Truth Magazine

By Bryan Vinson

The Dallas News of March 29th carried an item of news of the final disposition of the criminal charges against a Catholic priest for allegedly assaulting a girl with the intent of rape. A previous trial had ended in a hung jury. In this last action he was allowed to go free with a fine after a no defense plea was accepted. His attorney stated that this “nolo contendere” plea was not an acknowledgment of guilt, but merely says “the defendant does not choose to defend.” Further, and of significance is this statement of explanation — “This decision was made in the best interests of the church and in order not to subject the girl and Father Feit to the ordeal of another trial.”

Thus we see a whitewashing of this sordid affair, with the priest getting off with a lesser charge which was dismissed by the paying of a $500.00 fine. Also, the news account stated he was questioned about the murder of another woman, which he denied knowing anything about, but which he acknowledged having heard her confession the night of her disappearance. Of course this occurred in a section of heavy Catholic population, at Edinburgh, Texas. Also, it occurred during the present growth of the power and influence of Catholicism in America. For the courts of our land to slant their actions in favor of the Catholic religion will become an increasing practice with the present administration, there is every indication and reason to expect. The increasing number of appointees in all branches of government of those of the Catholic faith is very apparent, and this coupled with the fundamental and age-old doctrine of the subordination of the state to the church constitutes an ominous threat to the religious liberties of the American people

Why should the courts of this land be concerned about the best interests of any particular church, or any church at all? For this priest to enjoy an immunity because of his religion, and his position within the church, before the court certainly is not in the best interest of the court and the rights and liberties of American citizens. No difference should be made between citizens charged with criminal actions on the ground of their religion, or non-religion. His was a crime, as charged, of a serious breach of the moral code on which our laws are founded, and as designed to punish the guilty and protect the innocent. It is feared that our people are blind and indifferent to the lurking and rapidly developing powers of this apostate church in our land, and with eight years of the present administration such power will be gained and consolidated that we then will be helpless. Truly, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and obviously we aren’t paying that price today.

Beyond, however, the immediate concern as above stated there is also a significance to the heading of this little piece which finds its application within the affairs of the church of the Lord. Many are the situations where sin is overlooked, ignored, or minimized, out of a professed regard for “the best interests of the church.” To particularize, we note, briefly, the following:

1. The sin of false teaching.

Congregations tolerate, oftentimes, those in teaching whose handling of the scriptures constitutes the advancing of error rather than truth. This may be, and likely is, in many instances caused by ignorance which renders incompetent the teacher. No one should be endeavoring to teach the Word of God who is not able by reason of their knowledge to teach the truth. It is a truism that one cannot instruct another in that which they do not know, and, hence, the edification of the saints in the truth of the gospel cannot be effected by those who are uninformed and unskilled in the word of righteousness. As a result of this too many of the saints remain spiritual infants, and are subjected to the liability of being the victims of false doctrine. This creates a favorable soil for designing and deceitful teachers to gain followers to their pernicious doctrines. An informed, enlightened and devoted body of adherents to the truth is the only sort of congregation which is immured to the virus of error. Error is to be recognized and repulsed in its incipiency, rather than waiting for its full development and fruitage within the ranks of a congregation. Qualified bishops will exercise this protection, whereas the unqualified and incompetent neither will nor can do so.

2. The sin of false practice.

Here is where, perhaps, a more extensive danger resides. The desire to conform and thereby gain acceptability with the popular mind leads to many questionable practices developing within the functioning of congregations. An aping of others is the course of the unthinking. Hence, the drift is further and further away from the apostolic ground, and while perceived by some is oftentimes not arrested out of regard for the supposed best interest of the church. It is thought that peace and harmony is better than truth and soundness, and thus this is sacrificed for that. Today many congregations have been, and are being, swept into the stream of digression which could have been saved therefrom if they had not been controlled by a mistaken conception of what constitutes the best interest of the church.

3. The sinful conduct of individuals.

Here is found the most widespread evil that afflicts the congregations of the Lord. Even those who profess a firm allegiance to a “thus saith the Lord” in all matters of faith and practice are found seriously derelict. There is harbored, unexposed and uncondemned, within the ranks of many bodies of disciples those whose characters are sullied with flagrant immoralities. Not only so, but among these are those who project themselves to the fore in directing and controlling the affairs of the congregation. Too often those who know the true condition, out of timidity on the one hand, and an overweening desire to keep the peace on the other, wink at such conditions. The scriptures are replete with instructions of how to deal with the disorderly, and equally full and explicit as touching those particulars wherein given behavior is of this character. Those busy-bodies in other men’s matters, meddlers in the affairs of others, sowers of discord and defamers and falsifiers constitute a prolific source of evil within many congregations. They are having a paralyzing effect on the spiritual health and growth of the church. They create a stench in the nostrils of not only the righteous within the church, but also in the esteem of the community. They bring reproach on the whole congregation where they are allowed to go unexposed, unrebuked and un-disciplined by the responsible and righteous element within the congregation.

A light regard for the virtue of veracity pervades the churches today. Members who are known prevaricators are countenanced and allowed to continue their evil and destructive course, and carry out their evil designs to the injury, possibly fatal in some instances, of the cause of truth. A man and wife team in the early church were summarily put to death for an offence that goes unrebuked in many congregations today. They lied to men, but not just to men; they also lied to the Holy Spirit. So, also, are hypocrisy and false claims of those who seek to deceive their brethren today a sin not only against brethren but also against Deity. To affect a religious devotion and display an affected piety, coupled with falsehoods about others and self-gratulatory claims are an affront against God. In their striving for recognition and acclaim they seek to attain such deception, and to seize a control of the church to nurture their unholy ego. Brethren knowing this oftentimes ignore it and allow the church to suffer with the poison of such sin, rather than exposing the sin and the sinner, and expelling or expurging such from the body. Mistakenly they think time will heal such conditions without repentance and reformation on the part of the guilty, and thus in the supposed “best interest of the church” decline doing anything about it.

Unless there is a return within the hearts of God’s people of a proper respect for the teaching of the apostles bearing on these matters, then all pretensions of soundness will be but a tinkling cymbal and a sounding brass in the ears of all men of honor.

Truth MagazineVI: 9 & 10, pp. 16-18
June & July 1962

By Jerry C. Ray

Part I

Authorities are concerned over the rising divorce rate. In 1890 there was one divorce to 16.9 marriages. In 1945 there was one to 3.2 marriages. Today the rate is about one in four. In 1919 there were 141,000 divorces in the United States, and in 1946 there were 550,000. From 1900 to 1941 the population of the United States increased 90 percent, and during this period the divorce rate increased 100 percent, but the divorce rate increased by 450 percent.

According to Howard Whitman (Reader’s Digest, October, 1954), “For the last five years we have been solemnizing approximately 1,600,000 marriages and granting close to 400,000 divorce decrees per year. The divorce rate has increased nearly 800 percent since the Civil War. This gives the United States the dubious distinction of leading all Europe and the Americas in divorces, with a rate of six times that of Canada, three and a half times that of England, three times that of France. It is estimated on the basis of current trends, that of all U. S. marriages between 1941 and 1951 approximately one third will eventually end in divorce. “

And the problem is not just in the U.S.A. Glenn Wallace (A. C. C. Lectures, 1951) stated that, “Divorce is not just a problem in Hollywood and Reno alone. Thirty-five years ago, England and Wales had a divorce rate 1/5 as large as ours. Today, the divorce rate is one-half as large as ours. There was a fifty per cent increase in divorces after the second world war in every nation of the world, except Sweden and Switzerland, the only nations that were neutral in that conflict.”

The Basic Causes of Divorce

I am told that there are eight basic causes of divorce, and they are listed here in the order in which they are the primary difficulties leading to divorce: money, alcohol, sex, marrying too young, religious differences, jealousy, the trial and error concept, and in-laws.

Much could be said about each of these, but I want to mention some thoughts about only two of these. The first is marrying too young. Reader’s Digest, March, 1962, had an article entitled “Marriage Is Not For Children,” in which emphasis is given to the fact that many, many high school age marriages are ending in divorce. These young people are not ready for marriage. And why the marriages then? The parents are many times forcing them into wedlock! And the “Little League” romance, or dating in the pre-teens is a significant factor. Children are dating, kissing and petting younger than ever before. Dr. Winston Ehrmann of Colorado State University, in interviews with 1157 depth interviews with teen-agers discovered that one out of every four girls began regular dating before she was 13 years of age! After having engaged in the things common to much older young people, it is little wonder that having enjoyed the “thrills” of courtship, they go the next step and marry?

The author of the Reader’s Digest article lists the reason why mothers (especially) encourage early dating. (1) Parents seek social status through their children. There is prestige in having a daughter much in demand. (2) The parents want their children to have “All the fun and advantages” they missed, never realizing they are doing irreparable harm to their own children by such well-meant indulgence. (3) The parents want to relive the carefree days of their youth through their children. “Many women, unwilling to face the harsh reality that their own youth is behind them, look for fun once again in dates–this time their daughters’.”

Another important factor mentioned by the author is the greater emphasis at a younger age put upon sex: “Mothers are making young girls conscious of the trappings of feminity years before they should be concerned with them,” and years before they are mature enough to properly use such.

May I suggest to you parents, let your children be children. In fact, make your children be children. Don’t give in to this mad craze for “Little League Romance.” I’m not trying to set the age at when your children should begin wearing lipstick, begin dating, and get married, but use your good sense and pray to God for guidance, and let’s stop these tragedies to our homes and children

The second of the basic causes of divorce I wish to mention is the trial and error concept of marriage. We must teach our children that marriage is a permanent union. We must educate them to realize that marriages are made in heaven by God, that God intends for marriage to be for as long as “you both shall live.” There is no honorable way to dissolve a marriage relationship and re-marry. God’s law is that fornication is the only cause for divorce and re-marriage. (Mt. 19:9.)

Too many of our young people have ruined their lives and the lives of others by hasty marriages, in which they did not consider the sacredness of marriage, nor the permanency of the marriage covenant. The modern idea is “we’ll get married and if it doesn’t work, we’ll get a divorce in a year, and then try again.”

The late Dr. James H. S. Bossard said, “The trouble with American marriage is American courtship.” Our highly romanticized ideas of “falling in love” and “love at first sight” have reaped a tremendous harvest of woe. Young people should take a careful look at the person they consider marrying, for this is the person you are going to have to live with for the rest of your life. It won’t matter in a few years if he was the star football player, or she was the campus queen. What will matter is: Is he a good, energetic, thoughtful, honest husband, or is she a good wife, good homemaker, good mother to our children?

In the words of Ernest Havemann (“Modern Courtship: The Great Illusion?,” Reader’s Digest, December, 1961):

Courtship calls, ideally, for a good, hard, realistic look at the other person.

Mere glamour, charm and physical attractiveness are a poor basis for a marriage which, if all goes well, may last 50 years or more. It is a good idea to see a prospective mate in as many situations as possible particularly difficult and unglamorous ones, and to study family and friends, which often tell more about a person than he ever reveals himself.

“This advice may sound callous, but it produces far better results than any romantic illusion that the mate created by fate can be recognized in one explosive glance.”

Parents, let’s teach our children to have the proper regard for the law of God regarding marriage, and the proper perspective in choosing a life-mate. By this we’ll save ourselves, our children, and possibly their children, much heartache and sorrow. “What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Part II

A woman in Milwaukee was granted a divorce because her husband painted a mustache and spectacles on her wedding photograph. A Los Angeles woman received her divorce because her husband sold her engagement ring for money to buy a racehorse, then insisted that she go to work to support the horse. In Wisconsin a woman won a divorce on the grounds that her husband blew tobacco smoke through the keyhole of his mother-in-law’s bedroom. In Baltimore a woman claimed a divorce when she reached into her husband’s pocket searching for money and a steel trap shut on her fingers.

Funny? Yes, but tragically pathetic also. For the divorce problem has far reaching consequences.

Affects the Eternal Destiny of Many

In most cases of divorce there will be remarriage of both parties. This is especially so among those who know not the teachings of God’s Word on this subject. In these new marriage relationships, there will be sin when God’s law has not been observed. God’s Word teaches only one cause for which a person can put away a mate and marry again. That cause is fornication. (Mt.-19:9.) Notice the dire consequences when marriages are consummated contrary to this:

1. The man who wrongfully puts away his wife and re-marries is guilty of sin. (Mt. 19:9.)

2. The person whom she marries when she has not a scriptural cause for divorce is guilty of sin, even though she had been treated wrongfully by her husband is ignorant of circumstances and/or God’s law. (Mt. 5: 32, 19:9.)

3. The woman who was wrongfully put away by her husband, when she remarries, involves herself in sin. (Mt. 5:32.)

4. The woman married by the husband who put away his wife wrongfully, is guilty of sin. (By necessary inference from Mt. 5:32 and Mt. 19:9.)

From one divorce then it is possible for four persons to become involved in adulterous marriage unions which will damn their souls. The tragedy is four lost souls.

Affects Children

There is also the tragedy to the children involved. In this case, even though the divorce may be for. a scriptural cause, it still has serious consequences upon the children. Judson T. Landis, a University of California sociologist, after a study of 330 college students from divorced homes, concluded that all of them felt themselves handicapped in some way. (Houston Post, Jan. 7, 1958.)

A British Royal Commission that spent over a year studying this question gave the following testimony from the British Medical Association: “It is now fully established that disharmony between the parents of a broken home causes the greatest possible suffering and psychological damage to the children.” (Richard Wells, New York Times, March 8, 1953.) Jerome M. Kolander, judge of Potter County Domestic Relations Court, Amarillo, Texas, spoke before an institute preceding the convention of the State Bar of Texas and said that 90 per cent of all cases of serious juvenile delinquency reaching his court came from broken homes–divorced, separated or deserting parents.

In an article in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Mrs. Maxine Burlingham, superintendent of the Gainesville State School for girls stated that 80 to 90 per cent of the inmates came from broken homes, and of the 220 inmates at least 30 per cent are the mothers of illegitimate children.

Statistics of recent years from the Indiana Reformatory reveal that of the 20,000 men between 18 and 25 admitted in the past 20 years that 85 per cent were from broken homes.

When all these statistics are placed together, there is no room for doubting. There is a marked correlation between our juvenile crime problem (which will, by the passage of time, become our adult crime problem) and the divorce problem. The broken home is a fertile breeding ground for juvenile delinquency.

Affects the Nation and the World

One of the five major causes of the fall of the Roman Empire, according to the noted authority, Edward Gibbon, was the destruction of the sanctity of the home, with the rise of divorce. Dr. Carle C. Zimmerman of Harvard states: “The western family is rapidly approaching its third violent crisis. This crisis will be the third manifestation of mass disregard for the family in western society. The first occurred in Greece, the second in Rome, and facing these crises neither Greek nor Roman civilization was able to survive.”

Carl Michalson, in Faith for Personal Crisis, says, “The most dramatic crisis of our day is taking place in the institution of marriage. Gradually the frequency of divorce is transforming the structure of marriage into a polygamous form. To be sure, it is only a ‘one-at-a-time polygamy’ and it rarely adds up to more than deuterogamy. It is a social crisis nonetheless, in which the character of a major institution is on trial.”

With the destruction of the permanency of marriage comes the destruction of sanctity of the home. With the destruction of the sanctity of the home comes the downfall of the nation, for truly, “the home is the foundation of the nation.”

Affects the Church

With the rise in divorce in our nation has come a laxness on the part of many to ,enforce God’s marriage law. Many and; ingenious have been the attempts to explain away the Scriptures, and to devise systems by which to justify adulterous marriage unions.

Others are advocating “caution” in not disciplining those in the church who are in such unions. It is an explosive issue, but it is one which must be met head-on. Brethren, if divorce will ruin a nation, destroy children and cause souls to be lost, can we be so naive as to think that it will not corrupt and destroy churches of Christ? “A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump.”

Sin cannot be tolerated in the Lord’s church; ingenious interpretation cannot explain away plain statements of Scripture.

Conclusion

Much tragedy comes from breaking God’s law, for “the way of the transgressor is hard.” Multiplied is the sorrow of those who have ignorantly violated God’s law and have discovered the Truth too late to prevent the attendant problems of second marriages and children. But for those who love and believe the Word of (,od the course is definite. Let’s all work at teaching these vital truths concerning divorce and re-marriage in order to lessen the tragedies of divorce.

Truth Magazine VI: 9 & 10, pp. 18-22
June & July

By Earl Robertson

Ananias the high priest, with the elders and Tertullus, the orator who talked with the governor against Paul me to make many charges (about four) against Paul to Felix. One can read the account of this in Acts 24. In this account one can easily see the hypocrisy of Tertullus and the apathy of Felix. The whole thing involved in this is an effort to stop the apostle Paul from preaching the gospel of Christ.

The apostle was charged with: (1) being a pestilent fellow, (2) a mover of sedition among all the Jews, (3) a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and (4) making an attempt to profane the temple. After these charges were made the governor granted Paul the right to speak. He answered every argument and charge. Brother McGarvey said this concerning Paul’s speech: “This speech contains a direct reply to every specification made by Tertullus. The statement that it was only twelve days since he went up to Jerusalem, answers the charge of stirring up sedition, at least in that city; for as he had been away from there five days, and was in prison there one, this left only six, which were insufficient for such movements. Moreover, he had not engaged in disputation with any one, in the temple, in the synagogues, or in any part of the city. As to being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, without alluding to the title ringleader he admits that he belongs to the sect so called, yet he believes all the law and the prophets, hopes for a resurrection of the dead, and leads a conscientious life. Finally, the statement that, when found in the temple by certain Jews from Asia, he was purified as the law required, and that he was engaged about almsgiving and the offerings of the temple, refuted the charge of profaning the temple (21:28), now changed into attempting to profane it (6). In conclusion, he notes the significant fact, that those who first seized him, and who were the only personal witnesses of what he did in the temple, were not present to testify; and then he calls upon Ananias and the elders, who witnessed only what was done in the Sanhedrin, to testify as to any wrong doing there, unless it was that remark in reference to being a Pharisee, which had set Ananias and his friends in a fierce quarrel with the rest of the elders. He makes this last reference, not because he was conscious of wrong in the matter, but to taunt his Sadducee accusers, and to show Felix that they were moved against him by party jealousy.”–Commentary, pp. 237, 238.

The above statement of brother McGarvey shows the ease with which Paul extricated himself from the false charges made by his enemies. It is amazing to watch the workings of Paul’s enemies in an effort to rid the world of the apostle and to see him in just a few minutes, with truth, free himself before Felix. Paul was honest; he had the truth.

Today, I too am amazed at the efforts people make to rid themselves of God’s truth. Every effort conceivable has been made by men and women to live in this world in a justified condition without God. When you approach one of them they can always justify themselves with some excuse. But they cannot prove the excuse to be acceptable in the sight of God. This is dangerous and I wish we could do something about it. Prayers are offered, visits are made and about everything that we know to do has been done to get the members of Belmont who are not faithful to repent; some have repented, others continue to appease themselves with some flimsy excuse! If each unfaithful child of God would realize that some day he must face the Master of men and give an account unto him–be judged by his word (Jno. 12.48) for the deeds in his life, perhaps he would repent. “Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6.)

I am amazed also at the excuses offered by those who have not obeyed the gospel. They tell us that they plan to obey very soon, but they never get around to it! Others say they would really like to be saved but there are too many hypocrites in the church. A few tell us that they have been too sinful for the Lord to save. All of these excuses are foolish both to men and God. No honest man makes them. No honest person believes they can be proved in the sight of God. Why not be honest with yourself and God and obey him? Do just the things that can be proved scriptural and you will be right.

Truth Magazine VI: 9 & 10, pp.21-22
June & July 1962

By Wm. E. Wallace

In early America, great swells of rebellion from innovation and error formed into a mighty movement back to the Bible.

In New England, Abner Jones and Elias Smith rebelled from the Baptists; in Virginia James O’Kelley turned away from the Methodists; in Kentucky Barton W. Stone forsook the Presbyterians; in Pennsylvania the Campbells first rejected the Presbyterians and then the Baptists. The spirit of these men and of that old “back-to-the-Bible” movement was exemplified in the work of Walter Scott on the Ohio Western Reserve. Here the ancient gospel spread like wind fanned fires across dry fields.

A large segment of the people and congregations, which have as their heritage this old restoration movement, have long lost the spirit and thrust of the cause. Even among those who are now counted as churches of Christ there is an enormous loss of restoration spirit and soundness. Yet, today there are new waves of restoration forces pressing the battle in respect of those early American restoration principles which harmonize with that book we call the New Testament.

From the extremities of the length and breadth of this country, and all between, come highly encouraging reports of activity in a great and growing swing to the conservative principles you read about in the Bible.

As I write these lines I am in “The Land of Eden,” famous 20,000-acre colonial estate of William Byrd, Virginia planter, author, and surveyor of the Virginia-North Carolina line. Here the Ridgeway Road congregation which swung away from Christian Church alliances a decade ago, now rejects similar innovations seen among some churches of Christ. Recently, I conducted a meeting in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas where most of the Spanish speaking churches are on the right and conservative side of current issues and where several English-speaking preachers and churches are waging an effective campaign. Before this, I was in a meeting on the Western Reserve of Ohio where can be found many sound, solid and active churches holding the lines against innovations. Recent experiences in the Little Dixie area of Oklahoma and along the Ohio River in Western Kentucky give me reason for encouragement and optimism. These are current reports from limited areas–but these reports are indicative of what is going on in the whole country. The cause is prospering!

What cause? The original restoration cause–not really “The New Restoration”– it is the old one still going on! While many congregations have stalled or stopped, bogging down under the load of institutional pressures, sponsoring church encroachments, and secular innovations, many others continue free from such hindrances to soundness.

TRUTH MAGAZINE has been a formidable foe to those who hinder the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. TRUTH MAGAZINE has fought well, and has succeeded greatly Bryan Vinson, Jr. and all those who have worked closely with him have performed efficiently and accomplished much good. They are to be commended by us; they are blessed by the Lord.

It is with great pleasure that I join with Cecil Willis in taking over the responsibilities of publishing this paper. I do not know anyone I had rather work with in this kind of endeavor. I’ll feel secure in this effort, working with him.

It is with much appreciation for Bryan Vinson, Jr. that I began work on TRUTH MAGAZINE — appreciation for his confidence in Cecil and me; for his good work; his soundness.

We’ll be looking for the continual support of all those who write for TRUTH; who help it financially; who assist in many other ways. Without you we cannot keep the paper going. With your help we shall not cease.

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