Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

PARANORMAL NET
Dutch churches have created a pastoral network for people with paranormal gifts and experiences. The network was initiated after church officials noticed that an increasing number of people in and outside the churches wanted to talk about their experiences, but often feel isolated and encounter denial and rejection. After all, they reasoned, the Bible describes many visions, dreams, hearing of voices and healings, many of which would be considered paranormal today. -- Ecumenical News Intl

The “visions, dreams, hearing of voices and healings” described in the Bible were beyond the normal realm of daily occurrences -- that is why they are called “miracles” (Heb. 2:4; Acts 2:22; Mk. 16:17-20). Bible miracles were very, very different than the alleged visitations and signs claimed by people today.

The Bible teaches that the age of miracles has ended (1 Cor. 13:8-10). This does not mean that we do not believe in miracles -- we believe in every Bible miracle! But, we are also willing to believe the Bible teaching regarding the purpose of miracles (to confirm the heavenly message of truth, Mk. 17:20) as well as their duration (1 Cor. 13:8).

God’s people have always been warned against trying to communicate with the dead. God cautioned Israel not to turn to those who call up the dead as a source of knowledge and truth (Deut. 18:9-14). Instead, they were to hear His prophets (Deut. 18:15-22). Likewise, we must hear Christ and His apostles today, not alleged paranormal gifts and experiences (Matt. 17:5; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Thess. 2:15).

We encourage all men to put their efforts and energies into learning and obeying the simple truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not glamorous, but it is eternally rewarding (Matt. 6:33; Jno. 8:31-32, 36; Matt. 5:10-12). -Joe Price

Assignments: Sunday, January 4, 1998

Announcements: Terry Haith

Opening Prayer: T. Haith / Rusty McGrew

Closing Prayer: Shane Bass / Charles Fair

Song Leader: C. Gardner / Gary Bass

Scripture: Morris Bass / Philip Price

Lord’s Supper: L. Parker/Dan Head/Aaron Bass

Bldg. Cleanup (Jan. 10): Fairs, M. & N. Bass

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Volume I, No. 47 January 4, 1998

My Purpose

To be a little kindlier with the passing of each day;

To leave but happy memories as I go along my way;

To use possessions that are mine in service full and free;

To sacrifice the trivial things for larger good to be;

To give of love in lavish ways that friendships true may live;

To be less quick to criticize, more ready to forgive;

To use such talents that I have that happiness may grow;

To take the bitter with the sweet, assured ‘tis better so;

To be quite free from self-intent whate’er the task I do;

To help the world’s faith stronger grow in all that’s good and true;

To keep my faith in God and right no matter how things run.

To work and play and pray and trust until the journey’s done.

God grant me the strength of heart, of motive and of will,

To do my part, and falter not this purpose to fulfill.

-Author unknown, from

Desert Trails Companion, 1/15/95

“It Is Not Lawful”

John was in prison because of the message he preached. It was pointed, provocative, and unyielding in its application. “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. For John said unto Herod, ‘It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife’” (Mark 6:17-18).

Some advocate that we should not discuss the marital situation of conversion prospects when we are teaching them the gospel to save their souls. This, we are told, can wait until after their conversion. Several obvious scriptural problems arise for the person who attempts this approach to converting the lost.

First, it ignores the scriptural fact that God’s marriage law applies to all men and women who enter marriage. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” has application to every legitimate marriage (Matt. 19:4-6, 9; cf. Heb. 13:4). “It is not lawful” to marry another man’s “wife” as Herod had married Herodias, the wife of Philip (Mk. 6:17-18). Their sin was adultery (cf. Rom. 7:2-3). Please note that John thought it crucial to rebuke the sinners’ sin if there was ever to be a chance they would reform their lives through their obedience to the truth. How can we ignore the unlawful marriages of the lost while at the same time trying to win those souls to Christ? You cannot save the lost by ignoring the sin which causes them to be lost!

Next, the very concept of repentance is at stake if we ignore or redefine the sin of adultery in the lives of gospel prospects. Since repentance of sin must come before being baptized into the name of the Lord (Acts 2:37-38), we dare not say “we won’t address certain sin (or potential sin) which is present before baptizing the sinner. He (she, they) can deal with that afterwards if need be.” Would we take the same approach with the suspected thief? Or the child molester? Or the rapist? To not address sin with the gospel in the lives of potential converts is to not expose them to the true plan of salvation. We are kidding ourselves to think otherwise (2 Tim. 4:2; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30; 2 Cor. 7:10).

Finally, by baptizing a person who has not repented of his sins we join hands with the Pharisees who compassed sea and land to make a disciple, yet because of their tradition-bound doctrines succeeded only in making another son of hell (Matt. 23:15). We are to be about the business of making “sons of God” by teaching and urging obedience to the gospel (Gal. 3:26-27). Instead of trying to find loopholes to fit the sinner into, let us follow the example of John the Baptist. When a marriage is not lawful before God we must try to persuade sinners to repent. Will we succeed? Sometimes, but not always (Matt. 7:13-14). John lost his life for telling the truth to sinners. Can we do any less and consider ourselves faithful to Jesus?

-Joe Price

Human Feelings & Truth Notes

{Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:9-14}

I. "IT CAN'T BE WRONG WHEN IT FEELS SO RIGHT!"

-(Feelings have become "god" to many / Popular standard for

making important decisions!)

A. Illustrations.

B. Problem: Failure To Honor & Obey God's Commands Above

Human Feelings! - Jno. 8:31-32; Col. 3:17; Jas. 1:25

II. THE FUTILITY OF USING FEELINGS AS THE STAN­DARD FOR

OUR ACTIONS .

A. Human Approach To Spiritual Things. {cf. 2 Cor. 5:7}

B. Feelings Can Serve Vital Roles (once one is in harmony w/truth)

-Acts 8:39; Eph. 4:26-27; Psa. 51:12-13.

C. Feelings Are Not The Criterion To Use When Deciding Whether

A Thing Is Right Or Wrong! God's word must decide! (Acts 17:11)

III. APPLICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLE .

-How To Be Saved (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38); True Worship (Jno. 4:24;

Eph. 5:19); Work Of The Local Church (1 Tim. 3:15); Morality (1 Pet. 4:1-2);

False Doctrine (Gal. 1:6-9; 2:5; 1 Jno. 4:1, 6).

Who Is Harmed When Christians Do Not

Attend The Worship Services Of The Church?

{Scripture Reading: Psalm 95}

I. GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPPED WITH: (Jno. 4:24 )

-Reverence (Psa. 89:7); Praise (Psa. 107:32); Whole Heart (Psa. 111:1);

Pure Lives (Isa. 1:10-13); Desire For Spiritual Growth (Acts 11:26).

II. THE ABSENT CHRISTIAN IS HARMED BY NOT WORSHIPPING

A. Symptomatic Of Spiritual Drifting - Heb. 2:1-3; 10:36-39.

B. Hardening Of The Heart Against Worship - Heb. 3:13-15.

C. Lost In Sin - Jas. 4:17; Heb. 10:26-29.

III. OTHER CHRISTIANS ARE HARMED WHEN A FELLOW-CHRISTIAN

FORSAKES OUR ASSEMBLING TOGETHER .

A. Can Be Influenced By A Casual View Of Attending Worship - Heb. 10:23-25.

B. An Empty Seat Means Someone Is Not Present To Encourage Those

Who Are! - cf. 1 Cor. 12:23-26; Eph. 4:16.

C. Sends A Message That Worship Is Secondary & Not Worshipping Is

Inconsequential To One’s Spiritual Well-being - cf. Acts 2:42.

IV. THE WORLD IS HARMED (& HELPED) WHEN A CHRISTIAN

FORSAKES WORSHIP ASSEMBLIES.

A. A Light To The World Has Gone Out - Matt. 5:14-16.

B. The World Has Gained A Friend - 1 Jno. 2:15-17 (Jas. 4:4).

C. The World Has Gained An Opportunity To Speak Against

Christianity - Titus 2:7-8.