Truth Magazine

By Bruce Edwards, Jr.

Many good brethren of late have expressed a concern and dismay for certain of the younger generation of Christians. When such a judgment is registered it is always regrettable, but even more so when the concern rests upon valid evidence. Undoubtedly there are those who have thrown up their hands and exclaimed, “How did it happen? How did we get where we are?” These are pointed questions that literally cry out to be answered. Indeed, we must answer them, lest we be sentenced to endure generation after generation of despair and concern. Let us consider some possible explanations of the turning of such young people to their apparently incipient liberalism.

1. Social conditions have contributed to a breakdown in authority. There is no escaping the fact that our social environment has a significant shaping effect upon our lives. The current young people have matured in a rebellious society. The now-ethic is to obtain desired ends by any means possible, whether by paralyzing strikes, arrogant Asit-ins,” or just outright violence. Such a condition has fostered a crisis in both the family and religious arenas: The “do-your-own-thing” philosophy has destroyed parental rule in the home and has seriously weakened the impact of true Biblical teaching. There is an authority crisis on every hand, political, social, economic, and religious! It is no wonder that there are young preachers denying the validity of teaching by approved example and implication! The young are so confused, they are not sure there are any absolutes!

2. Younger brethren have witnessed apathy and hypocrisy in older Christians. The first thought might be, “Who hasn’t?” And we suggest readily that this, in itself, is no excuse or rationale to embrace liberalism, but it is still a situation that should weigh heavily upon our minds. Of course, there have always been lukewarm, hypocritical Christians, but in a time such as this, when “heroes” and “absolutes” are at a minimum, it is essential that the young have good examples to emulate. No one can underestimate the impact upon an impressionable youth who sees a lifeless, unenthusiastic assembly which meets three times a week to exchange gossip, compare fashions, and talk sports. Most of the time the only “zealot” in a congregation is the preacher, and sooner or later he moves on in despair. Even more damaging is the spectacle of “evangelists” who move from place to place every few years, hardly scratching the surface of work in a community. Such a sight can only discourage the youthful Christian who expects to see a certain diligence and conscientiousness in a “gospel preacher.” Many of today’s preachers are hardly the “ensamples to those that believe,” that Paul exhorted Timothy to be.

3. Worship services have been lifeless, unedifying, and negatively motivated. This is not an indictment of assemblies which do “the same thing” each week. There must be some form of pattern and the “two songs, prayer, and another song” pattern is as good as any. But, many brethren enter not even into this arrangement with the full commitment of their hearts, minds, and souls! Current efforts among some of the young to “make the services more emotional” (wittingly or unwittingly) are superficial, contrived affairs which in time become stale themselves. The answer is not to “change the services around” but rather to exhort every brother and sister to worship in spirit and in truth, drawing attention to our Lord and Saviour. When this is done, then the services cannot help but be full of life, edifying, and Scriptural.

As far as being “negatively motivated,” many assemblies have looked upon their meetings as a drudgery, a chore to be endured. Such a feeling has been sensed by a younger generation which has been malnutritioned spiritually. The natural reaction has thus been to go the opposite route, trying to force or forge a “spiritually positive” atmosphere. Here is where .spontaneity comes into play. But the initial thrill of a “spontaneous” song soon wears off and itself becomes a “chore.” (Let’s see, who’s going to lead the next “spontaneous” song?) The only answer is, of course, full commitment to Jesus Christ. Such a commitment will not always offer an “emotional high,” but in the long run will foster something much more important, namely, a home in heaven.

4. Bible classes have been repetitive or irrelevant and the teachers have been ill-prepared or ill-suited to their task. Our young people probably know the Book of Acts better than any other comparable group of young people in the world. Fed a steady diet of “the record of conversions” from age 3 on up to adulthood, these youthful Christians can easily rattle off the “five steps to salvation.” The question is, “Will they know anything else?” Make no mistake about it, the Book of Acts can be a profitable study, but there are other books in the Bible! God’s holy word speaks to every issue that confronts man – our young people need such answers – but they will not get them unless our classes speak to their needs. This is not a call to a “social gospel,” some sort of pseudo-relevancy; rather it is a plea to return to the Book that develops the whole man, equipping him “unto every good work.” What good is the knowledge of “how to become a Christian,” if after becoming one the convert does not know what Christians do? Such knowledge does not speak to the question of how to maintain that relationship with Christ. Most younger Christians have been nurtured in what Christians oppose, but pray tell, what do Christians advocate? Some thinking must be done in this area.

There is a sore need in local assemblies for able teachers of the word. It would seem that most have taken James’ admonition to “be not many teachers” to heart! By and large, “Bible class teachers” have depended upon workbooks quite heavily; as a result the classes have suffered.. In a word, such Bible class material and the preparation of the teachers depending upon them. have been awful. Hopefully, the new Truth In Life series will remedy that situation, but the need still remains for “qualified” teachers. By “qualified” I do not refer to some with a “degree,” but to those who love the word and are willing to spend some time in class preparation. Anyone can fill out a lesson book that asks how many Samson killed or how many times the word “and” appears in a certain chapter, but is that all there is to “Bible study:””Until we begin to seriously analyze and evaluate our teaching programs, content-wise and personnel-wise, we will continue to send our young people “down the river” spiritually.

5. Prescription for a troubled generation. The foregoing discussion is not offered as a “defense” (bleeding-heart or otherwise) or “excuse” for disobedience or a liberal attitude toward the authority of Scripture. God must be obeyed, on His terms, regardless of one’s ‘predicament. “However, it is suggested as an insight into why certain conditions exist. To ignore such conditions is to sentence oneself to repeat the same mistakes. Perhaps those for whom concern is registered cannot be reclaimed; we pray that such is not the case. In any event, there is another generation on the rise, and another and another. We must take steps whereby the same situations and environments that are under our control are not allowed to arise again, choking the life out of the young.

We must reassert the absolute authority of the Scriptures; we must set examples for the young. Many are searching for the right way . . . our hypocritical behavior will certainly not influence them in that direction. We must make our assembles worth having; true edification comes only from true devotion. Finally, our teaching efforts must be relevant and truly “educational.” An honest spirit of inquiry by sincere youth cannot be hammered into submission by a “defender of the faith,” without seriously harming that youth. This is not a plea for compromise or tolerance; rather it is a call to realistically deal with a sensitive, searching heart. We must “speak the truth” but “in love,” having our speech “always with grace, seasoned with salt,” that we may know how we “ought to answer each one.” May we all seek the Lord’s blessings and guidance as we deal day-to-day with the crises of faith and obedience among brethren.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:20, pp. 10-11
March 21, 1974

By Garreth L. Clair

Today much emphasis is placed upon getting a good education so that we will be able to make a good living, advance in socially accepted circles, be informed, live relevantly to the now-age, etc. I sometimes wonder if we are not educating ourselves into Hell, when men consider their wisdom and intellectual attainments reason for disputing the claims of the Originator of the universe. I am convinced that far too many are.

The prognostications of a new and vitally emerging religion, which they have tagged ecumenical (“union in diversity’), point to the audacity of man and his stupid idealism. Yes, many religious leaders have ignored the Biblical plan for unity and have spearheaded a unity movement based upon wisdom, emotion, reason, and relevancy which they think are lacking in the church described in the Holy Scriptures.

The unity movement described in the Bible is evidently too simple for today’s intellectual thrust which is termed “the ecumenical movement.” We say too simple because it has been ignored as unworkable or has not been considered relevant to unity now. I would like to suggest that the unity plan revealed in the Holy Scriptures is workable and is approved by God. Please note the following facts;

1. Christ has pleaded for unity of all his followers based upon his words (John 27:20, 21).

2. The Holy Spirit has revealed a seven point plan for unity of all disciples (Eph. 4:4-6).

a. One Body-Not 300 different warring factions (denominations).

b. One Spirit-Not one to me and a different one to you.

c. One Hope-Heaven, not distortations as described by Buddha.

d. One Lord-Jesus Christ-not Gandhi, Krishna, etc.

e. One Faith-Jude 3, not many different varieties.

f. One Baptism-Immersion, not Holy Spirit, fire, sprinkling, etc.

g. One God-“I AM,” not a dead idol.

Unity cannot possibly be attained today unless men get back to those truths which are found in God’s Holy Word. Unity is attainable but it must be sought according to God’s wisdom and not according to man’s. Man has never been able to unify simply because one man’s standard is not acceptable to all other men, but man can look back to his Creator and properly respect His revelation, if he would just try.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:20, pp. 4-5
March 21, 1974

By Rick Smith

I remember it so vividly! The radio dispatcher assigned a signal 7, which is a death call. I parked the squad car in front of a tumbledown house situated in the slum area of our city. I recall the feeling I had walking into a house burdened with death. Ironically, the burden was felt only by me. Expecting to see loved ones crying or displaying some form of sorrow for the deceased, it amazed me when all I saw was two women, one in her fifties, the other only sixteen, sitting in front of a color television set seemingly enjoying themselves. They actually ignored my presence until, in bewilderment, I asked if I was at the right house. The young girl told me I was and then pointed to a back room. Lying on a bed in that smelly, filthy excuse for a bedroom was the pitiful body of a two month old child. The baby looked deformed; more like a set of bones with skim painted over them, than a human being. The young girl in the other room was the child’s mother. She had allowed her baby to die of starvation, explaining that she did not have enough time to “mess with it.” I placed her under arrest.

As it happens so many times, her case never passed a preliminary court hearing; the manslaughter charge was dismissed on a technicality. The case was closed, the baby is dead and buried, the mother is free, and I am still appalled and sickened at the entire event.

This may sound like a script .from Dragnet; I wish it were. Unfortunately, it was a very real and sad encounter I went through as a police officer in Tampa, Florida, just four years ago. It tore at my heart as I saw that child lying there with the smell of a needless death about it. Yet, I was just as disgusted with the distorted excuse of a mother who sat in the other room being entertained by a television set while her off-spring lay deathly cold from lack of food. Too much trouble to “mess with it,” what an excuse.

I no longer wear a pistol and badge; I now carry the sword of the spirit as my defense. Still, I look back at such experiences and wonder about the many cruel and heartless people with which I have had occasion to come in contact. I cannot fathom the reasoning or motivation behind the heinous acts they perform. But yet another form of cruelty has lifted my eyes, a cruelty far surpassing this mother’s crime.

If her wickedness troubles you as much as it has me, then maybe the following story will really cause you to think! I am told that 100,000 human beings die every 24 hours without ever being told the gospel story of salvation. I understand enough people die every year without hearing God’s plan of redemption to populate the entire United States of America. I read the percentage of people believing in Christ. is decreasing: 1946 –1 in 3; 1964 – 1 in 4; 1984 – 1 in 5? Also, 95 % of the members in the Lord’s church never convert one soul!

If this is true, then we need to ask ourselves a most important question. Why? Why and how can we let our neighbors, our loved ones, our relatives, perhaps even our own children die without telling them the way of the cross? Why do we continue to murder priceless souls by our silence?

The story of the two month old child is nowhere as sad as the story about us, if we are not telling others about Jesus and His saving power. We are holding back spiritual food. In essence, we are starving people to death! That young mother was set free by a judge on a technicality. Do you think our judge, the omniscient Father above, will set us free when someone points the finger on that final day and says, “you never mentioned Him to me?” What technicality can we plead: ignorance, laziness, unconcern, no time to mess with them?

It is time we owned up to our responsibility and great privilege. Let us quit sitting on our padded pews in our fine air-conditioned church buildings, hypocritically singing “Standing; On The Promises,” when in reality we are only “sitting on the premises!” Let us go out into the highways and byways telling the world about our loving Savior who offers redemption thorough His blood. Let us begin by mentioning Christ to some lost soul today . . . lest our soul be lost for neglecting others. Proverbs 11:30 “. . . He That Winneth Souls Is Wise.”

Truth Magazine, XVIII:19, p. 12
March 24, 1974

By Mike DuBose

In the May 28, 1972 edition of the Nashville Tennessean newspaper an article entitled “Church Choice Cost 3 Jobs at Lipscomb” made front page news. The article explained how three faculty members at David Lipscomb College had been “dismissed” because the teachers worship at Belmont

Avenue Church of Christ in Nashville.

As I read the article I was reminded of Peter’s words in 2 Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

The administration of David Lipscomb college, those associated with it and other colleges like it, have been begging money from the churches for years, all the while rejecting God’s divine way for doing things. They have laid aside scriptural authority and replaced it with babbling arguments and human reasoning such as “the end justifies the means” and “but it is a matter of expediency.” Now they are forced to wallow in their own vomit and the mire that they have created.

Now you see, the problem is that Belmont has gone too liberal for Lipscomb (although the paper made it quite clear that the college was still accepting funds from Belmont to the tune of $100 per month). But the problem according to “those who are close to the situation” is that Lipscomb “must appeal to the broad middle ground in the Churches of Christ if the private college is to survive. This means the school cannot cater to the reactionary right – as some church of Christ colleges have done – nor to the far left.” (emphasis mine MLD) Now I suppose that along with the term “anti” those of us who believe in doing Bible things in Bible ways will henceforth `be known as the “reactionary right” as opposed to the “far left” and the “broad middle ground.”

One who reads this article would be almost amused, if it were not so tragic, at Lipscomb’s reason for dismissal of the three teachers. They would have us believe that it is not because of the unscriptural practices of the Belmont congregation that this action was taken, but because of the liberal and informal way in which Belmont conducts the worship service; ways which are “too liberal for traditional Church of Christ standards.” Now get that reasoning brethren. According to Lipscomb officials there is nothing unscriptural with the teachings or practices of the Belmont congregation, but they just conduct their worship service a little too informally. Hogwash! Those who have disregarded Bible authority for so long have sown the seed for complete rejection of God’s divine pattern in every aspect of worship. Now that they see the result of their digression, they are trying to save face by weakly speaking out against the “far left” as they term it.

These people have poked holes in the dam for so long that the flood waters can not be held back and as a result worldliness has flooded into some local congregations. And now those who prided themselves on their “great brotherhood programs” find themselves in a position which cannot be defended. The Lipscomb officials cannot condemn the liberal practices of Belmont because they would condemn themselves at the same time. Appealing to the scriptures for all authority is what these brethren have been preaching and yet disregarding ever since the appeal to support human institutions was first sent forth. And now instead of trying to stand upon the truth, they ;are slapping the hands of Belmont and saying “no, no” whine they continue to wallow in the mire of error themselves.

But the most tragic thing about all this is the light in which it puts the church. It makes God’s holy kingdom sound like just another squabbling, confused, misguided, man-made denomination seeking to find God through worldly wisdom (in fact the newspaper article rises the term denomination in reference to the church.) How can someone who does not understand the nature and work of the church be shown the way to eternal life if the picture; he gets of the church is what is painted in this article? The only thing those who are not Christians will be led to, is disgust with the ignorance of human wisdom and worldliness. This should cause all of us who love the Lord to make a more determined effort to stand firm upon the truth and keep God’s house pure and holy as He meant for it to be. Brethren, there is no greater evil than to stand still and do nothing in the face of error.

One more quote from the newspaper article needs to be dealt with before I close this article. Now get ready for this brethren, “Pullias feels Belmont has become identified with liberal forces in the church–forces which have been coming under increasingly strong, indeed bitter, attacks in the Gospel Advocate. a publication regarded by some conservatives as being second only to the Bible in authority. “(emphasis mine MLD) Now I do not know, who is responsible for the above quote, but it certainly lays on the line the basic reason for the digression in the church today. Some do not have enough conviction to search the scriptures for a “thus saith the Lord” for all things. Instead they have been content to accept the position of the Gospel Advocate staff and other preachers. As a result they have been hoodwinked into accepting every innovation that has come along from the church supported orphan home right on up to the Herald of Truth and colleges in the budget.

The whole affair makes you kind of sick, doesn’t it! (?)

Truth Magazine, XVIII:19, pp. 10-11
March 24, 1974