Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

Clerics jump into fray over cloning

January 8, 1998 - BY ERNEST TUCKER STAFF REPORTER - Chicago-Sun Times

In announcing his intentions to clone a human, Richard G. Seed invoked religion, calling himself a good Methodist who believes humans were created in God's image and were meant to become like him.

This, he said, includes learning to live forever. Such thoughts brought swift repudiation from religious leaders.

``We are very much against human cloning because it's such dangerous ethical territory,'' said the Rev. Eugene Winkler, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington.

``There may be some religious groups somewhere in favor of it, but most mainline religious groups are against human cloning,'' said the Rev. Tom Nairn, an ethics professor at Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park.

Several experts and clergymen said Wednesday that the silence of most clerics on this topic has added to public confusion about what to believe.

``If we're really serious about this, we need more public debate, which includes the pulpits,'' said Philip Boyle, senior vice president of the Park Ridge Center, a Chicago religion and science think tank. ``Most clergy take a `just say no' attitude and retreat. Religions could play a role, but are they?''

Forces may change that as churches scramble to catch up with science.

``With the [1997 Scotland sheep cloning] ... and this, it is going to become a much more common topic, which has so many implications for parents and future generations,'' Winkler said.

He said a barrier to guiding the faithful is that ``science tends to get ahead of us. The church tends to be reactive.''

Cloning's potential benefits to humanity create a dilemma, said the Rev. Stanley Davis, Chicago director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

``I hate to limit human inquiry. That's part of the domination over creation,'' he said. ``Yet freedom to create is also the freedom to destroy.....''

``This cloning debate has come up periodically since the 1960s,'' said Kenneth Vaux, professor of ethics at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston.

Although there is a spectrum of possible uses of cloning starting at the positive, he termed ``making someone like yourself for the intrigue of it ... morally abhorrent'' and added that there is real fear of misuse ``in a world more governed by business than morality or law.''

Man increasingly views himself as the creator and sovereign of this world. Like the Babel Tower builders, God and His will is subordinated and rejected for the achievements of man. Just because man can do something does not mean he should do it! God is the Creator of life and the Creator of man’s spirit (Rom. 1:25; Zech. 12:1). Cloning human beings is not just unethical, but immoral and an affront to God Himself! How long, oh Lord, before your judgment rolls down like mighty waters against those who defy you?! (Rom. 1:18-2:2) -Joe Price

Assignments: Sunday, January 18, 1998

Announcements: Ed DeWispelaere

Opening Prayer: Ed DeWispelaere / Jason Holt

Closing Prayer: Charles Fair / Willie Golightly

Song Leader: Dan Head / Gary Bass

Scripture: Ray Hollister / Clarence Gardner

Lord’s Supper: Rick Holt / Wesley Holt / Jeremy Price

Bldg. Cleanup (Jan. 24): Jess & Connie 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. 49 January 18, 1998

Biblical Principles of Unity (Part 1)

by: Joe R. Price

The tendency to broaden fellowship beyond that which Christ has endorsed in His gospel (2 Jno. 9-11; Eph. 5:7-11). We should carefully study the teaching of Christ’s gospel which bears upon the topic of unity and fellowship among brethren, and then carefully obey it to be approved by God (2 Tim. 2:15).

Unity Is Based Upon Revealed Truth

The gospel calls us to a unity which is based upon the revealed truth of God (Eph. 4:1-6; 1 Cor. 1:10). The only credible standard of authority to which we may rightly appeal to establish unity is the revealed word of Christ, the New Testament (Jno. 17:20-21; Col. 3:17). It is His word that establishes faith and enables unity. The inspired teachings of His apostles make it possible for us to have fellowship with them and with God (1 Jno. 1:1-4, 5-7). When we go beyond the teaching of Christ - His New Testament - we forfeit our fellowship with the Father and the Son (2 Jno. 9). While yet on earth Jesus affirmed this truth when He said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jno. 14:23). Loving Christ is tantamount to keeping His word. Therefore, when one speaks of keeping or obeying the word of Christ in all things, he is speaking of loving the Son of God.

Please understand that to do this does not exalt oneself. When one speaks of understanding and conforming to truth, he is urging humility, not arrogance. Jesus necessarily implies that we can understand His word when He commands us to keep His word. If one denies that we can understand the word of Christ, his argument is with the Son of God, not with Joe Price or any other man. And, when one depicts such a conviction as arrogant, such a characterization is ultimately against the Son of God, not those who are obeying His commands (Jno. 8:31-32; cf. Acts 9:1, 5).

It is interesting and somewhat ironic that a brother will charge his fellow Christians with lacking humility, long-suffering and forbearance, while putting words into their mouth which they never said. This does not promote unity. For instance, where have brethren who affirm we can understand truth and unite upon it ever said or implied that they are “perfect in knowledge” and that “every position that someone else holds that differs from (them) is wrong”? Yet, that is the charge which is being heard today. Are those who make such an indictment of fellow Christians displaying humility when they put words into their brethren’s mouth? (The answer is obvious.) The Bible teaches that God’s word is right and that we can attain to the proper knowledge of His word. We can be right with God and lovingly obey Him in all things (Col. 3:17; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). For this, some are castigated as “extreme” or as demanding “agreement with them” to be regarded as faithful. Such unjust judgments will be judged (Matt. 7:1-2; Jas. 4:11).

Humility And Unity

Humility is being offered by some as one of the planks in the platform for unity among brethren. As an example, one Christian recently said, “First, there is the principle of humility (Prov 11.2; 12.15; Mic 6.8; Lk 18.13-14; Rom 12.3,16; 1 Cor 10.12; 13.4; 2 Cor 11.30; Gal 5.26; Eph 4.2; Jas 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5-6). Humility demands that we not be so arrogant as to think that we are perfect in our knowledge and that every position we hold is God’s position and every position that someone else holds that differs from ours is wrong.”

Of course, we have no disagreement with any of the scriptures this brother cites. If one had said what is herein attribute to him, that would indeed display arrogance. But, as noted earlier, nobody has said such a thing. (Can this person, or anyone else provide the documentation which proves a fellow-Christian has so characterized himself on the subject of unity and fellowship?!)

Brethren used to teach that if we can understand the Bible at all, we can understand it alike. But now, more and more Christians are concluding that such a view is an arrogant approach to the Scriptures. Should we believe and teach that a full understanding of and compliance to truth is within our grasp? Yes, we should and we must! (Col. 1:9-10; 2:2-3) It is not arrogant to teach that we can understand revealed truth and live in that knowledge so as to please God. It is not arrogant to study, learn, understand, obey and teach the truth of God’s word (Jno. 8:31-32; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Tim. 2:3-4). In fact, it takes humility to submit to the truth of the gospel instead of the wisdom and wants of men. (Gal. 1:10-12)

This principle of knowing truth also holds true on moral issues such as adultery. God has said that when one lives in contradiction to His revealed truth, that person is lost and not in fellowship with God (Eph. 3:2-4; 5:17; Matt. 7:21-23; 2 Jno. 9). We can know and obey God’s revealed truth. We can teach that truth to others so that they, too, may share in the blessings of eternal salvation (2 Tim. 2:2, 15).

Was Paul calling us to arrogance when he said, “by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4)? No. Was Paul advocating arrogance when he commanded, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17)? No.

Was Jesus teaching us that arrogance is a part of conversion when He said, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them” (Matt. 13:15)? Certainly not. Yet, He said they could understand with their hearts. Therefore, to advocate understanding God’s truth is not arrogant - it is essential to conversion.

Did Jesus teach that the honest and good heart is arrogant (in as much as it is he who understands the word of God): “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matt. 13:23)? No, Jesus did not advocate arrogance. Yet, Jesus said it is possible to understand the word of God. Therefore, it is not arrogant to advocate understanding God’s word today.

When Jesus “called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, Hear, and understand” (Matt. 15:10). Was Jesus calling them to arrogance? Never. But He did call them to understand His teachings. Like Jesus, may we always call upon ourselves and others to “hear and understand” the word of God. And then, let us humbly approach the word of God as the only adequate standard for obtaining and maintaining unity in the Lord, and obey it in all things (Eph. 4:3-6; Col. 3:17).

S unday Morning: Derek Chambers, evangelist with the Northside church of Christ in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, will preach. We welcome Derek and his new bride, Kathy.

Sunday Night’s sermon: Notes

AN INFLUENCE WITHOUT BLEMISH

{Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:12-16}

1. Children of God are to be "w/o rebuke" in sight of God & men:

a. Phil. 2:15-16 - Enables a good influence.

b. Our conduct must gain the respect of peo­ple around us if we are

to influence them.

c. Otherwise, we hinder the truth (2:14, 16).

2. Things enabling an influence which cannot be rebuked.

I. BE HONEST IN CHARACTER .

A. Honesty Is A Principle, Not Just A Poli­cy - Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 8:18-21;

Acts 6:3; 1 Pet. 2:11-12.

B. Be Truthful - Eph. 4:25; Prov. 6:16-19; Matt. 12:34-35.

II. BE PURE IN SPEECH - 1 Pet. 3:10.

A. We Must Abandon Vulgar Hearts & Speech - Eph. 4:29; 5:4; Col. 4:6;

Jas. 3:5 (An uncontrolled tongue does much damage to the cause of

Christ!); Titus 2:7-8.

III. BE PURE IN LIVING.

A. We Must Maintain The Purity Of The Church For Which Christ Died

Eph. 5:25-27; Phil. 1:27; Tit. 2:11-12; 1 Tim. 5:22; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 2:20.

B. Church Must Not Condone Sin In Members - 1 Cor. 5:1-2, 13; Gal. 6:1;

2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; 1 Cor. 5:7; Acts 5:11, 13-14.

IV. BE KIND & CONSIDERATE - Eph. 4:32; 1 Cor. 13:4 .

A. Kindness Shows Sincerity Towards Others - 1 Pet. 1:22; Rom. 12:9;

Gal. 4:16; 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

V. BE UNCOMPROMISING OF THE TRUTH .

A. Good Influence Occurs When One Lives His Convictions - Dan. 1:8-9,

14-16, 17-20; Acts 4:17-21; 5:29, 26; 2 Tim. 4:2; Rom. 8:31, 35-37.