Truth Magazine

By Terry D. Johnson

1 Peter 1:5: “Who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Protection (“guarded”) comes about as a result of being alerted to a danger; then preparing oneself to be in a position to be defended. Thus, “the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me” (2 Cor. 11:32).

Christians everywhere are in danger of falling from the living God. As long as we live in the flesh, we need to be alert of the fact that the “Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” The writer of Hebrews said, “Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the Living God” (3:12). It behooves us then, to constantly remember this danger and prepare ourselves to be defended!

After Paul gives his thanksgiving to the brethren of Colossae for their “faith in Christ Jesus, and love which ye have toward all the saints,” he then addresses himself to the prayer and request for the brethren (1:9 ff.). He said, “for this cause we also since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” The apostle gives us the key to defense in his words to the troubled congregation of Colossae. A congregation burdened with men who would rob Christ from His supremacy! Think of it! Men who would “delude them with persuasiveness of speech.” False teachers who would “make spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ” (2:4,8). Is there a need for a defense? Yes! Does Paul instruct these brethren, as to the way they should prepare themselves for this defense? Yes! Notice what he has said in his prayer. “Be filled with the knowledge of His will. . .” If these brethren were to defend their faith and rid themselves of these false teachers, they had to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will! May I suggest that if God’s people today want to rid themselves of false teachers and make a defense of their faith they will need to be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will.” This “knowledge” is a “precise, correct, exact, full” knowledge. Thus, a knowledge which is not precise, correct, exact, full, is a knowledge which enables the devil to devour and destroy one!

To the individual who is filled with the precise, correct knowledge, God gives wisdom! “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (Jas. 1:5). This wisdom is the wisdom from above (Jas. 3:17). Wisdom which will enable men to use the knowledge of God’s will to prepare that individual for a defense of truth! One cannot have wisdom without first being filled with a knowledge of God’s will!

It is worth noting that Paul informs us of the reason why we ought to be filled with a knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He says, “To walk worthily of the Lord.” Thus making every New Testament Christian responsible for his own defense! Also, making it mandatory for each New Testament Christian to do so! If we desire to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, preparing ourselves for a defense of truth, we will follow Paul’s instruction.

Satan has commandeered many congregations by defenseless, accept-everything Christians. He has turned faithful brethren into brethren who accept any program just as long as it does a good work! The Devil has turned minds that at one time were governed by Bible principles into minds that do as they please without regard to authority. Christians have lowered their spiritual guard and have been persuaded to follow the world in dress, language, and actions. Let us awake to the call! Let us prepare ourselves to rid ourselves of all devices of Satan. Awake today, lest tomorrow we perish!

Truth Magazine, XVIII:40, p. 11
August 15, 1974

By Don Potts

I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in the sight of God and a blessing to every reader of this article.

Today, the religious world lies in a state of confusion and unrest. From the ranks of Catholicism arise the cries of rebellion and dissent. The Presbyterians have had their problem which resulted in a major division. The Methodists seem to continue on their downward trend. Just recently in Atlanta, Georgia the United Methodist Church voted 925 to 17 to accept a document, prepared by Albert C. Dutler, Chairman of the Commission, to help Methodist make all theological decisions based on “Scriptures, traditions, experience and reason. ” In other words, “goodbye Bible” as an infallible guide.

The Southern Baptists have had their battles and division over the verbal inspiration of the Bible and the errors of the Broadman Bible Commentary. At any rate, the Southern Baptists have had their problems and religion in general finds itself in a state of confusion. Theological seminaries are spending more time trying to determine how much of the Bible they wish to classify as myth and how much as truth. According to a reported survey, only about 1% of the theological students believe in the “second coming” of Christ. Also, a questionnaire was sent to 10,000 Protestant preachers in 1967. Of that number, 7,444 of the preachers replied to the questions. The results are shocking! 51% of the Methodist preachers, 35% of the Presbyterian preachers, and 33 %of the Baptist preachers said they did not believe that Jesus arose from the dead. 60% of the Methodist, 49% of the Presbyterian, and 44% of the Baptist denied the Virgin birth of Christ. 62 %of the Methodist, 47% of the Presbyterian, and 33% of the Baptist denied the existence of Satan. 82% of the Methodist, and 81% of the Presbyterians did not believe the Bible to be inspired. these are the figures of a reported survey.

While confusion runs rampant through Sectarianism, its absence is by no means felt among our brethren. In the past months much has been said about the work of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Others have advocated fellowship with the denominations. Our “brotherhood” papers, among the liberals, are telling of numerous preachers from the conservative (?) Christian churches, changing over, whatever that means. Others tell of people out of the Christian church placing membership, whatever that is, in the Lord’s church. I am made to wonder; what ever happened to sinners being “converted” or “obeying the gospel”? One such publication tells of an annual Preachers’ Workshop at Abilene Christian College which features a professor from Cincinnati Bible Seminary, a Christian church preacher. After the Workshop, when the preachers present were canvassed as to whom should be invited to future gatherings, the “brother” from Cincinnati was a top choice to return for a repeat performance. Well, “brother” is the term used in the article, but all my brethren are in the Lord’s family, the church of Christ. The church of Christ and the Christian church are two separate families, each having a different head or spiritual father, one the God of heaven, the other the Devil of Hell (John 8:42, 44, 47). Unless, I am ready to claim kin to Satan, I cannot declare those of the Christian church my brethren!

In the same publication, Leroy Garrett tells of a Church of Christ (?) with a gathering of 600 people who gave a Roman Catholic priest a standing ovation in California. And then to top it all off, we had the “Highland Watergate” scandal and coverup. In the midst of all this, the world rushes madly onward, not knowing its right hand from its left spiritually, helpless, hapless and hopeless, destined for the eternal fires of a burning hell! The world gropes in darkness while religion sits in a state of decay.

We are told today, that there are 123 million church-goers in the United States which is an increased attendance of 2%, but in the same period of time we had an increase in crime of 7%. Illegitimacy has increased 100%. Pornography has become a 200 million dollar-a-year business; multiplied four times in two years. Venereal disease increased 400% in ten years; 72% in one year and our crime bill is 20 billion dollars a year. Crime has increased five times faster than our population has increased and juvenile crime is increasing seven times faster. For every dollar given to all religions in the U.S., we spend $12,000 on crime. All church buildings, synagogues and temples are outnumbered by taverns by 175,000! And to make matters worse, over 37 million of the children of the U.S. receive absolutely no religious instruction.

The point of all this is simple-we have the greatest preaching crisis the world has known! Today, we hear much about an energy crisis and a wheat shortage, but I am talking about a preaching shortage! Now, lest someone misunderstand, I am not talking about a preacher shortage, or a meeting house shortage, or a church of Christ shortage, but a shortage of gospel preaching. Statistics show that we have an estimated 18,680 churches of Christ with a membership of 2,350,000 and some 7,500 preachers, Have you never wondered why the world is in such a critical condition spiriturally, in view of the fact that Jesus said we are the Alight “of the world, the “salt”of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)? It seems that 7,500 preachers, or the better part of us, have lost our savor. Too many today are caught up in a “rat race” for the big churches, big money, big “parsonages” and big names, while lost souls wander in darkness and despair.

There is nothing in all the world that can bless the people and change and transform the lives of men and nations as the precious gospel of Christ. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). God’s primary means of lifting Christ up is through faithful dedicated, trumpet-piped preaching. I know that even in this modern twentieth century, the gospel is still the power of God unto salvation and is more powerful than all nuclear weapons known to man. It can make the enemy stack their arms and run up the white flag.

I once read of a father who had promised to take his little boy back to the little country community and the church building where he was converted, and when school was out, he kept his promise and drove down winding lanes and up hills till he came to the little country church building. Hard by the meeting house was the cemetery where his loved ones were buried.

They got out and with reverence and uncovered heads, walked into the meeting house where the little boy’s daddy was converted many years ago at the sound of God’s power to save, the Gospel of Christ. Hanging from above was a rope from the old church bell. The little boy asked what it was and his daddy replied that it was the rope that pulled the bell and called the people to services to hear the gospel. The little boy looked up at his daddy and said, “Daddy, ring it again.”

Brethren, I close this message with a soul stirred with concern and grief. I rededicate my life and my preaching to the advocating of the precious truths of the gospel. I plea with preaching brethren everywhere to join me, and together “let’s ring it again”! Let’s “ring out the gospel,” let’s “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isa. 58:1).

Truth Magazine, XVIII:40, p. 7-8
August 15, 1974

By Larry Ray Hafley

“7. The Temple of the Holy Spirit”

“Every Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19). He is sealed by the Spirit until the day, of redemption (Eph. 4:30). He is not sealed until he backslides, but ‘unto the day of redemption.’ The Holy Spirit abides in the Christian forever (John 14:16). If a Christian can be lost again, the Holy Spirit is lost also for He abides in the Christian forever. John 14:16 clearly teaches us that the Holy Spirit will never leave the Christian. It is in. place to ask, ‘Could the temple of the Holy Spirit go to hell.=@

Reply: One trusts that Dr. Schroeder is not always so careless in his handling of the word of God. Observe how unobstrusively he changes “unto” into “until.” Eph. 4:30 does not say “until the day of redemption” as the “Dr.” avers and errs. It says “unto” meaning, as some translators say, “for the day of redemption.”

The Spirit does not come into or remain in our bodies unconditionally. In the very passage, Paul says, “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God.” What if we do so continually? One may lie to and tempt the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3, 4, 9). One may resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). One may quench the Spirit (I Thess. 5:19). One may do despite unto the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29). Will one be saved who does these things unto the Spirit? God will remove His Spirit from such persons (Cf. I Sam. 16:14; Psa. 51:11).

Christians must be “filled with the Spirit” and “walk in the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16); that is, they are to be led and directed by the word of the Spirit. John 14:16 does not teach that the Holy Spirit dwells unconditionally in the Christian. The promise of the Spirit in this passage was made to the apostles Qn. 13: 1; Matt. 26:20), but even if that were not so, the Spirit’s presence would not be unconditional. “If ye love me, keep my commandments …. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (Jn. 14:15-24).

The temple of the Holy Spirit is our body. Does Dr. Schroeder believe our physical bodies will be in heaven? “It is in place to ask, ‘Could the temple of the Holy Spirit go to heaven?’ ” Finally, 1 Cor. 6:20 says, “Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” “It is in place to ask,” Could the temple of the Holy Spirit go to heaven if it failed to glorify God? “It is in place” for Mr. Schroeder to answer.

“8. In God’s Sight Every Christian Is Now In Heaven”

“God has raised us ‘with Christ,’ that is, when Christ was raised from the grave we were also raised. Our position as Christians is seated together with Him in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:5, 6). We are now, as far as God is concerned, in heaven. If a Christian can be lost again, then he must be put out of heaven since he now occupies that place (Col.,3:3).”

Reply: Our citizenship is indeed in heaven (Phil. 3,20), but Christians are not now in heaven “in God’s sight” – In Mr. Schroeder’s sight, perhaps, but not in God’s. The phrase “in heavenly places” is found in Eph. 1:3, 20; 2:6; 6:12. Its meaning in Eph. 1:3 and 2:6 is that spiritual blessings emanate from heaven and are brought from there to us, We sit together in Christ “in heavenly places” by reason of the fact that we are “fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). Our “inheritance” is “reserved in heaven” 0 Pet. 1:4). Our hope is laid up for us “in heaven” (Col. 1:5), but we are not yet there. However, if we are now in heaven, what did Paul mean when he said, “Set your affections on things above” (Col. 3:2)? “Above” where? “Above” heaven? “When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then (not before) shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). If we were in heaven, we would be already “with him in glory.”

Think it not strange, Dr. Schroeder, that one should be “put out of” an exalted position. We could grant your contention and feel no pangs to admit that Christians may be “put out of heaven.” Dr., “Have ye never read” that “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to’ be reserved unto judgment” (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6)? If God “spared not” angels but “cast them down to hell,” why should it be so amazing that He would not spare an erring Christian? Finally, the wrath of God now “abideth” on unbelievers (Jn. 3:36). “They are now, as far as God is concerned, in hell. If an unbeliever can become a believer and be saved, then he must be put out of hell since he now occupies that place.” That is according to Schroeder’s argument. Can he answer himself?

“9. Part of Christ’s Body”

“We, as Christian, are members of Christ’s body–flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone (Eph. 5:30). If a Christian can be lost again, then Christ is lost with him since He made the Christian part of His own body. If he can be lost again, the body will not be complete, and if this is true, the plan and work of Christ is lost and useless-the Word of God speaks of Christ’s body being ‘without spot or wrinkle’ (Eph. 5:25-27).

Reply: Again, Dr. Schroeder carries a figure of speech too far and creates an absurdity. What Mr. Schroeder says is true with respect to a fleshly body, but Paul was discussing a spiritual body, the church. In another figure, we learn that if one falls away, Christ is not lost with him. “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (Jn. 15:6). If our friend Schroeder had been there, he, could have told the Lord, “No, if a Christian can be lost again, then you, Lord, will be lost with him since You made the Christian a branch in the vine. If he can be lost again, the vine will not be complete, and if this is true, Your plan and work is lost and useless.”

The church will be presented “not having spot, or wrinkle,” for all who do not continue in the faith will be “spued out,” and “cast forth” (Col. 1: 18-22 .3; Rev. 3:16).

“10. Complete In Christ”

“Every Christian is now complete in Him (Col. 2:10). Can the complete work of Christ be lost again? If it can be lost, was it complete? How can a Christian be complete and lost again? Would not then the complete work of Christ go to hell?”

Reply: Christian are “complete in Him.” Where? “In Christ,” but a man may choose not to abide in Christ-“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth” (Jn. 15:6). A man is “complete” in Christ, but one may not continue in Christ”If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the father” (I Jn. 2:24). “If” it does not remain in you, you shall not 66 continue in the Son.” Outside of Christ we are not complete and, thus, cannot be saved. Baptist doctrine says we are complete and saved whether we abide in Christ or not.

“11. Saved By Grace”

“‘For by grace are ye saved’ (Eph. 2:8, 9; Acts 15:11). If a man is saved by grace, and grace is unmerited favor and wholly undeserved, how can he be lost? If he can be lost through some sin, or by not holding out, can it be said of him, ‘by grace are ye saved’? If our reaching heaven depends upon our good work, then our salvation would have no element of grace in it.”

Reply: One cannot earn or merit his salvation by perfect keeping of law. God’s system of grace teaches us works of God to perform in order to be saved by his grace (Rom. 4-6; Jas. 2). By mixing works of man and works of God, Mr. Schroeder reaches his position. Works of men are excluded, yet in judgment Jesus shall “reward every man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). Is there discord here? No, on one hand, there is reference to keeping of law for justification and, on the other, there is reference to “faith which worketh by love. “

Faith is a “work” (Jn. 6:28, 29). I suppose Mr. Schroeder would call believing Christ a “good work.” Further, it can be agreed that salvation “depends” upon faith in Christ. So, faith is a work, a good work, upon which salvation “depends.” With respect to the possibility of apostasy, Mr. Schroeder has said, “If our reaching heaven depends upon our good work, then our salvation would have no element of grace in it.” Does salvation by faith have any “element of grace” in it? When one explains how that it does, though he knows faith is a “work,” then he should be able to understand how conditions do not eliminate grace.

“12. He Will Not Be Cast Out Again”

“John 6:37 teaches very clearly that it is the Christian who will never be cast out. The Christian is the Father’s love gift to the Son, and Christ dare not discard those whom the Father gives Him.”

Reply: John 6:37 is conditional. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” No one who comes to God will be cast out, but Baptist doctrine says a man is not cast out even if he ceases to come to Christ! Christ will not “discard” those whom the Father gives him, but “if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:12). Christ will not “cast out” the faithful, but He will “cast forth” and “spue out” those who do not continue coming to Him (Jn. 15:6; Rev. 3:16). It is the one who comes to Christ “who will never be cast out,” “but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chron. 15:2).

“13. No Condemnation”

“The child of God, according to Rom. 8:1, will never come into condemnation or judgment. Since His sins were judged at the cross of Calvary, we are assured in John 3:18 and John 5:24 that the believer is freed from condemnation. Christ bore the punishment for our sins. God cannot pour His Judgment upon the believer if Christ bore the penalty of ,@all our sins.”

Reply: The “children of God, according to Rom. 8:1 (who) will never come into condemnation or judgment” are those “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom. 8:4,12,13). We are “assured in John 3:18 and … 5:24 that the believer is freed from condemnation,” but a believer may become an unbeliever; a believer may develop “an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:1, 12; Psa. 106:12, 24).

Eleven verses down from Romans 8:1, we find this, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after th6 flesh. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall five” (Rom. 8:12, 13). The “ye” in verse 13 are the “brethren” (Christians) of verse 12. “Die,” or death, in verse 13 is spiritual death, for all will die physically whether they live after the flesh or not. This death is conditional, hence, physical. Living “after the Spirit” will result in life, eternal fife through the Spirit.

Finally, James tells his “brethren” to “sware not … lest ye fall into condemnation” (Jas. 5:12). But Dr. Schroeder says children of God “will never come into condemnation.” James said his brethren would “fall into condemnation” if they swore. That proves Schroeder’s brethren are not James brethren!

“14. Incorruptible Seed”

“Since the Christian has been born incorruptible seed 0 Pet. 1:23), can it corrupt? It is impossible. How can that which is incorruptible ever corrupt?

Reply: The tract leaves out the word “of” in the phrase “born of incorruptible seed.” The saints are not the seed. “The seed is the word of God” (Lk. 8:11). It-the seed, not the saints, is incorruptible.

That which is incorruptible can never corrupt or spoil. The word of God will never corrode nor corrupt, but the mind of the Christian may “be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). In the Old Testament, children of God “corrupted themselves” (Deut. 9:12). Baptist doctrine says Christians cannot be corrupted. The Bible says they can. But Baptist doctrine says, “No matter if they are corrupted, they will be saved, for it is impossible to be lost.” That is a “corrupt” doctrine.

(To Be Concluded Next Week)

Truth Magazine, XVIII:40, p. 5-7
August 15, 1974

By Cecil Willis

In order that as many as want to do so may attend, we are trying to announce as early as possible all the particulars regarding the debate on whether schools like Florida College have the right to teach the Bible. Brother Jesse Jenkins of Denton, Texas and I have agreed to discuss this subject four nights, Sept. 23, 24, 26, and 27. The debate will be held in the High School Auditorium in Pasadena, Texas. Pasadena is a suburb of the metropolitan Houston area, and I am told that its location is ideal for anyone coming East from Houston, or from the North.

The Pasadena High School Auditorium is just off the Pasadena-LaPorte freeway (Hwy. 225), which comes off the Gulf freeway, as one leaves Houston headed South-east. Take the first Pasadena exit (Shaver Street) from the Pasadena-LaPorte freeway, and the High School and auditorium are right next to the feeder street, and are clearly visible from both the freeway and the feeder street. One would turn right on Shaver street and the auditorium and High School would be immediately on his right.

The location of this auditorium was so ideal that those making arrangements for it have waited longer than they wanted to wait, but did so in order to procure the right to use this particular auditorium. The auditorium will seat over 1,000. Rent on this auditorium is $100 per night, and I have personally paid $200 of the rental fee, and Brother Curtis Torno and some others are going to pay the other $200.

The brethren in the Pasadena area will try to provide as many places to stay as possible, for out of towners who wish to stay for the entire debate. Brother Don Carter, one of the Elders of the Red Bluff church in Pasadena, has agreed to take the responsibility to coordinate the number needing a place to stay with those who are offering to provide free lodging. Brother Don Carter’s address is 1807 Patricia Lane, Pasadena, Texas 77502, if you wish to write regarding the availability of a place to stay. Or, you may call him at home at 713-473-4456. This could turn out to be a sizable job for Brother Carter, so give him as much advance notice as possible, if you need a place to stay.

The delay in arranging the usage of the auditorium was occasioned by the fact that we had to wait until the school calendar was finalized. But everything now appears to be in readiness, and we hope a goodly number will plan to attend. The last debate that I can remember at this moment that was conducted on this subject must have been around twenty years ago. So perhaps a goodly number of brethren will be interested in such a discussion.

Having met Brother Jesse Jenkins only one time personally, I of course do not know him well. But everyone who ‘ has spoken to me of Brother Jenkins has commented that he will be very honorable in such a discussion (I would have expected this anyway, since he is a brother in Christ), but that he will be a formidable opponent. Several has advised me that I should not under-estimate Jesse Jenkins’ ability. That advice was unnecessary, for I do not underestimate any debate opponent’s ability. I am highly respectful of them all, and enter every debate with fear and trembling. But I will come to Pasadena, the Lord willing, ready to do my best in discussing honorably and fairly the propositions which we have signed. Paul stated that he planned to preach the gospel in Rome, “as much as in me is” (Rom. 1:15). That passage always has had much meaning to me. It tells me that I do not have to preach or debate as ably as someone else, or better than someone else, but I must do my best! That I fully plan to do, not only in Pasadena, but so long as the, Lord shall permit me to continue to have a little share in His Work being done upon the earth.

Brother Jenkins and I have every intention of entering and ending this debate in a good humor with one another. We hope that all the listeners will come so disposed. Of course, we each will press the points in our arguments, but that does not mean we have any ill-feeling toward each other. So far as I know, neither has any earthly reason for having an ill feeling toward each other, and we fully intend to behave ourselves in this four night debate study period in a manner that becometh Christians; indeed, as brethren in the Lord. We hope you will make your plans to come.

POSTSCRIPT: A letter dated July 1, 1974 received from Leroy Garrett, also of Denton, Texas, indicates that he has every intention of carrying through our before mentioned plan to discuss the fellowship question in Port Arthur, Texas sometime in January, 1975. We want to avoid as many schedule conflicts as possible, and thus plan to have the discussion before the Abilene Christian College Preacher Workshop, and before the Florida College Lecture program. That probably means that this debate will be held during one of the first two weeks of January. This debate would be a very important one, and we will give as much advance notice as possible, when final arrangements as to date and location have been made.

The debate scheduled for December with Nathan Urshan, National Radio Speaker for the United Pentecostal Church, cannot be held in December of this year, as we before had indicated it would be. However, a telephone conversation this past week with Mr. Urshan indicated that he has every intention of honoring his agreement to meet me in a public discussion in Indianapolis, but that his schedule is such that it would have to be late Spring, or in the Summer. With my trip to the Philippines planned for April, 1975, it probably would fit my plans better also to have it in the Summer. So keep that approximate time in mind, and try to save some vacation time so that you can come for that discussion.

Meanwhile, the brethren in Glen Burnie, Maryland have been challenged to a debate by Dr, Eugene Perry, President of the Israel Tract Society. The Glen Burnie brethren have asked that I represent them in the discussion, and I have agreed to do so. No exact time has been chosen as yet, but we just might be able to work it into the early part of December 1974. If not, it then will have to be scheduled for early spring 1975.

Having participated in only four debates in my entire life, four rather important ones within a six months time is a rather frightening contemplation. Brother Jenkins will not have to worry about me coming over-confident! Frankly, I have more to do than I can do well, and I must just do the best I can in each engagement. All these other men probably have equally burdensome schedules to keep, so a busy schedule for me is not cited as an excuse to get out of any commitment. I know of no honorable way to avoid defending what I believe and teach, when it is challenged by a worthy opponent, and I have no disposition to try to avoid such a responsibility. My only desire is that the truth never suffer due to ineptness or unpreparedness on my part. So, if you like debates, here are a few you can make you plans to take in.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:40, p. 3-4
August 15, 1974