THE TERROR [AND LOVE] OF THE LORD

By Bob Myhan

Deists say that they believe in the God of nature but not the God of Scripture. They argue that the God of Scripture is far too terrible to actually exist. And, if He does exist, they claim, He is totally undeserving of our love.

Although Christians tend to stress His goodness, the God of Scripture is to be feared.

 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!“ (Luke 12:4-5)

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, sever­ity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Other­wise you also will be cut off. (Rom. 11:22).

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb. 10:31)

This does not mean, however, that He does not deserve our love.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who­ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Of course, the Deist cannot deny that the God of nature is also severe, as seen in such things as floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, etc. He allows people to die by the thousands. Nor is He a respecter of persons. The innocent suffer along with the wicked and children suffer at the hands of criminal adults every day. If the God of nature is not also the God of Scripture, how can it be said that He loves man? And how did man come to love God? &

THE WORK OF THE LORD'S CHURCH

By Frank Himmel

Surveying the religious landscape you will find churches sponsoring ball teams, building gymnasiums and bowling alleys, offering daycare, diet and exercise programs and musical and dramatic performances, and engaged in political activism. In contrast, when you read the New Testament you discover that the work of the church was spiritual in nature.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" John 18:36. Paul wrote that "the kingdom is not food and drink, but right­eousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17. The universal church, that body of all saved people, has no earthly organization. Therefore, any discussion of the work of the church would only concern the local church (congregation).

The work of local churches is found in the New Testament and is very simple in nature.

ONE WORK OF THE CHURCH: Preaching the gospel - the work of evan­gelism.

The church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas away to preach the gospel, Acts13:2-3. When they returned, they gathered the church and "reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" Acts 14:27. The new congrega­tion at Thessalonica was commended by Paul be­cause "from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth" 1Thessalonians 1:8. The church at Philippi had "fellowship in the gospel" with Paul, Phi­lippians 1:5 and "sent once and again for my necessities" Philippi­ans 4:15-16. In­deed, the church is the "pillar and ground of truth" 1Timothy 3:15. Evan­gelism, preaching the gospel to the lost, is the very life's blood of the local church.

ANOTHER WORK OF THE CHURCH: Edification - The Work of Growth.

Paul wrote that God had provided every­thing necessary for the "equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edi­fying of the body of Christ" Ephe­sians 4:12. Christians must be taught the word of God so that they may "grow up in all things into Him who is the head---Christ." Each member  of the body is then to con­tribute his strength for the "growth of the body for the edifying of it­self in love" Ephe­sians 4:15-16. To that end, local churches should plan occa­sions for the gospel to be preached, Bible classes, and suitable wor­ship peri­ods so that every local member may be challenged to reach his/her full po­tential as mature and knowledgeable disci­ples.

THE LAST WORK OF THE CHURCH: Benevolence - the work of relief.

Early in the history of the Lord's church, there was an occasion when some of the believers in Jerusalem ex­perienced need. On a voluntary basis, that need was met as some Christians even sold property to pro­vide assistance Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:34-37. Later there were a great number of widows in need and the church appointed special servants to administer this service Acts 6:1-7. No outside organizations were needed. The church did not seek govern­ment assistance. The church simply took care of its own. Later there was a case of greater need than the local church could meet, because of a famine, and congrega­tions as far away as Greece sent messen­gers with their help. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-3--2 Corinthians 8 and 9; Romans 15:26-27. Family members were first to provide for their own 1 Timothy 5:8. "If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be bur­dened, that it may relieve those that are really widows" 1 Timothy 5:16.

What a contrast this is to the frantic pro­motion of the social gospel activities found among many congregations of the Lord's(?) church and all denominational groups. Let the church be the church. Let it do the divine work for which it was appointed. & (The Reminder, Vol. 4, Number 47)