The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
January 11, 2009
In
This Issue:
Applauding
the Practice
by
Joe Fitch
"Preach
Christ and Not a Plan?"
by
Donald Townsley
Applauding the Practice
Long ago at the Olympic Games in Athens, it is said a feeble old man came in late. No seats were left. As he passed their seats, the Athenians laughed at him. Then he passed two Spartans. Quickly they rose to offer him a seat, for they had been trained to be modest and courteous. When the Athenians saw this, they cheered the Spartans. "Ah," said the old man, "The Athenians admire what is right; the Spartans practice it."
A godly man died suddenly. People were shocked -- stunned by the unexpected. Brethren in Christ felt keenly the loss of a dependable worker and companion. Men of all classes and persuasions gathered in small groups to sadly shake their heads, recall the past, and applaud a good man.
"He was sure a hard worker -- always tried to do more than was expected." That was true. He exemplified Paul's admonition: "...let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28). It was not the statement that was amazing but who said it -- a lazy fellow who did nothing he could get out of.
Another added, "He was surely honest -- as honest as the day is long." A thought flashes to mind: "Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17). No one disagreed, but these words of praise fell from lips skilled in lies wherever a dollar is at stake.
The applause continues: "He was a church-going man. Surely if there was ever a Christian, he was one." Heads nod agreement, but neither they nor the speaker are accustomed to filling a pew when people gather to worship. They are more in the habit of walking roughshod over the principles of Christianity than keeping them.
A preacher spoke to mourners of his dead friend and the Bible he lived by. "What a beautiful eulogy." Yet many who were impressed by the words spoken refuse to live so that such can honestly be said of them. When the applause subsides, an observer is compelled to add a final word - "Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:37). No greater tribute can be paid a good man than to imitate his devotion to good. "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).
I can't help thinking as a result of listening and observing:
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Many people pay little attention in life to the things that are so important when it comes time to die.
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We are so prone to compliment others for the very virtues which we carefully avoid cultivating in ourselves. A godly man commands the admiration of all -- even the vile and irreligious.
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There are far more people willing to applaud a good life than are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to live one.
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Some folk are content with the office of spectator -- applauding good but not practicing it.
--Joe Fitch
Down through the years since I have been preaching the gospel there have been (and still are) men who advocated that we should preach Christ and not a plan of salvation. They phrase it this way: "Preach the man and not the plan". They seem to think that one cannot preach a plan of obedience to Christ (Rem. 1:5; Heb. 5:9) and, at the same time, preach Christ. What they need to understand is that Jesus Christ is revealed to us in the word of God, and that He is inseparably connected with every book of the New Testament. Jesus said, "Whosever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my word in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38) You can see from this passage that Christ is inseparably connected with His words. To fully preach Christ one must preach His commands, His promises, His warnings, His church, His supper, His plan of salvation and righteous living (Acts 8:4-5, 12). All of this being true, we cannot ignore any part of what He has said without ignoring that much of Christ (James 2:10).
The New Testament is filled with expres-sions that make it clear that a "plan of salvation" is taught therein. The Romans "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" (Rem. 6:17). In their obedience to that "form (or mold) of doctrine," they were "called of Jesus Christ" (Rom.1:6) and "made free from sin" (Rom. 6:18).
Paul also told the Romans, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). They were called according to God's purpose, scheme or plan. They were called of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:6), called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), and called by His (God's) grace (Gal. 1:15). To be called of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:6), called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), and called by God's grace (Gal. 1:15) is to obey the plan of salvation, or "that form of doctrine" (Rom. 6:17).
The Hebrew writer said in chapter 9, verse 8 that while the old covenant was in effect "the way into the holiest of all was not yet manifest" - in other words, the plan (or scheme) of salvation had not yet been revealed. Then the writer goes on to tell us in chapter 10, verse 20 that now, under the new covenant, there is "a new and living way," which is consecrated by Christ. Christ is "the way" (John 14:6), and there cannot be any separation between Christ and His "way" (or his plan of salvation). To reject His plan is to reject Him (John 12:48; Mark 8:38).
The plan of salvation that Christ "consecrated" (or, dedicated) for us (Heb. 10:20) is simple. One must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17), believe the gospel (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37), repent of past sins (Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Rem. 10:10; Acts 8:37), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
Friend, have you obeyed the gospel? (2 Thess. 1:8) If not, won't you do so, and "hold the pattern of sound words"? (2 Tim. 1:13 A.S.V.)
-- Donald Townsley
Via Great Plainness of Speech, Vol II, No. 6, August 1995