Osama bin Laden and his wicked web of warriors, better know as the al-Qaeda network, along with the Taliban, are on the run and facing continuing destruction. This is the result of the current military actions that President Bush commanded and which began on October 7, 2001. This needed action has brought about the downfall of this wicked ring of weasels who plotted, planned, and perpetrated their terrorist activities causing the maiming, death, and destruction of thousands of innocent people around the globe. Of a certainty, what Paul taught in Romans 13:1-5 regarding the need for civil government to punish evil doers applies here.

A spiritual application can also be made. Just as a person, such as Osama bin Laden, who plots, plans, and perpetrates terrorist attacks does evil, anyone who disobeys God is also doing evil. You don't have to be a cave dweller who plots and perpetrates a terrorist attack to be evil. Just disobey any of God's commands and, according to God's Divine book (Exodus 23:2; Romans 2:8, 9; Hebrews 3:12; 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 3:12; 4:17), you've done evil. It 's important to consider the question Paul posed to the Romans, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." (Romans 6:16) So, in this article, we are going to consider ways in which some have bin disobeying God.

Some have bin omitting what God has commanded. We do this when we fail to do all that God commands. King Saul is a good example. He didn't obey God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).

• In like manner, some today omit repentance, which God has commanded (Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30). Some go into the waters of baptism as dry sinners and come out as wet ones (cf. Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
  
  
• Some omit study, although the Bible clearly commands it (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:13). Those who fail to study reap the rotten fruit of ignorance (1 Corinthians 10:1; 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; Hebrews 5:12-14; cf. Proverbs 15:28; Hosea 4:6). Some have bin in the church 40 or 50 years and still cannot state first principles.
  
  
• Some omit attendance (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Hebrews 10:24, 25). Can an eight-cylinder engine run very well on six cylinders? If one member has the right to forsake the assembly, then all members have that right!
  
  
• Some omit prayer even though the Bible clearly teaches us to pray without ceasing (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Christ prayed (John 17:9-26; Matthew 26:39-42). Paul prayed (Acts 20:36). Saints in the early church prayed (Acts 2:42; 12:5; James 5:16).
  
  
• Some omit giving (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7). Some omit Godly living knowing that the apostle Paul taught those he wrote to live Godly and declared the consequences for not doing so (Romans 1:18-32; 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:1-8; Colossians 3:1-10). Some will argue long and loud for first principles but omit duties, which are equally important and commanded. Obedience to the Gospel demands Godly living.
  
  

Some have bin committing what God has forbidden. This occurs when we do what God has expressly forbidden.

• Adam and Eve sinned by commission (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:6).
  
  
• Uzza sinned by commission (Numbers 4:15-20; cf. 1 Chronicles 13:9, 10).
  
  
• The children of Israel sinned by commission (Exodus 20:3- 5; 32:1-6). They sinned by doing what God had expressly forbidden.
  
  

There are many ways to commit sin. Just revisit the previous point and passages cited concerning Godly living.

Some have bin adding to God's word. This involves doing more than God has commanded. Moses warned Israel about the curse of adding to God's word. He wrote, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2ff; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18) God's word needs no additions or corrections, because it: (1) is perfect (Psalm 19:7; James 1:25); (2) is inspired (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17); (3) contains "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). Men today have added things such as mechanical instruments of music to the worship, even though Paul commanded us to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16, 17). In the first century, those who tried to add Moses' Law to the Gospel of Christ disrupted peace and harmony in the Lord's church (Acts 15; 2 Timothy 2:15; Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-29; 5:1-7).

Throughout religious history, men have added doctrines (Matthew 15:8, 9). Catholics and Mormons, among others, are guilty of this. Most, if not all, denominations have creeds or manuals that govern their practices and beliefs.

• Baptists have the Baptist Manual.
  
  
• The United Pentecostal Church International has a manual that includes the Articles of Faith, Constitution, Judicial Procedures, and Position Papers.
  
  
• The Presbyterians have their Book of Order and Book of Confessions.
  
  

When compared with the Bible, these manuals show differing doctrines and practices that cause more confusion than confessions and more disorder than order. Paul proclaimed, "... God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:13) Further, some of our own brethren have added societies to perform such things as missionary work, benevolence, and various social functions. Paul said, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end." (Ephesians 3:21) There is no glory in any kind of man-made addition to the work and worship of the Lord's church. Man must conform his will to God's (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).

Some have bin subtracting from God's word. This happens when, for some reason, people discard God's laws (Deuteronomy 4:2ff; Revelation 22:18; cf. Revelation 20:15).

• Some have subtracted the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:42; 20:7). As Christians are commanded to remember Christ's death each "first day of the week," Israel was commanded to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).
  
  
• Some have subtracted baptism, claiming that salvation is by faith only (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Cf. Galatians 3:27; James 2:24).
  
  
• Some have subtracted the church, claiming that salvation is possible without it. But Christ's blood purchased the church (Acts 20:28), and "all spiritual blessings" are "in Christ," his "body, the church" (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:3; Acts 4:11, 12; Romans 3:24; 8:1, 2; 12:5; cf. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Galatians 3:26-28).
  
  
• Some have subtracted hell, claiming there is no such place (Matthew 10:28; Mark 9:44-48; Revelation 20:15).
  
  
• Some have subtracted the judgment, saying it will not take place because God is too loving to condemn souls to eternal hell fire (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11; Hebrews 9:27). Woe unto those who have bin subtracting.
  
  

Some have bin substituting. This happens when men put something else in the place of what God commands.

• Cain substituted "the fruit of the ground" (Genesis 4:1-5).
  
  
• Nadab and Abihu substituted "strange fire," which the Lord had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1, 2).
  
  
• Moses substituted by smiting the rock when he should have spoken to it (Numbers 20:7-11).
  
  
• In today's religious world, some substitute:
  
  
  • An annual Easter sunrise worship service for worship on each "first day of the week" (Acts 20:7).
    
    
  • Sprinkling and pouring for Bible baptism, which is a burial in water (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; John 3:23).
    
    
  • Denominational churches, claiming "One church is just as good as another." For which church did the Lord die? Did He die for and build the Catholic church, the Mormon church, the Baptist church; or did He die for and build His own church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:8; cf. Romans 16:16)? What denomination is subject to Christ? None! Of which denomination is Christ the head? None! (cf. Ephesians 5:22-32.)
    
    
• Some substitute human names for the Divine name. The Holy-Spirit-filled apostle Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) In the First Century, "... the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26) According to W.E. Vine in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the word Christian "denoted their chief business." No where in the Bible do we find an adjective used in front of the word Christian (a noun), i.e., Baptist Christian, Catholic Christian, Methodist Christian, etc. Members of the Lord's church were Christians and only Christians, because they followed Christ and abode in His doctrine and only His doctrine.
  
  
• Some have substituted all manner of money-making schemes, from bingo parties to selling fruit cakes, for laying by in store on the "first day of the week" (1 Corinthians 16:1). It is not uncommon to see televangelists appeal to their audiences and beg for large donations for their respective ministries. In return, they promise to send donors a publication (filled with error and false teaching), a prayer cloth, or a cheap trinket that supposedly has miraculous powers. I am reminded of the words of the apostle Peter who wrote, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:3) Don't be deceived by these charlatans!
  
  

Disobeying God is a serious matter that can cost one his soul. As we have seen in this short article, it is possible to disobey God in various and sundry ways. Since evil is unrighteousness, and unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17), it is appropriate to study this subject. In a subsequent article, we will consider other points that are troubling brethren today, as we continue to consider the question: What Have You "bin" doing?

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Please take a moment and read all the Scriptures that brother McClure submitted in this article. Such overwhelming evidence enforces the fact that disobeying God has serious eternal consequences. Sadly, many in the religious world, who claim to follow and love God, scoff at the idea that He demands obedience from His children. Such folks have "strong delusions" and fail to properly love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). There is coming a day when the scoffers will scoff no more; it will then be too late for them! (KMG)