No subject is dearer to the heart of the Christian than the wonderful grace of God. At the same time, it is a matter that has been misunderstood, as well as misapplications made of it. We hear grace defined, and rightly so, as "the unmerited favor of God." By that we mean that the good that God bestows upon us is unearned by us; there is no way we can deserve the ultimate blessing of God, that being salvation.

Does this mean, however, that man is exempt from following the decrees of God? Is grace sort of a "blanket" that we can throw over all wrong and say, "well, God's grace will take care of that"? Does grace preclude the matter of God's law? The answer to each of these questions is a resounding nega­tive. To say otherwise shows one does not truly understand "grace."

The Bible says that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8). But that did not preclude Noah from obeying what God said; he still had to comply with God's command to build an ark to the saving of his house. Shall we say, "well, Noah did not really have to build an ark; God's grace would have taken care of him." Now, who really believes that? Moses found grace in the eyes of God (Exo. 33:12). Does this mean that Moses could sim­ply ignore God's decrees, go about his business as seemed good to him, and God take no notice if it? Surely not.

The matter of God's grace has never precluded man's obedience to the law of God. Some have mistakenly thought this, saying that the New Testament is a system of grace, and therefore God's grace will sort of cover our deficiencies, intentional or otherwise. Jesus once said that when a man did all hat was his duty to do, he was still an “unprofitable servant” (Lk. 17:10). That is another way of saying he cannot earn God's blessings; the grace of God is still needed. But that is not the same as saying a man can blatantly ignore the law of God and still have God's grace take care of his sin.

This application of God's grace has often been used to try to cover differ­ences between brethren, especially in light of the division that has come among them over the past 40 or 50 years. For example, God has said that the eldership of a local church is to oversee that congregation alone (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28). Yet some have set up "sponsoring church" arrange­ments where the eldership of one church has been known to oversee the work of other congregations. We are treated to the advice that we ought not take notice of such things, for "the grace of God" will take care of those who do not conform to the divine ar­rangement. The same is true concern­ing the" social gospel" craze, where congregations have put the church in the business of entertaining its mem­bers in secular things, in spite of that fact that God has said the church was in the business of preaching the gos­pel; of "'sounding forth the word" (1 Thess. 1:8).

For those who would say, "well, these things are not in harmony with God's work for' the church, but his grace will take care of it," may we pose a couple of questions? How is it that God's grace will take care of such things as this, and would not have taken care of Noah had he adamantly refused to build the ark? By what line of biblical argumentation can we say that God's grace will take care of one, but not the other? Had Noah said, "no, Lord - I will not build an ark." Would God's grace have cov­ered his refusal? If not, then how can it cover man's refusal to do God's work in God's way today? Are the demands of God in the New Testa­ment any less important than those of the Old Testament?

We would do well to always insist on doing God's work in God's way. To refuse to do so puts one in the position of failing to adhere to God's law, and God's grace has never extended to cover such. That grace will only go so far as to cover a man's life insofar as he strives to conform that life to the revealed will of God. The same is true of congregations. Why will we endan­ger ourselves and others by thinking that, "oh, well... God's grace is great, and it will cover man's deficiencies"? Let us learn the true nature of grace, where and when it operates, and the results of it. - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Without question the most often heard apologies that have come to me in over 40 years of preaching are those from mothers who come saying, "I'm sorry my child disturbed you today while you were preaching." Then they stand there in slackjawed amazement as I tell them, "don't worry about it; I didn't even hear it." Most preachers are so "wrapped up" in what they are doing that distractions from children are usually not noticed. I have had it said to me, "do you mean to tell me that this squirming, squalling little piece of mankind didn't bother you??" Nope - wouldn't have known it had you not told me -and in 99% of cases, that's the way it is.

Now mothers who bring children to services, especially younger ones, have one of the most difficult jobs on earth. They threaten, reason, argue in order to get their little one to sit still and behave. All the while they sit there in a big bowl of embarrassment because Junior is acting up. Then when the threats, reasoning and ar­guments don't work, they take them out and try pampering, scolding and ing - and that doesn't work ei­ther! What are they to do? Well, I'm not an expert on getting small children to be quiet in services because while mine were growing up, their mother had that unenviable task!

But there is one thing I do know - and that is that a mother who does her best with her small charge should not be the object of undue criticism, because at least she has the child where he ought to be - and that is in the worship services! That child may get even louder than the preacher at times, and we admire a mother who is willing to tangle with that struggling ball of ac­tivity. She has an almost impossible task, while all the while trying to get something out of what is going on.

May God bless our children, for "of such is the kingdom of heaven." And may the mothers who are willing to wrestle with a small, yet dynamic mass of humanity, and at the same time try to get something out of what is going on, be blessed also.

So - mothers, bring your children to services - and don't come apologizing to me because they may have dis­turbed me, for they probably didn't. Do what you have to - threaten, and scold (and some need it). And if anyone complains to you about it, tell him he's the one that is childish! If anyone doesn't appreciate and love young mothers in a weekly wrestling match with their children, they proba­bly don't love the Lord like they ought to either! But I for one appreciate them, and they have my sympathy - at the time, their job is no doubt a lot harder than mine! - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

James Penfield was one of my boy­hood buddies. Had a mutual friend, John Voris, whom Penfield and I % cided to play a prank on. Penfield and I dug a hole - a big hole - about waist deep. Filled it with water and mud ­- slimy mud, and got it all set to lure Voris into it since we had carefully camouflaged the top of it. You see, this hole was in Penfield's back yard, and his dad was the town dentist and always wore a sparkling white uni­form. Need a hint to figure out who fell in?

Needless to say, Doc Penfield didn't think our little prank was too funny. I got off with a tongue-lashing from Doc Penfield, since my dad never found out about it. I to think what punishment befell my buddy Penfield. He always acted a little funny after that. I think he is now an attorney.

This incident sort of reminds me of how we think we can fool God by camouflaging our lives at times. But God will find out, and he doesn't have to fall into one our childish traps to do so. He will figure it out every time, so don't think you can fool God! For some reason or another, that little prank by Penfield and me always re­minded me of the passage in Numbers 32:23. I wonder why that is? -Bill Moseley