Woodland
Hills Church of Christ
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Sunday, November 5, 2006 Volume 50, Issue 42 THE CHRISTIAN AND GOVERNMENT With election day approaching it is good to reflect on what the Bible says about the Christian and the government. In the New Testament, Christians are pictured as having a dual citizenship. We reside both in the world and in the church (John 17:15); 18:36). The authority over the church is Christ (Mt. 28:18). The authority over civil matters is the government (Rom. 13:1-7). The authority over all things is God (Eph. 4:6). Notice now some points from Romans 13 about the civil institution known as government. The REALITY of Government (vs. 1-2). Civil government is an institution that is recognized by God and that must be honored by Christians (Tit. 3:1). At least three things about the government must be recognized by Christians: (1) The requirement that we keep ourselves in subjection to the higher powers. (2) The reasons are because God allows their power to exist (Hos. 13:11), and because they are ordained by God. (3) Any rebellion against the government should be viewed as a rebellion against God himself! The RESPONSIBILITIES of Government (vs. 3-4). The faithful Christian has no reason to fear an honorable government for two reasons: First, the government will reward the righteous (3-4a). Remember that the government "is the minister of God to thee for good." Second, the government will reprove the rebellious (4b). Christians must obey the laws of the land because the government "is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." The REQUIREMENTS of Government. The government has the right to require at least two things of a Christian, as long as they do not conflict with God's requirements (Acts 5:29). First, they require us to submit to their position (5). This is true for two reasons; our personal "conscience sake," and to avoid the punishment of "wrath." Second, the government requires us to surrender to their power (6-7). If a Christian does this he will have no problem giving "honor to whom honor" is due. As you go to the polls be sure to cast your ballot in a way that reflects your Christian beliefs. Approach your decision with prayer. Following the election, be sure to pray for the elected officials - whether you voted for that individual or not.
See You In Bible Class,
TAFT TALK BASIC TRAINING: GIRLS DEVO: MAD FRIDAY: RAKE AND RUN:
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FAMILY NEWS
REMEMBER IN PRAYER (NOTE: Addresses for all those who are Sick/Home-Bound/Nursing-Assisted Living are now posted on the bulletin board in the west hallway) WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS FLU SHOT CLINIC HOLIDAY PARTY THANK YOU I want to thank the Woodland Hill church for all the help you have given to the churches in the Ukraine. To date, we have now sent $700,000+ of aid to Ukraine. We are especially thankful for the family buckets. We have three more containers to do for 2006. Also $340,000 in aid has been sent to Honduras. BENEFIT DINNER See the bulletin board in west hallway for more information. OUR RECORD
EDIFICATION "Maintaining Control" Very few of the events recorded within the New Testament Gospels actually appear in all four books. Remarkably, one such event which does is the description of our Lord when He cleanses the temple. Why should this event be described to us four times? What seems to be so important about it? Many things perhaps, but one feature that I cannot help but notice is the personal control that Christ always seemed to maintain in times of anger, suffering, or crisis. Please notice how the Apostle John describes this event: "And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found sitting in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting; and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of them temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured our the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, 'Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise'" (John 2:13-16). Please notice two areas where our Lord seemed to maintain patience and control with His display of anger at this time. First of all, he took the time (and had the presence) to fashion a whip of sorts with His own hands. Imagine the questions that His disciples may have wanted to ask as they observed this. Second, please notice how that after Jesus drove out both men and livestock, He then seemed to pause, and He dealt separately with the doves and those with them. (Personally, I like to imagine that at this moment one could probably hear the proverbial pin drop as He paused and looked in their direction.) However, He did not crush those cages, burst them against the wall, or harm those birds in any way. He simply told their keepers to remove them. Why? Why did He make this distinction? I like to imagine that maybe He was mindful of His own birth and the lowly sacrifice of turtle doves that His mother presented after she gave birth to Him (Luke 2:24; Lev. 12:8). Whatever His reasoning, it is obvious that our Lord was in control of Himself and His anger upon this occasion. How about us? Do we practice the same degree of control? Paul commands, "Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath" (Eph. 4:26). Although anger is commanded, we are also commanded not to sin in its use. Am I using the same degree of control in my life as our Lord did in His? For The Elders,
QUESTIONS GOD WON'T ASK God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He will ask how many people you welcomed into your house. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He will ask how many you helped to clothe. God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He will ask if you compromise your character to obtain it. God won't ask what your job title was, but He will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. God won't ask how many friends you had, but He will ask how you treated your friends. God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He will ask about the content of your character. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.
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