By: Phil Hopkins
We members of the churches of Christ are notable for our believing God’s word and taking its message “2 Tim. 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness ASV” Unlike the denominations we believe God and take him at his word and not Calvin and obeying them “Matt. 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you ASV” Never in God’s word do we find God Personally telling someone that he or she has been saved in violation of his word to mankind on the day of Pentecost he told everyone there what they needed to do to be obedient to him “Acts 2:38 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. ASV ” and this message has not changed. In order to have our sins washed away we all must be obedient to God and his commandments “Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. ASV”. While I realize that this thought may be revolutionary for many people, it is taught clearly in the Bible, God’s word to mankind. When we disobey God’s word to ourselves, we disobey God. We then become subject to God’s punishment to all of mankind.
It is very dangerous to allow ourselves to be influenced by those around us and not God’s word. Time and time again there are those who allow their thinking to be influenced by those around them instead of looking to God for guidance. God not man must be our leader, God must be our guide in all things. “2 Tim. 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness ASV” Israel tried it of old when they turned to other “gods” and tried to cut out or replace that which God had commanded them and follow the nations around and we likewise do when we for whatever reason don’t follow God and his commandments “John 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. ASV.” When we don’t, we prove that we don’t love God as we should. There are many who would change God’s word but God hasn’t changed a thing in his word since he gave it to man. We may not like it from time to time, we may think that it is old an out dated or antiquated and should be done away with in our modern times but God knew what he was doing from old and he gave us instruction from old knowing what our modern technology would bring, do we think for a minute that God did not know that the internet would come about and that we would have webcasting available when he gave us “Heb. 10:24-25 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. ASV” He wanted us to assemble together, not view worship at home. It is always more convenient from the comfort of our homes to watch a worship service but he wants each, and every one of us to assemble together. We try to replace what God gave with our own justifications, our own rationalizations of what we want to do as opposed to what God would have us do. We become weak and lazy in our Bible study, in our faith and trust in God. We have been through such a time recently and in some parts we did wonderfully and in some places, we failed where we must ask God’s forgiveness.
As I visit other congregations, I wonder if we are forgetting why we come together on the first day of the week! “Acts 22:7 And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. ASV” “John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. ASV” The scriptures will remind us why God wants us to meet together at least once a week. We are to worship God and we are to give of our means. With the advent of modern banking tools, we can electronically give any time. I have gone to some congregations where 1 Cor. 16:2 seems to be totally forgotten. Figuring out how to give on the first day of the week is almost impossible, but that is one of the reasons we are to come together. We haven’t implemented any of these tools so that we don’t forget our obligations. Worship has several parts and we are to do all of them as given without question. Our goal should be how do we fully obey God.