A Gated Church

No doubt, we all have of heard of a ‘gated residential community’. But a ‘gated church’? Well, the church is not really ‘gated’ but the property is sometimes ‘gated’ to keep unwanted people off of the premise who might break into the building or to enter the grounds for immoral purposes. I have heard of some churches having fences around their parking lot in order to keep would be thieves from breaking into the automobiles while the members were worshiping. For the first time to my knowledge there is a church of Christ in the city where I live that has installed a gate to keep cars and trucks from entering their property except during their worship assemblies. The famous city of Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish worship, was indeed a literal ‘gated’ city as mentioned in the Bible.

In the New Testament we find several references to ‘gates’ being mentioned. The first one I desire to observe is the “narrow gate” that is found in the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 7:13, 14. In most instances, you will have to be invited into a ‘gated community’ before receiving permission to enter the premise if you do not live there. The “narrow gate” that Jesus mentioned is open to all who will accept His invitation that he extended as found in Matthew 11:28: 30: “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (NKJV). But a person cannot accidentally enter the “narrow gate”; rather every effort will be required as is plainly taught in Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Those who enter the “narrow gate” and walk the “straitened” way will eventually enjoy eternal life with God. In contrast, there is the “broad gate”. There is much sadness in the Lord’s statement, “many are they that enter in thereby” (ASV). Those who enter the “broad way” simply fail to make proper preparation or they rebel against the Lord and His word. This is the easy way to travel but the end leads to “destruction”.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus made this precious promise before He died on the cross: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” One understanding of the latter part of this verse is that though Jesus would die on Calvary’s cross and His soul would go to Hades (the unseen world of departed spirits), He would not remain there (See Acts 2:27). No power could prevent Him from coming forth from the grave and fulfilling His promise to establish His church. This He did on the first Pentecost Day following His resurrection when He sent the Holy Spirit upon His twelve apostles (Acts 2). It was then that the gospel of Christ was preached and some 3,000 penitent believers responded and were immersed and the Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:36-38, 41, 47). The church of Jesus Christ has an ‘open door’ policy. No one is to be excluded or prevented from entering the church which is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23). The church is where both Jew and Gentile can be reconciled to God and be “fellow heirs, of the same body” (Ephesians 2:11-18; 3:3-6).

There is a ‘gate’ found in Hebrews 13:12 that is of great importance, especially to all who have had their sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5): “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” In his commentary on the book of Hebrews, Martel Pace makes this observation regarding verses 12 and 13: “The idea of the animals being incinerated outside the camp on the Day of Atonement is introduced. The bull offered for sin was carried outside the camp (see Lev. 16:27). The idea of Jesus’ being crucified OUTSIDE THE GATE (v.12, Emphasis, mine, RE); see Jn.19:20) fulfilled that symbol. By accepting the stigma of guilt (a probable meaning of “outside the gate”), Jesus could bear our sins. Leaving the camp (v.13) suggest a total break from the synagogue and the temple.”

In contrast to the church, heaven is a ‘gated community’! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for all who prepare to go there when this life on earth is finished (John 14:1-3). Jesus Himself is “the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It is only when we give our lives to God that we will be permitted to enter into “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10, 11). In Revelation chapters 21 and 22, the gates in heaven are mentioned six times. They are described as follows: “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west” (21:12, 13) “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl” (21:21). “Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)” (21:25). Now, please note who will be able to enter the eternal city of God: “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (21:27). “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (22:14). This is the final invitation our Lord will extend to the redeemed: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Individuals who will not be permitted to enter the gates of heaven are described as follows: “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murders, and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (22:15). “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (21:8).

Gates can be used to keep someone in or out. Often gates function in both directions for people to enter and/or leave. In heaven, the gates open only one way and that is to permit saved people to enter for eternity. "Dad," said Charles H. Gabriel, Jr., from the embrace of his father, "if I never see you again here, I'll meet you where the gates never swing outward." His father, the beloved song writer, had gone to New York to bid his son God-speed as he departed for France during the First World War. It was while clasped in that last good-bye, his eyes turned toward the gates through which he must pass to go on shipboard. Those gates of entrance to war and death swung both ways; it gave him apt figure of speech to phrase his parting from his father. "I'll meet you where the gates never swing outward!" The words sketched a picture in the mind of his father, who, while the train journeyed westward toward his Chicago home, held in his heart his son's heart-warming good-bye of love and...affection. From his meditation came this tender song: "Where the gates swing outward never!" (From Forty Gospel Hymn Stories by George W. Sanville, 1943, p. 80.

Where the Gates Swing Outward Never

“Just a few more days

to be filled with praise,

And to tell the Old, old story:

Then, when twilight falls,

and my Savior calls,

I shall go to Him in glory.”

Just a few more years

with their toil and tears,

And the journey

Will be ended;

Then I’ll be with Him,

where the tide of time

With eternity is blended.

What a joy t’will be

when I wake to see

Him for whom my

Heart is burning!

Nevermore to sigh,

never more to die –

For that day

my heart is yearning.

Chorus

I’ll exchange my cross for a starry crown,

Where the gates swing outward never;

At His feet I’ll lay every burden down,

And with Jesus reign for ever.”

~ Charles H. Gabriel

'For Conscience Sake' - My Vote

I am almost apolitical. I was 35 years old before I cast my vote for individuals seeking elective offices in my state and that was due to the encouragement of one of my best friends. And when I did vote, I ‘killed’ his vote for the person running for the office of governor. Since that time, I have voted more for the man rather than for the party. I am conservative by nature and usually I have voted as a
Republican but not always when I had to make a choice on an individual basis for a certain office. I have never made voting for one’s choice a test of Christian fellowship. I have been disappointed in some of my choices of candidates after learning of their lack of moral fortitude and unwise decisions.

I have tried to obey the laws of the land as taught in God’s Word; yet, as an imperfect human, I have often failed in my efforts. Also, I pray for those who are in authority on every level of our government (local, county, state and national). The Lord God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, ordained the civil government but that does not mean He is always pleased with rulers who are evil. (See Romans 13:1-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-15). I fervently believe that God still rules in the affairs/governments of men as taught in the book of Daniel 4:25; 5:21.

When it comes to foreign and economical affairs, I am a layman. I do possess certain convictions regarding these matters that might be different when compared with the convictions of some of my fellow citizens. But my vote for the highest office in our country this time will be based primarily on my convictions regarding some moral issues, namely, abortion and same sex marriage.

The present President endorses and encourages both. As a Christian and a gospel preacher, I cannot vote for a person, regardless of the office he seeks, who would support either of these issues. I believe that life begins at conception and it is not within the realm of mortal man to go counter to what God has taught in His Holy Word in taking the life of the unborn child. God made man and woman to be joined in marriage (See Genesis, chapter 2). Jesus Christ gave credence to this account as found in Matthew 19:4-6. The apostle Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Romans 1:18-32, that sexual relationship, women with women and men with men was both shameful and unnatural. Sodomy is condemned both in the Old and New Testaments (See Leviticus 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; 2 Peter 2:4-9; Jude 7). I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet (my father was a mill worker), but the time is coming, unless there is a drastic change in the moral condition of our nation, that preachers of the Word of God will be accused of ‘hate crimes’ when we teach what the Bible says on these subjects. It has happened in other countries and it is probably being considered among some officials in our nation.

I now quote in part the words of the great reformer, Martin Luther, when he was being tried at the Diet of Worms, Germany in 1521: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason … I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”

"Little Is Much When God Is In It"



The subject of this article is the title of a beautiful and meaningful religious song. The lyrics are as follows:

“In the harvest field now ripened,
There's a work for all to do.
Hark, the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, my child, well done."

Chorus
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.

 

~  Kittie J. Suffield

 

In Matthew 13:31, 32, we read the words of Jesus about small beginnings: “Another parable he put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, “which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” The church of Jesus Christ began small, comparatively speaking, with 3,000 souls being saved on Pentecost (Acts 2). The early church not only added members but “multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7; 2:47; 5:14; 6:1). It is estimated by the time of the death of Stephen there were some 20,000 members in the city of Jerusalem. Rapid numerical growth among religious groups does not necessarily mean that God is pleased with their teaching and practices. There are ‘mega’ churches today that simply teach what is pleasing to the hearers and provide instrumental music during their assemblies that would arouse more emotionalism than true spiritual strength.

However, there are devout Christian men and women who will travel thousands of miles to begin a work in a Christ-less country and live for years in the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Christ. Such sacrifices are deserving of our financial support and prayers. There are Christian families who have moved to areas in our own country where there was not a congregation and they began worshiping in their homes and inviting friends and neighbors to visit with them. These dedicated Christians are to be commended for their faithfulness. There are several strong churches existing today because of such commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.

And then there are churches in small cities and rural areas that are suffering the loss of members due to deaths and the moving of their young adults to large cities in order to find work. Of course there are some who become unfaithful and that contributes to the lessening of the number present for the various assemblies. The fact is that in many areas we are not converting others to Christ as in years past. The field may or may not be as fertile as it once was when people would allow you to have Bible studies in their homes and when our neighbors would attend our gospel meetings. Also there are ‘inner city churches’ that have suffered the loss of members who have chosen to identify with larger congregations in suburban areas where their children can be with other children of the same age group and where more activities are planned for the youth. Nevertheless, the small groups of Christians who remain faithful year after year are worthy of our encouragement for their steadfastness.

It is not recorded in Revelation 3:7-13 the size of the church in Philadelphia and that is not the important thing to remember about these saints. It was their faithfulness that mattered with the Lord. He said, “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Vs.8). It is implied in this verse that the church in that city was few in number but strong in faith because the Lord did not find fault with them. The Christians had kept His word and had not denied His name. The Lord expressed His love for them (vs.9); they had persevered and He exhorted them to permit no one to “take your crown” (Vs.11). Finally He makes this promise to them: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God
and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Vs.12).

Always remember it is not the size but the faithfulness of a congregation that is important in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read again the words found in the second stanza of the song, ”Little Is Much When God Is In It”:

“Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.”

In conclusion, may these inspired words of the apostle Paul be inscribed in your heart when you become discouraged: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (NKJV, Galatians 6:9)

FRANCES STRANGE COCHRAN

 “A VIRTUOUS WIFE”

May 1, 1919 – July 3, 2012

I had the privilege and honor of speaking at the funeral service for sister Frances Cochran on Friday, July 6, 2012 in the South Commerce church of Christ building in Summerville, Georgia, my home congregation. Sister Cochran was 93 years old at her passing on Tuesday, July 3. Her husband, Charles, died some 36 years earlier. They had one daughter, Martha Cochran (Ken) Parker. They were dear friends of my family. Sister Cochran had known me for some 70 years.

In December of 1941, my family moved from the community of Welcome Hill (which was located a few miles northwest of Trion) to Summerville, the county seat of Chattooga County, Georgia. There was a small group of Christians meeting in a rented hall downtown and near the courthouse. It was a short time later that the Cochran and Elliott families met. In 1945, a new building was constructed on South Commerce Street and the church began meeting there. There were several Christian men and women who influenced me as a young boy but none more than Charles and Frances Cochran and Julius and Thelma Sprayberry. I am sure that the Bible class material used in those early years would have consisted of the small cards published by the Gospel Advocate Company and later the quarterlies that were published by the same company.

Charles and Frances were servants in the truest sense of the word. They carried people to their respective doctors; provided transportation for members to the various assemblies of the church; delivered meals to those in need and helped others in ways too numerous to mention. Sister Frances continued to minister to members and friends after the death of her beloved husband. She took care of
loved ones in her home as they aged and/or needed constant care. Even when she was physically unable to aid others, she telephoned to check on various ones.

The strength of a church is made of up of individual Christians who are committed to live righteously, serve others and to worship God. This, sister Cochran did all of her life in Christ. Everyone who knew her would testify to this truth. She was ‘proud’ of the young men who became preachers from the South Commerce Street congregation. Men like Lawrence Garmon (deceased) James Watkins, Tommy Broome and yours truly. She always would tell me when she read an article of mine that had been published in the Gospel Advocate or other brotherhood publications. She desired that I come by to see her when I was in the area. She always was cheerful even in spite of her ailments and would inquire as to how Virginia, the children and grandchildren were doing. I would often visit with her via the telephone.

I believe what John wrote in Revelation 14:13 would summarize her life and death: “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” She, like Paul could say: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).