Jesus taught: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). This verse describes an intense craving to be in a right relationship with God. The words that Jesus used here for “hunger” and “thirst” denote a level of intensity in desire that would be similar to the person who is about to starve to death, as versus a simple hunger pang; or a person about to die from dehydration, as versus someone who had a mild desire for something to drink. 

    Christians often wrestle with a number of problems that could be easily resolved in our minds and removed from our lives if we simply asked the question: “Am I hungering and thirsting for righteousness?” For instance, the supposedly hard questions about social drinking, smoking, dancing, movie and TV watching, immodest clothes, bad language, etc., all just vanish in the face of this test. If I desire to be right with God at the same level as a starving man desires food, it will be simple to answer these challenges and do the right thing. 

    Watch how neatly this divine principal works on the problem area of church attendance. Ask yourself, would a starving man pass up an opportunity to eat a good home cooked meal?” Answer: obviously not! Why? Because he is starving!! Now, would a Christian who “hungers and thirsts for righteousness” pass up an opportunity to meet and study with other saints—to worship God and study His Word? Answer: certainly not! Why? Because he craves to maintain a right relationship with God, and such assemblies aid tremendously in that direction. You can see the idea here—and the challenge is to make the application in every area of your life. Think!
—Greg Gwin

"I DON'T GO ALONG WITH ALL MY CHURCH DOES!"

    There are many people today who willingly and knowingly fellowship error. When their unscriptural practices are pointed out, they say, "I don't believe everything my church teaches" or the statement in the title of this article. Are you one of those people? Are you willing to even admit that you realize that the church of which you are a member is getting farther and farther from the truth of the Bible? Many people are very uncomfortable with such things as the social, recreational, and entertainment craze that many churches are involving themselves in. But let it be understood there are many other things in addition to these.

    Let me raise this question: Does recognizing and then denying wrongdoing in the church of which you are a member, free you from all responsibility in the matter? Let's put it like this: Can a person close his eyes to error and willingly stay in a group that he knows is doing things contrary to what the Bible teaches? Are we willing to let the Bible give the answer? God says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11). "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:13,14). From these verses we must conclude that one cannot continue to have fellowship with those who are believing and practicing error. Rather, he has the responsibility to reprove and warn them. Yet, if no one raises their voice to oppose, by their silence they give consent and thereby become a partaker of wrongdoing.

    How can one repent of an error while at the same time be a member of a church which believes and practices error? For one to repent of error, he must completely give up that error. As long as a person is a member of a church that has error, he is associated with error and is identified with error.

    Jesus said in Matthew 15:13 "..Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Those who are in a church that has error will be rooted up along with others at the last day. Those who recognize error in the churches in which they are members need to come out and be identified with the people of God.

    We cannot help but believe there are those of you reading this bulletin who do not agree with the beliefs and practices of the church of which you are a member. We must all ask ourselves the question of who are we trying to please in religion. Is it man or God? There can be the wrong motive for the religion we have. "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10). If we seek to please men, it will not matter whether we condone things that the Scriptures condemn and give our silent consent to things that God does not approve of. But if our religion is to please men, "I should NOT BE THE SERVANT OF CHRIST". 
—E.R. Hall, Jr.