Truth Magazine

Perhaps you have heard about the “AIDS Quilt.” Each segment of the quilt has the name of an AIDS victim on it. It is very, very large. It is often unfurled to highlight the need for research to find a cure for the dread malady and also to memorialize those who have died from the deadly disease. (Regardless of the cause, death is painful for friends and loved ones. We should be prayerful and sympathetic toward those who mourn their loss.)

I wonder if those who sponsor the AIDS quilt could find time to create an “Abortion Quilt.” Those who memorialize AIDS victims often find time to light candles to protest the execution of cold blooded killers. They refer to capital punishment as “state sponsored murder.” Surely, then, they could remember the millions of babies whose lives have been snuffed out by the “state sanctioned” killing of infants.

Maybe not, though, for such a baby blanket would cover the world in shame.

By J. Wiley Adams

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:14).

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service (2 Cor. 11:8).

It is certainly right for those who preach the gospel to derive their living from those who benefit from their efforts. It is not “charity” but “wages.” There is most certainly a difference in the two.

At Corinth Paul received his living from two sources. Although he preached to benefit the Corinthian brethren, he declined to accept any support from them. Therefore, he “made tents” and was assisted in his further needs by “other churches.” It would not have been wrong for him to have received his support from them, but Paul did not do so for a very good reason. He did not want his teaching efforts to be hindered by anyone raising the question as to his motive. He sought carefully to avoid anything to cause these rich brethren to think he was out to feather his own nest. Here and there you do find those who will say some very hurting things in this regard.

When I first began preaching in 1948, I had a good job with Hercules Powder Company in Hopewell, Virginia. During this time I preached on a Sunday appointment basis all over eastern and southeastern Virginia at a time when no one spoke of liberal and conservative churches. I made good money and was able, because of this, to decline any support or even gas money. I did not need it. I first accepted car expenses when I was a Bible student at what is now called Florida College. From 1951-55 as a student with very limited income I needed my expenses so I accepted them. I also accepted homemade syrup, Rhode Island Red chickens, a bundle of collard greens now and then, and a batch of frozen squirrels. These were “fringe” benefits.

Since 1955 I have done full-time local work with a few gospel meetings when brethren wished to use me in this way. From that day forward I have taken my living from the churches.

Some local churches are able to fully supply the needs of the local evangelist. I have worked under such arrangements. Other churches are not able to supply all the needed support to their preacher and other churches make up the difference. I have also worked, and am now working, in that kind of arrangement. This can be at times an up and down proposition as contributing churches have to regulate the amount they can send out by their local situation. In my own case I have been blessed greatly from generous churches and sometimes individuals. I am most thankful for this.

However, there is a deficiency in some churches in the matter of preacher support. Not with all but some. The receiving preacher is sometimes not certain as to when to expect his checks each month. This is poor business. No one can plan a budget or meet payment dates when the promised support may not arrive at the expected time. Yet, we want the preachers to pay their debts, which indeed they should. Sometimes the treasurer is out of town and makes no arrangements while he is gone. It can be an honest oversight but that does not change the fact that a gospel preacher is trying to keep his mind on his work while fighting the check book. Some think any day in the month is sufficient but the creditors do not think so. Hmmm!

Some years ago I recall having to call one treasurer nearly every month because, as he laughingly would say, “Well, Mama did it again and forgot to make out the checks.” Somehow I failed to appreciate the humor intended. (I could camp down here a while about this kind of thing and wax eloquent but I will resist the urge.)

How many times have I sweated out the mail man over the years and sometimes had to make other arrangements to make ends meet until the support arrived. In order to keep on in their preaching, brethren will make such adjustments, however hard it may be, for the gospel’s sake.

To balance the picture I am grateful for the many diligent men who write the checks who are right on time with the arrangement. You can set your clock by this kind of brother. May their tribe increase.

While I am out on this limb let me say that preachers ought to send adequate reports, say thank you for the sup- port received, and keep the sending churches informed as to any progress made where the receiving preacher is working. This is the right thing to do and I was always taught that saying “thank you” should be second nature. Brethren, let us be profited from a study of God’s Word on this subject.

The issue of separation of church and state is a fundamental principle of our Constitution. The First Amendment forbade Congress to make any laws establishing or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Watching how this amendment to the Constitution is applied is sometimes comical.

Campaigning in the Churches

A certain group of American politicians is allowed to campaign in churches; another group is not allowed. Every election the Democrats campaign heavily in Black churches without a word being said by media watchdogs about the separation of church and state. President Clinton and Jesse Jackson are common speakers in Black churches and their message is not “faith in Christ.” The message is “get out and vote” for our party. However, when Evangelicals pass out literature as a voter’s guide or a conservative Republican speaks in Evangelical churches, the news media howl in protest of their actions being a violation of the separation of church and state.

Left-wing religious groups can organize and propagandize this country without protest. Right-wing religious groups who organize and propagandize are watched like a fox in the hen house. TV portrays them as religious extremists trying to get control of the Republican party. Were the stakes for our children not so serious, watching this scenario play itself out would be humorous.

Election Day

On election day, separation of church and state is relatively meaning- less. A few years ago, the Danville congregation received a call from those in charge of finding a place to hold elections to see if the church would be willing to let them use our building for election purposes. We explained that we did not use our building for such things so they went elsewhere.

In the last election, my place to vote was the Christian Church. As I drove to the polling place, the yard was littered with campaign signs until we got within a certain number of feet of the polling place, at which point the signs were not allowed. But, there was no separation of church and state here. The state is perfectly willing to use the church’s buildings without charge as a polling site. The politicians are willing to place their campaign signs on the premises.

The result was pathetic. On the premises of a church that would be adamantly opposed to such things as abortion, gambling, and other immoral practices, politicians who campaign to legalize such things post their signs to persuade voters.

What Separation of Church and State Really Means Today

In the minds of far too many, separation of church and state means that those religious leaders who have some- what to say about moral issues facing our nation should “keep their noses out of the state’s business, unless you are willing to say what we want to hear.” Separation of church and state means that preachers should not try to talk to voters about abortion (partial birth or earlier in the pregnancy), the impact of the immorality of the President on our country as a reason not to vote for those who will keep him in office, homosexuality as a transgression of God’s will, and other such issues.

John the Baptist did not hesitate to comment on the immorality of King Herod Antipas. When Antipas went to Rome and seduced his half-brother Philip’s wife to leave Philip and marry him, John the Baptist preached, “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Matt. 14:4). The verb elegen is in the imperfect tense of lego, indicating that John did not preach this just one time but that he kept on saying, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” That would be like one today going into the pulpit and saying, “It is not lawful for President Clinton to have oral sex with Monica Lewinski, to lie under oath about his affair, and to orchestrate a campaign to destroy those who investigate his immorality.” Our national media does not want to hear what Evangelicals have to say about such subjects. And, to intimidate Evangelicals from preaching on such issues, they hypocritically chastise preachers for violating the separation of church and state. I say “hypocritical” because when liberal preachers want to go into print saying, “We should just put this af- fair behind us because God is a forgiving God,” they will provide a forum for them to speak, commend what they say, and honor them as highly respected moral leaders in our society. Such preachers are the same kind of “spiritual leaders” who curried Herod’s favor.

A Church Not Silenced by the State

When the State tried to squelch the voice of the church in the New Testament, the Apostles boldly asserted their determination to keep on preaching. Peter said, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye” (Acts 4:19). Again, he said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

The time may come when our state tries to stop the mouths of those who preach God’s truth about moral issues such as homosexuality and abortion. In the latest incident when some radical shot an abortion doctor in the northeast with a high-powered rifle, the news media quickly tried to place the blame for this incident on those religious groups who oppose the woman’s legal right to an abortion. Such rhetoric certainly lays the political groundwork for stamping out those who preach against abortion. When a homosexual boy was robbed and hideously murdered in the west, the right wing religious groups were described as hate mongers who are ultimately responsible for his death.

If we are correct in assessing the trend that is developing in our country, we must prepare the minds of our brothers and sisters to stand for the truth without regard to what standing for the truth costs us. Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Again, he said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:37-39). My prayer is that this trend not develop in our country, but should it occur, we must be prepared to give our lives in service to God.

Conclusion

I pray for our country daily. I pray that moral righteous- ness might be exalted in its borders and that those things contrary to God’s will may be defeated without regard to which political party holds office. But come what may, I pray that God will give me the strength to be faithful to him in whatever circumstances might exist.