Truth Magazine

By Paul K. Williams

David Sox, on pages 13 and 14 in his book The Gospel of Barnabas writes:

“In conjunction with the London-based Union of Muslim Organizations in 1981 a handsome little volume for English-speaking Muslim children was published entitled The Prophets. The prefatory ‘Letter to Muslim Parents and Children’ states: ‘This book has been written for your children so that they may know something about our great prophets.’ Chapter 9 deals with Isa (Jesus). Under the section ‘Isa (peace be on him) Is Taken Up’, we read:”

Some of the Israelites did not believe in Isa (peace be on him). They were jealous. They reported lies to the Roman governor against him. At last Judas, one of those disciples who were with him, decided to betray him. Saint Barnabas, one of his closest friends, has written about this. Isa (peace be on him) was staying in a disciple’s house. Judas had told the Roman soldiers that they should catch the man whom he would kiss on the cheek. He went and kissed Isa (peace be on him). But the whole room became dark and there was confusion. When the room became bright, the soldiers caught Judas because Allah had changed his features. He looked like Isa (peace be on him). He protested. He appealed. But the soldiers laughed. They put a crown of thorns on him and said, thinking he was Isa (peace be on him), “Now you are the King of the Jews.”

He was taken to the gallows and crucified.

Most of the disciples of Isa (peace be on him) were either confused or believed that it was Isa (peace be on him) who was crucified. Some of them went and buried him. Later on some of them dug up the grave and took away the dead body and told people that he had gone to Heaven.

Saint Barnabas, one of his nearest disciples, says in his written account, that he was not crucified and that he was alive. He came in the company of angels in order to tell his mother that he was alive so that she could get some peace of mind. 

As stated, this story of the crucifixion is based on what these Muslims claim Barnabas wrote about Jesus. Thus we see why The Gospel of Barnabas is being touted by them as the “real” gospel. 

David Sox tells the story of his investigations into the origins of this document. Here is a paragraph from his book which summarizes the story.

As we have seen, there is overwhelming evidence that Codex 2662 is a medieval production: the handwriting, paper and its watermark alone are enough to decide the issue for any museum. The internal evidence is equally decisive: the tell-tale clues given in the “Jubilee Year” and “true book of Moses” episodes (see pages 29 and 43-44); a medieval Italian flavor to much of the writing; spectacular geographical and historical errors no first-century Palestinian writer could have made; and the enthusiasm of a “convert” which sometimes make Barnabas more Muslim than the Koran (50).

 The Gospel of Barnabas first appeared in the latter part of the sixteenth century in the hands of Fra Marino, a monk who had converted to Islam. The document was written in Italian. It is likely that Fra Marino himself put it together, using a number of sources. It did not become known until this century. The manuscript is now in the imperial library of Vienna. 
In recent years Muslims have been claiming that The Gospel of Barnabas was written by the Barnabas of the Bible and is the true story of Jesus. They take great delight in charging Christians with “hiding” this “gospel.” It is worthwhile, therefore, for Christians to know at least a little bit about this fraudulent book.

(Reference: David Sox, The Gospel of Barnabas, 1984, London, George Allen & Unwin)

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By Steven J. Wallace

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot and a crafty heart . . . she caught him and kissed him . . . I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love     . . . With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter . . . (Prov. 7:1-10, 13, 15-18, 21, 22). 

 Unfortunately, many make the same decision as the young man and woman whom Solomon peered at through his window that night. Likewise, God looks down through heaven’s window upon the sons of men and sees a world that is obsessed with and seemingly fanatical over sexual gratification. One can see the marks of this craze through nearly every outlet of society. Look at the advertising community; it is overwhelming obsessed with exploiting the woman’s body for sales. Television sitcoms frequently aim the blunt of their jokes in the area of a sexual nature. One cannot pass through the supermarket without easily seeing magazines of nearly nude woman on display. Many movies thrive on some kind of fornication to sell their movie. Imagine if they would make a sensor that would automatically cut out, not only all the filthy language, but also all the fornication and sexual situations that actors frequently find themselves in? Most two hours movies would probably be cut in half.

When we talk about the danger of fornication, it is essential that we define what we mean. By “danger” we mean the pitfalls and consequences of such a sin. By “fornication,” we mean unlawful sexual intercourse (i.e., premarital, extra-marital or adulterous, homosexual/lesbian, etc.). It should be understood that lawful sexual relations are honorable only between a man and woman who are lawfully married. Any other scenario is sinful. The notion that a husband and wife commit fornication when they have sexual relations is an erroneous assumption that flies in the face of Scripture. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). The marriage bed is not a bed of defilement but is honorable for the procreation of mankind (Gen. 1:28) and for the gratification of sexual affection (see 1 Cor. 7:1-5). Note that Paul informed the Corinthians of a way to avoid sexual immorality — marriage. Also notice that the spouse is to “have,” render the “affection,” give one’s body to the other marriage partner, and not “deprive” the other of this right. A spouse who deprives the other of sexual gratification is not only asking for marital problems, but is also violating God’s word and robbing or “defrauding” (KJV) one of his right. Husbands and wives need to remember that they promised to “have” and to “hold” one another, and then they should actually have and hold one another (cf. Prov. 5:15-20). An unlawful marriage, on the other hand, always results in an unlawful sexual union, adultery (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Likewise people who are unmarried and yet practice sexual relations are in a state of rebellion against God’s word (1 Cor. 6:16-18). While we live in a sex crazed world, the word of God still says, “Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord . . .” (1 Cor. 6:13b).

The dangers of fornication are real. Too often a young man or woman who has a promising career throws it all away because he/she is in love with love rather than each other. Likewise parents who have more dollars than sense force their daughter to have an innocent and pure life brutally aborted simply because of appearance’s sake. Fornication also wrecks families when a husband or wife throws the family’s welfare aside to follow the lust of one’s heart for a fleeting moment of passion with another. A church may be left in shambles when a preacher, deacon, elder, or teacher is found out for being sexually involved with another member or so forth. Reputations are shattered, good examples are gone, and influence is lost in the muck of such scenes. The wise man was correct when he penned, “For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread . . .Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent? (Prov. 6:26-29). 

Fornication is a real problem that even the “strong” have succumbed to (Prov. 7:26). One can simply ponder on David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), a man of faith (Heb. 11:32), and one who valiantly opposed and victoriously overcame the enemies of God, yet one who was overcome by lust and committed a grievous transgression, giving Jehovah’s enemies reason to blaspheme (2 Sam. 11:1-12:15). While David repented and was forgiven, the rest of his days were not the same. Do not be deceived, dear reader, fornication is dangerous. What makes it so dangerous, however, is not the physical consequences that may befall such a one (as if they were not dangerous enough) but the actual severance from God Almighty, from the Father of spirits and his Son, Jesus, the Lord of all life. Fornication is not “alternative” or “wise” or “acceptable”; it is sin and rebellion against God’s holy word that comes with ugly consequences. “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, and her steps lay hold of hell” (Prov. 5:3-5). Fornication damns the soul and will keep one out of heaven if not repented of (Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

What then can one do to avoid the tragedies of walking down such a pathway of doom? First one should seek to watch over the heart. Solomon wrote, “Keep (watch over, NAS) your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life . . . Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet . . .” (Prov. 4:23, 25, 26a). When inflamed with evil passion, we need to stop and think about the way that we are going. The fact of the matter is that we train our heart to become what it is. Peter wrote of some as having their “. . . heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children” (2 Pet. 2:14). If we want a heart that is trained for purity then we must meditate on pure things (Phil. 4:8). Beware, harlotry enslaves the heart (Hosea 4:11).

Second, we must live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Tit. 2:11-12). It is one thing to train our heart for righteousness, but we must become practitioners of godliness. This means that we must utilize some discretion about the environment which we subject ourselves to. Recognize that dance halls, and “parking” with our date are breeding grounds for all sorts of sexual immorality. Men and women need to acknowledge that suggestive or immodest dress portrays a statement about themselves. Often we are creatures of desire. When we see something that we like and it looks good, we seek ways to get it (cf. Eve in Gen. 3:6). When you dress in a suggestive or provocative way, you are laying a stumbling block for those who have eyes to see; there is such a thing as the “attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10). Don’t only be concerned with clothing, but also bodily movement and speech. The Bible takes note of the way that a woman can tempt a male. “Her mouth is smoother than oil . . . the flattering tongue of a seductress . . . Nor let her allure you with her eyelids . . . the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet” (Prov. 5:3; 6:24, 25; Isa. 3:16). Men are very easily visually stimulated. 

Third and finally, just flee fornication (1 Cor. 6:18). If such a situation ever presents itself to you, don’t linger around and try to reason with it, just flee! Run for you life and escape! Flee like Joseph did in Genesis 39.

Christian, fornication is sin that is destructive to the soul. Don’t lead a double life. If you are presently living in this sin, get out of it and then pray God that you may be forgiven (Acts 8:22). If Jesus peers through the window of your heart, what does he see, one void of understanding or one who seeks his great counsel? “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke . . . Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies” (Prov. 13:1; 31:10).

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By Steve Wallace

Alcohol is such an accepted part of American society and society in general that our title may strike some as odd. After all, so many popular, fashionable, and successful people are known to drink. Also, commercials, movies, advertisements, etc., picture drinking as something to be desired, as it seems as proper to have a drink in one’s hand in many different settings as it does to be wearing the latest fashion. Plus, it has become so socially acceptable that one can be led to think it necessary to fit in. Indeed, many Christians work with or have as relatives those who cannot think of a social gathering without a bar or a “bring your own bottle” type of invitation. When we add to all of this the seemingly endless number of brands of hard liquor, wine, and beer available, the picture is complete. Intoxicants are popular, acceptable, and accessible in our world.

In light of the above facts why would the child of God or any other person want to refrain from drinking? After all, it seems like a proper activity for anyone. Are there facts which would give us a view more balanced than that so apparent in our world?

There are, but as we approach them we must recognize that they are not as popular or widespread as the facts in our opening paragraph. The liquor industry is big business and has money for advertising and promotion necessary for such a business, that its victims and opponents usually do not have. Plus, institutions and associations that help said victims must put the bulk of their funds into the services they render rather than into publicizing the facts they glean from their work. Hence, what we say herein does not rest or rely on popular notions. Rather, it appeals to truth and fact with the hope that the reader will weigh them against the ideas common in our society. What, then, are the dangers of alcohol?

•  Alcohol perverts judgment (Isa. 5:22-23). King Ahasuerus, when “merry with wine,” attempted to show his wife off before a crowd of his subjects (Esth. 1:10-11). Lot would never have committed incest had he been sober (Gen. 19:32-35). People “utter perverse things” under the influence of alcohol (Prov. 23:33). Statistics often do not show the effects alcohol has in this area. Marriages are entered into by people who have met and courted under the influence of alcohol; they later dissolve or lead to the kind of terrible homes that abused spouses and children, and criminals come from. Alcohol can cause one to wrongly invest or spend his money, think he is capable of driving, enter into strife, or make a multitude of other mistakes. Alcohol-influenced judgment leads to other sins! By contrast, sober minds are necessary for one to live the life of a Christian (1 Thess. 5:6; 1 Pet. 5:8). 
• People become dependent on alcohol. The Bible warns against being “given” or “addicted” to wine (1 Tim. 3:3). The pull of drink is clearly seen herein: After experiencing the effects of it the man arises from his stupor and says, “I will seek it again” (Prov. 23:35). When hard times come, as they will to all, the one who depends on alcohol will turn to his “help.” The Christian must remember the song that says, “Savior in my joy or sorrow I will ever go to thee” (Phil. 4:11-13). If I become dependent on alcohol it will endanger my relationship with God from this standpoint alone.
• Alcohol ruins lives (Prov. 23:29-30). As one considers how popular alcohol is among the stars of Hollywood he would do well to also consider the high rate of divorce, alcoholism, and drug abuse among these people. Further examples of this point come from our experiences in Lithuania. It is common there to meet men who live on the street because their wives have thrown them out of the house because of their drinking habits. A man with ability in his profession became a crazed woman beater when under the influence of alcohol. He was later put into prison. A talented musician has ruined his marriage and chances for success because he will not keep away from alcohol. A number of brethren have tried in vain to help him. His father, by the way, died in his 40s from alcohol abuse, something not uncommon there. Such stories could be multiplied many times over in our own country. Christians are stewards who must be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). They must keep themselves from the blight of alcohol if they are to lead faithful lives. 

Conclusion

Our study has touched on the social, physical, and spiritual dangers of alcohol. We have not dwelt on how drinking will harm a Christian’s influence or the high financial cost that our country is paying for alcohol abuse. However, in light of all these things, why would any Christian want to use alcohol? 

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For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:6-8).

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind (Col. 2:18).

This issue of Truth Magazine is a study of morals, including some of the areas impacting twenty-first century Americans. The Scriptures warn Christians not to allow the morals of the age in which they live to become their own morals. 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph. 2:2-3).

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (1 Pet. 1:14).

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:1-2).

Every generation of men has its own “worldly mindset.” What is esteemed in one age differs from what is esteemed in another. The kinds of sin that become most predominant from one age to another may shift. Consequently, Christians must be aware of those things that are esteemed by the world, lest he conform in his mind to the spirit of the age in which he lives.
John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17). The word “world” is translated from kosmos. In Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament, he distinguishes the kosmos from the aionos, but makes this insightful comment about the moral use of the world “world”:

We speak of “the times,” attaching to the word an ethical signification; or, still more to the point, “the age,” “the spirit or genius of the age,” “der Zeitgeist.” All that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, aspirations, at any time current in the world, which it may be impossible to seize and accurately define, but which constitute a most real and effective power, being the moral, or immoral atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitably to exhale, — all this is included in the aion, which is, as Bengel has expressed it, the subtle informing spirit of the kosmos, or world of men who are living alienated and apart from God (217-218).

Christians must beware of allowing themselves to adopt the worldly mindset. Here are some of its characteristics:

•    The worldly mindset has a different standard of authority. In the early twenty-first century, that standard of authority may not be obvious to many of us. We live in an age of relativism. Relativism asserts that every man is a law to himself. What is right for one person may not be right for another. Here is what we mean by relativism: One person may believe it is wrong to have an abortion and for him it is wrong to have an abortion; another may think there is nothing wrong with having an abortion and having an abortion is the morally right thing for her to do when having a baby that is not desired interferes with her plans for life. Lying underneath this approach to morals is a rejection of God’s word as the absolute authority for determining right and wrong. Usually those who accept relativism base it on humanism or atheistic presuppositions. However, many have accepted relativism who also believe in God.

When discussing issues pertaining to morals and doctrine, science becomes “god.” If science says the age is 4.5 billion years old and that man evolved from inanimate life over billions of years, that becomes the truth without regard to what the Bible speaks on the subject. If psychologists, psychiatrists, religious leaders, and teachers tell us that there is nothing abnormal about homosexual relationships, that becomes the truth, in spite of the plain teachings of the Bible to the contrary. If psychologists, talk show hosts, and others tell us that spanking children is destructive, that becomes the truth to many Americans. 

Christians must be aware of the standard of authority that is being accepted by such people. Even when such Americans quote the Bible, they quote it not because it is a standard of authority but becomes it re-enforces what they already believe; they use it to change the minds of those who disagree with them, not as a standard of authority to measure their own teaching.

•    The world mindset has different priorities. What is important to the world? The pursuit of pleasure, hedonism, has become life’s chief goal. That pleasure may be sexual licentiousness, the accumulation of things, or some other personally defined goal. Understanding these priorities helps us to understand the worldly mind.

A few years ago, one was appointed coach of America’s most popular football team. He was married and had children. Knowing that his new job was going to take a lot of his time, this man left his wife and child in order to devote his time to coaching the football team. Obviously, that man believed success as a football coach was more important than being a successful husband and father.

Our age places great importance on accumulation of wealth, education, success in the business world, and sexual gratification. Things that might interfere with the accomplishing of these priorities are set aside as lesser important. If telling the truth interferes with one’s ability to make money, the truth is thrown aside. If attending church interferes with one’s participation in bowling or soccer, attending worship services is thrown aside. 

To the Christian, the chief priorities are spelled out in such verses as the following:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Eccl. 12:13-14).

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you  (Matt. 6:33).

The Christian needs to be aware that the world has a different mindset and order of priorities.

•    The worldly mindset has different morals. The conduct that early twenty-first century America views as morally acceptable behavior includes such things as easy divorce and remarriage, drinking intoxicants, using marijuana, immodest dress, fornication, adultery, lasciviousness, abortion, euthanasia, foul language, etc. Even as first century pagans accepted infanticide, polygamy, fornication, and other forms of immorality as acceptable behavior, so does our own age have a different set of moral values.

The warnings of Paul about being deceived by these different morals is apropos:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

We still need to be warned that the moral standards accepted by the world are different from those of Christ. He who is the judge of the living and the dead will judge us, not by the standards of the age in which we live, but by the absolute standard of God’s word (John 12:48).

Conclusion

We must ever be on our guard to keep our mindset different from that of the world in which we live. As we see our age becoming more secular and its morals changing, Christians will need to be reminded that we have really never lived in a Christian society and be willing to be different from those about us. What Peter said about the saints of his day will have to be emphasized anew for another generation: “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Pet. 4:3-4). We must accept the fact that the world will not approve of us, just as we do not approve of them.

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