January 14, 2001 Volume 2 Number 2
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Living in Texas for the last seven years, I have learned a little bit about cowboy hats. Enough to know I should not be wearing one at least. Having spent my formative years in the northeast where we are more likely to say "you-uns" than "y'all," I figure I am lucky they let me stay here without a passport to begin with. The phrase "All hat, no cattle," would apply to someone like me who tried to dress up like a Texan and act like a cowboy for the day. I would be playing a part and committing a fraud. It is laughable to the natives to see someone walking around a ten-gallon hat who clearly can't tell which is the business end of a longhorn. That's me. I would be all hat and no cattle. But we can see a similar fraud perpetrated on the church by some within her ranks. They put on their big, fancy hat by claiming to be a child of God, calling themselves a Christian, and inserting themselves among the company of disciples. Beneath that hat grinds the mind of someone who hasn't yet learned about the business end of faith. The extent of their faith is the occasional appearance at the meeting house. They may even come every Sunday and still be all hat. There are some whose presence is more surprising to us than their absence. To call oneself a disciple of Christ and then purposely neglect the assembling of the saints is evidence of a faith that is all hat. The command is as clear at the dinner bell at the ranch house: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching" Heb. 10:24-25. Some will lift their brims and eye you suspiciously, then say, "Don't you know 'forsaking' means that you quit coming altogether? I still come at least once a month." Cool your spurs, cowgirl. When we teach that the first drink that leads to drunkenness is as wrong as the last, we make an important point about the incremental nature of sin. It becomes easier with each foray into the shadow of deadly works. With worship, the first willful absence may be as harsh as the first snort of whiskey. But that initial experiment deadens the sensibility a little and the next shot is taken more smoothly. That's how you got to be a once-a-monther, pardner. And you still expect to go to heaven, right? How about if we could change your heavenly reward to a once per month affair? You spend 29 days in Hell and then we'll let you cross over for a day. What? You expect more out of God? He expects more out of you, too. The noble name, "Christian," is not some meaningless appellation, but a descriptive term. When you wear the name of God's son, you had better be more than all hat. To be Christ-like means having no priority more prior than accepting and giving the blessings of faith Eph. 1:3, Acts 20:35. To behave otherwise is hypocrisy, an accusation made by Jesus against the play-actors of his day, the Pharisees and scribes. They were all hat with their enlarged fringes and broadened phylacteries Matt. 23:5. But when it came to justice, mercy and faith, they were no cattle Matt. 23:23. To call oneself a disciple of Christ means something, too. It is a claim to be a follower and student of the Master. What kind of follower is constantly found in places where the Master would never go? What kind of student sits at his Master's feet so rarely that his presence would surprise the more diligent of the number? One who is all hat. "Oh, but I am still a child of God." Good for you. Like the prodigal son was still his father's boy Luke 15:11-32? Is that the kind of faith you imagine for yourself? Even the prodigal son grew discontented and returned and repented of his sins. When will you lift yourself out of the pig slop of a nauseatingly lukewarm faith Rev 3:16 and come home? I have a child myself and I have to come expect certain things out of her; maybe you expect something similar from your child. I expect her to be at the supper table when the meal is served. Could it be that you, child of God, are expected around a supper table of the Lord, which you are neglecting intentionally 1 Cor 11:23-26? How many Sundays has it been now? If my daughter were mysteriously absent from our supper table, I would form a posse and hunt down whomever kidnapped her. She wouldn't disappear for no cause at all. Where were you last Sunday, child of God? The Christian whose faith is all hat and no cattle, the hypocrite for you greenhorns who are still having trouble following this, is in grave and eternal peril. As dangerous as the longhorn is to the city slicker, the devil is more deadly, for his horns reach to the soul.
In Acts 20:20, Paul gives a recipe for 20/20 evangelism. Just as 20/20 vision is the best kind of vision, likewise, 20/20 evangelism is the best kind of evangelism for the church to practice. Paul said: “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.” Let us briefly analyze this passage. “AND HOW I KEPT BACK NOTHING THAT WAS PROFITABLE UNTO YOU..." Paul preached everything that pertained to life and godliness He wasn't afraid to teach them the truth, even if it might hurt their feelings. Paul kept nothing back that was profitable. Remember: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Tim 3:16-17. If we follow the pattern set forth by Paul, we must preach all Scripture to all people, because all Scripture is profitable. If we preach without reproof or correction, we are holding back things that are profitable, and we are failing to declare the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:27. This is sin and it is not 20/20 evangelism. We must preach the word in season, out of season; when they like it and when they don't. This involves reproof and exhortation “with all longsuffering and doctrine” 2 Tim 4:2.It is easy to
contrast Paul with many in the pulpit today who never rebuke sin except at
a distance. Modern preachers are holding back profitable words of
exhortation for fear that they might be unpopular with the members of the
congregation. Preachers need to read Galatians 1:8-10 to "AND TAUGHT YOU PUBLICLY AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE." Paul's teaching fell into two categories: (1) public proclamation of the truth and (2) evangelism from house to house. In the true apostolic method of evangelizing a community, and edifying a congregation, diligent work from house to house was on a par with that in the pulpit. Such is not the case in many of our congregations today. People expect pulpit preaching alone to produce miracle growth. This is not 20/20 evangelism. Acts 5:42 tells us that first century Christians never ceased to teach and to preach Jesus Christ at the temple AND AT HOME. In 20/20 evangelism we must work from house to house. If we are going to stress a restoration of New Testament “Christianity” in the 20th century then we must restore the spirit of New Testament evangelism. Anything less is hypocritical, imperfect, and not 20/20 evangelism. Brothers and sisters, spread the glad news. Don't hold back anything profitable and teach both publicly and privately. Let's practice 20/20 evangelism as Paul prescribes in Acts 20:20! ~from LEMMONS-AID HOW TO PROPERLY
EXECUTE A SERMON We love words that have more than one meaning. They give us a lot of material for having some fun while trying to say something valuable. Of course, to "execute" can mean to "perform" or "do". In this sense the preacher can properly execute the sermon by being careful to say only what is revealed in God's word in such a way as to be understood by those who care about God's will. This kind of sermon can be executed by the hearer when he or she really takes the instruction of God's word to heart and dedicates his life to living what has been taught. Although volumes have been written, further discussing how to both deliver and to receive sermons, this is all that we will say right now on this aspect of the word. The word "execute" is also used to mean "kill." I suppose it arises from the fact that the executioner is performing what the judge and jury have decreed. They are putting to death the one who has been sentenced to die. In this sense, we have seen several executioners who have sought to execute sermons. Some use a silent method, comparable to lethal injection, by which they kill the truth in their own private lives by simply ignoring it and going on with their rebellious lives. Some are more militant and try to execute the sermon in the lives of others. False teachers are executioners of truth-filled sermons. Some try to execute the sermon or lesson by denigrating the preacher or Bible class teacher. Most do these things privately. Others find the boldness to publicly speak out even while the sermon is being delivered. They have been heard to blurt out such things as, "he doesn't know what he's talking about!" right from the pew. This is a "proper" method if we take "proper" to mean "suited to one's purpose." It effectively distracts others so that they cannot hear the truth being taught or concentrate on what they do hear. It requires audacity to do this and a certain willingness to look like an old biddy or half-wit without any sense in order to achieve the high purpose of executing the sermon properly. Few soldiers or statesmen have exhibited such a wanton disregard for their own reputation in the face of an adversary. If the cause were a worthy one, the method might be one to admire. But fighting against truth is unworthy of such devotion. JOINING A
MALICIOUS WITNESS Plots and plans to "run off" a preacher or to "get rid" of an eldership will not work when sober, sound, solid, and stable saints refuse to form and follow a multitude to do evil. We must ever be wary of unscrupulous and wicked men who would cause us to "testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice." Thankfully, this congregation is at peace and "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit" Acts 9:31. May God grant that it ever may be so, and that we may continue to "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" Phil. 1:27. Where Have You Been? A one dollar bill met a 20 dollar bill and said, "Hey, where've you been? I haven't seen you around here much." The twenty answered, "I've been hanging out at the fine restaurants, went on a cruise and did the rounds of the ship, back to the United States for awhile, went to a couple of baseball games, to the mall, that kind of stuff. How about you?" The one dollar bill said, “You know, same old stuff. Church, Church, Church.” Food for Thought “If you were
given nickname descriptive of your character,
We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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