by Joseph Pauley, Belle WV

Discussion revolving around the interpretation and application of the Holy Scriptures has been interesting through the years. I've often heard remarks that sound wise but fall very short of what God had in mind. "All we need are the direct commands of Scripture." These remarks seem to limit God's ability to communicate with His people, as if He can only communicate in direct commandments. This couldn't be further from the truth.

There are so many worthwhile principles found in Scripture that aren't phrased in the form of a command. Sometimes these principles are far more reaching in their application than what is being dealt with in the specific context in which the principle is found. A good example of this is found in 1 Corinthians 10:23: "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up."

Some are bent on declaring, "All things are lawful." Paul doesn't necessarily concur with this brash statement. He points out some flaws with this type of thinking. Not everything is beneficial or edifying. There are some things that aren't worth doing simply because they are of no real benefit in assisting in spiritual maturity. They may not be wrong in and of themselves, but they are a waste of time.

Christians are about "redeeming the time." Christians are active in faith-development, not simply passive in trying to refrain from evil. Christians are on a journey toward heaven, not simply waiting at the heavenly bus stop.

Individual Christians as well as church leaders struggle with decisions that may seem morally neutral or in the realm of Christian liberty. How are these difficult decisions made? They are made from a central focus in life, that is, growing toward maturity in Christ. Sometimes the best question we can ask is: Will this really help me (or us) to move on to spiritual maturity? Some things may, in fact, be "lawful," but are still a waste of time.

Thank God for giving us commands, examples, necessary inferences, and guiding principles to live by.

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Congregations

Alabama

Huntsville - Church of Christ at Moores Mill Road

Muscle Shoals - Highland Park church

Arkansas

Berryville church

El Dorado - College Avenue church

Paragould - Mountain Home church

California

San Jose - Central church

Indiana

Evansville - Oak Hill church

Kansas

Emporia church's Bible Resources list

Kentucky

Glasgow - South Green Street church

Mayfield - 7th and College church

Pikeville - Main Street church

Tennessee

Lawrenceburg - Midway church

Murfreesboro - Minerva Drive church

Texas

Abilene - Baker Heights church

Other Sites

All About Families Arkansas churches of Christ Churches of Christ Online GATidwell's Journal House to House/Heart to Heart, from the Jacksonville, Ala., congregation. MercEmail, a weekly devotional by Steve Higginbotham. Ohio Valley College The Old Paths Network The One True Church

Outside our circle

Carl's Librarian Ship Dayspring Church of the Nazarene

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by A. A. Neale

A good friend of mine used to say that politics and government were a "necessary evil." The politicians were crooks, and government existed just to milk you of your hard-earned money, but at least, he would say, they're a little bit better than anarchy.

I beg to differ. According to the good Bible, government is ordained of God, and kings and governors are "sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well" (1 Peter 2:14). Politician is just another word for public servant, government people who make the machinery of bureaucracy work. And for all its bad name, bureaucracy, like government and politicians, is a necessary ... good.

Why, then, do we call necessary evils those things that God has given us for our good? Unless it's a lack of gratitude on our part and the upcropping of that old tendency to complain about God's merciful provisions for his people. Just as when Israel belly-ached about that bread of angels with a wonderful taste given to feed them in their trek across the desert.

There is no such thing as a necessary evil. If it's evil, it was never necessary. If it's necessary, it is not an evil thing.

Make up your mind which it is. I'll just thank the good Lord above for his mercy and wisdom when he gave us politicians and government. Even when the other party's in office.

by Phil Sanders

"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant." (1 Kings 8:56)

God keeps His promises; you can count on Him. We can be assured, because God never lies (Tit. 1:2). He is the God of truth. When Jesus came into the world, John said of Him: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:18). Jesus, indeed is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6); He came to bear witness to the truth (18:37).

God keeps His promises; you can count on Him. We can be assured, because God loves us so (John 3:16). One keeps commitments to those He loves (Psalm 15:2-4). Our God is a God of integrity who swears to His own hurt and does not change. Paul exclaims, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32)

God keeps His promises; you can count on Him. We can be assured, because God is able (Rom. 4:21). Whatever God promises, He is also able to perform. You and I as humans are limited and weak, but there are no limits to God's strength or power.

A guarantee is only as good as the character of the one who made it. You can count on God.

"But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us -- by me and Silvanus and Timothy -- was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us" (2 Cor. 1:18-20).

God's faithfulness is a cause for thankfulness and rejoicing. His example spurs us to greater faithfulness as well.

We can count on God; can God count on us?