Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
April 16, 2023

“Let Not The Church Be Burdened”
by Paul Earnhart (from Christianity Magazine, December, 1996)
American churches increasingly in this century have defined their task by perceived needs of society rather than by divine will (Ephesians 4:11-16). The “social gospel” which arose in the early 1900’s turned many churches into instruments of social reconstruction rather than the salvation of souls (Luke 19:10). Social action forced the gospel to the periphery. Now near the end of the century even those churches which still hold to the paramount importance of the new birth (John 3:3-6) have been caught up in the flood of social programs that are the residual effect of the social gospel. It is, they say, what the times demand. It is also the mentality which will make such churches irrelevant in a world starving for spiritual bread.
The view of the Holy Spirit is that such projects, alien to the divine plan for local churches, simply weigh them down and keep them from the tasks for which God equipped them. This was Paul’s very concern when he warned Timothy that the true work of the churches must not be subverted by burdening them with responsibilities which belong to the individual and the family (1 Timothy 5:16).
Some of the activity being sponsored by contemporary churches is scandalously silly (“Kiss a Pig Sunday”). Some of it is good though at times marginal. The problem is that the Lord’s churches were never intended nor equipped to do all that is good in the world. Modern church practice reflects a failure of individual disciples to realize they have obligations which are uniquely theirs—obligations toward God, family, government, all men—duties which do not inhere in their membership in a local church but in their relationship to Christ (1 Peter 2:11-25; Colossians 3).
The obvious question to ask when trying to determine biblically the work of local churches is not, what is the work of individual disciples, but what work are they to do together in local churches. The churches of Jesus Christ are not human institutions that may be stretched freely around any agenda, but divinely conceived and ordained teams of Christians with a unique purpose. God’s purpose is only achieved by God’s plan; and when by human presumption that plan is abandoned, God’s purpose is the inevitable victim.
Christians need to be warned that when they marry the spirit of this age in order to gain some momentary advantage they will be widowed in the next. Mindless fads which take the world by storm will one day be amusing curiosities. Think of the result if first century churches had followed the modern rage and spent their time building bathhouses, athletic fields, and clever bureaucracies. Total irrelevance. And, total faithlessness.
All we need do when the Lord’s churches face difficult times is to trust Him and do even more earnestly what He has instructed. Only God’s ways work—in season and out (2 Timothy 4:2).
Simply Christians
by Bryan Gibson
Could someone today follow only the New Testament and become a Baptist, a Methodist, a Lutheran, or a Catholic, etc.? The answer is clearly no. If you followed only the New Testament you would be just what those people in the New Testament were—simply Christians with no denominational ties whatsoever. To become anything else, you would have to do something NOT found in the New Testament.

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.