WHO ARE THEY TO ASK?

David Anguish

Not long ago, my bank called.  Some recent purchases had caught their attention.  Could I verify the transactions?  Were the charges legitimate?
Well, I immediately asked them just who they thought they were.  It was my money.  If I wanted to buy those things, who were they to hassle me about it?  I let them know in no uncertain terms that I did not appreciate their meddling and they were to never to bother me again!
What’s that you say?  I overreacted?  Was rude to people who were only doing their job?  Wasn’t being very smart?  You’re right.  I would have been all of those things and probably some other things as well – if I had really answered that way.
You see, I know they were doing their job.  Furthermore, I know that they were looking out for me.  In today’s world, they were right to be wary.
So, I confirmed the purchases.  And then I thanked them for calling.
Then I thought of how we sometimes respond when someone expresses concern over something we’ve done that is at odds with Christ’s image. Too often, we sound like my imaginary response. “It’s none of your business.”  “It’s my life, who are you to meddle?”  “I’ll thank you to never bother me again!”
Why do we do that?  Perhaps it’s pride.  Maybe it’s an attempt to justify or ease the guilt we feel in being called on something we know is wrong. Or, maybe it shows that we’ve bought into a view of life that’s more cultural than biblical.
The Bible does teach that God will let us “do our own thing”, though we should not forget that there are consequences for our choices (see Rom 1:24, 26, 28).  But, it also teaches that, once we sign on to the commitment of faith that puts us into Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:13), we have agreed that our lives are no longer just about us.  We are “members one of another” (Rom 12:5; Eph 4:25) who therefore are to have “the same care for one another” (1 Cor 12:25).  When faithful people see us wandering (James 5:19-20), they are supposed to try to “restore [us] in a spirit of gentleness” and “supply what is lacking in [our] faith” (Gal 6:1; 1 Thess 3:10).
Yes, we can reject their overtures and even treat them as enemies because they told us the truth (Gal 4:16).  But, in light of eternity, and how we would react over something as relatively trivial as a call to see if our purchases are legitimate, is that really smart?


I thought the above article was a good illustration of how we may react when someone expresses concern about our spiritual welfare and wanted to share it with you. - LP

COLONIALISM - THE POLICY OF A NATION SEEKING TO EXTEND ITS AUTHORITY OVER OTHER TERRITORIES 

The denominational world works much like this. Colonialism is the only thing many of them even know. It probably started with the Catholic Church as they spread along with the rest of the Holy Roman Empire. Now certainly we should be desiring to spread the gospel to all the world as the great commission commands, and we should seek to extend God’s authority to all by teaching them to submit themselves to his will. There is a difference in spreading the gospel and extending my authority or my churches authority.  Recently some circumstances and certain statements have caused me to wonder if some congregations of the Lord’s church are taking on the denominational structure of a mother church and her baby churches. I must say here that I am thankful that the Florence Blvd. church of Christ, which supported the work here in Butler, was not and is not like some others. What makes an eldership think that since it supports a work financially it can dictate how that work is carried out? The scriptures teach that there should be elders in every church. Sometimes when there are not elders in one congregation, another that has elders thinks and even acts as though it has control of the other. 

In conversation the other day, a man told me that their congregation was supporting a particular work and explained that the newly planted church was “under our elders”. In another situation the elders of the congregation supporting a work hire the preacher rather than allowing the congregation which will have to work with him to choose the man best suited to them. Have we lost touch with the Biblical doctrine of autonomy? There is to be one head, Christ; an eldership over each congregation; and never an eldership over two congregations. There is a way for a congregation to handle a supported work that is not scriptural: stop supporting it.  We have others who are trying through their papers or via other means to control other congregations. One preacher after being written up in a paper had a ready response that should be sufficient to cover the situation. He simply replied that the elders at the congregation where he preached knew what he believed and taught and if any correction needed to be made they would be the ones to make it. Sometimes an eldership doesn’t make the corrections that need to be made, but that doesn’t give another congregation the right to take over. It is sad and painful to see entire congregations go astray, but if others go beyond the limits of their authority to attempt to bring them back then we have two tragedies in place of one.  We need to lovingly exhort one another. We need to truthfully teach one another. We need to never go beyond the authority of the scriptures, even for a good cause. The end does not justify sinful means. Leave colonialism to the politicians, it has no place in New Testament Christianity. 

CHARLATANISM - THE PRACTICE OF PRETENDING TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OR SKILLS THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE.
 There are not many things in life that annoy us more than being duped by a charlatan. It happens to people everyday. Someone seems honest and sincere and we trust them and wind up buying something that doesn’t work, something that isn’t what it claims to be, or even get robbed flat out. Scam artists can sell anything to anybody it seems. 

The church is not free from these types of problems. All the way back in the first century there were charlatans who were pretending that they were apostles and slandering the real apostles. Paul warned the Corinthians about them: (2 Cor 11:13) “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” The Corinthian church and possibly others had taken in these pretenders and had listened to them and had been led astray by them. We might think that since we have the word of God we are not so easily deceived. We need to be careful of arrogance in this area or we will be easy prey for charlatanism. Peter warned us that there are some who twist the scriptures to their own destruction. (2 Pet 3:16) “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” So in regards to our being safe from it today let me just point out: (1 Cor 10:12)  “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 

As for ourselves, let us be sure that we are not putting up false fronts and thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. There have always been charlatans and there will be until Christ returns, but we need to protect ourselves from them through study of the Word, and we need to avoid being with them by looking into the mirror of the perfect law of liberty and making corrections as they become apparent. We must realize that we are imperfect and not look down our noses at others for their imperfections with a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. Remember that it only took one sin in our lives to separate us from God, and whether we only sinned that one or sinned a thousand more before coming to Christ we were no further or closer to him.  The person who told a ‘little white lie’ is just as lost without Christ as the mass murderer. John says being a charlatan is worse than being a sinner.  (1 John 1:8) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We may deceive ourselves, our friends and neighbors, and even the whole world; but we will never deceive God. If we try we will be found out just like Ananias and Sapphira, so let us be honest with ourselves, others and God by acknowledging our weaknesses and limitations. 

CELTICISM - A CELTIC CUSTOM
 Customs as long as they don’t interfere with obedience to the Word of God are not a problem. The danger occurs when we allow customs to be intermixed with or even to replace the doctrines that the apostles gave. I don’t suppose that Celtic customs are any more likely to do that than any other kind.

 The Celtic religion is a pagan religion and thus the customs of that religion like any other non-Christian religion should be shunned. We should never allow the customs or traditions of men to interfere with our obedience to God whether it be a family tradition, a religious doctrine, or a national, ethnic, or cultural custom.

 Some Celticisms that we should watch out for are Easter, Christmas trees, and St. Patrick’s Day. Although all of these things have become associated in one way or another with religious activity, we need to watch out that they don’t get in the way of the truth. I am not saying that we should not have anything to do with these three things or any other custom as long as it does not cause sin. We must, however, remember that these pagan oriented traditions have no more place in our assemblies than do Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or July 4. The time that we are assembled together is a special time set aside for praising God in song, studying His Word, praying, observing the Lord’s Supper, giving of our means, and exhorting and encouraging our fellow Christians.

 We don’t need to celebrate Easter as a religious holiday (holy day), but if we enjoy hunting Easter eggs and giving candy that is all good and fun. We remember Christ’s resurrection each week when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, and that is sufficient. Christmas trees are fun to decorate, pretty to look at, and a good place to store presents, and there is nothing sinful in that. There have been sins associated with trees in times past, and the custom does come from a pagan form of worship, but as long as we recognize God’s creative power and don’t fall to worshiping the created rather than the Creator we are not sinning with them. (Jer 10:3-5) “For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. {4} They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. {5} They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” Jeremiah points out the sin of worshiping or attributing some special powers to a tree, but not the use of it as decoration.

 (Gal 4:8-11) “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. {9} But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? {10} Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. {11} I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” Paul makes it clear to the Galatians that there is only one God and only the commandments that He makes are to be heeded. If we like these Galatians observe all of these “holidays” and think that we are in some way better for it, we are mistaken. They are fun and enjoyable, and we get to be with family, but there is nothing HOLY about our Holidays.

 There are many that use these traditional gatherings as well as others like family reunions as an excuse to miss the assembly of the saints. When we allow that to happen we have sinned. Let us put forth every effort to observe God’s Holy will and not man’s holy days.

CATHOLICISM - FOLLOWING THE TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
 There are enough dangers with Catholicism that I could spend the rest of the year on this subject alone. If you are interested in further study on this topic you might be interested in two books:
1) Traditions of Men Versus the Word of God, by Alvin Jennings, published by Star Bible Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 821220, Fort Worth, Texas 76182, 1-800-433-7507.
2) Catholicism Against Itself, by O. C. Lambert, published by Star Bible Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 821220, Fort Worth, Texas 76182, 1-800-433-7507.  There are probably other good books on the subject as well, and the Bible itself is full of incriminating evidence against the Catholic religion.  Let’s look at just a few of the teachings of Catholicism that contradict God’s Word.

1) They claim to trace the Papacy back to Peter. According to their own regulations, however, Peter could never have been a ‘Pope’ because he was married (Mat 8:14) “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.” Further, according to history the first Pope proclaimed himself such, it was not passed down to him, and that was Boniface in 608 AD. No, the Catholic church is not the same church that Christ established in the first century.

2) Priests are called ‘Father’. (Mat 23:9) “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

3) Only a priest can mediate between the congregation and God. The Bible says that only Christ is our mediator and that all Christians are priests. (1 Tim 2:5) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” and (1 Pet 2:5) “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” and (1 Pet 2:9) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

4) Tradition and teaching of ‘Popes’ and councils is held above the Bible and study of the Bible is not encouraged. Jesus condemned tradition that violated God’s law, and Bible teaches that it is all sufficient and should be studied.  (Mat 15:3) “But he answered and said unto them, ‘Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?’” (2 Tim 2:15)  “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  There are many more doctrines that are held by the Catholic church in direct opposition to the Bible (idolatry, prayer to those who are not God, infant baptism, confusion over saints, etc.), but I suppose that is what happens when you believe that man’s ideas are better than God’s. Let us always look to God and his revealed will for our authority in religion and in life.

CATECHISM - A BOOK CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF A RELIGION, IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
 Unless I am mistaken, there is a book that contains the principles of Christianity. Last I knew it was called the New Testament, and had references to prophecies in the Old Testament as well as the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. I would hope that we would all study the scriptures in order to answer any questions we have. (1 Pet 3:15)  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” One of the problems with a system like a catechism is that those involved are not encouraged to study the Word for themselves, in fact, in many instances they are told not to or that there is no need. ‘Why study when you have all the answers right here?’ They don’t think about the fact that the Bible is inspired of God and a catechism is written by fallible men.  Even if I had a book that gave me a pat answer for all these questions, and I had memorized the answers, I would still not have an understanding of why that was the answer. 

How many religious people believe what they believe for the following reasons:

1) My parents told me that was the way it was - What if your parents were wrong?
2) The ‘pastor’ told me - What if the ‘pastor’ was taught the wrong thing?
3) I read it in a book - What if the author was mistaken?
4) That is what my church teaches - What if the church isn’t founded by and on Christ and his teachings as it should be?

The problem with all of these and many other reasons for us believing something is that we are depending on someone else to get us to Heaven.  (Phil 2:12) “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” You see we alone are responsible for what we believe. Our salvation is far too important for us to leave it to someone else. I am taking my car to the shop on Friday to have it worked on, I have to go to the dentist to get my teeth taken care of, I had to study books to learn to read and write and do math, but I better not go to anyone besides Jesus to find salvation.

 Here is an answer that is much better than the others. I believe it because the Bible teaches it in such and such book, chapter, and verse. Let us all strive to have a biblical answer for what we do, believe and teach.

CASTROISM - THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND REVOLUTIONARY THEORIES AND POLICIES ADVOCATED BY FIDEL CASTRO.
 Oh, how Castro has been a thorn in our side for years. Because of his dictatorship we have been on the verge of war, and are currently fighting to avoid being overwhelmed by the refugees trying to flee Cuba for the US. All of this because one man wants everything done his way. Of course, that could never happen in the church, could it? How many congregations have been split, choked, smothered, stunted in growth, and even killed because someone wanted things done their way?

 There are no doubt many congregations, some with elders and some without, which suffer under a form of Castroism. This type of dictatorship is certainly nothing new. John spoke of a man in this position in 3 John 1:9 “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” Diotrephes was obviously a very intimidating man to be able to control the others in the church to such an extent that he would not even receive one of the apostles. He had apparently taken the place of Christ in this particular congregation and John let it be known that the arrogance shown would not go unpunished. Diotrephes should have known that Christ is the only one to have preeminence in the church; (Col 1:17-18) “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” And we should know the same today.

 The reason these individuals are able to succeed in the first place is because there is no one to withstand them. Many times they will bring in their whole family to support them in their power grab. Unfortunately, we often let it go. John said it was something that could not continue. (3 John 1:10) “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” The situation was backwards here as it is in many places today. The one who should be cast out of the church is the one who desires to be like Castro.

 It is never an easy thing to “... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Cor 5:13), but there are many things in Christianity that are not easy. We cannot shy away from doing what is right just because it is harder than doing what is wrong or doing nothing. Don’t be like Diotrephes and don’t let the church come under the power of one like him.

With July 4th just around the corner, let's remember that it is not all about cookouts and fireworks, but freedom and independence. And yes, Xander, those marvelous horseflies that played such an instrumental part in making this day a celebrated one.


CAESERISM - ABSOLUTE GOVERNMENT; IMPERIALISM

 As this country gets closer and closer to this type of autocratic government that thinks it can control every aspect of our lives, we must stand firm in our devotion to God and our determination to obey him rather than men (or government). Since this topic was covered under the A’s (Absolutism) I won’t belabor the point and instead pass along a poem I received from Mark McWhorter that paints the picture very clearly. As way of disclaimer, I am a pacifist and would never encourage physical acts of violence against our present government or any other government that I might live under, but there are ways of fighting that do not shed blood, and we must realize that there is a battle going on.

Title: A VISITOR FROM THE PAST”
Author: Thelen Paulk
I had a dream the other night, I didn’t understand. 
A figure walking through the mist, with flintlock in his hand.
His clothes were torn and dirty, as he stood there by the bed. 
He took off his three-cornered hat, and speaking low, he said:

“We fought a revolution, to secure our liberty.  
We wrote the constitution, as a shield from tyranny.
For future generations, this legacy we gave.  
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

“The freedom we secured for you, we hoped you’d always keep.
But tyrants labored endlessly while your parents were asleep.
Your freedom gone, your courage lost, you’re no more than a slave.
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave.” 

“You buy permits to travel, and permits to own a gun, 
permits to start a business, or to build a place for one.  
On land that you believe you own, you pay a yearly rent.
 Although you have no voice in choosing, how the money’s spent.”

“Your children must attend a school that does not educate.
Your Christian values can’t be taught, according to the state.
You read about the current news, in a regulated press.
You pay a tax you do not owe, to please the I.R.S.”

 “Your money is no longer made of Silver or of Gold.
 You trade your wealth for paper, so your life can be controlled.
 You pay for crimes that make our Nation, turn from God in shame.
 You’ve taken Satan’s number, as you’ve traded in your name.” 

“You’ve given government control, to those who do you harm, 
so they can padlock churches, and steal the family farm, 
and keep our country deep in debt, put men of God in jail, 
harass our fellow countrymen, while corrupted courts prevail.” 

“Your public servants don’t uphold the solemn oath they’ve sworn.
 Your daughters visit Doctors, so their children won’t be born.  
Your leaders ship artillery, and guns to foreign shores, 
and send your sons to slaughter, fighting other people’s wars.” 

“Sons of the Republic, arise and take a stand!
Defend the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land!
Preserve our Great Republic, and each God-Given Right!
And pray to God, to keep the torch of Freedom burning bright!”

As I awoke he vanished, in the mist from whence he came.
His words were true, we are not free, we have ourselves to blame.
For even now as tyrants, trample each God-Given Right.
We only watch and tremble, too afraid to stand and fight.  

If he stood by your bedside, in a dream, while you’re asleep, 
and wonders what remains of our Rights he fought to keep.
What would be your answer, if he called out from the grave:
“IS THIS STILL THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE??”

BOURBONISM - EXTREME CONSERVATISM IN POLITICS
I would hope that Christians who are to any extent involved in politics would be extremely conservative. Unfortunately, that is not the way it is. There are many Christians who are swayed by their wallets, or by the charisma of a certain candidate, and don’t use the principles and teaching of scripture. We must realize the necessity of having a government that is in subjection to God, or at least one that acknowledges that there is a supreme power above them. God raises up governments and brings them back down as He sees fit. That being the case we should realize that governments fall when they reject God. We are somewhat schizophrenic spiritually if we think we can believe in the Bible and be pleasing to God without having our Christianity controlling every aspect of our lives public and private.

There is a danger; however, that we may be conservative in politics and think that voting for officials who take a hard moral stance and will make laws accordingly will somehow change the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans. Don’t let Satan deceive you. There is a significant difference in legislating morality and converting the heart of the immoral. I am not saying that we should not have laws and punishment for immorality, what I am saying is that until something changes the hearts and minds of the sinners in this country they will continue to sin even if it is illegal. What government, no matter how moral and Godly it is, can never do with laws and punishment, the church can do with the gospel and only the church through use of the gospel can do it.

Many have said, and rightly so, that making guns illegal or making new laws to restrict who can own a gun will not solve the problems of gun violence that we have seen in the last few years. The reason is clear if we will think about it. In every case of these shootings, either the guns that were used were illegal, or they were illegally obtained, or both. You see the very nature of the terms ‘crime’ and ‘criminal’ imply something illegal. We can’t expect laws to change hearts, only the love of Christ shown through the gospel can truly accomplish that.

One last illustration. Do you ever speed? Be honest now. Would it make a difference if the government made a law making it illegal? Ooohhh! They already did. Well, would it make a difference if they passed a new law that made the speed limit 45 MPH? Be honest. Would it matter to you if they raised the fines to $100 for every MPH over the speed limit? Maybe after you got caught the first time and had to pay an outrageous $900 fine, but probably not before that. You see it is true with many of us in the small areas of breaking the law, and it is true of the hardened criminal in any area. It is good to have a government that can punish the evil doer as Romans 13 tells us they should, but don’t expect the government to do the church’s task here on earth. Don’t think you have done all you should when you have voted for some ‘righteous’ official.

ANARCHISM - DO AWAY WITH GOVERNMENTS AND LAWS

Government doesn’t always do right, in fact, at times we may think that we would be better off without any government at all. We need to remember that God is ultimately in control and the government gets its authority from God. When government goes to far God corrects the situation like he did in the U. S. S. R. a decade or so ago.

In Romans 13, Paul deals extensively with the Christians duty to be subject to the governing authorities. In order to do away with all government and laws we would have to rebel against the existing authority, and that would be rebelling against God as well.

In truth, as Paul says, government should be there to punish the wicked and protect the righteous. It is most unfortunate that we are heading down a path that will eventually lead us to a government that will punish good and glorify evil. We are half way there already. Lest we think that we could then rebel against that government and get rid of it, let us remember that the same government that Paul told the Romans to be in subjection to later put him to death. Despite that turn of events, we have no evidence that Paul’s (God’s) teaching on the subject ever changed.

Anarchism cannot even actually ever exist. Even if all of man’s laws were annihilated, God’s laws will be enforced at the end of time. What is more, if we got rid of the laws we currently live under, there would be a new law; namely, ‘the law of the jungle’ or ‘might makes right’. Even when Government doesn’t do what it should, let us remember: it is ordained of God, and it is in existence to protect us from evil.

There are many who think they have done away with God’s laws by simply ignoring them, but they will be in for a rude awakening in the world to come. Let us be sure that we are not part of that number.