Truth Magazine

By Steve Wolfgang

Footnote S. H. Bingman, “From the Field,” Christian Standard XXIV: 50 (December 14, 1889, p. 830 (12).

“December 3 – Closed a very unsatisfactory meeting with the church at Union Center. . . . Rain almost daily, deep mud and dark nights; divided brethren, poor preaching, good singing and plenty of babies. We would have had a houseful every session, if enough people had come to fill up, and there would have been a larger number of additions, if we could have persuaded the people to obey the Lord. That the meeting was no worse, we ‘thank God and take courage,’ and intend to try again.”‘

With the end of the “meeting season” for 1987, we found this quotation intriguing, and hope our readers enjoy it as much as we did. I don’t know who S.H. Bingman was, but I would like to shake his hand! He gets my vote for “honest meeting report” of the century!

However, lest we take either ourselves or our counterparts from last century too lightly, let me hasten to add that we do not share the pessimism expressed by some regarding the demise of gospel meetings or the alleged lack of good resulting thereby. To be sure, the results may occasionally be “less than sensational” (as a report we saw recently put it). However, there are positive results from such meetings which are not found in written reports or expressed in tangible statistics.

I count it a privilege to have expended some of my efforts in meetings among small churches, several of which (particularly in the Northeast and upper Midwest) were without a “full-time preacher.” There is certainly nothing at all wrong with an established congregation, with an evangelist already present, inviting another preacher to come for a special teaching effort (Acts 11:20-24 provides an example of this). However, there is a great need for work to be done in edifying smaller congregations which are not receiving regular and systematic teaching. The good resulting from such efforts, while not subject to quantification in statistical reports, is nonetheless well worth the effort.

Of course, we “thank God and take courage” that not all meetings are like the one described above. Some of them result in visible, yea, vivid responses: baptisms, emotional restorations, congregations with large and attentive audiences. We emphatically reject any suggestion that “meetings do no good.”

A final thought is suggested by the anonymity of the correspondent. As I said, I had never before heard of S.H. Bingman, though I have an active interest in “Restoration History.” Yet, even though we may never have known them, there are literally thousands of persevering souls like this man, working diligently in their section of the Lord’s vineyard, undaunted by less than sensational results, unrelenting in their labors despite discouraging circumstances or apparently insurmountable obstacles. Their kind is legion even today: unknown by face to most churches, unrecorded by brotherhood reports, shunning prominence, choosing rather to work in the obscurity of difficult fields. Truly, from their example we “thank God and take courage.”

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 4, p. 107
February 18, 1988

By C. D. Plum

Perhaps I should of this article in the have given the subject plural, for really, such it is. Necessary realizations is actually what is taught here.

Often we hear people say, “What is the matter with the world? ” And others who realize how bad things are, say, “What can be done about it?” Well, I don’t know everything that is the matter with the world. And I do not pretend to know everything that we should try to do about it. I do, however, know that things are bad, and I am pretty sure that a very strong panacea of some sort is needed by the world. And I happen to know what that panacea is that is needed. The world needs to be brought to certain realizations, which, at this time it seems she knows little about.

I have heard it said that what this world needs is a good dose of religion. But such a statement as this’ without clarification, is so vague that it is worthless. Those who understand the teaching of the Bible know full well that the world already has too much of the religion of Catholicism and Protestantism. Such religions as these have no sanction from the God of Heaven, and spiritually will not help the world.

But a man said once, “I mean the world needs a good shot of the religion we read about in the Bible.” But this statement is as vague as can be. It needs clarification. In the Bible we read about the “Jews religion.” ((Gal. 1:13-14.) Certainly the world does not need a shot of this religion. It was all right in its time and day before Christ died on the cross. But it was “nailed to the cross” and was taken out of the way when Christ died. (Col. 2:14-16.) And Paul, who held to the Jews religion after the cross of Christ, and who was “Profiting in it,” was at the same time “persecuting the church of God, and wasting it.” (Gal. 1: 13-14.) So the world does not need this.

And then in the Bible we read about “vain religion and vain worship.” The world surely does not need this. In fact it has too much of this all ready. From the Bible viewpoint, religion may be vain because of talking too much (bridleth not his tongue,” Jas. 1:26), and doing too much (following the doctrines and commandments of men), Mt. 16:9-13. Hence, the statement that the world needs religion is too vague without clarification. Note, carefully, then, what follows.

1. Right here let me state the first realization. The world needs to realize that, only the “pure and undefiled” system of religion as taught by Jesus the Christ, and revealed in the New Testament, will profit spiritually. (Jas. 1:27.) God’s “Hear ye him,” concerning his Son, sets aside every system of religion in the world that is contrary to Christ’s teaching. This the world must realize. This the world must accept. There will be no spiritual deliverance otherwise.

2. The world needs to realize that God is, and he that cometh to God “must believe that he is.” (Heb. 11:6.) And further, the world needs to realize that, “Those who do not wish to retain God in their knowledge he will give over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Ro. 1:28.) And further. in this connection, the world needs to know that if it will not hearken unto the words of God’s Son that God, himself will hold it to strict account. (Deut. 18:18-i9.)3. Not only is it necessary to realize that God is. it is likewise necessary to realize that 7 God has” his own way of doing things. And God’s ‘thoughts and ways” are as far above man’s thoughts and ways as the heaven is above the earth. (Isa. 55:8-9.)

4. And the world not only needs to realize that “God is” and “God has,” but this world needs to know that “God will not change.” The prophet spoke God’s words, and said, “I am the Lord, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6.) So it is, “The wicked must forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. (Isa. 65:7.)

5. Another necessary realization on the part of the world is that, Jesus established “one” church, and that denominationalism makes infidels. “I will build my church,” says Jesus. “The true tabernacle which the Lord built, and not man,” says Paul, and “There is one body.” (Mt. 16:18; Heb. 8:2; Eph. 4:4.) Denominationalism represents religious division, provokes religious confusion, and helps to defeat the prayer of Jesus when he prayed that “all may be one, and that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

6. The world needs to realize that the way of entrance into the Lord’s church today is the same as they entered over nineteen hundred years ago. The book of Acts is the book of conversions. This book carefully studied, with other scriptures relating to the same thought, reveals that believers (Mk. 16:16) repented of their sins (Acts 2:38) and were baptized (buried) for the remission of their sins upon the simple confession of their faith in believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:37-38; Col. 2:12.) It is just as simple as that today. Simple obedience to the Son of God. That is all that is required. “He is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Obedience to the Lord is neither mythical nor mystical. And the sooner the service of God is severed from the idea of the mythical or mystical, the better for this old world.

7. It would be unwise to close this article without insisting that not only the world, but the church as well, needs to realize that God requires that his servants be “faithful unto death.” The fight is not for a day, but a fight to the finish, if the crown we would wear. If gospel preachers did not have to spend so much time in holding the members, and were free to work on the alien lost, the church would make more progress in numbers, and in work accomplished.

Truth Magazine VI, 12 pp. 19-20
September 1962

By Judson Woodbridge

Old Covenant –Heb. 8:13; Ex. 34:28; I Kgs. 8: 9, 21– New Covenant.
Old Testament — Heb. 9: 15 — New Testament.
First Testament — Heb. 10: 9 — Second Testament–Heb. 8: 7.
Moses Gave Old– Heb. 10:28 — Christ Gave New.
Blood of Animals– Heb. 10:4–Blood of Christ–Heb. 9:14.
For Jews Only — Deut. 5.1-15; Ex. 31:16, 17 — For All the World–Mk. 16:15.Done Away–Rom. 7:1-6; 2 Cor. 3:1-6– In Force—Heb. 9:17. Gal. 3:23-25; Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:14; Heb. 8; 9:15-17.

Wrong Examples

Mt. 8: 6- 13 . Faith
Lk. 7: 36-48 ……... Love
John 8: 4- 11..Repent
Mt. 19:16-22..Give
Lk. 23:43 . Confessed

Right Examples

Acts 2–B, R, B, equals Rem. of Sins.
Acts 8–H, B, B, equals Rejoice
Acts 9–B, R, B, equals wash away sins. (22: 16.)
Acts 10 and 11–B, R, B, equals Life.

Wrong DayEx. 31:16, 17.
Right DayLk. 24:1, 7, 21, 46; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2.

Wrong Acts
Sprinkle clean water–Ezek. 36:25.
Animal sacrifice.
Incense burning.
Going to Jerusalem to worship.
Build a Tabernacle.
Dance–2 Sam. 6:14.
Play on Instruments–2 Sam 6:5.
Infant Members.
Feast Days.

Right Acts

Baptize–( immerse)–Rom. 6 :3.
Christ, our sacrifice.
Pray–Rev. 8:4.
Worship in spirit and truth–Jno. 4:21-23.
Sing–Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19.
Teach–Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7.
Lord’s Supper Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7.
Give–I Cor. 16:2.

There are many people who do not know how to read the Bible. Many think the Old Testament is in force today. The above passages should show conclusively that it is not. When this is learned people will stop going back before the cross for examples of conversion; stop going back to the Ten Commandments to get the Sabbath day (7th day of the week); and will stop going back after David’s instruments of music. The Lord in the New Covenant tells us what to do to be saved today and how to worship.

A man is indeed inconsistent who will take the stories of Christ forgiving sin in his personal ministry as cases of conversion, and then reject the Jewish Sabbath. He is inconsistent who will take David’s instruments and refuse his dance. The truth is, all are on the wrong side of the cross. David lived under the law of Moses and not under the law of Christ. Since that is true, if it could be proven that David used the instruments with the approval of God, which would not prove that one could use them today with God’s sanction. If he would sanction them he would surely say so in the law he has for us today.

In the personal ministry of Christ he could speak sins forgiven if he so desired; but did he say to me that I could be forgiven like the woman who washed his feet? I must be concerned about the conditions of salvation as they are expressed in the New Testament. In fact, no one would ever have thought about using these stories of Christ’s forgiveness if they had not been trying to get around a plain command; and the commands is, “Be baptized.” Why try to escape a command of God? It certainly would be foolish to so do. Let all be willing to go to the right place for these commands, and then let all be willing to obey them.

Truth Magazine VI, 12, pp 20-21
September 1962

By Thomas C. Mickey

We are living in an age when, it seems, that but few even of the members of the Lord’s church are cognizant of the importance of our “redeeming the time.” I would to God that something could be said or done that would cause Christians to awake to this need. The burden of current problems within the church has heaped discouragement upon the work in many places, thus contributing to indifference. The problems which we are facing serve to emphasize the need for more (as well as more effective) teaching both within and without the church. Let preachers accept this challenge to de-emphasize eloquence and re-emphasize the message. If because of extra-curricular interests less study is to be done in the home, then we must combat this by doing more teaching from the pulpits.

I call your attention in this study to Paul’s words to the Colossians, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Col. 4:5.) Exposition of this passage depends primarily upon consideration of four key words; “wisdom,” “without,” “redeeming,” and “time.”

The word “wisdom” is from sophia (Gr.) and means “wisdom, skill” according to Robert Young. Thayer defines the word as “wisdom, broad and full intelligence.” (page 581, Lexicon.) The term is the same one which is so widely used in I Corinthians 1 and 2. Thayer’s comment on the usage of the word in Col. 4:5 is “a devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ.” (ibid, 581.)

Our text, then, teaches that we ought to conduct ourselves wisely toward those who are not Christians. The wisdom that we are to possess is a wisdom that comes from God. James taught that those who lacked wisdom should pray for it. (James 1:5.) He further taught that the wisdom which is from God will manifest itself in an individual through his good behavior (James 3:13) and that a wise man will be pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17.)

We learn that the apostles preached wisdom among those who were perfect. (I Cor. 2:6.) Thus, we are constrained to believe that wisdom may be obtained through study of the word of God. Further, “walking in wisdom” involves the exercise of discretion in addition to humble obedience.

“Without” is from “exo” (Gr.), which literally means “without; outside.” “Without” signifies those who are without the body of Christ, i.e. those who are not Christians. In Colossians 1:13 Paul speaks of being translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Those without are they who have never been translated into this kingdom and they are the ones with whom the apostle is concerned in Col. 4:5.

“Walking in wisdom toward them that are without” involves teaching them the truth. It involves the fulfillment of our Lord’s command in the great commission. “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Many will be disappointed to learn that this precept was not spoken for the benefit of preachers alone. This fact is more clearly seen from Matthew’s account of the commission. In Matt. 28:19 the order is (1) teach, (2) baptize, (3) teach to observe. Note the following syllogism:(1) All baptized believers were to be taught to observe “all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28:19.)

(2) The disciples were commanded to teach. (Mt. 28:19 – Mk. 16:15.)

(3) Therefore, baptized believers are commanded to teach!

While members of the church emphasize the Lord’s Supper and baptism, they are prone to neglect the duties of personal evangelism. It has been said that there are only about twenty-two verses dealing with the responsibility to eat the Lord’s Supper, and only about one hundred and twenty dealing with baptism, but there are over one thousand verses which show the Christians’ responsibilities in teaching the gospel. As we note the word redeeming,” we find it to be composed of two words; “ex” and “agorazo,” thus, “ex-agorazo.” Young defines the term as, “to acquire out of the forum.” Thayer defines it as “to redeem; to buy up.” He says the meaning in Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5 seems to be “to make a wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.” (Lexicon, p. 220.)

Christians should regard as holy every opportunity to accomplish good. The textual application, of course, deals with opportunities to teach those who are without the body of Christ.

Once Jesus told some men to learn the meaning of an expression: “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice” (Mt. 9:13 et al.) Among other things, it appears to me that this expression reveals that God is not pleased with legalism alone, but that one’s heart and attitudes must also be pleasing. God requires men to love the souls of the lost. If we love the souls of the lost we will work to teach them the truth. Being letter-perfect will not save us unless our hearts are also right. We must be merciful toward the unbelievers and teach them God’s will. To lift an expression from its context, James said, “He shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy.”

The last key word in the passage is “time” from “kairos” (Gr.) and meaning “A fixed time or season” (Young’s Ana Con.). Time always signifies limitations. Time is a difference between mortality and immortality.

In II Corinthians 6:2 we read … “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” These words are often cited in pleading with aliens to obey the gospel. But, brethren, if now is the accepted time to obey the gospel, then now is also the accepted time to be teaching the gospel. If we have no guarantee of tomorrow, how hard we must work, for the task is not done; we cannot say, “It is finished.” “…I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” (John 4:35-36.)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:15-17.)

Truth Magazine VI: 12, pp. 10-13
September 1962