Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

(In the spirit and principle of 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13, and Hebrews 13:7, this tribute of praise is offered with love and thanksgiving.)

Recently, while in meeting work southwest of Chicago, I was privileged to see again my long time friend, mentor, and beloved brother in the Lord, Oliver P. Walker, and his dear wife, Ollie. The Lord has blessed our generation with the good and the godly, but none shine better and brighter in the way of righteousness than do they. 

Though the ravages of age and the afflictions of the flesh are taking their inexorable toll, still it may be said of brother Walker that his “inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Though his eyes are dimmed, his spiritual force remains unabated. Indeed, it was a humble privilege and a high pleasure once again to preach the gospel with him and Ollie in the audience. 

If ever steely resolve and tender purpose were rooted in one man, it is brother Walker. In nearly seven years of intimate association with him in the work of the gospel, I saw his unflinching faith and tender heart as he kindly dealt with those who troubled themselves and threatened the church. Despite provocations, never once did I ever see or sense the slightest indication of an unholy motive or an ungodly expression of any kind from brother Walker. Many times did I sit in business meetings and listen as all of us expressed our views about what should be done in a certain case. Almost always, brother Walker would be the last to speak, but when he spoke in his quiet, humble way, that was the end of all controversy. Not once in those happy years did I ever hear an unkind word with respect to brother Walker. Would to God that every church had such an elder serving in it as the Plano, Illinois church has had for many years.

Oliver and Ollie have never been too busy to render menial service. They were first at a “clean up” day at the church building. They have opened their home to brethren, especially to preachers who came for meetings. Brother Walker never thought that a sermon was “too strong” or that a false teacher had been mistreated when his doctrine held him up to ridicule. He supports sound doctrine and insists that the truth be preached in love and “with all boldness” (Acts 4:31; Eph. 4:15). He has written several articles and is an interesting, edifying speaker. Thus, privately, quietly, and publicly without flair, he has stood firm and forthright for the cause of truth.  

He and his son, Paul, now serve together as elders of the Plano church. (Paul yet remains the only sixteen year old boy who ever called me and asked if he could ride with me to a meeting in the area. Now, he is a mature man, soon himself to be a grandfather!) What a tribute to brother and sister Walker that their son should now be serving and working with them in this way!  

Are there young men, young husbands and fathers among us who aspire to such noble character and service? Are there young girls, wives and mothers among us who desire to develop that “meek and quiet spirit” which will love, train, and support such goodness and greatness in the cause and kingdom of Christ? Surely, in the heart of one who reads this there beats the drum of love and faith which will summon others to spiritual service. It is good to think that the generation to come may have the benefit of those today who are raising up the seed of Abraham, who, like the Walkers, will bless those yet unborn. “For he established a testimony . . . and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Ps. 78:5-7; cf. 2 Tim. 1:5; 2:2; 3:14, 15).      

 4626 Osage, Baytown, Texas 77521 LarryHafley@com

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee (Matt. 17:24-27).

This incident in the life of Jesus tells how Jesus paid his Temple tax. On this occasion, those who were appointed to collect tribute money came to Peter to ask if his teacher (didaskalos) paid tribute. The tax under consideration is not the poll-tax for the Roman government (kenson, from which our word “census” is derived) or the tax on goods (phoros). He is asking about the “tribute,” the didrachma, the half-shekel tax collected in obedience to God’s commandment.

This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls (Exod. 30:13-15; cf. 2 Kings 12:4ff; 2 Chron. 24:6; Neh. 10:32).

The money that was collected was used to sustain the Temple and was generally known as the “Temple tax.” It was not enforced by civil government as those collected by government usually are; it was a voluntary “tax.” The question that is asked presupposes that the teacher will pay the tax, as commanded by the Law. 
 Jesus used the occasion of this tax to emphasize various lessons for his disciples which we now consider:

1. Jesus pays his taxes. Although Jesus argues that he is exempt from paying the Temple tax (see below, nevertheless, to avoid giving an offense to those who might take note of Jesus not paying such taxes, the son of God pays his tax. (In this respect, he voluntarily chose not to       practice that which he had the right to do to avoid occasions of stumbling. Compare Paul’s conduct in 1 Corinthians 9:1-16 and the general discussions in 1 Corinthians 8-10 and Romans 14.)  However, he does not have the funds to pay his taxes. Rather, he sends Peter to the Sea of Galilee with instructions for how to secure the funds to pay their taxes. He who was the Son of God indeed became poor that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Later he said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). We see details of the degree to which Jesus denied himself, emptied himself, in order to become the Savior of mankind.

2. Jesus, the Son of God, is exempt from such taxes. When Peter approached Jesus about the tax, Jesus asked him about taxes in general. He asked whom kings usually taxed. Things were a bit different in Rome than in America. The Roman government usually exempted its own citizens and collected its taxes from those foreigners who had been defeated in war (designated here as “strangers”). Knowing the situation, Peter replied that taxes are usually paid by strangers, not their own children. 

Jesus affirmed his exemption from such taxes based on who he was. The tax was a Temple tax collected for God. As the Son of God, as Peter confessed Jesus to be at Caesarea Philippi just a few days earlier as recorded in Matthew 16:16 (“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”), Jesus was exempt from such taxation. His claiming exemption from taxation is an affirmation of his deity, his sonship. He was “son of God” not by adoption, as we are, but by the essence of his nature. Privately to Peter he affirms his deity. The verse affirms Jesus’ self-consciousness of his supernatural sonship. Indeed, a greater than the Temple is present (Matt. 12:6) and justly owes no Temple tax. He did not learn of his deity through Mary’s coaching him; the Lord was fully aware of his relationship to the Father and the events that transpired while he was in heaven (John 16:30; 17:5).

3. Jesus confirms his divine sonship by several miracles. Notice the several miracles recorded in this account:

a. Miracles demonstrating his omniscience. Matthew specifically indicates Jesus’ knowledge of the conversation that transpired between Peter and those who came to collect the Temple tax. Jesus “spake of it first” (Matt. 17:25, NIV and NRSV). H.A.W. Meyer comments, “. . . the evangelist must have ascribed what Jesus says to Peter to His immediate knowledge of the thoughts of others” (Matt. 3:17). This is one of several instances in which Jesus demonstrates his omniscience while on earth; he knows things that he could not have known by human knowledge alone (cf. John 1:50). John said, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (John 2:24-25). Jesus’ knowledge of Peter’s conversation was one proof of Jesus’ omniscience.

Another proof of his omniscience is seen in his telling Peter how to collect the money to pay the tax. He said, “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee” (Matt. 17:27). How did Jesus know about a fish in the Sea of Galilee with a coin in its mouth? He knew that by his divine omniscience. This miracle was not designed to show that the Father or the Holy Spirit possess omniscience, which no one doubts, but to prove that Jesus is the Son of God, with all the powers of deity, who is exempt from Temple taxes because he is the Son of God.

b. Miracles demonstrating his omnipotence. When Jesus instructed Peter to go catch the fish in whose mouth a coin would be found, he did more than display omniscience. He demonstrated his divine control over nature. Peter was responsible to get his fishing pole and go fishing. Jesus was the one who commanded the fish to swallow a coin, to go to the place where Peter would be fishing, and to bite his bait. This is the same control over nature that is demonstrated when Jesus walked on water (John 6:19), commanded the winds and the waves to obey him (Matt. 8:26-27), and controlled the fish on the occasion of the two miraculous draughts of fish (Luke 5:4-7; John 21:8-11). These miracles were not designed to demonstrate that the Father or the Holy Spirit are omnipotent, but to demonstrate that the Son of God is omnipotent.

Alexander Maclaren wrote, “The miracle was for a trivial end in appearance, but it was a demonstration, though to one man only at first, yet through him to all the world, that this Christ, in His lowliness, is the Everlasting Son of the Father” (The Biblical Illustrator: Matthew 387).

Conclusion

From this miracle, let us be reminded of who Jesus is. He was, is, and ever will be God the Son. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8).

6567 Kings Ct., Avon, Indiana 46123 mwillis1@compuserve.com

By James Hahn

As we read the history of the Jews we find recorded a sad story of unfaithfulness and rebellion to the very One who had chosen them as his special people. As Jeremiah spoke of their turning from God to serve idols he said, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Josiah, the king of Judah at this time, is described as a man “that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:24). Josiah not only loved the Lord, but he also put forth efforts to change the conditions which existed in Judah. He destroyed the altars that had been built for idol worship and slew the priests who served idols (2 Kings 22 and 23). However, the Bible says, “Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal” (2 Kings 23:26).

Even though Josiah was a good man and made many changes there was one change he was unable to make. He was unable to change the hearts of the people. All the outward changes, as good as they may have been, could not change the one thing that needed to be changed if the people were to return to God. Surely we can learn a lesson from this.

From time to time I hear brethren talking about changes they think we need to make so that we can be more pleasing to God. Some have suggested that when we assemble to worship we have become cold, formal, and indifferent in our worship and that changes need to be made. Some say that the problem is one of being “tradition bound” and that we need to change from “two songs, a prayer and another song” to a different order every time we meet. May I suggest that if the problem does exist and this is the only change made then the only difference now is instead of having a cold, formal, indifferent group of people “singing two songs, having a prayer and another song,” we now have a cold, formal, indifferent group of people wondering “what are we going to do next?” The change that needs to be made is not in the “order of worship” but in the hearts of men. When we learn to worship God in spirit and in truth our worship will be pleasing to God (John 4:23, 24) even if we follow the same “order” every time we meet. If our worship is not from the heart we can make all the outward changes we want to make and it still will not be pleasing to the Lord.

Others say that some are looking upon the church of Christ as a denomination and are using the designation “Church of Christ” as a denominational name. Changes need to be made! What do we change? Some say the sign out front needs to be changed. Rather than identifying the group as a “Church of Christ” let’s just put up a sign saying “Christians Meet Here.” Brethren, we are changing the wrong thing. If people have a denominational concept of the church, changing a sign in front of the building won’t solve the problem. Men’s hearts must be changed by the teaching and reception of truth. If a church obeys Christ and respects his authority in all things, what’s wrong with saying they are a church of Christ? If they are “of Christ” there is nothing wrong with so identifying them; if they are not “of Christ” changing the sign out front won’t make them so. Yes, I believe there are times changes need to be made, but let us make sure we are seeking to change the right thing.

1212 Melanie Ct., Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 40342-1724

By Connie W. Adams

On Wednesday morning, April 5, the spirit of our beloved friend, Elwood Phillips, took its flight into the haven of rest. He was 83 years old. His busy and fruitful life was hindered at times by numerous health problems but these became only temporary setbacks. He was always thinking ahead and planning more work to do. The last two or three years were especially difficult. For over two years he was on kidney dialysis three times a week. Then circulation problems made it necessary to remove his left leg below the knee. Then they had to remove the right leg above the knee. Even after that, he worked on a bulletin which was handed out at South Livingston in Tampa, where he and Polly attended.

I first met Elwood and Polly in 1950 in Lake City, Florida. Since then our paths crossed many times. After he and James P. Miller began Searching the Scriptures in January 1960, we had a gentleman’s agreement confirmed simply by a handshake, that should it become necessary for him to give up the work with Searching the Scriptures, I would have first opportunity to take up that work. He never forgot and in June 1973, that became a reality when he could no longer carry the load of editing and publishing the paper with his developing heart problems. But as long as I had material from his pen, it was on the front page of the paper and he never failed to offer sound advice when it was needed.

That work created a bond between us which only strengthened as the years passed. I am convinced that his most lasting work in the kingdom was through Searching the Scriptures. He was a preacher of great ability. He and Polly made many friends and served as parents and grandparents to a host of young people whose lives were greatly influenced for good by them. But the products of his pen reached around the world. His book on Scriptural Elders and Deacons remains the best work available on the subject. It has been circulated in many countries. But Searching the Scriptures came to be circulated regularly in every state and in 25 countries. At one point the circulation reached 12,000. When I began editing the paper in 1973, our first printing was still 8,000 copies. One of our special issues required three printings and sold over 20,000 copies. The influence of the paper was particularly strong in the southeast. It played a major role in helping many brethren to stand as churches were being divided over the institutional issues. The paper lasted 33 years. While I served as editor for the last 19½ years, it was the course charted by H.E. Phillips that continued through the history of the paper. In the first issue he stated “We have no policy but to be scriptural, fair and balanced.” That well summarized the content of the paper throughout its history.

Elwood was a man of principle. He was not swayed by popular sentiment nor political expediency. His first concern was always with truth and right. He laid no claim to perfection and would have been the first to acknowledge blunders along the way. But his bedrock convictions, founded solidly upon the word of God, were not for sale to any paper, school, or human agency. Such a course made him some enemies. In later years there were some brethren of powerful influence who ignored him.

Elwood and Polly had a great influence in their family circle. All three children, all grandchildren, and all of the great-grandchildren who are old enough have obeyed the gospel and are faithful to the Lord.

Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, April 8, 2000 at Hutchison Auditorium on the campus of Florida College. According to the funeral home people, about 450 were in attendance. Mike Willis, J.T. Smith, this writer, Tom O’Neal and Donnie Rader took part in the services. Congregational singing was directed by Ray Hines. Burial was at Sylvan Abbey in Clearwater in a peaceful and beautiful setting. Harry Osborne spoke briefly at the grave and final prayer was led by Rhymer Knight.

Elwood is at rest. But the family and a great host of friends will miss him. Our love and best wishes go to Polly, Carolyn, Juanita, Elaine and the rest of the family. This writer has a huge empty place in his life by the death of this giant of the faith.

P.O. Box 69, Brooks, Kentucky 40109