Bible Thoughts April 18, 1999
"Therefore, as through one man sin entered in the world and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned"(Romans 5:12).
Sin has been defined in many different ways. Often it is referred to as a "social problem." This leaves an opportunity for one to commit evil without feelings of guilt. Modern liberal religious teachers use such an approach.
Sin was real when it entered into the lives of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden(Romans 5:12). It was a reality among the Israelites as they ignored God's law. The apostle Peter felt the weight of transgression as he denied Christ. The destruction of the Sodomites is a continuing monument to the existence of sin.
The early disciples were warned against committing fornication, homosexuality, stealing, lying, etc., in passage after passage(see Romans 1:26-32; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-6). John reveals the consequences of such transgressions as he points out, "But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death"(Revelation 21:8).
Men lacking the courage to speak against such sins as noted above, as well as those who go so far as to condone such transgressions, are not pleasing God. Rationalizing away the terribleness of sin by modernistic social approaches will not remove the eternal consequences God has assigned for immoral conduct.
The reality of sin brought about the death of Jesus, the revelation of the gospel, and God's plan of salvation. Do you believe that condoners of evil will change God's word?
Far too many people associate religion with parties, prizes, fairs, food, fun, and frolic. One person was led to observe that the smell of coffee and doughnuts put him in a religious mood. One has only to read church advertisements to seem how often these practices are found.
The church of Christ meeting in the Golden Triangle uses no gimmicks. Sure--we want a crowd(at every service). We do not, however, want a crowd influenced by the offer of those items named in the previous paragraph. When such enticements are given for attendance, they fall far short of inspiring people to spiritual service and dedication to Christ. Some in the Lord's time followed him for "loaves and fishes." They "dropped out" when the fish was gone.
We offer to this community the gospel of Christ as the power of God unto salvation(Romans 1:16). Since we accept the church as a spiritual institution, we work to keep her free of activities that rob her of any spirituality(Ephesians 5:27). The kingdom(or church) was designed to praise God(Ephesians 3:21). This can be accomplished only by respecting her nature.
When you search for a group of people intent upon studying the Bible, praising God, respecting spiritual things, and saving souls, you need to investigate the church of Christ in the Golden Triangle.