At this very moment, there are thousands in various countries who do not know about Jesus Christ and the saving power of the gospel. The question is often asked, "If someone does not know, will that person be held accountable for their lack of knowledge?" Many want to answer that question by allowing that person to be saved, since it would be "cruel" or "unfair" for them to be condemned to hell for not knowing. Yet that is not what the Bible teaches.

We are responsible for what we know and for what we can know. If someone is truly in search of the truth, they can find it; "Seek, and you will find" (Matthew 7:7). "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know. . ." (John 7:17). Even those who may warrant some sympathy because they have been blinded by the allurement of denominationalism cannot escape the example of the Bereans. These fair-minded brethren "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Because someone is ignorant of the truth does not make them immune from the consequences of their disobedience. Eternal salvation is reserved for those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). In fact, at the coming of the Lord, He will take 'vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ' (2 Thess. 1:8). Obedience is not just important, it is essential. No one is excluded from the responsibility of obeying God. Ignorance will not save. Those who crucified the Son of God did so in ignorance (Acts 3:17). Did that give them special immunity since they did not know? Absolutely not! There is not a plan of salvation and a plan of ignorance. Eternal life is reserved only for those who obey (Heb. 5:9).

If a man could be saved "by default" (because he did not know the truth), then why teach him the truth? Since having a knowledge of the truth would cause him to be lost if he rejected it, then the best thing to do would be to recall all preachers and missionaries and allow the world to saved by their ignorance. Does that make any sense?

Are You Average?
Author Unknown

"Average" is the top of the bottom, the best of the worst, the bottom of the top, and the worst of the best.

"Average" means run-of-the-mill, mediocre, a non-entity, or insignificant.

Being "average" is to take up space for no purpose; to take the trip through life but never pay the fare; to return no interest in God's investment in you.

Being "average" is to pass one's life away with time rather than to pass ones' time away with life. It's to kill time, rather that to work it to death.

To be "average" is to be forgotten once you pass from this life. The successful are remembered because they tried but the "average", the silent majority, is forgotten because they "didn't want to."

To be "average" is to commit a great crime against yourself and against humanity.

If you are "average" you may want to copy the following for your epitaph:

Here lies Mr. and/or Mrs. Average,
The remains of what might
have been
Except for their desire to be just
" AVERAGE."

September Calendar
The September Activities Calendar & Men To Serve List is available today in the foyer. Be sue to pick-up a copy.

PM Fellowship Tonight
All are invited to join us in the annex after services this evening for a time of food and fellowship in honor of the birthdays and anniversaries in the month of August.

Add To Directories
Please add the following information to your directories (click name for info):

BLACK, Robert

We are happy to report that Al Washington was baptized into Christ this past week at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Brother Washington is in extremely poor health and in need of our prayers and encouragement.

WASHINGTON, Alton

Labor Day Lectureship
The 13th Annual Labor Day Lectureship is once again being hosted by the 6th St Church of Christ in Lakeland, on Labor Day, September 5th. Lawrence Gilmore, Jackie Stearsman, Uleysses Richardson, and Brian Kenyon will be speakers. The lectureship begins at 9:30 am, and the theme is “Congregational Issues in the 1 Corinthian Letter”. Some really great southern food will be served at lunch time.

Theodore Roosevelt warned: "the things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life". It is possible that his day is drawing near?