"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: FOR WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN." (Rom. 14:23). The first part of this scripture is speaking of eating meat. The last part of this scripture is talking about "whatsoever" (no matter what). Yes, that's right. Look at it. "Whatsoever (no matter what) is not of faith is sin." Take a look at the following scriptural order:

1. Word of God

2. Hearing

3. Faith

"Faith cometh by hearing, hearing the word of God" (Rom. 10: 17). "For we walk by faith" (2 Cor. 5:7). "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11:6). Now take a look at this following different kind of order.

1. NO Word of God

2. NO Hearing

3. NO Faith

4. SIN

"Whatsoever is not of faith is SIN" (Rom. 14:23.) Let us consider a few examples of how these two orders work.

I. Being buried in baptism is a matter of "FAITH". We read it in the word of God. (Col. 2:12)

II. Being sprinkled or poured upon in SO-called baptism is SIN, or sprinkling babies in SO-called baptism is SIN. Why? We do NOT read it in the word of God.

III. Singing in church worship is a matter of "FAITH". We read it in the word of God. (Heb. 2:12; Col. 3:16; Col. 3:16).

IV. Playing on mechanical instruments in church worship is SIN. We do not read it in the word of God. "Whatsoever is not of faith is SIN."

V. Church of Christ helps poor saints. It is a matter of faith. We read it in the word of God. (Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9: 1; 9:12).

VI. Church of Christ helping SINNERS is SIN, because we cannot read it in the word of God, and "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Those who wish to open the church treasury for sinners pervert the instructions to individual Christians in Galatians 6: 10, and Jas. 1: 27 applying them to the church treasury. In so doing they bring down the wrath of God upon them. (Gal. 1:6-9). Moreover, they pervert in much the same way 2 Corinthians 9:12-14, when they try to prove that this scripture justifies church treasury help for sinners. Here they make a sinful play upon the word men. They know that men being in italics is a sure indication from the translators that the word men is not in the original, but was added (supplied) here. But they want to prove alien sinners are to be included in the church treasury help, and they bring the curse of God down upon them by perverting this scripture. But they are woefully condemned and shown to be wrong here in 2 Corinthians 9:12-13-14. These verses show us the ones who were helped here were "GLORIFYING GOD" and were "praying". Since we glorify God in the church (Eph. 3:21) only, and since alien sinners are not proper subjects for praying acceptably, there were no alien sinners in the group helped in 2 Corinthians 9:12-14.

But some declare: "We have faith in this." Let me ask you, where did you get your faith, from men or from God? "Faith cometh by hearing the word of God." YOU CAN'T HAVE SCRIPTURAL FAITH WITHOUT SCRIPTURE.

VII. The Church of Christ (the divine organization) is to preach the gospel (Phil. 4:15-17; 2 Tim. 3:15). We read it in the word of God, and thereby and therein we are walking by faith.

VIII. The Church of Christ (the divine organization) helps a "human organization" (Herald of Truth; or Bible College) to preach the gospel. This is false and it is sin, for there is no word of God for it. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23).

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 32, pp. 4-5
June 17, 1971