Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

You owe $206 billion. Have a nice day

LONDON (Reuters) - Briton Liz Seymour knew when she returned from holiday that her bank account might be slightly overdrawn.

But she was horrified to find a letter from the TSB bank demanding immediate repayment of 121 billion pounds ($206 billion), more than a third of the national debt.

The letter -- reproduced in Wednesday's Sun newspaper -- also informed her that she would be charged 2.5 billion pounds a month in interest until she paid up.

A TSB spokesman apologized for the letter, saying an administrative error had been to blame.

Commentary

(Joe Price)

We've all heard about these sorts of goof-ups. But there is another debt I want to discuss with is very real. It is a debt we owe, and it is similar to the $206 billion "debt" mentioned above in this respect: It is such a huge sum that none of us can every repay it. I'm talking about the debt of sin. In Matthew 18:23-27, Jesus described sin as a huge debt that one cannot repay. Only God can forgive the debt. And, by His grace and through our faith in Christ, He will do just that (Acts 18:8; Rom. 3:23-28; Eph. 2:8-9).

The price which has been paid to redeem sinners from our sin should compel us to faithfully obey Jesus. It is by His blood that sins are washed away (Rom. 5:9; 1 Pet. 2:24). Our debt of sin is enormous. None of us can ever repay it to God. Without the blood of Christ we will be forever banished to eternal death as a just punishment for our sin (Rom. 6:23). The choice now belongs to us. Obey Jesus in faith and receive eternal salvation, or deny Him and pay eternally for your sins (Heb. 5:9; Matt. 18:34).

Assignments

OCTOBER 18, 1998

Announcements

Gary Bass

Opening Prayer

Gary Bass / Willie Golightly

Closing Prayer

TBA / Shane Bass

Song Leader

Clarence Gardner / Morris Bass

Scripture Reading

TBA / Wesley Holt

Lord's Supper

Rick Holt / Aaron Bass / Jeremy Price

Building Cleanup

Gary & Marie 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. 1 February 15, 1998

DOGS AND HOGS

Joe R. Price

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine,

lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in peices." (Matthew 7:6)

Some people never appreciate the holiness of the gospel of Christ. They despise its commands and spurn its promises. To them, the word of the cross is foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18). Like unclean and filthy dogs, they tear at what is holy and right and good. In a mad dash to satisfy their lusts they fail to estimate the proper value of truth. And, those who do value truth are likely to be harmed by those who care only for themselves. Christ's warning honors truth as it protects us from evil.

We must revere God's truth. Never take it for granted nor lightly regard its directives. Christians are not immune from failing to perceive the holiness of truth. We are also tempted to refuse the holy things for the profane (2 Pet. 2:20-22). We must reverence God so that we will properly value truth (Eccl. 12:13; Prov. 23:23).

The dogs in our passage are not household pets! They are savages prowling the alleys, feeding upon the refuse of humanity. Morally speaking, many such dogs exist today. Advantagists, self-serving and self-indulging, these dogs prey upon the weak and unsuspecting (2 Tim. 3:1-6; Matt. 23:14). And do not forget the hogs. They trample upon the precious truth as they stampede toward gratification, even harming the saints as they go.

So, Christ warns against giving holy things to the profane. For instance, while we are to be longsuffering with the sinner -- trying to teach him the truth -- there is a limit (Matt. 10:14-15, 23). Does he scorn and scoff at truth, or is he honestly trying to learn so that he can humbly obey God? That is not always an easy judgment, but Christ calls upon us to make it for at least two reasons: (1) For the sake of truth -- Since the gospel deserves better than to be shamelessly treated by unholy men; and (2) For the sake of our souls -- Keeping us out of harm's way!

Another New Church?

Larry Ray Hafley

From the Wheeling, WV, Intelligencer, we extract the following. "Methodist pastors, upset about same-sex marriages and other liberal ideals that have received increasing support in the church, are threatening to pull out and start their own sect....John Christie, pastor of Mission City United Methodist Church in Santa Clara, complained that there are two religions in the United Methodist Church. 'One based on Scripture, and one that feels we are in a new age with new truths,' he said."

Notice that cleric Christie believes the Methodist Church is "based on Scripture." It is good he sees the need for a church to be "based on Scripture" (1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11). Further, it is right that he should "pull out" from those who will not be guided by the Bible (Deut. 13; Isa. 8:20; Acts 19:8, 9; 2 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 5:11). Also, we are happy to hear of his rejection of "same-sex marriages and other liberal ideals" (Heb. 13:4). (At least he did not run to Romans 14 to include his erring brethren in the fold of fellowship! Wonder if Pastor Christie's critics will accuse him of being a "guardian of the party" or a "brotherhood watchdog"? Will his opponents claim that each local church's autonomy permits it to make its own rules about whether to accept "same-sex marriages and other liberal ideals"?)

However, it should be noted that the Methodist Church of which he is a member is not "based on Scripture." First, it has an unscriptural name. The New Testament church was not called the United Methodist Church (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 1:2). Second, the Methodist Church does not observe the Lord's supper "upon the first day of the week" as New Testament churches did (Acts 20:7). Third, Methodist Churches often employ fund raising methods which were not used by churches of the first century (1 Cor. 16:2). Fourth, Methodist bishops are not overseers of only one local church as were New Testament bishops (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Pet. 5:2). Fifth, Methodist churches permit sprinkling to substitute for immersion as a "mode" of baptism. Baptism is immersion and was the exclusive pattern and practice of the New Testament (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:36-38; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). Sixth, the Methodist Discipline says "that we are justified by faith only," while the Bible says, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24).

Shall we hope that when Mr. Christie forms and fashions his new church that he will take these facts into consideration? No, rather, we trust he will simply resolve to follow the New Testament system of faith and practice. Pray that he will work and worship "in the apostles' doctrine" as set forth in the New Testament. The foundation, Jesus Christ, has been laid, and no man should venture to lay another. "But let every man," Mr. Christie and ourselves included, "take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (1 Cor. 3:11).

STONES Notes

(Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10)

I. THE MESSIAH

A. A Living Stone - 1 Pet. 2:4; 1 Cor. 10:4.

B. A Tried Stone - Isa. 28:16 (Matt. 4:1-10; Matt. 16:1; Jno. 6:60-68; Heb. 5:7-9.

C. A Precious Cornerstone - Isa. 28:16; Eph. 2:19-22.

D. A Sure Foundation - Isa. 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Pet. 2:6-8 (Matt. 7:24-27).

II. THE KINGDOM OF GOD - Dan. 2:24-35, 44-45 .

A. Its Invincibility & Durability - cf. Dan. 7:14, 18; Heb. 12:28.

B. Its Vastness (filled the earth) - All men, everywhere - Isa. 2:2-4.

C. Our Citizenship Is In Heaven - Phil. 3:20.

D. Why Would Its Citizens Immigrate To Foreign Kingdoms? - Col. 1:13

III. CHRISTIANS - 1 Pet. 2:4-5, 9-10 .

A. Each Christian Has A Place Where He Fits In The House Of God - Eph. 2:21-22.

B. Must Not Defile The Temple (House) Of God - 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 21; 6:18-20.

HOW SHALL THE OLD SECURE THEIR HEARTS?

(Scripture Reading: Psalms 71:1-24)

I. THE TIMES OF OLD AGE.

A. Old Age Is A Time Of Physical Weakness & Infirmities - Psa. 90:10; Eccl. 12:3-8.

B. Old Age Is Often A Time Of Solitude - Heb. 13:5.

C. Old Age Is Often A Solemn Time - Prov. 16:31; 20:29.

II. HOW SHALL THE OLD SECURE THEIR HEARTS? [Psa. 71 (v. 9) - The Psalmist

would do what he could!]

A. He Would Pray For God's Help - Psa. 71.

B. He Would Trust The Lord - v. 1-7 (v. 4, 10-11); Psa. 9:9-10; 37:25; Isa. 46:3-4.

C. He Would Hope Continually -v. 5, 14, 19-20 (33:18-22).

D. He Would Speak Of God's Righteousness - v. 15-16, 24; Job 32:7; Eccl. 6:3.

E. He Would Tell The Present Generation Of God's Wondrous Works - v. 17-18;

-Leave a spiritual legacy to your children! - Gen. 18:19; Psa. 78:1-7.

F. He Would Praise God Always - v. 8, 14-15, 22-23 (148:12-13).