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.

by Warren Baldwin

"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'"

This story comes from Luke 10 and is known as the Good Samaritan. And that raises an important question: Is there such a thing as a good Samaritan? Is such even possible? I ask that for two reasons.

One, in the previous chapter, in Luke 9:51-56, Jesus went into a Samaritan village. But the people in the village did not welcome him. This angered the disciples, and two of them, James and John, asked Jesus, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" Obviously the disciples of Jesus did not see any redeeming qualities in a Samaritan! And obviously their attitude betrays something of their understanding of God: "God hates who we hate." They expected him to send the fire they called for! The Samaritans were worth nothing more than to burn them up! So how could Jesus, one chapter later, tell a story about a "good" Samaritan?

The second reason is, apart from the story of the disciples wanting to burn a Samaritan town, the general attitude of the disciples and Jews toward Samaritans. The Samaritans were a despised people. They were the result of intermarriages between Jews and Gentiles. So they were not fully Gentile nor fully Jewish, and the Jews felt a rather strong passion against them. The full-blooded Jews had some rather unsavory designations for the Samaritans. If they could use a term for them today they might say something like, "Those Palestinians" or "Those Iraqis."

Hey, lets use them for an example. Let's reframe this question or this parable and ask, "Could there be such a thing as a 'good Iraqi?'"

You know, I'm rather uncomfortable asking that question. Our passions have been incited against the Iraqis for some time now, haven't they? They've done all kinds of evil things against us -- or at least we know they want to. It's just a matter of time.

And if you are following me, that is exactly how the Jews and the disciples thought about the Samaritans. They hated them. The Samaritans hadn't exactly done anything to the Jews, but that didn't matter. Passionate hatred doesn't need a reason. Followers of Jesus were ready to burn an entire village -- men, women, children. But Jesus said, "No, you don't. That's not how I do business."

How does Jesus do business with people like Samaritans? Iraqis? Palestinians? Jews? Americans... if we give him a chance?

We have numerous examples. In John 4 he ministers to Samaritans and converts an entire village. And in the very next chapter of Luke, Luke 10, where we have the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus commissions 72 of his followers to go out and do ministry to ANYONE that will welcome them. Including Samaritans?

And then immediately after the ministry episode we have the story or parable of the Good Samaritan. Mmmm. What is Jesus trying to communicate about our attitudes toward people?

Sandwiched around the story of ministry we have stories of Bad Samaritans and a Good Samaritan. And if that is not offensive enough to Jewish sensibilities, or to the sensibilities of people who claim to follow in Jesus' name, he says to the lawyers listening to his story: Now you go do ministry like the Samaritan. Not only does Jesus take away our pleasure of passionate hatred, he takes a member of an odious race, picks out a commendable trait or behavior of that person, and says, "Go be like him."

Jesus doesn't allow us to get caught up in the passions of our times, do you notice that?

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Dear Friends,

     Good day to you!  I hope this finds each of you in good health, and all going well in your lives.  The situation here in Washington County, Tennessee is good.  We are receiving a gentle rain this morning, and temperatures are expected to rise to nearly 40.  Yes, it might be called a dreary day, but rain is a necessity of life.  God always blesses us richly!

     Have I thanked you recently for your continued interest in "HEM-Lines"?  If not, allow me to say it again.  Writing these weekly devotionals has blessed my life in a number of ways.  I've been allowed to see God's hand in so many of the "mundane" things of life, and I've been introduced to lots of good people -- like you.  Thank you for being interested in spiritual things.  May we always look beyond the material realm to see the spiritual realities around us!

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"HEM*-Lines" February 27, 2003, Volume 6, Number 37 (*Heaven and Earth Meet)

"A Fungus Among Us"

THERE'S QUITE A STIR THAT HAS BEEN RAISED among school facilities in our area. About a year ago, we first heard of a substance called "black mold" that had been found in one of the schools. Classes were immediately moved to another building while that site was scrubbed clean of the fungus. No one had actually been found ill because of this mold, but it's always best to take precautions. It was a pretty expensive cleaning project, though.

SINCE THAT FIRST CASE, OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE been found infected with the same mold. In one of the more famous cases, classes at an area high school were moved to the Bristol International Raceway, a sporting venue made popular by NASCAR races. It was a very unorthodox situation, but students were able to continue their education even as their school building was being thoroughly cleaned.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN OF EDUCATORS and parents involved in these cases. Though I don't understand the specific threat posed by black mold, I nonetheless would not want my child exposed to such risks. Mold spores are not normally visible to the naked eye. Without knowing it one can breath those spores into his body. I enjoy indulging in a little fungus at the salad bar (i.e. mushrooms), but I'd rather not have it nesting in my lungs. Who knows what could develop?

AN ESSAY BY LANCE MORROW IN THE FEBRUARY 24, 2003 issue of "Time" magazine speaks of evil in our world. Morrow uses the analogy of fungus in describing the effects of evil. "The truth about evil that needs attention now is its shallow, deadly, fungus quality. Nice people -- especially in a tiny, multicultural world in which different civilizations inhabit different centuries -- are often moved to evil deeds, like blowing up the Other. . . . Opportunistic evil passes like an electric current through the world and through people, or wanders like an infection that takes up residence in individuals or cultures from time to time."

I THINK I UNDERSTAND MORROW'S POINT: EVIL is something that any of us can "catch" if we're not careful. How many stories have we heard of individuals whose deeds have shocked their neighbors and coworkers? "I can't believe she would do such a thing! She seemed like such a nice woman." What happened to this individual? They were confronted by opportunities to obtain forbidden pleasures or possessions. Since it looked like no one was watching, the opportunity was seized. One act led to another, and in time the person had a full-blown case of "evil".

WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE FOLKS who live down the street? Can you say for certain that they're not selling drugs from their home? That they're not making plans over the Internet for some civil disturbance as a protest to government policies? That they're not a terror cell for al Qaeda or some other radical group? We're not trying to insinuate anything about your neighbors (we probably don't even know where your neighborhood is). But most of us would have to admit that humans can be pretty unpredictable. Those we think we know well often surprise us with the evil they have allowed into their lives.

IN HIS ESSAY, MR. MORROW MINIMIZES THE IDEA of personalized evil (i.e. Satan). But there is no doubt in his mind that evil exists. How could he doubt it?

THE BIBLE, OF COURSE, IS THE DEFINITIVE resource on evil. No, it does not condone or encourage evil; quite to the contrary, it seeks to expose evil for what it really is. As we live in times made more tense by the undeniable presence of evil, maybe we should look again at what the Bible has to say.

ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT the Bible's stance on evil is the claim that evil is rooted in a being. Satan is a real person, according to God's word. Though this is not a popular view (even among those claiming to believe the Bible), it is a fact that cannot be denied. Jesus, for example, was emphatic: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44). There is no room for doubt on this point: Jesus taught that Satan is a real being, and that he is dangerous to us all.

IS THIS REALLY SUCH AN IMPORTANT POINT? Does it make any difference whether or not we believe in the devil? C.S. Lewis, a profound author of an earlier generation, believed so. In his classic work, "The Screwtape Letters", Lewis envisioned the following advice given by one devil to another: "The fact that 'devils' are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that (it is an old textbook method of confusing them) he therefore cannot believe in you."

IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE REALITY of Osama bin Laden and his terrorist groups? Certainly. If we don't believe such groups exist, we won't make preparations to defend ourselves against them. The same reasoning applies to our belief in the reality of an evil one who seeks opportunities to spread his fungus among us. Do we take the threat seriously?

IN 2 CORINTHIANS 2:11, PAUL EMPHASIZED THIS point. In a postscript to something he had just said, he added "Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." The more we know about this mortal enemy, the better prepared we will be.

HOW MUCH BLACK MOLD WOULD YOU TOLERATE in your house? Probably none. You would want every vestige of it removed lest the tiny amount that remains should multiply and reestablish itself. That's how we should feel about the presence of evil in our lives. We need to be thoroughly scrubbed. But there's more that we must do. Peter points to that idea in 1 Peter 3:10,11: "For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it." Those who are alarmed at the presence of evil in our society must take counteractive measures --they must become promoters of good.

"NO ONE IS GOOD BUT ONE, THAT IS, GOD" said Jesus in Matthew 19:17. His point? If we want to know how to overcome darkness with light, we're going to have to seek God's counsel and guidance. That's why He gave us this Book. That's why Jesus came to this earth: "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:18). Those who are weary of wickedness should turn their gaze upon Jesus.

AND THOSE WHO REALIZE THEY'VE BEEN INFECTED with the mold of sin -- what can they do? The New Testament speaks of a "washing of regeneration" that God makes available. It's described in more detail in Romans 6:1-14. Expert help is available for any who've been infected.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE availability of forgiveness for any sin you've ever committed? Get in touch with us, and we'll point you to some scriptures that will give you hope and joy. You're not beyond the reach of God's grace! Let us hear from you today.

Copyright, 2003, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).

"HEM-Lines" is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to "Tim@GraceMine.org" (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571. Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for non-commercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.

On the Birth of the First Cloned Human Being by Sam Hine

[Editor's note: We rarely publish articles by people unknown to us, but the following content represents a Biblical perspective. Though, from what we've read, proof has yet to be offered that Eve was actually cloned, the author's principle still applies.]

My first son, Adam, was born November 12, six weeks before the Raelian cult announced to the world that they had successfully delivered the first cloned baby. Brigitte Boisselier, the group's scientific director, nicknamed the baby Eve.

Adam was born naturally, with his mother's eyes and his father's nose, conceived in the loving union of man and wife. As this tiny living person formed and grew in his mother's womb, his parents marveled at the mystery of taking part in God's creation. There was no question: God had created this being as surely as he had created the first man, and only he could breathe the breath of life into him.

Eve, on the other hand, was conceived of the demonic ambition of people desiring to become God, to manipulate nature and pervert science to defy death and achieve immortality. It's a story as old as the tower of Babel, as old as Lucifer and Adam and Eve in the Garden. Even the name they chose belies their blasphemous self-confidence — creating a woman from a rib.

But the Raelians are wrong about one thing: they didn't create this baby. Despite the evil designs of the scientists who engineered her conception, it was God who gave her life, and she would never have been born without his blessing. Eve is a child of God as surely as my son Adam is, created by God in his image to love and serve and glorify him.

Don't get me wrong. Cloning is an abomination that mocks God and the natural order he has established. It should be banned internationally and roundly condemned by all who have reverence for life. If the research conducted on animals is any indication, Eve and those that follow will likely suffer greatly for the sins of their fathers or mothers. Cloned cattle, for example, have been plagued with unexplained high rates of congenital defects and other abnormalities. Then there is the prospect of abuse of this science by people with even more twisted ideologies. Humanity will surely pay dearly for taking this path.

The Raelians—and the more qualified but equally unscrupulous scientists who have been racing to be first to this milestone—are not only egomaniacs, but shameless profiteers as well. They are exploiting the grief of bereaved parents with the false promise of resurrecting their lost children, manipulating the frustration of infertile couples who will pay any amount to have a child, and appealing to homosexual couples dependent on hi-tech fertilization methods. (According to the Raelians, one of several more clones they are nurturing will be born to a lesbian couple within a month.)

Eve is innocent, just as is the child of rape. To welcome such a child in no way condones the crime that led to its conception. This is the terrible and wonderful mystery of God's working. His ways are past our understanding. He allows these evil things to happen; he can even use them for good.

God has a purpose and plan for every child sent into the world, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Perhaps Eve was sent to turn us from this madness, to ensure that cloning doesn't become the next logical step in a society that has already embraced genetic engineering of plants and animals, in vitro fertilization, and homosexual marriage as natural and acceptable practice.

Maybe it's too much to hope that Eve's birth will shock us into changing course. Clearly, she can't save the world. But God can, and will. May that day come soon, for the sake of Adam and Eve and all God's children.

Sam Hine is a member of the Bruderhof movement and an editor at www.bruderhof.com .

by Charles North

Over the past few weeks the high school and middle school Wednesday night class has been studying Christian ethics in the context of the Good Samaritan parable. We boiled down Christian conduct to eight essentials.

(1) Do no harm. If you can't help or do good, at least don't hurt anyone.

(2) Do good. Whenever possible, if you have the means and ability, offer aid and assistance to others, even if it costs or hurts you.

(3) Tell the truth. "The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful" (Proverbs 12:22, NASB).

(4) Keep your promises. Let your yes be yes, and your no, no (Matthew 5:37). Build up a reputation for honesty and integrity. Be reliable and dependable. Don't let people down or go back on your word.

(5) Respect other people's freedom. Don't interfere and play big brother with people unnecessarily. It's a basic human dignity to be able to decide things for yourself.

(6) Pratice justice and fairness. Ethical people are just and fair because this pleases God. Treat people well even if they can do nothing to benefit you. "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern" (Proverbs 29:7).

(7) Make reparations for wrong. This is the Zaccheus principle (see Luke 19:1-10). In the Old Testament, if you stole something, you had to repay what you took -- a simple "I'm sorry" was not enough.

(8) Show gratitude. Say "please" and "thank you." Recognize that everything good comes from God. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We live good lives to honor God for everything He has done for us. A lot is riding on our behavior as Christians.

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."

Reproduced from the November 10, 2002, issue of the Baker Heights Bulletin, Abilene, Texas.