Truth Magazine

By Gary D. Perry

It was a hot day in South Vietnam in the summer of 1968. I was a young infantry soldier who had been there for three weeks and was beginning only my second day in combat. It was early in the morning when we broke camp. My squad was the last to leave as we walked single file through the jungle. I was the last man until a more “experienced” young soldier came to me and said, “You haven’t been here long enough to bring up the rear, go ahead and move up the line.” So I yielded my position to him and moved until I was three men from the rear. A few minutes later, as we proceeded down a hillside, gunshots rang out. We all took cover and began returning fire. But it was too late the sniper was gone, he had accomplished his purpose. He had killed the last man in the squad.

At the time I was a scared 20-year-old with a whole year of war ahead of me. I found it hard to believe that this young man, who didn’t even know me, took my position and died in my place. As the year went by I had many other close calls and considered myself lucky to get home alive in July of 1969. Over the years I have tried not to think too much about the Vietnam War, but I thought I would al-ways remember the young man who died in my place. But now almost 30 years later I am ashamed to admit that I have for- of God, who died not only for me gotten his name.

There is another man, the Son of God, who died not only for me but for each one of us. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but There is another man, the Son to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us …” (1 Thess. 5:9-10). We par-take of the Lord’s supper upon the first day of each week so we won’t forget him. As Jesus said, “this do in remembrance of me.” Even so there are many who do forget Jesus and what he did for them. Even when Jesus was here on earth some of his followers chose to forget him, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68).

Likewise there are many to-day who were Christians, who have heard the words of eternal life and have gone back into the world. They have fallen away, they have forgotten Christ and what he did for them, ” . . . they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:6). Let us never forget “our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us,” “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 15, p. 6
August 1, 1996

By Steve Wallace

In April of this year, Jay Horsley, along with his wife, Becky, and infant son, James, returned to the U.S. after living and working in Lithuania for more than two and a half years. Through his efforts and those of many others, there are now churches in two cities in that country and a single Christian in a third city, plus countless thousands have heard the gospel of our Lord. Much additional work has been accomplished in the areas of translating material into the Russian and Lithuanian languages, as well as in securing printers, interpreters, and other services necessary to the work there.

Our labors there have brought us into contact with many people who once seemed very distant, not only geographically, but culturally as well. We have met several young men who fought for the old Soviet Union in the war in Afghanistan. One sister was born in a place east of Siberia, her parents having been some of the many who were exiled from their own country by Stalin. Another brother used to work in a Gulag. Such people are living legacies to the Soviet period. Let us all thank God that we at last are able to teach the word of God in Lithuania and other countries formerly under the domination of the USSR!

We know what has happened in such countries with regards to the Lord’s work up to this point. We deal here with matters which ought to cause us all to think seriously about what will happen in the future. Two questions, asked by brethren there during the time of brother Horsley’s departure, should provide sufficient food for thought.

What Is Going to Happen Now?

Since the time people were first converted in Lithuania, all those who have worked there have tried not only to spread the gospel but to establish the converts. However, at this point there simply are not enough workers for the work that needs to be done. One cannot but fear for the spiritual well-being of our brethren there like Paul did for the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 3:1-2). There has already been at least one case in Eastern Europe where a whole church of about ten souls apostatized into denominationalism during such a time. The pull of the lusts of this world and false religion are as real today as they were in the first century (1 Pet. 2:11; Gal. 1:6-7). Further, one cannot help but fear for the future political well-being of this country.

Perhaps some of you have heard in the news that the Russian duma has called for a restoration of the borders of the Soviet Union. This might not have touched the average American but such is not the case in Lithuania. If the Russian duma vote became reality they would be within the borders of a new Russia. Further, I have before me an article from the May 9, 1996 Stars and Stripes with the headline, “Zhirinovsky vows to annex Baltics.” With such fearful possibilities looming in the future those who can act must act. Which brings us to the next question.

Who Is Going to Come?

While one might sense my sympathies in writing the above heading, it was brethren in Lithuania who asked this question. There is a very real desire on their part that the work of teaching them the gospel and evangelizing their country continue. This is also the desire of everyone who has worked in that country. (There have been over twenty such men up to this point.) The proposition of fulfilling this need is not very imposing from a logistical standpoint.

The changes that have come to Lithuania have brought many of the goods and groceries of western society to market there. One of the brethren in Vilnius has a flat which he is keeping open so that one moving there to work will have a place to live. As mentioned above, most logistical necessities for doing the work are already secured. Further, since this writer lives in Germany he can also lend a hand in helping someone get settled into the work there.

Sound men with desire to reach the lost and further establish young Christians are needed who will answer the above question. Everything is ready and the fields are white to the harvest. (Five have been baptized in Kaunas in the Spring 1996 effort there.) Can you come?

Conclusion

We know not when the Lord will come nor what the future holds. We know we have a message that lost men need to be told. An effectual door for work is open and sound men must go through. Search your heart, reflect on your talents; might one of those men be you?

 

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 15, p. 10
August 1, 1996

By Larry Ray Hafley

Richard Vara, “Houston Chronicle Religion Writer,” wrote a column which detailed the Southern Baptist Convention’s vote “to oppose the legalization of homosexual marriages” (Houston Chronicle, June 14, 1996, 10A). It was a fair and balanced article. However, the headline above the article gave me the chills. It read, “Southern Baptists’ spite aimed at gay marriages.” Think about that headline. What does it say?

Note the possessive case  “South-ern Baptists.” Next, define the word, “spite.” Webster says that spite is “ill will with a wish to annoy, anger, or defeat: petty malice.” Webster gives “malignity, spleen, grudge, (and) malevolence” as synonyms of “spite.” Surely, Southern Baptists wish to “defeat” “the legalization of homosexual marriages.” However, for the paper to say that their efforts are characterized by “ill will” and “petty malice” is unfair, prejudicial, and a violation of journalistic ethics. In effect, the headline says, “Southern Baptists’ ill will, malignity, and malevolence (hatred) aimed at gay marriages.”

I do not know if Mr. Vara is responsible for the headline or not. Someone is. That someone needs to be called into account.

“So, what is the big deal?” you ask. What if the Southern Baptists had voted to oppose pedophiles (those who have sex with children)? Would the headline have said, “Southern Baptists’ ill will, hatred, spite aimed at pedophiles”? If the Southern Baptists had voted to oppose middle eastern terrorists blowing up airplanes, would the headline have said, “Southern Baptists’ ill will, hatred, spite aimed at middle eastern terrorists”? If the Southern Baptists had voted to oppose heroine addicts and their exchange of needles which is a leading cause of the AIDS virus, would the headline have said, “Southern Baptists’ ill will, hatred, spite aimed at heroine addicts?” If the Southern Baptists had voted to oppose houses of prostitution within day-care centers, would the headline have said, “Southern Baptists’ ill will, hatred, spite aimed at day care centers”? Probably!

The majority of the press, the media, favors homosexuality. According to the media, those who oppose immoral behavior are bigots. Those who condemn homosexual behavior are “filled with hatred.” This point is proven and illustrated by the headline cited above. It is typical of the media to represent the morality of the Bible as being an “intolerant,” “hateful,” and “extremist” view that denies one his basic civil and social rights. Again, the headline demonstrates and punctuates this fact. To uphold the purity and virtue of godliness and holiness makes one a social outcast in the eyes of political liberals.

What the newspapers and others have not considered is the fact that some day someone will come after them, too. One day, a free press willbe seen as a thing of “spite” and disdain. The present philosophical and moral stance of the media guarantees the demise of freedom, liberty, and justice.

When and where men are not expected to govern their lusts and live morally pure, first the homes, then the neighborhoods, then the communities, then society, and finally the nation breaks down. Before licentiousness, masquerading as “openness” and “freedom of choice,” is complete, be-fore it has run its ruinous course, the media itself will lose its safeguards, its protections of law. Where there are no moral responsibilities, there will not long be any moral rights.

The press, which is now casting snide aspersions against those who contend for moral principles, will one day see its freedom stripped by the same forces it now endorses. The lawless and disobedient who do not respect God’s laws will not sustain the rights of the press once they obtain their way.

Ironically, newspapers then will “pray” for moral principles of justice to be shown to them in their fight to maintain their independence. However, the spirit that will disdain and destroy them is the one they now support in their fight against goodness. Truly, “righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 15, p. 7
August 1, 1996

By Don Alexander

In the early 1980s the congregation where I preached experienced much growth as dozens of individuals obeyed the gospel and converted to Christ. The work was tiring as well as exhilarating; filled with valleys as well as mountain peaks. It was exciting to be a part of such an effort.

I would conduct personal evangelism classes one night and new converts classes almost the next night. Young adults who became Christians would bring their friends to study and we often would baptize them. We were careful to make sure that those taught and baptized were taught to “observe all things I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19).

However, we saw some new converts rise up and grow. They went to other congregations and were faithful. Some of them married each other and continued to grow. Sadly, others grew weary and fell away. After a while the work can take its toll if we are not careful. At times like these, saints need to lift up their eyes and see the Creator of all the Earth. He gives power to the faint-hearted and weary. We can run and not grow weary and soar on wings as eagles.

Two young Christians, each of whom I had the opportunity to teach and baptize, met each other at another congregation, fell in love, and asked me to many them. Before they moved away from Sacramento, they presented me with a large framed print showing an eagle with wings spread, ready to “mount up.” It had this inscription: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). It has been my favorite Old Testament passage since and was the inspiration for this familiar hymn that I wrote. At last report, they are still faithful to each other and to the Lord.

 

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 15, p. 11
August 1, 1996