Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

Like the assassination of President Kennedy a generation ago, the sudden death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has shocked the world. What lessons can we learn?

The Brevity of Life

She was only 36 years old, yet, whether young or old, our lives are “soon cut off, and we fly away” (Ps. 90:10). “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Jas. 4:14).

Death Comes to All Men, Rich and Poor “They that trust in their wealth. . . . None of them, can by any means . . . give to God a ransom…. That he should still live for ever and not see corruption” (Ps. 49:6-9). The rich fool in Luke 12 looked forward to “many years” of luxurious retirement, but God said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20). Wealth, fame, honor, and privilege did not save that man, nor the lovely Princess, and neither can they deliver us from our appointment with death (Heb. 9:27).

“The Sting of Death Is Sin”

Death would not hold as much pain as it does if no one died in sin (John 8:21, 24; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). When one dies outside of Christ, not having obeyed the gospel of Christ, it reminds us of death’s real sting, its real sorrow. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). In contrast to that, the Psalmist said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15). Thus, while we mourn the Princess, let us warn people who are unprepared to meet God, lest at death they partake of the sting of death.

“Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter”

“It is better to go to the house of mourning , than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made wise. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool” (Eccl. 7:2-6).

The wise man will reflect on his soul’s salvation in the house of mourning. The fool seeks the shallow laughter and happiness of the world and blinds himself to the inevitability of death and the judgment.

Conclusion

Have you learned these lessons? In light of the sad and shocking loss of Princess Diana, it is time we paused to think on them and make application to our lives.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 1
October 16, 1997

By David McKee

I have always been content to read the fine articles presented in this publication and have never felt compelled to contribute, but for the sake of our brethren I would like to get a word out to fellow-preachers: Please, lose the arrogance! This promoting of oneself is leaving the simple behind, creating followings out of opinions, and reducing your level of influence for good, as people are simply turned off by it.

Perhaps it is the most recent display that has moved me to express my disappointment. At a gathering of preachers, a young talented man was responding to a question concerning a young talented friend of his. His answer dealt with his friend’s location and the inability of his congregation to grasp the things that he said, as his sermons were above the level of this simple-minded group’s ability to comprehend. His punch line was, “He gets up there and discusses some issue and these folks, who’ve just come in from cutting their okra and picking their corn, don’t have any idea what he’s talking about.” The group laughed.

The preacher in that location must be relating it to his friend in such terms which indicates the opinion he has of himself. The friend in the group tells it, as if he sympathizes, and the majority laughs at those simple-minded dolts who can’t keep pace with this one of superior intellect. Why doesn’t the fellow go somewhere that is sophisticated enough for him and let some hillbilly come in there who might do them some good? Perhaps I was offended because half the folks I preach to cut okra and grow corn, as I do myself. I guess we are simple-minded also.

Earlier in the year, my family went to a local meeting where the speaker, for the first five minutes of the lesson, spoke of all the wonderful things he had done, the wonderful lessons he had prepared on other subjects, expressed his sorrow that we would not be able to hear them, but could if we came where he regularly preached. Later in his lesson, while making an important point about Christ, he stopped and castigated the group for not responding when he said, “Amen?” He proceeded to inform the group that we must be one of those backward groups that doesn’t believe in saying “amen.” After about five minutes of this, he concluded by giving us a dry-run or two on how to say “amen” when he would say “amen.” When he was satisfied, he returned to his point about Christ, what-ever it was, checking every now and then to see if we remembered our lesson with a quick, “Amen?” He bragged on the few who did respond on-demand. I wondered if he kept doggie treats in his pocket for such occasions.

A few years ago, our congregation held a meeting, and the speaker turned out to be one of those who feels no regrets about speaking for an hour and a half each night. Few men can speak that long and keep one captivated  he wasn’t one of those. Later in the week, as he was speaking, he reached a point where you surely though he was going to conclude, but instead went on for twenty more minutes. He told me later that he had thought of concluding at that point, but that, “I could see the gleam in their eyes, and I knew I had them right where I wanted them.” I wanted to tell him, that wasn’t gleam you saw; maybe pain, discomfort, even boredom. Even if he were one of those whose two-hour lesson seems like fifteen minutes, his statement revealed an opinion of himself that was a bit overrated.

While we all could go on with more such incidents, we need to be aware of what harm we are doing to the cause of Christ. Far from “adorning the gospel,” it comes across as distasteful in the eyes of many. Most would not tell the preacher, “I was turned off by your show of arrogance,” but will simply stop listening, or not return to hear him again. Even the simplest of us can see that this attitude represents nothing of the nature of Christ. Paul crawled so that Christ would be exalted. Too many today exalt themselves above a group they see as crawling before them.

Many brethren are taken with such a one, as he is revered, not only in his own eyes, but theirs as well. His word is taken for gospel truth. Problems arise and his opinion is gold, never mind what the Bible might say on the matter. Two revered ones clash over some self-exalted opinion and the fall-out is among the brethren who will divide over which side of the issue their man has taken. No one will confess wrong and nothing will be resolved because arrogance will not allow it.

The difficulty with rebuking one with such a mind is that he will either think himself deserving of such elevation, fail to see himself truly, or think such a rebuke comes from an underling who knows not whereof he speaks. Paul could say, “In nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles,” and it is great if God has blessed you with ability that sets you apart. But please bear in mind what Paul follows that with; “though I am nothing.”

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 6-7
October 16, 1997

By Quentin McCay

Many churches are doing many things today that would have been unthinkable several years ago. Though the gospel is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16), all kinds of gimmicks are invented to draw people. Church kitchens are built with the money from church treasuries. Children are rewarded with candy and cookies for riding the buses to services. Basketball teams, skating parties, fellowship halls, and youth rallies are designed to appeal to the young people. Homes for unwed mothers, homes for the needy, and schools, for which a fee is charged (to teach secular subjects), are invented to thaw people into the fold. Numerous other practices could be mentioned that indicate that many churches have abandoned the practice of doing all things according to the pattern of the New Testament.

Some people are bothered by all these things being done by the church. Often they say that they do not believe that such things are the work of the church and wish that the church would cease such practices. But they do not have the courage to break with the liberal trend. However, some have made the break and are willing to bear whatever reproach and shame evil men heap upon them. To those who have thought of breaking with the accelerating apostasy, we make an appeal to come back to the Bible, and take a stand with those who are fighting for the purity of the church.

To keep you safely in the fold of digression, many tricks are used. The “liberals” would have you believe that the “conservatives” are a bunch of cranks who would let poor little orphans starve and who think that it is sinful for churches to cooperate. Such charges are false and most everyone knows that such is false, but it serves the purpose to deceive. We stand ready to accept any passage or Bible argument that will prove these things to be scriptural. But all the wisdom of men has not found any Bible authority for the above mentioned practices. We urge you to examine what we teach and practice in these areas of differences and find out just what the issues are. Many honest people have done this and discovered that what we are saying is exactly what they believe, because it is what the Bible teaches, and have broken with the liberal forces. They have taken their stand with those who are making a sincere effort to “speak where the Bile speaks,” and to “be silent where the Bible is silent.” For the following reasons we appeal to you to make the break as many have done

For Conscience Sake

Many say they do not believe many things that churches are doing and yet go right along giving their money and time advancing the very thing that they oppose. The Bible teaches, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). This means that we sin, if we do things, not being fully persuaded in our own mind that the practice is right. Paul was discussing the matter of eating meats, but his teaching has application to unscriptural practices of churches today. Practicing something without the full consent of one’s con-science is sinful. So for the sake of your conscience, you should break with those unscriptural practices.

For Sake Of Your Children

Though you say that you do not believe in many things being done by the church where you worship, your children will likely grow up believing that such are scriptural. Little by little the church is drifting into complete apostasy and your children will find themselves involved in this apostasy. For the sake of your children, therefore you should lead the way out of the digressive movement. You have a duty to teach them the truth on every subject and show them the dangers of any departure from the ways of the Lord. Your children will grow up and give their time, money, and influence to the cause of digression, and you will be responsible for it. Their usefulness for truth and righteousness now, and their eternal salvation depends upon you leading the way out of error and back to the Bible.

Duty To Stand For The Right

Christians have an obligation to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). Error succeeds when Christians do nothing When God’s people fail to stand against error, there will be no opposition to it, and error will grow like leaven to permeate the whole body. Paul declared, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore …” (Eph. 6:10-18). The person that does not stand against (anti) error is in violation of this passage.

For Your Own Salvation

One cannot be saved believing and following error. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). One is made free from sin, or saved by truth, not error. A little error mixed with a lot of truth is destructive. Some say, “I don’t go along, nor believe a lot of things being done where I worship.” But they do go along by giving their time, money, and influence to those things. You should either correct the error where you worship, or make the break and find a place where you can stand for the truth. Your salvation depends upon it.

To have a clear conscience, to save your children, to fulfill your duty, and for the sake of the salvation of your own soul, you should make the break and take your stand with those who are making a sincere effort to please God in all things.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 19 p. 18-19
October 2, 1997

By Mike Willis

I recently received a question from a friend who asked me to write an editorial on the subject of making announcements in the public worship. My friend asked if the church was digressing into the social gospel when it announced privately arranged social gatherings in its bulletin, posted them on the bulletin board, or announced them in the assembly.

Churches have generally handled such matters in a variety of ways. Some allow such announcements in the assembly, some will announce that members need to wait until the final prayer is over for an announcement unrelated to their assembly, and some will not even allow such announcements in that circumstance. I appreciate the disposition of brethren to guard against encroaching trends that may lead to steps of apostasy, whether or not I agree with their judgment. I would like to make some observations that may give us some insight into this subject.

1. We allow announcements regarding occasions for sharing grief, but not announcements of occasions for sharing joy. I don’t know how some have gotten into this cycle, but they are there. They will allow brethren to make announcements from the pulpit of someone who died, to announce the viewing and the funeral. However, they will not allow announcements of joy to be made in the services, to tell brethren about someone’s 50th wedding anniversary, a bridal shower, or a shower for an expectant mother. They will not allow anyone to announce that a member has invited all of the teenagers to his home. How would one justify announcing a funeral service in their announcements? Perhaps he would go to 1 Corinthians 12:26, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” Certainly the command for members to share each other’s burdens of sorrow would authorize the church to announce such things that prayer might be offered and their needs be met. The church prayed for Peter while he was in prison, so the church had to be informed in some manner of his being in prison (Acts 12:12). But, the same passage that commands us to share our occasions of sorrow commands us to share one another’s joys and the only way we can to do is to be informed of those occasions of joy.

The same passage that we would use to give authority for announcing occasions to bear each other’s burdens would also provide authority for announcing occasions of joy.

2. We can tell people what not to do, but not tell them what to do. Somehow we have evolved into a group that can tell people what they can’t do, but would protest if someone told others what they should do. We will allow our gospel preachers to stand in a pulpit and tell our members that they should not be reading such pornographic magazines as Playboy, Penthouse, and such like magazines. No one would say a word about such preaching; they may even “Amen!” it. However, if a person were to say, “Brethren, you need to be reading such magazines as Guardian of Truth” someone would probably object. What is wrong with telling brethren about and exhorting them to read good literature that will edify them spiritually? Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). If that Scripture can legitimately be used to tell brethren what they should not read, it can be used just as legitimately to tell them what they should read.

We use 1 Corinthians 15:33 in the same inconsistent manner. Paul wrote, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” We use that to preach to our young folks about places they do not need to go, where evil associations will corrupt their morals. We advise them to stay away from dances, gambling casinos, taverns, and such like things. No one would criticize us for exhorting our young people to stay away from those kinds of establishments. If we can announce from our pulpits places where our young people should not go, why can’t we tell our young people of occasions provided to have associations of a good kind?

3. Look at the announcements in sacred Scripture. Rhoda announced to an assembly gathered for prayer that Peter stood at the door (Acts 12:14). Paul sent personal greetings to a number of people in Romans 16:1-15. He instructed Timothy to come see him and bring his cloak and parchments (2 Tim. 4:9, 13). Can we study such statements in our assembly but cannot make similar announcements? In the last chapter of 2 Timothy, he reported the sickness of Trophimus (4:20), sent greetings to a variety of people, and related various tidbits of information that he wanted them to know. A listing of such things would show that the early church was informed of a variety of things that pertained to daily living, making it possible for “each to feel his brother’s sigh and with him bear a part.” This enabled them to share their sorrows “from eye to eye and joy from heart to heart.”

Is it possible that some of us have stood up so straight in opposing liberalism that we have leaned over backwards? There is nothing wrong with brethren making relevant announcements in their meetings to enable Christians to do those things that Christ has commanded!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 2
October 16, 1997