Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

The New Testament record of Jesus Christ is factual, laden with historical references and allusions (Lk. 3:1-2; Jn. 18:39; Acts 11:28). The ministry of Jesus “was not done in a comer” but was carried out in the public arena where it could be fully examined (Acts 26:26). When Jesus arose from the dead, “he showed himself alive … by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). The New Testament preserves the testimony of men who saw, heard, and touched Jesus Christ, men who thoroughly researched and examined the things they wrote for accuracy (1 Jn. 1:1-3; Lk. 1:1-3). This record has stood every imaginable test for 2,000 years!

Jesus as a confused guru and a sinner, John the baptizer as a cultist, Judas Iscariot as a hero, Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, Paul as a hypocrite and a liar. “The Last Temptation of Christ” is a movie of the life of Jesus based not on the New Testament but upon a novel by the same title written in 1955 by Nikos Kazantzakis (died 1957). The author was censured by the Greek Orthodox Church, of which he was a member, because of his blasphemy. Early in life this Greek writer embraced Darwinian evolution and lost his faith in Jesus as the divine Son of God. He forged a picture of Jesus as a symbol of all men who make “idealistic service” their “spiritual career.” Such men must overcome the ultimate or “last temptation” of comfort and happiness in order to face an unselfish life of “Pain, loneliness and martyrdom” (sketch of author’s life and thought by Peter Bien, translator of English edition of book in 1960; Houston Chronicle, 12 August 1988, sec. A, p. 23).

Though the story is defended as a novel, film director Martin Scorsese, a Roman Catholic, says the film is an affirmation of his faith in Jesus and “is my way of trying to get closer to God” (Time Magazine, 15 August 1988, p. 34). Paramount Studios dropped this film in 1983 after investing two million dollars in it. Universal Studios took the project in 1987 and finished it in June of 1988 at a cost of ten million. The two-hour-forty minute movie was released 12 August 1988. We are not surprised that the long decadent movie industry is willing to desecrate the life of Christ to make money.

Bewildered, unstable, and confused minds have fabricated a story of Jesus as a man of bewildered, unstable, and confused mind. The story tells us nothing about the true Jesus but much about modern man who has lost his way and mirrors himself in this film. Jesus is portrayed as weak and filled with doubts and lust. He turns away the sick, admits to sinning, and persuades Judas, who appears to be a hero, to betray him.

Some of the actions, dreams, and fantasies of Jesus pictured in this film are those of a voyeur (one who obtains satisfactions from viewing sex acts). Both Mary Magdalene and Jesus are scandalized by a scene which portrays her as running a brothel and prostituting herself with countless men. Jesus stands in line waiting to see her, watching her conduct her immoral business, and then enters the darkened room where she lies undressed. There he begs her forgiveness for the wrongs he has done her in life.

A thirty-minute scene pictures Jesus dreaming and hallucinating on the cross about marrying Mary Magdalene, having sexual intercourse with her, and having children. She dies, so he marries Martha’s sister, Mary, but commits adultery with Martha and bears children by both women. The film is supposed to show that Jesus did not live out this last temptation, but it is degrading both to Jesus and to modern man to paint such vivid scenes of marital intimacy and sexual immorality upon which the eyes of people can feast. The Bible warns of men “having eyes full of adultery, that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, . . . who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet. 2:14-15).

Joan Connell of the Knight-Ridder Newspapers says that only those who believe the biblical picture of Jesus as “a perfect being” will be greatly troubled by that “little” portion of the film which is “blasphemous, heretical or obscene.” After all, she says the Jesus of this movie “is a man who has known sin, fear, failure, and guilt” like all other men. She observes,

Blood gushes everywhere – from brutalized humans, sacrificial animals, even mystical apples into which Jesus bites. There’s violence and gratuitous nudity – such as John the Baptist’s earthly, vaguely pagan ceremonials on the banks of the River Jordan.

The meaning of Jesus’ life is “nasty and brutish, brief and tragic,” but the world is full of victims whose fives have such meaning and who are, like him, “a blend of the human and the divine” (Houston Chronicle, 13 August 1988, sec. F, p. 1). The Jesus of this movie is not the Savior of men lost in sin but rather is a man himself lost in sin like all other men and so in need of a Savior!

Let us consider several contrasts between the cunningly devised fables of misguided men and the true accounts preserved in the historical record of Scripture.

Cunningly Devised Fables	Historical Record of Scripture
1. John the baptizer is a hysterical cult leader.	1. John baptized people for the remission of their sins and taught the necessity of living an honest and unselfish life. Rather than creating a cult, he sent people back to their normal places in life. Rather than grabbing money he lived in the simplest manner (Matt. 3:1-12; Lk. 3:1-18).
2. Jesus is pictured as a wild-eyed guru who is confused about his mission, message, and method.	2. From the time Jesus began his public ministry, preaching, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” until he arose from the dead and gave the Great Commission, he never once faltered or failed in his work. He finished to perfection the work God gave him to do (Lk. 19:10; Matt. 4:17; 28:18-20; Jn. 9:4-5; 17:4; 19:30).
3. Jesus confessed to sinning: “I am a liar, I am a hypocrite.” He confessed to Mary Magdalene, “I know the worst things I’ve done, I’ve done to you.”	3. Jesus affirmed that he spoke only the truth and challenged his enemies, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” He never wronged Mary or anyone else, “But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Jn. 8:32, 45-46; Heb. 4:15).
4. In confusion and doubt of himself, Jesus said, “Lucifer is inside me.”	4. Jesus said his enemies were filled with Satan, but he himself was the Great “I AM,” “the Son of God,” – “I and the Father are one” – “making himself equal with God.” He proved these claims with miracles (Jn. 8:44, 58; 9:35-38; 10:25, 30; 5:17-18).
5. Jesus turned away the sick.	5. Jesus never turned any sick person away. He healed “all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” – he healed “all sick people” who came to him (Matt. 4:23-25).
6. Jesus uses blood and bloody scenes in a sensational way. Blood pour from an apple he eats. The grape juice used at the last supper turns into literal blood. Jesus rips his own heart out of his chest and holds it up dripping and pulsating before his disciples.	6. Sensationalism stirs the superficial interests of curiosity seeks and emotionalists. Jesus calmly and forcefully taught in a manner which caused people to understand the truth, to be convicted of their sins, and to make intelligent decisions in obedience to his word. He never resorted to violence by tearing out his hear, but he used lilies and birds as object lessons. The Bible forbids eating and drinking blood (Matt. 6:26-28; 7:28-29; Jn. 6:44-45; 7:45-46; Lk. 23:8-9; Gen. 9:4; Acts 15:29).
7. Women are among the disciples who sat with Jesus at the last passover feast.	7. “Now when the even was come he sat down with the twelve.” (Matt. 26:20).
8. Judas Iscariot is so loyal to Jesus that Jesus had to persuade his faithful friend to betray him as part of God’s plan.	8. Judas stole from the Lord. His greed led him to betray Jesus. Knowing the treachery in Judas’ heart, Jesus told him it would have been better if he had never been bon (Jn. 12:6; 13:26; Matt. 26:14-25).
9. Paul is a hypocrite and a liar.	9. Paul said, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” He preached only “words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:23-25).
10. Jesus dreams of rebuking Paul for preaching and Jesus arose from the dead. Paul answers that the facts are unimportant in people’s faith.	10. Jesus appeared as the resurrected Lord and told Paul to preach the gospel, including the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul stressed the factual nature of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 9:1-22; 22:1-21; 26:1-29; 1 Cor. 15:1-8).
11. Mary Magdelene is a prostitute who runs a brothel.	11. Not once anywhere is Mary said to be an immoral woman.
12. Jesus dreams of marrying Mary Magdalene and of having sexual intercourse with her. She dies, so he marries Martha’s sister, Mary, but also commits adultery with Martha.	12. To say that Jesus “was in all points tempted” is one thing but to say that he had lengthy and detailed dreams and imaginations as a taste of the pleasures of sin is blasphemy. He condemned such (Matt. 5:28; Gal. 5:19; Phil. 4:18).
13. Jesus announces that his death will pay for his own sins, not for the sins of other men.	13. Jesus denied that he ever sinned, but said that he would die so that other men could have “the remission of sins.” “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Jn. 8:46; 3:16; Matt. 26:28; Lk. 19:10).

In summary, this movie convicts Jesus as being part lunatic and part liar. When the Jews demanded the death penalty and crucified him on the charge of blasphemy for claiming to be the very Son of God, they were right. Jesus was fully man, but not fully God. Jesus was wrong about his unique claims and the unbelieving Jews were right. Such views please Satan rather than God.

In other words, this movie mauls and maligns the Messiah just as unbelievers did 2,000 years ago. Jesus still says to men of such hardened hearts, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24). To all of us Jesus says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Until we obey Christ, we are lost in our sins as a part of Satan’s kingdom. We are in fellowship with all the servants of Satan, including those who maul and malign the Messiah. Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me” (Matt. 12:30). Have you taken your stand with Jesus?

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 656-626, 632
October 20, 1988

By Weldon E. Warnock

Alexander Campbell said that instrumental music in worship to all spiritually-minded Christians would be “as a cowbell in a concert.” Martin Luther stated that an organ in worship to God is “an ensign to Baal.” But, lo, and behold, the “erudite” Independent Christian Church preachers believe instrumental music in worship to be the personification of godliness and holiness.

Orientation For Heaven

Given Blakely, Christian Church preacher, said in discussions with John Gibbs at Joplin, MO, April 8-9 , !987: “If the purpose of the church is to orient people for heaven, the representation of musical instruments’ employment in the singing of God’s praise before His throne in heaven is inescapably indicative of their acceptability in the church” (The Banner of Truth, June 1987, p. 15).

According to Blakely we get ready for heaven by using instruments of music in worship on earth. It baffles me how a man of Given Blakely’s intelligence, as well as his colleagues, can be serious about literal instruments of music in heaven. What would a spiritual being do with a material harp? Surely he knows that Revelation is a figurative, symbolic book and the instruments mentioned therein are no more physical than the incense in heaven.

Revelation 5:8 depicts those with harps as also having vials or bowls of incense. “. . . having everyone of them harps, and golden vials of odours, which are the prayers of the saints.” In Revelation 8:3 we read, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” Wonder what fragrance the incense is that these Christian Church preachers offer with their prayers in worship at their altar? Indeed, they have incense, they must have incense, they need incense in order to orient them, according to Blakely, for heaven.

This “as a cowbell in a concert” or “an ensign to Baal” is, to these modern Nadab’s and Abilitils, an orientation for heaven. So, brother and sister, grab your instrument and begin getting yourself ready for the home of the soul. Perhaps you can beat a drum, or pound on a tambourine, or pluck a jew’s-harp. But play you must!

Too, if what is done in heaven should be practiced here in the church to help our orientation for heaven, we might ought to live celibate lives because there is no marriage in heaven (Matt. 22:30).

Legalism

These Christian Church preachers chide us for being legalistic. Fred O. Blakely, editor of The Banner of Truth, reviewing the Given Blakely and John Gibbs discussion on instrumental conducted at Joplin, MO, stated in the June 1987 issue:

Brother Gibbs ably represented the historic Church of Christ (andinstrumental) view of God as, in principle. operating under the reign of Christ very much as He did during the Mosaic regime. The new covenant, in this concept, is another system of law, with Moses being replaced by Christ as the Lawgiver and Executor of the covenant. On the other hand, Brother Blakely contended for the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as distinguished from the inflexible rule of law under Moses. The resultant freedom from the legalistic principle, which is everywhere recognized and proclaimed by the Apostles. . . .

From these comments, and from others I have read in Blakely’s journal, they obviously would not know a legalist from a posthole digger. They do not like being “fenced in” or circumscribed by the law of God. Nevertheless, we are under law, the law of Christ, Blakely, Don Dewelt and others to the contrary, as the apostle Paul plainly teaches (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2; Jas. 2:12).

Their tune Is the same old one we have heard for years – the Man and not the Plan. They sound like the country song by Tom T. Hall which says, “Me and Jesus have got our own thing going.” They want to do as they please under the guise of “freedom in Christ.” But freedom in Christ is not lawlessness. Disrespect for law destroys freedom as is evident among us today.

In analyzing the Given Blakely-Alan Highers debate on instrumental music at Neosho, MO, Charles Cobb said, “It was that Brother Highers represented years of stagnated religious tradition. On the other hand, Brother Blakely spoke out of a living and discerning relationship with Christ” (The Banner of Truth, July 1988, p. 16). Wasn’t that nice of Given Blakely – so Christ-like, yet poor old Highers just appealed to the authority of Scripture for his practice. Such sounds about like a pious-acting evangelical preacher who has no Bible authority, but “I love Jesus!”

My friend, you cannot separate Jesus from what he taught. If you think so, then take a peck at Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46; John 12:48; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 John 9-11, and many more. It is totally ludicrous, and absurd on top of that, what these fellows are teaching.

An Affinity For Modernists

The Independent Christian Church preachers do not think much of the avid anti-instrumental music brethren (branding us as legalists, lacking the spirit of Christ and void of the Holy Spirit), but they seem to have an affinity for the modernists and loose-thinkers. One of those modernists they extol is Leroy Garrett. For example, Dwaine Dunning quoted Leroy Garrett at the Neosho debate: “A hermeneutics of silence is like a geography of nowhere, or a physics of nothing.” Isn’t that rich? With that kind of convoluted logic it is a wonder that Garrett can get out of his driveway. A map tells us what roads will take us to what place, and if we depart from that concept, we will wind-up out in the boondocks, just like Garrett has done, religiously. I might also add that Garrett writes in One Body.

But to show what kind of bed-fellows these Christian Church preachers have, notice the following excerpt from Leroy Garrett’s own paper, Restoration Review (January 1987):

When something in the Bible is contrary to the spirit of Christ or does nothing for us in terms of enlightening us about God and his will for us and thus wholly irrelevant to our lives, then it cannot be the word of God to us. I find this to be the case of one entire book of the Bible, Zephani , a book that says next to nothing to me (Quoted from Spiritual Sword, April 1988, p. 47).

These are the people who “love the Lord,” they say, but they don’t think very highly of the integrity and authority of the Scriptures, unless they appeal to them at the moment.

Those Who Use Instrumental Music

There are several reasons why instrumental music in worship to God is unjustifiable, unscriptural and sinful. The Christian Church preachers cast them aside with impunity and holler, “freedom in Christ.” Those who use the instrument:

1. Are not walking by faith. Paul wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith comes through hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Hence, we walk by what the word of God teaches. We can sing by faith (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), but we cannot play instruments in worship by faith. There is not one Scripture in the New Testament that commands, infers or exemplifies instrumental music in worship.

2. Reject the basis for unity. We read, “Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10). To “speak the same thing” is unity of doctrine, and “that there be no divisions among you” is unity of practice. Neither one of these can be realized unless we speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11) and adhere closely thereto. Nobody can speak as the Bible speaks and advocate instrumental music in worship. Where is the passage?

3. Make void the worship to God. Jesus declared, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24). The term “in truth” means, according to truth, God’s word, for no worship can be true worship which is not patterned after his word. Jesus stated, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). No instruments of music can be found in the word of God for worship in this dispensation. Instrumental music constitutes will-worship (Col. 2:23) and vain worship. The Bible states, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). Instrumental music fits into this category.

4. Operate on the silence of the Scriptures. Given Blakely said at Joplin, MO, “Were one to begin at Genesis and read through Revelation, he would not find a single time when the employment of musical instrument in God’s praise by people of faith was spoken against, condemned, or rejected” (The Banner of Truth, June 1987, p. 15). Blakely’s warped thinking would allow sprinkling for baptism, coffee, cakes, pies, and bacon on the Lord’s Table, counting of beads during prayer, baptizing babies, burning incense, washing feet, and any other thing not specifically forbidden. They need to find where it is authorized, not where specifically forbidden. The principle of the silence of the Scriptures is explicitly set forth in Hebrews 7:14. Among the Israelites, the tribe of Levi was chosen to give attendance at the altar, to make sacrifices. Moses never said, “Judah may not serve at the altar,” but by designating Levi, Judah and all the other tribes were eliminated. Jesus being from Judah, could not qualify. Hence, the priesthood and the law were changed. Jesus is now our High Priest.

5. Follow traditions of nien. Instrumental music was first introduced into worship of so-called Christendom in about 666 A.D. by Pope Vitalian (Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, p. 112). John Calvin said, “The papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews” (Commentary on Psalms 33). The Christian Church borrowed their instruments from the foolishly, I might add.

Jesus said, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mk. 7:13). The Christian Church preachers are the ones guilty of imposing traditions, not we who oppose the instrument. Earl West wrote that the first instrument introduced into the church of Christ, according to the historical record, was at Midway, KY in 1860 (The Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 1, p. 312).

6. Ignore the authority of Christ. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do aft in thename of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Col. 3:17; cf. Matt. 28:18). The name of Jesus is not attached to an instrument in worship. If so, we could open the Bible and turn directly to it. But instead the Christian Church preachers run back to king David instead of King Jesus, or they pervert the Greek, or they go to the imagery and symbols of heaven, but they can’t come forth with a New Testament text for divine authorization.

7. Go beyond that which Is written. Paul wrote, “that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written” (1 Cor. 4:6, ASV). The Bible is an inerrant, verbally inspired, complete, sufficient and relevant book. God omitted nothing he wanted us to know and do. We are regulated by that which is written. There is nothing written about instrumental music in worship, therefore, we go beyond the boundary of the inspired precepts when we so employ it (cf. 2 Jn. 9-11).

Alan Highers wrote, “The conclusion of the whole matter (with respect to instrumental music) is this- Unity with those who use the instrument is predicated upon a single choice – either they give up the instrument, or we give up our opposition to it. What other alternatives are there?” (Spiritual Sword, April 1988, p. 48) But brethren we who oppose the instrument can no more give that up than we can our position on baptism, the elements of the Lord’s Supper or assemblying on the r1rst day of the week. These things are not for compromise. May we have the resolve to stand!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 21, pp. 641, 662-663
November 3, 1988

By Jady Copeland

Paul wrote, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28, NAS). Many translations put the word “complete” here as “perfect.” It means mature, complete, or full grown. The apostle said that in proclaiming Christ and “admonishing” and “teaching” each of them, that he would “present every man complete in Christ.” Paul was the agent in the hands of Christ and the “tool” was the gospel to make men perfect or complete, or mature. At the judgment, it is our desire to be what Christ would have us be. We constantly strive toward perfection.

As children are not expected to be full-grown (in body or mind); so is the new-born babe in Christ. But as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, he wants us to “mature.” Some of the Hebrew Christians had not grown sufficiently (Heb. 5:12-14). They were still spiritual babes and had to have “milk” instead of “solid food.” But the solid food was for “mature” (full-grown) men who by reason of exercise were able to “discern good and evil.” “Exercise” is a term of the athletes in training. It was as if they were in a “practice game” to get ready for the real contest. The mature person not only must “know” the word of God, but he must be able to use it profitably.

Mature Christians must be constantly “adding” (2 Pet. 1:5-11). As the Christian starts with strong conviction, he then supplies or brings in besides these attributes which Peter mentions. But notice the “bottom line” – an entrance into the everlasting kingdom. From baptism until death we are constantly growing or “supplying” the many attributes or characteristics which a Christian needs to serve God, self and fellow man. Like the old alligators, the mature Christian never stops growing. Too often we see the elderly giving up, and quitting – quit growing, quit helping others, quit studying. Just when they should be able to use their great influence and maturity out of many years of study and experience to best advantage, they give up.

The mature Christian is not easily moved away from the gospel. While it is true the devil never sleeps (I Pet. 5:8-10), the Christian has matured to the point he knows what he wants, and he knows who he is. He is a child of God with his eyes set on the goal, and he knows that if he looks away he is likely to fall. Like a tight-rope walker, he never concentrates on the things below, or to the side, but keeps his eye on the goal and his attention on his objective. He realizes the devil is trying every “trick in the book” to distract him (knowing if he can, he can make him fall), but the mature Christian refuses to let things of the world attract his attention away from Christ. Too many Christians let sports, pleasure, money, family and business take so much of their attention and time, they have little time left for Christ and his work. You see Satan is clever enough to know that he does not need to get everyone to “quit the church” but if he can get them to put most of their attention elsewhere (even on the things of life that are not of themselves sinful) he knows that God will not accept such service (Matt. 6:33).

Let’s notice two groups who fall away as described in the parable of the sower.

First, those who fell away because of “tribulation or persecution” because of the word. Those in the “stony places” received the word with joy, but when objections came because of the word, they could not endure. Teachers need to prepare new converts for the inevitable – we will have rocks thrown because we became Christians. This idea that “everything in the life of a Christian is just peaches and cream” is just not so. “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12) has to mean something. But some are not ready to suffer for his sake. It may not be death as some in the past have suffered, but it will not always be easy. In the next place the seed that fell among thorns represents those who heard, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choked it out. I do not understand this to mean that the “cares” of this life were of themselves sinful things. But some get so busy with the “business of living” that they fall away, or if they don’t quit entirely, they become unfruitful servants.

A mature Christian is not attracted by the things of this world. His interests lie in spiritual directions. Paul wrote, “If then ye were raised together with Christ seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3). Occasionally I hear one speak of a godly person, “His whole life is wrapped up in God (or the church).” Well, why should it not be? All mature Christians’ lives are. If not, they are not growing as they should. When we get to the judgment, it will matter little who was president, or whether your favorite football team won on Saturday, or whether you had money in the bank. Paul continues, “When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.” MacKnight comments, “principally on heavenly things, and not on empty perishing riches, honors, and pleasures of the earth” (MacKnight on the Epistles, Vol. 3, p. 549).

A mature Christian is not easily offended.- He is not prone to feel mistreated, neglected or left out. He is not looking for something for which to take offense. He will hasten to correct sin not only in himself (Matt. 5:23) but also in others (Matt. 18:15-17). If he does not get his way about incidentals, he will not be offended. He is not selfish about unimportant things and if brethren don’t like his way of doing things, he will work as hard to do it their way . . . as long as it is in harmony with the word. He is not childish about these matters, but is a “man.” “Brethren, do not be children in understanding, however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20, NKJ). Too many congregations have those who (in the absence of elders) want their way about everything, and if they don’t get it, they pout and rob God of the service they could otherwise give him. And such an attitude is a form of selfishness and selfishness has no-place in the kingdom of God. Furthermore a mature Christian will receive correction with grace and profit. “Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Prov. 12:1). The King James has “instruction” here, but the idea is discipline, or correction. He will not refuse the constructive criticism which is given in the proper manner, but will, regardless of who gives it, give it serious consideration. In my personal judgment, we have far too many gospel preachers who are “know-it-alls” and refuse to even consider another’s viewpoint. Of course it sometimes hurts one’s pride to know he can learn from others, because it may make him feel inferior. But the man does not live who has learned it all, and often good information and correction comes from the most unsuspecting sources. “Give instruction to a wise man and he will yet be wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov. 9:9). An open mind is a learning mind.

A mature Christian is dependable. Paul could depend on Timothy (Phil. 2:19-20). “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (Phile. 21). A Christian is dependable in speech. When he says something, one can depend on his words as being honest, and when he makes promises, he will keep them. To do less is dishonest. He must be dependable in his work. When I taught school, I learned to call on the busiest student in class if I really wanted the work done. The student who said “I don’t have time” was never busy . . . at least about worthwhile things. Elders soon learn which brethren are dependable. What a waste of talent when we have capable brethren who are so lax in their attitude and work that the Lord can’t depend on them for anything good! Deacons have to be proven. Near my home during World War II, there was a “proving ground.” They tested various weapons before shipping them into the war. In a sense God is testing us today in our faith.

There are many other marks of maturity, but these will give us food for thought. Am I growing? Re-read 2 Peter 1:5-11 and see how mature you are. A child that never develops physically is a pitiful sight; a Christian that is no larger than when he “came up out of the water” is much worse. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.”

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 622-623
October 20, 1988

By Larry Ray Hafley

I am thankful that I live in a country where one is free to make a movie like The Last Temptation Of Christ. I regret, though, that I live in a country where anyone would want to do so. No, I have not seen the movie. No, I do not intend to do so. And, yes, I am aware of what the Bible says about answering a thing before you hear it. But this is not a review of that movie.

According to the media, the film presents Jesus as uncertain about his mission and ministry. If that report is true, nothing could be further from the truth. No man was ever more sure and certain about himself than was the Son of God. He was the master of every situation, the winner of every confrontation. He spoke and taught with boldness. He never wavered, never hesitated, never skirted an issue, never dodged a question. But what is greater than that is the fact that his directness, his frankness, never entangled him in greater difficulties. I might act decisively and speak positively in all cases, but at times my plunging head-long into hard questions gets me into more trouble than I am able to get out of. Not so with the Lord. When he answered questions that were deliberately designed to bait him into an intemperate utterance, he never made matters worse. Rather, “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Matt. 22:46).

One may not believe or agree with Jesus’ testimony about himself, but there is never the slightest doubt of the Savior’s assurance and confidence.

Certain In His Person

Jesus was conscious and confident of who he was. He declared himself to be greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon (Matt. 12:6,41,42). He said he existed before Abraham (Jn. 8:58). He said he came from heaven and that he was not of this world as men are (Jn. 6:62; 8:23).

Those claims make him either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord. But regardless of your conclusion, Jesus was not uncertain about himself. He did not deny that he was greater than Jacob (Jn. 4:12). He did not retreat when he was charged with making himself equal with God (Jn. 5:18). In fact, he claimed equality with the Father in action, power, judgment, honor and reconciliation (Jn. 5:19-26). Men may fabricate a weak, uncertain Savior, but their creation is not akin to the “author of eternal salvation,” Jesus the Christ.

Certain In His Purpose

Jesus knew what he was to do, and he never swerved from the accomplishing of his mission and ministry of mercy. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Lk. 5:32). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (Jn. 12:47). A few days before the agony of the cross, he said, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour” (Jn. 12:27). Jesus knew. Jesus never doubted. Jesus never questioned why he came to this earth. He was always aware, always certain.

No soldier wants to follow a general who is uncertain. No patient wants to allow a surgeon to operate if the doctor is uncertain. No football team wants to be led by a tentative coach or quarterback. Angelic armies and heavenly hosts are led by the certain Savior, the captain of our salvation. He did not quiver; he did not shiver in fear or doubt of his ultimate purpose. We can, therefore, follow him in battle against spiritual wickedness, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the imps of the hadean realm. Finally, when our feet enter the chilly waters of Jordan, we may confidently say with David of old, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa. 23:4).

Certain In His Power

Jesus never hesitated when power and authority were needed. When the disciples awoke him during a storm at sea, he rebuked them for their lack of faith and immediately calmed the wind and the sea (Matt. 8:23-27). When he was challenged regarding his authority to forgive sins, he responded with power and silenced his critics (Matt. 9:2-8). These are not the actions of a man who is uncertain about his power and authority.

When questioned about issues and events beyond the knowledge of men, Jesus responded with insight and Scripture (Matt. 22:23-33). He did not have to say, “Well, I think, ” or “My opinion is,” or “Perhaps, it will be,” or “Probably, it will be like this.” No, he never resorted to conjecture. Jesus did not simply offer “a reasonable hypothesis.” He simply told how it would be. As a result, “The people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28,29).

Jesus spoke of his death (Matt. 16:21; 17:22,23). If someone kills me, my efforts are over, but Jesus did not convey the idea that his death would be the end. In conjunction with the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 53:10-12), Jesus knew that his death was his greatest victory and the defeat of the devil’s kingdom of darkness (Lk. 24:19-27; 2 Tim. 1: 10; Heb. 2:14,15). He, was certain of his power over death, hell and the grave.

Therefore, do not believe men who would corrupt the person, purpose and power of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Do not allow the devil to deceive you about the Divine certainty and the eternal verity of the Son of God. Men of self-doubt and personal skepticism do not say, “I am the light of the world,” or, “I am the bread of life,” or “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” So, you can serve the certain Savior, the resolute Redeemer, with boldness and confidence. Let no man deceive you by falsely portraying a Jesus of weakness and fear. It is a lie of the devil. You can be certain of that, too.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 624, 631
October 20, 1988