In This Issue

• WHICH SON DID HIS FATHER’S WILL?
• I WAS ALSO EMBARRASSED
• HOW MUCH, HOW OFTEN
• IS HEAVEN IN THE YELLOW PAGES?
• THE RAPTURE
• MORE INFORMATION...

WHICH SON DID HIS FATHER’S WILL?

During His confrontation with the chief priests and elders, Jesus asked them whether John’s baptism was from heaven or from men, and they refused to answer. Then He spoke to them the parable of the two sons: "‘But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, "Son, go, work today in my vineyard." He answered and said, "I will not," but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, "I go, sir," but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said to Him, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him’" (Matt. 21:28-32).

Even though the chief priests and elders refused to answer the question Jesus had asked them about the source of John’s authority, and even though they claimed not to know whether John’s mission were human or Divine, Jesus made an application of the principle involved, in such a way as to indict them for their self-righteous hypocrisy.

The Israelite people in the first century could be compared with a man’s two sons. One son made great claims about honoring his father. He spoke great swelling words about his willingness to work in the father’s vineyard. But upon examination, the fruit of any such labor was not to be found. His honor to his father was in words only. The other son was openly rebellious. He did not intend to honor his father or work in his vineyard -- but later, he repented of that attitude and went to work. Jesus’ question to the priests and elders was "Which son did his father’s will -- the one who said he would work but didn’t, or the one who had not intended to do such work, but changed his mind and did the work his father asked? His question implied that one of the two sons did indeed obey the father. The priests and elders correctly identified the obedient son as being the one who repented and did the work. Then Jesus made application of the parable: When John came preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, a Divinely commissioned message, and pointed to Jesus as the "Lame of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), it was, for the most part, those who had earlier rebelled against God’s will who were led to repent -- the harlots, tax collectors and other "hardened" sinners. On the other hand, those who talked long and loud about their devotion to God and claimed to be faithful workers ended up rejecting God’s chosen messenger and his message. As Luke writes, "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him" (Luke 7:30).

--CRJ

[Editor’s note: The following article appeared in Gospel Minutes in December, 1960. To some, it may appear to be some-what "dated." This editor believes that brother Wallace was right on target. The article may help us to see the "progress" (?) brethren have made over the last 40 years, in trying to "improve" on the work and effectiveness of the church.]

Recently, I listened to a man tell of his experience in one of our eastern states. He told of a small number in his city who contend for the New Testament pattern of religion, and the great numbers of Catholics and others who dominated the religious influence of the community. He said that a Roman Catholic asked him: "How many members are there in the church of Christ?" He answered: "I confess with great embarrassment that the number is very small." The Catholic pressed him further: "Have you any great hospitals?" My friend said he had to answer with great shame: "No, we have no hospitals." He told of being embarrassed when pressed to tell that we do not own any great newspapers, radio stations, theological schools and no international benevolent organizations.

I, too, was embarrassed when I listened to the story, but I was not embarrassed because the answers to the Catholic were in the negative. I was embarrassed that a preacher of the gospel would show such little knowledge of the church of our Lord as to think that there is any place in the church for the multitude of denominational machines that swelled the Catholic with pride. The ignorance betrayed by the preacher of the East is becoming far too common today. The church of our Lord has no place for hospitals, international welfare organizations, world wide charity programs, and theological seminaries. The New Testament furnishes us with the complete pattern of Christianity. Any casual reader of that plan cannot help but be impressed with the simplicity of the program and of the machinery to carry out that program.

The church which we read about in the New Testament has a clearly defined mission, and it has all the necessary machinery to carry out that mission. It may not be able to do all that some modern-day visionary organizer would like to do, but it can do all it is commanded of God to do. That will be enough. I am embarrassed at the ignorance shown by many people about the mission of the church. They would have us take over everything from the government to the United Nations.

--Glen Wallace

HOW MUCH, HOW OFTEN

There is nothing more completely opposed to the true spirit of Christianity than the attitude back of the questions, "How much, how many, how often must I serve the Lord.?" It is appalling that some world argue such.

Years back a man handed me a paper which listed his income, rent, food bill, utilities, etc.; and said, "Now you have the facts. Tell me how much must I give to the Lord?" I asked if he thought he should visit the sick, help the needy; and when he said he did, I asked, "How often?"

He seemed a bit puzzled, so I suggested 50 times per week -- and he thought he would do well to get in that many calls. But I persisted: "On Saturday afternoon when you have just made your fiftieth call and are on you way home, you meet a brother who is destitute, obviously worthy; and you have the means to assist him. Do you say, "I’m sorry. I cannot help you now. I have made my 50 calls for this week -- but I’ll see you first thing Monday." (?) How does one measure service that is patterned after God’s love for us?

If a fellow just must have figures or percents, he should be given them from the Scriptures: like 100% -- "all that she had, even all her living" (Mark 12:44). Or, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). Are you amazed? (Matt. 19:25).

A genuine Christian does not dole out an hour or two, a few dollars, or a pound of mercy for God. He first gives himself, 2 Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:24, and from then on his service is limited only by ability and opportunity. That’s the meaning of "as prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2), i.e., in keeping with what God has given you. God gave life to Stephen, and when the service of God called for it, Stephen gave it back to God (Acts 7:59).

When Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37), He left no place for and 10% of thy money, and one hour per week of thy time." I believe Jesus will go fishing with you (Luke 5:4f); but don’t forget, you are doing it on His time.

--Robert F. Turner via Plain Talk

IS HEAVEN IN THE YELLOW PAGES?

Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today,

My tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away.

Operator can you tell me how to find her in this book?

Is heaven in the yellow part, I don't know where to look.

I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.

I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really don't know why.

Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me.

Is Heaven very far away, is it across the sea?

She's been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!

I really need to reach her, but I simply don't know how.

Help me find the number please, is it listed under "Heaven"?

I can't read these big big words, I am only seven.

I'm sorry operator, I didn't mean to make you cry,

Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye?

If I call my church maybe they will know.

Mommy said when we need help that's where we should go.

I found the number to my church tacked up on the wall.

Thank you operator, I'll give them a call.

-- Author Unknown

THE RAPTURE

The word "rapture" is not in the standard translations of the Bible, and much of the teaching that usually surrounds the doctrine commonly known as "the rapture" is anti-Biblical.

The standard rapture doctrine holds that the saints will be secretly caught away from the earth for a period of seven years (or perhaps three and a half years, depending on who is telling the story), and that during this period of time the sinners on the earth will go through a period of "great tribulation." Such teaching is erroneous in at least two major areas.

(1) The coming of Christ will be no secret. "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen." (Rev. 1:7). Even 1 Thess. 4:16, the passage usually used to sustain the rapture doctrine, says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God..."

(2) The Lord Himself taught that there will be no separation between the just and the unjust till the end of the world, Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50.

--CRJ

MORE INFORMATION...