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Do You Pray? By Bill Hall The worshiper who would pray in the assembly must do more than bow his head and close his eyes. He must pray. "Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say 'Amen' at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?" (I Corinthians 14:16). This verse suggests four requirements if one is to enter into a prayer. 1 He must listen to the prayer. One cannot legitimately say "Amen" at the conclusion of a prayer if he has not listened to the prayer. "Mind-wandering" is an ever-present problem. We sing, but we don't observe the words of the song. We bow our heads, but we don't listen to the prayer. We sit through the sermon, but our minds wander to things of an earthly nature. Consequently, we attend worship periods, but we don't worship as we ought. If one is to pray, with the congregation, he must listen to the prayer. 2 He must understand the prayer. When a man in the first century led a prayer in an unknown tongue, the worshiper could not say 'Amen,' for he could not understand the language in which the prayer was spoken. Neither can the worshiper say 'Amen' today if the leader has not spoken loudly enough to be heard or if he has used words or phrases which the worshiper does not understand. Those who lead prayers in the assembly should be conscious of the needs of the whole congregation, speaking up where all can hear and using words which all can understand. 3 He must agree with the prayer. A number of years ago, while sitting beside an old preacher, I observed his saying "Yes" or "Yes, Lord" at the conclusion of each separate phrase of the prayer as it was being led. He spoke the words softly enough that I was probably the only one in the assembly who could hear them, but I was impressed. Obviously, this brother was listening to every phrase, determining whether or not he agreed with the phrase, and was softly speaking his agreement. He was not just sitting through a prayer; he was praying. Occasionally, we hear sentiments expressed in prayer with which we do not agree. To these sentiments we cannot say "Amen." 4 He must say "Amen." The word "Amen" means "so let it be." We long to hear the strong, resounding "Amen" at the close of prayers which we used to hear. We fear that the move away from this practice is just another step toward cold, lifeless formality in our worship periods. We are not contending, however, that one must say the word "Amen" audibly; but we are suggesting that at least in his mind he should say "Amen," thus making the prayer his own prayer. He has listened to the prayer; he has understood the prayer; he has agreed with the prayer; now he speaks to God his "Amen" or approval of the prayer as his prayer. In this manner, he unites with other worshipers in common prayer to God. & [Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, September 30, 2007] Methods of the Social Gospel By Jackie Prince We understand the difference in a doctor treating the symptom and treating the disease. Those who preach the “social gospel” attempt to make Christians by treating symptoms. Inasmuch as the symptoms are of a carnal nature, the method of treatment is, as well. Racism is a symptom of a heart that needs to be changed. Homosexuality, recreational drugs, beverage alcohol, theft, lying and murder are also symptoms. We often just wish that the symptom would go away. While that will work with a sore throat, cold or flu, it will not work with heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. And so it is that we now have churches of Christ full of “Christians” who were not converted by a change of heart. The social gospel invited the world into the church! By “world” we mean people who would not be there if it wasn’t for the carnal rewards and motivations—food, money, outings, baseball teams, etc. The gospel, on the other hand, treats the spiritual disease—sin (Rom. 6:23). The divine method treatment, therefore, is also spiritual: faith, repentance, confession of faith and water baptism! (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9-10) Thus, rather than making “Christians” by reforming society, churches of Christ reform society by making Christians. Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. You see, in the first century, it wasn’t just about making people feel good. It was all about saving them from sin! (Mt. 1:21) & Sharks and Christians By Clif Dennis I read recently of a young man who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He said that one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. According to him, if you catch a small shark and put it in an aquarium it will never outgrow the acquarium. It is fully matured at six inches long. The same shark turned loose in the ocean, will grow to their normal length of eight to ten feet. Christians are somewhat like that. If they swim around in the first principals of knowledge, unlike the shark they are not mature, and they will never outgrow that stage. But if they throw themselves into the vast oceans of available Scripture and absorb and apply it, they can grow to be mature Christians. (Heb. 5:12-14) & The Basis for Unity By Bob Myhan In any collective endeavor—religious or otherwise—there can be no unity without agreement. A prophet of God asked Israel the following rhetorical question. Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3) Those endeavoring to act collectively must be in agreement as to what they hope to achieve and how they hope to achieve it. The thing that Old Testament Israel had to agree on was the keeping of the Law God had given them. "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deut. 4:1-2) “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29) Twenty-first century churches must agree to remain true to God by not going outside the boundaries of His word. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. (Col. 3:17) Thus, we cannot afford to unite on anything other than the word of God. &
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