OceanSide church of Christ




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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (15)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   If we never asked questions:

1.    We would remain confused about many things.

2.    We might hold to a false belief.

3.    We might teach others incorrectly.

4.    We might find ourselves in an embarrassing situation.

 

B.   We appreciate all the questions that individuals ask for our Q&A night each first Sunday of the month.

 

C.   Tonight, we will be answering three questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  “SATELLITE” CHURCHES

 

A.   Stated:  Is it Scriptural for a congregation to have “satellite campuses” or additional locations?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Definition of satellite church

a.    Another term for satellite church is a multi-site church.

b.    When a church grows too large, they rent or purchase another building that houses the overflow.

1)    The two groups exist under the same leadership.

2)    Their worship services are conducted at the same time.

a)    The sermon can be brought in by satellite.

b)    If not, the two ministers preach the same major points.

3)    The locations go by the same name.

2.    The organizational structure for the church as laid out in the New Testament is very simple. 

a.    The Universal church, that is, all Christians throughout the entire world.

b.    The Local Congregation

1)    Each local church is autonomous, that is, self-governing.

2)    Each church ultimately should have an eldership that oversees the local congregation (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-3).

3.    In the New Testament, we do not read about satellite churches.

4.    Let’s look at the worship authorized in the pages of God’s Word.

a.    According to I Corinthians, the local church assembled in “one place” for worship.

1)    I Corinthians 11:20

 

When ye come together therefore in one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

 

2)    I Corinthians 14:23

 

If therefore the whole church be come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in them that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

 

b.    The Bible does not authorize any worship on the Lord’s Day involving the Lord’s Supper and giving apart from the one assembly of the local church in one place.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  FACEBOOK POSTS

 

A.   Stated:  If a Christian shares another’s post on Facebook that is inappropriate (curse words, lewd pictures, abbreviations of bad words) is the Christian sinning?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Philippians 1:27

 

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…

 

a.    Conversation:  to behave as a citizen, a person’s manner of life in the kingdom of Christ

b.    The standard for one’s living is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1)    The gospel does not authorize cuss words (Col. 3:8).

 

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

 

2)    The gospel does not advocate things that are lewd and provocative being posted on a FB page (Gal. 5:19-21).

2.    Many other passages of Scripture tell us how we should live as Christians.

a.    Romans 12:1-2

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 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.

 

b.    I Thessalonians 4:7

 

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

 

c.    Titus 2:11-12

 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

 

d.    I Peter 1:14-16

 

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversa-tion; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

3.    We must remember that we will stand before God and give an account of every action (II Cor. 5:10).

 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  LIBERALISM

 

A.   Stated:  Can you explain why popular culture is growing increasing liberal every day?

B.   Answer:

1.    There are two major groups of people that exist:

a.    Conservatives

b.    Liberals, a better term to call them would be progressives

2.    For conservatives and progressives to exist, there must first be a standard that exists.

a.    Religion:  Bible

b.    The home:  Bible

c.    United States:  Constitution

d.    Companies:  Policies and procedures

3.    The difference between conservatives and progressives (liberals)

a.    Conservative:  disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc….and to limit change

b.    Progressive:  favoring or advocating progress, change, reform, and opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are

c.    NOTE:  A person can be a conservative in one area and a progressive in another area.

4.    Why do people gravitate toward progressive or liberal thinking?

a.    People get tired and bored with the existing conditions and institutions.

b.    Change is different and exciting.

c.    Fallen man has a tendency to have a rebellious nature.

d.    The establishment often appears to be extremely dictatorial and controlling and allows for no variations.

5.    Progressivism in the spiritual realm must be aggressively opposed.

a.    Man does not like God’s standard and wants to dispose of it (Ps. 2:1-3).

 

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

 

b.    The Bible warns against our progressing beyond God’s divine standard.

1)    II John 9

 

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

 

a)    Other translations:

-      ASV:  Whosoever goeth onward

-      ESV:  Everyone who goes on ahead

b)    When we transgress the Word of God, we go beyond it.  We become progressive or liberal in our thinking.

2)    We are commanded to “hold fast the form of sound words” (II Tim. 1:13).

 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

3)    The progressive mindset uses many tactics to destroy the standard.

a)    The standard is old and outdated.

b)    The standard has been misinterpreted in the past.

c)    The standard is fluid, open to many interpretations and is not static.

d)    That is what the standard says, but that is not what the standard means.

e)    The standard was never meant for a pattern.

f)     A lot of what the standard says is cultural.

4)    We must be careful because secular progressivism often seeks to thwart spiritual truths in the Word of God.

a)    Abortion

b)    Homosexuality

c)    Homosexual marriage

d)    Wives do not have to be subject to their husbands

e)    Less, little, or no work and let others take care of us

f)     Promotion of sinful lifestyles through the welfare system (i.e., mothers having children out-of-wedlock)

g)    The right to rob from the rich to give to the poor

h)   Government involvement in parenting that takes away their God-given authority (i.e., discipline)

 

C.   On the other side of the coin, conservatives must be careful as well.

1.    Kindness

2.    Fairness

3.    Impartiality

4.    Justice

5.    Responsible discipline

6.    Avoid authoritarianism

7.    Allow change where it is permitted

8.    Be knowledgeable and able to effectively state the reasons we do certain things and do not do other things.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   This evening we have looked at three broad areas:

1.    Church organization

2.    Christian living

3.    Respect for the divine standard of God’s Word

 

B.   Two points:

1.    God has given us all we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of God’s will (II Pet. 1:3).

 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

2.    We must study diligently and rightly divide the Word of God (II Tim. 2:15).

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.