Christians And Old Age

Aged Christians have always been a joy to me. I have known many, and have  always found encouragement from them. I enjoy recalling my times with them, some visits being short, and others more extended. But long or short - such times together are the sources of some fond recollections. May I tell you about a few - people that any reading this probably do not even know, but that I have had the occasion to be with in years gone by?

How can I forget brother Taylor? Last time I saw him was while in a meeting in Phoenix a few years ago. He was a member of a neighboring congregation, came over to visit and I marveled as I looked at him. There he stood - ramrod straight at 6' 5" tall and still serving as an elder in the Lord's church at 92! And the things he had to say were so encour­aging to me. He loved the Lord with all his heart, and had a wonderful reputa­tion in that area.

How well I remember my wife's "uncle Oscar." Never was around him a great deal, but he always wanted to talk about the book of God. Always asking me questions that I now know at the time he probably knew a lot more about than I did. Like many of us, he had "his pew" in the little congregation where he wor­shipped. And the place where he sat was well marked - the old wooden floor had grooves rubbed deep where he sat for so many years, shuffling his feet back and forth during worship services.

May I tell you about sister Hunter? How can I ever forget going to her house and not being able to leave until she gave me a chiropractic treatment! She was a self styled "naturepath" doctor, and always worked my feet over. I don't know if it helped my feet any or not - but that was not the point. It made her feel good, and that was enough! I must admit I felt like I was walking on air when I left, what­ever the cause.

And then there was old brother Daniel Boone. No, it wasn't the old pioneer (I don't remember back quit that far!). He was around 90 when I knew him, and how much more interesting he became when I learned that he was indeed a direct descendant of the old pioneer! Taught school most of his life - and I wonder if his students truly appreciated him?

And then there was brother Homer Hai­ley, that some of you did indeed know. I considered it a privilege to have him sit with a ed ear when I would preach. He had retired and moved to Tucson while I lived there. I think I learned more from him than any preacher I ever knew. We did not agree on a couple of things, but we talked about them agreeably, and you could not help but love him. took brother Hailey only last year when he was 97 - and he was still preaching and teaching until well into his 90's.

And then there was Willene's mother, who for the last few years of her life was determined to keep going. I always felt she was threatening to live to be 100 - and she made it to a ripe old age of 101! Sure, she had her eccentricities, but we loved her in spite of them.

Have you spent any time with some older folks lately? Look around you - we have some! What a joy to visit with our own Granny Faye, or sister Patrick who is pushing 100. Or perhaps some who may not be quite that far along, but yet are happy to share some experiences of life that those who are younger may well never get to experience. I guarantee - it will make your day! "Cast me not off in the time of old age" (Psa. 71:9). - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

"In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their chil­dren spake half in the speech of Ash­dod, and could not speak the Jews' language, but according to the lan­guage of each people" (Neh. 13:23). In the days of Nehemiah there were "strange sounds" in Israel. The lan­guage of Ashdod had replaced the tongue of the true Hebrews.

I travel around the country a good bit; I see and hear things that most folks who don't stray from home probably don't see and hear... and I am often disturbed. I don't think I am an alarm­ist, but an alarm needs to be sounded. For the most part these "strange sounds" seem to be coming from those who are younger. Perhaps this is the fault of those of us who are older for not having taught as clearly as we should have. What are these alarming things? what is this "language of Ash­dod" that is becoming more and more prevalent? We have room here for only a few.

One area seems to be in the realm of spiritual fellowship with denomina­tionalism. "Who are we to say," I have heard, "that they are not members of the universal body of Christ? After all, they say they have been baptized, and that ought to be good enough." Never mind that these folks never assemble with the saints; that they have not the slightest idea of what the church is and is all about, and that they never make an attempt to observe the Lord's Supper. Not to mention the fact that most of them are Calvinists of the rankest sort who do not even believe that Christ now reigns as king! Try to teach them? Certainly - but to intimate that we must accept them because they have been "baptized" is another thing.

Another thing that many conservative brethren have been taken with is the idea that we "do not show enough af­fection." And so their assemblies are filled with hand holding and constant embracing. Now certainly Christians ought to have an affection one for the other. But many in some places have all but said that those who do not en­gage in such "are just not as spiritual as they ought to be." I resent such an implication, for spirituality is not predicated on outward displays of physical contact. Under proper cir­cumstances and at proper times, no one objects (or ought not) to such, but to make it a test of one's spirituality is again, quite another thing. Here is an­other "strange sound."

Then we hear that "we ought not with­draw from people." I see in "church directories" names of members that have long left the Lord, and yet they evidently are still considered members of that congregation. "We must love those folks, and such disciplinary ac­tion does not display love," I have heard. To the contrary, a failure to dis­cipline is an act of unconcern. A con­gregation that does not practice Bibli­cal discipline will have one of two problems - it will experience internal strife because some know discipline ought to be practiced, or it will be filled with folks who are worth little or nothing to that congregation.

Then there is the marriage-divorce-­remarriage issue. From some conser­vative brethren I am hearing things that are disturbing. "Who are we to say they are living in ery?" is what some are asking. Well, "we" are not to % termine that - God's word has already made that determination (Matt. 19:9), and we must respect it - if indeed peo­ple are in ery. And the list goes on - but would that such be silenced and return to adher­ence to the infallible word of God, for "God hath spoken." Bill Moseley

 

 

 

A preacher friend of mine and I were on the golf course one day (does that surprise you?), when he whizzed a ball of the tee in a direction one would have thought to be impossible. It headed straight for two ladies riding in a golf cart, and it was my sad lot to tell him I thought he had hit one of them. Not knowing what to expect, we cautiously approached, and meekly asked, "did it hit you?" She said, "well, only twice ­- hit me on the knee, bounced off the golf cart and hit me on the other knee." She put us at ease when she said, "don't worry; I'm visiting here from Michigan, and got hit yesterday too. By the way, does everyone play golf like that in California "? It was then that I thought to myself, "no - only this nut I'm stuck with."

So it is with the world and the Chris­tian. One Christian makes a bobble and the world thinks they are all like that! No one gives Christianity a "bad name" any more than "bad Christians!" That is why it is up to each Christian to live so that the name of Christ is held in high regard, irrespective of how a few of them may live.

No - just because some Christians are not what they ought to be does not mean that all are like that. Yet the world often will tar them all with the same brush. How are you holding up your end of the deal? Are you a glory to the cause of Christ, or a reproach? - Bill Moseley