Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

New Proposal To Legalize Marijuana

(OLYMPIA) -- Supporters of a new proposal to legalize marijuana are in Olympia... trying to get their bill on this year's ballot. A half-dozen states, including Washington, are trying to legalize the drug for medical use. Doctor Rob Killian is leading the campaign. He turned in what he hopes to be about 245-thousand signatures in support of Initiative 692. They won't know if it will make the November ballot for several weeks. The new initiative is a shorter, reformed version of the one submitted to legislature last session. Under the new proposal, only patients with a debilitating illness would be supplied with marijuana. (Reuters News Service)

One of the blessings we enjoy is the benefit of medicines which help sustain or return us to good health. The billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry attests to the fact that prescription drugs are a part of our everyday lives. Now, the recreational drug marijuana is being promoted for its “medicinal” benefits. I would like to know what “debilitating illness” marijuana helps to relieve which a drug which already exists cannot treat. Is marijuana the only drug that can relieve the pain and suffering of certain illnesses? While I cannot judge the motives of those seeking to legalize marijuana, it is a fact that these are the same people who campaign to legalize marijuana without restriction.

Marijuana is a gateway drug. It is a “starting place” for the more potent mind-altering drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc. The Bible teaches us to exercise self-control in all things (1 Cor. 9:25). Not only is drunkenness condemned in the Bible, so is the conduct which eventually produces it (Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:18; 1 Pet. 4:3-4).

If marijuana was the only drug for pain which existed, it might be a different matter (cf. 1 Tim. 5:23). However, there are plenty of pain relieving medicines on the market. This is the first step in conditioning Americans to accept marijuana as a harmless drug (cf. alcohol, nicotine). Like other issues of morality, the way to gain acceptance for immoral behavior is to first legitimize it in the minds of the populace (1 Jno. 2:15-16). - jrp-

·Assignments: July 5, 1998·

Announcements: Charles Fair

Opening Prayer: Charles Fair / Willie Golightly

Closing Prayer: Sam Holden / Loren Parker

Song Leader: Rusty McGrew / Clarence G.

Scripture Reading: Ray Hollister / Wesley H.

Lord’s Supper: T Haith / J Holt / E DeWisp.

Building Cleanup: Morris & Nancy 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

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

Volume II, No. 20 July 5, 1998

A Question On Establishing And Applying Bible Authority

Joe R. Price

The following Bible question was recently sent to me, which gives us an opportunity to study how the apostles established and applied divine authority - something we must all be concerned about (cf. Heb. 8:4; Col. 3:17).

“I am hoping you can help me understand one of them. The chart states:

Divine Authority - Acts 15

· Approved Example (15:7-11)

· Necessary Implication (15:12)

· Direct Statement (15:14-19)

I was very excited when I saw this chart; I was wondering where the scriptures were for the often heard statements they accompany. But after looking up the scriptures, I do not see the connection. What am I missing? Are there other scriptures which delineate these ideas more clearly?”

Acts 15:7-19 shows the use of these three ways of establishing and applying divine authority (as we are commanded to do, for instance, in Col. 3:17). Let's see how Peter, Barnabas & Paul, and finally James established the case that physical circumcision and the law of Moses must not be bound upon Gentiles (or Jews) in order to be saved in Christ (15:1-5).

1. Approved Example (15:7-11). First, Peter used an EXAMPLE (sorry -- I'm not shouting, just emphasizing!) which showed that God approved of preaching salvation to the Gentiles before and without the commands of the law of Moses (15:7-11). Peter, of course, refers back to Acts 10 and the conversion of Cornelius and his house (10:33-48; also read Acts 11:1-18). Peter drew upon the EXAMPLE of the events at Cornelius' house to conclude that Gentiles must not be compelled to be circumcised -- God made no distinction between the Gentiles and the Jews -- both were saved by faith, not by the works of the law of Moses (15:10). The EXAMPLE of God's Spirit bearing witness to the truth that Gentiles could be saved "by faith", and that the Gentiles were baptized in water when they believed (10:47-48) establishes the authority to preach salvation to the Gentiles without binding circumcision and the law of Moses upon them. This EXAMPLE showed how God saved the Gentiles (cf. 15:14). (continued on page 2)

Let's apply the use of an EXAMPLE to the authority for when we partake of the Lord's Supper. The only thing which establishes the TIME when we partake of the supper is the EXAMPLE of the saints gathering to do so on the first day of the week in Acts 20:7. So, the day on which we assemble to break bread is authorized by the EXAMPLE set forth by the apostle Paul and the saints at Troas.

But, sometimes the authority of a doctrine and/or practice is established, not upon the basis of an example, but upon a NECESSARY CONCLUSION which is implied from the text. This is what we find being used in Acts 15:12.

2. Necessary Implication (15:12). Now, we know that Paul and Barnabas did not preach that Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved (cf. 15:1-2). Yet, throughout the Gentile regions of their travels as they preached the gospel of Christ, God was working many miracles and wonders through them. A NECESSARY CONCLUSION is IMPLIED by this fact: If Paul and Barnabas were not preaching the right gospel, then God would not have been working miracles through them (which were designed to confirm or validate what they were preaching, Mark 16:16-20).

We also use NECESSARY IMPLICATION to establish divine authority regarding the frequency of partaking of the Lord's Supper. "Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..." (Acts 20:7). We understand from this example that Sunday is the authorized day of assembly to partake of the Supper. But on which first day of the week are we to follow this example? We NECESSARILY CONCLUDE that every first day of the week is the authorized frequency for such worship. Just as God's command to Israel to "remember the Sabbath day" NECESSARILY IMPLIED every Sabbath, we draw an inescapable conclusion from the text as to the frequency of the Supper (Exo. 20:8; Acts 20:7).

Jesus used a NECESSARY IMPLICATION in Matthew 22:31-32 when, concerning the resurrection of the dead, He said, "have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the god of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but the living." Jesus supported the truth of resurrection of the dead upon a NECESSARY IMPLICATION drawn from Exodus 3:6. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had already died when God said these words to Moses, yet God used the present tense ("I am") to describe His relationship with these men. The only conclusion to be properly drawn is that they are still alive!

But, sometimes we are not left to establishing divine authority by drawing conclusions from the NECESSARY IMPLICATIONS of the text. At times God DIRECTLY STATES His will to man. This is what we find being done in Acts 15:13-19.

3. Direct Statement (15:14-19). God, through His prophet Amos, made a DIRECT STATEMENT about the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Messiah's kingdom. James quoted the DIRECT STATEMENT of Amos 9:11-12 to establish this truth. From God's DIRECT STATEMENT James determined and preached that the Gentiles who were turning to God should not be disturbed with attempts to bind upon them the law of Moses (Acts 15:19).

Using the Lord's Supper to illustrate the point, we can see how we use DIRECT STATEMENTS today to establish and apply divine authority. Our observance of the Lord's Supper rests upon the DIRECT STATEMENT of Christ to do so: "Take, eat; this is My body. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you." (Matt. 26:26-27) It is precisely because Jesus commanded His disciples to eat the bread and drink of the cup that we do so until He comes again (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

These three ways of establishing and applying divine authority - direct statement, approved example and necessary implication - are endorsed by the Holy Spirit in Acts 15:7-19 as the legitimate ways to determine from God's revelation what our doctrine and practice must be. As we read the Bible we will use each of these valid tools to teach us our responsibility in doing all things "in the name of the Lord" (Col. 3:17).

WOULD YOU BE MISSED? Notes

(Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:19-30)

1. What kind of impact does your presence have on this congregation? Strength,

faithfulness, stability? or Doubt, weakness, apathy?

2. Our part in the church ought to be filled w/ faithful activities which would be missed

if we were not present! (cf. 1 Sam. 20:18)

I. ARE YOU IN YOUR APPOINTED PLACE REGULARLY?

A. We Have "Appointments" (Respon. & Requirements) W/ God Which We Must Keep.

B. Consider Some Appointments We Must Keep - Heb. 5:8-9; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Tim. 5:8.

II. ARE YOU A DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE & FRIENDSHIP?

A. Christians Are True Friends To Each Other - Jno. 13:34-35; 1 Jno. 3:17-18.

B. Be A Friend To Have Friends - (KJV) Prov. 18:24; Matt. 7:12.

III. ARE YOU AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CHURCH?

A. By Helping Others Be Faithful To The Lord - Gal. 6:2; Jude 22-23.

B. By Constant Participation With Your Brethren - Rom. 12:11-16; 1 Cor. 12:26.

IV. ARE YOU DEPENDABLE? - Titus 3:1.

A. Achieved By Purging Sin & Replacing It With Purity - 2 Tim. 2:20-22 (cf. 4:11).

B. Can You Be Depended Upon To Do Your Part?

V. ARE YOU A HELP IN TIME OF NEED?

A. Do You Look To The Welfare Of Your Fellow-Christians? - 1 Ths. 5:14-15; Phil. 2:3-4.

Sins of the Tongue: AGAINST god (Part 2)

(Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:33-37)

I. MURMURING AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD (Grumbling, complaining).

A. It Is Evil In The Ears Of God - 1 Cor. 10:10 (Num. 11:1; 14:27).

B. It Destroys The Unity & Influence Of God’s People - Phil. 2:14-15 (cf. Jas. 3:13-14).

II. IMPURE SPEECH.

A. Cursing - Psa. 10:7.

1. Profane oaths & swearing--Vowing but not keeping your word - Deut. 23:21-23; Matt. 5:33-37.

2. Vulgarity - Eph. 5:3-6.

B. Idle Speech: Euphemisms - Col. 4:6.

C. Taking The Lord’s Name In Vain - Exo. 20:7.

-Our words show either honor & reverence for & faith in God, or they show disrespect,

contempt, irreverence and disregard. - Psa. 39:1 (34:12-14)

2. Psa. 39:1 - Guard our ways by restraining our mouths & not sinning with our tongues!

(Psa. 34:12-14).