Volume  3    Issue   40   August 10th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    Our ninth and final article in this series is going to deal with some common divisive doctrines and attitudes among brethren.  Most specifically, we will deal with three areas of doctrine that affect fellowship in Western, PA among otherwise conservative brethren.  God’s desire is for unity, but the devil’s plan of division sure has a grip on our area.

    Each issue we are dealing with certainly could use more space than will be available in this article, so the space available needs to be used wisely, which I will attempt to accomplish.  Two congregations in our immediate area (West Side church of Christ and Hyde Park church of Christ) take these positions: the Holy Spirit literally indwells faithful Christians, women must wear an artificial head covering in worship, and that it is sinful for a Christian to serve in the military.  These positions are easily known by the material displayed within the meeting places of these erring brethren, by talking with them, and by observing their practices.

    The Bible does teach that the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian (I Corinthians 3:16).  The Bible also shows that the Father and the Son indwell the Christian (II John v. 9, Romans 8:10, and I John 4:12).  The word of God also shows that we can dwell in God, as He dwells in us (I John 4:15).  Obviously, where God literally dwells is Holy (Exodus 3:5).  It is not logical, nor biblical to conclude that the indwelling of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are literal.  The Bible shows us that the indwelling of God is through the word of God (Ephesians 3:17 [cf. Romans 10:17] and Colossians 3:16).

    The binding of a woman wearing an artificial head covering is even less imaginable than that of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  While there is nothing wrong with a woman wearing an artificial head covering, there is a lot wrong with the binding of that doctrine on other women (Revelation 22:18-19).  Notice the covering Paul spoke of in I Corinthians chapter eleven verses fourteen and fifteen: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

    Finally, of the big three in this article, the military question is another one that causes a break in fellowship.  The position is taken that it is sinful for a Christian to serve in the military.  Now, it is something different to claim that you individually would have a problem serving, than it is to bind that personal view on others.  The word of God gives authority for a government to execute judgment and to bring wrath upon evil doers (Romans 13:1ff.).  God would not authorize something and then say a Christian cannot partake.  God does not declare that something a Christian could not do is alright for a non-Christian to do.  For someone to claim that position they are essentially taking the Bales / Hailey view that the non-Christian is not amenable to the Law of Christ.  That is a very false position, for all men are subject to the law of Christ or no one could sin (James 2:10 and I John 3:4).

    The divisive attitude is certainly a mark of an unsound congregation.  Some brethren are just looking for a wrongful fight.  They are not contending for the faith (Jude 3), they are contentious.  Such an attitude is wrongful and is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).  The Lord wants unity among His people (John 17:20-23, I Corinthians 1:10, and Ephesians 4:3-6).  True unity is reached through the studying and application of divine truth as one voice, not the adding to and taking from the word of God.  Such divisive attitudes are shown when erring brethren, like the group from West Side, act out.  For example: the time when they came to our Gospel Meeting, found nothing taught they disagreed with, but sought after services the opportunity to be contentious.  Unity will not be arrived at with that attitude.  Such brethren are to be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17).

    Many more things could be covered to help identify a sound congregation.  Our series has examined many things thus far that would be easily observed when examining a congregation.  We are going to close our series with this article.  While many other things could be covered, those things would be less obvious unless examination by direct questioning of particulars would occur.  Even then, many of the false teachers in the brotherhood today have found ways to redefine terms so much that one has to truly word questions in an exact and specific way to find out what they truly teach and practice.  The best thing to do when looking for a sound congregation with which to assemble and or work is to examine them thoroughly (I John 4:1).  To know error you must know enough truth to see it, thus the best advice is to be well studied (Acts 17:10-11 and I Peter 3:15).

  Have you considered mailing the new tract series in the tract rack on “Hope” to your neighbors?
 
 
 
 

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – George Papp
Assisting – Young Jay Wagner and Bill Graham
First Prayer – Jay Wagner
Closing Prayer – Sergio Imbarlina
 

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Tony Sassano (going through chemotherapy), Joan Croyle, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), Beth Deemer, and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer).
 

      Filling in this week teaching and preaching for Brian while on vacation are: Bill, Mike, and Terry.