Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 15
February 27, 1964
NUMBER 42, PAGE 5a

Special Privilege

Luther Blackmon

We seldom are willing to live by the same rules that we make for others, or to be as tolerant with the fellow who breaks the rule as we expect others to be with us. When I see a fellow driving down the street at break-neck speed, I think he should be arrested. But when I am stopped for fracturing some ordinance myself I think that the cop could better spend his time catching some "real law-breakers," and so it goes. The law should be enforced, unless I am the offender. Then I would like to be an exception.

But the Lord doesn't do business that way. He does not grant one immunity and punish another. But some who know what the Bible teaches still act as if they think that God grants them the privilege to indulge themselves in at least one ungodly practice. A preacher that I have known almost as long as I have been preaching gave me some false information about another preacher. I told him at the time that he was wrong, and that the information was false. Later he was challenged to either produce the proof or make correction. He could not produce the proof, because there was none. But neither has he made correction. He seems to think that because this preacher opposes some things for which he contends this gives him the right to try to discredit the man in any way he can devise, even to lying about him. But lying is a sin, and there are no special permits granted from heaven to lie on anyone, especially a brother.

Some who know that the Bible teaches that all who do not obey the gospel will be lost in hell refuse to obey. The command to obey the gospel applies to other people. But Paul says, "the Lord will take vengeance on them that obey not the gospel." (2 Thess. 2:7-9) There will be no special immunities.

Some members of the church know that God requires of his people sacrifice and loyalty. But they have convinced themselves, I suppose, that this applies to other people. They will come to worship when it is convenient, but they will not attend a meeting or put forth any effort to save anyone else; they will practice only so much of Christianity as does not interfere with the way they have chosen to live. They know that if the whole church were like them, there would not be enough contribution to pay the house note; there would be no service except on Sunday morning, and that spasmodically; that the church would be cold and unfriendly because they rush out as soon as they can get away, never making any effort to get acquainted with the rest of the "family" or with a stranger. They know the church would have no influence in the community, because they don't have any as far as their church life is concerned. But they are expecting God to make special arrangements for them. The work must be done, but let others do it! God has granted them special immunity.

But let me tell you something, my unfaithful brother, and you had better listen: There are not going to be any influence peddlers at the judgment court of heaven. You may have "pull" with everyone here on earth, but when you stand before that tribunal you will be treated like everyone else, and given what you deserve. It isn't "who you know" that counts there, but what you were before you came to that day. There will be no special privileges.

— La Porte, Texas