Truth Magazine

By Phil W. Martin

Considering the lax attitudes of many religious people today, it would be easy to conclude that church attendance is optional or perhaps only for those who are very religious and extremely dedicated to their faith. Membership rosters in most churches, compared to actual numbers in attendance, usually tell the story of people’s attitude. The Bible and common sense teach us that church attendance is not just a wise thing, it is a necessary thing.

Not Forsaking
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:23-25). 

These words were written to people who were close to losing their faith in Christ. Something had to be done. Some of them were habitually forsaking the meetings of the church. The Hebrew writer came right to the point. He told them not to forsake their own assembling together. Look closely at the verses.

Notice that church attendance has to do with holding fast without wavering, stimulating ourselves and others to love and good deeds, and encouraging one another. It is the experience of the writer of this article that those who forsake the assembly exhibit the very opposite tendencies. They waver in their faith (some fall away from it), they stimulate no one to love and good deeds, and they get increasingly more discouraged in their faith. One cannot say he or she lives by the teaching of the Bible and willingly forsakes the assembling of Christians.

Pillar and Support
I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:14-15). 

    The local church is the assembly of God’s people. Notice its role in the above verses. It is “the pillar and support of the truth.” If you take away the church, you take away the pillar and support of the truth in your life. Collapse of faith is inevitable. If one does not assemble then he will not stay strong in the truth.

This Do In Remembrance
“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (Luke 22:19). This command of Jesus refers to communion or the Lord’s supper. The early church, directed by the Apostles of Christ, met regularly for communion. The one who does not assemble disregards this command. Elsewhere Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves” (John 6:53). While some might argue that this does not refer directly to the Lord’s supper, where else is the eating of his flesh and drinking his blood fulfilled in the Christian walk? He who does not assemble forsakes the remembrance of the Lord’s supper. It isn’t long before the outcome of “no life” becomes reality.

They Keep Watch
“Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). A responsibility of God’s shepherds is to keep watch over the souls of church members. These leaders will someday give an account for their work. Such work is difficult enough when Christians assemble regularly and are in contact with one another. Can you imagine the complication when members are seldom or never present? If elders are expected to assume responsibility for such oversight, you need to assume responsibility for regular attendance. Those who chronically do not assemble are like a fish removed from the water. He may flop around on the shore for a while, but ultimately he dies. Remove a coal from the fireplace. It glows for a while, but ultimately it dies. Remove a Christian from the assembly of other Christians, though he may continue in faith for a while, ultimately he dies.

What To Do
If you have stopped the assembling with Christians, we encourage you to take these steps:
•    Decide to return immediately. Let the brethren know of your decision. Make this a once-for-all lifetime decision, not a weekly one.
•    Adjust your schedule so that regular church attendance is a part of your life. If your work schedule conflicts, share your problem with your fellow Christians. They and the congregation can pray with you for a resolution of the conflicts.
•    Assemble once again. Church attendance is not an optional matter. It is a way of life. Make it a habit. 

By James Hahn

Through the years there have been individuals, usually preachers, who feature themselves as being “free thinkers” who present “thought provoking” lessons that are usually attacks upon what they call the “traditionally held” views. The “in depth” lessons presented by these individuals usually leave many in the audience wondering just what they have said and thinking that the preacher is so “deep” in his thinking and presentation that they do not understand simply because they do not have the knowledge or ability the preacher has.

These men have at times caused confusion and strife by their preaching and when questioned about their teaching they usually reply, “You just don’t understand what I am saying.” Again, the implication is that any problem that may exist is due to the lack of knowledge or ability on the part of the hearer to comprehend the “deep” things taught by the preacher.

I think it is time to start putting the blame where it belongs. Are these men the “deep” thinkers they want us to believe they are? I often think of a statement I once heard made by an old country fellow. He said, “Just because you can’t see the bottom of the river doesn’t necessarily mean the water is deep, it may just be muddy.” I am convinced that this is the case with some of these “deep” thinkers. They have the ability to present their thoughts in such a confusing manner that they just “muddy the water.”

The apostle Paul said that he wrote the things revealed to him by the Holy Spirit so that “when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). One of the characteristics of faithful gospel preachers through the years has been their ability to present the truth of the gospel in a way that made it easily understood by those who heard. If these men who fancy themselves as being such “in depth” students of the word really have the knowledge and ability they want us to believe they have then why don’t they just teach what they believe to be the truth in a simple understandable manner. If we are misunderstanding what they are teaching then we plead with them to use their “superior” ability and present their teaching so that we “inferiors” can understand. The gospel of Christ remains the same today as when first preached on the day of Pentecost. When someone has to preach something that has never been preached before or preach it in a way no one else has ever preached it we had better beware.

I certainly do not want to discourage any study of God’s word nor do I condone those who become satisfied with “the way we have always done things” and will not change even when change is necessary to conform to God’s word. However, I do not approve of those who seem more concerned with impressing men with their ability to be “deep thinkers” rather than helping men understand the plain and simple teachings of God’s word. All preachers need, from time to time, to ask themselves the same question Paul asked in his epistle to the Galatians; “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men?” (Gal. 1:10). Paul said, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

I have often said that the two greatest compliments that could be paid to one preaching are: (1) “He preaches the truth” and (2) “He presents it in such a way that all can understand.” When we become more concerned with “making an impression” than we are with “preaching the word” we are making a grave mistake. Our concern must always be the salvation of souls and not self-glorification. If the gospel is preached souls will be saved and God will be glorified.

Don’t be intimidated by those who try to make you feel inferior in your ability to understand truth. Their teaching may not be “deep,” it may just be “muddy.”

By J.S. Smith

It was on the front page of the newspaper for three solid days. Every television station in town brought its cameras to frame the stark images one would never expect to see, save in a third world country. Officials from various government bureaus expressed sorrow for having not acted sooner and pledged to be more vigilant. As they were led away by police officers, the parents shielded their faces from the shame with coats. The judge’s sermon during their indictment nearly stripped the paint off the old courthouse wall. Once they were incarcerated, the other inmates whose crimes ranged from petty theft to murder ostracized the parents and even taunted them. It was only then that the parents realized how awful it was.

Oh, the neighbors had suspected something was amiss in that house for a few years. They heard things and saw things but observed the right to privacy of the parents and did nothing. Matters got worse until finally someone had to say something. Who knows if the damage done to the children can be reversed now, after all these years, and by whom? No doubt, the scars will endure a lifetime. And if statistics are any indication, these children will even afflict their own children in the same sad fashion.

The newspaper picked up today on the fact that the parents were members of the church of Christ. The anchor rattled off a number of peculiar beliefs held by the church of Christ that made this event all the more ironic and bitter. The local preacher was interviewed; he stumbled over his own excuses for either not knowing or not acting. One of the elders was telephoned by a reporter and he just hung up the phone and then took it off the hook.

A couple of weeks later, the top station in town won the right to interview the parents, still incarcerated in the local jail. The anchor prepared her questions, not knowing whether to expect her subjects to be combative or penitential.

The interview aired that very night and most every set in town was tuned in. It began with some shots of the house where the parents had lived with their children. The signs of neglect were all there. Oh, the house was in immaculate order and the refrigerator was filled with food. There were two cars in the garage and the kids had ample clothing. The rooms were well-appointed and the pictures on the wall showed a happy family. But over on the corner table was the reason these parents were incarcerated and the children in foster care. The Bible was all dusty. 

Reports had been received that the parents made little to no effort to get themselves or the kids to Bible class on Sundays. Wednesday was still worse. Lately, they had even begun to miss the Sunday morning worship service more regularly than they made it. Someone had to step in when it became apparent these kids were being sorely neglected.

The preacher was too busy to say anything to the parents; besides when would he see them anyway? The elders were afraid to rock the boat and held their tongues, too. All the while, the spiritual neglect in this home grew worse. The interest the kids had in spiritual matters when they were toddlers was fast disappearing, like a feast devoured so long ago. Once they were desperate for milk (of the word) and even curious about trying some meat. But it had been so long since their parents fed them these staples, that they had mostly forgotten all about them by now.

Despite the success of their parents at work and even popularity in the neighborhood, the kids were being neglected spiritually. The parents nurtured their self-esteem and satisfied most every whim. They wore the latest fashions and listened to the newest tunes. They ate sumptuously every night and yet they were woefully neglected. Their bellies were not distended like those poor children on the “Save The Children” commercials, but their souls must have been.

The reporter asked the parents when the neglect began. “Not at first,” they replied. “When they were first born, we took them to church nearly every Sunday and talked to them about Jesus and everything. But gradually, we got wrapped up in our jobs and sort of forgot about the Bible. We took them to class less and less and eventually they stopped caring if they went. Then it was easy to just stay home and to leave our Bibles on the shelf.”

The reporter asked them if they understood that their neglect made the children less likely to become Christians and more likely to face worldly problems like alcohol and drug use and promiscuity. “I guess,” the parents replied.

The anchor signed off her interview with a plea to other parents to remember to raise their children in Christ’s admonition (Eph. 6:4), to be like Timothy’s mother and grandmother in teaching them the scriptures (2 Tim. 1:5), and to provide them the milk and meat of God’s word (1 Pet. 2:2). Dusty Bibles and absence from class and worship are signs of spiritual neglect and ought to be treated seriously (2 Tim. 2:15, Heb. 10:24-25), she said.

Then I awoke and remembered that we do not live in such a society. We take the physical neglect of children very seriously and entreat their parents to improve because we love all children. When it comes to spiritual matters, even among Christians, we seem to care less about the young. We object little when the children are more likely to miss class than attend. We hope it will work itself out, that the child will retain an interest in the Lord in spite of this neglect which we witness. How many souls will be lost in their youth because those who claimed to love them neglected the nurture of their eternal souls?

By Matthew Allen

A recent quote from an acquaintance of mine was, “When I read the Bible I just do not understand what is going on.” He went further by saying, “I have a hard time seeing how the Bible is relevant for my family and me in today’s society.” I believe it would be safe to say that this could be a major reason why many do not read and study (i.e., seek to learn) from it. How have these predominant attitudes come about? Please consider:

Society at large in America during the late 20th century has turned away from the standards found within the inspired pages of God’s Word. Those who publicly acknowledge living by Bible standards are disregarded as “right wing extremists” or “religious fundamentalists.”

Feminists decry the Bible as being written for men by men. Homosexuals and their supporters argue that God is pleased with their immoral behavior. Scientists and “experts” of the day endeavor to explain away miracles of the Bible. Denominational creeds and teachers instruct the masses that the Bible is not understandable. Even in churches of Christ we are witnessing a movement away from the importance of Bible authority and the acceptance of all sort of creeds. Members of the Lord’s church were once known as “walking and talking Bibles.” Unfortunately this is no longer the case with many. The movement some congregations are facing only contributes to the religious confusion of the day instead of uniting people in the truth.

Despite all of these things, how important is Bible study to you? Certainly there are many trials and temptations that have a tendency to hinder us from study. However, these can be overcome if one wants to overcome them badly enough (1 Cor. 10:13). Is being affluent in knowledge of the Scriptures toward the top of your priorities? As Christians we are expected by God to be knowledgeable in the Word of God. For example, Paul told the Ephesian brethren, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul told Timothy to be diligent (study, OKJ) to present himself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth. We should strive just as much as the first century Christians did to find and know God’s will for mankind.

How can one understand the context as he is reading the Bible?

As mentioned earlier, a common problem of many is that they do not understand “what is going on” while reading Scripture. How may one deal with such a problem? Remember: 

•    The Bible should not be read as a novel or a fictitious short story for mere entertainment. We live in a world that is entertainment driven. From 24-hour television, concerts, sports events, to “worship services” that are purely and only entertainment,” Americans expect to be entertained in almost everything. The Bible is an instruction booklet on how to get our souls to heaven. It should be read and studied in a serious manner.

•     Study a few verses or a chapter at a time and take notes. One of the greatest aids in my personal study has been to study in “small chunks.” High school teachers and college professors recommend that this is the most profitable way to study: be it for an accounting exam or part of God’s Word. Write down points you believe are relevant and other items of importance concerning the text. These could aid you in your study at a later time.

•     Don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the Bible. Some open the front cover — begin at Genesis — read a chapter or two — and rationalize, there’s too much here — I’ll never know it all. Bible study involves time and a steadfast commitment. The more time that is invested the more knowledge will be gained. Bible study is a life long process. Unlike secular courses of study, the study of God’s word is unending during this life.

•     Don’t be fooled by the popular thinking that to understand the Bible one has to go to “Bible school.” Many of our denominational friends believe and teach that creeds must be written to explain the Bible. Those who have attended years of schooling at a seminary (those who will be the “clergy”) then must explain it to the “laity.” This line of thinking is totally unknown in the Bible. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 had never been to a seminary. They were able to reach an understanding of Scripture. We read, “. . . they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Certainly we can see that they benefited from Bible study!

How is the Bible Relevant To Today’s World?
Christians have the responsibility to teach those around them  the relevance of God’s Word to people living in the late twentieth century. How can we fulfill this responsibility? Those around us need to understand: 

•     The Bible contains information on how to be saved. What better argument for relevance than this? As long as mankind exists, there will be someone who will need to be saved. God’s plan of salvation is found only in the Bible! Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” Later in John 8:32 Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 17:17). That truth is found in the Bible.

•     The Bible will help one become a better Christian. As stated earlier, the Bible is the set of instructions on getting one’s soul to heaven. Christians are to put away the things of the world and follow after the example of Christ. There is not a single page in the Bible that will not help one learn something to improve his life. Notice what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

•     The Bible will help the Christian bring others to Christ. As one engages in study of Scripture an awareness of the danger of a soul becoming lost to the fires of hell becomes of tremendous importance. This consciousness should motivate the Bible student to tell others about the Way. This is an expected duty of all Christians. Notice Peter’s words in 1 Peter 3:15: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Are you living up to this standard?

•     The Bible will help one become prepared to stand before God on judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment.” There will be a day of reckoning for mankind. All men will stand before God and give an account of their actions on earth (2 Cor. 5:9-10). If one applies the things studied in Scripture to his life he can be prepared for this great day. Titus 2:11-12 says, “The grace of God has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” This is very relevant to today’s society and all future societies as well. Let us heed what we read!

The study of God’s word is of tremendous importance. It is a shame those in the majority of the religious world (even some in the Lord’s church) fail to understand this. Don’t let Satan fool you by drawing you away from its contents. Make it your first priority to know more about the word of God!