Truth Magazine

By Cecil Willis

The “Herald of Truth” just had its 20th birthday. The liberal brethren would have one to believe that evangelistic work always has been done through the sponsoring church arrangement. But such is mere historical wishful thinking on the part of our digressive brethren of the 20th Century.

From time to time, brethren who may not see all the promotional literature need to be brought up to date on the latest information on this twenty year old digressive monster among us. Future historians are going to have a sordid chapter in church history to write when they come to write of the digression, dissension, and division perpetrated by the fledgling Herald of Truth. This money-eating monster has split hundreds of churches, caused untold heart-ache, caused buckets of tears to be shed, caused preachers to be fired, been the occasion of the stealing of scores of meeting houses, and has become the label by which one identifies himself as liberal, yet it is barely older than my teenage son. But it has made for itself an ignoble record in its mere score of years.

The Highland church in Abilene just published a “Special 20th Anniversary Report” in its publication entitled Between Broadcasts. They feature on the cover the lifespan of the Herald of Truth — 1952-1972! It might be a little eye-opening to some brethren to think a little regarding the statistics cited by the mother-church of the liberal churches. The liberal brethren gave up a good many years ago on finding anything in the New Testament that even remotely parallels the Herald of Truth operation. If someone has found an instance of brotherhood elders overseeing brotherhood funds to do brotherhood work, the citation has missed my notice.

Highland elder, Art Haddox, is featured as “Traveling Emissary of Expansion.” It is related that during 1970 and 1971 Brother Haddox traveled over 85,000 miles promoting further digression and division by his expansive efforts for the Herald of Truth. Yet just this morning I read a copy of a letter from this “Traveling Emissary” written to a brother in Ohio who wanted to see a discussion between the Highland brethren and some of those of us who oppose the Herald of Truth. Brother Haddox said, “We simply do not have the personnel or the finances to drive or fly to all sections of the country continually talking to brethren about cooperation when we have already spent so many, many hours doing this.” Yet they have plenty of time, personnel, and finances to fly or drive all over the country if they think a few more bucks can be raised for their pet project.

The “Special 20th Anniversary Report” details that the Highland church has raised over $15,000,000.00 for the brotherhoods national broadcast and telecast program in the past 20 years. Of course, they did not total up the actual money spent. I had to do that for them, but their figures show that they have begged about 95 percent or more of the $15,000,000.00 they have spent in the past score of years.

They did not give a detailed breakdown of expenses for the entire 20 year period. However, they did tell us “How Each Dollar was Divided in 197 1,” and I will have something more to say about that hereafter. The Herald of Truth has raised an average Of $750,000.00 a year for the past 20 years. I had for years thought the 35 year begging program of the Manhattan church was the Grand Champion Beggar. But Highland has laid them in the shade in just 20 years.

The brotherhood now spends, through the Highland Avenue church, more money annually than the American Christian Missionary Society handled in the first 50 years of its existence (The Reformation of the Nineteenth Century, p. 347). Talk about imitating the Christian Church. Our Highland brethren have outdone them, measuring eachs first 20 years.

The Highland brethren, and their cohorts, have through the years argued that the sponsoring church arrangement is an expedient way to preach the gospel. Of course, nothing can be expedient that is unscriptural, and the sponsoring church is unscriptural. However, even if it were scriptural, would it be expedient? Let us see.

Highland tells us that in 1971 their “Administrative” costs were 6 percent of the $1,567,118.00 which they collected and spent. Apply that 6 percent “Administrative” cost to their 20 year operation, and see what kind of an astronomical figure you come up with for “Administrative” costs. Six percent of $15,000,000.00 is $900,000.00 spent for “Administrative” costs. That simply means that the brotherhood has paid Highland church nearly a million dollars to “administer” the brotherhoods work. Administrative costs only have averaged about $1000.00 a week for the entire 20 years period! And yet they want to talk about expediency. Did you ever stop to think about how many churches contributions would be consumed by these exorbitant “Administrative” expenses? It would take contributions of $100.00 a month from nearly fifty churches just to pay the “Administrative” costs, and think of that over a 20 year period.

A sizable portion of the money sent to Highland has always been spent to beg more money. They never get enough. Whether they receive $232,000.00 as they did in 1957 (while they were willing to debate the issue), or $1,567,118.00 as they did in 1971 (and while they will not debate the issue), Highland has never had enough. They also have learned debating the issue has not helped their cause, so they have about quit debating. Have you ever heard of one of these perpetually begging sponsoring churches that ever got enough money? I have never heard of one that was ever content with its annual begging. There was a time in this country when begging was shameful, but the welfare state has fixed that. The largest and wealthiest churches in the brotherhood unabashedly beg year after year after year. They have an insatiable appetite for other peoples money.

How much do they spend on begging money? Well, in 1971 they only spent 12 cents out of every dollar to beg more money. They are quite proud of their “Support Solicitation” (a nicer term than begging, hence they prefer it) percentage. How much did they spend begging money in 1971? Just a little over $180,000.00! Highland does not even contribute enough money to pay for the money begging. Other churches have to subsidize poor Highland Avenue so she can beg more money. Highland only has about 1700 members, and their contributions only average about $8000.00 per week. Yet they do not even pay the money begging bill. Talk about audacity! Brother, they have it. They will beg churches to contribute money to preach the gospel, and then turn around and spend the contributed money to beg more money. And our gullible brethren continue to supply them nearly $200,000.00 a year for money begging.

How much has been spent on money begging in their 20 years? Hold your seat now! About $1,800,000-00, if their 1971 “Support Solicitation” figure is representative. Around $2,500,000.00 have been spent by Highland for “Administrative” and “Support Solicitation” costs in the 2 0 years of their babys life. Wonder what it will take to support this money-eating creature when it becomes full-grown? And some of the liberal brethren still use the old threadbare digressive argument, “Expediency!” It would take the audacity of the proverbial government mule to spend $2,500,000.00 of the Lords money for administrative costs and support solicitation, and then still argue “Expediency.” But audacity our Highland brethren have, in abundant supply. And gullibility our other brethren have, also in abundant supply, or they would have shut off this perpetual begging pipeline in a whole lot less than 20 years.

The lack of scripture for a sponsoring church seemingly has never bothered our liberal brethren very much. Why should one expect the exposure of their sinful waste of the Lords money now to upset them? They will continue to beg, as long as gullible brethren continue to feed the pipeline to Abilene. And the flow rate in recent years has increased, rather than subsiding. Some view their continued existence and evident prosperity as proof of the Lords approval, but they have not surpassed the United Christian Missionary Society in current annual income, so far as I know. But they are running the UCMS a close second. Rome had better watch out. Abilene will be taking sight on them next.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 26, pp. 3-5
May 4, 1972

By Leslie Diestelkamp

Fifty years ago most faithful churches were rural groups. Only a few cities in America had more than one or two congregations and many big cities had none at all. Most churches had simple, frame meeting houses with plain plank floors, often unvarnished, and with no class rooms at all. But things have changed. Many cities now have dozens of congregations and almost no cities of any size have any at all. Rural churches may have diminished in number and in strength, but there are now hundreds of towns that have large congregations. Churches all over the country meet in lovely masonry buildings, carpeted throughout, with padded pews and with plenty of class rooms and other rather lavish facilities. Yes, weve come a long way — all the way from rags to riches.

In the last twenty-five years work in new fields has been increased tremendously. We can truthfully say that the gospel has been preached on every continent and even in most countries. Yet I do not believe our efforts in remote fields have kept pace with our affluence. In other words, our great numerical strength and financial ability have not yet been utilized in accord with our responsibilities and in view of our opportunities. We here in America are not only the richest people in the world, but we are the richest that ever lived. God may not expect us to become poor for the sake of the gospel, but he surely expects us to act like the rich people we really are.

As we cherish our $20.00 and $30.00 leather-bound Bibles, what about the two billion people in the world that have no Bible at all? As we, banter and beg our neighbors to respond to the gospel which they have heard and rejected again .and again, what of the hundreds of millions of people who have never heard once? As we spend millions of dollars for more buildings here buildings which are really used so little each week-what of the scores of nations in which not even the price of one such building has ever been spent in proclaiming truth?

Bridges Built and Chasms to Span

In very recent months it has been gratifying to see that a number of capable preachers have determined to cross some borders, open some doors, launch some new work and help in some already established but weak outposts. Plans for such work have been announced for Canada, Norway, Australia, India, the Philippines, and others that I may have forgotten just now. Of course, these are in addition to the many faithful men now preaching in other distant and destitute fields around the world. Every good man who plans to enter such work should be immediately and generously supported. Those of us who cannot go are not unfaithful because we stay at home, but we demonstrate self-centered selfishness and a minimum love for God and for the gospel if we fail to send and support those noble ones who sacrifice so much of that which we hold so dear.

But more and more young men need to be preparing themselves for greater usefulness. Who will learn the languages of Russia, China, etc. so that they may go when the doors finally do open? Even now there is a desperate need for preachers who speak French, German Japanese and Spanish so that they could go into fields that are now ready to be sown with gospel seed. “The field is the world” said Jesus, and it is still true that “the laborers are few.”

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 26, p. 2
May 4, 1972

By William R. John

If a discotheque atmosphere means more to you than a pleasurable trip with your parents; Or if the sound of a “hot rod” or motorcycle soothes you more than the sound of your mothers kiss upon your cheek; Or if the quivering voice of some singing idol and the twang of a guitar makes you feel better than your dad telling you he loves you, Or if the peace symbol, mini-skirt, or bell bottom trousers “turn you on” more than the reading of the 26th and 27th chapters of Matthew; then you may be just where Satan wants you. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 25, p. 13
April 27, 1972

By Donald P. Ames

In this day and age of money seekers, people are getting increasingly interested in obtaining the maximum available to them. There is, however, a very interesting parallel between savings account to be found in your local bank, and the dividends we acquire as Christians. This comparison is further enhanced by Pauls statement in I Tim. 6:17-19, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” (cf. Matt. 6:19-2 1). Quite obviously, if we are interested in saving for eternity we must recognize that as our goal and save in that direction. If we follow the direction of the rich young ruler (Mark 10: 17-22) we too shall be disappointed.

Deposits

Most banks will accept deposits into savings accounts from anyone. By that, I simply mean that if a wife wants to deposit some money into an account only in the name of her husband, the bank will not refuse her money — or that of a friend into the account of another friend. The same thing is true of the Lord. Many are busy putting money into “heavenly savings accounts” to the credit of someone else. They have never obeyed the gospel (opened their own account), but feel a good life and large contributions to the local congregation will get them into heaven where they can enjoy their “dividends.” Jesus answered such a group in Matt. 7:21-23 when he said, “Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Paul spoke of those who had “a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (Rom. 10: 2). If we hope to reap dividends in eternity, we must realize first of all that we are going to have -to get our name on the Lords records (Rev. 20:12, 15). Then we are accumulating “dividends” to our credit for eternity (Matt. 25:34-40). We cannot make it on anothers.

Likewise, one must pay attention to the deadline for deposits. Many banks have a cutoff date (i.e. if not in by the 10th of the month there will be no interest until the next month). We too have a deadline to keep in mind-if we wait too long we might miss the opportunity to collect any dividends. James reminds us we have no guarantee on the future (Jas. 4:14). What a tragedy it would be to find out there are no dividends because we waited too long (Matt. 25:1-13).

Withdrawals

Unlike deposits, this is an entirely different matter. Banks may accept funds from anyone, but become very particular whom they surrender them to. You must have an authorized signature, etc. before any funds at all are released from an account — regardless of who may have put it in. So it is with our heavenly savings account. The Lord may permit the rain to fall on the just and unjust (Matt. 5:45) as you may be able to cash a check at a bank without an account, but the dividends are paid only to those who meet the specifications set forth by the Lord (or bank). In Heb. 5: 9 we find He is the author of salvation only to “all those who obey Him.” In Rev. 20:15, we find if you have not opened the account and placed your name on the heavenly “signature cards,” all efforts to claim the spiritual dividends (heaven and all its glory) will be futile. Thus Christ asks, “And why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I ask?” (Luke 6: 46). Again, it must be my account to benefit me (2 Cor. 5: 10).

It is indeed a pleasant thing to be able to withdraw some of those accumulated dividends as special needs may arise. And, in the spiritual realm, the Lord is always there when we need Him to grant us some of those precious funds. He assures us we will have “rest for our souls” (Matt. 11: 29), freedom from anxiety by trust in him (Matt. 6:33), a sympathetic ear in time of trial (Heb. 4:15, I Cor. 10: 13), etc. These are blessings we enjoy as children of His and by communication with him in prayer. There is no end to his availability for these needs.

On the other hand, some do not use a savings account for savings, but merely as a place to deposit money and withdraw at will. Each withdrawal usually contributes even further to the reduction of his interest (withdrawals are usually considered as a lump sum against the initial deposit for figuring interest, with later deposits being figured separately). So it is spiritually. Some go through the motions of obeying the gospel and being added to the Lords church, and then immediately begins withdrawals. They will withdraw Wednesday evenings in favor of time at home with the family or being too tired; then on Sunday evenings in favor of an afternoon drive or company; and then another withdrawal of influence, so that they might be able to attend a dance, or go mixed swimming, or enjoy a drink with the other guys, etc. Each such withdrawal also hurts the account opened in heaven too. Such withdrawals can quickly kill all interest in an account, even though additional deposits may be made from time to time to keep a little money in the account. And the same is true spiritually. We may occasionally go to church, contribute to the collection, etc. to keep our “name on the rolls,” but the withdrawals can kill our hopes for any dividends (heaven and its glory). Paul gives us this admonition in Col. 1:21-23, where he says, “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard. . . .” (Cf. I Cor. 15:2). When this occurs, we must reverse that action and take the proper steps to discontinue it (Acts 8:13-24).

Closing The Account

Naturally, closing the account implies there is one there for us to reap the dividends, etc., on. If not your account, there are no dividends! The same pertains to those who may hope to get to heaven because they have married a fine Christian wife, or other members of the family have obeyed the gospel, etc. As already noted, it must be my account for me to reap the heavenly dividends (2 Cor. 5:10).

Many banks have set times for paying interest (i.e., quarterly, semi, etc.) and if funds are withdrawn ahead of that time, all interest is lost regardless of how much was on deposit or how many days may be left to go before interest is scheduled to be paid. God has also set up a timetable and our life does not permit us to foresee just when that time may be. Our withdrawals may ruin that account, when withdrawn for fleshly desires, before we realize the danger it is in. Other people withdraw all their accounts without any concern for interest-and lose it all! When people quit the church, go out into the world and forget the Lord entirely, that account is closed and all the dividends lost. God has given us a chance to reopen it and still enjoy the full benefit (I Pet. 3:8-9, Rom. 2: 4), but that decision and a proper sense of perspective values is up to us to make. He will not force us to keep that account, but will plead and await our return. As Ezekiel so well puts it, “As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 0 house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11).

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 25, pp. 11-13
April 27, 1972