"Would you withdraw from a brother who differs with you on this matter?" This is a question that seems to be arising with increasing frequency whenever brethren disagree.

It is a question that must be considered seriously by sincere Christians, for there are false teachers who must be marked and avoided. "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."(Rom. 16:17-18) "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."(II John 9-11) There comes the point when we can no longer extend the right hand of fellowship, for we are convinced that there are men among us who are leading the church into apostasy. What we would build up, they would tear down. What we would tear down, they would try to build up. How can we lend our encouragement and endorsement to such men?

Sometimes the question of fellowship is used, however, to try to discredit a man before he is given a fair hearing. A man presents his convictions concerning the celebration of Christmas, or the woman’s head covering, or a Christian’s participation in carnal warfare, or the right of a woman to raise questions in a mixed Bible class, or concerning any number of other matters that pertain to personal, individual conduct, and the first question raised in reply might be, "Would you withdraw from a brother who differs with you on this matter?" The raising of such a question doesn’t answer a single argument, but it surely does put the teacher on the spot. If he answers "yes" to the question, he is marked as a divider of the church over his opinions. If he answers "no," his sincerity in really believing what he has presented is questioned. The poor man is caught either way. He is discredited and embarrassed, but his position, whether it is true or false, is not answered!!! Sometimes it is easier to discredit a man and prejudice an audience against him than it is to answer his arguments.

We cannot fellowship those who are leading the church into apostasy. Nor can we fellowship those who are causing divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ. But must we break fellowship with one another over every difference that might arise, even those pertaining to personal, individual conduct? We hope not, for such action would split the church into a hundred splinters. Surely there is room for longsuffering in such matters. And surely we can develop a sense of fairness in our discussions of such differences. Prejudicial questions and unfair tactics have no place in discussions between sincere Christians.

-- Bill Hall

According to a U.S. News and World Report study on morality published recently, attitudes concerning premarital sex have changed. Today, a majority (61%) feel it isn’t wrong, in 1969 only 32% approved. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." God says that premarital sex is wrong!

As to extramarital sex or adultery, the study showed that the percentage of people who believe it is not wrong has risen from 65% in 1978 to 72% today. We’re living in a time of great moral decay. Listen to God’s condemnation of adultery in Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you

beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Friends, God says extramarital sex is wrong!

The report goes on to say that while 40% of adults would vote for a homosexual for president, and almost two-thirds would vote against a law that permits the firing of a homosexual schoolteacher. Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 10, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." Friends, God says homosexuality is wrong!

Even though the majority of the world may think these things are all right, a Christian will not agree to any of them because God declares they’re wrong! -- Tom Sutherland

We have recently witnessed one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in American history. It is one of the greatest because of the "trickle down" effect or influence it has on our society. It also serves as a benchmark as to where our society stands morally. That a president can perjure himself, lie to millions on national television, obstruct justice, tamper with witnesses, and engage in sexual activity with a subordinate less than half his age while supposedly at work in the Oval Office and be acquitted by a congress which "represents" the nation that elected it speaks reams about our culture, and casts a foreboding shadow on our future as a free people governed by the rule of law. What are we to do? Continue to do what we are supposed to do! Be honest and truthful ourselves, insist on the same in our children, and teach that eternally all liars, like all other sinners, "shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."(Rev. 21:8) The same gospel that saved sinful idolaters in places like Corinth, Ephesus, and Lystra will save sinful people today in places like Huntsville, Decatur, and Athens, Alabama. Further, sinful immoral practices today are no more damning than sinful idolatrous practices in the ancient world. Just as early Christians found souls to save from the clutches of a pagan, materialistic society, we can find souls to save from the clutches of an immoral, humanistic society.

While deleterious influences abound in high places, such was also the case during the first century. Yet a Timothy could come from a city of idols, and though a Caesar was desirous of stamping out Christianity, it would be during his reign that Paul could say the gospel had reached every creature under heaven.(Col. 1:23) That means that we can and must still do right ourselves. It also means that the gospel can still move people to obey it and be saved.

Further, we must live each day unto the Lord, doing what is right ourselves, while trying to teach and influence those around us that we and they may be saved in heaven. After all, that is the most important thing we can do. While our country has been blessed far more than any known in history, the grim testimony of history is that nations come and go. As a nation we have been in existence over 200 years. That is not as many as some, but much longer than many countries. Will history treat us differently in this respect? Why should it? No country has followed a different path thus far.

Regardless of what our future as a country holds, the need of the hour is the same since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden—mankind needs salvation from his sins. Are you a Christian? If not, why not? Why not believe the gospel, repent of sins, confess your faith, and be baptized for the remission of sins?(Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38) It is God’s plan and man’s only hope. -- p.a.o.

There is a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia named, "Church of God Grill."

Someone called and asked about their unusual name and the reply was, "We had a little mission down here, and we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. People liked the chicken, and we did such a good business, that eventually we cut back on the church service. After a while, we just closed down the church altogether, and kept on serving the chicken dinners. We kept the name we started with, and that's ‘Church of God Grill.’"