Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Baptists Say Wives Must Submit...New Code Also Opposes Gay Rights

Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle Religion Writer - Wednesday, June 10, 1998

Leaders of the nation’s largest Protestant church approved a new statement on the family yesterday that says wives must live in submission to their husbands and that condemns homosexuality as “perversion.” The new statement, the first amendment to the Baptist Faith and Message statement since 1963, was passed at a national assembly of the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention being held in Salt Lake City. Citing numerous Bible verses, the report concludes that “the wife is to respond to her husband’s loving headship with honor and respect.”

“As the wife submits herself to her husband's leadership, the husband humbles himself to meet his wife’s needs for love and nurture,” it states. “Wives, on the other hand, were created to be ‘helpers’ to their husbands. A wife’s submission to her husband does not decrease her worth but rather enhances her value to her husband and to the Lord.”

‘ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN’

The statement also defines marriage as “the exclusive, permanent, monogamous union of one man and one woman.” In addition, it contains a strong condemnation of gay rights. “Believers must resist any claims of legitimacy for sexual relationships that biblically have been declared illicit or perverse,” it reads. “The perversion of homosexuality defies even childbirth, since it negates natural conception.”

--The Baptists got it right! God ordained the headship of man in marriage, not so that man should be a tyrant over his wife, but a loving leader who looks out for his wife’s best interests. In turn, the wife is to honor and yield to the leadership of her husband. God’s order of headship blesses families. (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1-7) -jrp-

ASSIGNMENTS - SUNDAY, June 14, 1998

Announcements: Ed DeWispeleare

Opening Prayer: Ed DeWispeleare / Willie Golightly

Closing Prayer: Shane Bass / Dan Head

Song Leader: Rusty McGrew / Aaron Bass

Scripture: Jason Holt / Chris Holp

Lord’s Supper: Rick Holt / Jess Bass / Wesley Holt

Building Cleanup: McGrew

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

Visit our Web Site on the Internet: http:// www.davisinet.com/northsidecofc

Volume II, No. 17 June 14, 1998

Reflections Of A Mother

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you:

I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.

I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.

I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.

I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.

I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.

I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.

I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.

I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.

I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.

I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.

I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.

I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.

I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you.

I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them.

I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.

I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.

I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.

I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.

I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.

I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.

-Author Unknown

“THOU SHALT NOT HATE THY BROTHER”

Joe R. Price

_So said God to Israel in Leviticus 19:17. What God expected of them is magni­fied to us under the gospel of Christ (Matt. 5:43-48). Hatred is malicious animosity toward another person. It is a blight upon human relations. It is a cancer which destroys unity and harmony in the world and in the body of Christ. We would all do well to review the Bible's teach­ing against hatred and guard our­selves against this unholy attribute.

1) Hatred is akin to bearing a grudge (Lev. 19:18). Holding a grudge is but one of the outward mani­festations of hatred. Please note that when "love thy neighbor as thyself" is obeyed, hateful grudges cease.

2) Hatred stirs up strife (Prov. 10:12). Like a spoon stirring a boiling pot, hatred is an instru­ment which foments contention.

3) The person who hates another and tries to hide his hatred is a liar (Prov. 10: 18). "He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wicked­ness shall be openly showed before the assembly" (Prov. 26:24-26). We cannot hate a person and hide that hatred without showing ourselves to be a liar.

4) Hatred is unsatisfying to the soul (Prov. 15:17). Hating someone brings with it no reward. Sow contentment by cultivating love.

5) Hatred damns the soul (Gal. 5:20-21). It is a work of the flesh which satisfies fleshly lusts. One who hates is not being "led by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16-18, 22-23).

6) Hatred, and its companions, must be discarded from our lives (Eph. 4:31-32). Hate never works alone. Its partners in evil - bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, railing, malice - must also be put away (v. 31). These can and must be replaced with kindness, tender hearts and forgiveness (v. 32).

7) Hatred is characteristic of darkness (1 Jno 2:9, 11). The Christian who hates his brother is walking in darkness, having been blinded by sin. Hatred never illuminates the soul. It only plunges us into blackness.

8) Having hatred causes one to live in death - he is a murderer (1 Jno. 3:14-15). A mark of spiritual life is loving our brethren. A mark of spiritual death is to hate one's broth­er. Hatred murders one's life with God as it mur­ders brotherly relations. Hate causes spiritual death.

9) The Christian who holds hatred in his heart cannot love God (1 Jno. 4:20). It is completely inconsistent to proclaim a love for God while hating one's brother in Christ. If we cannot love our brethren (whom we live among - "see"), how can we love God (whom we have not seen)? God is love (1 Jno. 4:8). He does not accept those who live in hatred of others.

Hatred is a menace. It is a destroyer. But in Christ, hatred can be turned into genu­ine love - even for those we once hated (Matt. 5:43-48).

Time Enough Yet Notes

(Scripture Reading: Eccl. 12:1-8)

I. THERE IS A TIME ACCEPTABLE FOR OBEYING GOD - Eccl. 3:1.

A. To Hear His Voice - Psa. 95:6-11.

B. To Confess & Repent Of Sin - Psa. 32:5-6; Acts 26:28-29 - Today....!

C. To Pray To God - Psa. 69:13-18. Þ Isa. 49:8 (2 Cor. 6:1-2).

II. WHAT KEEPS US FROM USING OUR TIME WISELY ?

A. Worldly Entanglements - cf. Gen. 19:16 (1 Cor. 15:33; Jude 3).

B. Family Cares - Lk. 9:61 (cf. 1 Cor. 7:32-35).

C. Unbelief - Acts 17:32.

D. Personal Convenience - Acts 24:25 (cf. Lk. 14:17-20).

III. HOW TO OVERCOME THESE HINDRANCES .

A. Youthful Piety - Eccl. 12:1 - Start young.

B. By Subordinating Earthly Duties to Heavenly - Matt. 6:33-34. (Simplify, prioritize, maximize!)

C. By Careful Living - Eph. 5:15-16.

D. By A Consistent Example Before The World - Col. 4:5.

E. Remember The Brevity Of Life - Psa. 90:12 (Jas. 4:14); Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

The “Other” Ethiopian Eunuch

(Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 38:2-13)

1. “Ebed-melech” means “servant of the king.” This man served the Lord God when most of

God’s people were disobeying Him.

2. Christians are bondservants of Christ and righteousness - 1 Cor. 7:22-23; Rom. 6:17-18.

I. EBED-MELECH HAD MORAL COURAGE - Jer. 38:9 .

A. Consider His Courage - Jer. 38:1-4, 8, 18-19.

B. God Calls Us To Courage - 2 Pet. 1:5; 1 Pet. 3:14; 1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 1:27-30; Jude 3.

II. EBED-MELECH PUT HIS FAITH INTO PRACTICE - Jer. 38:7-10.

A. He Believed The Truth When Others Opposed It - v. 9 (Matt. 10:34-39).

B. He Showed Compassion To Jeremiah By Saving His Life - v. 10-13 (Jude 22-23; 2 Tim. 2:25-26).

C. Like Ebed-melech, Our Faith Must Be Active (Obedient) To Be Genuine - Eph. 2:8-10;

Jude 22-23; Heb. 10:36-39; Jas. 2:14-17.

III. EBED-MELECH WAS REMEMBERED & REWARDED BY GOD - Jer. 39:15-18.

A. God Sees & Is Faithful To Deliver Those Who Trust In Him - (2 Tim. 2:19) Micah 7:7.

B. In The Midst Of Judgment’s Destruction Of Evil, God Saves The Righteous - Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 3:10-13.

-Isa. 56:1-5 - No one is a foreigner to God who will obey Him & “choose the things that please (Him)” - v. 4.