[Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

GOD HAS SPOKEN

     The church of the Lord, the kingdom of God, exists by the
purpose and foreknowledge of God.  He planned its existence
its purpose, its organization, and its work (Eph. 3:8-12).  In
view of the fact that God determined these things, those who
profess citizenship in the kingdom should have enough respe-
ct for the Will of God that they refuse to tamper with God's 
building (1 Cor. 3:9-17).  It should not be surprising that instit-
utions of men, including those that are called churches, are
changed in purpose, organization, beliefs, and work to suit
the wishes of those who are a part of them.  We read regular-
ly of church events such as Easter egg hunts, team sports,
church bingo, lockins, bake and yard sales to raise money,
various "fests," and other forms of entertainment.

     God's people should know better than to do such things,
following the ways of sin and error (Heb. 6:4-10).  The work
of God's church does not include entertainment, but rather,
evangelism, edification, and benevolence.  Its only authorized
means of obtaining revenue to do its work is freewill offerings
and the only specified time of collection is the first day of the
week (Acts 4:34-36; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 8,9).  Where in the
New Testament does anyone find the Lord's church soliciting
money from the world to finance the work of the church?  Too many 
ill-informed babes in Christ want to be like the
nations (churches) around them, and are led to think that God's children must 
adopt the ways of the churches of men
in order to the successful in converting the lost.

     Our problem is not a lack of instruction from God, but rath-
er is a failure on our part to apply ourselves to God's plan
with diligence and zeal (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Rev. 3:14-22).  Being
blessed with opportunity to study and learn God's truth and 
to talk to others and persuade them, we fail to use our bless-
ing, spending our lives rather upon pleasure and the empty
pursuits of carnality.  It is high time to wake up! (Rom. 13:11;
1 Cor. 15:34; Eph. 5:14).   ------- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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