| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| March 23, 2001 | Vol I, #21 |
Friday Church News Notes, March 16, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
The environmentalist movement has been increasing rapidly among Christians for the last three decades.
The liberal Protestant denominations represented by the various ecumenical national councils have been on the environmental bandwagon for a long time. This is not surprising, as they have largely replaced the heavenly, eternal gospel with an earthly, temporal one.
Pope John Paul II has frequently spoken in support of environmentalism and supported environmental theories such as global warming. On January 17, for example, he called for "ecological conversion" in order to avoid catastrophe. Now Christians who claim to be evangelical are joining the environmental crusade.
The group Target Earth is one example. They teach that "we were made to love God, love people, and love creation." A group called Christians Caring for Creation is suing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services in California to protect an endangered snake and toad frog.
The Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles never preached environmentalism; they preached the Gospel of salvation from sin. While we believe men should be careful to use the earth's resources properly, it is also true that this earth will burn up after the coming of Christ (2 Pet. 3:10-14). That is the "global warming" we need to be concerned about!
In an 18-page pastoral letter, "The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good," published late in February, 12 bishops from the US and Canada said that the river had been irresponsibly dammed, polluted and over-fished.
They called on all people of good will to "work together to develop and implement an integrated spiritual, social and ecological vision for our watershed home, a vision that promotes justice for people and stewardship of creation."
The letter was the result of three years' research of Columbia's ecosystem by a committee of bishops headed by Bishop William Skylstad of the diocese of Spokane, Washington.
Editorial Comment: At least it keeps them from spreading their false gospel. It uses financial and human resources that could be sending people to hell, so I hope the Catholics continue their environmental campaigns right through the tribulation.
It's finally official -- atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair is dead. Bones found at a remote Texas ranch have been positively identified as those of the founder of American Atheists (AA), who led the fight to have school prayer banned in the 1960s.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations yesterday confirmed the remains unearthed in January to be those of O'Hair, her son and granddaughter, "The New York Times" reported. The three disappeared in 1995 amid rumors O'Hair fled with her organization's money or disappeared to die where Christians would not be able to pray over her, the newspaper said.
No one has been charged directly in connection with the deaths, but a man has been found guilty of extortion and other charges related to the case. David Waters, a former office manager for AA fired for stealing from the group, led authorities to the burial site. The "Times" said that Walters would get immunity for his role in the deaths since he revealed the bodies' whereabouts as part of a plea bargain.
Despite her death, O'Hair continues to provoke some Christians. A recently circulated e-mail appeal urged Christians to protest a supposed move by O'Hair to have the word "God" removed from the popular TV show "Touched By An Angel."
Though the what and who is still murky, word on the Hill has it that a mock trial has been scheduled for shortly before Easter in the Hart Senate Office building. The topic? "Can It Be Proven Jesus Rose From the Dead?" Its religious overtones have apparently nudged certain senators, like Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer, the wrong way. "Some senators did complain about the separation of Church and State being blurred," says a Republican leadership aide, without naming names. "They felt it was in poor taste."
So how do you explain the event Boxer and Schumer are hosting a few days earlier? Both will be guests of honor at a movie premiere to be held at Union Station. The film? Soldier in the Army of God-- an HBO production that portrays the pro-life movement and abortion clinic protesters as extreme, right-wing zealots. "I don't see how they can host a hateful film like that and then criticize a mock debate about Jesus and the Resurrection," says the leadership source. "It's just shows how the liberal mind thinks."
[ Washington Prowler ]
Friday Church News Notes, March 23, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
An appeals court in California has ruled 3-0 that public schools cannot prohibit Christian Bible clubs from using school facilities. This settles a 1997 suit by Justin Van Schoick against the Saddleback Valley Unified School District (near Los Angeles) for their rule prohibiting Christian clubs from meeting on school campuses. Van Schoick attended Mission Viejo High School. John Mendoza, an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute which represented the plaintiff, said, "This decision overturns three decades of laws which enabled the wholesale discrimination against Christian students." The case was argued on the basis of First Amendment protection and the Equal Access Act.
Friday Church News Notes, March 23, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
The Heritage Baptist Church in Troy, Missouri, and three other area churches are conducting a summer camp just for bus kids and other unsaved youth in 2001. The theme is creation science. Pastor Jamison of Heritage Baptist told me that they plan to show videos by Kent Hovind and have Bible studies and preaching that deals with man's origins in the book of Genesis, with the goal of removing obstacles and doubts that have been created by the humanistic instruction in the public school system, and laying a foundation of truth so the young people can be saved. Brother Jamison has worked in bus ministries for 15
years, and he has witnessed a change in the attitude and thinking of young people and children. Today, many don't even believe in God, whereas in decades past even unsaved young people in most parts of America had at least a basic belief in the Bible. Thus there is a need to go back to the basics of Bible truth, beginning with Genesis.
Below are some very good reasons for faithful church attendance. They are good reasons because they are Bible reasons. You see, church attendance is not a case of whether you want to or not, it is "Thus saith the Lord!" You can be sure there is much blessing in being where God wants you each time your church's doors open.
1. Because it is God's plain command. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is..." (He. 10:25).
This Scripture ought to settle the matter once and for all. Faithfulness in attending church services is a command to be obeyed, not an option to be considered! Our attitude should be, "God said it--that settles it," and be found in our rightful place every time the opportunity presents itself.
We are to assemble ourselves together. There is a great blessing and strength in being together with God's people in a church meeting. Sitting at home listening to a radio preacher or watching a service on television is no substitute. Missing church is really an act of disobedience, and Christians who do so cannot rightfully claim Jesus Christ as their Lord nor ever fully love Him. This is so because Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46). "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15).
Listening to the excuses of some, you would think God was a cruel task-master in wanting His children to be faithful to every service of their church. However we are taught in 1 Jn. 5:3 that all of God's commandments to Christians are "not grievous"; they are given for our blessing and spiritual benefit. The fact is, you need to start living for the Lord and quit trying to fit Him in with your plans. If you are too busy to attend the meetings of your church, you're too busy!
2. Because it pleases your pastor. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (He. 13:17). Over every N.T. church God sets a man in the place of leadership and authority as its pastor or shepherd. To him is given the responsibility of watching out for you spiritually, whilst to you is given the command to obey him and submit to his leadership. Without any fear of contradiction, you can be sure your pastor want you present (and active) in every church meeting. He has a right to, and it grieves him when you are absent--even when he knows why. Every pastor can testify of the blessing of faithful, dependable church members. They strengthen his ministry which in turn is profitable to the whole church.
If you really mean business with God and take the teaching of this verse of Scripture for what it says, you will be faithful in church attendance--not just to obey your pastor, but to please him so that with joy he may give account of your life and service to God.
3. Because it maintains a good testimony. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 5:16).
Your absence from your church meetings has a bad and wrong influence on others. It tells everybody else to stay away too, that the church is not worth going to. You can never be a soul winner and be unfaithful in church attendance at the same time. Imagine the hypocrisy of inviting some soul to attend a gospel service--and not showing up yourself. Be careful! Rightly or wrongly, men see much more in what you do that in what you say, and your unfaithfulness just may be the cause of some lost soul remaining lost forever.
4. Because of the Lord's special presence. "Know ye no that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Co. 3:16). "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ep. 2:22). In Jn. 20:19-29 we are told how on the first day of the week (Sunday) the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the midst of His disciples. They were in every way a N.T. church--they were assembled together, and each one of them was a baptized believer. Three things are immediately evident from this account: This wonderful experience brought peace to the disciples (v. 19); they received direction for their lives (v. 21), and Thomas, who wasn't there, missed out!
Now it is a blessed truth that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and can have constant personal fellowship with the Lord. Nevertheless, the Scriptures are plain that a faithful church-attending Christian enjoys a special presence of the Lord. Every N.T. church is a Temple of God. The first chapter of the book of Revelation tells how the Lord Jesus Christ stands in the midst of His churches (imperfect though they be). His presence is real and special. Like Thomas of old, you miss out when you miss church. He had no peace, heard no Christ-given directions, and had little faith--until he was back in church the following Sunday.
5. Because Jesus is coming again. "...and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (He. 10:25). "...that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 Jn. 2:28).
One of the great declarations of the Bible is that Jesus is coming again, and coming soon. The question is, What if He came at church meeting time? Would you be ashamed as you stood before Him at the Judgment Seat?
Imagine a red-faced, sleepy-eyed Christian (a lover of the "gospel of St. Mattress") freshly raptured out of his bed clothes standing before His Master trying to explain how Sunday was his only day of rest. Think of the embarrassed believer there with a fishing pole in his hand trying to tell the Lord of glory how he could worship Him just as well out in nature. Picture an unshaven saint with scarlet complexion with his glorified power mower beside him standing before his Lord desperately trying to think of the verse about a man not taking care of his family being worse than an infidel.
Humorous? Not really, for if this should happen to you it would be a moment of disgrace. But isn't it just that whether Jesus comes or not? Dear Christian, live each moment of your life here on earth as though in the next instant you'll hear the shout and the trump of God.
6. Because the Bible teaches you to tithe. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse..." (Mal. 3:10). "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store..." (1 Co. 16:2).
The only way you can obey the Bible command to tithe is to be faithful in church attendance. Think about it. First of all, God says for you to bring your tithe into the storehouse, not send them in. Then He names the proper day for you to do this--"Upon the first day of the week"--that is, every Sunday.
7. Because Jesus loves your church. "...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Ep. 5:25).
The Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Church. He established the first N.T. church during His earthly ministry, and has commissioned His churches down through the ages to carry on His work of preaching the gospel (Mk. 1:14,15; Jn. 3:3-7), baptizing those who believe (Jn. 3:22; 4:1), and teaching them the Word of God (Mt. 5:1; etc.). Each N.T. church is central to God's plan of reaching men and women with the gospel of salvation. It is a true statement, "Through the churches Christ acts; without the churches He cannot act." If your church is so near and dear to the Savior, and if He loved it enough to die for it, that is sufficient reason for you to hold it near and dear to your heart, love it, and never take lightly your responsibility to faithfully attend its services.
8. Because your church needs you. "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it" (1 Co. 12:26).
Missing church meetings discourages those who are trying to carry on the work of the Lord--the pastor, the Sunday School teachers, bus workers, nursery attendants, singers and musicians, and so on. In the book of Numbers we read how ten spies discouraged the hearts of God's people with disastrous consequences. It is still a sin to discourage God's people! Each N.T. church is likened to a body and is referred to as "the Body of Christ," with Christ as its Head. Just like your own body, every member is vital. If you happen to be one of those who think they are insignificant in your church, read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
Yes, your church will carry on when you are absent, but it will be just like you going through life missing a limb--handicapped. Whether you think so or not, when you miss church meetings, the whole church suffers.
9. Because it glorifies God. "...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Co. 10:31). "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus" (Ep. 3:21).
The supreme motive of Christian living is to glorify God. You are saved to glorify God, and one of the ways you can do this is by faithful church attendance because God gets the glory in the church. What do you suppose the opposite of glorifying the Lord might be? Isn't that what you are doing when you play truant with the Lord?
10. Because your church is the safest place to be. "... the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Ti. 3:15).
Missing church services not only weakens you spiritually but makes you susceptible to false doctrine. Through the centuries the Lord's churches have kept and preserved the faith once delivered unto the saints. Your church is a pillar of the truth; that is, it upholds and declares the truth. Without such churches, truth soon collapses. It is also referred to as the ground of the truth; it gives you a solid foundation to serve the Lord upon.
Upon understanding these truths, it is little wonder that Christians who habitually forsake the fellowship of their church, those who are "church hoppers" or who refuse to unite with a N.T. church drift off into many unscriptural practices such as ecumenism, pentecostalism, and invisible churchism.
Dear Christian, do you not see the importance of your church? It is a spiritual umbrella of protection for you. You are on safe, solid ground when you are faithful in church attendance.
To be removed from this mailing list you can unsubscribe
through the homepage
or send your request to
Unsub-tccn@wilderness-cry.net
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like a free subscription simply send an e-mail to subscribe-tccn@wilderness-cry.net