Truth Magazine

By Johnie Edwards

One reason Gideon and his army were successful in defeating the Midianites was: “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp” (Judg. 7:21). If we are to be pleasing in the sight of God and if the work of the Lord is to be successful, it will be necessary for every person to find his place, get in it, stay in it and be satisfied with it. In this series, let’s take a look at some and their place.

The Place of the Preacher

If the work of the local church is to be successful, the preacher must know his place, get in it and stay in it! Sometimes the preacher gets out of place. Let’s take a look to see that the preacher is out of place when:

(1) He is a reverend. Many preachers are not satisfied just to be called by their name but want to be held up as “a reverend.” The word “reverend” is only found one time in the entire Bible and then it refers to God and not man. The Psalmist said, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name” (Psa. 111:9). You will never read of any of he apostles of Christ ever being called reverend, they were just called Peter, James and John! No one of the apostles was any greater than the other. In a discussion of who’s the greatest, the Lord said, “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve” (Lk. 22:26). In fact Jesus said concerning those who “love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren, and call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matt. 23:6-9). There are some preachers in the church of Christ who like to be honored a little more than the rest of us by using the word Doctor in front of their name. We all need to learn the words of Job, “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away” (Job 32:21-22).

(2) He becomes a professional praying man. It is not the place of the preacher to be a professional praying man. Often folks think they cannot pray themselves, but have to call in a professional to do the praying. Most preachers that I know are always willing to offer a prayer for the sick and those who need attention along this line, but we must be taught that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Jas. 5:16).

(3) He is a social butterfly. There are some who would make nothing more of a preacher than to function at all the social events of a community. There certainly is nothing wrong with a preacher being involved in a community socially, but we must not be so demanding of his time that he does not have time to study and do the work of an evangelist.

(4) As a pastor. Unless appointed as an elder, the preacher is not a pastor. Elders are the pastors in the church. A preacher is out of place when he tries to run and oversee the church. The elders have been charged with this (Acts 20:28).

Now let’s take a look at the place of the preacher.

1. To preach the gospel. The main and foremost work of the preacher is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul charged Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). As a preacher preaches, he must preach in such a way that folks can understand the preaching. The preaching of men of God in the New Testament was plain, simple preaching. When they finished their sermons, no one ever asked them to run that by him again. They may not have always obeyed the preached word, but it was not because they did not understand it!

2. He must do other work as a Christian. The preacher has responsibilities as does every other Christian. He does not have these responsibilities because he is a preacher but because he is a Christian!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 4, p. 109
February 19, 1988

By Larry Ray Hafley

Perhaps you have seen the ad on television which exalts the advantages of having a Minolta camera. The major emphasis of the commercial is that the camera focuses almost instantly. Hence, you do not miss some great photo opportunities. The ad says, “Only the human eye focuses faster.” Let us focus on that statement and see what develops.

The Minolta camera is the result of years of scientific research. Thousands of hours of tedious labor have gone into the planning and design of the camera. Millions of dollars have been expended in order to produce and advertize the product. Every thinking person knows that Minolta’s ingenious equipment is not the result of an explosion in a photography studio. Living, intelligent creators spent time and energy to present their handiwork to the consumer. Are we to believe that the camera is the result of intelligent creative powers but that the human eye (which even Minolta admits focuses faster) is merely the accidental leftover of blind, fortuitous chance? If so, I suppose that a jumbo jet liner is the result of a tornado that swept over a junk yard. I shudder to picture a person who would pose that solution.

The ad for the camera ends with the caption – “Only from the mind of Minolta.” In a flash, one recognizes that a camera has to be the result of mind, of intelligence. Is it any less true of the human eye? To paraphrase, the human eye is “only from the mind of God.” Only one who is groping about in the dark room of the devil could fail to see the true picture we have tried to develop. I trust that you are not negative toward what has been said.

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

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