Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

Why Dosen't God's "Bait" Work? Several years ago a young college student asked me the above question. His premise was that God wants people to believe in Him and come to Him, but – in this student’s mind – not very many were paying attention. It seemed to him that God’s “bait,” the means by which God draws man to His ways, was not very appealing. It did not appear to him that God’s ways would motivate man. It is true that Jesus called His disciples to be “fishers of men,” Matthew 4:19, but there the analogy ends, for becoming a disciple is not like being caught like a fish on a hook. It is being a part of the kingdom of God, with the ultimate goal of having a heavenly home. The young man had a point, for many are ignoring the “bait” while looking for something with a more instant fulfillment. Methods God Does Not Use It is not uncommon to view on the TV screen hucksters selling kitchen knives, gadgets, exercise equipment, or the services of an attorney. Their “bait” is obvious, as is their motivation. God does not promise you will lose twenty pounds or become an expert at Law, but He does give promises that far exceed those. He does not promise everyone financial prosperity, low interest rates or a lower golf score. He does not make false promises. Some who claim a relationship with God use those tactics, those forms of “bait,” telling you things not found in scriptures, then asking you to send in your “contribution.” If you become “trapped” in similar issues it is not God that has baited you, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, but you have been taken “captive” by Satan and his “ministers”. That is the reason Christians in the 1st century were commended because they had “searched the scriptures daily whether those things were true,” Acts 17:11. How Does God’s “Bait” Work? The word “bait” usually implies a victim that is tricked by the “bait,” then is captive forever. However, no one is “captured” or kept in bondage by God’s wonderful and eternal promises. There were those in the book of Acts (and implied in the epistles) who rejected the “bait” or abandoned the faith some time later. Thousands saw Jesus and heard Him preach but did not accept Him as Lord. Others became His disciple but later left Him behind. Read John 12:42, 19:38, Matthew 26:69-75, Romans 10:8-10, 2 Peter 2:15,   2 Timothy 4:10, Galatians 6:6-7.  We could also cite Joshua 24:15, for there we see that we can “choose you this day whom ye will serve.” No, God traps no one, but He does plead with all to be followers, giving reasons for that choice. However, no one is forced or trapped into being a child of God, a disciple of Christ. So, we see that a person can choose his/her eternal destiny. It will always be within your power to make that choice, but failing to choose is also a choice — to do nothing is choosing to be trapped by Satan’s “bait,” which ultimately leads you where you don’t really want to go. God’s Promises – They Are Not “Bait” From the very beginning of time God has made promises that give hope to all mankind. He promised a redeemer, one who would give us access to all the blessings of God, and the promise was fulfilled just as it was promised, Acts 13:32-33, as is true of all other promises. Note the following promises: Sins forgiven: Mark 3:28,  Romans 4:7, Colossians 2:13 Eternal life: John 12:25, 17:3,  Matthew 25:46 Eternal destruction for wicked:  Matthew 7:13, Philippians 3:19 Future resurrection, heavenly bliss: Matthew 22:30-31 and  Romans 6:5. Intelligent people can see the difference between “bait” and promises. God forces, God tricks no one. There are no failed promises on God’s part. His promises are true, and they are so magnificent that to hear them is to desire them and seek them.    Why doesn’t God’s “bait” work? It works. His blessings are there for all, but one must want to do His will. It’s not “worth it” to some, but wonderful blessings are there for those who follow Him. Is it worth it to you? Carl B Garner

“Sin is a monster of such frightening countenance that to be hated needs but to be seen, but seen too often, familiar with her face we first endure, then pity, then embrace.” Alexander Pope

Instruments of Music in the Old Testament? This article is taken from the Gospel Minutes publication, and was submitted as a Bible question in the following form: Question: “Dear brethren: Please read 2 Chronicles 29:25 where God gave commandment that instruments of music were to be used in the house of the Lord. This is commanded on many other occasions, as well. The command was never rescinded with the old Mosaic law. Investigate!” Answer: I have investigated, and I have studied these and other passages. Did God approve instruments of music in the Old Testament? Certainly He did. Hezekiah “set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps” (2 Chron. 29:20-25). The one who submitted the question is correct, also, that there are many other such passages. But he/she is wrong when he states that these commands were “never rescinded with the old Mosaic law.” The truth is, that law was done away, abolished, replaced. The inspired apostle Paul wrote of Christ, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). The law that was “taken out of the way” and nailed to the cross included the laws of meats, drinks, the Sabbath, feasts, etc. In other words, all the law was taken away. There is not one line of Scripture anywhere that would indicate that any of the old law was not removed when Jesus died on the cross. We read that “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Heb. 7:12). The old law was removed in order that the New Testament could be established (Hebrews 7:18-9; 8:6-13; 9:15-17; 10:9-10). Just as Jesus established the New Testament in its entirety, so He removed the Old Testament in its entirety. Instrumental music in the worship of God is not authorized in the New Testament, and it is no more appropriate than would be the burning of incense, wearing of robes, lighting of candles and offering of animal sacrifices. All of these things were under the old law, and many of them are borrowed by denominations today. But none have New Testament authority for their use. A truth many don’t want to face is this: the church which Jesus built existed for nearly seven hundred years before ANY instrument of music was used in worship by those who sought to honor Christ! Why, seeing that they were familiar with the use of instruments of music in the Jewish temple, did the early Christians refuse to use them in Christian worship? The answer is obvious: there was no authority for them in the gospel of Christ. There still isn’t. Clem Thurman