Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

Question:

From (Place Withheld): “To be specific, so you will not wonder, I am a Christian, a member of the church of Christ, but I also have homosexual tendencies … I have been reading a lot on the subject of homosexuality in church bulletins and even in magazines like Truth. Recently, one author wrote to the effect that it would be difficult, if not impossible, fora homosexual to be saved . . .

“Personally, I try my best to curb my desires. Unlike most gays, I think the condition is abnormal, and the actions are sinful. However, I am so plagued with desire that at times I ‘lust’ after other males. I do not care to marry and doubt that any situation would arise in which I would. I have had relations with other gays, all of whom were members of the church, except one. I have repented of these acts. The question is, then since my desire is such, should I consider the afore mentioned brother to be right? Will it be impossible for me, the way I am, to find salvation? If so, I might as well give up and live with that knowledge and quit tormenting myself by trying to fight my strong desire.

“Don’t comment, ‘Marry anyway and fulfill your desires.’ Marriage would not fulfill MY desires. This would be doing harm to a fine girl, and it would be mental torment for me.

“If I seek mental help, I face the statistics that no form of help has cured homosexuals, yet. Also, if brethren discover my vice from my seeking such help, they will never forgive me. I have seen my brethren hold other sins against brethren for the rest of their lives.

“I have written this question in all sincerity. I know the error involved, but all those who write about it offer little hope. They condemn homosexuality easily, but they cannot truly comprehend the predicament we gays are in. It is deeply rooted inside of us. It might be possible to stop smoking, drinking. cursing, etc. (none of which I do), but they are not parallel to homosexuality.

“I cannot sign this. You would not know me, but others may learn of this. I have taken this chance, hoping that in Truth Magazine you would deal with this subject, If you feel it is too ‘hot’ to handle, or not proper, then, thank you anyway.

Reply:

The letter above is sad. It wrings and rends the heart. True Christians have compassion for a fellow heir who is troubled by sin. Sin must be condemned. The sinner must be helped. The author’s sincerity is accepted, and sympathy for his plight is extended. However, he recognizes that his “condition is abnormal and the actions are sinful.” Agreement with his conclusions in regard to these facts does not mean that our attitude toward him is devoid of charity.

This column cannot review unidentified articles to which our inquirer refers, but to condemn the sin of drunkenness does not mean that one has no concern for the individual, drunkard. Likewise, to condemn the sin of homosexuality does not mean that one has no pity for the person who is a homosexual.

It is regrettable that our brother does not feel free to seek help. He fears the eternal, unforgiving scorn of brethren. We cannot dismiss his fear as foundless and groundless. More loving consideration ought to be shown toward prodigals who return. If this were done, perhaps this person would not feel afraid or ashamed to confront his brethren for counsel.

What Is Homosexuality?

Homosexuality is the sexual desire which leads one to seek sexual satisfaction with another of the same sex. In women, it is termed, “lesbianism.” Homosexuality is a sin. It will keep one from the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11). See Lev. 18:22; 20:13, Deut. 23:17; Jude 7. In Romans 1, Paul describes homosexuality as: (1) “uncleanness;” (2) dishonoring of one’s body; (3) “vile affection;” (4) “against nature;” (5) “unseemly.” Plainly, it is a grievous sin. The attitude of generations and civilizations ebbs and flows between abhorrence and acceptance of homosexuality, but those regulated by the word of God do not have their moral behavior dictated by the whims and winds of societal standards.

What About This Brother?

James teaches that lust is not necessarily sin. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1: 14, 15). One may desire or lust but not be drawn away and enticed. Lust, if not allowed to conceive, cannot bring forth sin. Our brother must continue to fight his “strong desire.” It will not be easy, but he can, as he himself states, fight it, and if he abstains from being led away and enticed, he can be saved.

Our brother must understand that those who are sexually normal have lusts or desires for those whom they have no right to have. These must be quelled and quenched as surely as his own abnormal desires. Does this mean that because one is susceptible to temptation that he cannot be saved? No, but if it does, then most of us had better surrender, for damnation is certain. A repentant drunk may occasionally long for a cold beer on a hot day, but he must starve the desire, not feed it. Our brother says, ‘I try to curb my desires.” Well, he is not alone in that. Do we not all do the same in other areas of life? He must continue to check his desires (1 Cor. 10:6; Titus 2:12; 1 Pet. 1:14). Some of the Corinthians had been homosexuals, but they quit it and were forgiven (1 Cor. 6:9-11). It is a matter of the will. One’s will to serve God must be stronger than lusts which would combine with his will and lead him away from God.

Does No One Understand?

Our brother seems to feel that his problem is somehow different. Obviously, it is in particular points, but every sin has its own singular, acute areas. He speaks of homosexual tendencies being “deeply rooted.” Surely, they are, but many urgings to sin are “deeply rooted” in one’s mind and body. He is not alone in this. Homosexuals are not the only ones who face the searing torment of “deeply rooted” desires. All “strong desire” must be withstood to the face, not embraced in the bosom. Homosexual tendencies or longings do not have the corner on the market when it comes to being difficult to withstand. “No one is born exclusively homosexual. Conditioning factors of many kinds create reactions and . . . channel normal drives into para phusin (“against nature”-LRH) expressions. But drives do not exchange natural functions for unnatural ones; people do, No matter what he may tell you, every exclusive homosexual at one time or another chose to conform his behavior to his desires” Sentry Magazine, January 31, 1976, as quoted from Christianity Today by Lyle Ensminger).

No, marriage is definitely not the answer for our brother. No one should marry to solve a problem of this nature. It will not work. Our brother needs a study of the word of God, prayer, competent, encouraging counsel, and a renewing of his mind (Col. 3:16; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:22-24; Gal. 6: 1; 1 Thess. 5:11). It is hoped that this brief reply will supply some of these ingredients. Write again, brother, if we may be of further help or encouragement to you.

Truth Magazine XX: 47, pp. 742-743
November 25, 1976

By John McCort

Several years ago I moved to Canada to preach for the church in Wellandport, Ontario. I was fresh out of college and this worl,, was my first fulltime work. Needless to say I was anxious to get my work off on the right foot and make a favorable impression on the brethren.

My first Sunday there I was invited to eat lunch at a young farmer’s home, After arriving at the farm, the husband 7went out to the barn to do some chores before lunch leaving me to talk to his wife and two-year old daughter. This cute two-year old crawled tip into my lap and I said, “Why, you are a cute little buggar.” Her mother’s face turned bright red and she said, “Well, I never.” She then refused to speak to me. Her husband came in a few minutes later and asked what was wrong. I told him what I had said, and he promptly told me that a “buggar” in Canada was one who is a sodomist or one who committed incest with relatives.

Communication and vocabulary differences are much more of a problem in Canada than one might think ‘ Even though they speak the English language they have many vocabulary differences from “United States” English, Anyone Who wants to preach in Canada needs to familiarize bittiself with these language differences or learn their the hard way, as I did. One Sunday evening my Nvife was ill and unable to attend services. I announced from the pulpit that my wife was “under the weather”, which prompted some hysterical laughter from the copgregation. I later learned that when somebody was “under the weather”, they were home drunk with a hangover.

It is reported that Foy E. Wallace was preaching in Windsor, Ontario many years ago and used the expression “piddling around” from the pulpit. Several women supposedly walked out on him when he used the expression. To Americans, the phrase merely means to procrastinate or waste time. In Canada the expression refers to the act of urinating. One can well imagine the embarrassment Brother Wallace felt.

There are several other language differences. Electricity is referred to as “hydro”, deriving its origin from the fact that electricity is produced in that region from Niagara Falls. Couches are called chesterfields. When I moved to Canada I took over the departing preacher’s apartment. He kept talking about his chesterfields and I thought that the man had a smoking problem, A hamburger is called a hamburg. These language differences are not radical but are different enough to cause a unsuspecting preacher a great deal of embarrassment.

Truth Magazine XX: 47, p. 741
November 25, 1976

By Cecil Willis

In Acts 2:41, the writer Luke says “They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.” We want to study how these three thousand were converted. Let me suggest that you take your own Bible and carefully study the entire second chapter of the book of Acts. This entire chapter deals with our subject, and our study from it will of necessity be very superficial as our space is limited.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The account begins: “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven the sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each of them, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:14). This event unquestionably fulfilled Jesus’ promise quoted in Acts 1:5: “For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.” And in Luke 24:49, Jesus said, “And behold, I send forth the promise, of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.” On Pentecost these promises were fulfilled, as the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The Astonishment of the Multitude

The inspired record continues, “Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven: And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God. And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine” (Acts 2:5-13). The day of Pentecost was one of the three annual feasts of the Jews. Jews in every part of the world made their journey back to Jerusalem to observe the occasion. As the sound was noised abroad, this multitude from many nations gathered, and to their amazement, they heard this group of uneducated Galileans speaking in their own tongues. They were amazed at the phenomenon. They could not understand how these Galileans could speak in the various tongues represented on the momentous occasion. Finally, some brilliant chap offered a solution to the perplexing events. How were these men speaking in the different languages? They were filled with new wine, or were drunken.

Peter’s Sermon

But the apostle Peter stood to reply to the absurd charge. He said, “Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:14, 15). Peter suggested that being Galileans, they would not be drunk so early in the morning, it being bu the third hour of the day, or nine o’clock in the morning. Further, it should be apparent that the men were not speaking in twelve or fifteen different languages which they had never learned because they were drunken, for a drunk man cannot properly speak the tongue he has spoken all his life.

Peter than gave the real explanation of the astonishing events: “But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day: And it shall be that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:16-21).

From this beginning, Peter began to produce the evidences establishing the foundation fact of the gospel of Christ. This fact of all facts is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter’s first argument in support of the proposition that Jesus is the Son of God with power is taken from the Jew’s own knowledge of Jesus. Peter said, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay” (Acts 2:22, 23). But Peter declared that even though the Jews killed Christ, God raised Him from the dead. He then cited prophecies concerning Christ’s resurrection as his second proof: “For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou slialt make me full of gladness with thy counterience” (Acts 2:25-28). This, and one other prophecy, Peter quoted showing it was predicted that even though Jesus was to be crucified, He would be raised. His third and final proof of the resurrection of Christ was the present demonstration of miraculous power in the events transpiring on Pentecost. He said, “‘This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this which ye see and hear” (Acts 2:32, 33).

The Effect of Peter’s Sermon

Having presented conclusive evidence that Jesus was God’s Son, Peter stated: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath niade him both Lord, arid Christ,” the Son of God. Before this vast assembly of Jews, there remained but One thing for these guilty Jews to do. They could only confess their guilt, and ask what they could do to be forgiven: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Regardless of all the bad things one might say about this group of Jews, they also had some good traits. One apparent good trait was when they were shown to be guilty of the sin of taking the life of Jesus, the divine Son of God, they did not try to defend themselves in their error, but readily confessed it, and promptly asked what they could do to make restitution for their fault.

The problem of converting the world would he greatly reduced if men would recognize that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rorri. 3:23), and would come to the Bible, not seeking to justify what they already believe, but to find the answei to the question, “Men and Brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter’s Answer

The statement that these Jews were pricked in their heart or cut to the heart implied that they believed what Peter had to say, for men are not cut to the heart by that which they do not believe. Hence Peter replied, “Repent, ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). They were commanded to turn from their sins, and be immersed in the name of Christ for the remission, or forgiveness of their sins, and they would be given the comforting arid helping power of the Holy Spirit throughout their journey of life. But the requirements for salvation had been made plain by Peter. Those who believed, were to repent and be baptized if they were to be saved. This requirement had not been altered in the intervening centures, nor call man today modify it to suit the fancies of men. It can only be obeyed if men and women are to be saved. The Bible says, “They then that received His word were baptized; and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

This first sermon laid down the principles of conversion for all time. The Jews were saved only after they had believed, repented and had been baptized. Will God accept anyone on less terms? Won’t you be saved as these 3,000 were?

Truth Magazine XX: 47, pp. 739-740
November 25, 1976

By Philip S. North

The above word is so much bigger than the number of letters of which it contains. The word “eternity” is a noun, which comes from the word “eternal.” “Eternal” comes from the Greek word aionios, which means, “everlasting, without end, never to cease, or indeterminate as to duration.” We are then able to conclude that “eternity” simply refers to a period of time that is perpetual-that is to say, never ending at all; infinity. Gospel preachers young and old cannot preach or teach on eternity sensibly. The human mind has always measured everything in time, therefore having an end to it. However, try and measure eternity! Regardless of how far the most genius and imaginative mind can stretch itself to grasp how long eternity is, that mind will somewhere along the line fall short of its duration. I find that the closest one may arrive at the length of this thing known as eternity is in the last verse of the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” The verse reads, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.” I shudder to think how long eternity will be for many souls. Perhaps too long is about as close as I can phrase it.

A little boy once said that he wished he had a piece of peppermint candy with only one end on it. That is a good definition of eternity. It has but one end on it-the starting place. If an ant could walk on the equator (traveling at the rate of 1/17 of a mile an hour) and wear the earth in half, how many years would it take? Suppose the entire state of Texas were made of wood. How long would it take the termite to eat the entire state. If the entire world were made of solid steel, how long would it take someone with a hacksaw to cut it in half from one end to the other without stopping? Good reader, I do not even begin to know the answer to these ridiculous examples that I’m giving-and did not originate; but however many years it would take to perform all the above put together, that is still not eternity. That is less than eternity. Again, you cannot discuss the duration of eternity sensibly. I challenge you in the spirit of Jesus to attempt it and you will then see most clearly what you are up against. All attempts, both vours and mine, will be vain and void.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.” In Romans 16:26 Paul describes God as the everlasting God.” In Hebrews 9:14 we read of the eternal spirit.” In Hell, after a man has been there for one million, or one billion, or one trillion years, or as many zeroes as you wish to place after the number “1,” he still has no less time to stay. He has not even begun!!! Revelation 14:11 states, “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest day or night.” In Heaven, after a man has been there for urnteen years, he too has no less time to stay. When an individual constantly rejects the call of the Gospel, he does not know what he is ignorantly and foolishly asking for! However, there are two main things we can be quite certain of that these people are not pondering: (1) how terrible Hell is, and (2) how long eternity will be for them.

I would that I could find exact words to use which would fit such an awful place as Hell, with reference to its pain an eternal duration. To those precious souls who will unfortunately be cast there on judgment, I tell you in truth that eternity will give them ever so much time to regret rejecting Jesus and His Gospel; certainly a lot more time than they were given here on this earth living a prodigal life before God.

How long then is eternity? For many it will be too long! For those who, because of the grace of God, will make it to that celestial city Heaven, eternity will be just right. The actual thought of no more pain, sorrow, disease, hate, or anything else evil! How much more of a precious, priceless, unmerited, worthwhile gift could a person ask for? How is eternity going to be for you? Too long or just right? If you are not living as God would have you live, (and you know deep down if you really possess the spirit of a Christian or not) then YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ASKING FOR! You are spiritually blind and the devil has you in his evil snare (Jn. 8:44; 2 Cor. 4:4; Mt. 13:38). Reader, what will you open up to in the next life when you close your eyes for the last time here on earth? After death, what then?

Truth Magazine XX: 47, p. 738
November 25, 1976