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Scriptural Answer or Human Experience?

by Tom Wacaster

Among the many false doctrines that have occupied the minds of men is that of the necessity of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the mind of an individual and his thereby having some sort of religious experience before he can come to know and obey the truth. Brother David Lipscomb, in "The Life And Sermons Of Jessie Sewell," demonstrated the absurdity of relying upon some spiritual "experience" to give assurance of one's salvation. It seems that a fair, honest, working farmer of a remote Tennessee county had come in contact with brother J.J. Trott, a gospel preacher. This farmer had just returned from a "revival" where he had shared his "experience" with those present. He told them that he had had a vision wherein he was taken up by a great bird to the top of a high mountain. The bird had held him over a precipice and let him go. The man fell upon a bed of downy softness, and a feeling of his sins being forgiven him overcame him. Brother Trott asked, "Do you mean a large bird really took you up?" "Oh, no sir, it was imagination." Brother Trott responded, "Imagine something that was not true, did you?" "Yes, sir." Brother Trott asked, "Were you really carried to the top of a high mountain?" "Oh, no sir, I only imagined I was." Again brother Trott asked, "Did you really find yourself upon a bed of downy softness?" "Oh, no sir, I only imagined that too." "You again imagined what was not true?" "Yes sir," came the reply. To which brother Trott replied, "Then your experience consists of imagining four things you know to be falsehoods. How do you know but that the fifth item, that is, that your sins were forgiven, is not a mere false imagination?"

Such shows the absurdity of relying upon one's feelings to determine their spiritual status. Assurance is based on what they happen to feel rather than a reliable standard of authority. A "thus saith the Lord" cannot be given. I have even had some tell me that they did not care what the Bible said, they trusted in the feeling in their heart and they would live and die by it. Such tragedy. Such waste. Brethren, may we always heed the words of Peter: "Be ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). May ours always be a scriptural answer and not human experience.

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Regulating Our Influences

by Lee Moses

It can be very difficult for one to maintain his proper focus when he has to live in a world that has the opposite focus. Christians are to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (I John 2:15) and rather to "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2); however, we are surrounded by those absolutely infatuated with the things of the world and by influences which seek to cause us to be equally infatuated with these things. The only way to prevent being overly affected by such is to regulate our influences. Unfortunately, we will never be able completely to eliminate negative influences. The apostle Paul acknowledged that we would have some worldly influences in our lives, otherwise, "then must ye needs go out of this world" (I Corinthians 5:10). But we can regulate our influences.

How do we do this? First, by eliminating corrupting outside influences from our lives. Paul wrote, "Be not deceived: evil communications [companionships, ASV] corrupt good manners" (I Corinthians 15:33). He also wrote, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (II Corinthians 7:14). This means that we should not have associations which will pull us away from serving the Lord. This includes friends with whom a Christian may begin to find himself doing or saying things of which he would otherwise not begin to dream. But not only our friends-what other types of outside influences are we allowing into our homes and lives? What types of reading material are we keeping in our homes and reading? So many will gladly spend the subscription dollars for People magazine, but will not consider paying to have quality Christian publications such as Reason & Revelation or The Gospel Journal in their homes. What about television? While informative programming and wholesome entertainment exist, the vast majority of television programming will bring the Christian away from God. It is interesting that one thesaurus names "indoctrination" as a synonym to "programming."

In line with these thoughts, we provide the following "tribute" to television based on the 23rd Psalm, borrowed from the Southaven, MS church publication:

The 23rd Channel

The TV is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

It makes me to lie down on the sofa.

It leads me away from the scriptures.

It destroys my soul.

It leads me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsor's sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities,

There will be no interruptions; for the TV is with me,

Its cable and its remote control, they comfort me.

It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of worldliness, It anoints my head with humanism,

My coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house watching TV "forever."

Although this is a humorous excerpt, the negative influence of television is very serious, as are all influences which pull us away from God. The Christian needs to spend his time doing the right things and being influenced by the right means. Our thoughts must be in the right place:

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

The good things on which we need to think are found in the word of God. We are to look toward the eternal things of heaven, not the temporary things of this world (II Corinthians 4:18). It is very difficult, if not impossible, for one to have the correct mindset if his primary influences are worldly. If one were to balance his time spent being influenced by the world with an equal time being influenced by the word of God, he would find his struggle considerably less difficult.

As children of God, we need to turn on our "influence filters" - keeping as many negative influences out of our lives as possible and allowing those influences into our lives which will help us to grow as families, neighbors, citizens, and Christians.

First published in Gates, TN church bulletin, 12/23/2001

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Family News and Notes

There are copies of updated "non-pictorial" directories on the round table in the foyer. If you wish a copy you may pick up one.

Bound Bulletins: Remember, if you want to order a copy of bound

bulletins, please advise Tom so he will know how many copies he needs to make. If you want a copy of either the hard bound (approximately $20), or the spiral bound ($5.00), please see Tom. Bound copies will include all bulletins between March 1, 2002 and February 29, 2003. It will also include the weekly Mt. Pleasant Tribune articles, and a table of contents.

We will also be printing the bulletin for 1999-2000. Please let Tom know if you wish a copy of that one.

Copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting of 09 February 2003 and copies of the Financial Report for the month ending February 28th are on the table in the foyer for your convenience if you wish to have a copy.

Spring Housecleaning. A general housecleaning is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will run until we are finished. Everyone that is able is being asked to come and bring your cleaning supplies. Your help is appreciated.

We had a $25 contribution to the Library Fund for to be used either for the purchase of new items or for the maintenance of the Library. Thank you.

Please take a look at the Sign-up Sheet for cleaning the building. It is on the table in the foyer. If you are willing and able to assist in the cleaning of the building please sign up as soon as possible. Thanks.

Jimmy Jay Fox, son of Sherri Lee, brother of Jeannie Fox and grandson of Pat and Carl Lee, had an auto accident in Dallas Wednesday night. He is in ICU at Baylor Hospital. He is improving and is able to sit up after having a breathing tube removed. He suffered numerous cuts and bruises and has a brace on his neck. He hopes to be able to come home this weekend.

Sick at home and not feeling well at all are:

Joe & Betty Ferrell

Barbara Duncan

Alva Mae Sheets

Patsy Embree

Julia Ethridge

Joyce Lee has returned home from the hospital. She states she is suffering from an infection to the lining of her stomach. She is being treated for bleeding ulcers and other problems. She says she feels weak and tired all the time.

Patsy Duncan remains in Titus Regional Medical Center, Room 517B Rehab. She will probably be there for a couple of weeks undergoing therapy.

Sandra Cooper is in Methodist Hospital in Houston, Room 745B. Her phone number is: 713-441-5755. She has undergone numerous tests and will have more. She hopes to come home early this week.

Justin Barker underwent tests with a neurologist last week. X-rays and MRI's have determined his problem is not in his brain or spinal column. The doctors believe his problem is in his leg muscles or nerve endings in the muscles. They referred him to Scottish Rites Hospital for further tests. The family is beginning the process to get him admitted soon.

David Booher, son-in-law of Johnny & Lynn Barrett, was injured last week in an industrial accident. He underwent surgery to his hand on Thursday. He is from Memphis, TN.

Chester Batchelor, brother of Ercell Fedders and uncle of Jim Duncan, passed away last Monday in Tyler. Graveside services were conducted Wednesday morning in Dallas.

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PRAYER LIST:

Delores Adams, Justin Barker, Billy Carter, Suzanne Charlton, Narci Cooper, Perry Cooper, Barbara Duncan, Patsy Embree, Julia Ethridge, Joe & Betty Ferrell, Jimmy Jay Fox, Jerry Freeman, Howard Horton, Wade Miller, Meryl Riley, Murphy Ross, Alva Mae Sheets

ALSO: Christelle Cato

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