Truth Magazine

By James W. Adams

It has been said, “No wind is favorable to a ship without a destination.” Many times, why a thing is done is quite as important as what is done. There is enough controversy among brethren without my adding to it with a series of articles written for no higher purpose than to be different or to argue. Argument for argument’s sake in the realm of the spiritual, where men’s souls hang in the balance, is obnoxious and destructive. Nor do I throw my hat into the proverbial “ring” of present brotherhood agitation and controversy to enhance my personal reputation as some sort of champion of “orthodoxy.” I am not by nature controversial, although some may find this hard to believe. Most of the controversy in which I have engaged during the past two decades has been pushed upon me, and I did not have any more sense than to assume the responsibility of contributing whatever talent I may have in the field of writing to the defense of principles which I believe to be Divine, hence vital and eternal. With all my faults, which the grace of God and the blood of Jesus are going to have to cover if I am to be saved in heaven, the Lord knows that selfish ambition for notoriety has not been one of them. There are enough real issues and always have been without the necessity for manufacturing any straw men to combat. For the record’s sake, let it also be noted that there exists between me and the brethren who shall figure prominently in this review no personal animosity or personal difference of any kind.

Unusual Forbearance Manifested

There has been manifested by “conservative” brethren an unusual degree of moderation relative to Ketchersidism even when it has seemed to gain some ground among “us.” Men and issues have not been exposed and vigorously attacked as has been true of other error and errorists. It could he that we have been criminally negligent in this regard. The time has come when we can no longer follow this course. Even a tyro in Bible knowledge should recognize the fact that there is an abundance of Scriptural warrant for a forthright attack upon issues, men, and movements, which threaten the interests of Divine truth and Divine institutions. Jesus twice cleansed the temple with consummate zeal when its sacred purposes were corrupted by misguided men (John 2:13-17; Mt. 21:12-16), and scathingly denounced, in language literally vitriolic, the scribes and the Pharisees for their fallacious concepts ‘and perverted practices (Mt. 23:1-33). A great portion of the material in Paul’s letters to churches and individuals was aimed at the corruption in doctrine, worship, and life among them. Paul hesitated not to deal both with issues and with men. John, “the apostle of love,” in his epistles, attacked with vehemence the errors and their teachers among the brethren. The “gospel according to John” was written to provide apostolic Christians with evidence of the deity of Jesus with which to combat gnostic heretics. The seven letters to the churches of Asia in “The Revelation” which were written by John deal forthrightly (with one exception) with doctrinal and practical error, the teachers of that error, and those who were seduced by them. James addressed a letter to Christians, which was largely designed to expose, refute, and eradicate gnosticism among the brethren. Peter, in his general epistles, deals pungently with error and its teachers. Jude likewise exposes and seeks the eradication of error and its teachers among the brethren. Need I say more?

The Existing Situation

In articles one through five of this series, I have taken a great deal of time and used much space to set forth in minute detail the existing situation as I see it. Many hours were spent in seeking to present this matter in exactly the right manner in order that “all the bases may be touched.” There has been altogether too much ambiguity leading to accusations of being “misunderstood” and “misrepresented.” I desire above all to be right, and second only to that, to be understood. While it will not be my intention to be offensive, neither will I be deterred from a clear discussion of these matters by a desire to be non-offensive. In few words, I will not pamper the aversion of some spuriously pious brethren to forthright, face to face confrontation and head to head encounter with men whom I conceive to be false teachers who are leading brethren down the “broad road ” to ruin.

The Objectives of this Series

(1) I propose a thorough examination and review of W. Carl Ketcherside, his fallacious theories relative to unity and fellowship among the children of God, and his underground unity movement, which is fast maturing into a unity cult. Just as the best politics is to make one’s fundamental plank in his platform absolute opposition to all politicians, so the most effective party shibboleth in our day of acute division is to make the fundamental plank in one’s spiritual platform absolute opposition to and renunciation of all parties. Jehovah’s Witnesses, so-called, seek to advance the interests of their religion by affirming, “all religion is of the devil.” Ketcherside, among other things, is an astute politician. I know of no better among the brethren. To put it simply, Ketcherside’s movement is a cult to end all cults. This I propose to demonstrate in the course of this series of articles.

(2) I propose a thorough exposure of the error being circulated on the subjects of “salvation by grace through faith,” the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit upon the Christian, and certain views and practices relative to unity and fellowship which are refinements of Ketcherside’s position. Actually, these three are but different facets of the same issue.

(3) I propose to cite names, document statements, and identify places. While I regret the necessity for doing this, it must be done. This is not a hypothetical situation with which we are dealing; hence it cannot be dealt with theoretically. It is real and actual and will be dealt with specifically and practically. I will not knowingly misrepresent any person, and will be governed always by what I conceive to be true, New Testament love (agape) or brotherly love (philadelphos) or both as the situation may require, but I will not tolerate equivocation which seems to be the forte of current neophytes to whom reference has been made previously.

A Word to the Neophytes

Brother Connie W. Adams (no relation of this scribe, but I would be most happy to acknowledge it if it were so) stated my sentiments exactly in his recent article, “Old Song, New Singers,” Truth Magazine, Vol. XVII, No. 13, p. 202, Feb. 1, 1973. If you have not read this article, by all means do so. You young preachers are no longer boys. When you begin to tamper with matters that materially and adversely affect the faith of Christians and the practice, purity, and unity of the Lord’s churches, you are functioning in a man’s world. Therefore, you need to grow up spiritually, clear up what you say, shut up until you do, or be prepared to accept the consequences of your position!

My Respects to Anticipated Emotional Sympathizers

I have been in controversy in the papers before and am not unacquainted with the temper of some of the brethren, hence I anticipate that there will be some Casper Milquetoasts and some emotionally indulgent sympathizers who will decry my exposure of our neophytes by reason of their age and shed maudlin tears over my unvarnished attack upon Ketcherside by reason of his carefully polished urbanity and folksy, political backslapping. If any of our readers belong to either or both of these categories, get out your crying towels, for you are going to need them.

There has been too much “double talk.” Statements have been ambiguous and reasoning circuitous. The time for such is past. Let us get down to the “nitty gritty” of this matter. If Ketcherside has the truth and our neophytes who are dancing to his siren song are correct, now is the time to find out. This we shall attempt to do. To the accomplishment of this task, let us address ourselves.

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 24, pp. 3-4
April 19, 1973

By Earl E. Robertson

Edward T. Hiscox, in his book, Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, says on page 22, under the heading of “Church Membership,” “It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church.’ Now, it is different. . . .”

So, the “Doctor” affirms that some things in spiritual matters have changed since the days of the apostles. He tells us that in the days of the apostles “there was but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.” This is true (Eph. 4:5). He tells us that “no differing denominations existed.” This is true also, if he means denominations claiming to follow Christ. There were various sects in Jesus’ day: the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, et al. But these did not make claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. Further, the “Doctor” tells us that “baptism was the door into the church.” All of this was true in the days of the apostles.

But to our chagrin, he says all this has changed! This raises many questions. If in apostolic days the “very act” of baptism constituted one a member of the church, and that baptism was the door into the church (as we can certainly read such in our New Testaments), we can say without fear of successful contradiction that such was by divine authority. That is, the Lord authorized such; he had Paul to write that baptism puts one into the one body (Cor. 12:13, 20) and that one body is the church (Col. 1:18). But if such were true in apostolic days, when did this authority change? What assembly changed it? By what or whom did this change come? Why did it change? Is God pleased with the change?

As one searches his New Testament to find where such a change was to take place or where such did take place, he is surprised to find no change either contemplated or having taken place! What the New Testament says at its beginning about baptism putting one into the Lord’s church (body of Christ) is exactly what it says about the same subject at its close. The doctrine had not changed. So, this leads us to conclude that some people were dissatisfied that what the Lord says about baptism “being the door into the church,” and have created their own way about the matter. But we must emphasize that baptism is still the act of obedience that puts one into Lord’s church. We do, however, admit that the baptism Christ commanded will not put one into a denominational church-it puts one into the church of Christ only. When the truth of Jesus is preached, believed, and obeyed, his baptism been submitted to, that individual is then in the Lord’s church (Acts 2:37-47). So if baptism today does not put one into the church of Christ it is because it is not the baptism Christ commanded. Dr. Hiscox is wrong in contending that baptism is no longer the way into the church of Christ. The Baptist church has no legislative power to direct the Lord’s Church. It might be a legislative body, but its legislation is directed to the Baptist church and not the Lord’s church. The Lord Jesus Christ is head over his church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23)-not the Baptist church. The Baptist church exists contrary to Christ’s teaching, not because of it. Jesus’ word is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8: 11), and the kingdom is the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1: 13). If he is king over his kingdom (and he is), then the citizens are his subjects and his word rules them. Therefore only those who subject themselves unto his authority are granted citizenship in his kingdom (church), and baptism into his church is within this authority (Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 12:13).

 

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 24, p.2
April 19, 1973

By Larry Ray Hafley

In an Associated Press article we hear the Pope denouncing fads and defending tradition. “Pope Paul VI denounced what he called ‘fads’ against tradition in the Roman Catholic Church … He restated his belief that progress for the church comes along the path of tradition.” (St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sept. 28, 1972, p. 17).

Could it be that the Pope is unaware of the fact that traditions are nothing but senile fads? Traditions of Catholicism are just fads that got old. If “the progress for the church comes along the path of tradition,” how “comes along” the Pope to denounce the source of, said tradition? Can he not see that the “path of tradition” is worn and marked out by the footprints of fads? Infant baptism, mechanical music, and the counting of beads were once “fads.” They are now traditions. Fermented fads become the wine of tradition. Even the Pope’s office was once an ambitious fad, which was renounced more strongly than any modern fad in Romanism, but now it is an ancient tradition. Why, if all fads had been summarily expelled, Pope Paul VI would never have had his job! Our friend, the Pope, had better be careful not to name a specific fad of the day and, denounce” it, for in a hundred years it may be one of those hallowed traditions in “the path” of progress.

Well, did not Paul say, “hold the traditions?” Yes, but which traditions? The ones “which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thess. 2:15). Unless a thing can be heard from the lips or read from the epistles of the apostles, it is not that which is to be held. The “progress for the church” indeed “comes along the path of tradition,” apostolic tradition, or teaching. Other traditions, such as Popes and Catholicism, are “along the path” that is wide and broad and “that leadeth to destruction.” So, we “restate” our “belief” that “the progress of the New Testament church comes along the path of New Testament tradition.”

 

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 23, p. 13
April 12, 1973

By Dudley Spears

Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, was commanded, “be not faithless but believing.” (John 20:27). Jesus taught, “He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” The Lord teaches here that it is quite impossible to give undivided worship and loyalty to two different commitments. He concludes, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:10-13). God always requires undivided faithfulness to Him.

Another teaching of Jesus shows that there is a measurement by which faithfulness can be determined. He taught of two approved servants in the parable of the talents as “good and faithful servants” and one servant who was not approved as a “wicked and slothful” servant. (Matt. 25:26). Slothful is here used by our Saviour as the opposite of faithfulness. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament says, “indolent, sluggish.” (Vol. 11, page 40). He says it is a synonym of “dull.” He adds that it means also, “shirking and irksome.”

The rewards of the two are opposites. Whereas the faithful servant receives the blessing and approval of the Lord, the slothful servant is condemned. How anyone could hold me, to the doctrine of “once saved always saved” in the face of these teachings from Christ is beyond me. The Lord plainly teaches that His servants (not Satan’s) are the ones who will be called into an accounting and judged according to their faithfulness. Jesus, to the church in Smyrna, wrote that some of them were about to be put to the test of their faith and added, “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life.” (Rev. 2: 10).

In Acts 16 there is the narrative of the conversion of Lydia, a seller of purple, who was

in Philippi. The Bible says that she invited Paul and his companions to be her houseguests, “if ye have judged me to be faithful.” (verse 15). This provokes me to think of myself and all others who claim to be disciples of Christ. Would Paul and his companions judge us to be faithful? Faithfulness as judged by the apostles and Christ is an extremely important issue to everyone who claims to be a Christian.

The word in English for “loyal” very aptly describes the word “faithful.” Anyone who is faithful is loyal. This, we recognize, is the usage found in both the civic and domestic realms. A loyal American is one who is faithful to the principles on which America is founded. He is willing to defend this country in every way consistent with his conscience, to pay his taxes and vote for the man he believes in and will work for the best interests of America. Much more and in a higher sense, a citizen in God’s kingdom, the church, is willing to defend the gospel (Phil. 1: 17), contribute of his money to advance the cause of Christ (2 Cor. 9:7-8), work untiringly in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58), and share in the responsibilities of the church, if he is a loyal Christian.

We often say that some man has been “unfaithful” to his wife or vice versa on the basis of their taking up with another partner and cheating on their mate in marriage. We mean by that that they have not been “loyal” to the vows they made to be “faithful until they part in death.” Much more the members of the body of Christ are members of Christ’s bride, the church. (Eph. 5:23-25). They are to be faithful to the bridegroom. But when members of the church become “unfaithful” they start missing services, fail to pray and work as they ought and sometimes “forsake” the church and take up with the world. The devil controls the passions and purposes of this old world. It is the only place where he can have a controlling impact on one’s life. When members of the bride of Christ go back into the world, they become unfaithful to the bridegroom and are condemned to be lost unless they repent and return to their first love. (Rev. 2: 1-4).

There is another idea in the word “faithful.” It is the idea of “steadfast.” A faithful Christian is one who is not “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine,” (Eph. 4:14-15) but remains constant in the service of the Lord. He just keeps on doing what is right. He heeds the admonition Paul gave in the book of Galatians. “Be not weary in well doing.. .” (Gal. 6:9). He remains faithful and constant in his work in the Lord. “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your work in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58). He is aware of the fact that he may help build an empire of power, based on money and worldly goods, he may amass a fortune on earth, may martial mighty armies of untold power, but it will all be in vain in respect to eternity. Only those things that amount to “your treasures in heaven” (Matt. 0: 19,20) will benefit you when life is over. As Jesus said to the foolish and wealthy farmer in Luke 12:20, “Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee, and then whose shall al these things be?” Requiring the soul is what God is interested in-not bank accounts and full barns.

Robert Farish wrote the following. “Empty pews but crowded pleasure spots on the Lord’s day, indifference of church members to the aggressive attacks of atheists, anxiety, bate, greed, envy, strife, vile sins of passion, wholesale departure from the faith by many churches, etc., is evidence of lack of loyalty among those professing allegiance to Christ the King. Many church members are unfaithful to the Lord and according to the Bible they will be lost if they continue in their unfaithfulness. Citizens of the kingdom of heaven need to ‘awake out of sleep . . . cast off the works of darkness … put on the armor of light . . . walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.’ (Rom. 13:11,13). This language is addressed to believers; hence the responsibility to put on the Lord Jesus Christ is a continuous exercise. “

One cannot but be impressed by this observation. It seems to be more difficult to get people to study the Bible and attend worship services than to get them into a sports stadium. In fact, the Orange Bowl has more difficulty-keeping people out of the stadium than they do trying to get them in on New Year’s Day and any other time they have a football game there. The golf links are always crowded on Lord’s Day morning and people even have to get an appointment so they can play. How many churches do you know that have to seat their constituents by appointment? The beer joints and honky-tonks have more patrons than all the churches of Christ in the world has. How tragic! Well, why don’t we do something about this travesty on the love and mercy of God? What can we do?

Let me suggest that there are a few things we all can do to remedy such a situation and it begins with self. Here is what is involved in being a “faithful” Christian.

1. All of us can do some personal examination. Hear the words of Paul: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5). This was written to Christians. Stop, take a look at your life and refuse to say, “I’m doing the best I can.” Be honest with yourself and realize that you and I are not what we ought to be.

2. Make a resolution in your heart to try -just try-always to be better. Resolve to try really hard. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Col. 3:9-10). Keep on trying to do better, aware of the grand fact that you, as one who put Christ on in baptism, have not been what you should have been.

3. Do something for the Lord every day and actually practice the religion of the Saviour. The religion of Christ is a “do” religion. Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt. 7:21). Are you willing to try these Biblical suggestions? If so, you will enjoy the greatest thing anyone on earth can know–the peace that passeth all knowledge and understanding.” There will be no more nervous disorders for you, no more anxiety, no more being upset and mentally disturbed. Serving God in all faithfulness is the very best remedy for all the “tip tight” maladies that grip the fives of so many.

Faithfulness is a life of challenge that brings one into a newness of life every day and ultimately provides the greatest reward imaginable. Let these few lines serve to encourage all Christians to more loyal and dedicated faithfulness to Christ and His great Church.

 

TRUTH MAGAZINE XVII: 23, pp. 11-12
April 12, 1973