Truth Magazine

By Lindy McDaniel

In the May 23rd issue of Truth Magazine, Brother Cecil Willis featured me in an editorial stating that I teach “pernicious error.” The grounds for the accusation is that I teach that a child of God can constantly stand in the grace of God. Cecil attacks this view as being the equivalent to the Baptist position of “once saved, always saved,” and leading to a loose view of sin and of grace.

Cecil and I agree that Christians sin daily, as the Bible clearly teaches and experience demonstrates (1 Kings 8:46; Ps. 130:3; Ps. 143:2; Isa. 64:6; Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:32; and 1 John 1:8). The point of controversy involves sin and separation from God. While I believe that every sin the Christian commits can potentially separate him from God (see James 1:15), Cecil believes that every sin automatically separates the Christian from God. This latter position insists that when the Christian sins (and none of us can say that we do not sin (1 Jno. 1:8), he is “severed from Christ” (Gal. 5:4), or “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4), or in a state of condemnation (see Rom. 8:1), or has his name blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life (see Rev. 20:15), etc. This position logically says that a Christian must constantly be “in” and “out” of a state of condemnation.

If Cecil’s theory is correct, the nature of the Christian life is one of constant fear, an even should the Christian pray hourly for the forgiveness of sins, he would still have no assurance that he would be in a saved condition. This theory must insist that right standing before God at any point in time is based upon sinlessness. Although the Bible clearly teaches that the child of God can fall and be lost (see John 15:1-6; Heb. 6:4-6; Heb. 10:26-27; 2 Pet. 2:20-22, etc.), the nature of the Christian life is one of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17) as contrasted to fear and bondage (Rom. 8:15).

The Bible teaches that a Christian can abide in a state of grace. Paul wrote: “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-2). See also John 15:1-6; Rom. 8:1; Rev. 3:4-5; Phil. 4:1; 1 Pet. 5:12, and countless other passages.

Abiding in the grace of God is conditioned on a living faith (see Rom. 5:1-2). Our faith is demonstrated by “walking in the light” (1 Jno. 1:7) bearing fruit (John 15:1-6), keeping God’s commandments (1 John 2:4), continually confessing our sins (1 John 1:9), etc.; but none of these conditions demand sinlessness. When a Christian ceases to possess a living faith, God’s grace through Jesus Christ is no longer appropriated to him (Rom. 3:28 and Eph. 2:8-10). In this connection, the word “faithful” describes one who is “walking by faith,” and such a one, although not sinless, is indeed in favor with God (see 1 Cor. 4:17; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2, 2 Tim. 2:2, etc.).

I deny emphatically that I believe in “once saved, always saved” as has been charged. I deny emphatically that I believe that a child of God need not make confession of sins! On the other hand, I freely admit that I believe a child of God can “walk in the light without being sinlessly perfect. Thank God for that fact!

It has been widely reported that Cecil and I are divided over “doctrinal differences.” Many have inquired about the statement to this effect found in the last issue of Pitching For The Master, a paper which I edit and write. Cecil, without my knowledge or consent, changed my original statement by adding the word “doctrinal.” From my point of view, it is not true that Pitching will no longer be published by the Cogdill Foundation because of doctrinal differences. It is much more accurate to say that it is the Cogdill

Foundation Board’s reactions to these differences (as described in this article) that has finally resulted in our not being able to work together.

I am extremely sorry that it has become necessary for me to answer Cecil’s public charges. I am shocked and perplexed as to why they were made, but I cannot stand back and allow the facts to be misrepresented. This is all I intend to say publically about the matter. There is ample work to be done in the kingdom without getting side-tracked into endless arguments over pointless controversies which can only gender division and strife. Let brotherly love continue.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: For about a month I have been away on an extended trip for gospel meetings. Hence, several issues of TRUTH MAGAZINE had to be prepared prior to my leaving. It now is less than two weeks until the debate which Brother Jesse Jenkins and I are to hold. Hence, I cannot at this time spare the time to write the reply that I had intended to write to the above article from Brother Lindy McDaniel. Yet I think it might be unfair to him to permit more time to lapse before he is given opportunity to be heard regarding my previous article. Our basic disagreement lie in the fact that Lindy thinks a Christian who sins as a result of ignorance or from the weakness of the flesh continues to stand in the grace of God, even though he has neither repented of, nor confessed the sin. He applies this point specifically to the usage of instrumental music and institutionalism. Herein lies our basic disagreement. Already I have written about 15 pages, showing Lindy’s vacillation on this question, but to complete the job will take about that many more pages. So I have chosen to print his article now, and perhaps will publish my reply later. I must prepare three issues of the paper, and then be gone for meetings and the debate for a five week period.–Cecil Willis)

Truth Magazine, XVIII:45, p. 3
September 19, 1974

By John McCort

Many of our religious friends believe in the doctrine of “irresistible grace.” Briefly, this doctrine states, 1.. God predestines or unconditionally selects certain individuals to be saved and certain individuals to be lost. 2. Those chosen unto salvation God calls through the Holy Spirit. 3. The Holy Spirit opens the heart of the chosen sinner so that he can understand the gospel. 4. The direct calling of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted or rejected by the chosen sinner. Advocates of this doctrine quote such passages as Rom. 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he called. . .” (KJV). This article will specifically deal with the nature of our divine calling.

Definition of “Called”

There are several Greek words that are translated “call.” The primary word for “call” in the New Testament is the word kaleo. Under kaleo, Vine says,”. . .derived from the root kal-, whence Eng. “call” and “clamour” (See B.C., below), is used with a personal object, to call anyone, invite, summon, e.g., Matt. 20:8; 25:14. . .” (Vines Expository Dictionary, p. 163). Kaleo is also translated “Bidden, Invited, Bade.” Under “bidden” Vine has this to say about the Greek word kaleo, “to call, often means to bid, in the sense of invite, e.g., Matt. 22:3, 4, 8, 9; Luke 17:7, 8, 9, 10, 13, R.V.: Rev. 19,9” (Ibid, p.125).

The Greek word kaleo, translated both “call” and invite,” does not carry with it the idea of an irresistable or unrejectable command. It carries the idea of an invitation. An invitation can either be accepted or rejected. A person receiving an invitation has the option of declining. Interestingly, the Latin Vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible) translates the word kaleo as in vitati, which is with word from which we derive our English word “invitation.”

How We Are Called?

The Scriptures teach that we are called to be Christians, not by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, but through the gospel. 2 Thess. 2:14, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel.” An examination of the cases of conversion in the book of Acts never reveals any operation of the Holy Spirit on the sinners’ heart before hearing the gospel.

The Calling Is Universal

The gospel invitation is universally extended. Jesus gave the great commission,” “. . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mk. 16:15) “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will (not whosoever God wills, JWMc) let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) God does not wish that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9); “who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) God is no respector of persons. (Acts 10:34; 1 Pet. 1:17) The Scriptures nowhere teach that sinners are unconditionally and irrevocably called by God through a direct operation of the Holy Spirit on predestined individuals.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:45, p. 2
September 19, 1974

By Norman E. Sewell

In almost every congregation of God’s people there are some who have the strangest attitude imaginable, for one who claims to be a child of God. He shows this attitude in his lack of diligence in attendance, as well as the fact that he never shares with another the story of salvation in Christ, or never encourages the physically or spiritually sick by showing his interest in them. It almost seems that to him Christianity is a drudgery, something to be endured, something which must be “put up with” for a hour or so on the Lord’s day (morning, not evening). He seems to be saying by his actions, “What is the minimum required of me in order to get to heaven?”

When we consider the great love of God for us; we should indeed by happy to serve Him. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are “(I John 3:1). In fact, those who show no interest in more than just minimal effort usually have failed to grow and develop as they should and are aptly described by Peter, `For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins “(2 Peter 1:9).

Consider this thought. Who in this world has more reason to be joyful? Who has more reason for hope and more reason to praise God? Only the obedient child of God truly appreciates and shows that appreciation for the love of God.

Dear brother and sister in Christ. If you have this long faced attitude about service to God, you need to change your mind. You need desperately to repent of your stubbornness, your stiff necked attitude, and humble yourself before God. Please think seriously on these words from the inspired apostle Paul to the Philippians. “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7). Brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:44, p. 13
September 12, 1974

By Larry Ray Hafley

The “Do Your Own Thing” philosophy is not new. It is a way of life for pigs, dogs, apes, and roosters, that has been adopted by certain sets of men in all generations. It was described in Noah’s day when “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).

Those who promote the doing of “your own thing@ are advocates of moral anarchy. Their guide is their appetite, their goal is to gratify it, and their God has been “turned off,” “tuned out” and replaced by a flower or a dream produced by drugs. The Holy Spirit through “His own thing,” the pen of the apostle Paul, defined this sordid sort as “they` (that) are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to, practice every kind of uncleanness” (Eph. 4:18, 19-RSV):

What breeds and begats this depravity? There are causes too numerous and nebulous to mention, however, it is clear that a lack of respect for authority in general has been the germ, of “Do Your Own Thing.” The youth of today were raised by parents who were told that spanking your child will warp his personality. (When my dad spanked me; I assure you that something more than my personality was warped!) They, were told not to deprive, deny, or discipline their children lest they damage their “natural curiosity.” All too late we seethe fruits. The twig has been bent. Now the appeal to authority to quell the rebellion is helpless; hapless and hopeless. So grows the tree.

In any sphere of life it must be understood that to neglect to use authority is to destroy it. It cannot be shelved an then be placed into service, for its power dissipates and disappears when it is shunned. “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15):

A second cause is found in the attitude of “the clergy” toward the individual’s religious rights and responsibilities. Two ideas have been advanced: (1) It does not matter what one believes, just so he insincere. (2) Each person should join the church of his’ choice. The former is the father, begatter of the latter. Both statements encourage religious promiscuity. They say in effect that one should “shop around” until he finds a system that suits his particular religious whim. A simple, succinct summary of the two suggestions is, “In religion, do your own thing. “Thus, in the home and in denominational doctrine we find the roots of unrestrained self determinism. Is it surprising, therefore, that we have a sizeable segment of society set on; “doing their own thing”? “I trow not.”

Whenever the authority of God is supplanted by force or tradition, it is destroyed. A religion founded on what is time honored has very little power over those who suddenly decide not to worship the inventions of the centuries. Hence, the Catholic Church faces revolutionary revision. Its agony, however, will not revive the authority of God. The struggle is against institutions that long ago shadowed the direction of Deity. The internal warfare is over the traditions themselves, not over whether or not God approves or disapproves of them. Concern for God’s will (authority) died when the tradition was born.

“Do Your Own Thing” is seen as both a cause and an effect. It is a cause of contemporary confusion and the effect of the age old attempt by man to steer his own steps. (Prov. 3:5-7) Its ultimate meaning is to seek to satisfy self, and those who parrot and practice it are championed by every barnyard bull.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:44, p. 8-9
September 12, 1974