Walking With Satan Or The Saviour?
Centuries ago, the prophet Amos by inspiration penned the following lines: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Perhaps it would be well if we occasionally remind ourselves of the factors involved in our walking with God. If we walk with God or Christ, we must traverse the same path or course that Inspiration travels. "Even so, we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:4.) Christians are to "walk by faith, not by sight." (II Cor. 5:7.) "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16.) "I . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." (Eph. 4:1.) "Now we command you, brethren . . . that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (II Thess. 3:6.)
Easter Celebrations . . . of God? or Satan?
The Sectarian world has long avoided the effort of attempting to support the celebration of 'Easter' by the Bible. Recently, however, some of our own "brethren' have descended to the depths of lifting up Easter as a 'Holy-day'. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (I John 4:1.) "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." (I Thess. 5:21.)
Question: "Are we walking by faith when we engage in Easter observance? If so, will those who engage in such please give us book, chapter and verse?
Question: "Are those who celebrate Easter, 'walking with God' in that respect? If so, prove it by the Scripture, please!
Question: "Has the church-member (including elders and preachers), 'proven all things, and held that which is good', when they observe Easter? We want an answer!
Ministerial Alliances And Such.
In some isolated (I hope) cases, so-called 'gospel preachers' have become affiliated with ministerial organizations which include the 'Pastors' of the various sectarian groups. "I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM (emphasis mine. L.W.M.) which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM." (Rom. 16:17.) The next verse also includes: "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Now we have some more questions to ask of the 'gospel preacher' who fellowships with the ministerial alliance of his town:
Question: "Can a gospel preacher 'walk with God' and 'walk with the alliance'? Give us a scriptural answer.
Question: "Are we 'marking and AVOIDING those who cause divisions' when we become members of an 'association of sectarian preachers'? Personally, I can't see why Jesus didn't 'join' the Hebrew Chief Priests Association of Jerusalem . . . I'm sure it would have afforded him 'prestige' in the community.
Question: "Has the 'gospel preacher' who is active in the ministerial alliance 'proven all things' and is he holding fast to that which is good? Namely, the alliance?
I know of one erstwhile brother who is at present the 'big wheel' of the Alliance in his town. In this instance, has the membership of the alliance ceased "deceiving the minds of the unlearned by their good words and fair speeches?"
Personal Conduct Of Preachers
Usually, congregations have quite a bit to say on the subject of selecting men with scriptural qualifications to serve as elders and deacons for the church. But sometimes, when a local church decides to use the ability of an evangelist to conduct a gospel meeting or to work for a time with the congregation, they seem to completely shirk the duty and responsibility of 'trying the teachers' to see whether they are of God. Brethren who "walk disorderly", that is, who fail to conduct themselves in harmony with God's order, should not be used in any capacity by a congregation until the brother ceases to walk disorderly, and repents and prays God for forgiveness for his past conduct.
Question: "Are we walking with God if we engage in disorderly conduct ? No! Of course not.
Question: "Is a congregation walking with God, if it tolerates elders, deacons or preachers who walk disorderly? No it is not.
Question: "What should the brethren of a local congregation do, if one of their number persistently engages in sinful conduct? (See Matt. 18:15-17.) We should go to the erring brother, expressing the fault in our understanding. If he will not hear us, then again go to him with one or two witnesses. If he still will not accept the admonition and repent, then it should be told to the church. Then, after that action, if he will not come to repentance, he must no longer be counted as a faithful brother, but as an heathen.
Who Is Walking With Whom?
If we are walking with God, we must travel in accord with His word. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path . . . (Psa. 119:105.) If we are walking with God, we not only must follow his path, but go in the correct direction. You can always go forward or backward ... yet be on the same path.
If we are walking with God, we travel at the rate of speed that he has decreed. We cannot expect to jump from faith to immediate salvation . . . that's attempting to get there too fast ... not at the rate of travel that God has specified. The sinner must respond to God's word by believing it. (Rom. 10:17) This faith must then be an acting 'walking faith'; "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments." (II John 6.); a faith that will cause the person to repent, confess Christ, and be baptized. If we 'walk after Christ's commands, we obey the gospel, as expressed in II Thess. 1:7-8.
It is a simple and easy task to determine from the New Testament, whether or not we ARE walking with Christ. We cannot afford to walk with Satan!