Gambling, (continued from page 2)

As the gambler plays the various games of chance, he often relies on superstitious rituals to give him the luck he needs to win more money. Gamblers often consult with fortune tellers and palm readers. Chinese fortune cookies come complete with lottery numbers. God commanded the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 18:10-11, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." This specific Old Testament command was followed up, in verse 12, by a principal of God that is the same throughout all time, "For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." When superstition is empowered, faith in God is abandoned.

It Draws Men Away From Christ

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Since the covetous are refused fellowship with Christ and His church (1Cor 5:11), the gambler is forced to choose between Jesus and the game. Regardless of how much money you win, when you gamble, you always lose. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

Ted Parks
Vacaville, Ca.

Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond what is written..." (1Cor.4:6). Where is it written to have "special singing groups" to sing for the assembled ones? By whose authority are they doing this? Certainly not by God’s!

ONLY CONGREGATIONAL SINGING IS
AUTHORIZED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

There must be authority for everything we do or practice in the realm of religious worship (Col.3:17). The apostle Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col.3:16). The phrase "one another" is translated "yourselves" in Eph.5:19, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Each individual is to sing to the other, together. "One another" is used as a reciprocal pronoun. We understand that instrumental music in worship is unauthorized, because when God tells us one way to do something, it automatically excludes every other way. The same is true for "special singing groups." Because they are excluded from Scripture, they must be excluded from worship.

CONCLUSION

There is no approved example, command, or inference for choirs, soloists, quartets, and special singing groups in the New Testament worship. Congregational singing is the only accepted singing authorized in the Lord's worship services. If we want to offer worship that is pleasing to God, then it must be offered according to His direction.

John L. Lawson, Sr.
San Diego, Ca.

Evolution, (continued from page 7)

earth from space after having evolved from the warm, wet nucleus of a comet.” It just seems to get better, doesn't it? But if no one knows the where or the when or the how, then how can evolution be regarded as a fact? Robert Jastrow, founder of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies at NASA has said, “According to this theory, every tree, every blade of grass, and every creature in the sea and on the land evolved out of one parent strand of molecular matter drifting lazily in a warm pool. What concrete evidence supports that remarkable theory of the origin of life? There Is None.” He is absolutely right, there is no evidence, but they believe it anyway. If that is science, then I'm the free safety for the Dallas Cowboys. We need not feel intimidated by those with advanced degrees in the disciplines of science. Science can be a great tool for man, but I want to know what happened to the scientific method? And reason? And common sense?

Carl Garner
Dripping Springs, Tx.