Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The Law of Moses demanded that the children of Israel have a year of Jubilee every 50 years. The instructions for how this year was to be observed are revealed in Leviticus 25. Among other things, the Law required that all debts be canceled and that all property revert to the families to whom it was parceled out when Israel conquered the land of Canaan. There are many good things that could be said about the concept of a year of Jubilee: (a) It prevented too large a concentration of wealth into the hands of a few; (b) It gave poor people something to hope for and an opportunity for a fresh start; etc.

However, one verse in this context draws our attention. In explaining why a person’s inherited property could not be sold forever, but could only be sold for the period until the next year of Jubilee, the Lord said, “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land” (Lev. 25:23-24).

Notice what the Lord said in these verses: (a) The land is mine; (b) You are strangers and sojourners. I suspect that we need to be reminded of these two truths.

The Land Is Mine

Sometimes we act as if we own our possessions. The truth is that we are granted the opportunity to use them for a brief span of time. After we are gone, the land will continue and someone else will have the use of it for a span of time. The land continues; men come and go.

In some countries in a previous time, a person took on the name of the estate on which he lived because the land would continue, but he would soon pass from this earth.

Even during the time that we have use of land, we need to remember that it belongs to the Lord.

You Are Strangers and Sojourners With Me

We are just guests on the Lord’s property. A stranger or sojourner was someone who was not a citizen of a given country but was an alien living in another land. We are like military personnel who are stationed in such far away countries as Japan, Bosnia, Germany, and other places. They do not apply for citizenship in the land where they are stationed. Generally, they do not learn its language or its customs because they know that they will be there for a short time.

Christians are to accept their life on earth as a pilgrimage and sojourney. Peter wrote, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Pet. 1:17).

The writer of Hebrews wrote, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (11:13-16).

One of our songs says, “Here we are but straying pilgrims; Here our path is often dim; But to cheer us on our journey, Still we sing this way-side hymn: Yonder over the rolling river, Where the shining mansions rise, Soon will be our home forever, And the smile of the blessed Giver Glad-dens all our longing eyes” (“Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims”).

Do your view your life as a pilgrimage and sojourney?

Our Jubilee

The Old Law has passed away but we still look for “heaven’s jubilee” when our redemption comes. The years of our pilgrimage will end and we will be taken away to our eternal home, Even as the poor Jewish man looked forward to the year of Jubilee when all of his debts would be canceled and he would be reinstated to his inheritance, so also we who are Christians look forward to our year of Jubilee. Our debt of sin is canceled and we will be given our eternal home.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 19, p. 2
October 3, 1996

By Tommy Glendol McClure

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:21: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Paul did not mean that preaching was a foolish act, but, by the simplicity of preaching God’s word, salvation is possible. Many today and in Paul’s day looked upon preaching as a foolish act. Most certainly, much of the preaching done today is foolishness!

Preaching is Foolishness

When the gospel message is perverted! The apostle Paul wrote: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8, 9). Paul marveled that the Galatians had been persuaded to believe “another gospel: which is not another.” Many preachers today pervert the pure and simple gospel of Christ by teaching such doctrines as, justification or salvation by faith only, the impossibility of apostasy, Holy Spirit baptism, etc. These doctrines are distortions of the truth and are foolish preaching!

When all the counsel of God is not proclaimed! To omit teaching the truth on a subject because the subject is controversial, is wrong! Paul wrote to the Galatians saying: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal.1:10). Preachers must “preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:2). Paul taught all the counsel of God (Acts 20:26). Can we preach anything less and be pleasing to God? To preach so that the message is pleasing to men, results in a compromise of the truth and this is condemned by the inspired apostle.

When a preacher spends more time telling jokes and stories than he does preaching! Some “preachers” would do well to be comedians instead of preachers. I have heard some “preachers” who spent more time telling jokes and talking about current events than they did preaching a Scripture based sermon. Some seek popularity and will tickle the ears of the hearers with trivial talk, which will not save one soul! Only the gospel has the power to save and it must be preached for souls to be saved (Rom. 1:16, 17). See also 1 Peter 4:11; Titus 2:6-8.

When application to God’s truths are not made! Preaching must involve making proper application to the truths taught. For example, some preachers talk long and loud about believing God, but never get around to preaching on what belief involves or making application by using Bible examples and principles of truth. Paul made application in his preaching! He dealt with sin and error and got to the point! In 1 Corinthians 5, he specifically dealt with the problem of the church in Corinth accepting a brother who was guilty of fornication. Paul didn’t hold back when sin was in the camp. Likewise, gospel preachers need to make application as Paul did.

When a woman is preaching! Some denominations have women “preachers” in their so-called “clergies.” Where in all of the New Testament do you find an example of this practice? In fact, this is condemned by the Scriptures! When Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning the proper use of spiritual gifts he said: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Cor. 14:34, 35). Women are to learn in silence and not usurp authority over the man (1 Tim. 2:11-15). In Titus 2:3-5 Paul wrote: ” The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Women can and should teach in their proper place, but they must keep silence in the church.

Yes, there are many ways to preach foolishly. But, souls are saved by the “foolishness of preaching.” What kind of preaching do you desire to hear?

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 18, p. 5
September 19, 1996

By Gary D. Perry

The title for this article is taken from the cover of the April 8, 1996 issue of Time magazine. “Some scholars are debunking the Gospels” was also printed on the cover with a background of what some artist considers to be a picture of what Jesus looked like. Inside the magazine eight pages were devoted to the findings of the “Jesus Seminar” which is described as “the 75-person, self appointed Seminar.” They deny everything from the betrayal kiss of Judas to the resurrection, they describe Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as “notoriously unreliable” and at one point Jesus is said to be “an imaginative theological construct.”

Certainly this type of attack on Jesus is not new, “For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together” (Mark 14:57). But this attack in Time was not the only one, sadly two other major news magazines also ran cover stories similar to this one. These three magazines prominently display the scoffings of a “75-person, self appointed Seminar” while ignoring the writings of some forty authors, appointed by God and inspired by the Holy Spirit, who wrote the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, both in perfect harmony, over a period of more than 1500 years.

The dictionary defines a scholar as (1) A person eminent for learning, (2) One who does authoritive research and writing. But after reading the nonsense and utter trash that these “scholars” put forth, I think that a better description can be found in 2 Peter as Peter writes concerning false teachers “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of’ (2 Pet. 2:1-2). Or as the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy he said, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is ac-cording to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth . . .” (1 Tim. 6:34).

As Solomon once said, “There is nothing new under the sun,” so this is not the first time someone has tried to discredit the word of God. Unfortunately some who are weak may read one of the articles and be deceived and find cause to doubt. But we must “stand fast in the Lord” and “be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:15).

What are Christians to believe? The answer is obvious, we are to believe truth. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The words of Jesus that these “scholars” are throwing out will someday come back to haunt them. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). So let us ignore these doubters and their vain teachings and stand on God’s word, “which is able to save your souls.” When the most famous doubter of all came face to face with Jesus and had the opportunity to examine his wounds, Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus saith unto him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:28-31).

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 18, p. 10
September 19, 1996

By Connie W. Adams

Preacher Training

July 1996 marked the third year of a two-week preacher training pro-gram at Ellettsville, Indiana conducted by Johnie Edwards and his son, Johnie Paul, both excellent and experienced preachers of the gospel. I had heard many good things about it from some who had attended but had no personal contact with it until this year when I was invited to come and talk for a couple of hours on the issues which divided churches in the 1950s and 60s. What I found there was most encouraging to me and I came away with renewed hope for the future.

Arriving earlier than my own speaking appointment, I watched with interest and admiration as a serious-minded group of 30 students sat around tables in a classroom which was obviously much used. All of them had huge notebooks crammed with hand-outs, booklets, and their own handwritten notes. Reading assignments, outlines due, speeches to be prepared and delivered  all of these were required in rapid fire by Johnie Edwards.

I listened with interest as Johnie Paul Edwards continued his practical survey of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus (which books each student is required to read every day during the two-weeks school). They were forming a list of 60 specific directives to gospel preachers. There was no theological jargon, just simple, down-to-earth, easy to understand instruction. Assignments for the following day included reading Trends Toward a New Apostasy by Ron Halbrook and preparation for discussion on the subject of apostasy. There was also to be a section devoted to the difference between the Lord’s church and denominationalism.

Classes run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch and a five minute break every hour. Work assignments have to be done between 4 p.m. and midnight. I found thirty men there, ranging in age from high school up to about 50. Some who are presently doing full-time preaching work, and others who preach part of the time, were among the students. Some had taken vacation time to attend. Members of the Ellettsville church provide housing for the students and the one-hour lunch break provides food for them at a private meeting room in a mall with food prepared and served by some of the women of the congregation. While the students and teachers are dead serious about what they are doing, there is a relaxed atmosphere and a comraderie that is unmistakable. These men are not only receiving valuable information but they are also having a fire lit under them and some starch put in their backbones.

What can be done in two weeks? If you are in doubt and would like to spend a couple of profitable and practical weeks, watch for the announcement of the training program next July.

 

Baptism Becoming an Issue

While in a meeting in Florence, Alabama in July, I was handed some tapes of sermons delivered by Alan Highers, editor of The Spiritual Sword, at one of the congregations in Florence recently. He was invited there partly in response to a seminar in which Rubel Shelley had spoken along with some denominational speakers and in which he de-livered more of his brand of ultra-liberalism. For the most part, the sermons presented by Alan Highers were some of the best sermons I have heard lately. In one of them he addressed some of the issues they were facing and on which he said members needed to be alerted and informed. The first thing he listed was baptism. That’s right, baptism. He pointed out that the teaching that baptism is for the remission of sins and necessary for one to put on Christ and be added to the church was being seen as a threat by those committed to the “new hermeneutics.” It is a threat to their yearning for an expanded fellowship with the denominations. Baptism stands in the way of that, at least scriptural baptism does. Did you ever think baptism for the remission of sins would be an “issue” among any who profess to be followers of the Lord?

In that same vein, Carroll D. Osburn, who teaches New Testament at Abilene Christian University, said some interesting things in his book The Peaceable Kingdom which purports to be a collection of “Essays favoring non-sectarian Christianity.” On pages 90 and 91 he dealt with 2 John 9 and limited it to those who denied the incarnation of Jesus. He stated that it “was never intended as a carte blanche for rampant sectarian disfellowship.” Among those items for which he said room must be made in our fellow-ship were support of orphan homes, whether the Lord’ Spper must be taken every Sunday, or whether instrumental music should be used in worship. He also said room should be made for premillennialism and for those who differ on “whether baptism is `for’ or `because of’ the re-mission of sins.” That last statement opens the door for fellowship with the Baptists and trivializes every gospel preacher who ever engaged in debate on the purpose of baptism.

Ah, “the times  they are a changin’.” But the word of God “liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23).

Speaking of Tapes.. .

I have also recently listened to some sermons by an increasingly popular preacher which were fine orations with very little scriptural content. They were as weak as branch water. And some of the brethren “love to have it so.” Alan Highers is connected with those brethren to whom some refer as “conservative liberals” (or Consiberals, as one brother put it). He, along with others, is rightly concerned about rank liberalism among them. Much good material has appeared in The Spiritual Sword with which many of us would have to agree. Much of it sounds like a pagefrom the Gospel Guardian of the 1950s and early 60s. For their trouble they have been branded as “antis” by some of those in the vanguard of the “new hermeneutics” crowd. But isn’t it a shame that Alan Highers, Roy Lanier, Jr., Wayne Jackson, and a few others we could name, are preaching more Bible and taking a more definite stand than some of the growingly popular preachers among those of us who style ourselves “conservatives?”

Where is all of this soft, wishy-washy, stand-for-nothing, make’em cry, make ’em laugh, story telling, drivel coming from? From what common fountain are these men drinking? Where is the common denominator in all this? There has to be one.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 18, p. 3-4
September 19, 1996