Truth Magazine

By Mason Harris

The Israelites had gained permission to leave Egypt, but Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued after them. And it is written concerning them, “they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, “Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians’! For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness” (Ex. 14:11-12).

Do you have problems? Is your task for today bigger than you are? Do you feel burdened? Instead of thinking about the bigness of the task, think on the bigness of the Lord and His ability to work through you to accomplish that which He assigns.

The Israelites made the mistake of thinking of Pharaohs strength, instead of the Lord’s. With a mild rebuke, the Lord told them to go forward. And He delivered Israel that day from the Egyptians, by parting the waters of the Red Sea and leading them through on dry ground. And when Pharaoh and his army were destroyed in the sea, the Israelites sang the song of deliverance.

So, if your burdens seem greater than you can bear, remember the Lord. He can help you. He was able to provide meat for the host of Israel in the barren wilderness; use the ravens to feed Elijah (hiring the great famine; multiply the oil to fill all the vessels the widow had faith enough to borrow; supply an abundance of food for a starving army in the besieged city of Samaria. Is there any doubt that He can help you?

About five thousand men gathered around Jesus. Philip said, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” Andrew said,

“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” But Jesus demonstrated to them-and to us-what He can accomplish through us and for us if we will but trust Him. If today’s problems seem too big for you, remember the strength of the Lord and turn to Him.

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 31, p. 2
June 7, 1973

By William C. Sexton

In the early Western United States, there was a character who still lives in history-the outlaw. He was and is a creature who operates outside the law. He refuses to be governed by the law. He does what he wants to and takes what he is “big enough” to take, using whatever forces are available to him.

There is a similar character in the spiritual realm. He might very well be described by the term. He, too, is an outlaw! Like the early western figure, he operates outside the law. Unlike the early western figure, though, he may be a respected citizen of the community. However. seen in his true light, this character is as despicable as his earlier counterpart. Especially is he such in the eyes of God, as well as in the eyes of all who understand and appreciate the “Righteousness of God.”

Consider a passage of scripture, 2 Thess. 2: 17: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” The word, “Iniquity” means lawlessness. Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament says, “the condition of one without law, either because ignorant of it, or because violating it.” (Page 48). Men, who thus act, are acting without the law of God, and they are condemned and destined to eternal destruction. Ultimately, they shall suffer the consequences: confinement, waiting all lawbreakers. Punishment and eternal misery shall be the lot of each character. All of this is revealed clearly by the Creator, Governor, and Judge of all life, God.

Each of us needs to pay special attention to this concept, because the term may very well describe as. What? Me? That is right. You and I may fit into this category-being Spiritual Outlaws!

Are you sure that all you do religiously is authorized by the Lord? Have you obeyed the

Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation? (Rom. 1: 16-17; 2 Thess. 1: 8). Are you performing those acts which God authorizes in His word, the New Testament’! (Col. 3:1617). According to Jesus, many will be inclined to argue with Him in the judgment day (Matt. 7:21-23). They will claim that they deserve something better than that which they are getting-rejection and destruction (Cf. Matt. 13:41-42). Their arguments will be based on: (1) That they have spoken in His behalf, 11 prophesied in thy name; ” (2) Acting against His opponent, “in thy name have we cast out devils;” (3) Volume of wonderful works, “in thy name have we done many wonderful works.” However, the Lord will reject them on the ground that they were working “iniquity,” that is without His authority; in effect they were spiritual outlaws.

Beloved, is it possible that you are a Spiritual Outlaw? You can prove that you are not simply by showing that you have scripture authority for all that you do in the spiritual realm. I call upon each and everyone to investigate his religious practices and give authority from the New Testament for every act.

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 29, p. 13
May 24, 1973

By Floyd Chappelear

Legion are the young preachers who have taken up the banner of Ketchersidian philosophy. Although we have no sympathy with that spirit of compromise, we will not deal with the error here but rather with the motivation of those who hold it. Some, in defense, have suggested that the young preachers who are thus led have come to their conclusions because they are weary of the long fight that has recently taken place between the faithful and those who would lead the church into apostasy.

Balderdash! Hogwash! Express it as you will but such conclusions are pure nonsense. These fledglings cannot possibly be overcome of exhaustion from the encounters because they never engage~! in any of the battles. They might be “pooped out” because of their reading about the conflict but “weary because of the conflict” (?), not very likely.

The youthful “knights in shining armor” would hardly recognize the battle-scarred cloaks of the true soldiers of Christ much less actually wear the garments into the fray. Rather, they, coming to the field of battle and feeling the nausea well up in their innards because of their cowardice, throw down their weapons and run to embrace the enemy lest they, too, become part of the devastation.

By Keteberside’s own admission (see; Mission Messenger, Vol. 34, Num. 12, p. 183) his beardless cohorts are made up of gutless wonders that compromise rather than stand upon their convictions. Thus groveling they feel some measure of pride because of their “liberated” views and their superior intellects. Are these the ones who would stand against sin until Satan rallies sufficient strength to have them fired? Not on your life. Are these the ones who have been tempered by the fires of conflict so that they can readily oppose sectarianism within and without? Never. Instead of sympathy, such as Carl gives them, this need to feel the sharp sting of rebuke. Ketcherside may be proud of them but they make this writer hang his head in shame that such are to be regarded as in the army of the Lord.

Let us never suggest that the “wet behind the ears” compromisers are what they are because of battle fatigue. They are what they are because of spinelessness. Furthermore, to place them in the same category as the veterans of spiritual wars is to do a disservice to the old soldiers. Let us not make that mistake.

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 29, p. 8
May 24, 1973

By Edward O. Bragwell

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” (2 Tim. 4: 16)

In the battle for right, one should stand alone if necessary. But it should not be necessary. Paul recalls his encounter with the coppersmith. He relates, without bitterness, how he was left to fight the battle alone. Yet, he was not really alone. The Lord stood with him. (vs. 17) How discouraging the absence of the brethren must have been. But, how encouraging was the fact that the Lord stood with him!

Standing for truth is bound to produce enemies. Jesus said so much: “Think not that I am come to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matt. 10:34-36)

Standing for the truth should produce friends as well. We should openly stand for Christ. A Christian cannot help being encouraged by knowing that he has the support of good brethren in his spiritual warfare. If I had to stand alone, as Paul did, I wonder how strong I would be. I pray I shall not have to be put to the test. The moral support of good brethren in the Lord’s work is priceless.

Before taking a stand with any person, one should distinguish between personality and principle. One need not feel obligated to support a brother in a purely personal dispute. In such matters both parties are usually wrong. One cannot afford to be a party to such partisanship.

However, principles are held and advanced by persons. Ideas are not just loose in the air they are in people. Doctrines are not promoted by things – they are taught and defended by personalities. It is too easy to dismiss every dispute in religion as a “Personality clash” between the disputants. It avoids the effort of determining who, if anyone, is right. It avoids having to make the painful decision to stand with those who are right. It may be the easy way out, but is it the right way?

People often privately admire those who take a firm stand for truth. They may even say so privately. Yet, if it comes to open identification with those people, then forget it! It might cost too much in worldly friendships.

Let us learn not to stand with any person above principle. That is cheap partisanship. But let us not be afraid to be identified with persons of principle. They should not have to stand alone – even if they are willing to.

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 29, pp. 7-8
May 24, 1973