Truth Magazine

By Bryan Vinson, Jr.

With the publication of this issue of TRUTH Magazine I will vacate the “editor’s chair.” For almost six years, from the beginning of publication, I have occupied that position. It has been a rewarding experience. I have learned a great deal while making many mistakes. I have seen the magazine grow. In many ways I regret leaving this position. Through the medium of TRUTH I have made many friends, and, as one might expect, a few enemies. I have been both justly and unjustly criticized. It is not, however, for these reasons that I now step down. I have had to make many sacrifices of both time and money in order to have a part in the publication of TRUTH. I now feel that l must “give up” some of the assumed responsibilities that demand so much of my time in order that I might be able to do a better work in other areas. I do not forfeit my position with TRUTH because I consider it of little importance, but because I have a friend, a devoted and faithful servant of Jesus who is willing and capable of stepping in and doing a better job.

I have known Cecil Willis since 1951. We attended school together at Florida Christian College. I have always been impressed with his ability and his sincerity. I have considered our friendship as one that has grown closer and closer through the years. I have followed the reports of his labors with great interest, and have seen him become recognized as one of the most talented young preachers of our present generation. We have worked together in meetings. I know of his soundness and dedication to the truth.

No member of the staff of TRUTH has expressed more interest in the welfare of the paper than Cecil. He has been instrumental in opening the doors of hundreds of homes to TRUTH each month. He has shared in the financial burden that seems inherently to accompany such a project as TRUTH. He has contributed some of the finest articles that have ever been printed upon its pages. T have no doubt whatever but what he will be able to publish a magazine that all conservative brethren will admire and be proud of.

I am not leaving TRUTH Magazine. I am only stepping aside from the position of editor. I will continue to support this effort to the best of my ability. I want to urge all of the present readers to continue to support TRUTH. Send in additional names and addresses so that its circul4tion can be increased. If TRUTH is worth having, it is certainly worth supporting. I shall continue to do so, and I trust that each of you will also.

Truth Magazine VI: 11, pp. 2
August 1962

By Gordon Pennock

TRUTH MAGAZINE was launched in October 1956, as a cooperative effort of Bryan Vinson, Jr., Leslie Diestelkamp, and the writer. With the help of hundreds of brethren, we never failed to publish an issue each month, although late a few times in the last few months. Those with experience in the field of journalism will appreciate the burden of labor involved. I am personally grateful to my colleagues in this effort, and especially to the scores of brethren who have written articles and words of encouragement, sent in subscriptions, and in many cases made monetary contributions to help with the payment of printing bills. Without their assistance we could not have continued through these years.

But now, a new line-up takes the field. Brethren Cecil Willis of Akron, Ohio and William Wallace of Poteau, Oklahoma constitutes the forward line. They are both sound, well known and untiring preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Both of these men have helped us immeasurably in the past and we, from whose shoulders the greater burden has been taken, will now stand behind them, rendering assistance in every way that might be needful or possible to us. We pray that God will use them mightily in the upholding of “The Truth” in contrast with the philosophies, ways and wisdom of men. We encourage you to encourage them in this good and noble work. You could do so in no better way than by sending a list of subscriptions today. The address will be found on the masthead of this issue.

Truth Magazine VI: 11, pp. 1b
August 1962

By Ronald G. Mosby

The summer season is Satan’s best time for fishing, except he fishes for men rather than for real fish. He’s been using the same bait since Adam and Eve and is still the champion fisherman of all ages. His bait is none other than deceit. The word, deceit, in the original language means: “A bait or contrivance for entrapping.” Thus, when a man slides a big night crawler over a hook or maybe a minnow and drops the baited hook into the water, he, in reality, is deceiving the fish. The fish opens his mouth and bites what appears to be something real good only to find that he’s been hooked! Likewise, when undiscerning children of God embrace some of the beautiful lures that Satan has dangling before their eyes, by and by they are hooked!

Sin is deceptive and has a hardening effect on men. The writer of Hebrews warns: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Human beings it seems are naturally prone to rationalize and to kid themselves into believing something is true in spite of the obvious circumstances to the contrary. In this respect we are no smarter than the fish that will grab the bait and run with it believing that he’s getting away with something. However, a little later when their resistance is down and all the fight is out of them, the patient fisherman at the other end of the line can easily take them captive “unto his will.” (II Timothy 2:26.) This is better understood as self-deception.

Paul warns of this when he said in Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” It’s bad enough to be deceived by Satan to begin with, but when a person starts running with the Devil’s lure thinking he is merely exercising his Christian liberty in Christ, thus deceiving himself, this is worse! A man does this, in essence, when he sins willfully and then tries to justify himself by pointing to some mistakes of others that appear just as bad. If it could be known, I wonder if a fish ever felt comfort when he was thrown in with the other fish that had been hooked with the same bait? Even the selfish rich man didn’t feel any comfort knowing that his brothers would be sharing the same horrors of torment with him. (Luke 16:27, 28.)

I know it’s open season for Satan the year round, but I believe it’s particularly good fishing for him this time of year for the following reasons: (1) Brethren suddenly feel tired after a normal day’s work and miss the Sunday night or Wednesday night assemblies, and they cannot see that every time they miss they are falling prey to the lures of Satan and are bound to get hooked if they keep drifting into his direction. (2) It seems the summer weather has a way of slowing down all work for the Lord and speeding up all efforts in the directions of a vacation and a good time. Vacations have their place, but never for one minute should they cause us to shirk our responsibilities in the Lord. (3) What about personal work, visiting the sick, studying your Bible, and being an example before your brethren and others, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity? What about the wearing of clothing (or rather the lack of proper clothing) in places where it is considered immodest, thus bringing reproach upon yourself and the body of Christ?

The above are just a few of the lures that Satan has out 24 hours a day and he doesn’t sleep and then wait until morning to run his lines but is ever ready and waiting to deceive any who will fall prey to his lures. He is indeed our adversary and walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8.) Therefore, we must be sober and vigilant, resisting the devil every hour to avoid falling into his snare. We must abstain from all appearances of evil. We must learn to hunger and thirst after righteousness and to meditate on the law of God both day and night. For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with powers and principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. If we do not remember these things we will be hooked for sure, whether we know it or not or whether we will admit it or not, so let us put a special effort into our service to the Lord during Satan’s best fishing season.

Truth Magazine VI: 11, pp. 14
August 1962

By Richard Weaver

The Church Is a Kingdom

The division and resulting confusion of the religious world today will continue until the leaders of the sects recognize that the church of the Lord is not a democracy whose practices are to be determined by majority vote or by conferences and councils of men. Jesus in the Word has taught us that the church is a kingdom. Read Matthew Chapter 13 that records parables of the kingdom which refer to the church and Matt. 16:18 where He spoke of building his church, then in the very next verse referred to it as the kingdom. See also verse 28 of the same chapter in which Jesus said, “There shall be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Moreover, Paul wrote, “God hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” (Col. 1:13.) Jesus himself “is the blessed and only Potentate, The King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Tim. 6:15.)Divine Order of GovernmentThose familiar with secular government know that in a democracy the people rule either directly or through elected representatives. In an aristocracy the ruling class is composed of a few but in a monarchy the king has all power which he may delegate if he chooses. In a democracy there are three separate branches of government: the legislative, to make laws; a system of courts, the judiciary, to interpret the laws and the executive branch composed of officials to enforce these laws. In a monarchy the legislative, judicial and executive powers are ALL vested in the king. So also it is in the divine order of government for the kingdom, the church. Of this divine kingdom Christ is King, ruling over his subjects who are members of his body, the church, and citizens of his kingdom. (I Cor. 12:20,27; Phil 3:20 ASV.)

Jesus Has All Authority

Jesus said unto his disciples, “All power (or authority the American Standard Version says) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Inspired by the Spirit Paul wrote, “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” (I Cor. 15:24.) Hence, Jesus now has “ALL RULE AND ALL AUTHORITY AND POWER.”

We must listen, therefore, to Jesus in all matters religious rather than to the ideas of human, fallible man who has no authority whatever since Christ has it all. Jesus further stated to his disciples, after having declared that he had all authority, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit–ASV): Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:19-20.) Jesus in giving this worldwide commission stipulated the conditions of the apostles’ preaching, namely, they were to observe all things commanded them by him, and not by any man or group of men in conventions or synods.

Cause of Division

The reason so much religious confusion exists is because too many people take what some preacher says rather than listening to what Jesus and the apostles plainly teach in the scriptures. Following the transfiguration of our Lord, God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Let us listen to authorized teaching from the Son of God, who pleased well the Father and who has been given all authority in Christianity.

Protestantism apologizes for its divisions on the ground, “We can not all understand the Bible alike.” This is not true for when we understand anything, we must of necessity all understand it alike. Many people, however, misunderstand the Bible! What we need is more study and belief of just what the Bible says!

The underlying cause of division in the religious world is a lack of recognition of AUTHORITY. Groups of men convene to determine the practices of their denomination and forget or disregard the divine standard of authority, the teaching of Christ and the apostles contained in the New Testament. It should, though, ever be remembered that Jesus said for us to observe all things whatsoever he has taught. He has all authority! (Matt. 28:18; I Cor. 15:24.) Also, hear the words of Peter preached on Solomon’s porch, “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; (Moses was speaking of Jesus) him shal1 ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23.)

Innovations

Many members of denominations will admit that the Lord authorizes a certain act in a specific way but they say, “I don’t think it’s wrong to do it another way.” They then disregard divine authority and set themselves up as the end of all wisdom.

Pope Stephen II in 1311 introduced sprinkling as a substitute for scriptural immersion. The New Testament teaches that baptism is a burial (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-5), a going down into, and coming up out of the water. (Acts 8:38-39; Mt. 3:16, 17.) Whether you accept sprinkling or immersion for Bible baptism is an index to whom or what you recognize as authoritative!

In 658 Pope Vitalianus introduced mechanical instrumental music to accompany the scripturally authorized singing of New Testament worship. These are the New Testament scriptures which authorize singing in acceptable worship to God: Rom. 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; and 13:15 and James 5:13. There is no authority in the New Testament to use mechanical instruments such as the organ, piano, trumpet, etc. in the worship of God.

Jesus said, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mt. 15:9.) Therefore, in subscribing to those doctrines and practices un-authorized by Christ and hence commanded by men, ones worship is in vain. No man has the right to make religious laws binding upon the church nor has any conference or council of men.

The word of Christ which is to dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16) and by which we are to live and ultimately be judged (John 12:48) is our authority in Christianity. Since we are to be judged by this divine standard, the teaching of the New Testament of Christ, let us diligently study it that our lives and religious practices may conform thereto.

Truth Magazine VI: 9 & 10, pp. 12-13
June and July 1962