Truth Magazine

By Kevin Maxey, Dennis Scroggins, and Steve Wallace

In late March of this year Dennis Scroggins and Steve Wallace arrived to start another effort to spread the gospel in Kaunas. Kevin Maxey and Bill Bynum followed them. The effort continues as this article is being written with Randy Blackaby and Joe McCameron presently laboring there.

Street Work

Almost everyday we set up a table full of literature in the Lithuanian language on the main pedestrian street in Kaunas, Laisves Aleja. While things are starting to taper off from what they once were in terms of the number of people taking literature, we still gave away a good amount. Also, there were a good number of discussions with people who passed by.

Lectures

The attendance at the our Sun-day lectures grew to a high of twenty people in attendance, twelve of whom were non-Christians. We advertized the lectures in the city paper and handed out invitations to people who passed by the table. We usually made overhead charts of our lessons for the lectures which were also copied and handed out to all who came.

The Church in Kaunas

At this point there have been four souls baptized into Christ this spring. While the workers mentioned of course had a part in these conversions, it is important to note that three of these baptisms came as a result of the efforts of members of the church there in making contacts or talking with others. Two of those baptized had also been at-tending the lectures.

Other Work

Work is continuing in getting books translated into Lithuanian. At this point Denominationalism and The Church, by Larry Ray Hafley, The New Testament Church, by Roy Cogdill, Discussion Between a Preacher and a Priest, by Leroy Brownlow, Glossoalia, by Jimmy Jividen, and The Houchen-Tatum Debate are in various stages of preparation for being printed. Many hours have been spent up to this point in the proof-reading of translated material. Through the contributions of individuals some of our translators now have old 286 computers with which to work. This simplifies the job of editing and final printing.

Jay Horsley, who previously worked in Vilnius, returned to the U.S. in mid-April. Hence, it has be-come necessary for us to take opportunities to work with the church in Vilnius. Also, there is a Christian in the northern city of Shiauliai whom Jay had been visiting as he found time whom Steve also was able to visit during his time there.

Can You Come to Lithuania in 1997?

At this point, an adequate number of workers has been found for the fall 1996 effort in Kaunas. Be-ginning in January 1997, a further effort to spread the gospel is being planned for Kaunas and other parts of Lithuania. It is planned to continue the whole year. Tracts and lecture halls are available. A number of churches in the U.S. and Germany have shown themselves willing to support these efforts. Workers are needed. Can you come for a few weeks? Everyone who has worked in Kaunas believes in the need for further work to be done there and has found the work something they were able to do. We are seeing the fruits of labors in the number of converts. Please contact one of us for information about working there.

One of the baptisms was the first male addition to the church there. The Christians there were encouraged by the recent additions. There have continued to be visitors at every service who have shown interest in the gospel.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 14, p. 19
July 18, 1996

By Don Willis

While sitting in two different air-ports as I returned from a gospel meeting, I purchased a local newspaper. Reading the religioun page of The Indianapolis Star (April 27, 1996, C-8), a shocking realization overcame me at what had entered the open door of digression!

“Light of the World church sets celebration of prayer Tuesday. Heaven on Earth Conference 1996.” The article identifies this as the Eighth Annual Heaven on Earth Conference. “Highlights of the conference, sponsored by Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ, my emphasis, DW) include some well known recording artists,” and the “. . . Indianapolis area churches participating in the choir performance are: Messiah Missionary Baptist Church, Oasis of Hope Baptist Church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Mount Paran Baptist Church, and Christ Missionary Baptist Church. Daily worship services will be led by evangelists Bishop Charles Edward Blake, pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles; Bishop Paul S. Morton, senior pastor of Greater St. Stephen Full Baptist Church in New Orleans, and Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of Temple of Faith Ministries in Charleston, W.Virginia. On May 2, the Rev. T Garrott Benjamin Jr., senior pastor at Light of the World, will be consecrated as a bishop. . . . Although Benjamin’s de-nomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is not run by appointed or elected bishops, congregations can choose to honor their pastors with the title. Because of the election, Benjamin also becomes bishop of the Christian Evangelical Covenant Fellowship, a national ecumenical group of congregations and ministries Benjamin founded this year.”

There are numerous manifest departures from the word of God with fellowship of denominational error. Some seem to think the only difference between truth and the Christian church is the mechanical instrument. One is confident the Christian Church could join in fellowship with us, as they do with the Church of God in Christ de-nomination, and the Baptist Church denomination.

That is not the real issue! Can we have fellowship with their efforts? Are we to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)?Are we to give an answer for the reason of the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15)? Are we to speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11)? Are we to think of men above that which is written (1 Cor. 4:6)? Are we to preach the Word (2 Tim. 4:2)? If we must stand with the word of God, we must stand against departure there from!

Later that afternoon, I was stuck in the Houston Intercontinental Airport. (I was too cheap to purchase another paper, but there just happened to be an opened paper left on the seat next to mine, and the top sheet was the religioun page.) The Houston Chronicle (April 27, 1996, 3-E), had an article entitled: “She’s 95, still serving as church elder.” Emma Parker, of Abilene, Texas, is a member of the Abilene First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). “. . . Her pastor, Rev. Jim Zug (reports) `the greatest gift that one can give to another is the gift of oneself. Emma does that on a daily basis, and brings honor and dignity to the position of elder. Women elders? And is she the husband of one wife?

Open the door to additional and/or other doctrines than the Bible, and one will reap the whirlwind. Such is an at-tack on the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ and his revealed will! Once the door is opened, a block is placed; and every form of spiritual digression is permitted to enter.

Preachers are to stand opposed to error. Jesus opposed the Pharisees and Sadducees. Paul stood against the religions in Athens, Elymas the sorcerer in Pathos, Demetrius and the silversmiths in Ephesus, and even a brother in Christ (Peter) when he was to be blamed. One cannot afford to have fellowship with error; for when this happens, we cease to have fellowship with God (2 John 9-11).

Elders are charged in Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (my emphasis, DW).”

All Christians must “expound the word of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26; 8:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Brethren, we may think that error will not enter, once the door is opened. In just 150 years of error, look at what has happened within the Disciples of Christ. I started preaching in 1950, and just look at the changes that have already taken place in the church. Who could have imagined that some preachers from Christ’s church would apostatize so far as to teach evolution, deny inspiration, support centralization, follow the denominational craze toward serving the social needs of mankind, rather than the spiritual needs as Christ ordained?

Where are we going? Where will we end? Jesus Christ is head over all things to the church! Let each abide under his authority!

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

By Norman Midgette

The answer to this question is simple, yet most religious people miss some part of it. Some say you are saved without doing anything. Others say it is all up to God’s predestination. If you are predestined to be saved, so be it. If you are predestined to be lost, too bad. Still others miss the truth with only a partial answer because all they say you must do is just believe it. Here is what the Bible says.

Believe It

Just as Jesus said, “Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24), he just as clearly taught we must respond to the gospel with the same faith. Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel is identified in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 as the life, death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Christ following his crucifixion. We must believe the truth of all these aspects of the life of Christ to be a believer of the gospel.

Obey It

Whether you want to believe there is anything to obey or not, here is what the Bible says. When Jesus returns he will return with his angels and flaming fire, “… rendering vengeance on them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thess. 1:8). The only thing any of us can obey is a command. Therefore, there have to be commands in the gospel and there are. Look at one example. On the day of Pentecost, when the first gospel sermon was preached and the church was established, Peter gave a command to those who heard him. The people said, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Re-pent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The same is true today to all who would be saved by the gospel. The gospel will not save you unless you obey it.

Live It

Remember this passage? “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27). What is the purpose of believing and obeying the gospel if you are not going to live by it? A way of life is presented in the gospel you will find no place else. You cannot rely on your feelings to know how to please God. Neither can you rely on the opinions of great men, past or present. The only way we can know how to live with God is to accept his word. Every day, live it. Everywhere, live it. All your life, live it. Just as you cannot be saved without believing and obeying the gospel, neither can we be saved without living it.

The gospel has power. The gospel gives life. What a wonderful blessing it is to have it handed to us by the grace of God and the love of concerned friends. Pass it on.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 14, p. 15
July 18, 1996

By W.L. Blanton

1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 have been pointed out to the membership and myself recently to mean that women cannot speak once they enter into the church building, nor can they teach children or other women, nor answer any questions when taught by a man, but to be in silence.

Such teaching is not new, but this teaching does under-mine the strength of the church. The writing of apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 points out that the public preaching in the church was done by the men, and not by the women; however, this does not mean the women have no place in the Lord’s work. These verses do not suggest a silent and non-teaching role for women. She is to teach other women and children (Titus 2:3-5; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). She has labored with men in the spread of the gospel (Phil. 4:3). Women have been involved in privately teaching men (Acts 18:26). So women can teach but without taking the lead over the man (1 Tim. 2:12). God has deemed that the man should take the lead in the public worship while the woman is to be in silence and support, uphold, and lead in the teaching of her own sex and children. She (the woman) can also ask and answer questions while being taught by a man (John 4:7-30). If the woman is to truly be in silence, then she cannot sing (Eph. 5:19). To teach that women cannot speak once entering the building is plain nonsense.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 15, p. 4
August 1, 1996