“I HAVE A DREAM”

By Kenneth E. Thomas

Many are the people who either heard it when delivered, or have heard excerpts from it on television since that time. I am talking about Martin Luther King's outstanding civil rights speech, “I have a dream.”

Many years ago, in fact it was in 1976 in the building of the old West Bradenton church of Christ in Bradenton, Florida that I preached a lesson from flannel cards using that title and making application to spiritual matters. A black gospel preacher friend of mine now deceased, named F.0. White ask my permission to put “my lesson” on an overhead transparency and he preached it in the congregation where he labored near Miami, Florida. Since then I have seen “my lesson” “I have a dream” in various forms being utilized by some of my fellow gospel preachers. Of course that's fine with me, for "to be copied is one of the highest form of flattery" goes an old expression.

If you aren't familiar with how a flannel graph lesson works, one's only notes usually are what is printed on the cards which are displayed one point at a time to keep the audience with you and not allow them to get ahead of you, as is often the case when using a cloth chart, where the entire lesson is exposed to the audience. To preserve more of what was taught in that lesson I shall be transcribing it from the cassette tape still in my possession that I ran across the other day while rummaging through some of my material including the tape file cabinet where I found the tape still in tact.

Some of the points I made in this lesson I had made before in preaching to local churches in Illinois and another location in Florida. However, this was the first time I had put it into this form with this title. Every gospel preacher worth his salt has the best interest of his brethren in mind as he lives, preaches and teaches among them. They will feel and act toward their brethren as Paul expressed it in writing to the Thessalonians. “You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Earlier in that same chapter he wrote: “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also out own souls because you were dear unto us” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

A strange phenomenon often occurs toward faithful preachers of the gospel. Because they wish to please Christ and declare the “whole council of God” (Acts 20:26-27; 2 Timothy 4:1-8), and because of their deep love and concern for the brethren, as they see their needs and begin teaching them in those areas where weaknesses exist, it often happens that the preacher is forced to ask, “Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) Prior to condemning the Galatian brethren for observing Jewish holy days Paul reminded them that they would have, “plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.” They had previously accepted him as "an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus" (Galatians 4:14-15). How to keep the love and respect of one's brethren while at the same time "reproving and rebuking" them where needed keeps a preacher walking a “tight rope” so to speak. He can't preach with a view to pleasing men for then he could not please Christ (Galatians 1:10-11). He is informed along with other brethren “..not to think of men above that which is written,” (1 Corinthians 4:6). He is charged to “...speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Starting with our Master to His apostles, as well as other faithful evangelist, we read about in the New Testament how they often suffered at the hands of the very people whom they attempted to serve. Any time one takes a leadership role in any area of life he becomes an object of ridicule and often resentment to some folks. This is to their own detriment of course. Paul spoke of his heart's desire and prayer for his own nation, Israel, concerning their salvation. They had rejected God's system by which men are saved or made righteous by the gospel of Christ, and were going about to establish their own righteousness through law keeping ( Romans 10:1-4). Paul spoke earlier in Romans nine of the idea that if his being accursed would save the Jews he could wish for that to transpire (Romans 9:1-3). We know that this was hyperbole and that he wasn’t speaking literally. This just emphasized how he wished they could see what he had seen and learn what he had learned about their Messiah and his kingdom. So do faithful gospel preachers among us today. We are idealist I suppose, but we dream of many things transpiring among the Lord’s people that would have the effect of truly showing the world about us what the true religion of Jesus Christ is all about and the changes it makes in the lives of its adherents.

“I HAVE A DREAM”

1). I DREAD OF A CHURCH WHERE LOVE FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS TRUTH AND FOR ONE ANOTHER ABOUNDS PROPERLY:

Love for the Lord and love for the truth go hand in hand. If we love the Lord and His truth we will also exhibit love for the brethren. If we don't love our brethren whom we have seen John ask, how can we love God whom we have not seen? (1 John 4:20). A lawyer asked Jesus a question tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? In Matthew 22:37 in answer Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind...And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (v-39). John wrote a lot about love and its importance to the disciples of Christ. He wrote “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whoso hateth his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him” (1 John 3:11-15). Love of the Lord and love of our brethren isn't all that is required, we must love the truth above every other consideration in life. If we do not, God will allow Satan to send us a “working of error” or as the king James states it, a “strong delusion” causing us to believe and lie and be damned... (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Does that context scare you as badly as it does me? Do you love the Lord, the truth, and your brethren in Christ? I know some of them are hard to even like, but the commanded love is agape, and that means we will always have our brethren's best spiritual interest at heart even if we don't necessarily like a particular brother or sister. We often sing a song “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.” I wonder how strongly that “tie” works in some brethren's minds? I must check myself and see if I truly “love the brethren.” Just think of a congregation where everyone at the same time matured to the point that we all equally loved the Lord, the truth, and our brethren in Christ as depicted in the New Testament scriptures. I have only “touched the hem of the garment” as it were on this subject. Jesus said “if you love Me, keep My commandments...He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14:15, 21). In first John we learn who it is that truly loves the Lord. He said, “For this is the love of God, that you keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).

How to test your love for the Lord and for His truth:

1). Is it grievous for you to assemble regularly with the saints (Hebrews 10:23-39)?

2). Is it grievous for you to give liberally each week as prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-6; 2 Cor. 9:6-7)?

3). Is it grievous for you to live by the morals of the New Testament (Galatians 5:16-21)?

4). Is it grievous for you to attempt to bring others to Christ (2 Timothy 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14)?

5). Is it grievous for you to stand up and “contend for the faith once delivered” (Jude 3)?

6). Is it grievous for you to choose to follow Christ when dear family members are disappointed and upset with you (Matthew 10:32-38; Luke 14:25-35)?

7). Is it grievous for you to forego the observance of so called “holy days” along with family and friends in order not to “bid Godspeed” to error (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11; 2 John 9-11)?

8). Is it grievous for you to sit and listen to the evangelist identify sin and sometimes give the names of those involved in religious error (3 John 9-10; Gal. 2:11; Matt. 15:7-9; 23:23-24; 2 Tim. 4:10)?

Obviously this list could be lengthened considerably to include everything that is unique to the New Testament religion of Jesus Christ. We are indeed a “peculiar” or a “special people” who are charged with showing the world what all being a Christian involves. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeems us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special (peculiar KJV) people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 5:13-16).

2). I HAVE A DREAM OF A CHURCH THAT FUNCTIONS ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN IN EVERYTHING PECULIAR TO NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING:

Paul wrote to Titus: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). In the Acts of the apostles we learn that soon after congregations were formed they “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23). We learn from 1 Peter 5:1-5 as well, that elders of one church are not given oversight of any congregation except the one in which they have been appointed to serve, as well as from (Acts 20:28). Therefore we conclude and properly so, that “elders in every city” means elders in every local church in every city, not citywide elders. We also have letters sent to congregations that were “set in order” which read like the following: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” (Philippians 1:1-2).

Congregations of Christians without elders, deacons, and saints, may operate and faithfully worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ for a time, but something is lacking until they come to full and scriptural organization as indicated above. Until they have men who have been qualified by the Holy Spirit’s teachings concerning elders and deacons they remain “scripturally unorganized.” If they have men who desire to so serve and who have been qualified by the Holy Spirit’s teachings but do not appoint them and submit to their oversight, they are then “unscripturally unorganized.” It is only when they have men who desire to so serve and who meet the Holy Spirit’s revealed qualifications who are appointed by the evangelist and submitted to by the membership, that they are “scripturally organized.” (1 Thess. 5:11-21; Hebrews 13:7,17; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Acts 14:23; 20:28; Titus 1:5). If congregations appoint men who do not meet the qualifications of (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) as overseers, they are at once “unscripturally organized.”

Under the oversight of her elders, each local congregation of the New Testament order is to provide for assemblies where saints may come together for certain functions involving the whole of the local membership. Paul and company waited for a few days so they could assemble with the church at Troas on the first day of the week as was the apostolic custom and teaching regarding the observance of the Lord’s Supper, among other first day responsibilities (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Cor. 11:23-34) This was also when Christians were to “lay by in store” or place into the common treasury a portion of their prosperity cheerfully, willingly and bountifully being assured that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). This provided the funds that were used to (1.) Provide for a place of assembly.(2.) Support evangelist. (3.) Provide for other needed materials in their program of edification. Other passages show how the local churches spent their money but these two are the only ones showing how they acquired the money needed to function in those commanded and authorized activities supported from the local church treasury.

The threefold (some break it down to twofold) functions authorized or commanded of each local congregation may be expedited in any expedient ways (methods) the elders may choose which do not violate some other Biblical principles. Each local congregation is charged to (1.) Preach and support the preaching of the gospel to save lost souls (See 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; Philippians 4:10-19; 2 Corinthians 11:8). (2.) Each is to have a program of edification to build up the local saints in the most holy faith (1 Thessalonians 5:11-21; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40). (3.) They are to provide for their own needy members when family is unable to do so (1 Timothy 5:8,16; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 4:35; Acts 11:27-30).

The preaching and edification program could be lumped together as one activity, for preaching is designed both to save the alien sinner and to build up the local congregation (1 Corinthians 1:21; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). In the accomplishment of these awesome tasks, may be such things as gospel meetings and or lectureships designed to fulfill the needs locally as well as to save the lost alien sinners. The membership should take advantage of every spiritual activity provided by the local congregation for edification. When folks ask, “must one attend Wednesday evening Bible study classes in order to please the Lord? Aren’t these humanly devised assemblies that were not commanded by the apostles’ teachings” (Acts 2:42)? Such folks are asking the wrong question: How may elders properly “feed and lead” the local membership if the flock will not gather together where such “feeding and leading” is designed to take place (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Hebrews 14:17)?

Every faithful Christian will look forward to such opportunities and unless hindered by something beyond their control will be there when the doors are opened ready to participate to the building up of themselves and consequently other members of the local church (Romans chapters 12-15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:11-16). They should be asking “how may I set up my schedule so I do not have to miss a single opportunity to assemble with those of “like precious faith” to be edified and to edify others?”

Paul told Timothy to, " Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me..." ( 2 Timothy 1:13).

Kenneth E. Thomas

Pekin church of Christ

1451 Valle Vista Blvd.

Pekin, IL 61554

1 (309) 347-3582 - Office

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