Something Is Haywire
A fellow turns red in the face, his eyes dilate, his fists are clinched, and his voice rises to a shout as he avows, A Christian does not get angry!!
A man reasons, disputes. and finally hotly contends that it is wrong to argue.
A lady whispers a warning to the newcomer, of a neighbor who is a whisperer.
A fellow violently advocates the non-violence of Christianity.
And Peace may be the text of the man who makes war, In fact ,a conqueror is always a great lover of peace. He prefers to have his own way unopposed. There have always been peace- talking war- making preachers Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry. Peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. (Micah 3: 5) That sounds like some folk I have known.
A tear-laden lament for unity may be heard from brethren who have pressed their scripturally unsupported schemes and doctrines to the division of brethren. They ask for unity but will not give up the things that caused division.
The preachers text may he the slogan. We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent; we call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways! yet his sermon may end with pleas for things unmentioned in the Bible, described in terms from a theology book, and supported by schemes unknown to The Book.
Yes, something is haywire when a fellows talk and walk are that contrary. Admittedly. it is easier to talk a good fight than it is to actually walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5: 25) but we ought to he found trying to live up to our profession as a Christian. When our walk and talk are opposite, one of two things must be so. We must he (1 ) ignorant of the difference in our walk and talk, or (2) honesty is not all that it should be.
It is hard to think people can he that blind (ignorant), yet we hate to think they are dishonest. Of course, it is easier to see the other fellows inconsistency than it is my own. And it never has been easy to be completely honest.
Beginning with this issue, we plan to publish each month an article or two from the pen of our co-worker. bro. Joe Fitch. The above is his first in this series.
Bro. Fitch preaches for the Oaks- West church of Christ, Burnet, on a full-time basis. He is fully supported by the Burnet church, doing the work I tried to do before entering into my present full-time schedule of gospel meetings.
He is a capable preacher of the word of God, and is well-liked by the brethren in Burnet. If you are up our way, visit and worship with us.