GOD’S PLUMBLINE

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more (Amos 7:7-8).

Webster’s dictionary defines the plumbline as; “a lead weight hung at the end of a line to determine whether a wall is vertical or straight, instrument used to test if something is vertical or straight; instrument used to determine if lines are true.”

When God showed this vision to Amos, He was giving him a message to deliver to Israel. The message was “I have set a standard before you to follow, and you are going to be judged by this standard.”

In his commentary, Adam Clarke had this to say about the plumbline seen by Amos; “This appears to be an emblem of strict justice and indicates God is going to now visit them according to their iniquities.”

God goes on to tell Amos that Israel is about to be destroyed because they did not adhere to the standard He had set. On another occasion God again informs Israel, “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet” (Isaiah 28:17).

Jeremiah knew that God had set a standard or “plumbed the line” before the people, and that is why his concern is so clear as he penned the following words; “Stand ye in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). But what was the response of the people? They said, “We will not walk therein.”

Even our Lord knew that man would not walk by the “plumbed” way. He told us there were two ways. One wide and broad that leads to destruction, the other strait and narrow that leads to life eternal. Many would go in by the broad way, but only a few would enter that strait and narrow way (Matthew 7:13,14).

In everything we do we must look for God’s “plumbline,” because it is by this measurement or standard that we will be judged. Let’s look now at what God has put His “plumbline” against to set the standard for us.

God has set His “plumbline” against our SALVATION. God and Christ want all men to be saved, they are not willing that any should perish. For this reason, God has given a standard which we must follow if we expect to be saved. We must hear the true word of God, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We must believe the word and in Jesus, God’s Son, because it is impossible to please God without belief (Hebrews 11:6). We must repent of our sins, because without repentance there can be no forgiveness (Luke 13:3). We must confess Christ, because if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father (Matt. 10:32). And we must be baptized for the remission of our sins, because it is in baptism that we contact the cleansing blood of Christ (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5).

This is God’s standard for obedience to the Gospel. Anything else, taught by anyone else, anywhere else, at any other time is not true if it does not “plumb” according to God’s Word. We must be sure that what we do for salvation must not deviate from God’s straight line or else we will be lost.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our LIFE. Once we have obeyed the Gospel and become one of His children, God expects us to walk by His rule—His standard. He does not leave His rules to guess, but has laid them out for us in a straight for-ward way.

1. We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and live soberly, righteously and godly (Titus 2:12).
2. We are to abstain from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
3. We are to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).
4. We are to avoid the works of the flesh, and seek the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:19-23).
5. We are to study to show ourselves approved of God, so that we might grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:2).
6. We are to add to our life the Christian Graces (II Peter 1:5-10).
7. We are to be an example to those around us (I Timothy 4:12-16). If we live by these and other rules and standards found in God’s Word, we can look for Him to say on that day of judgment “Well done thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

God has placed His “plumbline” against our WORSHIP. God expects us, as His people, to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” Worship must be done decently and in the order (I Corinthians 14:40) as God dictates; and, it must be for His glory. God's standard for our worship includes the following:

1. Preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Acts 20:7).
2. Congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
3. Publicly offering up prayers (Acts 2:42).
4. Remembering the Lord’s death by the partak-ing (on each first day of the week) of the Lord’s supper (I Corinthians 11:23-29; I Corinthians 16:1).
5. Giving of our means as we have purposed in our hearts, with the right attitude (I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7).

This is God’s prescribed way to worship, and He holds His “plumbline” against what we do and call worship. Anything left out is not pleasing to Him, and any-thing added is not pleasing to Him.

God has placed His “plumbline” against FALSE TEACHERS. God wants the Gospel preached to the whole world. It is this Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe (Romans 1:16). Those who do not follow the standard in their preaching and teaching will have to face the wrath of God. Galatians 1:6-9 says that if we preach any other gospel than that which was once and for all delivered by the Lord, we will be accursed. 2 John 9-11 informs us as a people that if any one preaches or teaches any thing other than what was delivered by Christ, we are to reject them. Then II Peter 2:1 tells us that false teachers who bring in their “damnable heresies” shall be destroyed.

God and Christ knew that men would depart from sound doctrine, and would gather to themselves men who would preach to please the ear (II Timothy 4:3-4), and for that reason the “plumbline” was set against what must be preached, and we can not deviate from it. God’s word is complete, it is perfect, it is simple, and it is universal in that it applies to all men.

God has placed His “plumbline” against our WORKS. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” A Christian must be an active working servant in the Lord’s king-dom. Just as the physical body has many working parts, so does the spiritual body. And, for the body/church of our Lord to be in “good health,” every member must be a working part of it.

When God put His “plumbline” against our works, He looks to see if we have taken every opportunity to do good (Galatians 6:10). He looks to see if we are doing those works for His glory, or are we doing them to be praised of men (Matthew 5:16). He looks to see if we are following “that which is good to all men” (I Thessalonians 5:15). We must remember that on the day of Judgment we will give an account of all that we have done on this earth whether it be good or evil. God’s standard is for us to do good to all.

God told Amos “I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people.” Brethren we must believe that He has. Everything we do must be in accordance with God's standard or else it is sin.

Now let me ask you, if God was to hold His “plumbline” up beside you right now, as a congrega-tion or as an individual, would you be straight and true or would you be “off plumb?”

Danny L. Box

The Unity of the Church

The book of Psalms has been appropriately called “the hymn book of the Bible.”  There are more than twenty-five hundred verses in its one hundred and fifty chapters, and doubtless that many songs have been composed from them through the centuries and millenniums since their sentiments swelled the bosom of Israel's sweet singer.  Many of these verses were chanted in the worship of early Christians, and they will be sung in every generation wherever people are found worshiping God until we learn the “new song” in Heaven, “when all the redeemed singers get home.”

To rob our modern productions of the sentiments and psalms of David would be, indeed, to impoverish our worship of praise.

A SONG OF UNITY.  Psalm 133 is a song of unity, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  There is nothing more stifling and stultifying to the emotions of the soul than strife and division.  There is nothing more soothing and beneficent to the spirit than peace and unity.

Unity among brethren is like “the precious ointment upon the head,” in the psalmist’s refrain.  The Easterners perfumed with fragrant oil.  Unity perfumes the church and sweetens the atmosphere like the precious oil “than ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:  that went down to the skirts of his garments.”

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.  Exhorting the brethren to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” Paul outlines, in Ephesians 4:4-6, the basis of unity. “There is one body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling:  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  The “unity of the spirit” is the unity the Spirit teaches, or that results when the Spirit’s Word is obeyed.

There is one God—unity in worship.  A divided worship cannot be rendered “in spirit and in truth.”  Wherever and whenever rendered, true worship must have the two elements—the right spirit and the right act; for God is one, and “seeketh such to be his worshipers.”

There is one Lord—unity in authority.  Human authority in religion is wrong.  Christ is Lord, and His Word only is authority.

There is one faith—unity in message.  The Spirit, which guided “into all truth,” does not impart conflicting messages.  The Gospel promotes unity; and where there is division, something else has been preached.

There is one baptism—unity in practice.  Modes of baptism!  We might as well talk about shades of white.  There is no such thing.

There is one body—unity in organization.  The church is one body.  It is impossible to have “spiritual unity” and “organic” division.  Unity is both spiritual and organic.

There is one Spirit and one hope—unity in life, in desire and expectation.

Thus, Paul outlines the only basis of unity.  Let the world cease their efforts toward amalgamations, federations, alliances, and unions, and adopt the divine standard and basis of unity—oneness in Christ.

THE PRAYER FOR UNITY.  The Lord's prayer in John 17:1-21 was an ardent petition for unity.  “May they all be one.”  Jesus praying for the unity of believers!  Yet, it has not touched the heart of those who are promoting denominationalism in the world, nor even of brethren who sow discord and stir factions in the church.  Denominationalism is the misrepresentation of Christianity—a horrid caricature—and the authors of perversions in religion are enemies of Christ, professing and even honestly thinking themselves to be His friends.

But “charity begins at home.”  We cannot with good grace preach unity and practice division. “I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10).  Paul’s beseechment should not only be our preachment, but also our practice.  The unity of Christians is the only hope of bringing the world to Christ.  Jesus knew it, and therefore prayed that “they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”                                                              

Foy E. Wallace, Jr

DOGMATIC, NARROW-MINDED, AND LEGALISTIC

There are, in the church today, those who attempt to neutralize God's revelation to man with intimidation. These compromisers do not want to oppose error in any way, and are influencing souls to turn from God’s word to follow the path of least resistance, i.e., the path of worldly acceptance and religious union.

Compromising Christian — I suppose you have the old foggy idea that some people are going to roast in an eternal Hell.

Christian — The Bible teaches that each will reap what is sown (Galatians 6:7-8), and there are some activities which will result in man’s condemnation (Galatians 5:19-21; I Corinthians 6:9-11). God himself teaches that some of his rebellious creatures will be lost (Matthew 25:46).

Compromising Christian — Why that is the most dogmatic, narrow-minded, legalistic thing I have ever heard!

Christian — It is the teaching of God’s word!

Compromising Christian — You’re probably an old moss back who believes that shorts and other immodest clothing, mixed swimming, dancing and social drinking are sin.

Christian — Yes, it is a sin, but not because I think it is a sin but because God condemns these acts as works of the flesh (Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:19-21; i.e., revelling, drunkenness, lasciviousness).

Compromising Christian — Why that’s the most dogmatic, narrow-minded, legalistic thing I have ever heard!

Christian—But it is God’s message!

Compromising Christian—I imagine you have the same narrow views concerning divorce and remarriage.

Christian—God’s word is very plain concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage. God’s plan for marriage is one woman for one man for one life time (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Romans 7:1-4). If divorce takes place it must be for fornication (Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:12). To put away a mate for any other cause and to remarry is to be guilty of adultery (Matthew 19:9).

Compromising Christian —Well, I have never...that’s the most dogmatic, narrow-minded, legalistic thing I have ever heard.

Christian — It is taught by inspiration!

Compromising Christian — Do you honestly, actually, truly believe that using instrumental music in worship is a sin, and that people will be lost in Hell because they use it in their worship?

Christian — It isn’t what I believe that is important, what is important is what God has commanded. Each time music is mentioned in the New Testament (in the worship of Christians) it specifies vocal music (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; 13:15; James 5:13). The transgression of God’s standard is sin (I John 3:4). It is God’s word which will be the standard of judgment (John 12:48-49).

Compromising Christian — That is the absolute end. That's the most dogmatic, narrow-minded, legalistic thing I have heard in my whole life!

But all the ranting, raving, intimidation and disparaging remarks do not change one iota of God’s revelation to man. It still stands, and will continue to stand (I Peter 1:25), till judgment when it will be God’s standard for judging the works of men (John 12:48-49).

The characters referred to in this article are not fictitious; they are real and exist in many congregations in the brotherhood today. May the compromising Christian see the error of his/her way and repent that salvation might be theirs in the hereafter.

Thomas F. Eaves, Sr.

NO COST RELIGION

After David had been told by God to build an altar and worship God on the threshing floor of Araunah, this Jebusite offered the king the threshing floor and everything necessary to worship God. David refused the offer with these words: “Nay, but I will verily buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing” (II Samuel 24:24).

Would that all Christians had the attitude of David. Instead, they often show the very opposite disposition. David realized that an offering which cost him nothing was worth exactly that to him—nothing. God has always demanded the best that each person has—not what somebody else has (Leviticus 22:21).

All we have has been given to us by God to use for His glory and in His service. We are but stewards of these things (1 Pet. 4:10). The Lord expects us to be good stewards, but giving what comes without cost to us is not practicing faithful stewardship. The measure of our devotion, reverence, and love for God is in direct proportion to how much we are willing to commit to the service of God, or how much we are willing to sacrifice (John 12:3ff). Those who take the easiest, cheapest way to serve God are, in reality, servants of self, not God.

There is to be nothing cheap about our religion. It is to be the best we have—the same attitude that characterized David. “I will not offer... unto Jehovah my God [that] which cost me nothing.”

Al Brown

Scriptural Worship

• Preaching the Word of God – Acts 2:42
• Giving of Your Means – I Corinthians 16:1-2
• Observing the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7
• A Cappella Singing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
• Praying – Acts 2:42

MARKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

The world in general and religious people in particular ought to recognize that teachers and preachers have no more right to handle the Word of God deceitfully than the teller in your local bank has to juggle his books and misappropriate the funds of others. The thieving bank clerk if brought into court would land in jail, and the false teacher after judgment will dwell in torment. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)

MODERN CHURCHES

Many churches have become famous because of the grandeur and splendor of their church buildings, the high educational attainments, or the gifted oratory of the minister. Others have gained favor among the people because of their social and recreational activities. They build a stage, sound the trumpets, and put on a show for the benefit of the world. The playroom displaces the prayer room. Lectures and book reviews take the place of Bible teaching and an ounce of Bible preaching against popular sins would cause as much consternation as a “block-buster” on Broadway. Such places are not churches; they are social clubs and recreational centers. There is a vast difference between the modern churches of today when they are contrasted with a model congregation of the New Testament period. Some one has written a poem on “The Modern Church” which will illustrate what I mean. It is too lengthy to quote in full but here are a few selections from the poem:

         “Well, wife I’ve found the modern church and worshipped there today;

It made me think the good old times had surely passed away.

The meeting house was finer built than they were years ago,

But I found when I went in ‘twas mostly built for show.

An usher led me down that stylish aisle (he knew that I was poor)

And found a plain uncushioned seat away back by the door;

I saw the people coming in―their silks a rustling made;

They did not come to worship God―it was a dress parade.

I wish you'd heard the music, wife, it had the opera ring,

The preacher did not rise and say, “Let everybody sing,”

No, no, dear wife, that’ out of date, they’ve got way up higher,

They don’t make music in their souls, but praise God with a choir.

There was an organ and a horn, a banjo and a flute,

And almost every kind of thing that’s used to squeak or toot.

It made me think of younger days when I attended balls,

They didn’t sound the Savior's name, of Crown him Lord of all.

I wish you’d heard the sermon, wife, ‘twas not the old time truth;

It did not suit old men like me, nor help the giddy youth.

It did not speak of dying love, nor yet of rising, power,

Nor of the Father’s watchful care, extended every hour.

He did not speak of church or creeds, the gospel’s power to save,

Or whether we should pour or cross, or dip beneath the wave.

He did not say, Confess your sins, be-lieve, repent or pray,

You could not tell there was a soul that needed aught that day.”

            These few verses from the pen of T. R. Burnett serve as an indictment of modernism in religion. Is it for social entertainment? Do you go to hear lectures on social, political, or economic issues? Do you go to church to hear a book review of some current, best-seller in the field of literature? Or do you go to church to hear God’s word pro-claimed, the Bible taught in its purity, and engage with other kindred souls in the most devout and sincere worship of God the Father? Jesus said to the woman at Jacob’s well: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:22, 24).

VAIN WORSHIP

Jesus further informs us that it is possible for us to worship God in vain. To the Pharisees, the strictest sect of that day, Jesus said: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).

The religious world today needs to realize that a “thus said the Lord” is vital in all worship and teaching. God’s revelation of the acts of worship, and the conditions of pardon, stands complete and final. He has given unto us all that pertains to life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). We have a “perfect law of liberty” in Christ (James 1:25), so we should be careful to continue therein. That which is perfect never needs amendment, substitution, or sub-traction. In this connection let’s read (Revelation 22:18, 29): “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

LOYALTY TO THE TRUTH

The church of Christ in your community believes in calling Bible things by Bible names, teaching the truth in its primitive simplicity, and worshipping the Father as the Bible directs. The power of plain gospel preaching, and the beauty and simplicity of a scriptural worship service are the only attractions we have to offer the world. We have no plea but the gospel and no creed except the New Testament. If you are interested in becoming better acquainted with a group of people who profess to be Christians only, here are a few considerations that will help you to understand:

1. Who We Really Are

The church of the Lord, in your community, is composed of those believers in Christ, who have become obedient from the heart to that form of doctrine delivered unto men. (Romans 6:17) being thereby made free from all past sins, and having become children of God and heirs with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). As heirs with Christ and followers of his teaching, the members of the church, wear the name Christian signifying their relation to Christ (Acts 11:26).

We believe that the whole heart of man composed of the intellect, emotions, and will power, must be completely turned from a love of sin and unrighteousness to an abiding love for God and right. This complete change of heart is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

The Spirit testifies through the gospel of Christ and we having heard this testimony, became believers in Christ (Romans 10:17). The gospel is the instrument that the Spirit used to produce spiritual life in our hearts (I Corinthians 4:15).

Realizing that faith must work by love to avail anything (Galatians 5:6), we became obedient to the faith (Romans 1:5) and at this point Christ became the author of our salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Our souls were purified by obedience to the truth (I Peter 1:22), and in our submission we acknowledged Christ as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Faith in the Spirit's testimony led us in godly sorrow to repent of all past sins (II Corinthians 7:10). Then, realizing that salvation was possible only in Christ, we desired to enter into Christ where such spiritual blessings as redemption and the hope of Life eternal might be received. From the Spirit’s teaching we learned that the believing, penitent person should be baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3) and that such a baptism is unto the remission of past sins (Acts 2:38), we were then “buried with Christ” in baptism, and then raised to walk in newness of life.

All those baptized, who were baptized in accord with the Spirit’s instructions, were added to the church by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:47), so we also, by the same Lord, were in the same manner added to the same church. If not, why not? Has the law of reproduction failed? Has the Lord disregarded His divine plan of adding to the church daily, such as should be saved? No, the Lord has not failed, neither has the plan been altered. Com-ply with the conditions of pardon specified in God’s Word today, and the Lord will still add you to His church now just like He has added thou-sands of others in ages past.

2. As To The Worship Service

We assemble on the first day of the week “to break bread" or observe the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7) and by this solemn service we keep alive in our hearts the memory of our Lord’s suffering and death until some glad day we shall see Him coming on the clouds of heaven (I Corinthians 11: 17).

There is no melody sweeter than the heartfelt melody of human voices rising in praise and devotion, in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16). And since the Lord commanded that we make melody WITH our hearts unto Him in song, we do not presume to use a mechanical instrument which is wholly unauthorized in the New Testament.

We fully recognize the need and obligation of teaching and giving much time to the study of God’s Word. We also, as did the brethren in Jerusalem, desire to continue in the “apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers” (Acts 2:42). We are taught to give our means as we are prospered (I Corinthians 16:1-2), out of which funds we support all the work of the church. The contribution on the first day of every week is assessed by Jehovah according to our ability, but there is no assessment by man, nor do we ever raise money by entertainment to support the Lord’s work. “As a man purposeth in his heart, so let him give” (II Corinthians 9:8) Do you know friends, that the most desirable and happy life on earth is the Christian Life? And the way the Lord reveals in His word is clearly de-fined and will safely lead us home to heaven. Why not walk that way today?

J. A. McNutt

A Fifty-year-old Decision

"People do not accidentally attend worship without missing one worship service for twenty years.  They must have planned always to attend.  Soon after I obeyed the gospel in the fall of 1909, I read of an old brother who had not missed going to worship a single Sunday in 41 years.  That story caused me to resolve and to purpose in my heart that I would never miss the worship on a single Lord's Day as long as I lived, if possible to attend.  I have missed four Sundays in over fifty years, and then it was because of illness.

Once I made that decision, the question has not come up as to whether I would attend church services or not.  In fact, I did not decide last Lord's Day to go to worship, nor the Sunday before.  That decision was made more than fifty years ago. 

“It is a sin for any member of the church to miss the worship unless he is unable to attend.  The very nature of our religion is such that those who feel this is a burden need to be converted."

 Gus Nichols