Text Box: HOME Robert Meredith     Teri, the children, and I wish to express our deep gratitude for all that has been done for us since our arrival.  The saints at Green Plain have made us feel right at home and we look forward with great anticipation to our laboring here together with you.   One of the great delights in being a gospel preacher is the opportunity of locating in different parts of the country and working with the brethren there.  The Apostle Paul knew of this great joy.  Many people, when they think of Paul, think of someone who moved from place to place, however, he lived in Corinth for 18 months and at Ephesus for three years.  Paul knew of the joy of Christian fellowship and friendship.  In his writings, he often mentioned such saints (Rom. 16; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:19-21; Phile. 23-24).  I’m sure he felt at home when he was with these fellow Christians.   Few words get closer to the heart of all of us than the word home.  I am so thankful to God that I was able to be reared in a home such as I had.  My home was one where there was respect for God, God’s Word, and one another.  My home not only provided for the physical needs of life, but most importantly the spiritual.  My childhood home with my twin brother and Mom and Dad, was a place where good memories were born.   As I recalled my memories of the home provided by my parents I thought of my own home and the children that have come to this union.  Am I making my home a place where love lives?  Where God is respected?  Where good memories are being born?  We have but one chance in life to make our home a good place to be remembered.  Throughout God’s Word, we can find the help we need to make our home just such a place (Eph. 6:1-4; Tit. 2:2-4; Prov. 22:6; Mt. 6:33 and others).   Teri and I look forward to the days that we will spend here at our new home.  We hope and pray that as we labor together with you, that we can help in some small way in some lives here.  We wish to thank everyone for making us feel at home.  

THINGS THAT MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME (Part 1)

Robert Meredith

 

  Parents, as I am learning, have an awesome responsibility.  The omniscient Creator has given to us the rewarding and demanding task of rearing children in such a way that they are faithful to Him and thus beneficial to society.  As I think about all that I need to instill within my children, I recall some of the things that my parents taught me.

  One of the first lessons my parents taught me was that a child must learn how to share.  Immaturity shows itself in one having to have his way in all things or in not being willing to share toys, games or other such things.  They must be taught to share and how to get along with others.  Adults, however, are not guiltless in this area.  Many times problems exist in a congregation because one must have his way and is unwilling to compromise in areas of expediency or indifference.  Some need to take to heart the words of the Holy Spirit from the pen of Paul, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18).  Paul declares that sometimes it may be impossible to get along, but make sure that it is not because of you.  If everyone in the Lord’s church had this attitude, most church problems would vanish.

  Another thing that my parents taught me was to take care of what I have been given.  Often children simply take for granted the “things” given to them.  Bicycles are left laying in the yard, toys are broken from abuse and games are left out and pieces lost all because the youngster was not taught to take care of what he has.  God has given to all of us so much.  One can read in 2 Peter 1:3, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”  God has indeed supplied all of our needs, the most important of which are our spiritual needs.  Jude informs us that the faith (Gospel system) has been delivered to man.  Peter wrote  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth

forever (1 Pet. 1:25).  This word has been given to man by God’s grace.  Paul proclaims, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world” (Tit. 2:11-12).  What a glorious gift His Word is to us.  And yet, many to not take care of it.  Peter wrote concerning some who would wrest (twist) to their own destruction the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16).  Man has been given this precious gift, but some never read it; others never apply it; still others teach false conclusions, not rightly dividing it; and not a few pervert it by using poor translations.  Furthermore, God has give us the Gospel to take to a lost world, yet some keep it to themselves and thus are not taking care of what God has given.

  A third thing that my parents taught me was to respect authority.  I was taught early to say ma’am or sir to my elders.  I was trained to respect my elders, teachers and the police.  Oh, how many need to relearn this vital lesson.  Our aged are abused, our schools in some areas are a joke, and the police dare not protect themselves against a violent drunk.  One of societies greatest problems is a lack of respect for authority.  It greatly saddens me that this lack of respect has spread to the greatest authority, God and His Word.  Jesus said, “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him:  the words that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).  This lack of respect for the authority of the Scriptures is seen each time someone says, “I know what the Bible says, but don’t you think…”  Man’s ideals become of equal value as God’s standard or rule (Phil. 3:16).  The religious division prevalent in our world today is a clear indication of this lack of respect for what God has determined.  Some division is caused by not rightly dividing God’s Word.  Most of the religious division is caused by a lack of respect for the authority of the Scriptures.  One of the most common cries heard today by those who do not respect the Word of God as they ought is, “We need  New Hermeneutic.”  Hermeneutics simply means the Science of Interpretation.  Therefore, some are saying we need to interpret the Bible differently.  My friends, the Bible only has one proper interpretation.  It either means one thing or it does not.  This cry is nothing more than a smoke screen to get around clear Biblical teachings on a variety of matters.  God’s Word is objective truth.  God wants us to study (2 Tim. 2:15), reason (Isa. 1:18), and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).  What man needs to do is obey the will of God (Heb. 5:9) and not denigrate it. 

  Still others do not show respect for the Scriptures by saying elders have no authority, or that they only lead by example.  The Bible shows that congregations should have elders if there are men qualified (Acts 14:23) and that they have spiritual authority to guide and guard the flock (Acts 20:28; Tit. 1:9).

  Social drinking is another area in which some ignore what the Bible teaches.  When one studies the Scriptures, he must keep all passages within their context.  Furthermore, one must realize that truth cannot contradict itself, or it would not be truth.  As one reads the Bible and pays attention to the usage of the word “wine”, he will notice that in some places it is commended and in others condemned.  This is because the Bible uses the word wine to denote both fermented (Prov. 23:29-35; Prov. 20:1) and unfermented (Dt. 7:13; Isa. 16:10) drink.  The context will determine which type it is.  Some simply want to partake of the “pleasures of sin for a season.”  We must always have a genuine respect for God and for the authority of the Scriptures.

  Next week we will continue this same line of thought and discuss other “things that my parents taught me.”