What Have You "Bin" Doing?
By Glendol McClure

A previous article entitled Some Folks Have "Bin" Disobeying God made a play on words. As I write this article and continue this play on the word bin, we remain uncertain whether Osama bin Laden is dead or alive. However, his al-Qaeda network and the Taliban have been defeated, and it is believed that only remnant pockets remain.

We now make a spiritual application, especially to members of the Lord's "body, the church" (Colossians 1:18), even though a similar application could be made to alien sinners. Regarding bin Laden, who has bin preaching, plotting, and perpetrating his evil, let us consider what the apostle Paul wrote. "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile." (Romans 2:8, 9) Since evil is unrighteousness, and all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17), it is appropriate, to consider the question, "What have you "bin" doing?

Perhaps you have bin disobedient. As we discussed in some detail in the article in last month's issue, disobeying God is a serious matter. We learned from that article that people can disobey God by omitting, committing, adding, subtracting, or substituting. It is well, then, to ponder the question Paul asked the Roman brethren, "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) We now ask, "Have you bin serving God or Satan? Every individual, whether saint or sinner, is serving one or the other (Matthew 6:24). Which is it for you?

Maybe you have bin forsaking the assembly of the saints. The Hebrew writer condemned this when he wrote, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." (Hebrews 10:25, 26) Some brethren, who have little love for the Lord, give every imaginable excuse for forsaking the assembly; they say, "Where is the command to attend on Sunday night, or midweek, or during a gospel meeting?" They often argue that expecting attendance at such times is binding where God has not bound. The fact of the matter is, willfully forsaking any worship service is a serious matter--a sin (Hebrews 10:26). So, it is appropriate, needful, and a duty to contact brethren who are absent from the worship services and ask, "Where have you bin?"

Maybe you have bin involved in worldliness. Immodest attire, gambling (even buying lottery tickets and taking part in betting pools on sports games), consuming alcoholic beverages, using illegal drugs, smoking, pornography, attending filthy movies and listening to filthy music, the modem dance, and "such like," all fall into the category of worldliness. Some who claim to be devout Christians are frequently involved in these things and are easily overcome by them. "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21) Cf. Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Peter 2:17-22; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21. Also, I know of some brethren who have bin critical of preachers who have the backbone, boldness, and brotherly love to preach against such works of the flesh. Have you bin such a critic of your preacher?

Perhaps you have bin involved in socializing the gospel. Brethren who involve the church in works for which there is no Bible authority fall into this category. Our liberal brethren have their fellowship halls, with kitchens equipped to dish out all manner of scrumptious meals that would make anyone's mouth water. They sponsor and provide for the members extra-curricular activities, such as ball teams, camping trips, ladies retreats, and seminars that deal with various nonspiritual subjects. If the congregation you attend does this, I ask, "By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 12:23) I am confident that some brethren are so in love with their fun, food, and frolic that they never give a thought to the matter of Bible authority. They are like the Israelites who "sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play" and were destroyed in the wilderness (Exodus 32:6; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Cf. Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34). Where in all of the New-Testament text can you find any congregation that provided its members with fun, food, and frolic (Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22-34; John 6:26, 27)? Where?

Perhaps you have bin in fellowship with those in sin and error or teachers of error. Some brethren have bin stretching Romans 14 and trying to squeeze in important moral and doctrinal matters. Some have bin teaching that the days in Genesis 1 were eons of time, not 24-hour days. Some have bin teaching and tolerating error on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Some congregations have bin inviting preachers who teach error on these subjects for gospel meetings and lectures. What has the congregation you attend bin doing regarding these matters? And, some brethren have collectively engaged in what they refer to as the "Jubilee," where they assembled together a number of sincere, good-hearted brethren for singing, prayer, and Bible study; and in so doing, they had fellowship with brethren who teach and espouse error on at least some of the matters mentioned above. What about Paul's teaching on the fellowship of error in Ephesians 5:11, where he wrote, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Do error and those who teach error fall under the unfruitful-work(s)-of-darkness category? Notice that with which Paul said to "have no fellowship." Does "no fellowship" mean a little fellowship? NO! What part of "no fellowship" do brethren not understand?

Some preachers have bin dodging honest questions. They are usually unwilling to answer honest questions about what they believe and teach on such matters as marriage, divorce and remarriage, fellowship, and Romans 14. Getting straight answers from them is like trying to shoot an arrow and hit a target that is just around the bin. Brethren, if you ask your preacher honest questions about these and other important subjects, and he doesn't give an honest and forthright answer; or when he preaches, he doesn't preach on these subjects or fails to teach and defend the truth and make specific applications on these matters, then your preacher has either bin there too long, or you have bin asleep. If you sit in a stupor and do nothing, taking a don't-rock-the-boat attitude, continuing on in a state of apathy and unconcern while error is taught and tolerated, you have bin, and continue to be, in fellowship with error! Remember the apostle John's words, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (John 9-11) How has your preacher bin answering honest questions? Does he try to wiggle out of giving a clear book, chapter, and verse answer for what he teaches?

Some congregations have bin using women in unauthorized worship roles. I have in my files a letter, dated February 1, 2000, from the Walnut Creek Church of Christ in Walnut Creek, California and signed by their four elders at the time. It states, "Women make up a significant portion of our worship team." The letter goes on to state that women will be used to "read Scripture in the Sunday morning worship ... serve the communion emblems, preside at the communion table, and lead public prayers during our regular worship services." They state further, "We have no intention of expanding that role any further than this. Additionally, we have no intention of installing women as elders at WCCC, or using a woman in the role of pulpit minister." I am made to wonder about the intentions of the next generation (Cf. Judges 2:10). How far left will it go? Will women elders be installed or women pulpit ministers employed? Where will it end? Time will tell! What about Paul's teaching regarding woman's role in the church (Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:9-14)?

Some brethren, even some gospel preachers, have bin defending all manner of immorality. I know of brethren who have defended social drinking, looking at pornographic magazines, and engaging in the modern dance. Some argue that as long as they do these things in their own homes, it's not the business of the preacher, elders, or anyone else. One member argued, "The liquor is in my refrigerator, in my house, and it is none of the elders' business what I drink in my house." What about Romans 1:24; 6:12; 13:14; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 2:1-6; 4:17-23; 5:1-6; Titus 2:11, 12; 3:3; James 4:1-4; 1 Peter 2:11; 4:1-4?

One particular unmarried couple (members of the church) was spending the night together. The elders and preacher where they attended opposed this couple's actions, made an effort to study with them, and have been belittled and labeled as Pharisees by some of their "loving" brethren (even some who call themselves gospel preachers). This couple eventually left this congregation and sought one that would have no problem with their spending the night together. Lodging such unfounded and shameful accusations against the elders and preacher who took a stand for godliness is tragic and sad.

Brethren, elders are divinely charged with the responsibility of "watching for our souls" (Hebrews 13:7, 17). Preachers are divinely charged to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (1 Timothy 4:2) Furthermore, members are divinely charged with the responsibility to, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves" and to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). Of course, when I say elders, I mean elders who are Godly men, who meet the divine qualifications outlined by the apostle Paul, and who exercise the responsibility with which they are divinely charged (Cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1-5). Did this couple desire to be under subjection to the elders who watched for their souls? Hardly! It appears that their desire was to be together under the same roof, and possibly under the covers with each other, as well. Brethren, have you or your preacher bin defending sin such as this?

And last, some brethren have bin walking in the light. They have bin striving to obey the Lord's commands and abide in truth (1 John 1:7). They have bin and will be present whenever possible, at all worship services (Hebrews 10:25). They have bin avoiding worldly lusts (Titus 2:12). They have bin upholding the pure and simple gospel of Christ and hungering for Bible authority and spiritual food, rather than fun, food, frolic, games, and gimmicks. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6) "And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

They have bin careful to avoid fellowship with brethren who teach or support error and false doctrine (2 John 9). They have bin ready to give Scriptural answers, with meekness and fear, to any who ask about the hope that is within them (1 Peter 3:15). They have bin careful to remain subject to Christ and godly elders who have refused to go to the right or the left when faced with unscriptural practices such as allowing women to participate in the public acts of worship, etc. (Hebrews 13:17). They have bin careful to live morally pure lives, producing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Call them "has bins" if you will, but I applaud such godly brethren, and I hope you who are reading this article are among the remnant of the Lord's people who have bin faithful in all things and "have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal" (Romans 11:4).

I close by again raising the worthy question that is the title of this article; as an individual and a member of the local congregation where your name is listed, "What have you "bin" doing?"

Brother McClure has reminded us that the Christian life is a life of ACTION. Bible faith is defined by obedience. Don't take my word for it; listen to the Scriptures:

Read carefully and soberly the roll-call of the faithful in Hebrews 11. God singled out these men and women because they had FAITH; they acted in accordance with His will. When will people learn that God expects everyone, everywhere, to obey His will or face the impending doom of eternal torment?

I know that the majority of the world scoffs at the notion that God will destroy forever those who fail to live according to the standard in His word. But I remember another time when people thought the same thing. "Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water." (1 Peter 3:20) Sadly, they were wrong in Noah's day when God brought the flood waters upon the earth and destroyed all of the wicked. In the same manner--only with FIRE--God will destroy those who have lived and behaved in an ungodly manner (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). We now have time and opportunity to learn from the mistakes of those who lived in by-gone days. If we refuse to accept the lessons God left to instruct us, our reward will be failure and doom. Count on it! (KMG)


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