Truth Magazine

In March, Reggie White, a pro-bowl defensive end who most recently played for the Green Bay Packers and who will probably be a Hall of Famer, caused quite a stir when he spoke at the Wisconsin State Assembly. He spoke about homosexuality as a sin saying that homosexuality is “one of the biggest sins” in the Bible. He continued, “Homosexuality is a decision. It’s not a race. . . . People from all different ethnic backgrounds live in this lifestyle. But people from all different ethnic backgrounds also are liars and cheaters and malicious and back-stabbers.”

The news reporters zeroed in on his statement, condemning him for his judgmental statements. When he was interviewed on 20/20, White did not back down. He said, “I am going to speak the truth. . . . If people think that’s a contradiction and that’s hate, they need to take them up with God, not with Reggie White.”

The response to White’s statement has been interesting. Although Nike and Edge Gel continue to use him as their spokesman, Campbell Soup let White’s endorsement contract expire days after the statement. CBS had a job offer on White’s desk for him to be a football analyst for the network. Although the job was practically in the bag, CBS Sports withdrew the job offer.

The interesting thing about this is that those promoting acceptance of the gay lifestyle insist that we should tolerate alternative lifestyles. Yet, the Christian lifestyle, with its moral beliefs, is not tolerated. It is condemned by those preaching tolerance. If White’s contract had been withdrawn because he announced that he was homosexual, the civil rights activists would have been up in arms because of CBS Sports’ action. But when CBS mistreats one who openly espouses his Christian beliefs, his job offer is withdrawn and no one raises an eyebrow. Make no mistake about, American culture is moving toward persecution of Christians.

We Are In A War

Christianity has been presented in most denominations in such terms that its militancy has been removed. The denominations are preaching about love in sentimental terms (not agape love), substituting pop psychology for the gospel, and employing entertainment groups to draw a crowd. However, the crowd is composed of people who believe anything.

A few years ago, one of the denominations was revising its songbook and decided to remove “Onward Christian Soldiers” because of its militancy. The truth is that people, including some among us, would remove all references to Christian warfare from our Bible. But consider these texts:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Tim. 6:12).

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there- unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Eph. 6:10-18).

Our adversary, the Devil, goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). The serpent of Revelation 12, frustrated in his attempt to destroy the child (Christ), turns its assault against the children  of the woman “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17). These passages and many others emphasize that we are in a war! At issue is not only the future of our country and the future of the church in America, but more importantly, our souls!

Those who are pressing to change the moral values of America have no qualms of conscience about preventing a Reggie White from having a job because of his beliefs about homosexuality. They will close every door of opportunity for him they can just as they did the same for Anita Bryant. We are in a war!

These are the same forces at work who will use statutes aimed at destroying the Mafia to stifle peaceful protests at abortion clinics. The same ones who defended those who marched in the streets and burned buildings to promote the civil rights agenda will use the law to silence those who oppose abortion! We are in a war!

Those who are preaching tolerance are most intolerant!

The Warfare in the Church

Make no mistake about this warfare. Its proponents have influence in the Lord’s church. Those who are saying that we should tolerate the preaching of diverse doctrines about divorce and remarriage work to cut off the support and close doors of opportunity for preaching for those who oppose these loose views on divorce and remarriage. Those who preach tolerance are very intolerant people! We are in a war!

One can watch the lectureships that are held around the country and see the intolerance. Those who have been outspoken in opposing the view that places divorce and remarriage in Romans 14 are not invited. How ironic! Those who claim that Romans 14 allows for “significant moral and doctrinal differences” have no room to tolerate those who differ with their interpretation of Romans 14. Those who preach tolerance are very intolerant people! We too are in a war!

Conclusion

The “toleration” movement is just another ploy of the Devil to desensitize us in our battle against sin. If we can tolerate homosexuality, although we are not “gay,” then we grant it acceptability and make those who oppose it “homophobic.” If we can tolerate the preaching of loose doctrines on divorce and remarriage, although we do not believe them, we grant them acceptability and picture those who oppose those loose doctrines as loose cannons, spiritual zealots who are a greater threat to the church than those who preach their loose doctrines on divorce and remarriage. Shades of Reggie White!

 

When I first began preaching, I was absolutely amazed at the range of issues among brethren. Early on I became aware of a couple of issues. One questioned whether a school operated by brethren in which the Bible was taught as a part of its curriculum had a right to exist. Another was whether a congregation could have a “located preacher,” a man who worked with a single congregation on a regular, full-time basis in the teaching and preaching of the Word. While I was a college student, one of the chief proponents of the “no located preacher” and “no school operated by brethren in which the Bible is taught” position came to the campus. He stirred up no small controversy. Looking back on how the administration of the school handled the matter, I think they did not act wisely. When I then began preaching regularly, there was a congregation of that persuasion not far removed from us. For many years, I received and read journals published by brethren of that persuasion. I also read a published debate on those issues which was held right here in Kansas City. That debate book is still in my library.

Perhaps the issue with which I struggled hardest as a young preacher was one that was getting up a full head of steam about the time I began my first regular work in the boot heel of Missouri. Having only minimally become aware of it while in college, I soon found myself in a real struggle to try to understand what the arguments were all about. It had to do with principles of congregational cooperation, centralization of oversight, and the support of various human institutions to do the work of the church. My struggle with that issue lasted for a few years. I subscribed to and read journals published by brethren with differing views. I discussed it with fellow preachers. I went to hear “lectures” presented by various brethren. (Somewhere I still have a copy of some notes that I made on lessons presented by the late W. Curtis Porter in about 1955, I believe at Paragould, Ark.) I attended a public debate of the topics (several such debates in years following). In fact, it was during the debate that much of what I’d been reading “fell into place” and I began to see more clearly what the furor was all about.

There were other issues and questions which came up and were freely discussed, sometimes very heatedly and very pointedly. I can remember, as a young preacher, once thinking that if I was going to have to constantly be trying to wade through some issue over which brethren were disagreed that I just didn’t think I wanted to preach. However, I learned from the Bible that God’s people have always faced issues, some of them sharply contested and divisive. The prophets in the Old Testament periods had to stand again false prophets. In the New Testament era, there were questions about whether Gentile Christians had to keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised (Acts 15). Those who denied a resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12ff) and some who contended that the resurrection was already past had to be dealt with, for such teaching resulted in the overthrow of the faith of some (2 Tim. 2:17-18). And this is to mention only a few of the issues about which one reads as facing the early disciples.

This young preacher came to realize that there is no central agency or earthly headquarters charged with determining some kind of a creedal body of truth to which all must pay allegiance. Each person is responsible before God for his own study of inspired truth. As to issues that arise among brethren, somewhere along the way I decided that I’d do the best I could to study the word of God on the various questions that arise. Doing so I would eventually (It might take me longer than it takes some, and longer than they think it should take me.) arrive at a position with which I felt comfortable in my handling of the Word. My position might not be “the majority opinion,” but my ultimate judgment is not going to be by my brethren, but by him whom I am attempting to serve (cf. Acts 27:23; Rom. 1:9). And so while the young preacher in the GOT article, and others like him, could wish, as I did (and still do), that brethren could just “sit down face to face, heart to heart” and with “open Bibles” and “open hearts” through “open, honest, meaningful, and forthright discussion” arrive at a common understanding, I know that is not likely. In the meanwhile, as we grapple with the various issues and questions that arise among us, let each of us study while remembering that we have a great work to do affecting “precious souls and the growth of the Lord’s church.” Let us love truth above persons and principles above personalities. Let us be desirous of marching under no banner but that of truth, and let us owe allegiance to none but to him whom we confessed as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10). When brethren become embroiled in controversy, as some seem bound to do, let’s try to observe it from a sufficient distance as to maintain objectivity while remembering the great need to sound forth the word of the gospel to souls that are lost and dying in sin. Let those quarrel who feel that they must, but let us not allow their quarrelling to become a discouragement.

One other thing, the honest and forthright discussion of differences need not degenerate into quarrelling.

Though gambling has become socially acceptable and legal, it is not right according to what God teaches us in the Bible. God teaches us to love him with all the heart, mind, and soul, and to love our fellowman as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). Everything else God teaches us depends on these two principles (v. 40). “Love” in this sense comes from a Greek term, agape, refer- ring to the highest kind of love: a love based on principles of truth and right, and a love seeking the best interests of its object rather than mere self-gratification.

Since love of God and of fellowman must be the motives for all our conduct, how do these two principles relate to gambling? God teaches us that we may receive gain in ways which demonstrate love to all parties to any transaction. We may receive gain in the following ways: (1) the process of labor (Eph. 4:28), (2) exchange of goods and services (Matt. 13:45-46), (3) gifts (Matt. 6:1-4). Each of these methods of receiving gain is honest, showing respect for principles of truth and right and for the welfare of all parties involved.

Gambling is a wager on some chance event, with the result that the “winner” takes gain from others without respect for principles of truth and right and without seeking the welfare of all parties involved. Therefore, gambling is a means of taking dishonest gain. The fact that the other participants agreed to take part does not mitigate the dis- honesty involved, any more than “kickbacks” in a business deal are mitigated from dishonesty by the agreement of the parties involved. Gambling is an exercise in covetousness, seeking mere self-gratification without regard for truth and right or the best interests of everyone involved.

Gambling is sinful, an offense against God and a curse to our fellowman. Because all of us have sinned from time to time, whether through gambling or other deeds, God sent his Son into the world to die for our sins (Rom. 3:23; John 3:16). The death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Cal vary demonstrates both the justice and the mercy of God: Sin was punished (justice), but punished in a way which extends forgiveness to sinners (mercy). Thus, God proves himself to be “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Since God does not force anyone to receive this gift of his grace, we may choose to receive it or to reject it. We receive it by faith in Christ when we repent of our sins (a change of heart resolving to turn away from sin), confess our faith in Christ as God’s Son, and submit to immersion in water (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-38; 22:16; Rom. 10:8-10; 6:3-4).

As a fellow traveler from time to eternity, I urge you to turn away from gambling and to do everything in your power to convince others to turn away from it. Such a course is based on our love for God and our fellowman because we recognize that gambling is a curse to the human heart, to the home, to the church, and to the nation. Our lawmakers act contrary to the love of God and fellowman by legalizing gambling. Churches debase God’s standard of morality by promoting it. All who participate in it act to the detriment of themselves and others.

There are no winners in gambling, whether it be in casinos, at the races, in bingo parlors, or in lotteries and raffles. No such activities meet the tests of true love for God and our fellowman.

(Note: The computer service I use allows unsolicited advertisements to be sent out in the e-mail boxes of its subscribers. I recently received such an ad offering information on “How to be a Winner” at gambling. The e-mail addresses of others in the group who received this ad were listed at the top of the message. I responded by sending the basic message in the above article to the sender of the ad and to the other addresses listed. I have received both positive and negative responses to my message, but this is another way to scatter the precious seed of God’s Word.)