Eleventh Avenue Church
The following is reprinted with permission of The Timely Messenger

An Editorial

By Charles Wages
Editor
The Timely Messenger

 We are beginning a new calendar year! What does it mean to us? Of course, it means something to governments in regard to taxes (which affects us!). We receive new calendars and make resolutions, usually to do better. These are often forgotten or broken before we get very far into the new year. The Timely Messenger has been proclaiming the grace of God and the Word rightly divided for many, many years. The only changes that have been made are to make it more readable as to the type and other improvements. The message has not changed. This is in contrast to many "religious" works which change with every fad or fancy that comes along.

Certainly, we mustn't judge one another. However, the Word of God does warn us of false teachers and the hypocrisy of man. When the apostle Paul spoke of the ministry God had given him to proclaim, he wrote: There must go out a warning concerning false teachers and workers (1 Timothy 4:1-3). That warning must continue to be sounded. For instance, the many television and radio preachers who seem very personable and entertaining, who stress their experiences, and major as money-raisers, should be avoided. The leading "personalities" who will sing a religious tune or two, appear on some nationwide program, and then appear in filthy nightclubs and "honky-tonks" the rest of the week, should be rejected. Some might object and say, "their testimony can be used for the Lord. " This is questionable. But the terrible thing is to think of the countless thousands who have been hindered (not helped) by encouraging young and old to drink, dope, and waste their lives in the places they appear nightly. Also, many of these appear for a season, make a big religious splash through publicity agents, and then disappear off the scene.

A constant scriptural testimony is what God can use for His glory. Keeping to the same principles and staying on the course in accordance with God's Word, is what He can honor. Prayer is asked for the work of the Timely Messenger ministry, that it will fit into God's great plan for service.


January 2001 Edition Contents
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