Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

In the May issue of Restoration Review, editor Leroy Garrett continued his examination of abuses of the scripture by considering Heb. 10:25. If Brother Garrett contributed anything new to interpreting Heb. 10:25, I missed it. He said that he believed that the day of Heb. 10:25 was the day of the destruction of Jerusalem, a position with which I have been familiar all of my preaching life. Really, the editor of Restoration Review used this passage as another occasion to spread his subversive, anti-establishment propaganda. I have not used these adjectives lightly to describe Brother Garrett’s writings. I want you to read his quotations to see the subversive and anti-establishment tendencies in the article.

First, Garrett revealed the “abuse” of Heb. 10:25.

“It is presumed that believers are under absolute and arbitrary obligation to be present at all meetings of their congregation, and this verse is the text to prove it. `Forsaking the assembly’ is thus equated with `missing church; which is often described as one of the necessary five acts of public worship. If one gets to the assembly each time the doors open, he can check off item number one: he has assembled. He is to proceed to the other four. We are told that this is what Heb.10:25 is talking about” (p. 82).

Having thoroughly blended truth and error to construct a mental picture of his opponent’s position, Garrett is now ready to destroy his fabricated straw man. Actually, Garrett believes we have a responsibility to be present as much as is possible, even as, I do, but he does not believe that it is because Heb. 10:25 demands it.

“As for the Lord’s day assembly, as well as other meetings a congregation decides to have, it goes without saying that every member should respond responsibly to them all” (p. 87).

Garrett emphasizes that the reason one misses is because he no longer loves Jesus. We would agree with him, as most of us have preached for years, that forsaking the assembly is a symptom of a spiritual sickness. However, whereas Garrett does not believe that Heb. 10:25 says anything at all to the brother who completely forsakes the assembly, I believe that it does. Garrett said,

“As for the brother who has `quit church’ and no longer seems to love Jesus or his fellow disciples, I can’t see that the writer of Heb. 10:25 has the likes of such ones in mind at all in what he says. But it might in some way be made to apply to such. But the problem with such fallen brethren is not that they have `forsaken the assembly,’ but that they no longer love the Lord” (p. 87 ).

There is some truth that needs to be agreed with and some error in this which needs to be exposed. To illustrate, if a man stole some money, he stole it because he does not sufficiently love Jesus. Nevertheless, the passages which condemn stealing are not irrelevant to his condition. Whereas the problem with the brother who forsakes the assembly is that he does not love Jesus as he should, the passages which deal with worshiping collectively are not totally irrelevant to his needs.

So much for Garrett’s theologically significant comments on Heb. 10:25. The greater part of his article is an attempt to undermine any confidence in the present manner we have of worshiping God. Read his comments for yourself:

“Parents will impose upon their young children by taking them to several adult-oriented services every week, some of them being at night, forcing the children to sleep or play their way through the hours-lest they ‘forsake the assembly.’ Brethren will leave company at home, people that they might well win to the Lord through tender loving care, in order to be in their pew when the doors open even on a Sunday or Wednesday evening. To do otherwise would be forsaking the assembly. Forsaking mind you! To miss church now and again, however important one’s mission might be, Is to forsake the assembly.

“Some of our hard-working brothers and sisters might do the right thing by staying home with their families, by going to bed early, or by visiting grandmother or a neighbor, rather than to be going to church all the time. But the System has latched on to Heb. 10:25 as a proof text, and it is made to mean that ‘you’ve got to be here’ or you are sinning by forsaking the assembly. Brethren will drag themselves to meeting even with splitting headaches (‘You’d go to work if you didn’t feel well, wouldn’t you?’has been part of the harangue), so as not to violate what he has been led to believe is a mandate-be there or you are forsaking!” (p. 82).

“But many brethren insist that the assembly ‘cannot be forsaken’ for any reason within one’s control, physical incapacitation being the only excuse. The working man might also be excused for missing Sunday a.m., If he Is present for the evening service and breaks bread then, which has given rise to our second serving of the Supper. If the ox is to a ditch or a neighbor is in need, they will just have to wait until after the assembly. You’ll hear brethren say that they would not ‘forsake the assembly’ in order to stop and render aid to victims of a car wreck. They wouldn’t leave the Lord waiting like that! Such illustrates how we abuse the scriptures so as to uphold a System that puts rules before persons, the very thing that Jesus sought to correct in the religion of the Pharisees” (p. 83).

(Who among us has ever taken the position, Brother Garrett, that it would be sinful to miss services to take care of emergencies? I want to see your documentation of “many brethren” – who state that-that the System-whatever that is-has officially taken this position.)

“Our folk are kept so busy ‘going to church’ that they hardly have time to serve the Lord. When I suggest to our leaders that we discard the Sunday evening service and make it an evening of visitation or studies in various homes, so as to extend our outreach. I am told that the brethren won’t do that. So we go right on corralling them once more, Imposing still more sermons on them, which no one pays much attention to. While we should assemble to worship and scatter to preach, we are always assembling and never scattering.

“It is a common scene in our churches on a Sunday or Wednesday evening to see a young couple gathering up their sleepy children following one more boring experience. The mother has one child in her arms, the father another one across his shoulder, while the six-year-old is tugged out the aisle on his daddy’s hand, yawning every step of the way-the child that is: That is the closing scene. The opening scene is the parents trying to keep the kids quiet and out of each other’s hair. Finally that blessed moment comes when they fall asleep. It is all a rather oppressive scene. But then there is Heb.10:25.

“It is a common scene in our churches on a Sunday or Wedcould say to such families: ‘These Sunday and Wednesday evening gatherings are for the convenience of some of our people, but with your little ones it might not be the case with you. Why don’t you have your own church with them at home? Read some stories to them that they would enjoy together, and then put them to bed early. Then you two might have an hour or so of quiet together and be better ready for work the next day.” But to say such, which of course makes all the sense in the world, he has to become free from the assault of Heb. 10:25. You can’t advise a family to ‘forsake the assembly,’ even if it would be a blessing to them” (pp. 84-85).

(If that advice would be a blessing on Sunday night and Wednesday nights, why would it not also be a blessing for Sunday morning as well?)

Fellow preachers’and elders, how many of the ones who miss the services at the congregation with which you labor are missing because they are teaching someone the gospel, helping the person who is in need, or in some other way engaged in the service of God? When you do say something concerning attendance, are you speaking to this category of people-those who otherwise would have been present but were called away by a last minute emergency or those who miss Wednesday evening Bible study to teach a home Bible study? We all know to whom you are preaching! Our sermons are aimed at the man who could care less whether the church even. assembles on Sunday or Wednesday evening; we are trying to persuade the man who had rather sit at home and watch TV on these nights rather than to assemble with the saints that he is spiritually sick and in need of the Great Physician. But, why would Garrett seek to misrepresent the real problem?

Garrett is an opportunist; he is trying to lead the churches of Christ into new roads and away from the old paths. In order to do that, he must use every subversive tactic he can find to generate discontentedness in the churches. Just as the Communists pit one social force against another to stir up social anarchy and then tell the people that they know how to re-establish law and order if they will just accept communistic government, so also Garrett and his collegue Carl Ketcherside are presently trying to stir up spiritual anarchy in the church as they also promise the people that they know how to find spiritual order if they will but follow them. Our brethren need to be told about such factionalists who, paradoxically, disguise themselves as a “unity movement.”

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 696-697
September 18, 1975

By Jeff Butterfield

“I have been on the (U.S.S.) Saratoga for fourteen months where I am a welder. Thirteen months ago I was converted by the brethren here. Since that time I have had the desire to preach the gospel. If the Lord wills, I will push toward that goal. I am thankful for every opportunity to teach and learn of God’s will.

“In number we are about ten and have grown to that number from last year perhaps in May when only two of the brethren met here aboard the Saratoga. We are continuing to grow in number through whatever teaching we do on the ship. We’re all quite young in Christ and due to our limited knowledge at the present time we lack the edification we should have. Out at sea we meet to worship four times a week and get together to study and teach as we have the opportunity. When in port we worship with the South Jacksonville congregation where Brother Harold Dowdy is the preacher. He has delivered many fine lessons from God’s word and has been helpful in many ways. All of the brethren at South Jacksonville have been very helpful. We usually gain more at the meetings there than we do out to sea due to the many years the brethren there have worked in God’s kingdom. Any exhortation from the brethren who may know of us would be appreciated. “

(For more information about the church on the U.S.S. Saratoga, see the cover article of the January 2, 1975, Truth Magazine, or write Jeff Butterfield-Editor).

We learn from Jesus that one reason He came to earth was to preach (Mark 1:38). All that Jesus taught was truth (John 1:14, 17). The only thing Christ taught was what He heard God the Father speak (John 7:16). We learn in Hebrews that God had spoken in the past or in the Jewish dispensation to the fathers by the prophets, but now in these last days speaks through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2). Therefore we can conclude that through Christ we can learn the truth which is able to set men free. The scriptures teach as much.

As Christ was teaching one day He told some Jews that believed on Him that they could know the truth by continuing in His word. In so doing they would be made free (John 8:31-32). Though this was spoken at that time directly to those Jews who believed on Him, we find that it is true today also, as Christ still has the truth. We find that there is only one way into the sheepfold, and that way is through Christ (John 10:9).

Though Christ is not here today in the flesh, we can still be able to know this very same truth by following what the apostles have set forth. The apostles heard Christ, saw Him, and handled Him. That is what they have declared so that we may have this fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ(1 John 1:1-3). What we have then is the recording of the apostles of Christ from what they heard Him teach. While it’s true that men are fallible, we must come to the understanding that these men were inspired by God (John 14:26). Therefore we can see the reason for the unity in what they have said and have the assurance that by following what they have proclaimed we, too, can know the truth (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

But now a problem is presented. If all of this be true, why the need for creed books? We’re going to find that creed books contradict the Bible. Permit me to prove what I’ve just said. Page 91 of Luther’s Catechism says, “We are justified and saved by faith alone, without works. ” James 2:24 says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.” Who do you believe? I believe James. Others would prefer to go along with Martin Luther. The truth is Martin Luther taught something the word of God did not teach. In so doing he perverted that which the apostles had taught (Gal. 1:6-9). The truth simply cannot be found in human creeds. The person who follows Martin Luther’s teaching becomes a Lutheran. On the other hand, the person who follows that which the Bible teaches becomes a Christian (Acts 11:26). Don’t be deceived by creed books. (See also Roland Worth, Jr.’s article “Creeds, ” page 13 of this issue–,Editor) The complete revelation of God’s will has been given and can only be found in the pages of the New Testament (2 Pet. 1:3). Nothing can be added to it nor subtracted from it (Rev. 22:18-19). We will find that the man who follows the perfect law of liberty by doing just what it says shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:25). That very same person will be a member of the one body (Eph. 4:4) for which Christ shed his blood and is also its head (Acts 20:28; Col. 1:22-23). This church follows only what the apostles taught (Acts 2:42) and is unmovable or steadfast in that doctrine. This church was promised to be built by Christ (Matt. 16:18) and it wears only His name (Rom. 16:16). Truth is found only in Christ Jesus.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 695-696
September 18, 1975

By Van A. Reaves

(In an enclosed letter, this young man stated that he is striving to become a full-time evangelist-Editor.)

The unfortunate practice of accepting whatever the preacher says without question, has troubled the religious world for a number of years. This practice is deadly, leading millions to eternal doom. There are principles one can, arid must, learn in order to save himself from this error. Such is the purpose of this article.

Thinking more of the preacher than his message (or “preacher worship,” as it well might be called), is as old as the Bible itself. We find an example of it in Acts 14:8-18; the Lycaonians tried to offer sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul when they healed a cripple. Notice, first of all, what the apostles said in verses 14 through 17; then notice the near disastrous results in verse 18.

“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, In that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

And now verse 18:

“And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”

How many preachers do you know who should rip their clothes apart to keep someone from offering “sacrifice” unto them. Some, I am sure, but many would not.

The first thing one must realize is that preachers are men, and as all men, are mistaken about things from time to time. You have probably heard the old and very true statement, “Nobody’s perfect.” This should be applied to all preachers as well, Jesus Christ being the only exception.

Even the apostles made mistakes. Remember that Judas Iscariot was just as much an apostle as Peter or Paul, and of course he made a great mistake. Simon Peter denied the Lord, not once, but three times, in the space of only a few hours. In Gal. 2:11-14 Paul withstood Peter ” . . ..to the face, because he was to be blamed.” So how can men, who had the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, make mistakes such as these, and preachers today, who are not inspired, make no mistakes of any kind?

Unfortunately, there are people in every walk of life who will deliberately lie. This includes preachers, as well. We have numerous warnings in the Bible concerning this, let us look at some.

In Acts 13:6-11, a man by the name of Elymas, the sorcerer, tried to turn one away from the faith. Read this passage on your own and notice verse 8.

In Matt. 23:27-28, Christ Himself compared the false teachers to a tomb, which was lovely to look at from the outside, but the inside was full of rotting flesh.

“Satan himself is transformed into an- angel of light,” reads 2 Cor. 11:14. Verse 15 goes on to tell us that we should not be surprised when his servants also appear to be “angels of light.”

Paul warned the Galatians (Gal. 1:6-12) not to accept anything said by any man or even an angel from heaven that did not conform to the gospel that they had already received at that time. That means that even if an angel from heaven relates something for us to do or believe that is not in the Bible, then we are not to do or believe it.

1 John 4:1 tells us that we must “try” or “test” the spirits to see if they are from God. Matt. 7:15-20 concludes:”‘. . . by their fruits ye shall know them.” The Scriptures get a little more specific in 2 Tim. 3:12-17 in that we find the .standard we must use in the Holy Scriptures. Even more specifically, in verse 16, all the scriptures. Once more we find that the Scriptures are the standard used to determine truth (Acts 17:10-11).

“So what if I am wrong,” one might say, “Would I be sent to hell if I was led astray without knowing any better?” Alas, my friend, it is just that simple, you always suffer the consequences of sin, unless you are forgiven through the plan of redemption, in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).

We are told in 2 Thess. 2:10-11, that if we love not the truth, we will be sent a strong delusion, that we might believe a lie and be damned. Do you love the truth, my friend?

Do not be caught up in the emotional pull of any man. Rather develop a wholesome attitude toward the truth of God as revealed by Him in the Bible. The truth is what makes men free. Jesus said, however, that in order to be freed by truth we must continue in his word.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue to my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31. 32).

Check all these passages to see if I’m teaching the truth.

After all, I am just a man.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 694-695
September 18, 1975

By Cecil Willis

We are nearing the end of our studies on the subject of faith. At times, we have diverted from the theme proper, in order that we might, in our estimation, give some things that were of profit and value to you, and yet these things that we have discussed have been in some way connected with our major subject. We plan perhaps to have one more lesson upon the subject of faith. In our last article, we studied the relationship that exists between works and salvation. We pointed out that man is not saved by doing the works that he has chosen to do, and that man is not saved by his own meritorious works. We cited scriptures stating that man was justified by works. We learned that the works by which man is justified are the works of God. The works of God are the things that God has commanded. We had learned in the preceding article that man is justified by faith, but not by faith only. It is when that faith works that one is justified.

By entitling our lesson, “God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation,” we, or course, mean by that that God has always had the same plan of salvation. It is our purpose to point out that God has always justified man by the same principle. We might call our lesson, “The Principle of Salvation,” meaning the principle upon which God has always justified.

Some Unchanging Principles

Even though we are living in a world of change and variety, there are some things about this universe that do not change. Principles do not change. They are the same in every age. Applications of these principles might, and do change, but the principles remain the same. For example: God always has had the principle of modesty for men and women to observe, but the application of this principle changes. Even though we dress differently today than we did even a few years ago, still there is that unchanging principle of modesty governing our dress that governed our forefathers centuries ago. It seems that some of the world today has forgotten that there ever was such a principle, but principles are unchanging.

God always has had a principle condemning worldliness, but as the ages change, the application of the principle must change. Many of the things which are now to be condemned under the principle of worldliness were unknown a few years back. Everything wicked that may begin in the future will still be condemned under this same principle, for it will endure, even though the things to which this principle is applied many not long endure. God had always demanded that man be fair and honest with his fellow man. This principle is the same; whether the man is trading an ox cart, a camel, an ox yoke, or whether he is trading a Cadillac automobile, a jet airplane; whether he is dealing with an individual or a nation. The applications of the principles might change, but the principle remains the same.

So it is with salvation. God always has had a certain principle of salvation. There always have been certain conditions upon which God would justify man, and this is an unchanging principle. Man has lived in three great ages: the Patriarchial, Mosiacal, and the Christian Ages. In each of these ages, the salvation of men and women has been governed by the same unchanging principle, of salvation. The Bible very clearly points out what that rule of salvation is, and it is now our intention to study what the Bible says about men have always been justified. In this way, we can know that that unchanging principle is the same one to which you and I must comply. We also want to show scriptures teaching what one must do today.

The Principle of Faith and Obedience

The condition upon which God has always saved man has been that of faith and obedience. God has always demanded that man be a believer in order to be justified, but God has also demanded that this believer obey His commands. Just as with the other principles that we have observed, the application of this one has changed. God has not always told man to believe the same thing. The Patriarchs did not have faith in Christ, as we are to have faith in Him. The Jews under the Law did not have faith in Christ, as we are to believe in Him. They could not have believed in Christ under these old laws, for He had not yet come. They were to have faith in Him when He did come, but He had not come at that time, thus they did not have the same kind of faith in Christ that we are to have. The application of the principle has changed.

Still, as they were required to obey in every period of God’s dealings with man in order to be saved, God has not always required that man do the same thing. Under the Old Testament Law, men were required to offer animal sacrifices, burn incense, keep the Sabbath, and many things that you and I are not commanded to do under the Law of Christ. We are given different commandments. They had to obey the commandments the Lord gave them in order to be saved, and we have to obey the commandments that the Lord has given us in order to be saved.

Study the Great Honor Roll of the Bible, Hebrews 11, as composed by the Apostle, and see the principle upon which each was justified. Notice verse 4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” Abel’s faith was realized in his obedience. Verse 7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear; prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Now what did Noah do to be saved? He did the same thing that you and I must do. He believed and obeyed. It would be very foolish for one to try to apply the modern principle of justification by faith only to Noah or any other of the great men of the Old Testament. Denominationalism would say that Noah was saved by faith only. Was Noah saved when he believed, or when his faith led him to obey, to prepare, to build the ark? Certainly we all know that it was when his faith led him to work, to prepare the ark, that his faith saved him. It took faith plus obedience.

Verse 8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” What did Abraham do to be justified? In the book of Romans, the salvation of Abraham is attributed to his faith. James says: “Was not Abraham our father, justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?” (Jas. 2:21). Here , in one verse we see the harmonization of these two statements. By faith, Abraham obeyed. He was justified by the principle by which all the other righteous men of the Old Testament were justified, and by the same principle by which you and I will be justified, if we are ever saved. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys! Abraham believed to be saved, but he was not saved until he obeyed. “By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac; yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son” (v. 17). Once again, the faith of Abraham was called upon to obey in order to justify him.

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24-27). In order for Moses to be saved, his faith had to act.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encompassed about for seven days.” When the children of Israel took the city of Jericho, it was only after they had marched around the city as God had prescribed; -only after they obeyed-that the walls fell down. They had to do two things. They had to believe and obey. This is once again the application of God’s eternal principle of salvation.

In summary of the things we have learned from the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, notice: By faith Abel offered; By faith Noah prepared; By faith Abraham obeyed; By faith Abraham offered; By faith Moses forsook Egypt; By faith the Israelites encompassed Jericho (and the walls fell). In every one of these instances it took the principle of salvation applied to save them. It is true that each of these individuals did different things. They were given different commandments. But they each followed the same principle. They each believed and obeyed. This is the principle of salvation. It takes the same thing today to be justified.

Summary of New Testament Teaching

The New Testament plainly states the principle of salvation. In Galatians 5:6, when Paul had been talking to the Jews and telling them that the works of the law would not justify them, he said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.” Paul says it takes a working faith to save. The entire passage from James 2:14-26, that we studied in our last article, points out the truthfulness of this principle. James says that the faith that does not work is dead-it is barren-and that our faith is made perfect when it works. Unless our faith works, it does not produce salvation. Today, we have the principle of salvation governing us that applied to men centuries ago. Principles do not change. We must believe and obey, just as men had to do. in the long ago.

Today, under the Christian age, we have different commands to obey than they had then. Yes it is still just as compulsory that we obey as it was for them. Passages might be multiplied demonstrating that one must be a believer in order to be saved. The Hebrews writer says “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). This is the first part of the principle of salvation. The other things that we are to do, today, are also plainly taught. One of the commandments is, that one must repent of his sins. This means to change his mind about sin, and to turn away from it. “I tell you nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). An individual cannot receive remission of sins unless he repents. This is one of the prerequisites of the remission of one’s sin. Peter commanded the Jews on the day of Pentecost to “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Repentance must precede the remission of sins. It is one of the things that one must do in obeying the Lord.

Another commandment of Christ just as plainly taught is that one must be baptized in order to be saved. Christ said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). In the passage we cited just a moment ago, Peter told the Jews on Pentecost to do two things in order to receive the remission of sins. They were already believers or they would not have been pricked to the heart by Peter’s charge that they had killed the Son of God. Peter told them to repent and be baptized in order to receive the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

When the Lord commanded that one repent and be baptized upon a confession of his faith, this was no more than the application of God’s eternal plan of salvation. He has always had commandments that men must obey in order to be saved. These commandments have varied throughout the years, and yet the same things have been required: faith and obedience. Today man is called upon by God to believe in Christ, and to obey. These commandments to be obeyed, we have just cited. You must repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to receive the remission of sin. Remember friends, that principles do not change, and God is not going to alter any principle in order to save you. If you are saved, it must be by this eternal plan of salvation that God has given. We are pleading with you to accept the gospel and obey it, live faithfully, to all its requirements, and finally inherit eternal life through faith and obedience to God’s righteous commandments.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 691-694
September 18, 1975