[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 7/27/08
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Fri Aug 8 15:39:05 CDT 2008
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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July 27, 2008
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Contents:
1) The Increase of Dishonesty (Jimmy Tuten, Jr.)
2) Don't Be Like the Mule (Dan Shipley)
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-1-
The Increase of Dishonesty
by Jimmy Tuten, Jr.
Dishonesty is by no means a new sin, but is a predominant
factor in society. Brethren were warned of this tendency in New
Testament times: "Provide things honest in the sight of all men"
(Rom. 12:17). I have no doubt that the Apostle Paul had honesty in
mind when he referred to his past conduct among the Corinthians, by
saying, "receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no
man, we have defrauded no man" (2 Cor. 7:2). The word "honest" in
the former passage is from the Greek term, "kalos," meaning
excellent. Modern usage defines it as "free from fraud," "fair in
dealing with others," or simply upright and equitable. A Christian
cannot be dishonest and please God at the same time.
People today take dishonesty for granted and label honesty as
"old-fashioned." Shoplifting is common, purse-snatchers are on the
increase and pickpockets are working at will.
A Look At Modern Society
In all cities, the greatest fear of crime is among businessmen
in the broad belt between downtown and suburbs. Loaded firearms are
kept under counters, chain link fencing covers many windows, and in
some cases customers have to ring a doorbell before they can enter
a shop. This is what dishonesty does to society! Add to this high
cost of precautions against stealing, etc., and the loss in money
is great indeed. Guard service, extra lighting, mirrors, new
windows and alarm systems are expensive. A supermarket may lose
$25,000 to shoplifters in a year, but additional thousands are
spent over the same period to try to prevent theft. It's alarming,
is it not?
The following figures from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Aug.
13, 1969) presents an interesting picture: "robberies in the United
States cost businessmen $77,000,000 a year. Bad checks cashed in
their stores cost $316,000,000. Damage from vandalism is
$813,000,000. Burglars steal $958,000,000. These losses would buy
124,100 homes valued at $25,000 or finance the operation of three
states the size of Missouri." Where is it all going to end???
Honesty Is Essential To Society
Rousseau remarks, "A country cannot well subsist without
liberty, nor liberty without virtue." Obviously our modern society
thinks it can do without godliness and has invented some morals of
its own. People have been conditioned to think that the ideal is
"the greatest good of the greatest number." Everything depends on
what is meant by this expression. We might exclude the soul and
make the "greatest good" a secular paradise. Where then is moral
loveliness in the form of godliness and honesty? Earthly pleasure
at the expense of the soul is a great price to pay for one's folly.
Society must change its attitude toward the virtue called honesty.
Dishonesty is destroying the liberty we now enjoy.
Honesty Is Essential To The Christian's Life
Each Christian is a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:19),
but his feet is upon the earth! There is no spirituality where
honesty does not exist in the life of the child of God.
(1) We must be honest in deed: Whether we are a teacher, a
housewife, an insurance salesman, an artist, or whatever, we are to
see to it that the stamp of honesty is on all that we do. Providing
things honest in the sight of all men must begin with the Christian
as an individual. Until the virtue of integrity affects us as
individuals, no effect can be made on society. Honesty begins with
the individual. Only then can we say, "We wronged no man" (2 Cor.
7:2).
(2) We must be honest in word: We must not pretend to be what
we are not; "better honest silver than counterfeit gold." It is
disturbing to note that the greatest sin in word is that of lying.
A lie is a false statement made with the intent to deceive,
something intended to convey a false impression. There are
different kinds of liars: those who say they have fellowship with
God and walk in darkness (I Jno. 4:20), and those who say they love
God but hate their brother (I Jno. 4:20), to name a few. The
Christian must put away lying and speak to every man the truth
(Eph. 4:26; Jas. 3:14). God hates "a false witness that speaketh
lies" (Prov. 6:19). This attitude is demonstrated in the severity
of punishment given to the ones who committed the first sin in the
church, i.e., lied (Acts 5:3). The fate of all liars is revealed in
the Scriptures.
(3) We must be honest in our convictions: We must be true to
ourselves and act out what we think. "But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy" (Jas. 3:17). Hypocrisy has no root and cannot
stand the test. Well did Job say, "knowest thou not this of old,
since man was placed upon the earth, that the triumphing of the
wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?"
(Job 20:4-6). What God needs in the world today is a people who are
steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the faith (I Cor.
15:58).
(4) We must be honest in dealing with our brethren: Some of the
greatest sins are committed in this area. They are too numerable to
mention. But perhaps Paul's words will give insight into this
field: ". . . we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, and
we have defrauded no man" (2 Cor. 7: 2). We must deal fairly with
those who are our brethren in Christ. But alas, brethren sometimes
are the most vicious of liars.
Conclusion
If life is to be peaceful and holy, if it is to influence
others for good, it must avoid the sin of dishonesty. "I exhort
therefore . . . that we lead a quiet and peaceful life in all
godliness and honesty" (I Tim. 2:1-2).
-- Via Truth Magazine, XVI: 7, p. 3, December 16, 1971
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-2-
Don't Be Like the Mule
by Dan Shipley
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should
go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse
or as the mule which have no understanding; whose trappings include
bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come
near to you" (Ps.32:8,9 NASV).
The difference between a mule and a man without understanding
is that the mule has an excuse. Mules have no capacity for
understanding. Things such as the instruction, teaching, and
counseling mentioned in these verses would be wasted on the mule.
They can be wasted on men. God teaches men the way in which they
should go (v. 8). However, some men do not understand His teachings
because they do not choose to do so. Hence, the admonition, "do not
be as the horse or as the mule...." Men can be different from the
mule; they can have an understanding in the will and way of God. In
fact, God appeals to man's understanding in these very verses in
telling him not to be without it.
Important principles are involved here. Calvinism says that
unregenerate man is like the mule; that he cannot understand.
However, they forfeit their case by pointing unregenerate man to
Bible passages that supposedly prove his inability to understand
and expect him to understand the passages that say he can't. In
addition, appeals and arguments based on Scripture are made to the
unregenerate who allegedly have no capacity for understanding them.
Calvinists have even been known to debate their positions with the
"unregenerates." To them, that should be something like arguing
with a mule. In the face of such glaring inconsistencies, it
appears that the mule is not alone in his lack of understanding.
Why would God say, "don't be like the mule" if man could not do
otherwise? If it be objected that God is speaking to the regenerate
here, then that would make them susceptible to NOT understanding,
which is the very thing being regenerated supposedly makes
possible. But the truth is, God addresses Himself to the
UNREGENERATE; to the sinner. He instructs and teaches them in WORDS
whereby they might be saved (Acts 11:14). Unregenerate men come to
the Savior and salvation as the result of hearing and learning what
God teaches (Jn. 6:45), NOT by the Holy Spirit's "bit and bridle"
being placed upon his heart in some unsought and irresistible way.
As indicated in our text, the mule comes near his master in
response to the bit and bridle. Those made in the image of God come
to their Master in response to His invitation; they come in a
spirit of willing submission motivated by genuine love. You might
say that the mule HAS to submit to his master's REIN; but that
understanding man WANTS to submit to his Master's REIGN.
The tragedy is not that sinful man cannot understand, but that
many will not (Matt. 13:14,15). It comes to all who sincerely want
it and diligently seek it (Jn. 7:17; Matt. 5:6). It comes to those
who are willing to put aside pride, prejudice and indifference. God
shows the way which we should go. Don't be like the mule.
-- Via Plain Talk, May 1977
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"This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be
glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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