Church Member Covenant Obligations

“WE ENGAGE…to abstain from having any part in the use of, sale of, or promotion of alcoholic drinks or drugs in any way” (It is understood this is not referring to medications prescribed by doctors.)

Many people are using alcohol and drugs today, causing much damage to individuals and society. The Bible everywhere condemns drunkenness, and that which contributes to it. If three drinks make you drunk, then one drink makes you one-third drunk. Drugs were not a problem in Bible days, so they are not mentioned by name, but categorically are the same, or even worse than alcohol.

THE BELIEVER’S BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”Since the Bible condemns drunkenness, all who glorify God will abstain from alcoholic beverages.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE DEGRADING: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink.” Proverbs 31:4Drunkenness inflames passions, impairs judgment, leading to foolish decisions and irresponsible actions.

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES A DRUNK AS LOSING HIS MORAL JUDGMENT: “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.” Isaiah 28:7-8 Thus, God made it a capital offense for the priests: “Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.” Leviticus 10:9 Consider how ungodly it is today for clergymen to lead their congregations to drink fermented wine in the observance of the Lord’s supper! God declared this to be punishable by death for His priests.

GOD SENT HIS WRATH UPON ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THEIR DRINKING ALCOHOL. “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.” Isaiah 28:1-4 “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.” Isaiah 5:11,22.

AVOID THOSE WHO USE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh.” Proverbs 23:19-20.

DO NOT KEEP COMPANY WITH THOSE THAT DRINK. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11

THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO LIVE RIGHT AND TO AVOID STRONG DRINK. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:15-18

THE BIBLE TEACHES TOTAL ABSTINANCE FROM ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” Proverbs 23:29-35

WE BECOME A PARTAKER OF THE SINS OF OTHERS IF WE SELL, OR PROMOTE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS OR THE USE THEREOF: “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Habakkuk 2:15

ALL THE SCRIPTURES AGREE – CHRISTIANITY AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DO NOT MIX!

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A Curse Or A Blessing? (Jeremiah 17:5)

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”

These are the days when multitudes are in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14) People are being tested by the course of events as to what their morals are, what their values are, what their principles are, whether they have a faith in God that will not be compromised, or whether they will yield to the world’s principalities and powers, that are contrary to God’s Word.

The Bible declares, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” (Jeremiah 17:7) Whereas, Satan’s anti-christ program is to cause men’s hearts to depart from the Lord to become dependent upon the policies and programs of man. The anti-christ will consolidate his control over the masses after he herds them into positions where their very livelihood depends upon compliance with the rules and regulations of his governmental powers, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:17)

For the anti-christ to have the say over people, forcing them to comply with his policies or they will not be able to buy, sell, etc., the ruling government must first get control over industry, over financial institutions, over the housing market, and over essential services such as education, health care, etc. Once governmental powers have control over these public entities, then the government can require that individuals meet government requirements before they can get an education, get a job, get a loan, get health care, etc.

It is tragic that so many people on all levels of society are placing their hope in the government to provide them the necessities of life, because they think it is free. But everything the government provides, the government controls. This turns out to be a curse upon the individual’s life and liberty, as they sell themselves into the systems of man that will have control over them.

Christians need to accept the responsibility for their own lives and their own welfare. We need to be fully given over to trusting in the Lord, living and walking by faith, with God on the throne of our heart, as Master over our lives. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

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Indispensable Mothers

I believe it can be accurately stated that every mother, of sound mind, wants what is best for her child(ren). I believe it is also safe to say that parenting is perhaps the most important role in the human race. For if we cannot produce proper offspring, then the noble causes of humanity are lost.

The teachings of God’s Word are sufficient to throughly furnish a parent’s understanding about parenting. Then it becomes a matter of implementing and following through by faith in God.

UNSELFISH COMMITMENT – love. “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:4-5

A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT – training. “Train up a child in the way he should go-” Proverbs 22:6 Proper conduct and performance are developed through training.

AN EARNEST & GENUINE CONCERN – oversight. “She looketh well to the ways of her household.” Proverbs 31:27 Children are in check through realizing that Mom will overlook nothing, but will see everything, because “She has eyes in the back of her head, too.”

A WHOLEHEARTED DEVOTION – perception. Always seeking to know what is going on, through communication with God, “…Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” Job 1:5

INTEGRITY FOR THE CHILD’S WELL BEING – discipline. “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Proverbs 29:17,15 “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not they soul spare for his crying.” Proverbs 19:18

THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY – authority. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19 The will of the parent must be stronger than the will of the child, for the parent to exercise authority over their children. This is what 1 Timothy 3:4 refers to, “children in subjection with all gravity.” Children must be trained and disciplined to respect the authority and word of their parents, rather than be permitted to decline to obey, such as “Why” or “I don’t want to,” etc. Should your child be in a roadway with approaching cars when you call for them to come to safety, it would be fatal for them to not obey, but rather protest, “Why” or “I don’t want to.” Authority is established by the parent having the will to enforce their word and will upon the child’s thinking and behavior.

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“The Lord Is My Shepherd” Psalm 23

This Psalm is all about personal faith and trust in God, and the blessed assurance that comes to those living in the will of God. This Psalm expresses what the expectant faith of the obedient believer knows God will bring to pass, in due season.

GOD IS THE SHEPHERD OF HIS CHILDREN, v1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Because of the believer’s personal knowledge of God’s righteousness, God is judged to be faithful in all He has promised.

GOD IS THE PROVIDENTIAL KEEPER OF HIS OWN, v2. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Although our faith teaches us that with food and raiment therewith be content, our experience manifests that God sends “handfuls of purpose” to bless us in our way, as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THAT WHICH PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE, v3. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” God’s performance of His promises will never mar His name. God’s people have their salvation and their eternal glory, all due to the grace of God. It is by the power of God that those trusting in Him are made to overcome.

GOD’S CHILDREN FIND PEACE IN SUBMISSION TO HIM, v4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Since every child of God is chastened for their own profit, and this is known to be God loving His own, this endears God’s children unto Him. God’s children lean and depend upon the superiority of their heavenly Father. Knowing God is watching over us for our good, promotes love and respect towards Him.

GOD’S PURPOSE TO EXALT HIS OWN, RESULTS IN CHRISTIANS REJOICING IN THE LORD, v5. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” God’s plan is to use the lives of those who have a testimony of faith in Him, to manifest the riches of His grace to a lost world. This involves God doing things that are obviously for the benefit of His children, in the sight of those who are opposed to them. It is the faithful believer’s joy to know that God works all things together for their good, as they honor Him in life.

GOD’S CHILDREN ARE DRAWN TO HIM WITH GRATITUDE, IN FULL ASSURANCE, v6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” For those who love God, God’s house brings them into closer communion with the One they want to know more of, the source from whence all blessings flow. God’s house is preferred above every other place, by those who know the glory of God. A Christian seeks not only to commune with God, to be fed by His Word, but also to enjoy the fellowship of their brethren in Christ, whom they love in the Lord.

The world cannot appreciate God’s house, because the natural man discerns not spiritual things, but rather comes short of the glory of God, knowing only the pleasures of sin for a season.

The net result of one’s experience in God’s house is consistent with their faith, or the lack thereof: “According to your faith, be it unto you.”

To forsake God’s house manifests that one has lost sight of the glory of God’s righteousness, and has become blinded to the incompleteness of their human state. IS GOD YOUR SHEPHERD?

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Offenses

From Our Church Covenant: “to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.”

We all know that offenses do happen. They seem to attack as a virus. They appear as an unwanted blemish. Offenses seem to have an energy of their own. No one has to want them, to plan them–they just happen. The things that combine them creep in, like cold air coming through the cracks, that suddenly sends its chill through the air of relationships. Friendships have to be cultivated, but not offenses; they keep showing up uninvited.

Offenses are like wildfires. Any incidental spark will ignite one. Once this fire gets started, it feeds off everything. Anything it comes in contact with is potential fuel for the fire. All the dead things that have no life or meaning anymore suddenly become fuel for the hottest fire. Offense feeds off all the things that have happened in the past that have been lying dead and dried up in a person’s memory. Just as with a wildfire, the incident that started it all may have been the smallest of flames, yet once it begins to feed on the old dead wood, it becomes a raging inferno.

As with wildfires, the only effective way to deal with them is through prevention. If someone drives by your place and throws out a cigarette butt that lies smoldering in the dry grass, the wise thing to do is immediately stomp it out. Likewise, if someone does or says something that is faulty and is offensive, the wise thing to do is to immediately put out the fires of offense. The worst thing one can do is to let it start burning, allowing it to catch all of one’s emotions, feelings, and thoughts on fire. If we don’t put out the fire that someone starts in our yard right away, it will spread to our neighbors’ yards and then get totally out of control, leaving an irreversible path of destruction.

The dealing with offenses requires self denial and faith in responding to them as God tells us to:

(1) “to be slow to take offense”–even to the point of doing good in return to those “who have despitefully used you.”

(2) “always ready for reconciliation”–human nature is quick to take offense and always ready to go to war, and finds the seeking of reconciliation to be against one’s grain.

(3) “mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay”–rather than feed a fire, we are to contain it. Rather than tell everybody about how someone has wronged us, Jesus commands us to contain it and resolve it privately–see Matthew 18:15

Christianity depends on being successful in overcoming offenses.

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