Mt. Vernon Church of Christ

Services

Sunday A. M. Bible Study - 9:30

Sunday A. M. Worship - 10:30

Sunday P. M. Worship - 5:00

Wednesday Evening Bible Study - 6:00


Address

700 Mill Street

Mt. Vernon, Indiana  47620

Contact

(812) 838-2635

email

Gospel Plan of Salvation

Hear - Rom. 10:17

Believe - Mark 16:15,16

Repent - Luke 17:3

Confess - Rom. 10:10

Be baptized - Acts 2:38

Live faithfully - Titus 2:12

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God...” (I Peter 4:11) Mt. Vernon Church of Christ

In the book of Ezekiel (2:3-5; 3:1-21 and 33:7-9) the prophet is given the charge of being the watchman - prophet to apostate Israel. In simple form the message he was to preach was the message of repentance to sinful Israel. Though many did not think the situation merited such a reproof, God did! And the prophet (preacher) of God was obligated to the charge to make such known.


In a real sense there must be watchmen over spiritual Israel today. These must be men who heed the word of Jehovah (from His inspired Word) and sound the warning to an apostate church! But are we assuming that the church of Christ is apostate today–that each congregation is, or that each member is apostate? Certainly not! As a matter of fact, many of Israel in Ezekiel’s day were not apostate--but many were; and the charge was given to bring back to God those who would listen and to allow those who so chose to judge themselves unworthy of God’s blessings. So it is today in Spiritual Israel. While there are many who are faithful to God's charge and serve Him with their entire being, it is the sad fact that many are indifferent toward the whole of Christianity, ignorant for the most part of God's Word, unwilling to submit to the authority of the Bible and in general so materialistic that they can only think in terms of the pleasantries of this life. Everything many do in the name of religion must be viewed against the pragmatic background of how this will enhance their position with the material world! Thus in the view of these materialists, if the truth does not enhance one’s position or the position of the church with the worldly community, that truth must be rejected!


Where are the watchmen? Who is sounding the warning trumpet? Ezekiel was told that a failure to sound the warning would result in the blood of all guilty ones being upon the hands of the watchman. Where are the preachers that are willing to be so "opinionated", "narrow", and "dogmatic" that they will stand and "preach the word" with the reproof, rebuking, and exhortation that will make the difference today? (II Timothy 4:1-4).


Many are the preachers and the elders of the Lord's church today who, when asked what they are doing related to many important matters of faith and doctrine which are being compromised or directly violated in many areas, will respond that they "do not know about such things" and they "do not care" about them since, as they perceive it, such does not affect them and their congregation. This indifference causes the watchmen to not watch, and the trumpeters not to sound the alarm!


There is now a generation that does not know the Word of God. Many have made arguments "for the use of instrumental music in worship" which by their admission resulted from not knowing too much about the Bible. Some defend fraternal orders as being proper for Christian participation and thus demonstrate the drought of knowledge they have of God’s Word. Some seem to think that they can fellowship anyone who says he believes in Christ and work with that person even though he does not bring (teach, or practice) the doctrine of Christ. These demonstrate their shortage of Bible knowledge (II John 9-11). Many are teachers who need again to be taught! Ignorance of the Word should cause a trumpet sound!


Beside all this there are multitudes in the church who not only do not know the Word, but they do not even respect the Word (portions of it) that they do "know". When social drinking, dancing, immodesty in dress, indecency of speech, etc. is a common thing among "professing Christians" and there is not a voice (trumpet) raised against such--there is a real problem. There are congregations where the preacher knows (whether by direct order of the elders or by less direct requirements) that they are not to preach on such things. And these "preachers" who desire to hold their jobs more than trying to please God and be His Watchmen, yield to the men rather than to the Lord!


The consequences of materialism are seen in each of the above situations--and more! The important thing to many is having a fine building in which to meet; maintaining a proper "image" in the community; and having a preacher that will not excite any "animosity" against the church by preaching so plainly that members of denominations will think that he thinks that they are wrong!


As unpleasant as it may seem to some, the charge to preach the word must be obeyed or the watchman will forfeit his right to God's blessing and will receive the punishment of hell instead! How can the soldiers of Christ attack with any success the enemies of the church on the outside if they are unwilling to attack and clean out the cup from within?


Where are the watchmen? Have you heard the trumpet?



Glenn B. Ramsey, Living Oracles, 1990





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