Before you can do anything as a Christian, there are a number of test that the thing must pass before it can possibility be right.  Are you willing to up what you do to the test?

1. Is it sinful?  (condemned directly) We can’t do anything the Bible condemns by name or principle.  See Gal 5:19-21
2. Is it harmful to your body?I Cor. 9:24-27; I Cor 6:19; Rom 12
3. Is it doubtful? Rom 14:23.  If one cannot do something with a good conscience, it is not right for he cannot do it by faith.
4. Could it be a stumbling block?Rom 14:13; I Cor 10:32.  If what offends one personally everyone has to quit, then that one person is the rule upon which all things must be judged.  But, if such a thing or practice would cause one to stumble, then “judge ye rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.” Rom 14:13.  Would it cause a weak one to fall?  If it would, I cannot do it as a Christian if I love all.
5. Does it bring me into an entangling alliance, or, into the wrong kind of association?I Cor 15:33
6. Does it create an inordinate fleshly appetite?  I Cor 6:12.  Paul would not be brought under the power of an expedient (something not harmful in itself) If something right within itself can get hold of you and be your master if practiced, it is wrong.  a) any inherent desire God has put in man is right and God has provided for it to be satisfied in a legal way.  b)  When some brood on trash to increase appetites and fulfill them illegally, this is sin.
7. Does it conflict with my duty as a Christian?  Matt. 6:33   a) Some get so absorbed with a hobby that they don’t have time for duties as a Christian.  b)  Mt. 6:33 – Anything is wrong if it is too time consuming.
8. Would Jesus do it?  I Pet. 2:21 – We are to follow in his steps.

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES TO TRY BY THESE RULES

1. Drinking…..is drinking sinful?  Drunkenness surely is Gal. 5:21.  Just what is drunkenness?  Someone has said when a person takes his first drink, he is one drink drunk.  One drinker in eight becomes a problem drinker.  Would you?  Doubtful?  If not, why ask?  Harmful to my body?  Some 60% of all traffic deaths are due to drinking.  After even one drink your reactions are duller.  Do you need all your faculties when driving in traffic today?  Stumbling block?  If you don’t fall (?) by drinking, are those whom drink any, one becomes a problem drinker.  Risky, isn’t it? Entangling alliances?  Wrong associations?  If you drink, you are sure to have evil associates.  Inordinate fleshly appetite?  Many who drink would give all they own to be able to quit.   Conflict with my duty?  Many are paupers because of it.  Some 75% of all divorces are due to drinking.  Would Jesus drink today?  You answer the question honestly.
2. Dancing –  Is it sinful?  Gal. 5:19-21 condemns: a lasciviousness which is “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.  Wanton acts or manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc.  Thayer.  Webster says it is that which “tends to produce lewd emotions.”  b.  revelling which are: (generally defined as “night club atmosphere with all the trimmings).  c. other things of Gal 5:18-21 many times are generally thought to be brought on by dancing.  Is it harmful to my body?  Some things that go on around such an atmosphere sure may be. (fights, drinking etc)  Is it doubtful?  The church as preached against it for years. stumbling-block? If you don’t fall thru it, you cannot regulate the minds of all men.  In what other situation can so many men embrace so many women?  Entangling alliances?  If you were hunting evil associates, what better place could you look than the dance halls? Inordinate fleshly appetite?  All physicians say yes.  A large number of those “fallen ones” admit the dance is what did it.  Conflict with my duty?  The Christian should abstain from the very appearance of evil I Thess 5:22Would Jesus do it?  Can you imagine Him at a dance?  I can’t!
3. Gambling– Is it sinful?  Stealing is condemned (Eph 4:28)  and a professional may take ones money as easily as a thief at night.  There seem to be three laws of transferring money (legitimate).  a)  The law of Exchange–in which commodity is exchanged for its value in money. b)  The law of labor – (physical or mental), where one actually earns, by time and energy expended, the money he receives.  c)  The law of love-  in which something is given without any desire or expectation of receiving any return.  Gambling surely comes under none of these.  It is even condemned by state law in many states (Rom. 13).  Is it harmful to my body?  How many starve because of it?  Is it doubtful?  The whole world doubts it.  Could it become a stumbling block?  Many get the gambling craze from others.  It takes two (ordinarily).  Does it bring me into entangling alliances?  Yes, ordinarily.  Does it create inordinate appetite?  Some get this craze just like the alcoholic gets his craze for liquor.  Some “can’t” stop.  Does it conflict with my duty?  Some lose their time and money doing it.  Would Jesus do it?  Can you imagine Jesus trying to take someone’s money away from him?  Answer it honestly and you’ll have the answer.

Try Smoking? Try any thing you wonder about.  These principles will surely hold up.  They are Bible principles.
Reference: The Church- The Greatest Work of God”, David Bonner, 1971, pages 72-74

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1. Why was there a murmuring in the church? 6:1
2. What could the 12 not do (not fit)? 6:2
3. What does this show about their relative importance? (for the apostles to do)
4. Name the three qualifications the seven man selected for this work would have to have. 6:3
5. Who would appoint the men? 6:3 Who would find them? 6:3
6. Who do you think should find men for bishops in the church today? Deacons? Who should appoint Elders? Deacons?
7. What would the apostles spend their time in? 6:4
8.  Name the seven men chosen. 6:5
9. Who laid their hands up on the seven men? 6:6 give reasons for your answer
10. Which three reasons does 6:7 give for for the church “growing?”
11. What makes you believe that Steven was inspired? 6:8
12. Who arose disputing with Steven? 6:9
13. How did these men fair in the argument with Steven? 6:10
14. What did they do against Steve 6:11 – 12 – 13
15. What were the charges against Steven? 6:11 – 14
16. How did those in the Council see Steven’s face? 6:15
17. What was this council? 6:15

It has been stated that while Jesus was on earth in the flesh that “He learned everything he learned from his parents.”. Jesus being both God and man could live like man at the same time demonstrate power above what man could know or do.
In every dispensation time, God has always admonished children to obey their parents.  This principle was in force while Jesus lived under the law and under Joseph and Mary.  However, when Jesus was twelve years old, he went into the temple and was heard “sitting in the midst of the doctors, bouth hearing them and asking them questions”
Luke 2:46-4946 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”


Luke 2:5050 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
It was a natural reaction upon not knowing where Jesus was for them to be worried or sorrowful.  He had been a son to them in the flesh and they expected concern and respect from him as a natural thing.  The thing that was different was that He was more than just a son.  He was more than just a man.  Being God,  he could demonstrate things they did not understand for they did not understanting the saying “I mus be about my Father’s business.” Luke 2:50.
They were no doubt his teachers from a fleshly standpoint, but the fact that they were “amazed” at things he knew and said showed that he was God at this point.
Luke 2:4848 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
Who will be the first to say that Jesus sinned in the temple when his parents knew not where he was and what he was doing?
As Jesus himself said:
John 8:4646 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Written by Cliff Chandler

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The churches of Christ do not now, nor have they ever used mechanical music in worship to God.  Christ did not command it, no apostle ever sanctioned it, no New Testament writer ever authorized it, and no apostolic church ever practiced it.  We have no authority for it.  Col 3:17shows that all we do must be done by the authority of Christ

1. The preceding page shows what the Bible says about our music to be used in praise of God and in teaching and admonishing each other.  The Bible is silent on mechanical music, just as the Law of Moses was silent on priest from Judah (Heb 7:14) and yet they weren’t spiritual (He 8:4).  Neither are mechanical instruments.
2. Some arguments people make trying to justify instruments (mechanical) of music in worship today.

• Some say David used them, therefore, we can praise with them today.  Answer: David had 18 wives and burnt sacrifices.  Is David our authority?
• David said he praised with the instruments – I Cor 23:5.  Many today say they don’t praise with them but only use them as an aid.
• They were used in the –temple but only in the portion which was not a type of the church 2 Chr. 29:25-30
• Some argue that the Greek words translated “sing” and “psalm” include the mechanical instrument.   “Psallo” is translated “sing” 3 times, make melody – 1, and using psalms 1.  “Psallo” a. to pluck off, pull out; b.  to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang;  to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vitrate….to play on a stringed instrument, go play the harp…..(in the) “Sept. for nagan and much oftner for zamar; to sing to the music of the harp; in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song…”  Thayer.
• “Psalmos: – a striking, twanging, …..spec. a striking the chords of a musical instrument; hence a pious song, a psalm –Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16 ….” Thayer.  Thayer’s lexicon gives the derivation of the words meanings.  Since Thayer’s lexicon is a NT lexicon, it gives the meanings of words during the time of the writing of the NTeven though it may go back and give the origin and history of the word.  Sometimes people will pick up a Greek lexicon of some time other than the 1st century and try to make other believe the words in the Greek NT had such a meaning when, in fact, the words had no such meaning in the NT   ****  The words in the Bible uses do not include the instrument and there is no authority for such.  The instrument the of God specifies is the Heart.  Ep. 5:19

POINTS:

1. Mechanical music, to be approved, must be either a command or and aid or expedient.  Which is it??  If the Bible specifies it, all not using it are wrong and sinful and our worship to God in song depends upon having a musician with an instrument present.  If it is not commanded, it could be no more than an aid!!  Which command does it ail??  How does it aid singing when it is played (during the LS and the passing of the hat) when no one is singing like most who have it do?
2. A piano may or may not help to produce a higher quality of music (depending on a person’s likes) but God is interested in our praise, not just high quality music.  A piano would tend to drown out the teaching and the admonishing done by the human voice.
3. The OT is not our authority today.  Heb. 1:1-2; Col 2:14

Reference: “The Church The Greatest Work of God.”, David Bonner, 1971, pp 66-67.

There are many things that help build up a local church.

1. A good teaching program is one of these things.  The pulpit should help in teaching Bible based good lessons.
2. Each person should be encouraged to “be a daily Bible reader.”  Once one gets into the habit, he cannot go to sleep at night unless he has read his Bible that day.
3. Reading the Bible is one thing, studying it is another.  One might study a few verses and get “the meat out of such” to great encouragement.
4. Some have a goal to read the Bible through in a year.  Think that would be hard?  There are 929 chapters in the OT, and 260 in the New Testament.  That means there are only 1189 chapters in the Bible.  If you read just 3 and one forth chapters each day you can read the Bible, Old and New Testaments, in a year.  Most spend more time studying the Bible that seeing how fast they can read it.  Surely we need to study, but don’t neglect reading all of it.

Are you a daily bible reader?  If no, why not?  You cannot form a better habit…..than reading your Bible regularly.
Truth in Love  Vol 7, #7 July 2014, Editor David Bonner