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 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 36*  September 3,  2006

"Will Work For Food"

by Greg Gwin

A homeless man frequently stations himself near a major intersection and holds up a hand written sign which reads: "Will Work For Food". Several have attempted to offer him work. One such offer was reported by an investigative reporter for a local TV news department. All have been refused. This man, despite what his sign says, is looking for a handout - not for work. We are disappointed and disgusted by the situation. The Lord has something to say about it, too: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat" (2 Thess. 3:10).

There is a spiritual parallel to this sad tale. It goes like this: Christians assemble to worship God. They unite their voices to sing:

"Lord Send Me"

"I want to be a soul winner for Jesus"

"We'll work till Jesus comes"

"I want to be a worker for the Lord".

But, when challenged with opportunities to serve God, they hold back and do nothing. Bible study is neglected, prayer is abandoned, worship assemblies and special classes are not attended, financial support is not forthcoming, personal work efforts are largely ignored. Do you see it? Isn't this like the homeless man who says he wants work but will not accept it?

There are too many who want the rewards of Christianity without doing any work. They're looking for a spiritual "handout". They will not receive it. God views the spiritually lazy in the same way He views the physically lazy: no work, no reward. "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). &

Fear of Truth

By Jim Lee

King Ahab wanted to recover Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. He asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help. Ahab would have gone immediately, but Jehoshaphat said they first ought to inquire for the word of the Lord. Ahab brought in 400 prophets who he knew would give a favorable answer. Jehoshaphat was unimpressed. "Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?" Yes, there was Micaiah, Ahab replied, "but I hate him because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (1 Kn. 22:8). Sure enough, Micaiah predicted that Ahab would not return from the battle.

The kings decided to go anyway. Ahab, who did not want to hear God’s word and was now stubbornly disobeying it, tried to circumvent the prophecy by disguising himself in the battle. Nevertheless, an arrow shot at random struck him and he died.

Why did Ahab not call the legitimate prophet to begin with? Because he was afraid God would say no to what he wanted to do. And why did he take evasive measures? Because although he did not have enough regard for the Lord’s word to obey it, it frightened him sufficiently that he thought what it said just might be so.

Ahab is certainly pitiful in this account. But is he any more so than his modern counterparts? If you do not read your Bible or listen to gospel preaching out of fear it might require you to make some changes, you are another Ahab. And if you put on a disguise of self-made righteousness to "prepare," just in case there is a judgment, your effort will be as futile as Ahab’s.

Truth is not the enemy; error is. Truth makes us free (Jn. 8:32). Self-deception is disastrous. Do not fear the mirror of God’s word. Come study with us. &

Permissive Parents

by Bill Hall

Children can influence their parents just as parents can influence their children. The following story about an imaginary couple may have been duplicated in the lives of many of our readers.

George and Mary were a wonderful couple as they began their life together. Throughout their youth they had received strong teaching concerning worldliness, and their conduct showed the effects of that teaching.

They had been taught faithfulness in attendance, and they never missed a service for "anything." In character and conviction, they were blameless.

This young couple failed, however, to instill into the hearts of their children these same convictions. Consequently, as the children reached their teens, they began to put pressure on their parents to let them do what all the other young people were doing. Gradually the will of the parents was broken down, and they began to permit their children to do things they never dreamed their children would do.

Rationalization came easy for George and Mary. "After all, the Bible is not specific in these matters," they thought. "The Bible says 'modest apparel,' but it doesn't define modesty." "And, they're only planning to go to the dance; they aren't planning to dance." "We can't say 'no' to everything," they said. When Junior began to show unusual athletic ability, the question of attending services became a problem. At first they took Junior out of games and brought him to midweek services, but then the team began to depend more and more on him. The play-offs came, and the team's only hope in the play-offs was for Junior to play. George and Mary gave in. And once they had given in, they had no more argument for the future. Junior never missed another game to "go to church."

George and Mary often found themselves on the defensive in Bible classes. They began to argue for their children's behavior. And, the more accustomed they became to their children's actions, the more innocent their actions seemed to be. Eventually, their own conduct became affected. They reached the point where they thought nothing of missing on Friday night during a meeting to see Junior play ball. Mary even adopted some of the daughter's dress habits, although remaining sufficiently "discreet" to stay in the good graces of the brethren. Yes, George and Mary are still in good standing in the church, and their change has been so gradual that many fail to realize that they are not the strong Christians they formerly were. What happened to George and Mary? Instead of bringing their children "up" in the nurture and admonition of the "Lord," their children brought them "down" in the nurture and admonition of the "devil."

Our children may do wrong, but they must not do wrong with our permission! We do not seek anger, but repentance. Parents, would your names fit in the place of "George" and "Mary" in the above story?

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