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.
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AL DIESTELKAMP
P.O. Box 891, Cortland, Illinois 60112
Email: al@thinkonthesethings.com


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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!
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This article first appeared
in Truth Magazine, May, 1963

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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


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