BROWSING
OLD BULLETINS By Al Diestelkamp (continued
from THINK page 1)
...if there was a greater problem among brethren back then, than
we see today. Or, could it be that we "let up" on this
issue too much? I believe most brethren still oppose the social
and recreational use of alcohol, but we are seeing an increasing
number who don't.
Another issue which evoked
many articles was the subject of indecent attire. As the public
swimming pools became popular there was the need to warn against
"mixed swimming," not because it was wrong for males
and females to swim in the same pool, but because of the revealing
attire that was worn. This is another issue which many preachers
and elders have put aside except in extreme cases. We now have
a significant element in the church who, even if they don't personally
dress immodestly, approve of those who do.
On some issues it does seem
that we have made significant progress. For instance, when I
was a boy there were usually a number of members of the church
who used tobacco. In fact, there were often men who would use
the break between class and worship to go out front and advertise
their habit (we called them "holy smokers"). Thankfully,
I haven't seen that in years, but I doubt that we can take credit
for the change. Smoking has become a "no-no" even to
much of the world because of the health risks, and I suspect
that this, more than biblical teaching, has made the difference.
There are a couple of current
issues which are noticeably missing from old bulletins of past
generations. I don't recall ever seeing an article even mentioning
sins of homosexuality and other forms of fornication--only warnings
against conduct that produces lust, which "gives birth to
sin" (Jas. 1:15) and leads to spiritual death. Nor was there
much need to write about the sin of abortion. Even the world
looked down on such abhorrent behavior.
Unfortunately, as the world
becomes increasingly tolerant of sin, brethren tend to "be
conformed to the world" despite the inspired warning against
such (Rom. 12:2). Preachers have a special duty to teach the
truth even in the face of those who "will not endure sound
doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:1-4). Elders, who are charged with the
responsibility of watching out for the souls of their flock (Heb.13:17),
need to have the courage to "convict those who contradict"
(Tit. 1:9). Otherwise, those who defend drinking, dancing and
immodesty may soon be redefining fornication and murder--or,
if not, the next generation will.
____
AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com
Return to THINK page 1.
BUILD
AND FIGHT By Leslie Diestelkamp (continued
from THINK page 1)
In their efforts to build the walls of Jerusalem, it is said
of Nehemiah and his companions, "every one with one of his
hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side,
and so builded..." (Neh. 4:17-18). There was no use for
them to work hard if they did not keep the enemy driven off.
On the other hand, their work was building! The Bible does not
say, "And so fought they," but it does say, "So
built we the wall" (Neh. 4:6).
Let us not fail to put the
emphasis in the proper place. If the church prospers in our eyes,
but is not kept pure and true, all our work is in vain. If the
church is not exactly what the Lord expects it to be, all our
labor is useless. On the other hand, let us not fight for the
sake of fighting. Let us not be prevented in the work of building
by an antagonistic spirit that only keeps us in a fight and ever
keeps us out of work!
When the forces of denominationalism
threaten; when the power of infidelity strikes; and even when
sectarianism, modernism and institutionalism appear in the church,
fight we must, but to build is still our primary task. Even if
all the evil forces could be overcome (and they can't), the harvest
of saved souls cannot be gathered in unless we have sown the
good seed and cultivated it well.
A great and mighty people have
emerged from years of fighting error. Our strength is now challenged
for "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few..."
(Lk. 10:2). Workmen--builders--are needed today. Sometimes they
may have to fight while they build, but everywhere and under
every circumstance they must build!
__
This article first appeared
in Truth Magazine, May, 1963
Return to THINK page 1.
AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com
WHEN
DO YOU PLAN TO DIE? By Andy Diestelkamp (continued from THINK
page 1)
Those who will take the reality of death to heart will be the
better for it. Indeed, "The heart of the wise is in the
house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of
mirth" (Eccl. 7:4). When you pick up your daily newspaper,
you will be much better served by reading the obituaries than
by reading the comics. It is the wise who give sober consideration
to the end of all men; fools don't. Fools insulate themselves
from the reality of death, drown themselves in pleasure, and
distract themselves with vain things and thus find themselves
totally unprepared to meet their Maker.
While fools avoid the subject
of death with all its implications and attendant concerns, the
wise make plans. While fools think it morbid to think and talk
about plans for death, the wise know that life is uncertain.
As we age, we become much more aware of our mortality and our
eventual date with death. As a result, some buy life insurance,
pick out burial plots, make arrangements with funeral homes,
give thought to how they would like to be remembered, select
a headstone, specify what it will say, etc. I even know one man
who has built his own casket.
Yet, if the physical "putting
our house in order" is as far as we go in our preparation
for death, then we have wasted not only our time and money but
our knowledge as well. Contrary to evolutionary theories, life
is more than just a physical cycle. Life has design, purpose,
morality, hope, and love. Our Creator, God Almighty, has a greater
plan than just a vicious cycle that ends with death.
While the carnally-minded concern
themselves with their legacies and how they will be remembered
by their families and fellow man, the spiritually minded are
only concerned with being remembered by God. It is for this reason
that we are admonished to remember our Creator in the days of
our youth before the difficult days come when we lose our abilities
and our zest for life (Eccl. 12:1-8). Unfortunately, some people
seem to think that remembering God is for the retirement years.
Many are only interested in giving God their leftovers--a few
hours per week or perhaps a few dollars per week. We squeeze
Him into our lives after we have done what we want to do, foolishly
forgetting that our life is a vapor and we have no guarantees
beyond the present (Jas. 4:13,14).
Death and the grave have long
been the tools of Satan. With these he has intimidated and captured
humans with no hope of escape...until Jesus. Jesus lives. He
was dead, but now He is alive forevermore. He has the keys of
Hades and death (Rev. 1:18). Therefore, those who confess that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, are able, with
boldness, to march right up to the very gates of death and be
victorious (Matt. 16:16-18).
It is those who have been baptized
into Jesus Christ's death who will certainly be raised with Him
(Rom. 6:3-5). It is these that can confidently cry out, "O
Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
because of the victory over sin and death that Jesus has graciously
given us (1 Cor. 15:55-57). We know that "whether we live
or die, we are the Lord's" (Rom. 14:8) and that death cannot
separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38,39). Therefore we
magnify Christ in our bodies whether by life or death and can
honestly say with the apostle Paul, "For to me, to live
is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:20,21).
Now is the time to plan to
die. Laying up treasure in heaven is the only wise investment
(Matt. 6:19-21). The riches of this world are too uncertain (1
Tim. 6:17) and our bodies are too frail to spend any more of
our time selfishly pursuing the passing pleasures of sin (1 Pet.
4:3; Heb. 11:25). We are going to return to dust and our spirits
to God. Therefore we are admonished to fear God and keep His
commandments because there will be a day of judgment (Eccl. 12:7,13,14).
In view of the obvious reality
that none of us has any idea how much more time he has left on
this earth, it becomes foolish for us to neglect our commitment
to the One who had the power to create us and, therefore, has
the power to lift us out of the grave. "Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord"
(1 Cor. 15:58).
ANDY DIESTELKAMP
323 E. Indiana Ave., Pontiac, Illinois 61764
Email: adiestel@verizon.net
Return to THINK page 1.