Plain Talk Vol.1, No.3, Pg.1 - Cedar Park Church of Christ

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Vol. 1, No. 3
March, 1964

Give Me That Old-Time Religion

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Matt. 5:23-f

You may have observed this is no longer "old-time" -- it is positively antique. How long has it been since you have seen this kind of respect for God, and the honest forth-rightness this practice demands?

Jesus was teaching that we must have clean heart and hands to properly approach the throne of God. You are obligated to go to the brother who feels you have wronged him, and make an honest attempt to rectify matters. You must correct your error in order to worship God acceptably.

"But my brother is in error," you say. "I must have no company with him." What self-righteousness, this.

Did you make an effort to redeem your brother? (Matt. 18:15-17) When you severed relationship with him, was it in a sincere effort to teach him truth? (1 Cor.5:5 2 Cor. 2:6-11) Or, (be honest with yourself) did you accept some third party's appraisal of the
matter, get in a "huff", and decide to "stamp out the opposition"?

Are you proud of yourself for your prejudicial stubbornness? For shame!

Paul wrote, "If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (2 Thes. 3:14-15)

We are not to "company" with evil, i.e., to condone, or be a partaker in error; but any honest man can see the vast difference in this and a "nose-in-the-air" attitude so often confused with Christian discipline.

Old Time Religion, indeed! When did Jesus; the Apostles, or any other approved Christian of the N.T. ever refuse to answer honest questions or engage in careful study of divine matters? They would have us do unto others as we would be done by.

Think this over before you next worship God. Must we wait to meet our brother before Christ, the Judge?

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Created on 24-Sep-98

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"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Matt. 5:23-f You may have observed this is no longer "old-time" -- it is positively antique. How long has it been since you have seen this kind of respect for God, and the honest forth-rightness this practice demands? Jesus was teaching that we must have clean heart and hands to properly approach the throne of God. You are obligated to go to the brother who feels you have wronged him, and make an honest attempt to rectify matters. You must correct your error in order to worship God acceptably. "But my brother is in error," you say. "I must have no company with him." What self-righteousness, this. Did you make an effort to redeem your brother? (Matt. 18:15-17) When you severed relationship with him, was it in a sincere effort to teach him truth? (1 Cor.5:5 2 Cor. 2:6-11) Or, (be honest with yourself) did you accept some third party's appraisal of the		matter, get in a "huff", and decide to "stamp out the opposition"? Are you proud of yourself for your prejudicial stubbornness? For shame! Paul wrote, "If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (2 Thes. 3:14-15) We are not to "company" with evil, i.e., to condone, or be a partaker in error; but any honest man can see the vast difference in this and a "nose-in-the-air" attitude so often confused with Christian discipline. Old Time Religion, indeed! When did Jesus; the Apostles, or any other approved Christian of the N.T. ever refuse to answer honest questions or engage in careful study of divine matters? They would have us do unto others as we would be done by. Think this over before you next worship God. Must we wait to meet our brother before Christ, the Judge? [Previous Article] [Next Article]