GOSPEL OR GOSSIP?


It hit me like a ton of bricks! It was a simple phrase, but it was one of those things that I had struggled to put into words and then there it was plain and simple! “If we spent as much time spreading Gospel as we do spreading Gossip, the church would be growing like mad!”
The Bible has a great deal to say about “tongue-wagging”, “tale-bearing” and just plain old “gossip”.

A. Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly
B. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. (Romans 12)
C. Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned..
D. 1 Timothy 6:4 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
E. 1 Timothy 1:4 “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith”.
F. 1 Timothy 5:13 “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”
G. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies . Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Our job as Christians is to seek and save the lost! We can do this far more efficiently if we are busy carrying the Gospel instead of the latest juicy gossip!

Secularization
by Steve Higginbotham


Secularization is the process of removing religious and moral influence from our society. And I must conclude that secularization is alive and well.
As you know, and many of you may remember first hand, there was a time when each school day began with a prayer. Of course, if such happened today, the ACLU would slap a multi-million dollar law suit against the school. This is an example of secularization.
Just this past week, I encountered another example of secularization from my son's sixth-grade classroom. Do you remember those “aptitude tests” that were given to students? These tests were given to help a children identify several possible professions that could be suitable for them. Depending on the way a child answered certain questions, he might learn that he seemed suitable to pursue such professions as being a doctor, nurse, school teacher, plumber, mechanic, or a host of other professions.
Well imagine my surprise when my son returned home from school and told me about some of the suggested professions that were offered to several of his friends. One little girl was told she would make a good “bartender.” Another child was suited to work in a “winery.” And yet another student was suitable to work as a “beer manufacturer.”
I was speechless. I can't remember a more blatant attempt to legitimize the alcohol industry. I can’t imagine what kind of questions could have been asked that would suggest a little sixth grade girl should become a “bartender.” Or why would one be suitable to work as a “beer manufacturer” as opposed to a “soft drink manufacturer,” or simply be suitable for the “manufacturing industry?” (I couldn’t help wonder if in Nevada, where prostitution is legal, if this profession would have been offered as a suitable profession for some students)?
It is obvious that the secularization of America is alive and well in our state school systems. More and more we are witnessing attempts to remove Christian faith, morals, and values from the public arena. This is yet another example of our move away from morality and toward acceptance, tolerance, and non-judgmentalism.
Friends, our work is cut out for us. If we want to raise godly children, we had better get busy and put in the time and training necessary to make the spiritual training of our children a priority, and to counter the daily barrage of the world.
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Edify
(Mike Johnson, Richmond Church of Christ)

An edifice is a fancier word for a building. But, from this fancier word comes another very important word. That word is edify or, in another form, edification. Edify means to build up or exhort. It is akin to encouragement. Notice how a building and edification are so closely associated.
There are many different types of buildings made of various materials. But, they all share the same purpose —provide a dwelling place for people and things. Edification shares that quality. Edification comes in various forms, but all are intended to produce the same effect—providing people what they need to more forward.
Furthermore, a building can be a complex thing. There is much thought and preparation that goes into planning and completing some buildings. Edification also can be complex. It is sometimes difficult to see how to edify some people because they are going through so much difficulty. It takes care and preparation to do a good job in some situations.
Finally, a building that is intended to survive must be built of quality materials. It is possible to construct a building out of inferior materials. Hollywood does this all of the time. They construct building for movies that are intended only to last for the duration of the filming. They look solid on the outside but are nothing but temporary shells. Edification must be of the highest quality. It must be genuine in order to produce the desired effect. Paul admonished the Romans, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).
Edification is a valuable and necessary commodity in the life of the Church. Let us supply a healthy dose of it as regularly as we can. In this way, we will build up the body of Christ for a solid future.