Truth Magazine

By Cecil Willis

Larry Ray Haffley

On their way back home from the Philippines, Dudley Spears and James Needham spent a few days in Germany. During their time there, they came in contact with brethren from two congregations who are opposed to the digressions which now have swept away many churches. These brethren encouraged Spears and Needham to try to find someone to come to help them do the Lords work in that country.

Shortly after their return, Dudley Spears had published in Truth Magazine an article seeking someone to go to work in Germany. After serious reflection upon the matter, he decided the words of Isaiah appropriately fitted him also. While Isaiah was wondering whom the Lord could send to cry out unto his people, the urgency of the work to be done caused him to cry out, “Here am 1; send me” (Isa. 6:8). Thus Dudley soon began preparing himself to go to Germany. He has determined to stay as long as it takes to get the job done, as he expressed it to me.

His present plans call for him to go preach in a series of meetings in two places, Bad Kreuznach (about 40 miles from Frankfurt) and in Ludwigsburg, in the Stuttgart area, which is near the Swiss border. There is at least one German preacher who has rebelled at some of the practices within German churches, and who has already been in contact with Brother Spears. Brother Spears is urgently needed in that country now, especially since Brother Brooks Cochran (a military man) who had been preaching for the brethren in Bad Kreuznach has returned to this country. In addition to preaching in at least two gospel meetings, Brother Spears intends to spend a week in the Frankfurt area, working with a military man named Dale Martin, who is taking his vacation time specifically to work with Dudley. Several years ago, I became acquainted with Brother Martin while he was stationed near Fairbanks, Alaska. There is the hope that a faithful church can be started in Frankfurt. Spears intends to spend from Nov. 6th to December 8th in Germany preaching and doing house to house work, in addition to making some preliminary preparations for his move to Germany, which is scheduled for May, 1973.

The first work done in Germany, sponsored by the Broadway church in Lubbock, Texas, was one of the earliest instances of the sponsoring-church type congregational cooperation in America, excepting for brief instances of it in 1867 and 1910, and perhaps a very few other instances. The German work popularized the now common sponsoring church practice among churches of Christ. This work, done immediately after World War, 11, thus introduced anew the controversy regarding sponsoring churches among us. Of course, Germany has therefore been swept up into the sponsoring church digression.

Often I have heard men say, when discussing foreign work, “Dont send a boy to do a mans job.” This sounds good, but in all too many instances the men have not volunteered to do the work. But no one could call Dudley Spears a boy. He is precisely in the prime of his life, being about 40 years of age, and having preached the gospel since boyhood.

It is no easy thing for a man in the bloom of life to uproot himself and his family and move into a foreign land. Few of us realize the sacrifice that is involved. First of all, it entails selling nearly everything one has, which means that one must start all over again when he returns. Very little of the Spears personal items and furniture can be taken with them. Storage of their personal items while they are gone is prohibitively expensive. So they have but one alternative: to sell nearly everything they own at very low prices. This process alone likely will cost Brother Spears personally several thousands of dollars.

Furthermore, Dudleys children are at the age when it is difficult to uproot them from their friends, relatives and loved ones, and to re-settle them in an environment where they understand neither the language nor the culture. Schooling for his children while he is in Germany will cost Dudley about $900 per year per child.

Dudleys November-December trip will cost about $750.00. He has purposed to go, even if he has to pay this amount himself. But the work which he will be doing should not constitute a challenge to him only. It should be a work in which all of us would like to have a part. Individuals and churches should see to it that the expense incurred in this preliminary trip is covered so that it does not cost the Spears family a penny. If they are willing to go at great personal sacrifice, surely we should be willing to send them.

So far as I know, in every single instance, when a worthy work has been set before the brotherhood, churches and individual Christians have responded in a generous way. When there was a plea made for relief money for destitute saints in Nigeria a few months ago, on two different occasions about $5 0,000 were sent to relieve those needy brethren. When the need for preacher support in the Philippines was called to their attention, brethren responded so generously that about seventy men now are being supported by faithful brethren. On several different occasions, there has been a bountiful outpouring of funds to relieve the physical needs of saints in the Philippines. I have never been able to understand how some brethren can become so concerned over a physical need, and yet be so complacent toward a spiritual need.

Work needs to be done in Germany. There is no doubt about the need. There is no question about the integrity, capability, and experience of the man who is proposing to go to do this work. Brother Spears has so far mailed out about 45 letters to churches best known to him. Less than ten of these churches even showed the common courtesy of replying to his request for support to do this work. “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Of the eight or nine churches who did answer his letters, only two indicated they could help in any way. One congregation promised to send to him $100.00 per month. Another church said they would help, but have not as yet said how much they will help. So far as I know, no one has provided any of the funds needed for the NovemberDecember trip. Even if Dudley has already gone as you read this article, the expense incurred in that trip should be reimbursed to him.

Brethren who live in Germany have told him that he will need $800.00 per month to support his family, and $250.00 per month for adequate apartment-type housing. He also needs $150.00 a month to enable him to publish and to circulate a teaching-type bulletin. While in the Philippines in 1970, some brethren told me that when an American walks in a store, the price suddenly triples. I do not know if that is true in Germany or not. But Brother Spears has no control over what it will cost to support his family in Germany. If brethren want him to go, they must provide whatever the cost is to support him in the work while he is there. Travel for his family, and a few household and personal belongings, will cost about $5000.00.

Probably right now, many brethren are working on congregational budgets for 1973. If so, please give serious consideration to the needs of Brother Spears in order that he might preach the gospel in Germany. It is possible that one church might be able to provide all the support he needs, but it is not probable. Often a profitable work goes undone and unsupported because brethren assume that so many other people will respond to the need that their help is not needed. Lets not let this happen in this instance. Everyone who knows Dudley Spears at all knows him well enough to know that he will tell the brethren when his personal, family, and work needs have been supplied. Brethren who know him also know that he will not ask for nor accept more than is right and just for his work. So lets not let this work go undone because we think Brother Spears will have more than enough supplied him. He will tell us when enough money to do the job has been promised or supplied.

Dudley needs to know right now where his support is coming from, and who is going to supply it. Brethren, please discuss this need within the churches and contact Brother Spears just as quickly as possible to tell him how much you can help. Individuals can do more than one might expect, by many doing a little each.

Particularly is this true in supplying Dudleys travel funds. Dudley Spears can be contacted by mail at 35 W. Par Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32804. By telephone, he can be reached at (305) 425-7021.

There definitely will be two churches with which Dudley can work. There is a third church (a German speaking one) where Dudley also can be of some help, though it is quite some distance from where he intends to locate, which incidentally will be determined by what he learns on his November-December trip. Then there is the possibility of a church being started in the Frankfurt area. The work is plentiful. So let us rise up, and supply the funds needed to do this work.

Furthermore, if anyone knows of faithful brethren anywhere in Germany, please write Brother Spears and supply him the necessary information in order that he might contact them. Dudley intends to do a little of his preaching on his November-December trip in the German language, and plans to be able to preach regularly in German, where that is needed, when he arrives in Germany in May. Dudleys family will then follow him to Germany as soon as school is out. Lets relieve his mind about support and necessary working funds in order that he might devote himself entirely to doing the Lords work while here until May, and to preparing to do the Lords work in Germany after May, 1973. 1 do not know of any instance where brethren have failed to provide what funds were needed to do any scriptural work, when it was properly put before them, and widely enough called to their attention. I hope I have properly put before you what Dudley intends to do in Germany, and that you now will rise up to help supply the sinews of work and battle. If you desire or need further information, contact Brother Spears immediately.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 49, pp. 3-5
October 19, 1972

By Larry Ray Haffley

Levelling with Lovell

Larry Ray Haffley

“I have never bothered very much about these controversial, sensitive, extreme religious questions-it comes mighty hard for me to figure out what I believe on the simple things. However, let me provoke a bit of thinking on the subject of miracles.

“It seems to me that much of our trouble in the church is due to misunderstandings miracles is a good example. We do know that this is a Bible subject. Jesus and the apostles were not the only ones who performed miracles-those outside the church did so. The Bible does not define the word — great translators called it mighty works. In our age we depend pretty much upon what Webster says, and on this he wrote, An event or action that apparently contradicts scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural cause, especially an act of God.

“We hear so much today about some brother who is branded a heretic, false teacher, etc., since he believes in miracles, divine or faith .healing, working of the Holy Spirit. My question is, is there really one Christian on earth who doesnt? It would seem to me something sillier than a game of five-year old children for us to eat of the bread and drink of the cup without a miracle taking place. Is the forgiveness of sin through baptism some sort of a human or natural situation? And if we are dead-set against divine healing why on earth do we pray (you hear it in our pulpits every Sunday) for the sick? If we do not expect some kind of a supernatural or act of God to take place why bother doing it at all?

“Every question I have asked can be rightfully answered by every one of you — as can almost every other divisive and troublesome question — when asked soberly (sic) and soberly considered, but so often we speak against what we truly believe for fear of being identified with some who hold extreme positions. That is why I contend that most of the trouble in the church comes about due to misunderstanding or contention of opinion.

“I wish we were not thought of as a people who believe that all it takes to save is baptism; that Sunday attendance is the whole of our faithfulness; that miracles have ceased and that there is no such thing as divine healing.

“I am really happy that I am not involved in the area of theology. Much truth seems quite simple to me and when it is such I cannot understand it, I leave it alone-it is still truth. Thank God for the Bible and those eternal truths which come so clear and meaningful to most of us” (James L. Lovell, Action, Vol. 37, No. 5, May 1972).

“A Bit of Thinking”

Brother Lovell aspires to “provoke a bit of thinking on the subject of miracles.” It is a shame that he did not do a “bit” of the same before he tried to kindle others. It is glaringly apparent that be has “never bothered much” with his subject. His botched effort manifests a total lack of former bother.

“Know ye not,” Brother Lovell, that simple subjects are considered “controversial, sensitive, (and) extreme?” Has Brother Lovell ever been “bothered very much” about baptism for the remission of sins, the existence of God, the Sonship of Jesus, the veracity and authenticity of the Bible, or the work, worship, order and organization of the church? These are “controversial, sensitive, (and) extreme” to some. Let Lovell cite a Bible subject devoid of controversy, sensitivity, or extremity. By his standard, Lovell has “never bothered very much about” anything the Bible teaches, since he avoids these “religious questions.”

Understanding

“Signs and lying Wonders” and “many mighty works,” such as those performed by “the magicians of Egypt,” were performed “outside the church.” But they were not done “by the power of the Spirit of God.” Yes, “much of our trouble in the church is due to misunderstandings,” misunderstandings of the will, way, and word of the Lord, such misunderstandings Lovell displays to a great degree. “Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5: 17).

Miracles

All Christians believe in miracles, divine healing, and the work of the Holy Spirit. No one is “dead-set” against either. But the Bible does not teach that the work of the Holy Spirit enables men today to perform miracles or miraculous divine healing. Any one who teaches to the contrary teaches falsely, and a term or “brand” better than “false teacher” for one who teaches falsely has never been born or invented.

No, a miracle does not take place in eating the Lords Supper or in the forgiveness of sins in baptism. There are spiritual laws (Rom. 8:2), and there are physical laws. Anything that operates according to established law is not a miracle. The remission of sins by the blood of Christ in baptism would truly be a physical miracle, but it does not occur in that realm. In accordance with spiritual laws, spiritual purposes and relationships are achieved. Physical, natural laws produce a baby. The birth of a baby is not a miracle, even by Websters definition. Birth into the family of God in accordance with spiritual laws is not a miracle. It is a result of natural, spiritual law.

Will Brother Lovell take Webster and show what scientific law the Lords Supper “apparently contradicts?”

All healing is divine healing. God set it all in order and operation. Doctor healing is divine healing. It is not, however, miraculous divine healing. Yes, we pray “in our pulpits every Sunday” for the sick, but that no more conceives of a miracle than does praying for bread around the dinner table. God gives the bread, the food, and God heals, but neither is a miracle or an “apparent” contradiction of “scientific laws.” Likewise, we pray “in our pulpits every Sunday” for the lost, but we do not pray for a miracle, for an apparent contradiction of spiritual law. We pray that they be saved, “not in their lost condition, but that something may be said to turn them to the truth before it is everlastingly too late,” that is, in accordance with established spiritual law. There is a difference that Brother Lovell could see if he was ever bothered very much about such things.

Hypocrisy

So, Brother Lovell concludes, we could all answer his questions and be in agreement if we were sober and unafraid. Hypocrisy, and not misunderstanding, is the problem. Earlier, he said it was “misunderstandings,” but now it is sheer insincerity begotten by the fear of men (“so often we speak against what we truly believe for fear”). Brother Lovell, I resent the slur and slander. Do not so label and libel me.

Wishful Thinking

All who love the truth wish Brother Lovells first two wishes could be granted, but such thoughts of others are the product of ignorant misunderstanding at best or prejudicial dishonesty at worst. Regardless, neither misconception nor misunderstanding shall prevent the truth from being taught. But Brother Lovell wishes “we were not thought of as a people who believe . . . that miracles have ceased and that there is no such thing as divine healing.”

Here it win be necessary to tread lightly on Brother Lovell, for his words are based on perverted definitions of miracles and divine healing. Besides, it is not good to kick a man when he is down. However, I am glad to be “thought of” as one that teaches miracles and miraculous divine healing have ceased. As such, I stand in the apostles doctrine and fellowship.

Conclusion

Brother Lovell concludes that he is “happy.” Well, it is said that “Ignorance is bliss.” Brother Lovell, therefore, is surely sublimely contented. He says what he “cannot understand . . , I leave it alone.” Concerning the cessation of miracles, he, like certain teachers of old, understands neither what he says nor whereof he affirms, thus we trust his word will be his bond and that he henceforth will “leave it alone.”

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 48, pp. 12-13
October 12, 1972

By William B. Wright

In January 1972  I attended the Florida College lecture program. On my way south, I stopped on Sunday evening to worship with a sound congregation in Ocala, Florida. A prominent evangelist of many years was just completing a weeks meeting that evening at that congregation. Since he is reasonably well acquainted in the upper Ohio Valley area, we naturally fell into a discussion of the condition of churches of Christ in that area. After a few minutes he said this: “Two men have done more damage to the cause of truth in the Ohio Valley than any others.” Before he could finish I named two men who have each preached about fifty years or more and have unquestionably had a greater influence and baptized more people than any two preachers of which I know. He affirmed this to be the two he had in mind.

Why Do You Say That?

But you might say, “If they have preached longer, baptized more, and had a greater influence, why do you say they have done much damage to the cause of truth or have done damage at all? Have they been teaching error?” Insofar as I know, they have not positively embraced some of the principal heretical doctrines taught in churches of Christ. My charge against them is simply that they have silently stood by and pretended nothing was being taught that would cause division, or that such heresy was the product of a lunatic fringe and would not last, or that it was only a change of custom, or something like that. But, as someone put it, “At times to be silent is to lie.”

In the spring of 1969, 1 beard one of these men speak during a funeral service in which be urged brethren not to divide over things “that are not really very important.” I wonder what that would be. Church support of human institutions? Church support of recreation? Fellowship halls? Preachers in the ministerial association? Exactly what he had in mind, he did not say. I heard the other in a fall meeting in 1969 in which more than once he cautioned brethren against dividing the church of Christ. It was quite obvious he was not talking about the width or length of the meeting house, or which way to turn the seats, but rather was speaking of those things we have commonly called “the issues.”

Is Unity Always Desirable At Any Price?

Now I agree that we ought not to divide over things that are not important and that it is a serious thing to divide the church of Christ. But there are reasons why separation is necessary. One is simply that when a congregation is teaching and practicing error, they that are approved may be made manifest. Another is that we are commanded to separate from the disorderly. The two brethren to which I referred are guilty of ignoring the real substantive issues in the matter and have, in fact, “aped” the broad spectrum of Protestantism in saying we ought not to divide over certain things but rather should unite on points of agreement.

Protestants tell us that we ought not to divide over the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship, sprinkling, the purpose of baptism, predestination, and other things. They urge us to unite on points of agreement and to compromise on other matters. The problem is the Bible does not read that way. These two brothers would urge us not to divide over church support of human institutions, concentration of funds from 2,000 churches of Christ in the hands of one church of Christ to do a work not its own, and other things. Now they may make occasional sounds that could be interpreted to mean they are against innovations into the work and worship of churches Of Christ, but why is it the churches they preach for do not seem to get the message? The reason, I think, may be seen in a quotation from each. The older of the two wrote: “If I was locating with some congregation and they were sending some support to an orphan home I would not leave the congregation. Nor either would I split the church over that. On the other hand if I were to go to a congregation that they were not supporting a home I certainly would not advocate that they do so. If that is not a safe course to pursue then I am wrong.” (Just for thought purposes, substitute sprinkling, mechanical instruments of music in worship, fellowship halls, and church support of colleges in the above quotation.)

The other brother wrote to the editor of bulletin who published some of his old articles, saying, “Please remove my name from your mailing list. I was hopeful of some constructive teaching, but the pattern is the same as other bulletins that have done so much damage.”

Each of these brethren proclaim to the high heaven that they preach the same gospel they always did, which, in the words quoted from the Sacred Volume they may, but they do not make the same application to error that they always -made. The error now is called by a different name and is practiced in churches of Christ and they, in effect at least, say it is not error at all.

But you may say, “I cant believe brother B and brother D would be as cowardly as to fail to contrast truth and error in churches of Christ!” What happened to Solomon when he was old? (I Kings 11: 1-8) What happened to Demas? (2 Tim. 4: 10) And, didnt Peter in his manhood as an apostle lose his nerve on occasion? (Gal. 2:11-14) Didnt Paul, that great apostle, recognize he could become a “cast away”? (I Cor. 9:27) From whence came the notion that any of us (no exceptions) are immune to digression?

Being With The Majority

I think the real problem with men of this type is that while they have made some rather “stiff” remarks in their preaching over the years, they have always had a large following that applauded their “hard preaching.” When they viciously and crudely attacked the doctrines of our religious neighbors who chanced to visit out assemblies, the members of the church of Christ applauded their “courage” for “telling it like it is.” But how much raw courage does it take to make crude remarks about the religion of our Methodists, Presbyterian, or Roman Catholic neighbors when only one or two or three may be there?- These guests do not have the “power of the purse!” The people who are laughing at crude jokes about the habit of a nun or the garments of a priest pay the preachers salary. And, they like what they hear!

Though these preachers were not in the majority as far as total population is concerned, and though they did not always escape censure in some congregations, nonetheless in the average church of Christ in this area they were accepted, respected, applauded, and paid. Members of the church read the Bible, measured what these men preached by it, and insisted that they speak as the oracles of God. But now it is different. No longer will the majority of groups wearing the name church of Christ in this area be content with what is written and permit a preacher to discuss most anything that is at variance with New Testament teaching. Its alright to have “hard preaching” as long as it hits the “legalistic antis.” But, one must make sure his “hard preaching” does not hint at anything at variance with scripture which relates to Herald of Truth, church support of human institutions and recreation, fellowship Halls, and many other things. The two aged brothers to whom I referred have made peace with some or all of the advocates of these various items and they have done it principally by remaining silent. They simply do not have the courage to face up to a hostile audience and “tell it like it is.”

I can reach no other conclusion than that when they with their great influence remained silent, they, in effect, lied. Ignorant and well-meaning brethren needed a word of counsel from them — a sure word of Biblical honesty — and it did not come. Indeed, “At times to be silent is to lie.”

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 48, pp. 10-11
October 12, 1972

By William V. Beasley

When I was a child I, along with many of my generation, looked longingly to the day when I would reach the magical age of 21 years. We (I and my generation) felt that then we would be adults! No one could tell us what to do, where to go, how to act, etc., etc. We could, if we so desired, enter into a legal contract (get a car), get married, drink, and have to account to no one.

Fortunately most of us matured mentally as we aged physically, and learned how ignorant we had been and how little we really knew even at age 21. Those who did not were in for rough times and a rude awakening.

From time to time we meet those who think they will one day reach the magical age of 21 years old as a Christian. That is, that they will at some point in the future know all that there is to know as a servant of God. Even more revolting is to be forced to deal with one who believes he is a 21 year old Christian.”

While it is true that we can attain unto spiritual maturity (perfection-Eph. 4:12; Heb. 6:1), we remain a disciple (learner or pupil) of the Lord Jesus. If nothing else, the “21 year old Christian” needs to learn humility (Luke 14:11; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 5:5-6).

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 48, p. 9
October 12, 1972