Vol. 17 No. 5 February 4, 2001
The whole world must be made to understand that adulterers and adulteresses do not go to heaven. Adultery is a grievous sin, a "work of the flesh" that is condemned in Galatians 5:19-21. But, according to society, adultery is unheard of today--a thing of the ancient past. Wife swapping and husband swapping is a common practice in our society.
The Lord makes it clear that those who divorce their spouse and marry again are living in adultery. "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery" (Luke 16:18). The only exception to this rule is that a husband or wife divorce their spouse because of their spouse's fornication. Jesus said, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9; 5:32). When one has divorced their spouse for fornication, the Lord says he/she is free to marry again, provided they marry someone who is also eligible to marry.
Romans 7:2-3 speaks of the life-long commitment in a marriage. "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man."
Those who die while living in adultery will not and can not be forgiven. Forgiveness is not extended to those who have passed from this life. It's only while we are alive that we can repent and obtain forgiveness. So, can the surviving spouse be forgiven and live a faithful Christian life? Yes. But not simply because their spouse with whom they have been living in adultery has died. Forgiveness does not come automatically upon their death. Forgiveness comes as a result of repentance and obedience to the Lord, whether the spouse is alive or dead. To repent, one must stop living in (practicing) adultery.
One can repent of any sin and obtain forgiveness. BUT REPENTANCE is the key to forgiveness.
--Garland M. Robinson
After all, it is your prom and all your friends will be there and your date wants to go. Right? You only graduate from high school once and the prom is an important part of high school social life. Right? It will be well-chaperoned and nothing can happen. Right? You want to dress up and eat out and have a fun time with your friends. Right?
WHAT EFFECT WILL I HAVE ON YOU?
Will it make you stronger in Christ or weaker? Will it tear down your inhibitions to worldliness? Jesus gave instruction in the model prayer saying, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matt. 6:13). Will going to the prom put you in a position to be tempted to sin? Eighty per cent of young men responding to a survey said dancing (the modern dance) caused them to have lustful thoughts. Indeed, many can trace their degradation back to its beginning at a dance. Why take such a chance?
Will it cause you to go against your conscience? Paul said whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). Can you, in faith, encourage (by your presence and support) and participate in that which is harmful to your soul and the souls of young men and women? Would you have to compromise Christian principles to attend? Would you feel confident that good faithful Christian brothers and sisters would support your going to the prom?
Will your going to the prom encourage you to go to Heaven? Will you be taking a step down the narrow way that leads to life or down the broad way that is well traveled and leads to destruction? Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14)?
Yes, attending the prom is a big step -- but in what direction?
Will people recognize your Christianity? Paul said, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). Can you shine as a light in the world (Matt. 5:14-16) while participating in and encouraging an event which emphasizes dancing and lust? The world knows what kind of activities accompany the prom. Will they not assume you are aware of, agreeable to and supportive of those activities?
Will your going to the prom aid your evangelism? Will it be easier or harder for you to influence your friends to become Christians? Will they see you as a hypocrite for attending or as distinctively different (in the right way) for not attending? In 1 Timothy 4:12, the Bible records Paul's inspired words to Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Really, is attending a dance exemplary conduct for a Christian young person? Would Timothy go to the prom?
Will going to the prom show you to be worldly? Again, Paul penned, "...that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2). The world approves of the prom. While that within itself, is not reason enough to not attend, certainly, it should cause us to think seriously.
Would you be ashamed to tell someone, at the prom, you were a member of the Lord's body? Remember, Christ died for the church (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). Would He approve of members of His body being at a dance and placing themselves in the middle of lustful and sensual situations?
Will your attendance at and support of the prom show the church of which you are a member (the church of Christ) is distinctively different from the churches of men? Your absence will. And, your proper conduct and Christian principles for not attending will be a good influence which may result in some being saved.
Would it be okay for the preacher and his wife to go to the prom? What about the elders and their wives? If it would not be okay for them to go, then why would it be right for any Christian to go? God is no respector of persons. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). If it would be a disgrace for the preacher to be there (and it would), would it not be a disgrace for sister Susie or brother Johnny also? Would the church stand for the preacher and his wife attending the prom? NO! Why should it stand for any other member going? It should not.
But, someone said, they can go to the prom, not dance and not sin. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28). For the young Christian man, that is a real problem. What about the young Christian woman who may place herself in the position of tempting a young man and even being tempted herself (1 Cor. 8:12)?
From all the above, at least you can see the questionable nature of the prom. That, within itself, should be sufficient cause for one to avoid it. "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom. 12:9). Christians must seek the safe way -- the way about which there can be no question.
Vol. 17 No. 5 February 4, 2001
SICK: Ken Latch (Magnolia Hospital 337), Nadine King (at home),
Clara North (Magnolia 348), Faye Jackson, Markettia Tharp,
Gladys Scott, Bobbie & Lauren Case, Trevor McAfee, Mary
Dexter, Dorothy Taylor (having tests this week).
SYMPATHY: Our sympathy goes out to the family of Sadie Hamlin. She was the grandmother of Connie Rogers & mother-in-law of Elizabeth Hill. Her funeral was Sunday, Jan. 28 in Booneville.
ADULTS NIGHT OUT: Friday, Feb. 9, 6:00, Old Country Steak and Fish.
GOSPEL MEETING: February 25 through March 3 with David Paden doing the preaching. Mark this on your calendar.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS: Tera Brock 1st, Lucille King 5th, Clint Ellis 13th, Austin Case 15th, Faye Jackson 16th, Meridith Newman 17th, Gladys Scott 21st.
r SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson.
FOOD ITEM: Canned Soup
| Feb. 4 | ||
| Announce
Singing O.Prayer L. Table C.Prayer |
Johnny
Bobby Rodney Jamie / Blake Rheuben / Mickey Danny |
Johnny
Orlander Bobby Colt Joseph Jim R. |
| Cam: Tommy S Close: Earl Sing: Chuck | ||
Diogenes said, "Time is the most valuable thing anyone can spend." Make the most of today! Express your love! Reach out to others! Serve! Count your blessings! Enjoy being alive! Make today count! "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time..." (Eph. 5:15-17). Use it up! Spend it well! Happy living!
--Dwight Fuqua