A coach of a football team was being
interviewed following his team’s embarrassing loss to a much weaker team. He
said that it was going to be necessary for his team to “get back to the basics”
if they wished to be a winning team. The coach realized that the team had not
built a winning tradition on the “razzle-dazzle” and “hot-dog” plays, but had
done so by concentrating on the “basics” of good football. When the team forgot
the “basics” and engaged in the “exciting” and the “unusual plays” they had
momentary success (maybe one touchdown) and caused much excitement among the
spectators. However this success was short-lived and the excitement did not last
when the team was unable to win consistently with such play. They needed to get
“back to the basics” if they were to have long-term
success.
I believe there is a lesson in the above
story for members of the body of Christ. It seems that many members (including
some preachers) become bored with “the basics” when it comes to serving God.
They decide that we need something new and more exciting. To simply preach
the gospel of Christ and encourage men and women to abide in the teaching of
God’s word in all they say and do is just “too old fashioned” and boring to
them. So, they come up with something “new” and exciting. They appeal to people
with recreation and entertainment. They devise various social projects and make
them the work of the church. They begin to sound like denominational theologians
rather than preachers of the gospel of Christ. As a result of such actions these
brethren meet with what they consider success. They attract attention and their
numbers increase. There is “excitement” in their midst. They are “on the
move.” However, the new soon wears off these “new” projects and it soon
becomes apparent that there is no real and lasting value to these “new and
exciting” ways. To have such lasting value we must get back to the
basics.
We must realize that the long and lasting
value is in doing that which will bring God’s favor upon us. We can not turn
away from “the basics” of His will and expect to please Him. We may receive some
momentary “pleasure” or “excitement” from doing “our own thing” but we must
remember that such pleasure is but “for a season” (Hebrews
11:25).
Brethren, let us get back to telling men and
women that "he that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved"
(Mark 16:16). Let's tell them that Christ has
"all authority" (Matthew 28:18-20). Declare
unto them that there is "one body, and one Spirit, ... one hope ..., one Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God ..."
(Ephesians 4:4-6). Let's encourage all men to
"speak the same thing that there be no
division"
(1 Corinthians
1:10).
I realize that in doing this we will be
accused of being "narrow-minded" and "tradition bound." Some will say that our
teaching and practices are "out-dated" and are not relevant to the needs of
modern man. Others will say that we believe that "only your little group" is
going to be saved. However, there is something very notable about the things I
suggested we should get back to teaching; they are found in the word of
God.
May I ask, "What's wrong with just telling
men and women what we find revealed in the word of God?" If men have not done
what the Bible teaches one must do to receive the forgiveness of sin what right
do I have to suggest to him that he is OK and is acceptable before God? If one
who has been baptized into Christ sins what right to I have to tell him that so
long as he was sincere or was ignorant of his sin he is justified? What is wrong
with simply telling such a one that he should repent and confess his sins (Acts
8:22; 1 John 1:9)?
Something else may sound more appealing and
may attract more people for the moment but if men and women are to be saved
(have long term success) they must "get back to the basics" of God's word.
We can not improve upon it. When we content ourselves with following "the
basics" of God's word we will meet with eternal success, that home in heaven
with God, Christ and the righteous of all
time.
---James Hahn
Clothing That Pleases God
Does God care what kind of clothing the
Christian wears? Are Christians free to wear whatever is considered fashionable
or socially acceptable? These questions are legitimate and should be asked by
all Christians.
This writer is convinced that Christians choose
their clothing based upon fashion and social acceptability rather than upon what
is pleasing to God. Is it any wonder that we are not as effective in our
evangelistic efforts?Why can't Christians see that being "a peculiar people"
(1 Peter 2:9) and that letting "...
your light shine before men; that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"
(Matthew 5:16), includes how we dress? It is
impossible to be peculiar people and lights unto the world while wearing the
same type clothing as worldly people. I am not saying that all worldly people
dress inappropriately. Worldly people sometimes dress in a godly, modest way. It
is the wearing of clothing that is without moral conscience or without
consideration for the occasion and one's station in life that we
condemn.
Christians must be aware that clothing
reflects the character of a person. Genesis 38:13-18 gives the account of Tamar
putting off her widows garments and putting on the garments of a harlot. When
she did this, not only was she treated like a harlot; but she acted like one.
And then of course, Proverbs 7:10 speaks of the harlot's attire as well. At the
auspicious occasion of laying the foundation of the temple, the priests were set
in their priestly apparel (Ezra 3:10). This was done to put everyone in the
frame of mind to praise Jehovah. When the king wanted to honor Mordecai, he had
him dressed in the king's apparel and carried through the streets on the king's
horse (Esther 6:8). Why did the apparel honor Mordecai? It let all who saw, know
that he was someone from whom the king would take council. Upon considering the
above scriptures, does anyone have doubt that how a person dresses their body
may influence their actions and affects what others think about
them?
When Christian women who profess themselves
to be godly, dress in sexually provocative clothing, what message are they
sending to a lost world? When Christian men who proclaim to be children of God
undress themselves from the waste up and parade naked in public, what message
are they sending to a lost world? Christian men and women who invite their
friends and neighbors to visit the assemblies, then dress in an unconcerned,
sloven way (the type clothing they might wear to work in their garden but not to
meet the President of the
I accept that when assembled for worship
services, Christian men aren't commanded to wear three hundred dollar suits nor
Christian women to wear designer dresses from
---Glen
Young