Truth Magazine

By Tom M. Roberts

A Dallas editor continues to bemoan that churches of Christ do not teach on the subject of grace. In a recent letter to this editor, one of his readers stated that they had to “listen to Ed Roger’s sermons on T.V. (1st Baptist) or to Jack Rothenflue who preaches for the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ to hear grace preached” (Persuader, “Shame of Shame!”, p. 2). To which the editor agreed that it was ture, adding, “Shame, Shame.”

One hardly knows where to begin to answer such a transparently false charge, but I suppose the best place is with a plain denial. I have heard grace preached all my life. If grace is so scarce among us, why arc people still obeying the gospel? If grace is unheard of in the churches of Christ, why are members still in the fellowship of God? Why, indeed, do we take the Lord’s supper, sing (yes, even “Amazing Grace”), pray, trust, believe that heaven-is attainable or 100 other things that are possible only by the mercy of God? A more spurious charge one would have difficulty finding than that grace is not taught from the pulpits in the churches of the Lord. It is difficult to contain my anger at such a statement. Not only is this editor pretending to know the sermon material that has been preached around the world each Sunday for an entire generation among Christians, but he also claims that one would have to turn to the Baptists or to the Christian Church to hear grace preached at all! Lord in Heaven, help us!

When has any Baptist, in keeping with Baptist doctrine, had any knowledge of the “true grace of God” (1 Pet. 5:12)? Has this editor become so enamored with false doctrine that he supposes “salvation by faith alone” to be a true exposition of God’s grace? Perhaps it is “once saved, always saved” that teaches about grace more than the gospel sermons among us. Yet again, does a Christian Church preacher qualify to tell us about grace? Wherein? Is it when he splits the body of Christ over instruments of music that he is most eloquent about grace? Or perhaps it is when he takes the Lord’s supper on Christmas Eve in the middle of the week that he is closer to grace than brethren who eat the supper on the Lord’s day? Could this Christian Church preacher lecture us on grace because he stands for “unity in diversity” with every sectarian of every stripe, regardless of how the word of God is trampled under foot and despised? Tell us again, brother editor, just when a Baptist or Christian Church preacher is qualified to preach on the grace of God! Is it when they receive into their fellowship one who has never been baptized for remission of sins? Is it when they deride gospel preachers (and the truth) for believing more “in the creek than Christ”? Is it when they accuse us of believing in water salvation? Or that Christ is now on his throne in his kingdom? Maybe they understand about grace when they say that the church was started by John rather than Jesus. Or is it something else? Point out to me, brother editor, what I can’t seem to see. Tell me when, where, how and why a Baptist can tell gospel preachers about grace. And when you have done that, tell me why you still claim to be a member of the church of Christ and not a Baptist or a member of the Christian Church. Shame, indeed, that a man grown old with the Bible (as has this Dallas editor), should, at this late date renounce the truth and lecture brethren about sectarians knowing more about grace than we. I pray that he may repent before God calls him to judgment.

Why Teach Such A Thing?

Why would a man who has preached the truth for many years as has this editor make such a statement? Giving him the benefit of the doubt as to honesty, one must conclude that he has fallen into doctrinal error. From what he has written in the past (and continues to write), he believes that grace is unconditional. In addition to the article just reviewed, he also included another article in the same bulletin entitled, “Percentage Religion.” A poorer grasp of God’s grace would be difficult to locate than either of these articles. One part of this latter article states: “This idea of God’s grace playing only a percentage role in salvation is unscriptural and spiritually deadly! . . . . It is the demand of legalism, not of grace. God and sinners are not in a partnership when it comes to the salvation of our souls! It is all of grace (God) or it is nothing as one views the source of a sinner’s salvation. Why will we never learn that salvation is a gift, a free gift? Why have we allowed men to instill the nonsense within us that says that we, at least to a degree, have earned, merited or worked for this ‘free gift’? It is to our shame that such ever developed.” Charles Hodge, another preacher, is then quoted as saying, “Man refuses to admit that all are on charity (grace) . . . God did not pay 50 cents with man equally paying 50 cents. This is hard for man’s pride to swallow! It is not even 90 cents from God and 10 cents from man. Jesus paid it all! 100 cents on the dollar! This is grace” (Charles Hodge, Amazing Grace, p. 4).

Thank God none of us are teaching this error. Where does one begin to refute such misunderstandings of truth?

No, We Don’t Preach Baptist Doctrine

These quotations explain why we are charged with never preaching grace. Since these quotations are in full agreement with, and in actuality are, Baptist doctrine, I must plead guilty to never preaching these doctrines except to expose them. Salvation wholly of grace is Baptist doctrine and can be found in the manuals of faith, but not in the Bible. Many years ago, our editor friend used to preach the same truth he now spurns. Quotations can be produced to prove this But now that he has abandoned truth, he attempts to lay guilt on us by claiming that we don’t preach the grace of God. On the contrary, we are still preaching what he used to preach, the “true grace of God” while he has turned to sectarian error. Be sure that you note the difference: it is his definition of grace that we don’t preach. We still preach the Bible definition, just like he used to do. Again, I ask, if Baptists are preaching grace and we are not, why remain in the church of Christ? Do you not find it strikingly odd, my friend, to find that your teaching would be acceptable to any Baptist church in the world? In fact, you could preach it at the largest Baptist church in the world right there in Dallas, Texas, and Pastor Criswell would praise you for it. Do you really expect all of us to change our preaching of truth and begin preaching Baptist doctrine? In truth, we don’t teach salvation wholly of grace, but we do teach the true grace. There is a distinct difference, even as you used to know.

Grace Is Conditional

Is salvation wholly of grace? Are there conditions to God’s grace? Is salvation 50 percent God’s part and 50 percent man’s part? 75/25? 90/10? 99/1? And are there folks in the church really teaching that? How sad that ignorance would create such confusion from the simple plan of redemption.

The Bible formula is: “for by grace have ye been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8). Grace is God’s part; faith is man’s part. Both grace and faith play a part in salvation, as the text affirms. The grace of God is of non-effect without man’s faith, else would the whole world be saved. Both grace and faith are generic in that they include all that brings about our salvation. Grace includes all that God has done and is doing to save us: Christ, blood, church, remission, atonement, revelation, etc. Faith includes all that man must do in response to God’s grace: repentance, confession, baptism, godly a living, etc. What is the “percentage” that is God’s and what “percentage” that is man’s? Why brother, it is not 50/50 or even 99/1. It is 100/1,00! Do you get that? Let me explain. Only God can extend his grace (100 percent); only man can respond in faith (100 percent). Man cannot act on God’s behalf; God will not act on man’s responsibility. Grace, which is God’s part, is 100 percent God’s part. Man could not send Christ, shed the blood, establish the church, grant remission of sins, provide the truth, etc. On the other hand, God will not do what man must do: believe, repent, confess, be baptized, live godly lives or, in other words do that which peculiarly is man’s part 100 percent. Therefore salvation is not wholly of grace. Hodge is wrong when he describes his view of “percentage religion.” Our editor in question is wrong when he chides us for not believing or preaching grace. The Baptist is wrong, also. None of them really understands the grace of God. Yes, so far as source is concerned, salvation is from God. But God has also put salvation on a conditional basis and man must do something to meet these conditions. In some places, this “something man must do” is called “works” (John 6:28; 8:39-43; Jas. 2:17-26; etc.). These are not the works of merit or of boasting (which are condemned, Rom. 4:2ff, etc.), but conditional works to show our faith as a response to God’s expressed grace. It is this grace that I have heard preached all my life, which is preached today in the churches of the Lord, but has never been preached in Baptist Churches. Every time Acts 2:38 is preached, the grace of God is being preached. Will anyone deny that? Every time the Great Commission is preached, the grace of God is being preached? Will our editor deny that? Every time a precious soul is baptized into Christ, the grace of God has been extended. Every time a Christian prays and has his sins forgiven, God’s grace is active. The apostles preached it twenty centuries ago; we preach it today. May it be so until Jesus comes again.

May the grace of God be with you all.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 6, pp. 170-171
March 17, 1988

By Bill H. Reeves

While preaching in El Salvador I found the following New Year’s resolution attached to the door of Mercedes Hernandez, daughter of Joaquin Hernandez who preaches in Central America. The paper was written by his daughter for her benefit alone, a few minutes after greeting the New Year. She went to her room, wrote her thoughts on the paper and fixed it to the door. She did not know anyone else would see it. I was impressed by it and asked her to let me have a copy of it to share with others. Her example may inspire the rest of us to greater zeal in the Lord’s kingdom.

January 1, 1988. 12:15 a.m. This year I desire, if the Lord wills:

1. To study in order to learn.

2. To persist in useful things.

3. To forget things which are not pleasant.

4. To smile more and be more pleasant among those about me.

5. To be punctual and constant.

6. To be better toward Said and Yasser (her two little brothers, BHR).

7. To do all things whole-heartedly and with love toward the Lord.

What I have written I propose in my heart, asking the Lord that I might fulfill it.

I desire, oh Lord, that you permit me to accomplish it in accordance with your divine will, and when I feel weakness in me I ask you to accompany me.

But above all I supplicate thee to be with me and accompany me always, Lord of heaven and earth.

Permit me to read the Holy Bible and to pray every day.

Pray: many times daily.

Read: one or more hours daily.

Blessed be thou Lord Jesus. Be with my brothers. In your great love. Amen.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 6, p. 171
March 17, 1988

By Larry Houchen

Top of the news reports and newspaper front page news recently have been the immorality of Jimmy Swaggart. Mr. Swaggart bases his multi-million dollar ministries in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is associated with the Assemblies of God organization the same group affiliation as that of Jim and Tammy Bakker. Sin is sin in the sight of God, but the fact is that some sins and one’s influential position have deeper and more lingering consequences. A preacher is not above immorality or any other kinds of sins, but he is expected, as any other Christian, to conduct himself in a godly manner. The apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). These are some lessons which we should learn from this and similar incidents.

Someone once said, “There is no honor among thieves.” About one year ago, the Jim Bakker-PTL scandal came to public awareness. Jimmy Swaggart was one of several who “blew the whistle” on Bakker. In the midst of the scandal, Swaggart portrayed himself as a “knight in shining armor” destined to cleanup the whole unfortunate situation. Jimmy Swaggart was seen by the public as being genuine and a dedicated servant of God. Mr. Swaggart was also instrumental in exposing a Mr. Gorman (also an Assemblies of God preacher) for immoral misconduct an act which would lead to Swaggart’s own demise. Mr. Gorman subsequently “turned the tables” on this would-be champion of morality and photographed Swaggart entering a motel room with a prostitute. Jesus, on the occasion of the scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman who had been caught in adultery, said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). Jimmy Swaggart obviously should have concentrated on preaching the gospel of Christ rather than on “throwing stones.”

Jimmy Swaggart sinned. Can he obtain forgiveness from God? Surely he can, just as any alien sinner can do (cf. Acts 2:38). Is he truly penitent? Only God can know his heart, however, the Bible does teach, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:1516a). If Mr. Swaggart reacts as Jim Bakker did in attempting to keep his PTL Ministry, we will see him preaching again in a relatively short time if he has anything at all to do with it. An injured conscience, not to mention common sense, would dictate allowing a reasonable amount of time to pass before ever attempting to preach again. If the Lord’s cause is foremost in Mr. Swaggart’s mind, he will forego both ego and a huge salary to retreat to the background for a reasonable length of time. We will just have to wait and see if Mr. Swaggart is truly thinking of the Lord’s cause or his multimillion dollar organization. Either way, the answer will eventually most likely be quite clear.

Both the Bakker and Swaggart incidents should impress us with the fact that our faith must rest in God and not in man. The Hebrew writer wrote, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay said every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1-2a). Our earthly heroes have “feet of clay,” sooner or later they will disappoint us, but “Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, yes, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Christians take no pleasure in finding out that someone has sinned. It is, however, still true, “for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Lk. 18:14).

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 7, pp. 193, 215
April 7, 1988

By Lanny Parish

All problems that we are confronted with spiritually, I believe the New Testament reveals their solution, directly or in principle (2 Pet. 1:3). The statement which is the title to this article is no exception! I know of no one who will deny that the church of Christ is not growing (as it should). There must be a reason or reasons. I believe the New Testament reveals at least two of these which I present for your consideration:

The first is preachers. Over the past few years, I have observed the “work” habits of a number of brothers in Christ who are receiving “full-time” wages and are presumed to be doing “full-time” work as ministers of the gospel of Christ. But, in many instances I have noticed first hand (and have also been told of others), that some preachers who are supposed to be “full-time” are not performing their duties “full-time” (2 Tim. 4:5).

When preachers accept “full-time” wages it is expected and required that the “laborer be worthy of his hire.” Yet, many preachers in this category (“full-time”) spend few hours per week in diligent study of God’s Word which is evidenced in their class teaching and their sermons. One can not teach what he does not know – and he cannot know what he has not learned (2 Tim. 2:15). Perhaps this is one reason preachers are no bolder than they are in their preaching and personal work; their faith and conviction has not matured as a result of not properly utilizing their time (1 Tim. 4:13,15,16).

Some preachers abuse their “full-time” status by spending too much time on the golf course, fishing, drinking coffee, just plain gossiping, too much time away from the local work for whatever reason, etc. There is no way that I know that any person in any endeavor, spiritual or secular, can do an effective job unless he is diligent, devoted and consistent in his efforts. Preachers are no exception (2 Tim. 4:2)! How many nonmembers have we as preachers talked within the past year? How do we know it won’t do any good? How many denominational preachers have we as preachers tried to discuss the Bible with? How do we know it won’t do any good? Have we met everyone in our neighborhood? How many “liberal-minded” brethren have we tried to study with? Preacher brothers, we need to ask ourselves these questions and consider our answers!

When preachers assume the responsibility of “full-time” work, they do so by choice and, therefore, incur the weight and privilege of the obligations of a minister outlined in the New Testament which is primarily to preach the gospel! Preachers of all people, know these things and brethren should know them and require the same as God’s Word does.

If all preachers will “put their hands to the plow” (Lk. 9:62) and earnestly and diligently “fulfill thy ministry” we will see the church grow as it should! God’s Word hasn’t lost any of its power (Rom. 1:16)! I thank God for those brethren who are faithfully and diligently discharging their duty as a gospel preacher and I pray that the rest will begin. So, preachers who are not fulfilling their ministry as the New Testament reveals is one reason the church is not growing as it should. (I’ll not address the obvious and understood fact that preachers deserve and are expected to take time off to relax and enjoy wholesome recreation just like anyone else.)

The second reason the New Testament reveals that the church is not growing as it should is members. It is easy for us all to get the “pass-the-buck” syndrome (Gen. 3:12-13) when things are not progressing as we think they should. We need to possess the honest, honorable character of “the-buck-stops-here” and take the initiative to perform accordingly.

It seems to be the programmed nature of some members to want to blame the preacher for the church not growing as it should, and for some preachers to reciprocate with the favor of blaming the members. Surely, brethren we realize, even if both sides are wrong – that two wrongs don’t make a right (Gal. 6:7)!

I am acutely aware, having preached “full-time” for a number of years, that some members feel it is their duty to bemoan not only preachers and other members but, the work in general. Also, I have experienced the same with preachers (Acts 10:34; Rom. 14:12).

Members who are not happy and grateful for the privilege of being who they are and what they are (God’s child) seldom radiate the blessedness they are missing. And as result, those they come in contact with perceive their’disposition and attitude and have no intention of being permanently associated with such, which can mean they won’t even consider the church (Matt. 5:16).

When folks see members of the church of Christ conduct the affairs of their life in an un-Christ like manner and are unfaithful and don’t “practice-what-they-preach,” is it any wonder the church of Christ is not growing as it should? I hope you and I will consider and realize that there is no “passing-the-buck” before our Lord.

These two classes of people – preachers and members – are two of the determining factors in whether the church grows as it should! You and I are one or the other or both! My prayer is that we each realize our individual role in life as God’s child and will conduct ourselves accordingly so the result will be the church growing as it should.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 6, pp. 161, 183
March 17, 1988