Truth Magazine

By Richie Thetford

A few weeks ago we listened to our president admit to an inappropriate sexual relationship which he denied on January 26. The leader of our country has now admitted to more than one adulterous relationship and has been caught lying on numerous occasions. Yet he claims that his personal life is a private matter! A private matter that has touched the lives of all the American people and the millions of people in foreign lands.

Because of his “private, personal life” he has embarrassed an entire country, his wife, his daughter, and tarnished his name for evermore. He has become a laughing stock among the various countries and here at home. But even worse, the office of the president of the United States of America has become tainted because of his personal conduct!

It was said of Ronald Reagan that when he went into the oval office that he would put on his suit jacket out of respect for the men that had served in this position before and respect for the office itself. What has happened to the leadership of our country and the things that our country will tolerate today.

Let’s look at some lessons that we can learn from the events of this past week:

A Good Name is Precious

Whether in our public or private life our good name is worth everything. Solomon wrote: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1). “A good name is better than precious ointment” (Eccl. 7:1). In many cases, sin and the pleasures of this world are being chosen over their “good name” by people of this world, including our leaders. We can lose our money and even our possessions and still be able to keep our good name. Nobody can take our good name from us, that is something we give up voluntarily! Once lost, we cannot regain our good name overnight. It is like respect in that it must be earned — not bought.

Adultery is Not a Private Matter

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and Nathan pointed it out to him, what did David do? Did he lie and say, “I never had sexual relations with that woman, Miss Bathsheba?” Did he get angry at Nathan for his prolonged story telling of the matter? No, he admitted that he had sinned. And not just sin against himself or Bathsheba, but he sinned against the Lord! He showed remorse and was repentant.

The sin of adultery is not a personal, private matter. When one commits adultery that means there is another party involved, his spouse. In this country today there are all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. Therefore, is it a personal, private matter when your spouse gets AIDS or any other disease because you chose to lose your good name and commit adultery? It is

because of these things that the word of God says: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:4-5).

Adultery and fornication are not personal private matters because it involves another. Anytime another individual is involved then there will be yet another, then another, then another, then another, etc. Many different individuals have the potential to be effected because of our personal actions!

Lying is Not a Private Matter

In the garden of Eden, the father of lies, Satan (John 8:44), showed that the lie is not a “private matter,” but rather very public. In this case it would affect all future people. “And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’”(Gen. 3:2-5).

This lie made Adam and Eve look foolish when they stood before God later. Our president’s lie of January 26 made many of his personal supporters look foolish this past week. He openly lied when he said: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinski.” His personal supporters, based upon that lie, stood by him and spoke as if they knew personally that he was telling the absolute truth. Even his wife came to his defense — believing in him. Then when he did tell the truth, admitting to the affair, he lost credibility among his best friends and supporters.

It is for that very reason the word of God says: “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds . . .” (Col. 3:9). “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Rev. 22:14-15). Lying has never been a private or personal matter. It takes two in the process — one to lie and the other to hear it. Lying affects many people and causes one to lose their good name.

Truth is Respected

Jesus said: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We all will make mistakes in our life. But what will we do with those mistakes? Will we try to lie, mislead people, or be honest. We will gain respect and keep our good name when we are up front, honest, and truthful with people, while having nothing to hide that would be shameful before God.

Conclusion

We will be judged based upon what we say or do and our obedience to the words of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; John 12:48). The things that we say and do will and do affect the lives of others. It affects others directly or indirectly. If we are to keep our good name, to keep it untarnished, we must always strive to please God in all aspects of our life. If we do that, we will be respected and loved among men. But, in order to do that, we must continually do as David and Paul said: “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart” (Ps. 26:2). “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Cor. 13:5). May God be with us as we strive to do what is right in his sight knowing that our personal life is not a private matter.

It is becoming quite common for churches to plan a young people’s lectureship, special week-end, or Saturday study. I have been invited to and participated in some of these programs. Usually these consist of three or four “lectures” by young preachers whose material is geared toward young people and their needs.

I certainly am not opposed to preaching the gospel to the young, old, or middle aged. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with a lectureship, young preachers, or material designed to help teenagers live the Christian life. However, I do have some concerns that I think are legitimate. Please consider them carefully.

Implications

One of the things that concerns me about these “young people’s lectureships” is what it may imply about our regular services or gospel meetings. When we have a special series that addresses the needs of the teenagers, that implies that other times that we preach the gospel is not for them. It implies that other messages (on the home, the church, divorce and remarriage, fellowship, instrumental music, the work of the Holy Spirit, forgive- ness, etc.) are not for them.

We have enough problems with young people showing no real interest in spiritual things without feeding that problem.

The gospel is for all who are accountable (Rom. 7:9). That includes the young and the old since they all are of part of “every creature” (Mark 16:15).

It is interesting that we don’t hear of anyone having a “seniors” lectureship for those who are retirement age and beyond. If we did, would that not imply that the regular services or sermons were not really for them?

Oh, I know of no one who plans or participates in these who would claim that this implication is the message they intend. My question is about what seeds are planted in the minds of our young people.

Concerns

Some of these events are quite casual and informal by design. I understand that the motive is to be able to “re- late” to the young folks and make them feel comfortable. I wonder why it has to be casual or informal to benefit the teenagers or college folks. Could we be feeding an attitude that robs God and service to him of the dignity and respect deserved?

Our liberal brethren for years have had “youth ministers.” No one opposes young men preaching the gospel. However, the idea of a youth minister is that his work is primarily for the young folks. We could argue the same point here that we have about the lectureships. Could it be that the concepts are similar? If so, how long before we begin to see youth ministers among us?

Similar Concerns in the Past

In November 1942, N.B. Hardeman warned of similar things. Read carefully the following from his sermon “The Mission And Work Of The Church.”

It is the duty of the overseers to feed and to develop the members of any church. To do so does not require the organization of something unknown to the Bible. Many brethren have looked upon our young people’s meetings with some degree of suspicion. If we are not careful, we may have an organization not at all different from others which we now condemn. Really, brethren, I have failed to find anywhere in the Bible where there is a difference made in teaching or church work between a young fellow and an old fellow. Just where is that passage which intimates that the church should be divided according to years? Brethren Srygley and Tant taught that such distinctions evidenced our drifting away. To say the least of such, there is danger. I submit to you preachers that we should be exceeding careful lest, in our enthusiasm to make a big show, we turn apart from the straight and narrow path and have within our midst something that the Lord does not want (Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, V:53).

What I Am Not Saying

Don’t misunderstand the warning of this article. I am not saying that it is wrong to have classes or special studies for young people. I defend the right of churches to have classes for various age groups. In such an arrangement the Bible study can be geared to the level of the student (from pre-schoolers to the adult).

The point is that we be careful lest we leave some impression that we don’t intend to leave.

Why Not Just Preach To All?

I am as concerned about our young people as any. I know there are topics and warnings they need to hear. However, I wonder what is wrong with just preaching the gospel (the whole counsel of God — Acts 20:27) to everyone? Some things will apply to the old (Tit. 2:2), some to the young (Tit. 2:6), some to the married (1 Cor. 7:3-5), some to parents (Eph. 6:2-4), some to children (Eph. 6:1), some to elders (Acts 20:28), some to men (1 Tim. 2:8), some to women (1 Tim. 2:11-12), some to aliens (Acts 2:38) and some to the child of God (Acts 8:22). Yet the gospel is to be preached to all.

Balanced preaching can make the young, old, parents, and children feel that the message is for them. Paul told Titus to preach the sound doctrine (Tit. 2:1). Yet, various people would be addressed in the doctrine that he preached (vv. 2-15).

Concerning our moral and spiritual culture, a commentator said, “What this generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” Both sacred and secular history have proven the truth of this assessment time and time again.

Everything from dancing to drinking, from abortion to mercy killing, has gone from toleration to acceptance. In the home and in the church, everything from immodesty to immorality has been first allowed and then endorsed. Adulterous marriages, gambling, and other similar sins, have gone from being permitted to being sponsored. Re- member when wearing shorts and attending dances were condemned? Now, shorts are worn to services and dances are held in church buildings! Truly, what “this generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.”

One generation tolerated sprinkling for baptism if a person were seriously ill. The next generation accepted sprinkling for baptism. One generation approved a “chief” elder. The next generation appointed them. One generation introduced instruments of music as an “aid” to singing. The next generation demanded them. One generation accepted the “fellowship hall” (which, at first, was just a few tables in the basement for social meals). The next generation built gymnasiums (“Family Life Centers”). One generation apologized for “hard liners” who opposed denominational religion. The next generation saw their sons and daughters joining those denominations. One generation spoke of the need to reach out in a “non-judgmental” way to our Catholic and Protestant friends. The next generation welcomed Presbyterians into “our fellowship” with a handshake. One generation spoke of congregational singing as “one of our traditions.” The next generation defended choruses and choirs. One generation applauded preachers who closed their sermons without an appeal for sinners to be baptized for the remission of sins. The next generation denied the gospel plan of salvation in general and baptism in particular.

What does this say to us? What is our responsibility? “You shall observe to do therefore as the Lord . . . hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deut. 5:32). “Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13). “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14). “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17).

The next time we are tempted to deviate from the word of God, let us remember that what we tolerate, our children will embrace!