From the Pen of Paul

The "more excellent way"—The Characteristics of Love
(Part 4)

Note: We are continuing to look at what Paul calls the "more excellent way"—characteristics of love.

8. "is not easily provoked": It "is not irritable or resentful" (RSV). It is "not quick to take offence" (NEB). "It is not touchy" (Phillips). Love does not "fly off the handle" or "blow its stack" easily; it does not carry a "chip on its shoulder." James encourages us to be "slow to wrath" (James 1:19). Because love "suffereth long" it will not be "easily provoked." It is not love that makes one irritable. When we study the life of Christ we stand amazed at the gentleness of Jesus in so many situations that would have provoked most men‐but He is the embodiment of love. The church at Corinth was in need of imitating Him in so many ways—especially in the use of spiritual gifts. Sharp disagreements over the relative value of tongues and prophecy were causing the church to appear ridiculous in the eyes of the world to which it should have been bringing the message of salvation. One under the influence of love is not going to be prone to violent anger; it is not his character to be hasty, easily excited, or ready for a fight. Instead, he is serious, calm, and patient; he looks soberly at all situations, and even though he may be injured, yet he controls his temper and restrains his feelings. We need to be careful that our actions do not nullify our words!

9. "thinketh no evil": "Does not keep account of evil" (Phillips). "Love keeps no score of wrongs" (NEB). It is a good idea to watch carefully the man who sets down in his notebook every evil deed done to him, whether real or imagined, for the sake of getting even! Love does not put the worst construction on the acts of others; it does not attribute evil motives to others and it is not overly suspicious. Love desires to think well of those whom it loves—and will not think ill of their motives or conduct until compelled to do so by the evidence. What is it but this love that "thinketh no evil" that makes a mother the last to give up on a delinquent child, or a spouse's refusal to believe something told on their mate?

10. "rejoiceth not in iniquity": It "does not gloat over other men's sins" (NEB). "Love is never glad when others go wrong" (Moffatt). Is it possible that some of the folks at Corinth were boasting and rejoicing over the fact that the leader of their party had the gift of tongues—even though they may have been misusing it to gain personal glory? Test yourself on this quality: Are you glad when someone is caught up in sin? What if the person has unjustly been your enemy? What if his sin causes him to fall from a lofty position? We must never rejoice because someone sins!

11. "but rejoiceth in the truth": It is "always glad when truth prevails" (Williams). It "delights in the truth" (NEB). The truth, here referred to, is the gospel truth (Gal. 2:5). We must know the truth (John 8:32). We are sanctified by truth (John 17:17). We must love the truth (II Thess. 2:10). We must believe the truth (II Thess. 2:11-12). Every member of the family of God should mourn over those digressive brethren who have departed from the truth—and—every member of the family of God should rejoice with every victory of truth over error!

12. "beareth all things": "Beareth" means "to cover closely, endure" (Young's). "Love knows no limit to its endurance" (Phillips). "There is nothing love cannot face" (NEB). "Love covereth a multitude of sins" (I Pet. 4:8). Love covers or hides the faults of others—as far as possible—without encouraging sin. It does not expose unless necessary and never for ulterior motives. This would eliminate sins of gossip and tale bearing.
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

The Unity of God's People

The 2007 Spiritual Renewal week is now history. This year's program was among the best ever. Our theme was on target: The Unity of God's People. Good crowds were present and the unity of the Spirit was evident. Many brethren from area churches were present as well as preachers and we greatly appreciate this.

There are two extremes to be avoided as we serve the Lord. Some go too far to the right and others go too far to the left. The extreme right is just as wrong as the extreme left. We certainly understand there are small matters that need attention but we also see the larger matters (Matt. 23:23). Which should come first? Let us use an illustration. Which should come first in the case of a fire? Should we become more concerned with a spark from a cigarette than a forest fire of thousands of acres? Which would you tend to first? Which should we take care of first in the church? A man who does not come back for worship on Sunday night or a man who is living in adultery? Some brethren want to place these on the same scale of importance but we do not.

For 25 years or more we have encouraged brethren to deal with certain obvious issues of importance. For the greater part our pleadings fell on deaf or unconcerned ears. Now we are seeing the results of brethren who refused to do what they should have done in years gone by. Churches are splitting and some know no limits of work and fellowship. Some we called on in years gone by to stand up and speak out are now becoming very concerned about the present condition of the churches of Christ. They are 25 years too late in doing now what they should have done then. Different preachers have told us they now refuse to appear on programs with the liberals in the church. Our exhortation is to be on programs with them and preach the gospel but also deal with their error. This has been our plea all the way through these troubling times.

Not every issue we face is a fellowship issue. Some are not that serious. We have liberty in some things in Christ. What God has bound we need to bind and what God has loosed we must loose and let it remain loosed (Matt. 16:18-19). A transgression of this principle has brought on our trouble today. The orphan home issue of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, came about because men tried to bind what God has not bound. They bound their opinions and this split the church in many places. Today's problem is to the left. They loose what God has bound and have little respect for Bible authority. Good, godly brethren are not going to go with this and it is now more evident and much plainer than it used to be.

Our plea is unity in Christ based on the Bible. We have no place for unity in religion based on the teachings and writings of men. This is a false unity and will cause one to lose his soul. Let us deal with major issues and not let the smaller ones go undone (Matt. 23:23). Let us also remember that we can differ on some things and still work together. Differing does not always mean disfellowship.
—Malcolm L. Hill

Points to Help the Church Grow

1. Let everyone be friendly and speak.
2. All of us need to invite others to worship with us. Be sincere in your invitation.
3. Be full of life and enthusiasm. Let others know you are convicted and converted.
4. Be faithful in your attendance at Bible study and in worship.
5. Teach others every oppotunity you have the gospel of Christ.
6. Do your part in keeping love and peace in the church.
7. Pray for the preachers and the elders as they are out front leading the church.
8. Do not be quick to move in new areas without study.
9. A happy church is a growing church.
10. Pray much for the church.

Reign of a Thousand Years

We know of no proof that the righteous will be raised a thousand years before the wicked. The Lord says, "the hour is coming when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." We see no thousand years between the resurrection of those that have done good and those that have done evil here.

The quotation from John 5 v. 28-29, above, connects the coming of Christ and the resurrection, and the following connects the coming of Christ and the judgment: "I charge you, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing (his coming) and kingdom" (II Timothy 4:1). Other Scriptures show the same. At the close of Matthew 15 it will be seen, as it is from other Scriptures, that all will be judged at the same time, and at the same time that the righteous "enter into life eternal" the wicked "go away into everlasting punishment." This connects the coming of Christ, the resurrection, the judgment, the separation of the righteous and the wicked, and the entrance into life on the one hand, and the going away into everlasting punishment on the other hand.
—Ben Franklin