Church Conflict

By Mike Benson (editor)

    Greek mythology tells of Cadmus who, while searching for his sister, came upon a dragon blocking his travel. Cadmus fought and killed the fierce dragon. He then extracted the teeth of the savage beast and buried them in a field.
    The next time he traveled that way, he was surprised to discover every tooth had become an armed giant. It seemed impossible that he could pass through their midst. How could he overcome them?
    He thought of a scheme. While hiding behind a tree, he threw a stone, hitting one of the giants. The giant, thinking another of the giants had struck him, hit back in return. The other giants began to take sides and quarrel. Their fighting escalated and soon involved their weapons. Finally, all were wounded. Then Cadmus was able to pass.

    THOUGHT: When we allow Satan to sow seeds of discord and disunity in the church, we will end up fighting one another.

Source:
KneEmail, date unknown

Second Thoughts

"The church should be known not as a courtroom of prosecuting attorneys, but as a hospital for the world God loves." (Knefel Staton)

"Kindness is a language which the blind can see and the deaf can hear."

Worry does not exempt tomorrow from its griefs, but it does empty today of its joys."

"The most expensive piece of furniture in the church building is the empty pew."

"Character is much easier kept than recovered."

Source:
The Sower, Sharpe Church of Christ, Benton, KY, March 25, 2001.

Forgetting Our Purpose

By John Gipson

Most people have a more rounded education than mine. They read the comics - something I haven't done since Dick Tracy, Dagwood and Blondie, Smilin' Jack and Li'l Abner. I guess I just got out of the habit.

However, a few years ago Allen Isbell sent me a comic strip entitled Kudzu by Doug Marlette. Since that time I can proudly say that I read one comic strip each day.

A recent offering shows the preacher, holding his Bible, standing in front of the church house door. A rather large and aggressive lady has him cornered, and she is giving him what for. "What - No tanning salon?!... No juice bar!... No food court!... No fitness center!... No jacuzzi!... No sauna!... No skating rink!... AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A HOUSE OF WORSHIP!"

This brought to mind a time when Jesus went in the temple and found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, along with the money-changers at their business. You can imagine the noise, odor, and general commotion. The atmosphere must have been somewhat like a county fair, or carnival. Was Jesus pleased? Hardly! He cleaned them out - lock, stock and barrel.

God's intention was that the house which was called by His name should "be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56:7). but in time the original purpose had been largely forgotten. God's house had become a house of trade occupied by a den of robbers.

And if we are not careful, we will repeat the same mistake and forget what God's house (the church) is all about today.

Source:
Keynoter , the weekly bulletin of the Sixth and Izard Church of Christ, Little Rock, AR; March 6, 1997, p. 1.

Sentenced To Church For a Year

By Bob Plunket

That is right! U.S. District Judge David O. Below, Jr., sentenced Emma Jean Oliver to one year of church attendance with death about the only excuse for missing. A probation officer was assigned to enforce it. Emma Jean has four children. She was guilty of drug trafficking and faced a three year sentence in a federal penitentiary and an $250,000 fine.

It shook the legal world. One side said, "What kind of message does this send to drug traffickers if they know their sentence will be sitting in church for a n hour or two a week." Another side said, "It makes church attendance sound like a punishment when it should be a joy." Surely some will cry, "It is unconstitutional." What this really shows is the total frustration of judges. She has no $250,000 fine money. Who will take care of the children if she goes to prison? After three years will she start all over in drug trafficking?

What judges are noticing is this. Parents who take their children to Sunday school and worship and then live and practice these Christian principles at home have about a ninety percent success rate with their children. Some have said, "Oh, we took our children to church, but just look at them." Nothing could be more frustrating to a child than to hear the beautiful principles ad values of Jesus and then live with parents who never practice them.

The judge was sending a message here to parents, and the message is this. If you love your children and want them to grow up with values and convictions and to lead a productive life, take them to Jesus, the greatest teacher and the greatest life that has ever been lived, and then live this life before them at home. There are a few of these who are overcome by the world and peer pressure but only a few. Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not ...' (Matthew 19:14). The wise man said, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart" (Proverbs 22:6).

And how is Emma doing? Emma has not missed a service and she says she loves it. Emma says being with better people is making her better. What if the judge had sentenced Emma to us? What would she see in our house? The whole country is watching Emma's case.

Source:
The Messenger, the weekly bulletin of the Slicer Street Church of Christ in Kennett, MO, date unknown. 

Just Belong

Are you an active member,
The kind that would be missed?
Or are you just contented
That your name is on the list?

Do you attend the meetings
And mingle with the flock?
Or do you stay at home
And criticize and knock?

Do you take an active part
To help the work along?
Or are you satisfied to be
The kind that "Just Belongs?"

Do you ever go to visit
A member who is sick?
Or leave the work to just a few
And talk about the "Clique?"

There's quite a program scheduled
That I'm sure you've heard about,
And we'll appreciate it
If you will come and help us out.

So come to the meetings often,
And help with hand and heart;
Don't be "Just a member",
But take an active part.

Think this over, member ...
You know right from wrong:
Are you an active member,
Or do you "Just Belong"?

Author Unknown

Source:
Unknown

Buzzards at Church

By Patsy Zant

When my middle son was about 4 years old, he came out of his Sunday school class perplexed.

"Why do we have buzzards at church?" he asked.

"Well, I didn't know we had any," I replied. "Which ones do you mean?"

"I don't know for sure," he said. "The teacher just always says we have to wait for the second buzzard before we can leave."

Source:
Christian Woman, date unknown.