“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). The meaning of this passage is clarified and enforced by some of Jesus’ wonderful lessons.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN (Luke 10:25–37). The sin of the priest and Levite was that of passing by on the other side. The Samaritan commends himself to us because of his compassion and kindness—love in action.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS (Luke 16:19–31). The fault of the rich man consisted not in cruelty but in neglect to minister to the man who had been “laid at his gate.” He did not do the good that was in his power to do (Proverbs 3:27).

THE TEN VIRGINS (Matthew 25:1–13). Though listed among the friends of the bridegroom, the five foolish virgins were barred because they had not prepared themselves for the occasion. The person who does not prepare his heart and life, in harmony with divine direction, will be confined to the darkness of the outside.

THE TALENTS (Matthew 25:14–30). The third servant was not a criminal. He had not been wasteful. He had buried (preserved) that which had been given to him. His sin was the failure to put into circulation the sum that had been en-trusted to him.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS (Matthew 25:31–46). The people on the right side of the throne were blessed because of the deeds of love they had done; the people on the left were lost because they had not rendered service. No man should entertain the idea that the Lord will bless him merely because he does no evil. Positive goodness, as well as negative, is divinely required. —Frank L. Cox

Leroy Brownlow (1914-2002): Part 5

By Noble Patterson

Topic(s): Christian Life, Evangelism

Links to this entire series:

• Leroy Brownlow: Part 1
• Leroy Brownlow: Part 2
• Leroy Brownlow: Part 3
• Leroy Brownlow: Part 4
• Leroy Brownlow: Part 5

The Polytechnic church of Christ was the first church to have air-conditioning. Brownlow stated that some of the preachers really nailed his hide to the barn door on this one, saying it was a waste of money. But he took the position that if you could heat the air to make it comfortable, you could also cool it to make it comfortable. Later the critics accepted his logic.

It was the first church west of the Mississippi River to have the same preacher for as long as two years.

During the ministry of Leroy Brownlow, the Polytechnic Church of Christ was conservative, yet dynamic and aggressive. The good, positive influence of Leroy Brownlow and the Polytechnic church will live on for generations yet to come.

As churches of Christ are now in the new century, the need to renew the spirit and plea of the Restoration is crucial. And in this day of many uncertain sounds, Leroy Brownlow was and is one of those clear voices pointing the way and helping us get back to the basics of seeking and saving the lost. Leroy Brownlow deserves the gratitude of the brotherhood of the saved. —Firm Foundation, Vol. 118, No. 7; July, 2003, Houston, Texas.

Silent Cal

Topic(s): Wisdom

The thirteenth president of the United States was Calvin Coolidge, known as “Silent Cal.” He once said, “Four-fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would only sit down and keep still.” His last will and testament was only twenty-three words long: “Not unmindful of my son John, I give all my estate, both real and personal, to my wife, Grace Coolidge, in fee simple.” That was it. Nothing more. His motto was, “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it.” Coolidge even refused to use the telephone while he was in office. He was so notorious for saying so little that a White House dinner guest once made a bet that she could get the president to say more than two words. When she told the president about her wager, he replied, “You lose.” —W. Gary Phillips “Let every man be . . . slow to speak .” —James 1;19