During the course of our lives as adults, we may have came across some individuals who stood out from amongst the crowdac for being different in the way they behaved or presented themselves.  Even when we were young children in school, most of us can remember a classmate or two that required a lot of attention to be placed upon them and/or believed themselves to be a “bigger deal” than they actually were. We may even know of some adults who think this way about themselves, to the point that it causes issues with how they interact with others. Some of these people, commonly called Narcissists, have a condition known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This disorder not only affects how a person thinks, feels, acts, and presents themselves in front of others, but the ways in which Narcissists act can have a detrimental affect on those around them as well.
          According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition  (DSM V), the following criterian must be met in order for a person to be diagnosed with Narcissistic Prsonality Disorder;
A. Significant impairments in personality functioning manifest by:

1. Impairments in self-functioning (a or b):
2. a. Identity: Excessive reference to others for self-definition and self-esteem regulation; exaggerated self-appraisal may be inflated or deflated, or vacillate between extremes; emotional regulation mirrors fluctuations in self-esteem.

b. Self-direction: Goal setting is based on gaining approval from others; personal standards are unreasonably high to see oneself as exceptional or too low based on a sense of entitlement, often unaware of their own motivations.

1. Impairments in interpersonal functioning (a or b):
2. a. Empathy: Impaired ability to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others; excessively attuned to reactions of others, but only if perceived as relevant to self; over- or underestimate of own effect on others.
3. b. Intimacy: Relationships largely superficial and exist to serve self-esteem regulation; mutuality constrained by little genuine interest in others‟ experiences and predominance of a need for personal gain

B. Pathological personality traits in the following domain:

1. Antagonism, characterized by:

a. Grandiosity: Feelings of entitlement, either overt or covert self-centeredness; firmly holding to the belief that one is better than others, condescending toward others.
b. Attention seeking: Excessive attempts to attract and be the focus of the attention of others; admiration seeking.
C. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are relatively stable across time and consistent across situations.
D. The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not better understood as normative for the individual’s developmental stage or socio-cultural environment.
      The impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not solely due to the direct physiological effects (e.g., a drug of abuse, medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., severe head trauma).[1]
      Narcissistic Personality Disorder[2]r is one of 9 personality disorders recognized by the DSM 5. According to one source,[3] about 1 in 200 people are diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) with 75% of those diagnosed being men. These people have issues keeping long-term meaningful relationships, since they do not seek to help others but to only fulfill their own needs and desires, at the expense of others. They must have the attention and admiration of others, which causes them to overly brag about themselves, and present themselves in an overly positive fashion  as well as always expecting special treatment from others, which can be perceived as annoying to some that they come into contact with. 
        People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder can be found anywhere. For instance, you may see this personality disorder in a co-worker who takes credit for the achievements of others, does not listen to the ideas of their colleagues, and demands that others do what he /she wants without thinking about the needs of others. Or you may have heard of a spouse who belittles their spouse’s feelings but constantly seeks validation and compliments from the spouse they belittle. Or you may know of someone that lives in your area that constantly talks about his/her own achievements, only hangs around people they believe to have a “high status.”
          No two people with NPD are the same when it comes to exhibiting the same symptoms, and some people with NPD will show some of the symptoms, but not others. No matter the cause, a Narcissist is a challenge to deal with not only for therapist and that person’s physical family, but for members of the church of Christ as well. 
​Just like there are Narcissists in the world, there are also Narcissists in the church. The church of Christ is made up of people who live in the world, and who sometimes face some challenges with mental health. Although there is not a large percentage of the world population that have Narcissistic Personality Disorder, some people who have the characteristics of this diagnosis can creep into the church and cause problems for other members.
          There are many wonderful members of the church of Christ who have a healthy perception of their own self worth and who, always treat others with love and kindness. These Christians are a blessing to be around and they help other Christians stay motivated to keep the faith. There are other members of the church, however, who do not help the church as the faithful Christians so. These Christians will sometimes portray characteristics of Narcissism, and this can have a detrimental effect on the church and the members of the congregation in which they attend.
          I have heard about an example of an elderly lady who attended a congregation of the church of Christ in another county. This woman, along with her two sisters, would criticize the preacher for ‘preaching too long,” and she would often talk during the sermon and loudly complain about the preacher to those seated around her while the sermon was being preached. She would try to belittle the preacher, but would not accept any type of rebuke for her bad behavior. She did not have empathy for how the preacher felt when she would openly and loudly speak against him to the other members of the church, and she was instrumental in getting other members of the church to turn against the preacher of that congregation, even though the preacher had done nothing wrong.
​            Sadly, this elderly woman’s behavior not only caused problems for the preacher, the preacher’s family and other members of the church who supported the preacher, but her non-Christian like behavior must have filtered over to her own physical family, because many years after the preacher left the congregation that this elderly lady was attending, he had heard that the elderly woman had died alone in a nursing home, and her children had not came to visit her in a long time prior to her death.
        It is people like this who can cause a “split” in a congregation, because they are only concerned about themselves rather than the feelings of others. This can cause problems in the church if the other members do not stand up for what is right and keep the Narcissistic member from gaining control.
      In the first two chapters of this paper, I have discussed the definition and diagnosing criteria of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and I have given one or two examples of how Narcissism among members of the church and have a negative affect on other members of the church of Christ. In this final chapter, I want to discuss how Christians can deal with a member who is a Narcissist.
          Narcissist are only concerned about themselves, and not concerned at all about how others feel. Attending worship services with such people can be a challenge, especially if you are having to deal with them one on one for any length of time. Narcissists are often very critical of others, and they can bring the spirits down of even the most faithful members of the church of Christ. One thing that a person can do to keep a Narcissistic member from “bringing you down” is to ignore any negativity that they send your way. The Bible speaks against those who just care about themselves and who do not uplift others. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 mentions this by saying; For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
        As challenging as it is, it is best to not get upset around a Narcissist, because they feed on getting a reaction from the person they are being negative towards. This is why the best way to handle a Narcissist is to not show that you are upset around them. They should be rebukes for their negative behavior, but this should be done in such a way that the Narcissist does not see the person doing the rebuking get upset. We are told to rebuke our brother or sister in Christ who is doing wrong. Proverbs 27:5 says “Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
           Preachers who are facing narcissists in the congregation should never be afraid to preach on certain topics that may offend the narcissist. Preachers should “preach the word” no matter who gets offended, as 2 Timothy 4:2 states. Unfortunately, a narcissist will not apply the lesson to themselves as far as being motivated to change their sinful ways for the better. On the contrary, a narcissist, who cannot bear the thought that he/she is an imperfect person, will get angry at the messenger just for preaching the Word of God.   This shows a lack of humility among narcissistic people, which is also spoken against in the Bible. Many negative qualities of a narcissist is covered in Proverbs 6:16-19.
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
        Most importantly, the best way to handle a narcissist in the congregation is to pray for God’s Help. God will give you the strength and courage that you need to stand up for Him against any wrongdoer, no matter how loud or abrasive they can be. You may not be able to change the person, but you will still be telling them what they need to hear.
         In conclusion, we Christians have to deal with many different people in this world, some of which are not as they should be. There are some people in the world, including in the church, who face mental issues that involve having disturbances in their personality. Such personality disorders a Narcissistic Personality disorder can cause the affected person to have issues getting along with others, and in turn, cause problems in a congregation if this narcissist is not dealt with firmly and appropriately. By rebuking the narcissist for their wrongdoing when wrongdoing occurs and attempting to teach the narcissist how to be loving and humble servants of God, we will be doing our best to take as many people as we can with us to Heaven.             All that God wants us to do is to do our best to win souls for Him, but he does not hold us accountable for whether or not the narcissist will listen to us. All we can do is teach them and hope that at some point they can overcome the default in their thinking and make the changes they need to make in order to go to Heaven.
 
 
 
 


[1] Holy Bible: King James ed. Holman: 1998.

          I am so thankful to be living in the Southern portion of the United States, where it is often referred to as the “Bible Belt” of this country. There are over 40 congregations of the church of Christ in my area, which is a substantially larger amount of churches of Christ than you may see in even our neighboring counties. In this way, I am greatly blessed to be surround by so many brothers and sisters in Christ! I am also blessed to live in a country that has many churches of Christ in many different states, so that my family and I can assemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25).
         Unfortunately, although there are many strong and faithful congregations that are dedicated to teaching and preaching the Word of God exactly as God intends, there are some congregations who have been influenced by false teachers who have worked their way into the congregation. These false teachers, through their words and influence, can cause a once faithful congregation to slowly and gradually become less like the church of the First Century, and more like their denominational neighbors. 
       False teachers have various tactics that they use to make a once strong congregation become more liberal. They may not show their hand right away, but at some point, these false teachers will work for some sort of change in the way services are conducted. It is for this reason that these false teachers are known as “Change Agents.”
       Change Agents work to gradually create an environment of constant change in a church. That is their method of sliding in some liberal and unscriptural changes into the worship services and other practices of a congregation of the church of Christ. These changes are small at first, but they add up to big changes that eventually causes a once Scriptural congregation to fall into liberalism.
There are certain words that Change Agents like to use and to place on certain aspects of worship. These words, if you know what to look for, will give you an indication that false teaching may have infiltrated a congregation, and that congregation may be heading in the wrong direction towards liberalism. Here is a list of those words, and a description of each.
        1. Executive Minister: This is a term that, unfortunately, is becoming more common lately. This is a term that is used to describe the preacher of a congregation of the church of Christ. The word “executive” being used denotes an air of leadership or seniority over others. The word “executive” according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary means  “having administrative or managerial responsibilities.”There are a couple of things wrong about this label given to some preachers of the church of Christ today. One is that only qualified elders can be looked to as leaders of a congregation (Acts 20:28). A preacher may serve as an Elder if he meets the qualifications to be an Elder, but otherwise, the preacher is not called to exercise oversight over a congregation in the Gospel.  By calling him an “executive minister,” this give him a leadership role that is often seen among preachers in denominations.  Some may say that it is just a title, and this is not what is meant, but friends, we have long said, there is something in a name, and that is true.  Also, a preacher is not the only minister in a congregation, for all Christians are ministers (Matthew 20:26).  
       2. Worship Leader:  In some churches of Christ, the song leader in the worship services is called a “Worship Leader.”  This person typically does not only lead the singing in a worship service, but he also determines how all of the acts of worship will take place. One issue with this term is that the song leader is just one worship leader in a service.  In any given service, there is a song leader, a prayer leader, a Lord’s Supper leader or leaders, a leader in the giving, and a preacher who gives the sermon (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2). Also, as stated before, only elders can be called church leaders.   
        3. Children’s Church: Some churches of Christ have what is called “Children’s Church.” This takes place when teachers, small children and teenagers are separated from the regular worship assembly and are taught separately during the entire worship services. They do not sit and worship with their parents during the worship services but are taught by adult teachers until services are over. 
      Children’s church is not scriptural for several reasons. One is that a congregation is supposed to assemble together in one place for worship (I Corinthians 11:20; I Corinthians 14:23; Acts 2:1). By being separated from the regular worship services, teachers cannot partake of the Lord’s Supper as they are commanded to do every Sunday (Acts 20:7), and the teens cannot hear the Plan of Salvation which is to Hear (Romans 10:17, Believe (Mark 16:16), Repent (Acts 2:38), Confess (Matthew 10:32), and Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22).  Then, remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).  This is a divided assembly.  Some may say, but this happens on Sunday evening, and the teachers have already partaken of the Lord’s Supper for that day.  It is never right to divide the worship assembly.  There is a difference between Bible Classes and Worship Services.  Bible Classes do not take place during the worship service times (Matthew 28:18-20).  The elders may see fit to have Bible classes, and this helps people learn at different levels in groups with teachers.  God commands a general assembly of the Saints in a congregation (I Corinthians 11:18), and this cannot be forsaken by the members of the church, even if they claim they are doing a “children’s church” service  (Hebrews 10:25). 
         I hope that what I have said in this article helps you to see the errors in some of the labels and practices that are becoming a trend in some churches of Christ today. As Christians, we are to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Likewise, the church of Christ, which is the only church that Christ began, should not make herself more similar to man-made denominations. In a future article, I will list other signs that false teachings have infiltrated into a congregation of the church of Christ. A false teacher will not tell you he or she is a false teacher, so you must guard yourselves through diligent Bible study to know if and when their negative influence is being made known.  May we all do as Paul tells us to do in Matthew 7:15, which is to, “Beware false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

        It’s getting hot outside, and when this happens, it is a common occurrence to see more people wearing less. Modesty, or the lack thereof, is a major issue today, especially during the warm months. How we dress directly reflects where our heart is. Being dressed immodestly, shows others that following the social norms of this sinful world is more important than dressing in the manner God wants us to dress.
      Being immodestly dressed is presented as stylish and “the norm” to both young people and adults alike.  How we are viewed by others has largely to do with our outward appearance. Does our outward appearance show that we are followers of Christ, or followers of the world?  Do our choice of clothing put the focus on our bodies or Christ? What example do we give others through the way we dress?  This is especially true of our young ladies, who can teach other young ladies to be more like Christ through their example. For instance, a young lady can teach other girls to be more modest, by being modestly dressed herself. The problem of immodesty is becoming more and more prevalent as time goes by, and we must teach our young women and men to reflect God always in their attire. 
          What is modest is exemplified by how God clothed Adam and Eve after they realized they were naked. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins and clothed them.”  He clothed them in coats of skins that covered them from their shoulders to their knees, according to the Hebrew word “kethoneth” which can mean “coat” as used here, and it also means “tunic.” A tunic in the Bible was a garment that reached from the shoulders to at least the knees. Since this is the ONLY example given in the Bible of how God wants us to dress, then wearing anything less today would be immodest. The Bible speaks against exposing our chest, loins, and thighs, and showing any of these body parts is considered “naked” in the Bible. We would be considered naked if we exposed any of these parts while either standing or sitting.
          So while it is important that we make sure that our bodies are covered from the shoulders to the knees while we are standing, it is also important to make sure that we are covered in the same way while sitting down as well. I know that when wearing a skirt or shorts that reach just at the knees while standing, it is easy to forget that this same garment will raise up a little and expose the thighs when sitting, so that is why we must make sure that everything is modestly covered in any position we are in.
    I Timothy 2:9 still says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”.  Being immodest not only applies to wearing too little but wearing too much. Wearing overly flashy clothing, overly flashy jewelry, or too much makeup can also be considered immodest because a person who dresses in this manner is concerned about attracting the attention of others. Being immodestly dressed from wearing too little or too much, places a stumbling block in front of others by either tempting them to lust or tempting them to dress the same. We should always make sure that we allow people to see more of Christ in our outward and inward appearance and less of us and the influences of the sinful world in which we live.
            Modesty is not only for women. Men should also make sure that they are covered from the shoulders to the knees. This principle applies no matter where a person is. So, no matter if a man or woman is shopping in a store, going to church services, or at the beach, they should always be covered from the shoulders to the knees. Anything less than this is considered naked and immodest by God. Examples of what the Bible considers naked can be read in Genesis 3:11; Exodus 28:40-43; Isaiah 47:2-3; and John 21:7;
           What type of specific garments would be considered immodest? As said earlier in this article, any garment that exposes a person’s body between the shoulders and the knees is immodest. This applies to any garment worn out in public. Examples of immodest apparel would include, men going shirtless, or wearing shorts that expose skin above the knees in public. It would also include women wearing bikinis, bathing suits, shorts and skirts that expose skin above the knees, and any tops that expose a woman’s bosom in any way in public. Tops that expose the shoulders would also be considered immodest, since we are to be covered from the shoulders to the knees. Clothes that are too tight are also immodest.
            As a woman, I know that finding modest clothing can be a challenge at times, but modest clothes are out there for men and women of all heights, shapes, and sizes. It just takes the dedication to find modest apparel instead of settling for clothes that are “in style,” but not necessarily modest. Being modestly dressed is much more important than being considered “fashionable” by the world.  It is good to start teaching young boys and girls to be modest before they reach the age of accountability, so that, when they reach the age of accountability, they will be already equipped with the knowledge of how they should dress. They will also be more likely to make a habit of dressing modestly throughout their lives.
           I hope that this article helps readers learn more about the importance of modesty and what type of clothes are considered immodest by God. I know that when I was growing up, I heard several sermons about modesty, but preachers rarely got specific about what type of garments would be considered immodest. I have strived to teach about modesty in this article through God’s Word, as well as give specific examples of what type of clothes would be considered immodest. May we, as children of God, work every day to show that we are different from the rest of the sinful world in which we live.

        The act of singing has always been used as an effective way to convey a message. Songs have a way of getting “stuck” in our heads and our emotions can be affected by the way a song sounds or a phrase that is used in a particular song. Everyone, for the most part, enjoys listening to music, and many of us make music a part of our daily lives. Singing spiritual songs is also an important part of worshipping God. In the worship service, a cappella singing is a wonderful and enjoyable way to show God our appreciation and love. There are obviously certain criteria that a song must meet in order to be considered a spiritual song, and spiritual songs are to be sung in certain ways in order to be pleasing unto God. There are also several purposes that a spiritual song fulfills inside and outside of the worship service.
      What type of song is considered “spiritual”? A spiritual song is any song that gives praise unto God. In the worship service, there are many songs that are sung to glorify God. These songs praise God for creating us, for allowing us to have salvation, and also for Jesus dying for us on the cross.  Many spiritual songs that are commonly sung in the worship services of the church of Christ were written by mortal people who wished to show their appreciation unto God.  True spiritual songs are based on Biblical principles.  There are some songs in the Bible and all of the Bible is inspired of God, therefore we can find inspired songs there (II Timothy 3:16-17).  Those who sing spiritual songs are showing their appreciation.
      What are the purposes of a spiritual song? As previously mentioned, the main purpose of a spiritual song is to praise God. “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:” (Psalm 68:32). “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant” (Psalm 135:3). Any song that gives praise unto God in any way is a spiritual song just as the songs that we sing during the worship services of the church of Christ are spiritual songs.  
       The next purpose of the spiritual song is to teach others. By singing praises unto God, we are not only teaching others to do the same, but we are also teaching others about God and His Glory. We are commanded to teach others about God. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19). We are can use various means to teach others, and spiritual songs are one of the ways in which to teach. Paul taught the Gentiles to glorify God through singing. “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name” (Romans 15:9).  Colossians 3:16 expressly states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Clearly, a purpose of a spiritual song is to teach and admonish.
         Finally, another purpose of singing a spiritual song is to edify others. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, to “edify” means to “construct, build up, or establish.”  By singing praises unto God and of all of the wonderful things God has done for us, we are helping others praise and worship God as well. We are also helping others keep a positive outlook on life and to learn to trust God no matter what happens in this life. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).  
       Now that the definition and purposes of spiritual songs have been discussed, how, then, should a spiritual song be conducted in order to be pleasing unto God? God is pleased with singing that is done by the human voice, only! After all, what other kind of singing is there? This means that no mechanical musical instrument should accompany a spiritual song when it is being sung. It is true, that in the Old Testament, many Jews sang spiritual songs using mechanical musical instruments, however, the Old Law under which they lived during the Mosaical Dispensation is no longer in effect, and has been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
        In the New Testament, singing spiritual songs is mentioned, however, there is no authority by God to sing spiritual songs with mechanical instrumental accompaniment. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:19-20). In order for our worship to be pleasing unto God, we must have His authority in everything that we do! “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Even if the Bible does not specifically say that we cannot sing spiritual songs with mechanical musical instruments, it also does not tell us to sing spiritual songs with musical instruments, so therefore, we have no authority to do so.  Remember that God gives us authority for what we are to do by Jesus Christ.
         We are to neither add to nor take away from the Bible.  If the Bible tells us to do something, then we are to do it. If the Bible tells us to not do something, then we should not do that thing. If the Bible does not tell us to do something then we are not to do it. If the Bible does not tell us to not do something, we still do not do it, because we have to do all things “in the name of Jesus Christ,” which means “by the authority of Jesus Christ” in accordance with Colossians 3:17.  
        By binding where the Bible does not bind and loosing where the Bible is binding is sin. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).  The Holy Scriptures equip us for every good work.  II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  We cannot improve upon the Bible.  We must not add to it, nor take from it.  Christ says in John 12:48, “[48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”  We live under the Law of Christ today (Galatians 6:2).  Anything not authorized for us to do in the New Testament, we must not do.  We must do only that which is authorized for us to do in the New Testament. 
       Also, those who participate in worship to God must take an active part in singing spiritual songs, rather than to sit back and have others “perform” spiritual songs for them. This involves the congregation as a whole singing praises unto God, rather than having one person, a choir, or a “praise team” stand before the congregation and “perform” the spiritual songs for them. Notice, they were commanded to speak to themselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5:19.  This commandment was given to the church (Ephesians 1:1-2).  If a spiritual song is being performed, then it is merely a form of entertainment for the enjoyment of those in the audience rather than a form of praise unto God.  Remember in our worship, God is the Audience, not us. 
        Is a spiritual song still a spiritual song outside of the worship service? If the actions that take place in a worship service (i.e. praying, singing praises unto God, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, giving, preaching the Gospel), are considered acts of worship inside the church building, then they are also considered acts of worship outside of the church building.  Remember that of these acts, partaking of the Lord’s Supper can only be done on the first day of the week in accordance with Acts 20:7.  Worship services are commanded to take place on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7).  The church building itself is not the church that Christ began.  The people who congregate to worship God together are the church. “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
        Worship can also be offered by congregations in devotionals prior or after Bible Studies.  There are many who offer worship to God by singing songs, praying, and listening to preaching in home devotionals.  Singing is a part of worship in public and private devotionals, as you see.  Sometimes, one might even sing a spiritual song with no one else around, but God, Who Is Everywhere.  This would be offering praise and worship to God.  James 5:13 says, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”  Although we may offer worship unto God at various times, we are still commanded to worship with the church on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7).  Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  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.”  The Elders may also deem other important times for worship and Bible study to take place, also.  We must submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:17).
        Since the church building is just a building, and the actual church is made up of Christians, then the singing of spiritual songs in any setting is considered an act of worship to God. In other words, for God to be pleased, a song that praises God outside of the church building has to follow the same rules of having no mechanical instruments accompanying it as is given to spiritual songs sang in a church building. Also, a spiritual song must not be enjoyed as entertainment, but sung without mechanical instruments of music in praise to God. 
        For example, if the song “Amazing Grace” is supposed to be sung without mechanical musical instruments in the worship service held inside of a church buidling, then it stands to reason that the same requirements would apply outside of the church building.   
​          Remember, “Amazing Grace” is a spiritual song.  Also, spiritual songs are designed to praise God and to teach each other.  Praising is worshipping.  Spiritual songs are designed for worship.  As I have already established, they must be sung in the way that God has authorized.  So, listening to the song “’Amazing Grace” at say, a bluegrass concert,  accompanied by mechanical instruments of music as it is performed to an audience for entertainment, is not authorized in ScriptureI can find no place in Scripture where we are authorized to sing a spiritual song with mechanical instruments of music whether inside the worship service on Sunday or outside of the worship service on Sunday. 
      This applies to listening to spiritual songs that are traditional hymns as well as those that are considered “Christian” Rock, Country, Pop, Rap, etc. A song of praise unto God is an act of worship whether inside or outside of the worship service just as praying unto God are still considered acts of worship whether inside or outside of the worship services. “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (I Corinthians 14:15).
      God does not make a distinction based on where an act of worship is conducted. An act of worship must be conducted in the exact same manner no matter the setting in order to be pleasing unto God. At any time that we sing spiritual songs, we must not do so by adding to God’s Word by adding mechanical instruments of music to those songs.  To do so is no different than doing the same thing in the worship service.  Since singing spiritual songs with mechanical instruments of music is not authorized by God, then should we seek to be entertained by listening to these songs accompanied with mechanical instruments of music when those are not pleasing to God?  Of course, not!  
      I have wanted to write an article on this topic for awhile now, and thanks be to God, I have finally been able to do so! I hope that this article has helped to shed some light into the topic of spiritual songs and the appropriate way to sing and listen to these songs. I know that this is a topic that is not covered very often, and I hope that this article has allowed you to think more about this subject. As always, I write these articles in hope of teaching and edifying others. May we all strive to work to grow to be more like Christ and less like the world every day!

           The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known accounts in      the Bible. Any child who has attended Bible classes has no doubt heard this story of bravery in the face of great adversity. David, who was a young boy at the time, showed his courage and faith in God by standing up to the giant, Goliath, and, with just a sling and a small stone, defeated a foe so intimidating that all of the seasoned Israeli soldiers ran away in fear of him. When reading this account, it is amazing to consider how David showed so much faith in God at a time when it seemed that all odds were against him. One might wonder how David acquired this level of faith. Let’s consider a few things that David did prior to confronting the gigantic Goliath that we can use when facing our own challenges in life. 

1. David drew on and reflected upon the many examples of God’s past faithfulness in his life. David remembered when God had blessed him and helped him throughout his life.  “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” (I Samuel 17:37). We can reflect on our many blessings and the many times God has helped us in our own lives, and use these memories to gain new strength when facing a new challenge. We can also see how God worked in the lives of others who are considered faithful in the Bible (Hebrews 12:1).  Since God has been with us and helped us so much in the past, we can know that He will continue to help us throughout our lives! 
2. David did not let pressure from others stop him. When David volunteered to defeat Goliath, many of the soldiers around him, including his own brother, told him that he was not capable of such a task (I Samuel 17:28). Even King Saul told David that. He was no match for Goliath (I Samuel 17:32-33).  These grown men were discouraging David from doing the very thing that they were afraid to do themselves. Whenever Goliath would come out and challenge the Israelites to send someone to fight him, the soldiers would run in fear. No doubt these men looked at young David and thought that him defeating Goliath was impossible, but they underestimated David, and they underestimated God!  When we are about to face a great challenge in our lives, we should not let others discourage us from trusting in God to help us! If we listen to God rather than other people, we will have the courage to deal with anything that comes our way!
3. David saw God, not Goliath.  When David was having to confront Goliath he focused on God way more than Goliath. In fact, in the account of David and Goliath, David mentioned God around 10 times, but only mentioned Goliath around 4 times. By keeping his focus on God, who is the Creator of all things, David did not view Goliath as the unbeatable giant like his fellow Israelites did. Instead, he knew that he would be the one to kill Goliath, and thus helping Israel gain a victory against the Philistine army. We should also keep our focus on God during trying times, and trust Him to help us through them.                                                                                                 

           David gave us some great example of how to persevere through trials in life. Whenever we are faced with a daunting challenge, we should do as David did, and put our trust and focus on God. There is no challenge set before us that God cannot help us through! By focusing on how temporary the challenges of
this life are in comparison to the permanence of eternality, we can put things
into a better perspective and, like David, gain the courage needed to succeed!It
is no wonder that God called David “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22).May we live our lives with the level of faith and trust in God that David had
throughout his life, so that we can be Christians after God’s Own Heart as well!
Our eternal souls depend on it!

          I have been a Christian for 27 years, and during those 27 years, it appears to me that the culture in America is becoming more sinful with the passing of each day. It seems that the “cancel culture” or “WOKE culture” which is so popular in the mainstream media is penetrating every aspect of our lives, as well as in the lives of our children. For example, the new “Barbie” movie, which promotes vulgarity and homosexuality, tries to “normalize” these sins in the eyes of our young girls, while the promotion of homosexuality is also seen in children’s books and T.V. shows.
       Even some of our beloved restaurants are supporting the LGBTQ agenda. At the same time, those who stand against these popular culture items and the sins that they promote are seen as “homophobic” and “too strict” and are not supported by those who support this “cancel culture.”
     Even some Christians will not publicly support other Christians who speak out against sin being displayed in our popular culture for fear of being criticized by those who follow the mindset of the world.  Thankfully, there are still Christians out there trying to shine their lights into this dark world of “wokeness,” no matter what the cost is to their social standing and reputation.  Situations like these make it seem as if we are living in a time that is more perverse and corrupt than any other time in history. However, this is not the case. Perverse and corrupt societies have always been in existence, even in Bible times. The first case of this mentioned in the Bible is in the time of Noah in Genesis chapter 6.
        “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:5-7)
         The world in Noah’s time was so corrupt that only Noah and his 7 other family members were faithful to God. When we compare our world today with the world of Noah, we can most likely think of more than 8 faithful Christians that we of which we alone are aware. We can take comfort in this as well as knowing that there are many more faithful Christians out there in the world that we do not even know about!
         As we can see, the idea of a “cancel culture” that strives to normalize sin is nothing new. Even the prophet Isaiah saw this in the city of Jerusalem during his time. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”(Isaiah 5:20). As we can see from these verses, the promotion of homosexuality and other perverse sins is nothing new.
       Something else that is not new is the trend in today’s American culture is to disregard and/or silence those who speak out against this “cancel culture.” For example, Christians who speak against homosexuality on social media may be attacked verbally in a public way by those who support the “cancel culture.” These attacks are intended to silence the Christian so that the corruption can continue without interruption. We can see in the Bible how various prophets of God, such as Elijah and Jeremiah, were seen as the enemy and beaten and imprisoned for speaking out against the “cancel culture” of their time. Thankfully, most Christians in America do not have to face beatings and death for speaking the Truth. Most of our persecutors will either verbally attack us, give us the “silent treatment,” or give us some variation of these two responses.
       We can take comfort in the fact that we are not living in circumstances unseen by history. Many prophets, and Christians suffered persecution and even death for speaking out against the sinful “cancel culture” of their day, but no one dealt with this more than Jesus Christ. While in infancy, an attempt was made to get rid of Jesus by King Herod who, sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its coasts from two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).
        Once Jesus had grown up and began to meekly reveal Himself as the Son of God, those evil and corrupt factions of the Jews who opposed Jesus tried to “cancel” Him out as well. Their agenda went so far as to have Jesus crucified, which they thought would silence Him forever. However, as all faithful Christians know, Christ gained the real Victory, and paved the way for us to follow His Example by continuing to openly speak out against the “cancel culture” of our time.
​           By fearlessly doing so, we can reach our reward in Heaven in the end! “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)  Let us rejoice in persecution!  Let us support those standing for the Truth!  In so doing, we shall be truly blessed by our Unchanging God!
 
 

        Just like so many others in this country who were following this story, I was so concerned about the five men who were at first considered trapped inside of the Titan submersable vessel over 13,000 feet in the ocean. These men were in this situation after paying around $250,000 apiece in order to catch a glimpse of the wreckage of the famous sunken ship, the Titanic.  They boarded the vessel on a Sunday morning, planning on seeing the wreckage and then returning again to safety eight hours later. After the eight hours had elapsed, however, there was no sign of the vessal. It was still at the bottom of the ocean.
          At first it was said that if unrescued, the men were in a situation where they could run out of air and/or freeze to death in the frigid waters. After several days of searching, however, it was determined that the vessel imploded upon itself on Sunday morning, just a couple of hours after going into the water.  
         All five men were financially very wealthy, and they had a great interest in seeing the wreckage of the Titanic. One of the men was even known as “Mr. Titanic” due to his love of everything to do with that famous ship. Even though being interested in ships and going underwater in a submersible vessal is not wrong at all, this story is still proof that even though these men were billionaires and one was the son of a billionaire, not one of them could buy one more minute of life when the submarine imploded on them.  Nothing else mattered in that last moment except their relationship with God.
          The saddest part about this situation is that all five men had more money than many people can dream of having, and yet, none of them could buy one more minute of their lives when the time of their deaths came upon them. This shows that when your life is over, you are not going to care about how much money you had, what your house looked like, what kind of car you had, or even what job you had. All that will matter in that moment is where you stand with God!
          Many people in this world will learn too late that they had all of their priorities in this life completely backwards. Many people will work on Sundays and forsake assembling for worship services. Others will choose to spend their Sundays sleeping in or partaking in certain hobbies that they enjoy rather than spending that time serving the Lord.  Some speak of having a personal relationship with the Lord, but you cannot have this without doing what He says do (John 14:15).  Acts 20:7 tells us this, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” Hebrews 10:25-26 also tells us not refuse to assemble with other Christians for worship.
        You do not have to have a lot of money to lose your soul. You can be rich or poor, but when it comes down to what you value most, if it isn’t God, then you are spiritually bankrupt. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecclesiastes 12:13).
        The death of the five men on the Titan is tragic. Our hearts go out to the families of these five men.  Our prayers go up to the Father for their comfort.  Value the people in your lives.  Never take a moment for granted.
       Also, let us remember that these men who were financially well off could not take any of their worldly possessions with them when that submarine imploded. We can learn from this sad situation to not build our whole lives around acquiring worldly possessions. Being wealthy is not wrong, but we should work to build our lives around God, and He will bless our lives and provide for us in ways that we cannot even imagine! We have to get our priorties in this life in the right order. Instead of focusing just on the worldly things that interest us, we should instead put our focus on God, and do what He wants us to do first and foremost. After we do what we need to do to serve God, then we can spend time on our hobbies or other worldly things that are not contrary to God’s will. It is all about priorities, because you can never buy one more minute!
         
 

       


























​               Earlier this month, the L.A. Dodgers honored an LGBTQ group known as the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” the night before their 10th annual “Pride Night.” Members of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” are homosexual men who are dressed in drag to look like flamboyantly dressed nuns. These men wear brightly colored nuns’ habits, as well as white makeup on their faces and designs drawn onto their faces. This group was given the “Community Hero Award” by the Dodgers for their work in the LGBTQ community.
         The award was given out at the Dodgers stadium prior to the beginning of a game. In the seats, there were only about 50 people sitting to witness the honoring of this group whose motto is to “go and sin some more.” Dodgers’ representatives commented on the low number in attendance by saying that on any other night, there would be 10 times more people in the stadium seats. Meanwhile, as the 50 people sat in the stadium seats to cheer on these sinful award recipients, thousands of people protested the giving of this award outside of the stadium.
     I believe that the fact that so few came to cheer on the celebration of homosexuality shows that the general public is becoming tired of having the LGBTQ agenda shoved down our throats almost on a daily basis. Not only are adults having to deal with pro-homosexuality propoganda, but even our children are targeted. My husband and I will not allow our children to watch the Nickelodeon station on TV this month, because there is a Pride commercial that comes on constantly because of June being designated as “Pride Month.” There should not be a month dedicated to being prideful about sin, and homosexuality is definitely a sin!
        Homosexuality is a sin that should not be celebrated.  Moses said in Leviticus 18:22, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Also, in Leviticus 20:13, we see that, under the Old Law, homosexuals were punished by death.  This shows the seriousness of this sin, and how God views it.  Homosexuality was also condemned in the New Testament: 

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:26-32).
           Homosexuality is also a choice.  I Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  We see from these verses that it is possible for people to leave homosexuality for homosexuality is completely against nature, and must be left by those who are of that persuasion.  There is a difference between love and lust, and God is Love, and He has defined love for us.  Those who are homosexuals are urged out of love to give up this sin.  It is possible to change as some at Corinth had done in the First Century. Those who practice the sin of homosexuality have complete control of themselves and can stop having homosexual relationships at any time.  Let us do what we can to help them stop, and remember, they have to want to stop to actually stop.  Sadly, so many who practice this sin do not stop until it is too late.  
       Christians should also work to speak out against the sin of homosexuality as much as possible, without fear of facing criticism from those who support it. We will be blessed if we do not stay quiet on this issue and any other issue involving sin.  As Matthew 5:14 teaches, let us work to be the light of the world! 

          I am an animal lover. Throughout my life, I’ve had various dogs, birds, and fish. I even had a cat for one day.  I currently have two dogs, which my family and I love.  So many people love their pets just as much as they love people, and there is a prosperous market out there that provides clothes, shoes, and other accessories for our pets. With that being said, some may wonder if their beloved Fido or Fluffy will be in Heaven with them. We can go to several places in the Bible to see the answer to the question, do our pets go to Heaven?

1. Man was made in God’s Image. When God created man, He made them in His Own Image (Gen 1:27). Does that mean that God has arms, legs, hair, skin, etc? No. This means that mankind has a soul.  We are created as a spirit and we know that God is a Spirit (John 4:24).  Nothing is said in the Bible about animals being made in the Image of God. Both humans and animals are similar in that they both have “life,” but only humans have souls like God. This shows that humans are on a higher level than the animals. So those people who tend to focus on the welfare of animals more than the welfare of people do not have their priorities straight!
2. God granted humans a certain level of dominion over animals.  When God created Adam, He gave Adam dominion over the animals. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:28).  This means that humans and animals are not equal.
3. Humans are allowed to kill and even eat animals. Animals are for human use to eat (Gen 9:3), for clothing (Gen 3:21), and to provide a certain degree of companionship (Genesis 2:19-20), though clearly this companionship pales in comparison to the companionship provided by a spouse for even after the animals were created, Adam still did not have a companion comparable unto him (Genesis 2:21-24).  We are not allowed to kill other human beings (Exodus 20:13, Romans 13:9). Why are we allowed to kill animals but not our fellow man or woman? Because animals are not eternal beings that have eternal souls, but humans are.
4. Dogs are used as examples of sin in the Bible. For example, Peter likens a man who repents of his sins but returns to that same sin again to a dog that vomits, but then turns around and eats his own vomit (II Peter 2:22).
5. The souls of humans and animals go in different places. God through King Solomon tells that both humans and beasts experience death, but the spirit (or life force) of humans goes upward, while the life force of animals goes downward to the ground (Ecclesiastes 3:21).  Human beings are created with each having a soul, spirit, and body.  We find this mentioned in I Thessalonians 5:23.  Here we are told, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our body will return to the dust as will animals (Genesis 3:19).  Our spirit will return unto God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7).  Our soul will either go Paradise or Torment  upon our death (Luke 16).  Our soul will be found in Heaven (Revelation 20:4) or Hell (Matthew 10:28).
6. God specifically says that there are no dogs in Heaven:  “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:15).  According to this verse, dogs will not be in Heaven.  Those behave as dogs will not be there either.  If dogs are not allowed in Heaven, then it must be the case that all animals that walk the earth will not go into Heaven.

    From these verses, we can see that although our pets give us happiness and companionship in this life, they cannot follow us into eternity. How popular culture views pets is very different than how God intends them to be viewed, and we must make sure that we put animals in their proper place. After a beloved pet dies, it is indeed a sad time for the owner, however, that pet does not “cross the rainbow bridge” into eternity like many pet lovers believe. These animals merely cease to exist after death. This fact should encourage us to make sure that we do not spend too much time doting on our pets to the neglect of other human beings.  We must make sure that we are keeping our focus on serving God, rather than becoming distracted by worldly matters. 

 

     I have started a new group on Facebook called "Sisters Encouraging Sisters!" This group is for female members of the church to have a place where they can encourage one another to continue living the Christian life every day! If you would like to join this group ,please go to 
         https://www.facebook.com/groups/1156441385034653/   
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        ​With today being Good Friday, and this being Easter weekend, it is often the case that I will hear various people talk about how Jesus was crucified on the cross on Good Friday, and ressurected from the dead on Easter. It is true that Jesus died on a Friday, which was the day of preparation for the Passover (John 19:31). It is also true that Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday (Mark 16:9). However, does that mean that it is true that Godd Friday is the anniversary of Christ’s Death and Easter is the anniversary of His Resurrection? Also, should we celebrate Easter as a religious holiday? 
       As stated before, we know that Jesus died on a Friday and was risen from the dead on a Sunday. However, we are not told in the Bible the exact date of these two events.  The Bible does not specifically mention a “Good Friday,” nor an “Easter” in the way that the word “Easter” is commonly used today.  The King James Version of the Bible does mention “Easter” in Acts 12:4, however, the word here is for Passover.
      It appears that in the 2nd century A.D., some professed Christians wanted to have celebrations of their own that were similar to the Jewish celebrations of Passover. The celebration that they created was called by the Greek word “Pasha,” which means Passover. However, in the 3rd century A.D., the Council of Nicea made this celebration that was started in the 2nd century a holiday that would take place on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. This new holiday would separate itself further from the Jewish Passover by observing Christ’s Resurrection from the dead. 
       Easter eggs are a tradition that began in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was a tradition in Eastern Europe to decorate eggs to signify “new life” during the Spring-time. This tradition was passed along to the U. S. with European immigrants. Other Easter traditions that children celebrate in the U. S. also came from Europe. 
      So, observing the holiday of Easter as a religious holiday is not commanded in the Bible, but was created over a century after Jesus died. With that being said, we cannot observe Easter Sunday as the exact day that Jesus was resurrected year after year.  Afterall, have you not noticed that the date of Easter changes from year to year?  More importantly, have you noticed that the Bible never commands us, nor authorizes us to observe Easter as a religious holiday (Colossians 3:17).  We are to observe and honor Jesus’ resurrection every Sunday, not just one time out of the year on Easter.  This makes Easter Sunday the same as every other Sunday of the year, and not a religious holiday.  Therefore every Lord’s Day is important in that we honor the death and resurrection of Christ on the cruel cross of Calvary that we might all have remission of our sins through obedience (Acts 2:38, Hebrews 5:9). We honor Christ in this way by assembling with the saints for worship every Sunday (Hebrews 10:25), and we are commanded to remember the Lord’s death in partaking of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the Week (I Corinthians 11:26). Only showing up for worship services on Easter is not enough to honor Christ in the way that God wants. 
        Of course, it is a matter of personal judgment as to whether to observe Easter as in a non-religious way as a matter of cultural custom  as a fun springime holiday for the kids, where they have an opportunity to decorate and hunt Easter eggs, for example.  Romans 14:5 says, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
       I hope that this article helps to shed some light on the origins of Easter and how that Easter Sunday is no more special than any other Sunday of the year. We are not commanded to observe Easter as a religious holiday, because it is not mentioned in the Bible.  Let us be thankful for the Resurrection of Christ every Sunday, and every day!

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