Email Us

Find a Congregation Near You!

 The Cornerstone 

This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11

Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia

Volume 6 *   Number 37*  September 10,  2006

Settled On Their Lees

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I (God) will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil." Zephaniah 1:12

It is clear from this passage that God was going to punish His people because they were complacent. There was a total lack of concern regarding God in Judah. During the fermentation process sediment (lees or dregs) would settle on the bottom of the wine skin. It just sat their unmoved. The New American Standard Bible renders "settled on their lees as "stagnant in spirit" nasb So comfortable to the ways things were, the children of Judah were indifferent to God, their were "settled on their lees."

Judah was disillusioned and therefore gambled on God being indifferent as they. Neither carrying about good or evil. In truth they were counting on Divine indifference. But God reveals through Zephaniah, His plan to punish His people.

Are Christians settled on their lees today? Are we depending on ourselves instead of God? Are we pursuing happiness in material things? Do we disobey God’s law’s to pursue our own interests? Are we "stagnant in spirit"? Not only is it a American problem it has become a real problem in the Lord’s church.

A member of the Lord’s church most generally does not openly express his indifference, but the actions of his heart does. Are you settled on your lees? I see this a lot at the end of articles now… THINK!

Stacy Crim

The Difference Between

Individuals & The Church

Greg Gwin

In a recent discussion of church benevolence, the point was made that the church has a limited benevolent role (only to needy saints), while individual Christians can and should help all who are legitimately in need (Galatians 6:10). Someone offered this rebuttal:

"Why maintain a division in the church over money when the money is God’s before it is given on the 1st day of the week, and is still God’s when it is not given? . . . If there is nothing that is not God’s then His money is still feeding the poor either through the elders hand or through individuals. It is God’s money, God’s people, doing God’s work."

What we see here is a classic case of failing to recognize the difference between individual Christians and the church as a collective body. Notice these passages which make this clear distinction:

1. The individual is not the church: "For the body is not one member, but many." (1 Corinthians 12:14)

2. The individual is charged when the church is not: "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." (1 Timothy 5:16)

3. The individual has responsibility that the church does not: "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone ... if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more ... and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church ..." (Matthew 18:15-17)

4. The individual’s money is distinct from the churches’: "But a certain man named Ananias ...sold a possession, and kept back part of the price . . .and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles' feet. But Peter said ... , Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost … Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?" (Acts 5:1-4)

&

 

UNCHANGING PRINCIPLES

By Leslie Diestelkamp

Morality pertains to that which is right and wrong, and for the Christian this is determined by God's attitude, and not by the changing customs of men and women. But there seems to be a tendency for us to accept something as right after it has been practiced so much that it is accepted by society, regardless of what God says about it.

I can remember when almost everyone opposed smoking by women (though many, inconsistently, upheld it for men), the wearing of scanty clothing, mixed bathing, etc. But today few oppose any of these on the basis of morality.

If one will take the time to study the morals of the children of Israel, from the days of Jacob until the time of Christ, he will find that God never did smile upon immorality. In fact, when Israel became immoral God withheld his blessings. When Israel repented and became moral people God blessed them abundantly. Furthermore, almost always when Israel became immoral they became idolatrous and conversely when they became idolaters they always became immoral.

In this day of grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:17), the generic, basic foundation principles of morality are the same as they were in the days of Adam or in the days of Israel.

There are four areas of immorality that not only seem to prevail in the world, but also seem to be prevailing among many of God's own people today. Each of these are soul-destroying. Each will render one's influence null and void for righteousness, and I believe they will cause God to withhold His blessings from His church, regardless of other areas of fidelity, such as purity of worship, organization, work, etc. The four areas are as follows....

 

1. Profanity and vulgarity (including the use of euphemisms) have always been offensive to God, but are heard too often from the lips of God's people today (Tit. 2:8; Matt. 12:36-37; Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:8).

2. Drinking intoxicants, whether bar-room drinking, social drinking or private drinking, defiles men and women, degrades the youth, leads to irresponsibility in other moral matters and brings shame, disgrace and even death (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35; Gal. 5:21).

3. Nudity (and near nudity) have always been shameful in God's sight (Rev. 3:18; 16:15). Every biblical reference to nakedness indicates shamefulness. The modern mini-skirt is a disgrace to any Christian who wears it. It cannot be considered as that adornment that exemplifies holiness of heart, nor can it be considered adornment that produces purity of mind in others (Phil. 4:8). Such scanty attire is, in and of itself, lascivious and it produces licentiousness and lust in others (Gal. 5:19).

4. Divorce and remarriage are so strongly condemned in the Bible that it would seem we hardly need to mention them. Yet these evils are not only practiced by some children of God, but they are overlooked and excused by most Christians today. However, when marriage is degraded, when home is debased and when the family circle is inconsequential, the basic foundation of society is thus removed and the anger of God is kindled (Mal. 2:14-16). Most of all, when this is true among God's children, the church is disgraced and the Lord must withhold His blessings (see Matt. 19:9; Rev. 2:14-16, 20-23).

Let us remember that true morality does not adapt to the styles and customs of the world. And let us not forget that it is the duty of Christians to demonstrate high moral standards regardless of what the world does. The destiny of our souls depends upon it, and the welfare of the church is at stake.

 

Settled On Their Lees

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I (God) will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil." Zephaniah 1:12

It is clear from this passage that God was going to punish His people because they were complacent. There was a total lack of concern regarding God in Judah. During the fermentation process sediment (lees or dregs) would settle on the bottom of the wine skin. It just sat their unmoved. The New American Standard Bible renders "settled on their lees as "stagnant in spirit" nasb So comfortable to the ways things were, the children of Judah were indifferent to God, their were "settled on their lees."

Judah was disillusioned and therefore gambled on God being indifferent as they. Neither carrying about good or evil. In truth they were counting on Divine indifference. But God reveals through Zephaniah, His plan to punish His people.

Are Christians settled on their lees today? Are we depending on ourselves instead of God? Are we pursuing happiness in material things? Do we disobey God’s law’s to pursue our own interests? Are we "stagnant in spirit"? Not only is it a American problem it has become a real problem in the Lord’s church.

A member of the Lord’s church most generally does not openly express his indifference, but the actions of his heart does. Are you settled on your lees? I see this a lot at the end of articles now… THINK! Stacy Crim

  Back to Current Year Bulletins