The Truth in Print Vol. 22 Issue 3, April 2016
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Memory #1
Memory
Memory is brought to
light with such words as “remember,” “remind,” “forget,” and “neglect.” The
word “remember”[Mnēmoneúō, G3421] in the scriptures means to use
the faculty of memory given by God and to keep in one's mind people, things,
and circumstances, because memory is the basis of learning and prevention of
the dangers of life (The Complete Word Study Dictionary).
The antonym means to
forget, and at times to willfully forget implying culpability. We find this forgetfulness in James 1:24.
Notice who this forgetful person is:
Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word,
and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth
his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect
law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
This person is the
“hearer” of the word and not a doer. God’s word gives him the right view of
himself but “immediately” – at once, very soon upon departing from the word he
forgets what he really is – his mind turns immediately to what pleases him when
he leaves worship. James says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves” (Ja. 1:22).
The worldly member
James described can come and sit through a bible class, or sermon, and leave
and immediately neglect everything heard that will help him or her get right
with God. Over the years I’ve seen many
people disinterested, not following along, even showing discontent with the
application of God’s word — then grabbing their cell phones to check with the
world within seconds of the dismissal prayer’s amen — forgetting even to greet
others as they pass through with eyes on messages and in a rush to connect back
with the world. What happens with the truth just heard concerning the “things”
that make up the manner of person he or she is? They forget! And the truth of
the “circumstances” he or she is in that determines his or her wrongful conduct
and course of life — they forget! Those who want to remember the lessons are
the ones who are “doers of the word.”
Using Memory to Repent
The church at Ephesus was told to remember from their present
circumstance (in sin) the height from which they fell (Rev. 2:4-5). You can refer to “memory” to correct
spiritual dangers. Having told them to “remember…and repent, and do the first
works”--- if not He would remove their identity as a church belonging to Him.
Should they repent as commanded they would remember from the height the depth
from which they had raised themselves — doing the first works with the first
love as commanded. They would,
hopefully, use memory to prevent doing it again.
The last time you were “restored” should you be one who has
fallen and then been restored — you did come to church regularly didn’t you?
You laid aside your excuses offered in your sin for not coming — We’re just
doing some things at home by ourselves; You can’t take “our” weekends — it’s
the only time we have off together; We’ve set Sunday morning aside for “family
value time”; Wednesday night is just too late for the kids who have to get up
early; I really don’t like driving that far.
“Shame on you! You shouldn’t talk about past
problems!”
This is a common
refrain from those not willing to deal scripturally with problems. A lot of
members of various churches do not like remembering ungodliness among members,
especially when there was strife and division and members left. Now that can be
because they know full well they participated themselves with them to some
degree. Or, they are ashamed for having tolerated it too long and they know
they did considering the damage that was done (Cf. 2 Cor. 11:19-20; Rev. 2:20).
Don’t shake your
finger in the teacher’s face for his naming those who being full of carnality
and strife caused division and others to err from the faith — go tell Paul he
shouldn’t have talked to Peter and Barnabas and then recorded it in
Galatians chapter two -- and churches
talk about it every time they study Galatians. Tell him that he shouldn’t have
named Hymenaeus and Alexander who had blasphemed in I Tim. 1:19-20 -- and
churches talk about it every time they study I Timothy. Tell him he shouldn’t have mentioned
Hymenaeus and Philetus for their empty
babbling that overthrew the faith of some — saying the resurrection is past
already in 2 Tim. 16-18. Go ahead and not understand this lesson and tell him
that he shouldn’t have warned Timothy about Alexander the coppersmith who did
him much harm in 2 Tim. 4:14-15. Or is it ok to talk about non-members but just
not ungodly church members?
The memory of
certain members, the things they did and the circumstances that helped
determine their ungodly conduct and course of life is what helps keep it from
being repeated again. Unless you are among the spiritually dull who wanted to
classify those as only “personality conflicts.”
Listen! The Word
with application from the past is what helps to keep down the outbursts of
anger in the assembly or class, the “mouths” full of gossip, the partiality
shown to certain members above others. Use the memory of the past where
brethren sought to corrupt or even destroy the congregation.
This strengthens the
faithful and helps those on the verge of causing strife and unscriptural
division fight off temptations – “remembrances” of members who saw carnality as
a source of pride and not shame helps us feel ashamed when we start down that
very same road.
Paul said: “For I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). Some churches that have
experienced these in the past don’t want it talked about in the present. Then
there’s the stupidity of churches that are experiencing these right now and
don’t want it talked about! False
teaching and carnality is certainly not going away without naming it and
dealing with those who are guilty (Rom. 16:17). If you just can’t bring
yourself to remember it and speak of it truthfully then you’ll have to deal
with it over and over again.
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more call, visit or visit our website at:
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