a very common experience to hear devoted religious people say, "Oh, the church is not important", "The church does not save", "One can go to heaven just as well without being a member of the church as he can in the church", etc. Now if by the word "church" such people mean some denominational institution, then surely no Bible student anywhere would argue with them. On the contrary, every informed person will agree fully with the idea that membership in a denomination (any denomination) is not essential to salvation.
But no person who has reached the age of accountability, and has transgressed God's law either by omission or commission, will ever reach heaven without being a member of the church which is revealed in the Bible. I call your attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is the "Savior of the body" (Eph. 5:23). It is Christ who saves; Christ who is the Savior; and not the church. "The church" does not save; the church is the thing saved! "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the Savior of the body." What does Christ save? He saved-THE BODY. But what is "the body"? It is the church (Col. 1:18, 24; Eph. 1:22,23). Christ is the head of the church-his body. And it is this body which is saved by Christ.
The conclusion is clear from this that if one does not belong to the church, he does not belong to that of which Christ is the Savior. It was the church which was purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28); and it is "to the church" that the saved are added (Acts 2:47). There are no saved out of the church; there can be none. For everyone who is "saved" is "added" to the church by the same one who saves him-God.
The church was purchased by the blood of Christ. Unless we are willing to say that Christ was swindled when he bought the church, we must recognize that the value of the church is equal to the value of the blood of Christ. If the church is not valuable, then Christ was cheated when be purchased it with his own blood. The church is a "blood-bought" institution. If one is to be saved by the blood of Christ, one must be a part of the church, his spiritual. body, which was purchased by that blood. If one is a sinner, at enmity with God, then salvation and peace and reconciliation are to be had ONLY in the church, the blood-purchased possession of Jesus Christ. "For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph. 2:14-16).
Where are people reconciled to God? In the one body, the church. Where is peace found? In the one body, the church. The Bible says that the body is the church, and that peace and reconciliation are to be bad in the body, and not out of it. Talk about being "saved by the blood of Christ!" My friend, if you are ever saved by-the blood of"Christ it will be because you have come into that body where you are reconciled to God by the cross of Christ. The blood which was shed for our redemption can save us only in the church. There is no other way.
Does the church save? Of course not! It is Christ who saves! But what does he save? He saves the body, the church. God exercised great power when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead and "made him to sit at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:20-23). So the church is the fullness of Christ. It was not some human institution, or some man-made denomination which he purchased with his blood; it was "the church". It is over this body that he reigns as head; it is here that the fullness of God dwells. It is here and here only that salvation is promised to the penitent sinner.
We are pleading with people to become members of the New Testament church. We are pleading that men and women in our day do exactly what they did in the days of the apostles. These people then heard the gospel, believed it, repented of their sins, and were buried through baptism for the remission of sins. And when that happened God added them to the church. Here they were reconciled to God, washed and made clean by the blood of Christ; they were then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. They were in the church the saved of God.
Market Street Bulletin
A case in point is about a mile from my house. Many years ago a man started a lawn mower sales and repair business which became very successful. He was honest and did good work. His prices where high, but we stood in line to trade with him because he attended to business in a dependable way. The owner grew old and had to step down. He turned it over to his son whose only interest in life is "scuba diving." Within a year he divided the showroom in half, reduced his lawn mower stock, and reduced his faithful crew. His main interest became scuba diving equipment. . The business began to decline and a reputable competitor opened up which no one had dared try in past years. Early on I predicted the demise, of this business. Sure enough, I passed by the other day and the sign is up: "out of business." The son, whose only interest was "scuba diving," had forgotten what their business really was. He "killed the goose that laid the golden egg" because he forgot and neglected their foremost business.
When I observe preachers, elders, and other leading men in the church today, I am made to wonder if we haven't to some degree forgotten "what our business really is." I know the church is not a "business" like Mr. Drucker advises, but I believe we would do well to take a look at this advice about "forgetting what our business really is."
Difficult times. Obviously, we are in hard times and most people are not interested. Let us remember, however, this was also true when Jesus came and through much of the ministry of his apostles. In spite of that, people were converted and the church grew rapidly. I have heard it said', "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Maybe we need a little more of that spirit.
The Value of the Soul. I think the "value system' out the soul of man has been misplaced in many of us. Materialism has greatly diminished our value of a soul. Many of us have lost our "everlasting" view of the soul. Case in point: a man drowned in a bayou and hundreds joined in the search for his body. Thousands of dollars were spent in the recovery effort which, after four days finally succeeded. I am not criticizing the effort, but I could never find where any concern had been show for his soul during life, even though he was surrounded by Christians. In death his body was supremely important. In life his soul was supremely unimportant. Jesus said, "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange, for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26) Consider the following thought. I don't know where it came from and I wish I had said it, but I didn't. "There are many things in life worth winning but when one is. won over to the slide. of- truth, we beat the devil in the battle over the eternal soul of man'. This *Will outshine and outlast all. the achievements of the world put together."
A Tragic Misconception. Sadly, there is a common belief among members of the church that they do not have any evangelistic responsibility. "After all," they say, "that is why we support a preacher." When will Christians learn that the presence of an evangelist has nothing to do with their own responsibility toward saving souls. The astounding growth of the church in the first century is not attributed to preachers alone but to individual Christians. "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). 1 like the story of the store owner who went to a convention. Someone asked him what his business was. He replied, "My business is to serve Christ and win souls." He added, "I run a hardware store to make a living."
Preachers Have a Duty. Preachers should lead the way in spreading the word. They should set an example for others to follow. I fear we dig ponds and sit back and expect the fish to jump in. That is, we build nice buildings and expect the lost of this world to rally in them. We would do well to remember that the Lord has made us "fishers of men" and not merely the "keepers of the aquarium." Preachers face a lot of discouragement, you may be sure. I fear that many of us have retreated to ivory towers where we read what pleases us, play with our computers, and look for something to write about that will attract a lot of attention. I don't look for this to improve unless we get a renewed interest in what our "business" r early is. Preachers need to lead the way and also teach the members their responsibility toward the souls of others.
Enlist God's Help by Prayer. There is a song which says, ."Lead me to some. soul today; O teach me Lord, just what to say; friends of mine are lost in sin, and cannot find their way. Few there are who seem to car and few there are that pray: Melt MY heart and fill my life: give me one soul today." I believe we ought to pray for the Lord to help us in the work of "saving souls,." When there appears to be drought of prospects, ask the Lord to help you open a door. But someone fearfully says, "Will I be lost if I don't win a soul today!" No! Someone else is involved and we can't always succeed. But the danger of our being lost is because we are not trying. The danger lays with our indifference toward the souls.
1. The number baptized into Christ would increase dramatically.
2. We would be too bu to do much meddling in the affairs of other congregations.
3. We would get back to exposing false religions with more fervor.
4. There would be less time for "finger pointing" about every, little thing.
5. There would be an increased degree of unity and harmony among us.
Of Course,Error Must Be Exposed. In the meantime, when real error (not just some slightly different slant) rears its ugly head, sound and, faithful brethren must step forth and expose it as needed. We should expose what is wrong and teach what is right and give brethren an opportunity to consider it before we plunge into what sometime seems to be a personal warfare. I still have a lot of confidence in our brethren about seeing the truth when it is plainly and lovingly set forth. Let us trust the power of truth when rightly applied. Don't look too long and hard for something to expose. If you do, you are likely to see things that really never existed. But, when error becomes obvious, don't put it off, deal with.
We Still Have a Common Mission. I remember back in the fifties and sixties how united we were in our fight against institutionalism, centralization, organizational corruption, and the social gospel. All during that time there were things of a "lesser light" about which we differed, but we rallied to a common and much needed cause. When I was up to my neck in a debate, I remember how so many preachers and others gathered around to help any way they could, great or small. Many of those preachers, in their heart, very likely believed they could have done a better job, but it didn't matter. They were behind the truth and they were behind my efforts. It was one of the most unselfish outpourings I have ever witnessed, except in cases of natural disaster. My brethren, though the former conflict is in the past, we still have a "common mission" of supreme importance, namely, "to seek and to save the lost".
Let us not forget our real business
Market Street Bulletin
Upon learning of this near tragedy that turned into a blessed event, I contemplated the importance of his footprints. More than those prints left in the snow I turned in thought to our footprints left all along through life. What if nobody saw the footprints? What if the person seeing them decided to ignore them, or dismissed them as belonging to someone else? The life of the young Jeff Thornton depended on his footprints' being there and being seen. So it is with our footprints-that is, the example that we set and the influence that we exert.
Each of us is leaving numerous sets of these footprints along the roadway of life. They will be seen by various people, both known and unknown by us. How careful are we in the influence that we leave for others.?
Where do they see us going; what do they see us doing? How concerned are we about our footprints? An attitude of indifference is inexcusable on the part of one claiming to be a Christian. The example of just one person can make the difference between others' going to heaven or to hell.
Where would your footprints lead others? Where would mine show I have been? Would they lead to the homes of the sick and bereaved to render assistance? Would they take others to the hospital room or to the nursing home to bring cheer and encouragement to someone distressed by illness? Would they lead others to worship and Bible study, or to gospel meetings to obtain spiritual strength or to strengthen others? Would others also learn from our footprints to go the person wronged to amend the matter, or to the person who wronged us for the same purpose? Would they lead others to spend time with aged parents, shut-ins, or those forsaken by their own relatives? What a marvelous legacy we leave to others when they behold such footprints. Would they also see us sometimes trying to teach the lost or to encourage the weak and faint?
What about footprints leading to the night club, the beer joint, or the place of vulgar entertainment? Would they observe our approval of any activity in conflict with the righteousness and true holiness set forth in the Word as God's desire for His people? How tragic that those claiming to be the Lord's sometimes leave footprints leading where the Lord would not go, unless to retrieve people caught in the web of sin.
May we all examine our footprints, and even our hearts. Do we desire to follow Christ?
Bobby L. Graham