UNCHANGEABLES

     God in His infinite wisdom made some things obligatory, and He also left some things in the realm of expediency, He made some things optional.  In those areas of expediency and option man certainly has the right to change.  However, whether we discuss obligatory matters or optional matters, we must have authority for all our actions (Col. 3:17).  We must ascertain what God obligates us to do.  While we have the God-given right to change in certain areas, there are certain things which do not change and it would be sinful for us to change.  Some of these unchangeable things are what I want us to consider.

     We must not change regarding the uniqueness of the church.  There is one church and only one church.  Jesus only built one church, His church, the church of Christ.  "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mat. 16:18; cf., Acts 20:28; Rom. 16:16).  "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4).  That body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).  Those who are saved are added by God to this one church.  "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:  and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls....God, and having favour with all people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved [those who were being saved--NKJV]" (Acts 2:41, 47).  The result is that all religious groups (denominations) are opposed to the one church.

     We cannot change God's plan of salvation and entrance into Christ's church.  Upon hearing God's Word (Rom. 10:12-17) we must believe (accept the testimony of the Scriptures).  "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6; cf., John 14:1; Mark 16:15-16).  Upon his belief he must repent of his sins.  "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).  He must confess his faith in Jesus as the Christ the Son of God (Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37).  He then must be immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins.  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Pet. 3:21).  These are things that do not change.  However, we have some, change agents, who are trying to change these unchangeables.

     We cannot change the worship of the Lord's church.  Christ established the standard of acceptable worship.  "But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).  Our worship must be directed to the Father; we do not worship each other, Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostles, or anyone else.  Our worship must be done with the proper attitude, in spirit.  Third, our worship must be done according to God's revealed Word, in truth.  The Bible reveals five avenues through which we worship God.  God has given us the obligation to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs one to another (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; I Cor. 14:15).  He has obligated us to offer our prayers to Him (Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 14:15; I The. 5:17).  Upon the first day of each week we have the opportunity to commune with our Lord in partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine in memory of Christ's death (Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Cor. 11:17-34).  Also, every Sunday we have the responsibility to return to God what is rightfully His in giving of our means as He has prospered us (I Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8-9).  Then there is the obligation of preaching and studying God's Word (Acts 2:42; 20:7).  Change agents wish to change what God has outlined in our worship.  They try to bring in choirs or add mechanical instrumental music to our singing, partake of the Lord's supper other days than Sunday, preach other things than God's Word (cf., I Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2), along with making many other changes.  These things cannot be changed with God's approval.

     The organization of the Lord's church cannot be changed.  Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).  As such, He has the right to control, dictate what takes place within the church.  "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Mat. 28:18).  Within the local congregation God established the works of the eldership and deaconry.  The elders have authority in the local congregation to make decisions relating to expedient matters within the congregation.  (Acts 20:28; I Pet. 5:1-4) Deacons are special servants to work in areas appointed to them by the elders (Acts 6:1-7; I Tim. 3:8-13).  Some have tried to change God's ordained organization by taking authority or refusing to submit to the eldership or preachers trying to take over congregations, etc.  God established this organization and it will not change.

     God's word does not change.  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Mat. 24:35).  "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (I Pet. 1:25).  While men try to change and alter God's Word, it does not change and on the day of judgment, we will face that unchangeable Word.  "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48; cf., Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:12).  Those who try to change the unchangeables will suffer the torments of an eternal hell.  Do not be in that number.

 Michael Hatcher
 DEFENDER
 MAY, 1996
 BELLVIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST
 4850 Saufley Road
 Pensacola, FL 32526

VOLUME XIX                May 26, 1996                Number 21

SYMPATHY:  Our sympathy is extended to Anita O'Rear in the passing of her sister.  She has been away taking care of arrangements.

THE SIN OF PETTING

     In our fast paced society the sin of petting seems like such a little thing.  We see sex promoted on television, movies, magazines and books, and hear it on radio and music CDs.  You can even get your fill of sexually explicit material on the Internet. We have problems with homosexuality, and premarital and extramarital sex.  Politicians and movie stars proclaim that there is nothing wrong with any of this, and the "people love to have it so:  and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jer. 5:31).

     So what is so wrong with petting?  With all of these problems so prevalent, it seems that to focus on such a relatively minor problem is just a little too much.  Nevertheless it is a problem that needs to be discussed.

     Petting as we are using the term in this context refers to the use of touch to arouse passionate sexual desires.  It includes the acts of amorous hugging and kissing, and feeling or fondling someone for sexual pleasure, either dressed or undressed.  Given the freedom that many have usurped in the area of sexual behavior, petting is seen as innocent fun for the young, but it will surely condemn the one who engages in this kind of behavior.

     The place for the satisfaction of sexual desires is in and only in the bonds of matrimony.  Paul wrote to the unmarried Corinthians that it would be best for them at that time if they would not marry, "But if they cannot contain, let them marry:  for it is better to marry than to burn" (I Cor. 7:9).  "To burn" in this context refers to the passionate desires that can naturally arise.  But rather than allow a little "innocent fun" to satisfy those desires, Paul prescribed marriage, even at a time when it was inconvenient.

     Besides this, petting is obviously a prelude to other sins of a more serious nature.  (Not that petting itself is not serious enough!)  It leads to indecent exposure of the body, and other sexual acts.  If the young man or young lady will stop the petting before it starts, it is unlikely if not unimaginable that these other sins will be a problem.  If the petting is allowed, it will most assuredly lead to these more serious indecencies.

     All christians have an obligation expressed in Paul's command to a young minister, Timothy:  "keep thyself pure" (I Tim. 5:22).  The word translated "pure" means "pure from carnality, chaste, modest, pure from every fault, immaculate, clean."  Petting violates this command and brings harm upon all those so engaged.  A true Christian's first desire is to please the Lord (Gal. 1:10).  This means we will behave ourselves wherever we are, and keep our hands to ourselves.
 Gil Yoder, via BEACON, Michael Hatcher Editor

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