Truth Magazine

By Irvin Himmel

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” — Matt. 7:6

This is a quotation from our Lords memorable sermon on the mount. The lesson may not be as readily perceived as others in the same discourse, and  the verse is sometimes misapplied, but the thought advanced is an important one.

Dogs and hogs were considered unclean by the Jews. Although sometimes domesticated, “the great mass of dogs ran wild” (Dictionary of the Bible, J. D. Davis). These animals were the scavengers that roamed the streets and fields in packs. Wild dogs can be very vicious. To the mind of the Jew, the mention of swine suggested another type of animal that could be exceedingly fierce. Most of the swine in Palestine, though sometimes herded, were probably quite wild in Bible times.

Jesus mentioned dogs and hogs to illustrate the thought that some people are vile and vicious. Like dogs, some men snarl, snap, bite, and devour. They are morally filthy and given to brutality. Like the pig that wallows in the mire, they wallow in sin and feed on filth. Having no desire to escape sin, they will “tear into” anyone who makes an attempt to help them.

Preaching the gospel to some people is to no avail due to their incorrigible condition. It means no more to them than the Lords Supper would mean if given to a literal dog! They scoff at all which is held sacred by Gods people. They have no more appreciation for truth and righteousness than a pig would have for pearls. A pig likes corn, nuts, beans, husks, and slop — anything he can eat. Valuable pearls mean nothing to him.

A hog can be a very mean animal. He may even attack the person who is feeding him. Some people are equally senseless and mean toward all who try to teach them the word of God. They are beyond any hope of repentance and will stoop to the lowest schemes to destroy a godly mans good name. The writer of Proverbs had such people in mind when he said, “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Prov. 9:7, 8).

In the first rive verse of Matt. 7, Jesus warned against harsh, unjust judgment. However, his words are not to be taken as suggesting that all judging is wrong. In John 7: 24, he said, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” If we are not to give that which is holy to dogs and not I to cast pearls before swine, we must, wisely judge that some people are like these vile and vicious animals.

R. L. Whiteside once observed that “excessive, zeal, sometimes leads a Christian to preach the gospel to people under circumstances that only infuriates them.” Of course, we cannot always know ones real character and disposition, but, when we do know that one is as unholy as a dog and as unappreciative of the truth as a pig is of pearls, and when we see proof of senseless brutality or viciousness, we should be wise enough to apply the teaching of Matt. 7:6.

Paul preached the gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, and “almost the whole city” came together to hear the word of God. But when the unbelieving Jews began contradicting and blaspheming, he and Barnabas said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:44-46). Further attempts to reach these scoffing opposers would have been like giving something sacred to a, dog or casting pearls before a pig!

Similarly, when Paul had preached for three months in the synagogue at Ephesus, many were hardened in their hearts against the truth and believed not, and began speaking evil of the Lords way, so Paul “departed from them” (Acts 19:8,9). They proved to the apostle that they had no more respect for the gospel than a dog for something holy, and no more desire for the truth than a hog has for pearls, and they were ready to “rend” the preacher, so why should he waste valuable time and effort on them?

I know that we hate to give up on anybody. We are slow to admit that some people are indeed like dogs and hogs. But life is too short and there are too many people hungering and thirsting after righteousness for Christians to waste the precious pearls of divine truth by casting them before men who, act, like swine. After the gospel has been presented to an individual and he, by his attitudes, and actions, judges himself unfit for eternal life, it is time to depart.

Lets face it — there are situations when we must shake the dust from our feet and move to others who will be receptive. Jesus knew that many would reject the truth. He wanted his disciples to act wisely and with discrimination. The lesson of Matt. 7:6 is really quite simple and we need to apply it. The examples from the apostle Paul show us how to apply it. If we do not apply it, we are as foolish as one who casts pearls before pigs!

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 47, pp. 5-6
October 5, 1972

By Cecil Willis

Most of what I know about the Lords Work in Nigeria has come through others. I have been led to believe that there are more Christians in Nigeria than in any other country of the world than our own USA. Various men have done pioneering work in different sections of Nigeria.

Leslie Diestelkamp and other faithful men went to a section of Nigeria that had not been evangelized and baptized hundreds; perhaps even thousands. Many of those churches are now being threatened by an invasion of liberals. Yet we are constantly being charged by some of the liberal brethren with doing no pioneering work of our own, but merely invading foreign works after they have pioneered there.

Well, the exact reverse is now occurring in the Lagos area of Nigeria. Already I have received several letters from faithful brethren in Nigeria who tell of the recent invasion of faithful churches by liberals. Reuel Lemmons recently charged that those of us who contend for the independency of congregations and who oppose sponsoring church structures are operating what he called “A Butcher Shop,” and charged that we were virtually destroying the evangelistic work that had been done by others. He said that some of the native Philippine preachers probably think that the Herald of Truth and sponsoring churches are “pagan gods” that they ought no longer to worship.

In Nigeria (Lagos area) we have the liberal brethren moving in mass into areas that were pioneered by faithful brethren. They are the ones having to acquaint the native preachers and churches with the “pagan gods” of Herald of Truth and sponsoring churches. In fact, one liberal preacher already has widely distributed a series of outlines and charts advocating the liberal position, as well as lectured the brethren on the merits of liberalism. I wonder, Brother Lemmons, if the liberal brethren in Nigeria, might now be operating “The Butcher Shop.” Wonder why some of the zealous liberal brethren, like Brother Jimmy Lovell who wrote me a chiding letter, do not now write these liberal brethren some halt and desist letters, like they have written to me and others regarding Philippine work?

Preachers “For Sale”

The same false charges are being made against faithful Nigerian brethren as are being made against faithful Philippine brethren. Some of the faithful Nigerian preachers have been supported by faithful churches directly for at least twelve or fifteen years. Yet Bill Nicks, in the June 27, 1972 issue of Firm Foundation charges that the faithful preachers are being led to oppose sponsoring churches, by the offer of money. Nicks said: “With promise of direct support, a few preachers have been led to believe this is the only method of supporting preachers and have allied themselves with a faction bent on destroying the Bible training schools and benevolence expressed through the hospital. Thank God these are in the minority.”

Some of Brother Lemmons fellow-liberal brethren recently have been on him for approving in foreign lands what he disapproves here. For instance, he affects to be so strongly opposed to church supported colleges in the USA, but promotes several of them by publishing propaganda articles in the Firm Foundation from such church supported colleges overseas. Is Brother, Lemmons in favor of Church of Christ hospitals in the USA? If so, let him say so. But you notice he will carry an article castigating faithful brethren in Nigeria who oppose the Church of Christ Hospital there. I wish Brother Lemmons would tell us explicitly whether he opposes or endorses the Church of Christ Hospital concept. If we could extract any statement at all from him regarding Church of Christ Hospitals, we just might find Brother Lemmons aligned with that -“faction” about which Brother Nicks so lovingly spoke. Brother Nicks thanks God for Nigerian Christian Hospital. If “Christian Hospitals” supported by churches are such a good thing in Nigeria, it would appear that Brother Lemmons and the Firm Foundation would be seeking to promote such in the USA.

A recent article from a Nigerian preacher published in Truth Magazine reveals the denominational structure that the liberals, have formulated in order to try to prevent men like Leslie Diestelkamp, Sewell Hall, James Finney, Aude McKee, James Gay, Paul Earnhart, George Pennock, Wayne Payne and others from re-entering Nigeria. Meanwhile, they hope to be able to swallow up for liberalism all the pioneering work done by those faithful brethren.

A letter just recently received from a faithful Nigerian preacher tells that “these dividing elements are still strong in Nigerian churches. It is very sad indeed. And shortly a Bible School of Preaching sponsored by American churches and controlled by one local American Elders is going to begin in Lagos. Soon a company of their, preachers are going to visit Nigeria … Error is gaining momentum here. . . .”

Now let those who have written so much about us injecting the issues into foreign works write as vehemently to these liberal brethren as they have to us to object to what they are doing now in the Lagos area. Do you think they will do so? I think not! It all depends on whose ox is being gored as to whether they protest or not.

I have said it before, but I say it again: If I were one of the foreign liberal preachers and the liberal American brethren continually state that those liberal preachers could be bought by American dollars, I would resent the charge and the implication in the strongest way possible. It certainly does not speak well of the work that the liberal American brethren have done when they insinuate that their preachers are available to anyone who will wave an American dollar before them.

The stories of the liberals do not quite mesh. They tell the faithful brethren overseas that the “Antis” have about died out in the USA in one breath, and in the next they cry about the fact that we are buying all their preachers. Wonder where a dying out group would get the money to buy their “For Sale” preachers?

I freely admit that money is on the side of the liberals. They have more of it and use it m’ many unscriptural ways. If a preacher is “For Sale,” I can tell him now that it would be in his financial interest to go with the liberals. And if they are “For Sale,” the liberals are perfectly welcome to them, one and all! A “For Sale” preacher could never benefit the Cause of Christ, whether here, in the Philippines, in Nigeria, or anywhere else.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 47, p. 3
October 5, 1972

By William B. Wright

An ounce of prevention, goes an old adage, is worth a pound of cures. The meaning of this truism, any sensible person knows, is to correct a situation at the first evidence something is wrong rather than to allow it to continue until too late. We are urged to fight cancer with a checkup (and a check) meaning that early diagnosis of cancer will make it possible for physicians to treat the malady before it is out of hand and not controllable. Experience has taught us that a regular trip to the dentist will normally prevent the loss of teeth by early detection and correction of cavities. Men applaud the wisdom of people who practice good habits designed to lengthen physical life. The diseases cited represent “the beginning of sorrows” for us unless we do something to correct these beginnings in time.

Unfortunately, many of the people who apply this wisdom to their bodies do not apply this same wisdom, in principle, to other matters. A classic example of this kind of short-sightedness is to be found in the attitude of many people toward marriage. To avoid some of these mistakes, the Christian looks to the New Testament to learn what wisdom from above is available for his learning. A careful reading of the New Testament suggests these things concerning marriage: (1) it is a gift of God and was created by Him for mans good. It was intended by God to be monogamous. (Matt. 19:4-6) (2) It is an honorable estate. (Heb. 13: 4) (3) Christians are to marry Christians (I Co. 7:39; 9:5). (4) Divorce is to be avoided like the plague. (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:7-9)

It would seem, then, that any thoughtful person who realizes marriage is a very binding arrangement under any circumstances would be very careful about what person he (or she) chooses for a marriage partner.- Even more, it would seem, Christians would be concerned about this matter. Yet, as I look about at the church of Christ, I see many members of the church (especially the young) being married to and regularly dating those who are not members of the church. When I question this arrangement, I receive such answers as: (1) “Shes a good girl even if she isnt a member of the church.” (2) “You dont trust my judgment.”; (3) “Some of the members of the church are no good.”, (4) “It is just puppy love and wont last.”; and, so on, ad infinitum. In answer to these I say: (1) Not every person who is not a member of the church is immoral or a basically bad person as the world judges them, but the fact remains they are not members of Christs church and do not share with the 11 common faith.” (2) Of course I do not trust a person I s judgment when that person shows little judgment to trust. Furthermore, a seventeen year old boys judgment is a seventeen year old boys judgment, not a forty or fifty year old mans judgment. (3) There is no question that some members of the church are hypocrites and thoroughly bad people (4) “Puppy love” (so-called) may not last and then, again, it just might last at least long enough to incorporate a marriage ceremony later regretted by the parties to it.

But really this is all mere prattle when we get down to it. We may argue these questions all we wish, but the Bible still teaches: (1) Marriage is a gift of God, (2) it is an honorable estate, (3) Christians are to marry Christians and (4) divorce is to be avoided like the plague.

In order to insure these things in ones own life, it is vitally important that Christians form no romantic attachments except with those who are eligible marriage partners for Christians. But you may say, “I dont intend to marry her!” This well may be true, the first time! But what about the fifth time or twenty-fifth time? Is it still true then? Furthermore, is it still true when presents are exchanged on holidays, parents are being introduced” telephone calls of thirty minutes or more occur every day, and… ?????? Exactly what is the intent at these points in time? Just a friendship? At this point it soon becomes a question of the Christian entering into a marriage that violates some of the truths stated in the Bible he solemnly af firms to believe or “breaking up” with a young woman he loves. The occasion for his choice ought never to arise. It has happened to many a young man before now to find himself beginning to fall in love with someone he ought not to fall in love with. “This is the moment of critical decision,” and the right decision is that he should cease his romantic association before he faces an agonizing choice between love and duty.

You may say, “Isnt that stretching it a little to assert that Christians should marry Christian (only)?” Thats a good question and worthy of careful consideration. So lets have a look at it.

An Important Principle

Insofar as I have knowledge, God has always willed that His people marry their own. I know believing student who of no fundamental Bible-believing student who challenges this point. Even the old patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac, were very determined that their heirs marry “their own” and that they not marry the Canaanite women about them. (Gen. 24:1-4; 28:1-2)

The people of Israel were strictly forbidden to contract marriages with inhabitants of the land of Caanan. (Dent. 7:1-3) The Israelites were told: “For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods” (v. 4) Joshua further reinforced this precept and added that if they did make marriages with the inhabitants of the land “they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land” (Josh. 23: 12-13)

Nehemiah was very vehement about mixed marriages and insisted that foreign wives be put away. A telling argument used by Nehemiah was that Solomon, that great king, was caused to sin by “outlandish” women. (Heb. 13:23-27)

But you may say, “You are citing the Old Testament and we are not under it.” This is true, but remember, I am merely pointing to a principle, at this point. Dont forget that Paul suggested that things written before were written for our learning. (Rom. 15:4)

New Testament Teaching

Now, let us look at what the New Testament says on these matters. Paul said: “Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” (I Cor. 9:5) Please note that Paul specifically stated that his right was to have a Christian wife (“believer”) and he said that this is what other of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Peter had. Now if we are to be instructed by precept, example, and necessary inference, what do you make of this verse? I see Christians marrying Christians, dont you? To the widows Paul said they are to marry “only in the Lord.” (I Cor. 7:39) He also admonished the Corinthian Christians to avoid being “unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Cor. 6:14) Now in what condition is a person more “unequally yoked” to an unbeliever than in the marriage relationship?

Are Mixed Marriages Invalid?

Some may think I am saying mixed marriages are not valid before God. This is not true. Insofar as I have knowledge, God recognizes marriage as valid as long as those contracting it are eligible to be married according to His law. (Read Matt. 19:1-9). What I am pointing out is the danger to the Christian partner and the Bible principles that should guide him in contracting marriage.

How Shall We Treat The Mixed Marriage?

We must treat both the Christian and the non-Christian the same way we should treat any other Christian and non-Christian and that definitely excludes treating them as though they had leprosy. Our duty to both is to so act toward them and to teach them that they will be united in Christ by the conversion of the non-Christian.

But, remember, unmarried Christian, if you can not convert your fiancé before you are married, the likelihood of accomplishing it later is not very great.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 46, pp. 12-13
September 28, 1972

By A. C. Grider

On a recent Sunday night my wife and I had occasion to drive to Louisville after services. As we drove past Bernheim Forest our attention was attracted to some helicopters circling overhead with bright spot lights playing on the ground below. As we drew nearer, we were startled by seeing many cars parked along the edge of the highway and three fire engines approaching with lights flashing and sirens screaming. It was apparent that something was wrong.

We learned that a seven year old boy had wandered away from other members of his family and was lost in the dense underbrush or woods. The search was on. Hundreds of people gathered and searched. Several officials were on hand to help. Service men were pressed into service. Friends, members of the family, and many who were strangers to each other all joined in to find this young lad. Was that too much interest to manifest? Of course not! Here was a young boy, a human being, lost in the woods and it was damp and dark and cold. Less interest would have been too little!!!

The search continued all night long. The next day the search went on. They were determined to find that boy and save him if at all possible. At two oclock on Monday afternoon – twenty five hours after he became lost – he was found and sound except for some scratches and bruises picked up during his ordeal in the forest.

But you know, this happened several years after, but not too far from where another terrific effort was put forth in behalf of one who needed some assistance. I am speaking of Floyd Collins who became lost and then found but fastened in Sand Stone cave. That was an exciting time. Floyd Collins went out to explore a cave and became lodged between some boulders and could not extricate himself. When he was located, the real battle began. The rescue parties labored hour after hour to remove the mighty barrier that held Floyd Collins prisoner in lonely Sand Stone Cave. They sought desperately to free Floyd Collins. Hundreds of people gathered to assist. Many came for excitement. Engineers from all across the country came to offer suggestions. Various pieces of equipment were brought to the scene and used in the all-out effort to free this man. Was that too much emphasis? Of course not. Here was a man who was trapped in the bowels of the earth with every moment holding the possibility of further caving and that he be literally buried alive. And so they worked and toiled night and day. It was impossible to remove the boulder that held Floyd Collins prisoner in the heart of the earth. While they labored and worked, Floyd Collins slipped into eternity while still fastened between large rocks in that cave.

No, there was not too much interest shown in that futile effort to set Floyd Collins free. A human life was at stake. The battle was lost; nor was too much interest shown in that successful search for that little boy. The battle was won. But I am thinking about interest (or lack of it) in another matter, another battle, another effort. All around us are men and women and boys and girls who are lost in the forest of sin, who are buried in the cave of iniquity. And what of the interest shown? Are we showing too much interest in rescuing them from these forests and caves? Perhaps we are showing far too little interest!!

We applaud the efforts (unsuccessful as they were) to free young Floyd Collins from that cave. We applaud the successful efforts to locate that lad and save him alive. But we deplore the lack of interest and the lack of effort on behalf of those in the wilderness of sin. Let us strive to show interest in material things, including physical lives, as in the cases cited. But let us be more concerned and show more interest in the souls of men and women who are lost and headed for a Devils hell. God is holding us responsible and has made us a searching party to find and rescue these people. Are we interested? Are we working? Will we be able to save several? Heaven help us to at least try.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 46, p. 11
September 28, 1972