Biblical Ethics and the Blight of Group Dynamics

Our national economical giants crumble and our leaders sink us further into debt. The sexualizing of America has transformed our once great nation into a land of perverts: an entire month is set aside in our nation to honor homosexuals; pornography and fornication are destroying the very fabric of the family. Darwinism’s sword of evolution and liberalism’s blade of pluralism has conquered the hearts and minds of many in America. Let’s not forget that we are engaged in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan and that North Korea and Iran seek after Nuclear weapons. Yet there arises out of the flames of this fire another great ism the church must face.

This dogma now threatens to destroy families, businesses and churches. No institution seems to go unaffected by its aftermath. Brethren all across the nation have taken up sides and have threaten to split churches if this matter is not settled and soon. Even here in Lindsay we are suffering from its misfortune. No doubt numbers are down in churches; employees have experienced irritableness and other related illnesses; families have split up and no one seems to have the answer... until now!

· The Problem: Thermostatic Dogmatism!
An Unabridged Dictionary states, “an arrogant, stubborn assertion of thermostat settings with an unwillingness to compromise leading to the constant changing of a thermostat within an office or a church building” Herein is the real issue, when the temperature rises into triple digits as it has in Oklahoma, people get irritable. Generally, if not careful unreasonable demands and unfriendly gestures are made during this time.

Irritability has caused even the people of God much difficulty over the centuries. For example, irritability was reason for God to send fiery serpents among the people. “...and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” (Num. 21:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:10).

· The Principles: What does the Bible say about Thermostatic Dogmatism?
First, some people are by nature complainers and need to learn to “do all things without murmuring and disputing” (Phi. 2:14). Second, others by nature are controllers and need to learn to “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phi. 2:3). Third, still others are carnal, selfish in nature and need to learn to grow up or as Paul put it, “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1). Fourth, matters of expediency (and thermostatic control is a matter of expediency) shall be decided by the elders of a congregation (Heb. 13:17) and seeing that expediency implies appropriateness to the purpose at hand, I offer the follow solution and justification forthwith.

· The Practical: How to deal with Thermostatic Dogmatism?
First, realize that not everyone has the same internal thermostat. Some people are naturally cold natured while others are hot natured. Church buildings are not like Buicks, you do not get your own controls. Second, all unauthorized parties therefore must cease and decease from their thermostatic tampering. Your contribution does not afford you justification to “have it your own way” for that you must go to Burger King. How many hands does it really take to control a thermostat? ONE! Third, according to the National Center for Occupational Safety and Health and the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety if the thermostat is set at 75 degrees or higher people feel warm, lethargic and sleepy. This is not appropriate to the purpose of study and worship. They also suggest that sedentary people begin to shiver at or below 64 degrees this is not appropriate to the purpose at hand either. It is suggested that 70 degrees is optimum for performance of mental work and 72 degrees is the most comfortable year-round indoor temperature for sedentary people.

Brethren, this ain’t Rocket Science and I hope that you recognize the “tongue and cheek” nature to this article, yet the simple principles that should guide good people in these items of expediency. I like the way one man put it, “In matters of doctrine, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; and in all things, charity” (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1-8; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:17).

Rick Popejoy

How Does the Bible Authorize?

I do not want to discuss how the Bible does not authorize. Liberals are real good at attacking command, example and necessary inference (CENI) but they never seem to get around to showing people just how the Bible authorizes. This is an open invitation to our liberal friends to give evidence of how they arrive at authority.

Simple Silence

The principle of silence is really quit simple and is a common occurrence in everyday life. This may be a part of the difficulty that people have with the principle; it’s too simple and too common that it is often overlooked. Much like the process of breathing in air, it is so natural that people often fail to give thanks to Almighty God for the air, the ability and the process of breathing it into our lungs - oh, and don't forget to exhale. Silence is as simple as walking into a restaurant and ordering your favorite meal off the menu. Mine happens to be breaded pork chops fried in bacon grease, covered in country gravy with a homemade biscuit of the side. If the waitress brought me everything on the menu including what I had ordered and the manager expected me to pay simply because the manager says, "Well Mr. Popejoy, you did fail to tell us not to bring everything on the menu. I don't know if you realize this or not but our other menu selections are very popular. So enjoy your meal, Mr. Popejoy."

Friends, silence is really that simple. The restaurant represents the religious world and the menu, all the choices of worship styles that are offered. God is the costumer and we are the waiter; the cook; and the manager. In John 4:23-24 Jesus said, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Who really wants to be the manager on the Day of Judgment expecting God to pay for the whole menu, when He only ordered breaded pork chops fried in bacon grease, covered in country gravy with a homemade biscuit of the side? Who wants to be the waitress that messed up the order or the cook that failed to speak up and say, “Wait one minute, this customer only ordered pork chops!”

It is the height of arrogance for Mark Henderson, or any other man, to tell God what He will get or not get. Humility allows God to decide. Seeing that God desired for men to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) and that faith comes by the word of God (Rom. 10:17) the only way to walk/live that pleases God is to listen to His revealed will, the New Testament.

Consider another problem that we have with regards to this whole situation that Mark Henderson has brought on the churches in the Oklahoma City area. A manager at a local Wendy’s restaurant decides that he is going to start serving Big Mac’s, Quarter Ponders and McRibs on his menu. In reality he wants to be a McDonalds but he does not want to give up the Wendy’s franchise benefits. Is that local restaurant a Wendy’s or a McDonalds? Trying to be an instrumental church of Christ is like trying to be a Wendy’s selling Big Macs! Is Quail Springs a church of Christ or a Baptist Church? In reality the elders at Quail Spring are just like that manager that does not want to give up the Wendy’s franchise benefits. Its time to give up the benefits of the franchise! If you want to be the denomination known as “The Family of God at Quail Spring” have the courage to take down the sign out front that still says, “Quail Springs Church of Christ.”

Rick Popejoy

Doctrinal Discourses

Question: Is Matthew 19:9 a part of New Testament doctrine?

I suppose there is not a subject anymore misunderstood and twisted than the biblical doctrine of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. Marriage, the oldest institution created by God and is the basic foundation of society (Gen. 2:22-24). This sacred union is described by the apostle Paul as "honourable" (Heb. 13:4). Words from the very lips of Jesus instruct us concerning our responsibility to this covenant when he declared, "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" (Mat. 19:9).

This inspired passage (2 Tim. 3:16-17) has come under much scrutiny by brethren, many of whom have even attempt to place this text back under the "law of Moses”! The reasoning goes something like this; since Jesus spoke these words while He was alive they must be part of the Old Testament since He had not died yet. This unwarranted doctrine causes much turmoil to her advancers. First, how do they deal with Matthew 18, wherein Jesus gives teaching regarding how to handle an offense between brethren within the church? The church of Christ did not exist in the Old Testament, separate and apart from the mind of God (Eph. 3:10). It is obvious that Jesus was simply giving future inspired instruction to serve the church that was yet future in existence. Secondly, are we to conclude that all Bible passages that were spoken and or recorded before the death of Jesus belong under the Law of Moses? If so, that would cause insurmountable problems in proper hermeneutics of the Bible. If you have a comment on this subject we want to hear from you!

Brant

Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom

I often hear people bemoan the fact that the church today is not growing “like it did in the 40’s and 50’s.” The question is then asked, “How can we restart the fire that once burned within our bosom?” Listen to the apostle Paul as he describes his passion in Ephesus: "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,... Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:20, 26-27).

Far too many spiritual farmers (1 Cor. 3:9) desire fruit without the cultivation (Jer. 1:10). Some curse the soil (Luke 8:12-14), others chastise the method of the sower (Luke 8:5), while others alter the seed (Luke 8:11). The sower, seed and soil must work in harmony if the fruit is to be brought to perfection.

Needed Principles:

1. An old-fashion work ethic applied to the church.
2. A strong sense of ethics and morality.
3. An aggressiveness with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Saturation with the gospel.

This method of saturation was first brought to my attention by a missionary in Wyoming of whom I learned a great deal from regarding evangelism.