Truth Magazine

By Jim McDonald

Teressa Cruz -Toreja is the daughter of Ben and Delores Cruz. Ben preaches for the Kapitbahayan, Navotas church, one of Manila’s largest congregations. Teressa is a medical doctor, practicing medicine under what some might call “primitive” conditions. However, Teressa’s knowledge and skills are anything but primitive! 

Teressa’s practice has greatly increased and I have seen her facilities expand from just one room to where now she occupies almost the entire house of her parents. One of Teressa’s promises to her parents (who greatly sacrificed that she might go to college and then to medical school) was that she would attend the needs of indigent Christians, without charge. Teressa has kept that promise and needy saints from all over Manila come to seek her help and at- tention. The Kapitbahayan church helps Teressa by paying for the medicine she supplies to their needy members. 

Teressa does not confine her care solely to Christians. She practices Paul’s instructions “as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Once each month she has a “Saturday clinic” in which she sees, without charges, the sick in her area. By chance I was at her parents’ home the day one such clinic was conducted and witnessed the overflowing number of patients there who took advantage of Teressa’s mercy. 

Teressa is a devout Christian. She and Jerry, her husband (who works for Philippine Airlines), provide regular, monthly support to some of the Manila area preachers for their needs and transportation. When funds for her father’s radio program (Manila’s only radio program among brethren) was not forthcoming and cessation of the program seemed eminent, Teressa and Jerry saved the day by providing half of its cost and challenging the Kapitbahayan church to provide the other half (they did). Ben’s widely heard program continues, with its growing and far reaching effectiveness. 

Teressa’s love for fellow-Christians and care for her fel- lowmen provide an excellent opportunity to Americans who also want to share in practicing pure religion. Individual Christians can help Teressa greatly by supplying her with medicine and medical supplies that she might not only help needy saints, but other indigents, as well. She would welcome and distribute to those who need it most, cough and cold medicines, anti-asthma medications, antacids and anti-ulcer medications, antifungal, antibacterial, anti- inflammatory ointments and creams, vitamins, aspirins, gauze, plaster, steristrips, sutures (chromic, silk, needles), any medical instrument (even slightly used ones), as well as all other various kinds of “over the counter” medicines. You can help this noble woman help attend to poverty stricken brethren and non-Christians, and prove to be a blessing. 

It is highly unlikely that you will come into contact with a fraction of the needy that Teressa does. Jesus will com- mend some on the last day by saying, “I was sick . . . and ye ministered unto me,” concluding “inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me.” By providing Teressa with medical supplies, you can help as she gives to others and by aiding your brethren, these little ones, you minister unto our Lord! What noble and blessed deeds you can do by helping our sister in her acts of mercy and compassion! 

Write her: Teresa Cruz-Toreja, MD, B-01 Kapitbahayan, Navotas, 1413, Metro Manila, Republic of the Philippines.

By Herschel E. Patton

The old Downtown building and property was sold to North’s Funeral Home and was immediately demolished to begin the construction of a funeral chapel. 

The late Charlie Jones, long time elder in the Downtown church, and an avid record keeper, a few years ago wrote a history of the church in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He gave a few of us who had been closely associated with the work there a copy of his records. 

According to his records, the church began meeting about 1895. Preachers in those days included such men as C.E. Holt and T.B. Larimore. The brethren erected a building in 1906, in which they worshiped until 1930. In this year they built and moved into the Downtown building, which they used for 67 years. The Downtown church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee has had an illustrious history of contending for New Testament Christianity across the years. 

When the elders were planning the last service in the Downtown building, they decided to use the oldest, living and able, former preacher to deliver the last sermon. That turned out to be me. They invited Johnnie Felker, a former preacher, to lead the singing. 

Following is the sermon I delivered on that occasion. 

Downtown Church of Christ 

I hope no one fails to realize the real purpose of this gathering this afternoon — to worship, praise, and glorify God. Special circumstances could eclipse this purpose, but should not and must not. I suppose it is in order, as we conduct this last service in this antique building, to have an antique preacher, who has knowledge of what has gone on here, to deliver the last sermon in it. 

I appreciate the invitation extended to me to be here and speak on this occasion. I am happy to be here and to see so many of you gathered here. 

As I look out over this audience, I see many who are the children, grandchildren, and relatives of many who used to be a part of the Downtown church, but have now passed on. I am reminded of such names as Striblin, Coffman, Dugger, Lock, Hickman, Downey, Pollock, O’Neal, Gaither, Crowder, Ayers, and others. 

My emotions this afternoon are of a dual and different nature — both happy and sad. But, how can one be both happy and sorrowful at the same time? There are times in life when such is the case. Do you remember the time you took your child to school for his first day, knowing that he would no longer be with you during the days to follow? Were you not happy for the child’s growth and progress, yet shed a few tears? Or, when the child graduated from high school and went off to college, perhaps far from home? When our oldest son, Gary, graduated from high school, he went into the Air Force for a few months, then went to college, attending Reserve meetings all the while. When he left for the Air Force after graduation, it was a happy time, but also a time for shedding tears. When Steve graduated from high school here in Lawrenceburg, we took him to Tampa, Florida to enter Florida College. After getting him set up in his dormitory we hit the road back to Lawrenceburg. We had no sooner left when Reba burst into tears. Charles, who a couple of years before had graduated from Lawrenceburg High School and went to Florida College, but now was in MTSU, was with us on this joyful trip. When his mother started sobbing, he said “Mother, what’s the matter.” I said to him, “Charles, your mother did this same thing when we left you down here. She did the same thing when Gary left for the Air Force. 

Maybe someday day you will understand.” 

It is this kind of joy and sadness we feel today as we have this last service in this building. 

The Building is Not the Church 

I think most of you gathered here today realize that this large yellow brick, imposing building, situated here in downtown Lawrenceburg, is not now, and never has been the Downtown church of Christ. It is only its meeting place. 

The church that is of Christ is people — a special kind of people, not brick, mortar, wood, plaster, etc. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His special people, that you may proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 

The church of Christ is the same thing that is said to be the body of Christ. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head of all things to the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23). 

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church: And He is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:23-26).

It is the same thing as the family of God. “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house (family) of God, which is the church of the living God, the Pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim.3:15). 

It is the same thing as the kingdom of Christ. In Matthew 16:16-19, Christ used the terms “church” and “kingdom” interchangeably, and Colossians 1:13 tells us that the saved have been translated out of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” 

This spiritual system, prophesied and typified in the Old Testament, found fulfillment in the advent of Christ, his death on the cross, resurrection, and the establishment of his church, kingdom, family, body. 

The divine format of Christianity existed in the first century under the guidance of inspired apostles, teachers, and prophets. We often refer to it as New Testament Christianity. Obviously, what existed then was exactly what God intended it to be, and according to his Word, was to be perpetually relevant — age lasting (Dan. 2:44). 

A Set Pattern 

The Bible teaches that when God establishes a system of religion, everything revealed must remain precisely intact for as long as they are designed to last. One would presume to change the divine arrangement to his own destruction.

 

An Old Testament example is Jeroboam I (1 Kings 13). He changed (1) the object of worship from God to golden calves, (2) the place of worship from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan, (3) the priests from Levi to other tribes, and (4) the Feast of Tabernacles — a new feast was inaugurated. 

God’s attitude? “Jeroboam caused Israel to sin” (1 Kings 4:16). 

The early church was according to a God-given pattern. Acts 2:42 says, “They continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine” and 4:32 says “They were of one heart and soul,” suggesting unity of practice. 

Romans 6:17-18 says they were “free from sin” by “obeying a form (pattern) of doctrine.” They were told to “mark them that cause division and offence contrary to the doctrine.” How could they do this if no pattern of New Testament doctrine existed? They were not to go beyond things written (1 Cor. 4:6). We conclude — all spiritual activity must be Scriptural. 

The faith (a body of doctrine) can be departed from (1 Tim. 4:1), fall away from (2 Thess. 2:3), turned from (2 Tim. 4:1-4). “The Faith” is the same as “The Truth,” “The Gospel.” 

This is what existed in New Testament times. It was New Testament Christianity. It was to be age-lasting. 

History of Apostasy 

Apostasy was foretold in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7. This apostasy involved corruption in the organization of the church with men usurping authority that was not theirs. The result was the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and the Dark Ages. Corruption of the New Testament order and evil was so great that opposition could be expected. 

Protests introduced, what is known in history as “The Reformation.” Out of this came “Denominationalism.” Divided Christendom was as great an evil as the original apostasy.

 

Numerous men began to speak against the divided state in the religious world, and to plead for a return to the old Bible order of things; to a respect for the authority of God and his Word. They wanted to restore in the hearts of men what was divinely revealed and existed in New Testament days. History refers to this as “The Restoration movement.” The plea was:

• A plea for Christ.
• A plea for the authority of Christ.
• A plea for the church of Christ (body, family, kingdom).
• A plea to be biblical — to walk in the old paths.
• A   plea  for   people   to  be  what  God  wants  us  to  be ,as  revealed in his word (pattern).
• A plea for the restoration of New Testament Christianity in this present age. 

The results of such preaching were electrifying. Congregations of “The Faith” sprung up all across the land. New Testament Christianity was again popular. 

In the years that followed, other apostasies occurred, thinning the ranks of the faithful. Yet, in the midst of these departures from the faith, there has always been that spiritual body of Christ (the church of Christ) with its message of truth. 

When this building was erected in 1930, the body of Christ was just getting over another apostasy. Many brethren lost their respect for the need of Bible authority, for the divine pattern, and changed local church autonomy (each church doing the work of God, under Christ the head [king] to all churches functioning through an organization (Missionary Society) humanly created, and introduced instruments of music in worship. These unscriptural ef- forts resulted in the First Christian Church (denomination). Many souls and church buildings were lost to this apostasy. The church of Christ — family of God, kingdom of Christ suffered great loss. 

Brethren here in Lawrenceburg, who erected this building, continued to preach and practice “The Faith” and to walk in the old paths. New Testament Christianity was being maintained and practiced in this place, even popular.

Someone gave me copies of advertisements for a couple of meetings held in this building in 1944 (53 years ago). The Spring meeting involved numerous preachers (April 24-May 5 — an eleven day meeting).

 Speakers were D.D. Woody, Boone Douthitt, Franklin Puckett, Ira North, George DeHoff, Roy Cogdill, C.C. Burns, E.R. Harper, C.M. Pullias, N.B. Hardeman, C.L. Overturf, J.B. Gaither, A.R. Hill, Leon Burns, and J.L. Jackson.

 I knew every one of these men personally. Not one of them is alive today. Not many who heard the men preaching in this meeting are alive today. 

The Fall meeting, that same year, was preached by H. Leo Boles. He has been dead for a number of years. The young man pictured in this ad, who led the singing, is Robert C. Welch. Brother Welch still lives. He has been a close friend of mine all across these years. I was just a boy preacher, in Moulton, Alabama (less than a hundred miles south of here), and before then, preached at Savannah, Tennessee (about 50 miles west of here). I was in the neighborhood and aware of these meetings here at Downtown in 1944.

 All of these preachers, at that time, were pleading for New Testament Christianity and respect for the authority of God’s Word. Unfortunately, during this last half century the body of Christ has suffered the bitter effects of another apostasy — in the ’50s and ’60s. Some of the men that preached in these meetings were caught up in this new apostasy. Others continued preaching chapter and verse for all that is believed and practiced until they died.

 This apostasy was over Institutionalism and the Social Gospel. One involved the same principle as the Missionary Society — building societies, organizations, and institutions through which churches did their work (homes for orphans, widows, unwed mothers),  and the same kind of thing for evangelizing and schools for training. All these organizations were to be supported out of the treasury of churches. The Social Gospel involved moving the emphasis from saving and nurturing souls to administering to the physical and social needs of man (banqueting, ball teams and fields, gyms, etc.).

 The brethren at the Downtown church, who always opposed any departure from the divine pattern, were able to hold this building and continue the practice of New Testament Christianity because when this building was constructed it was written in the deed that if a time came when some wanted to embrace another organization than the local church, the building would belong to those opposing such things, whether in the majority or minority. So, the Downtown church of Christ has continued walking in truth according to the divine pattern revealed in Scripture.

 Preachers who have lived here and preached in this building have been committed to the principles of New Testament Christianity, speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where it is silent.

 I think of B.G. Hope, now deceased, Rufus Clifford, who was buried just a few weeks ago, E.L. Flannery, now deceased. My own tenure here for several years, David Clay- pool, Rufus Meriweather, Johnnie Felker, Julian Snell, Glen Seaton, and now Jim Deason. All of these men love the truth and give chapter and verse for all that is said and done.

 The Downtown church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee has experienced change across the years, in personnel and membership, but not in faith and practice.

 Just a few of us remain who were around when this place of worship was built, and these are rapidly passing on to their eternal abode. Just this past year we have buried Laura Hermsdorfer, Marie Morrow, Lorena Dowden, Charlie Jones (at 92 — long time elder). Just a few weeks ago we buried Charlie Holt. Standing at his grave side, I noticed on the adjacent lot was the grave marker for Hiram Holtsford and his wife, Cecil, fixtures in the Downtown church for many years.

 Those who have passed on, and there are many others, have lost their earthly fellowship with members of this local church, but they have not lost their membership in the body of Christ, the church of Christ, or their citizenship in the kingdom of Christ. If they were faithful, and we now alive remain faithful, we can look forward to meeting them in the sweet by and by.

 This building in which the Downtown church of Christ has been meeting for worship, preaching and doing the Lord’s work for all these years is only an expedient. So, for whatever expedient reasons — location, steps too high, elevator difficult to maintain, difficult to heat and cool, parking space too limited, or whatever, go ahead and make these expedient changes that are deemed plausible and wise, even though it may, because of sentiment, be sad. Relocate.

 But don’t ever, ever, ever, ever, ever change the doc- trine, worship, organization, or work of the church from that divine pattern revealed in God’s word. Changes in this realm would result in separation from God, the removal of the candlestick, and loss of the soul.

 My time is up and the lesson is yours. Get your song- books and in just a moment we will be singing the song that has been announced.

By Clarence Johnson

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). This passage clearly shows that no one is sinlessly perfect, but it does not brand all as hypocrites. The word hypocrite comes from a Greek word meaning “play actor.” The word denotes one who either (1) pretends to be something he isn’t, or (2) pretends to believe something he does not really believe. The fact that a person sins, does not prove him to be a hypocrite devoid of conviction. Good people sin and make mistakes.

 We will illustrate our point from several incidents from the life of Simon Peter.

 1. Good people make mistakes in judgment. After being with Jesus day and night for three and a half years in prepa- ration to fish for men, Peter contemplated going back to fishing for fish (John 21:3-17). Choosing one’s occupation is a matter of judgment, but in this case, Peter was using extremely poor — perhaps sinful judgment.

 2. Good people sometimes make careless mistakes. Numbers 35:23 pictures a scene where a man brought harm to another in an unguarded moment, by not being care- ful. Many auto accidents and similar matters fall into this category. Even though such carelessness may be sinful, it seldom involves hypocrisy.

 3. Good people make mistakes through ignorance. No one has all knowledge, therefore we are subject to make mistakes that would be avoided if we were better informed. And sometimes our ignorance stems, not from being un- informed but by being misinformed. Sometimes we know things that aren’t true. Peter was there when Jesus gave the great commission “to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” But Peter (and evidently the other apostles as well) assumed that Jesus meant every Jewish creature. After all, they knew they were not to associate with Gentiles (Acts 10:28). And even though the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to preach that the gospel promises were to you (Jews) and to your children, and to all who are afar off (the Gentiles, Eph. 2:17), neither Peter nor the other apostles fully understood that until after the events of Acts 10 and 11. Had they know sooner, they would have preached to Gentiles sooner. Their failure to carry out that part of the commission was not due to hypocrisy, but to their failure to completely understand.

 The sins of Saul of Tarsus against the early church were prompted by a similar lack of understanding. He did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Tim. 1:13).

 4. Good people sin through the weakness of the flesh. Peter’s denial of Jesus was such a sin. Peter succumbed to the fear and/or shame that attached itself to Jesus’ crucifixion (Matt. 26:65-74). What Peter did was a sin, but it was not a deliberate sham. He was a good man, making a mistake through weakness of the flesh (Matt. 26:41).

 These things are not said to excuse sin. Sin is still sin, and it must be confessed and forsaken. But let us take care that we do not brand one as a hypocrite simply because he has erred. Though the good person will make mistakes, he will also acknowledge his sins. And God is faithful and just to forgive” his sins. The blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse him from all sin and unrighteousness.

 The hypocrite will insist that he has not sinned, that he has been misunderstood, or that someone else is re- ally at fault. He thus relinquishes the benefit of having an Advocate with the Father, by denying his need for such (1 John 1:8-2:6).

 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

By Connie W. Adams

My wife and I had planned to spend the month of January working in South Africa. Instead, we had to return after completing two weeks of the scheduled work because of a heart attack suffered by Bobby’s mother. She passed away while we were in flight back to the States and we were greeted by that news at the airport in Louisville. 

But we were able to form some impressions of the work we saw and thought our readers might have some interest in these observations. South Africa is a big country, and we would not have been able to visit several areas where there are congregations even with the full schedule which had been set for us. The part of the country we saw is a mix of industry in the larger cities along with tribal traditions in the suburbs and villages in the more remote areas. The landscape is diverse with mountains, valleys, high plains, and bush country. Johannesburg is a large, sprawling city with elevation of over 5,500 feet, higher than Denver. We saw corn in abundance, some wheat and sugar cane in lower Natal. Even in small towns like Eshowe, the stores are well stocked with supplies. 

Unemployment is high in the nation, over 40%, we were told. Crime has reached major proportions and every house we visited had barred windows and doors. One of the preachers with whom we worked, Robert Buchanan, has had two cars stolen and his home burglarized. There is still some friction among the various tribes. The minority whites are of British and Dutch descent. There is a growing number of Indian and Pakistani people. 

Preacher Training School 

We were met in Durban by Paul and Helen Williams and Basil and Gloria Cass. It took about two hours to drive up the coast of the Indian Ocean and turn slightly north to reach the small town of Eshowe (about 5,000) which is home for the Williamses. I spoke here on Saturday night and two times on Sunday to this congregation of about 60-65 Zulus. Funda was the excellent interpreter. A two-weeks preacher training school had been planned for Monday-Friday of each week. Teachers were Paul Williams, Basil Cass, Scott Tope, and the writer. The second week brethren Cass and Tope could not come and Robert Buchanan came to help, joined also by David Ngonyama, a Zulu preacher supported by the church at Eshowe. Paul Williams gave practical instructions about study habits, tools, public reading and speaking, and offered critiques of assigned efforts by the students. Scott Tope taught five sessions on sermon preparation and delivery. Basil Cass taught from 1 and 2 Timothy about the preacher’s work under the theme “Take Heed to Thyself and to the Doctrine.” The first week I taught classes on premillennialism, the covenants, and institutionalism. The second week I taught classes on the preacher and his work and on divorce and remarriage. Paul Williams continued his theme with more time allowed for the students to speak and use what they had learned. Robert Buchanan enlarged upon the theme of sermon prepara- tion and also assigned students speaking duties. David Ngonyama taught an interesting class on how to conduct tent meetings, something which he does often and usually with much success. 

The first week we had up to 18 in attendance with some coming from Johannesburg and Durban. The second week these were not able to come and we had five or six most days. These men were there for both weeks and their ability seemed more evident with each day’s work. A couple of these men have great potential. Ashley Goosen came all the way from Port Elizabeth where he does a good amount of preaching. He is a mature man of 48 who is ready to devote himself to fulltime preaching when support can be arranged. Classes ran from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. with a one hour break for lunch. Lunch was provided at the Williams’ home thanks to the work of Helen, Bobby, and Esther (the first week). While we had the training school at the build- ing in town, Bobby taught classes for the women in the Williams’ home for eight days dealing with a number of subjects ranging from godly womanhood to moral issues to learning how to teach other women. 

Durban 

After classes the first Friday, we went home with Basil Cass who lives in Pinetown, a suburb on the northwest side of Durban. He works with several congregations in the Durban area. On Saturday night I spoke to the Shallcross congregation. These brethren are Indians. They meet in a school and we had about 40 present. They have two elders. On Sunday morning I spoke to a small group (12-15) of Zulus meeting in a private home. A brother who is a school teacher works with them, a brother Manzini. Then on Sun- day night I spoke at Pinetown where Doug Bauer preaches. The building was filled. They have a nice building. We had good singing at each place we visited. Paul and Helen Williams were there that night and drove us back to Eshowe to begin the second week of the training school the next morning. I spoke 30 times in two weeks and Bobby taught eight classes for women. 

White River 

We arrived Friday night at White River after a seven hour trip with Robert Buchanan. We spent the night in his home and were graciously received by him, his wife, Cheryl, and sons, Jacque and Graham. Early the next morning we received an E-mail from Harold Byers of Louisville telling us Bobby’s mother had suffered a heart attack and was in a Louisville hospital. Of course, we began to make immediate plans to come home. Rob drove us the four hours to Johannesburg where we caught a plane at 9:00 P.M. 

We had been scheduled to preach Sunday-Wednesday nights at White River where Robert Buchanan, Hendrik Joubert, and Sakkie Pretorius work. They each preach for several congregations in that area. We were then scheduled to go with Johnny Scholtz up into Zimbabwe for a few days of preaching in villages in the bush country and then were to end our visit by speaking the last week-end in congregations in the Johannesburg area. That part of the work remains unfinished and we hope that someday in the future we may be able to finish that and also visit brethren in other areas besides. That remains to be seen. Leslie Maydell and Gene Tope were both in the States and we missed seeing them. 

I will not forget the last thing Scott Tope said to me when we said goodbye. He said, “Tell the brethren that we are spread very thin here and could use more help.” We had good impressions of the work and workers we met. We spent more time with the Williamses than anyone else because of the training school. Their knowledge of the work there and dedication to it is obvious. They have now spent over 30 years in South Africa. 

Indeed, “the field is the world” and I hope you have enjoyed this snapshot of a small part of the work in South Africa. One thing which stood out was the fact that the native churches have been taught to stand on their own and support their own men as they are able. With such men as Funda and David at Eshowe, brother Manzini in Durban and the Indian work at Shallcross, I believe the work in these places will grow and keep the light of truth burning. We are thankful for the invitation to have a small part in this work and for those who helped us to go.