SHOULD WE BE CONSERVATIVES?

We should be Christians, without any kind of label or hyphen on the name. One is either a Christian or not a Christian.  If he is a Christian he is either a faithful Christian (Mt  24:45; 25:21; 1 Cor 4:2; Rev 2:10), or an unfaithful Christian.  We do not read in the Bible of various "kinds" of Christians.  Yet, it is relevant to ask, "Should a Christian be conservative?"

The term conservative needs defining.  Conserve means "to keep, to preserve"; "to keep from being damaged, lost, or wasted" (WEBSTER'S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY).  A Christian who is conservative is committed to conserving the principles of New Testament Christianity.  If there is a departure from these principles, the conservative will seek to return to them and restore the original pattern of the New Testament faith.

To conserve New Testament Christianity, we speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent.  Where the Lord put a period, we stop, and do not go beyond that which is written.  We do not take liberties with God's Word, run beyond that which He has authorized, and add some new thing.  We will not make laws where God didn't make a law and bind them upon men to protect them from "going too far."  This is not being conservative.  Neither will we release men from the Laws God has made.  We desire to be just as broad as the Bible is, but not a bit broader.  We, likewise, desire to be just as narrow as the Bible is, but not a bit narrower.  The Bible is right!

We intend to conserve the church which Jesus built, and no other (Mt 16:18).  He built only one church and He has no denominations.  His church contains the saved because that's where He places the saved.  It is fully described in the New Testament as to its name, organization, origin, and nature.

We intend to conserve the Lord's plan of salvation.  The Lord revealed only one plan.  On the basis of His Divine grace, He promised to save those who hear His gospel,  believe on Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, confess their faith, and are baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.

We intend to conserve the Lord's original plan of worship as shown in the New Testament.  He has never expressed approval of any subsequent plans. In the New Testament times, the church met the first day of each week to worship God in the Lord's supper and giving.  They also worshipped with singing, prayers, and preaching.  We are assured that this was acceptable to the Lord.

The question to be answered is, Does the Lord approve of and accept the "conservative" way?  What are the Scripture evidences that this is the way the Lord intended?

First, all that was needed for man's salvation and eternal life was delivered in the first century, and is contained in the New Testament. They were given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” 2 Pet 1:3.  “The faith was once-for-all delivered” Jude 3, ASV.  To take liberties and add anything later was to "damage, lose, or waste" the complete and perfect plan of God.

Second, inspired writers of the New Testament urged Christians to “hold fast” what they had 2 Tim 1:13, “to keep the ordinances” that had been delivered 1 Cor 11:2, to “defend the gospel that they had already received” Phil 1:17, and to pass on to others the same “things they had heard” 2 Tim 2:2.  They were being urged to conserve the faith which they had received in that time.  People have not changed but require the same gospel in our time.

Third, the Bible warns against anyone tampering with the plan of God delivered to man in the first century.  No man is to “add to … or take away from it” Rev 22:18-19, nor is he to “go beyond that which is written” 1 Cor 4:6, ASV, and he must “not preach another gospel” Gal 1:8-9.

Thus, the Bible makes it clear that the Lord wants His disciples to conserve the principles of Christianity that He revealed in the New Testament in the first century.  In this sense, every Christian ought to be conservative.

by Marvin Rickett

DRL NOTE: I appreciate brother Marvin Rickett's definition of conservatism given above.  Environmentalists in our land have a strong desire to conserve the environment (though some of their ideas may seem very strange).  I am a Christian and thus have a strong desire to conserve Christianity.  There is NO OTHER pattern for Christianity than that found in the New Testament.  I thus have a strong desire to conserve New Testament doctrine.  Many of my brethren need to open eyes and get heads out of the sand and understand clearly that, the Bible itself, teaches us the need to CONSERVE its teaching.  That the change agents among us do not understand this basic fact of Bible teaching is a troubling and tragic truth.

David Lemmons in LemmonsAid

Finished Before We Have Begun

November 19, 1863 Edward Everett, the leading orator of the day, was invited to make the principal speech at the ceremonies dedicating the national cemetery at Gettysburg.  His speech lasted two hours, but Lincoln, whom they would have passed over altogether had he not been President, spoke less than three minutes.  The crowd had scarcely quieted before the President had completed his carefully prepared “Gettysburg Address.”  It is said that a man with a camera didn’t have time to set up his equipment before Lincoln was finished.

James asked, “What is your life?”  Answering, he said, “It is even as a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (4:14).  Life is fleeting.  Young and old pass daily into eternity.  Instantly or with much suffering, life ends like a vapor vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared.  The question that is often asked is, “Are we prepared for that event?”  Nevertheless, I should like to ask it another way, “What are we doing with this vapor we call life?”

They feared that Lincoln might resort to telling funny stories at Gettysburg.  Thus, they shunned him as the keynote speaker, in favor of Mr. Everett.  Asked to make only “a few concluding remarks,” Mr. Lincoln readied himself with great care.  So brief were his remarks few realized they had heard a masterpiece.  It is apparent from the speech, the President had no idea of the extensive impact his speech could have, saying “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they [the honored dead, mwm] did here.”       

As Christians, “What are we doing with the moments of our life?”  Are they wasted on quests for the material?  Inspiration tells of the unavailing hope of such crusades (James 4:13-17).  Why not give your life to the task of starting others on the road to heaven?  When your vapor has long vanished, your labor will live on.

By Michael W. McLemore

Home and Family:

Young Man Marry A Model

Yes, that's right, if you want to have a happy marriage, marry a model. Now before you jump to conclusions because of this title, let me tell you quickly that I am not talking about the Hollywood, cover girl model. I am talking about the instructions given to the youthful king Lemuel by his mother in Proverbs 31:10-31.

When in my youth I remember reading these 21 verses and thinking every girl should read this because it is about girls and for girls. Then as I grew a little older, still in my teens, a favorite Bible class teacher had us memorize this passage. Then I began to realize that this scripture wasn't just for women. I saw in these verses characteristics that I needed to look for in a young lady. Before this the only qualifications a girl had to have was that she be popular and pretty. I don't have to tell you what a lasting relationship you can build on popular and pretty. Statistics prove that you are playing with dynamite. In this chapter I saw the real worth of this one whose "price is far above rubies."

He shows us her energy. She is up and going before the dawn. She doesn't love sleep. She takes care of her husband and her children and all her domestic duties then she is free to take care of the business outside the home. In her business she is not slothful. She not only can give instructions as to how something is to be done, but she is willing to do it herself. Her work is not a drudgery, but a joy. It is more fun to work with someone who whistles while they work. More work gets done too.

Also there is wisdom in her work. She is organized. Her God is directing her hands. Her hands are constantly caring for and sharing with others less fortunate than herself. She knows too well that it is more blessed to give than receive. She is self-LESS.

Her husband and her children remember to praise her. Many times today Mom is forgotten. We become spoiled because she is always there, always doing. I remember hearing that "Man may work from sun to sun, but woman's work is never done." Not much has changed has it? She is usually the first one up and unless there's a ballgame on she's the last to sleep. How nice a "thank you sweetheart" would sound ever so often.

Don't try to reward her with a tombstone or with sweet sounding words as she is laid to rest. Young man, marry a model and be one yourself

by Morris Hafley Reprinted from The Voice of the Valley www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/5532/voice1.htm

Let's Just Do What God Says

Religious division is a result of failing to do what the Lord says. It reflects an earthly mindset. The apostle Paul told the factious Corinthians: "for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealously and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men?" 1 Cor 3:3-4. Look around. Hundreds of denominations exist. They call themselves after men or  peculiar doctrines. They engage in a plethora of unauthorized activities because  this is what they want. Focus is put upon the social or political. All of this is done supposedly in the name of Christ. However, the Lord says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does  the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord,  Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in  Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" Matt 7:21-23. 

Religion has become so feeling and emotion oriented that to suggest that there  are those who are practicing lawlessness "in the name of Christ" is to be mean  spirited and unkind. There is no such thing as false worship in today's society. "Tolerance" for all the various ways of "serving God" is the call of today.  Shame on us for suggesting that there is a pattern of authority for the worship  and work of God's people. Frankly, with an attitude like this, we might as well  write our own Bible. God's will is unity. We are to endeavor for it by following His plan in the Scriptures Eph 4:1-6. We are not at liberty to toss aside any of the teachings of the Bible. Yet, in order for denominationalism and division to exist, tossing aside what God says is exactly what is being done. It's no wonder  that the world has responded with disbelief, see Jn 17:20-21.

Let's just do what God says. That may sound simplistic, but it is still the key  to pleasing God and maintaining unity among believers. Let's be just Christians. It can be done - it must be done if we are to please God. May we all examine ourselves, our practices, and our doctrines, and see if we are following God's  will. It's in the Book.                                                

T. Doy Moyer~In Gospel Power

Faithful Sayings
1 Tim 4:6-10 ...godliness is profitable for all...

 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Sentence Sermons

 What we see depends a lot on where we are looking.