Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

Uncle Sam Needs You! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I always enjoy the music, the fireworks, the stories and the feeling of being an American. We are truly blessed in this nation. Even with these days holding threats and danger for many, I am grateful that I was privileged to be born in this great land. Opportunity abounds for those who are willing to work and willing to contribute to the well being of each other. Contrary to the words and views of some today, this nation needs you and me more than ever. People with conviction; with integrity; with ethical motivation. In fact, our nation needs the Lord’s church! Some may not want us, but America needs the influence God’s people can provide for the future and the population of these United States. But what can the church contribute to a nation that increasingly pushes religion away, denying the values upon which we were founded? It may not be easy, but we can, and by effort and example we must do so. I hope we never arrive at the point where any church possesses rule over America. That would not only violate the biblical mandate for the church, but it would violate the principles upon which our nation was founded. A State Church ruling America must never come to pass. But our nation—and all nations— desperately need genuine Christians to provide moral and ethical examples. Think of all the positive ways by which Christians can influence an entire population to be just, honest, and to serve others. The possibilities are great. America does not need: A population that simply turns everything over to political leaders. An apathetic populace allows corruption and graft to overwhelm our communities. Lazy voters, and especially absent voters, allow the unqualified and the charlatans to become our lawmakers and our judicial leaders. We must take an active role in this nation! A takeover by some special interest group, however honest in their intentions. Whether they be from the left or the right politically, we need varying views to be heard and debated. This can give us the means to be informed Americans. To be divided by racial, gender or age discrimination. Tolerance can be a good thing, but a forced tolerance in the direction of beliefs or life-style leads to division and resentment, not unity. Less emphasis on home, family, morals and religion. We need more, not less. Congress is forbidden to make laws that restrict or require the “free exercise of religion.” But how foolish it is to try to separate the standards from the behavior. We were founded upon standards and convictions that were based upon the Bible. At no time in our history has America needed the influence of the Bible more than she needs it today. America does need: The church of our Lord. History has shown that Bible believers have been able to make dramatic changes in governments and individuals. It can still work in our own communities today. You, me and our neighbors to become more and more involved in the working of our nation’s every day affairs. Voting, examining the legislators and their proposals, and letting our wishes be known to all of them. We can be heard. Letters to the editors of local and national publications presenting the viewpoint of biblical principles and ethical foundations. Other views are constantly being written on those editorial pages, and we must not be bashful in expressing our own. The church Christ established and built is still the one America needs. We will be effective by being what God intended for us to be in the first place. We must not try to change the church to fit the world, for God knew what His world needed most. We must be the “light of the world,” and must let that light shine so men can see the value of living in harmony with God’s laws. Even in the darkest hours of local or national tragedy, Christians must be: “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:15. Yes, Uncle Sam needs us all. We can make a difference. Carl B. Garner

Frenchman Alexis de Toqueville visited America in 1831. In a book describing democracy in America he wrote: “Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I learn the greatness and the genius of America. America is great because America is good. If she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

Warm Weather and Immodest Dress As the weather warms up, we generally wear less and/or lighter clothing. There is nothing wrong with adjusting our clothing to fit the weather, so long as our clothing adequately covers our bodies. The fashion of the world, of course, is to wear scanty, provocative clothing, especially in warm weather. Unfortunately, some in the church will be influenced more by the fashion of the world than they are by the word of the Lord. Your Bible says, "[I will therefore] that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…" (1 Timothy 2:9). Certainly the same is required of men. In case some woman wants to know what modest apparel is, then she should read verse 10: "But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." It is modest if it is becoming (appropriate, suitable, proper) to women professing godliness. It is a fact that times have changed, and styles have changed, and society has changed, but the word of God has not changed and human nature has not changed. Several years ago a well-known preacher wrote the following. "What is wrong with mixed swimming? I can't speak for the ladies, but I can speak for the men. There's not an ordinary man who can look at a woman clad in nothing but a bathing suit for a long time without entertaining evil thoughts. 'But,' some will say, 'it does not bother me.' One who says that may be so young that his passions have not arisen, or he may be so old they have subsided, or he may be so ignorant he doesn't know what is going on, or he may not be normal, or he may be lying. He fits into one of these five categories, or he is a spiritual giant; but spiritual giants don't spend their time at mixed swimming parties." Our Lord warned against looking and lusting when he said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," (Matthew 5:27-28). I know there are those who accuse anyone who warns against the evils of immodest dress of being "evil-minded." This accusation has intimidated many preachers and caused them to stop preaching against immodest dress. I pray I might never be intimidated by such charges. I hasten to say also that the danger of lust is not the only reason Christians should dress modestly and decently. The matter of our good influence should be weighed carefully in determining how we are to dress. In the forty-odd years I have been preaching I guess I have heard all the arguments as to why the Bible injunction with reference to modesty does not have to be obeyed. Here are some of them: "Nobody thinks about it anymore." "In some cultures the women go bare-breasted." "Time was when a woman was immodest if her ankle showed." "Some are going to lust anyway." And on, and on, and on the arguments go. But the real reason most members of the church persist in wearing clothing that is less than modest and decent is simply this: God's will is not important enough for them to yield their own will to Him. B. Duncan