Truth Magazine

By Bryan Gibson

Recently, my wife and I were blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Leah May Gibson. We now have two daughters  Alli is three years old. As any father is likely to do, I’ve done some thinking about what the future holds for my two daughters. Here are some things I want for my girls, things I believe God wants for them, too.

I want my daughters to be beautiful on the inside. It’s not that I want them to neglect their outward appearance; it’s just that there are some things far more important. I want them to be clothed with “strength and honor” (Prov. 31:25), and with a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:3-5). I want them to have the kind of beauty that never fades. In looking through the New Testament I see many qualities I would love for my daughters to have. I want them to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, compassionate, tenderhearted, for-giving, kind, longsuffering, pure in heart, and patient. I want them to hunger and thirst after righteousness. I want them to mourn when they sin. I want them to learn to rejoice, even in the midst of difficult times. 1 want them to learn what it means to be truly content. In short, I want them to be like Christ, which should be the goal of every faithful Christian.

I want them to marry faithful Christians. I want this, partly, for selfish reasons. I want my daughters to be treated well, and if they marry faithful Christians, they will be. If married to faithful Christians, they will be loved as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25). They will have unselfish husbands (Phil. 2:3-4). They will have husbands who not only tell them they love them, but who show them as well (1 John 3:16-18). But there are other reasons for wanting them to marry faithful Christians. I want them to marry someone with whom they can pray. I want them to marry someone who will want the same things for the children as they do.

I want them to marry someone with whom they can be fellow-workers in the kingdom of God, a husband and wife team like that of Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; 1 Cor. 16:19; Rom. 16:3-4).

I want them to be good wives. Each will need to understand her role of submission in this relationship (Eph. 5:22-24, 33). Each will need to look out for the interests of her husband, as well as her own (Phil. 2:3-4). Each will need to show her husband she loves him (1 John 3:18). Each will need to do her husband good as long as she lives (Prov. 31:12).

I want them to be good mothers. I want them to see the importance God places on bringing up children (1 Tim. 2:11-15). I want them to be like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, who was very attentive to her children’s needs. I want them to be like Hannah, who said of her son Samuel, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11). I want them to be like Eunice, who taught her son Timothy the Scriptures from childhood (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15).

I want them to be ready to do good for others. I want them to be like the virtuous woman who “extends her hands to the poor . . . reaches out her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20).1 want them to be like Dorcas, who was “full of good works and charitable deeds” (Acts 9:36); like Phoebe, who was “a helper of many” (Rom. 16:1-2). I want them to be the kind of women who have “diligently followed every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10).

Finally, I want my daughters (as well as my sons) to go to heaven. If they can do the things mentioned earlier in this article, they will be well on their way.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 18
March 20, 1997

By Dan McKibben

I found an interesting little point the other day in studying 1 Timothy 2:9-10. The text says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I was looking up this word sobriety in Strong’s concordance. According to Mr. Strong, this word means “soundness of mind, i.e. (lit.) sanity.” Thus I learned that when women (and men) dress in modest, decent apparel; having the attitudes of shamefacedness and sobriety, that they have a soundness of mind, that they are showing forth “sanity” of mind by their good choices in the modest clothes they wear.

Also along this line in Luke 8, we read an interesting account of a man that was demon possessed, in the country of Gadarenes. In verse 27 the text records, “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.” As we read on in this account in Luke 8, verses 28-34 describe how Jesus cast out the demons from the man, and how they entered into the swine. Then the record goes on to say in verse 35, “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” Thus we would learn from this passage that a man in his “right mind” will be wearing his clothes. And that a man that does not wear his clothes, is not in his “right mind.” I guess we would have to say, that folks who dress immodestly, are displaying “in-sanity.” And we would also have to say, that folks who dress modestly, are displaying “sanity.”

I suppose a lot of you have seen Susan Powder (she is the blonde headed lady that wears a burr haircut) on TV, advertising her video and her book called, Stop The Insanity. It is a diet program that laments the myriad of diet books and programs out there in the world, some that Susan feels are way out. On the cover of Susan’s book, they have a picture of Susan cringing, with her fists at her temples, and the caption and title that says, Stop The Insanity. Now this brings me to the point of this article. When one sees all about us, all the people who dress immodestly, folks who shed their clothes almost to nothing when the weather gets a little warm, when you drive through town and have to go by the public swimming pool and there are all those people who are running around in “colored underwear,” when one feels almost embarrassed to go to the store in the summer-time because of all the brief, scanty attire, it just makes you want to put your fists to your temples and say, “Stop The Insanity!”

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 17
March 20, 1997

By Dan King

Sometimes I fear that representatives of several of the religious groups around us are much better prepared to explain what they believe and why they believe it than many members of the church. We cannot depend upon lines like: “I am a member of the Church of Christ, and I believe every thing it does.” After all, the church of Christ has no creed but the Bible. Simplistic replies like that not only are insufficient, they are not true. Besides, members and congregations within the category “churches of Christ” believe all sorts of different things. We ought not to desire to be identified with many of the things which are believed and taught by some people in many of those churches.

So, that puts us back to “square one.” Slogans and generalizations will not suffice. But the truth is that they never have been acceptable. When the apostle Peter wrestled with the problem of Christians who were suffering though they stood for everything that was good and worthwhile in life (“even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake. .. “), he warned them to be prepared in advance. “But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ” (1 Pet. 3:14-16).

Such challenges to one’s faith, and even assaults upon one’s faith, are certain to come. The key to handling the situation well is to make mental preparation and adequate logical and scriptural preparation long before the challenges come. Know this for sure: people place no confidence in a halting or uncertain reply. They are looking for confidence and certainty. The world is filled already to the brim with people who have lots of questions but no explanations, only “possible alternatives” and “unproven theories.” They are looking for people with answers. And they are interested as much in the strength of your convictions as they are in the convictions themselves.

Peter tells us to have the foresight and anticipate the inevitable situations that will arise, before they manifest themselves. Such anticipation involves knowing two things beforehand: (1) What will the questions be?; and, (2) What are the answers to the questions? Now, unfortunately, this is very much like taking a test in school. You never know precisely what the questions will be, only the general information that will be covered in the test. Yet, if you are well practiced on the material which made up the presentations in class and the readings which were to attend them, then you can pass the examination. The same goes for the challenge to your faith that Peter is here describing. You can pass the test, but you must be ready for it to pass it!

One version renders Peter’s exhortation this way, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” The word translated here as “defense” is the Greek word apologian, which means “an apology.” Apology, as used in this context, does not mean “saying you are sorry,” but rather a “formal defense” of what you believe. Peter was urging Christians to be ready to give a reasoned, intelligent explanation of their faith to anyone who might ask about what Christians believed and practiced. The apostle wanted those who made such defenses to be convincing. Once again, only an adequately prepared defense will be convincing to a listener. Knowledge and deep conviction breed confidence. And confidence is convincing, especially to those who are honestly searching for answers!

Peter also has somewhat to say about how we ought to formulate our reply to questions about our faith. We are to speak with “gentleness and reverence.” The word meaning “gentleness” or “meekness” is rendered “strength under control.” It is used to describe horses who are broken to the bit and bridle, and so are disciplined enough to be useful. The meaning is therefore that we are to bring our emotions, especially anger and malice, under complete control, so that they do not spoil the effectiveness of our presentation. Undoubtedly Peter would have been the first to admit that sometimes it is all we can do to maintain control when epithets and insults are being slung at us by people who are often ignorant and mean-spirited. But our own self-control and maintenance of composure is very much a part of the defense. Because our own behavior is part of our defense. Remember that we serve him who stood in almost complete silence as he was tried for crimes of which he was not guilty. We must never forget this.

“Reverence” or “fear” is also a part of one’s defense of the faith. We know that someday we must report to the Master about how this opportunity that was presented to us went. What will we say? “I wasn’t ready for that one!” “I had never thought about that before!” “That one sure took me off guard!” How do you think the Lord will react? Sounds like we might fail that test.

Are you “prepared to make your defense” of what you believe and stand for? No one can do it for you. Only real preparation can do it. Are you ready? If you are not, then plan to spend some time studying every day. Come to all the Bible classes. Offer to teach in the Bible class pro-gram. Look for opportunities to speak to your non-Christian relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers. Test your skills. Refine them by trial and error. Make of yourself a “defender of the faith”!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 16-17
March 20, 1997

By Norman Midgette

We are living in an age of amazing claims. Some have been kidnapped by beings from another planet and whisked away in a UFO, or so they claim. Some claim their spirit left their body in death, drifted around the ceiling of the operating room, and then re-entered their body and they lived again. Some claim to have spoken directly to God and Christ or to have seen Mary or an angel from heaven. Some claim they were at the point of death and were miraculously healed or had some dread disease and upon attending the services of a faith healer were completely cured.

Claims are a dime a dozen but proofs are another matter. Furthermore, there are some things people claim that you have no way to “disprove.” Let none of these things bother you. Just keep your eye on what really matters and here it is.

So you talked with an angel or saw Jesus Christ! Is that going to change the demands of the gospel or prove you are a Christian? Cornelius had a vision and saw an angel but he was far from being a saved man (Acts 10:4; 11:14). While Saul was still persecuting the church he “saw” Christ and “heard a voice from his mouth” (Acts 22:14). At this time in his life Paul later said he was the “chief’ of sinners (1 Tim. 1 :15).

Now suppose you really believed you were healed miraculously by being touched by a “faith healer.” Is that going to change one command of Christ? Let us suppose you have been taught, and you believe, you were saved by faith only. Is the fact you think you were healed with or without a faith healer going to change the command of Christ to “repent and be baptized for remission of sins” (Acts 2:38)? Is anything that you do in this life or that happens to you in this life going to change one word in the Bible? When you look in the Bible at people that really were healed, that healing had nothing to do with whether they were in the family of God or saved. Take as examples Naaman (2 Kings 5:8-14) or Jeroboam (1 Kings 13:1-6). Naaman was a Gen-tile and Jeroboam a renegade Jew filled with wickedness. They were both healed, one of leprosy and the other of a withered hand. Neither these cases nor any in the New Testament made anyone closer to God nor proved they had his fellowship.

No matter what you claim you have seen or has happened to you nothing effects what God said you must do to be saved. If you believe you had a barbecue feast with a thousand angels or played handball with Moses, you would still have to repent and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:15, 16). You would then need to live a faithful life, according to the gospel, to go to heaven (Phil. 1:27; Rev. 2:10).

Interestingly, it is usually those people who are not following the Bible who try to give credence to their spiritual lives by these claims of external experiences. Your concern should not be about seeing angels but about obeying the gospel because that is the only thing that can save you and give you fellowship with God (Rom. 1:16).

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 13
March 20, 1997