by Mark Mayberry
Synopsis: Mark explains how, “Taking His hand, helping each other home,” sets forth the guiding principles of our efforts with Truth Magazine and for the entire Truth Publications organization.
We are devoting the theme section of the May issue of Truth Magazine to a presentation of the motto, “Taking His hand, helping each other home.” This is highlighted on our newly redesigned website, and the 2019 Truth Lectures are built around the same theme.
As editor, I have been assigned the duty by the Board of Truth Publications, Inc. of selecting themes and assigning articles, sorting through the various unsolicited manuscripts, and selecting articles that will be useful to brethren, etc. We offer a curated collection of articles, usually grouped around a theme, although some issues provide assorted content that we trust will be edifying to our readers.
In the two years that I have been serving in this capacity, I have declined to print several submissions because they did not fit with our purpose or our guiding principles. Some articles have been speculative and not based on Scripture. Some were too harsh and dogmatic. In some cases, authors have advocated biblical or doctrinal error.
Our goal is to be biblically balanced and to present the whole counsel of God. Our task is to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2). Please see my editorial in this issue of Truth Magazine for a detailed discussion of Paul’s charge to Timothy. I view my editorial responsibilities as complementary to my work as an evangelist and the service that I render as an elder in the Alvin congregation.
Our approach at Truth Publications can be summed up in the simple statement, “Taking His hand, helping each other home.” Starting with a respect for God’s authority, we must take His hand—He is our Guide and our Captain. Relying upon the Sacred Scriptures, we seek to help each other to be all that we should be in (1) our physical homes, and (2) our spiritual home, the church, so that (3) we can reach our eternal home in heaven. These are my guiding principles.
Our primary purpose is to promote biblical truth. While many today have adopted Oprah Winfrey’s worldview of “Your Truth” as opposed to “The Truth,” we accept the assertion of Jesus, who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). “Taking His hand” reflects our emphasis on the importance of remaining true to the Bible pattern, and provides the solid foundation for defending the truth when it is under attack or being distorted.
“Helping each other home,” then, is understood in the context of the superiority of the first statement. Without a recognition of Bible authority, we are left without an anchor. Organizations who shift their mindset from seeking to please God to pleasing men drift from their original mission. We see this happen to churches, and also spiritually-oriented human organizations (such as colleges, and magazines, and publishing houses).
Our chosen motto is a concise way of presenting ourselves to the general public, and our brethren, and our customers. We know that you and your church need trustworthy resources, so we publish and provide Bible-based materials to help you grow closer to God.
Author Bio: Mark and Sherelyn have labored with the Adoue Street church of Christ in Alvin, TX since 1998, where he serves as the evangelist and an elder. The church website is ascoc.org. His Bible study website is markmayberry.net. He can be reached at mark@truthpublications.com.
