Truth Magazine

By Irvin Himmel

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory (Prov. 25:27).

Honey

A highly nutritious food, honey was often found in ancient times in trees, in holes in the ground, in crevices between rocks, and other places where wild bees might choose to build combs. Samson once slew a young lion, later to return and find bees and honey in the carcase. The honey in the carcase of the lion became the subject of a riddle: “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness” (Judg. 14:5-18).

Jonathan once found wild honey in a forest and his eyes brightened when he ate some of it (1 Sam. 14:25-30). Honey was among the food items brought to David and his men at Mahanaim in the days of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 17:27-29). Wild honey was a basic part of the diet of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4).

But because honey is so rich and sweet, it cannot be eaten in large amounts. While it is recommended for food in Proverbs 24:13, there is a warning about eating too much of it in Proverbs 25:16. “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.”

Some good things can be bad if indulged in to excess. Happy is the person who avoids overdoing. Just as too much honey can be nauseous, many things can be carried to harmful extremes. Know when to stop.

Just as it is not good to eat much honey, there is no glory in one’s searching out his own glory. The Amplified Bible gives Proverbs 25:27 as follows: “It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to seek glory, their own glory, causes suffering and is not glory.”

(1) Some people fish for praise. Sometimes the real object in one’s bragging on another is to solicit a return compliment. He baits the conversational hook with praise, hoping to catch compliments for the feeding of his ego. Sometimes one belittles himself to invite contradiction. He would be furious if someone else said about him what he says about himself. He fully expects to be corrected and told how wonderful he really is!

(2) Some engage in self-centered conversation. They seem to enjoy singing their own praises. But even if one is not praising himself, the habit of talking mainly about one’s own self can become offensive to others and appear as egotism.

(3) Preachers are sometimes glory-seekers. And I do not refer now to eternal glory! The example of Paul commends itself to every gospel preacher. “Nor of men sought we glory,” said the apostle (1 Thess. 2:6). Preachers seeking the praise of men are a sorry lot. “When Christ is to be exalted, the preacher must be willing to be unnoticed” (G. Barlow).

(4) Some allow the love of human glory to keep them from believing on Jesus. The Lord said to unbelieving Jews on one occasion: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” (John 5:43,44) As Adam Clarke sums it up, “The grand obstacle to the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees was their pride, vanity, and self-love. They lived on each other’s praise… This is the ruin of millions. They would be religious, if religion and worldly honor were connected.”

(5) Some allow the love of praise to keep them from confessing Christ. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42, 43). The Pharisees knew what they were doing when they made it a rule that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Messiah would be excommunicated. Some of the chief rulers believed on him, but they dared not confess him. They did not wish to be kicked out of the synagogue because they were more concerned about the praise of men than the praise of God. What a tragedy!

The person who seeks his own glory is little deserving of honor. Self-praise stinks!

Self-praise is a poor recommendation. The individual who blows his own trumpet and seeks glory for himself is obnoxious. His attitude is the opposite of the spirit of humility taught by the Master.

There is no glory in one’s seeking his own glory, that is, one is not to be praised for seeking honor from others. True honor from the Lord comes to the lowly in spirit. “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:12).

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 15, p. 456
August 6, 1987

By Robert F. Turner

When someone’s sinful conduct rebounded upon him, my dad would sometimes say, “He is stewing in his own juice.” Dad meant he was reaping what he had sown. This is a Bible concept, in both the good and bad sense. We do not really 46get away” with anything. Our deeds and thoughts are “naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). Since we are in God’s world, where the very character of God is manifested in his creation; and since we will be eventually judged by our Creator; we should know that our well-being, now and in eternity, depends upon our living according to his rules. Three times in the first chapter of the Roman letter Paul indicates “God gave up” the pagan world to the consequences of their own conduct. He allowed them to “stew in their own juice.” There is a practical principle here for all of us: we carry in ourselves the seed of harvest, both temporal and eternal.

We are often self-deceived: thinking possessions can make us happy; our cunningness can reap the benefits of true wisdom; the snares we set for others can give us freedom. This is to proceed without reckoning with God and his principles of righteousness. Greed only heaps up treasures that “moth and rust corrupt.” The cunning are caught by others more cunning, and are usually overcome by the strength of honorable wisdom. The book of Proverbs is literally filled with such admonitions. “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city . . . ” but the destruction of the poor (by which he gain ed his wealth) eventually becomes his poverty (Prov. 10:15). “The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them” (11:3). If evil-doers seem to prosper (as indeed they do) remember the advice of the Psalmist: “Fret not thyself. “Evil-doers shall be cut off” (Psa. 37:7-11).

The prophet Habakkuk affords an excellent example of the principle we are discussing. Habakkuk recognized the sins of his people and cried out to God to do something about them. God revealed he was sending the Chaldeans to overrun and punish Judah for her sins. Habakkuk objected, “Holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he?” (1:13) He was told “the righteous shall live by his faith” (f.n. “in his faithfulness,” 2:4). God has not forgotten his own.

But that is not all. The wicked Chaldeans, used by God to punish Judah, were still accountable for their deeds. The wine (of greed and pride) is treacherous. The very nations they had conquered would “take up a parable . . . a taunting proverb” against them (2:5f). There follows five “woes” promising them the fruit of their own wickedness. Habakkuk learned the true meaning of faith. He waited patiently for the punishment due Judah’s wickedness, and said, “Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (3:16f). He was now attuned to God’s judgments.

Reaping what we sow is also applicable in far less dramatic cases. Some girls use extreme makeup and tight clothing to throw themselves at the boys. They get a cheap date, cheap popularity, and eventually a cheap husband who likely holds marriage as a “cheap” arrangement. Later the divorced mother with children to support “stews in her own juice,” and just can’t figure out why it happened. I remember talking with a divorcee who told me each of her three husbands were alcoholics. I asked, “Where do you get. your husbands?” and was told she met them where she worked – in a bar. I do not say all divorces have such obvious cause-effect relations, but the general principle remains true: we sow the seed of our own harvest. The boy who is lazy, changes jobs-often, does sloppy work, and is a “clock watcher, ” finds it hard to understand why he finally runs out of jobs. The world does not treat him fairly; or does it?

Preachers try to “win debates” with trickery, character assassination, or unfair use of papers or pulpit – and are shunned or held at arms length by many brethren. Of course they can always say those brethren can not take “sound” teaching, but I wonder if they never take a look deep inside themselves. It is equally true that those who compromise truth and repeatedly excuse ungodly conduct may finally find themselves in the “liberal” camp. How did they get there? The “seed” produced their fruit. They may not feel the “stewing” now, but ultimate consequences are inevitable.

Retribution and judgment lie woven into the nature of creation, and are an integral part of God’s revealed will. We “program” our own destinies far more than we may realize, and we should not have to wait for the unchangeable final judgment to do something about it. Instead of blaming fate or “others” for our plight, we should take a hard look at our past, the seed of our present. In our yesterdays we were mixing the ingredients of today. We are storing up our eternal future by present lifestyles and response to God. That is one reason it is so hard to truly repent, to turn about, to “kill the old man.” But God’s goodness can have a great influence if we but give it consideration (Rom. 2:4f). We still have life, and with Christ that means hope. It is up to each of us to trust him, and begin sowing the seeds of an eternal inheritance.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 15, p. 455
August 6, 1987

By Larry Ray Hafley

All that we know of Epaphras is contained in the,Scriptures which follow: “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Phile. 23). “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit” (Col. 1:7,8). “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis” (Col. 4:12,13).

There is not much to sift through, but what is revealed speaks well of Epaphras.

(1) He was a man of prayer. In our struggles and stresses, as we strive to face the strains of life, we often neglect to pray. Epaphras saw the “order and the steadfastness of (the Colossians) faith in Christ” (for it was he who told Paul of their love in the Spirit), yet, he labored fervently in prayer on their behalf. How many churches and brethren have gone astray because we have failed to pray as we ought?

It takes time and energy to pray with purpose, to labor fervently in prayer, as Epaphras did. It is easy to run words through the mind, but efficient prayer requires effort that we are too careless or too busy to render. We must fight against the deadly arsenal of Satan with pen and tongue, in word and deed, but unless our works of faith are accompanied by prayer, we are destined to despair (cf. Eph. 6:19; 1 Tim. 2:1; Matt. 9:38; 2 Thess. 3:1).

(2) He was a man of “great zeal.” Epaphras’ zeal was for the brethren. We, too, need “great zeal” for one another. This zeal will express itself, not only in prayer, but in words of exhortation and doctrine. With greater zeal, we will “warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded (those faint of heart), support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Thess. 5:14). A “great zeal” and “fervent charity” will produce faith, induce steadfastness and “purchase a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Such zeal and love will cause us to “exhort one another daily . . . lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).

We pine and plead for unity. We wring our hands, wag our heads and wrest our hearts over divisions and strife among brethren. Much of it, though, could be avoided if we had the “great zeal” for one another that Epaphras had.

(3) He was a “servant of Christ. ” Volumes are inscribed in the terse descriptions of Epaphras as a fellow servant, fellow prisoner, a faithful minister and a servant of Christ. These words are filled with service and selfless sacrifice. Christians are not employees; preachers are not simply hired hands. If we had a proper perception of servitude perhaps our attitude would be “less of self and more of Thee.” Thankless, unnoticed devotion is rare amid a generation raised for instant praise and personal promotion. But the ringing words of our Lord must echo in the hearts of all who love His kingdom “whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came ‘ not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:26-28).

Fame, ambition, jealousy and contention for applause escapes men like Epaphras. They are too dedicated and consecrated to Christ to care whether or not anyone is taking note of their efforts. The church needs more men and women like Epaphras who serve in anonymity and obscurity, without regard to recognition or reward. Ironically, those who seek “earthly wealth and honored fame” will reap eternal poverty and everlasting shame, while those who faithfully serve will receive “praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7; Rom. 2:7).

(4) He was a man of balance. Epaphras desired that the Colossians “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ” He was not one-sided. He did not preach grace while ignoring obedience. He did not preach scriptural worship while being silent about worldliness. He did not preach the gospel while failing (or refusing) to expose the errors of men.

Churches and brethren cannot remain sound with a preacher who is always “gentle among (them), even as a nurse who cheriseth her children. ” Sometimes one must be “bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention” (1 Thess. 2:2,7). If our studies are in one area to the neglect of another, we will not be complete and perfect. If I exercise my right arm, but not my left . . . well, you get the picture. So, if we always preach love and how to have a happy family, we will rear a generation of loving, happy families. And that is good, but they may begin to practice infant baptism and use instrumental music in worship if there is no balance. One may be doctrinally sound regarding the work of the church, but be an abusive, hateful husband and father. Again, no balance. Epaphras taught a balanced gospel – “perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

(5) He was a preacher of the gospel of grace. The Colossians learned of the true grace of God and of the hope of heaven from Epaphras (Col. 1:5-7). They were in the kingdom (Col. 1:13); hence, they had been born again. Having heard the word of truth, they had been buried with Christ in baptism (Col. 1:5,6; 2:12). One does not truly know the grace of God – he has not been saved by grace – until he has been “risen with Christ” in faith and baptism (Col. 2:12; 3:1).

Further, Epaphras taught the Colossians of “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:5-7). The “one hope” of our calling cannot be over emphasized. Preaching that fails to remind us of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus is a hopeless message. The wrath of God is to be feared, and it must be preached to be known. How much the more, brethren, should we stress glory, honor, immortality, i.e., eternal life (Rom. 2:7)? “Great is your reward in heaven” must not be neglected. Are we raising a company that has all but forgotten “to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:10)? The hope of all faith should be the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He shall meet us in the air and transport us to His everlasting kingdom where we shall bask in the light of His Divine presence forevermore. “And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:17,18). Epaphras did.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 15, pp. 451-452
August 6, 1987

By Mike Willis

In the opening chapters of Judges, the Israelite historian wrote of the death of Joshua and his generation saying, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judg. 2:10). One is alarmed that a generation of people could so soon forget God’s gracious acts.

Not many years before, God had sent Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. He sent the ten plagues to decimate and destroy Egypt, allowing the children of Israel to leave the country. As they departed, God parted the waters of the Red Sea enabling the children of Israel to cross on dry ground and then closed the waters behind them, destroying the Egyptians who tried to follow them through the Red Sea. During their journey to Mount Sinai, God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah, sent manna and quail to feed the people during the forty years they wandered in the wilderness, brought water from the rock at Rephidim, and other miracles. At Mount Sinai, God gave the children of Israel the law, in the midst of miracles. Throughout the forty years of wandering, God directly lead the people with a pillar of cloud and fire.

When time for the conquest arrived, Joshua led the children of Israel into the land, crossing the Jordan River on dry ground. By a miracle, they captured the city of Jericho. On another occasion, God made the sun stand still in order that the Israelites could thoroughly destroy the Canaanites. During the seven and one-half years required for the conquest, God was with Israel in driving out the Canaanites so that they could possesses the land.

Obligation To Pass Down The Faith

Christians have an obligation to pass the faith down from one generation to another. To Timothy, Paul wrote, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The gospel has been given to this generation as a trust (1 Tim. 1:14). We are responsible for passing it down to the next generation intact – not distorted, perverted, revised, amended, lengthened, or shortened. How well are we doing?

Many of us are second-generation Christians and face the same danger which faced the generation which followed Joshua – the danger of rearing a generation which does not know God. Already some are observing significant indications that a generation is coming which does not know the Lord. I am alarmed at some things which are being lost in this generation. Please consider them with me:

A Loss of Knowledge of the Word of God

When I was a boy growing up in East Texas, Christians had a reputation for knowing the Bible. We were taught to learn and memorize the Bible. At the feet of my godly parents and under the direction and guidance of God-fearing preachers such as J.B. Jordan, Richard Cravy, Sr., Clyde Stricklin, Oliver Murray and others, we learned the Bible. Brother Jordan taught us the proper divisions in the Bible, to memorize the books (frontwards and backwards), the number of chapters, verses, and letters in the Bible, the apostles, the sons of Israel, and many other facts about the Book. Brother Cravy taught us to quote verses on such pertinent subjects as the plan of salvation, the oneness of the church, answers to denominational error (faith only, impossibility of apostasy, etc.), what was wrong with instrumental music, and many other subjects. This training emphasized to us the need to know the word of God and to examine what was taught to see whether or not it was in the Scriptures.

We were taught the need for learning the Bible by such verses as the following:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee (Hos. 4:6).

We were taught that if one did not have the love for the truth, he might be deceived by a false teacher, believe a lie, and be damned (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Brethren, I am alarmed that this spirit is vanishing from among us. Many who attend worship services make no preparation for their Bible classes. Our young people frequently cannot quote a Scripture which shows the plan of salvation and neither can their mothers and dads. A generation has arisen which has little or no interest in learning the word of God; rather, they want a short sermon which makes them feel warm inside.

If you think these are the words of an alarmist, try asking your Bible class to give you a Scripture for the following:

The necessity of faith

The necessity of repentance

The necessity of confession

The action of baptism

The subject of baptism

The purpose of baptism

The oneness of the church

Justification not by faith only

Possibility of apostasy

Work of Holy Spirit in conversion

Cessation of miracles

Those who are able to give book, chapter, and verse answers will be the exception, not the rule, in almost any congregation.

Surprisingly, some gospel preachers have responded to this lack of interest in learning the basic facts about the church, plan of salvation, and other doctrinal subjects by eliminating these subjects from their preaching. Some not only do not use many Scriptures themselves, they disparage preachers who do by condemning “proof texting.”

Loss of Moral Standards

Another area in which we appear to be rearing a generation which does not know the Lord is in the area of morals. Some are allowing the world’s standard of morality to shape what they accept as right or wrong. The Scriptures warn us about this danger.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (1 Pet. 1:14-15).

That we are influenced by the world in which we live is unquestioned. We see its impact on the moral standards of members of the church.

Although the pulpits and classrooms are preaching against fornication, the number of illegitimate pregnancies which occur in different congregations illustrate that some are involved in the sin. In addition to this, preachers, elders, deacons, Bible class teachers and other members are sometimes exposed as being involved in sexual immorality, sometimes resulting in divorce. In an era during which fornication is so rampant, Christians need to be alerted to lascivious deeds which might lead to fornication. Instead of learning of what are lascivious deeds and avoiding them, many Christians are participating in them and some are defending them as acts of righteousness. I speak of such lascivious conduct as immodest dress (tight-fitting jeans, halter tops, shorts, etc.), mixed swimming, petting, pornography (magazines, PG-13, R, and X-rated movies, MTV, etc.), dancing and such like things.

How many teenagers in your congregation dance? When I was being reared, we were taught that dancing is lascivious behavior unbecoming of a Christian. Frankly, I have not seen any improvement in dancing in the last 25 years. The bodily movements are more suggestive than ever. The music is vulgar and sexually explicit. Despite these indisputable facts, Christian’s children are allowed to participate in dancing with their parents’ permission and approval. Brethren, if you doubt that I am telling the truth, survey your teenagers on whether or not they attended their prom. The way this is handled in the local congregation is to keep it quiet. Let the preacher preach his sermon on the subject, keep your mouth shut, and go on practicing what you are determined to do. When enough become involved in the practice to control the business meetings, the preacher is told to quit preaching on the subject or be fired. One elder told me that the pulpit was not the place to deal with these subjects.

As a young man, I was told that beach attire was immodest clothing, unbecoming of Christian people in mixed company. As a young man, I heard the locker room talk about girls in their swimsuits. In the last 25 years, I have seen nothing which indicates that swimming attire has become modest. If anything, swimming attire has gotten more immodest. Nevertheless, Christians and their children frequent the public beaches and pools. If you doubt this is so, ask your members whether or not they frequent public beaches or pools.

We are raising a generation which is so much like the world in its moral standards that we blend in with them. We attend their dances, go mixed swimming with them, watch the same kinds of movies, tell the same jokes, and such like things. We are raising a generation which does not know the Lord.

Loss of Personal Devotion and Commitment

A third area in which I am concerned that we are raising a generation which does not know the Lord is in the area of commitment. As a young man, we were taught to put Christ first in our lives, based on such Scriptures as these:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple (Lk. 14:26).

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matt. 22:37).

We were taught that half-hearted devotion to the Lord was worthless. We were told that Christ had to be the center of one’s life and other things should be worked around one’s service to him.

I distinctly remember how service to Christ affected my involvement in sports. We had a scrimmage game one Wednesday night during my junior year in high school. I was wanting to impress the coach so that I could make the team. Nevertheless I left the scrimmage game at halftime in order to attend mid-week Bible study. This disposition is not being taught to many young people. They cannot attend mid-week Bible study and gospel meetings because of ball. games. And why should we expect them to be there? Their parents cannot attend Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, or meetings because of their bowling leagues! What are we teaching our children, to put recreational activities or Christ first?

Young people are taught to take jobs which require them to virtually forsake the Lord. Employment in fast-food restaurants require students to work such hours that they can only attend one service a week. By allowing our children to hold such jobs, what are we teaching them? Are we teaching them to put their jobs or Christ first?

A few drops of rain or a few flakes of snow causes a significant drop in congregational attendance. Generally, the decrease in attendance does not come from elderly folks who are unable to manage the weather. Where is the commitment?

Preachers need to be concerned about commitment as well. My generation of preachers has been fortunate to be able to be well-supported while we devote ourselves to preaching. This benefit causes some to become “professional” preachers. Unless they can negotiate a good salary package with a church which has no problems, some are uninterested in preaching. What a contrast with some who went before us! A century ago, many road their horses hundreds of miles, being gone from their families for weeks at a time and receiving little or no pay, in order to preach Christ. Many plowed their field by day and preached by night in order to spread the borders of God’s kingdom. Brother H.E. Phillips related that during one summer, he preached for the whole summer taking his family with him from meeting to meeting. At the end of the summer, he was paid $200 less than he spent. Yet he told me, “I didn’t care. I wanted to preach! ” Is that spirit of commitment and devotion alive and well among gospel preachers?

Consequences

What will be the consequences if we allow our generation to lose these three things?

1. Loss of Bible knowledge will lead to a generation which views the Lord’s church as another denomination. A generation will arise which does not see that much wrong with the denominational churches. They will consider the Church of Christ to be a denomination just like the Baptist Church, Methodist Church, and other denominations. Their speech will reflect denominational thinking: “I am a Church of Christer.” “I go to the Church of Christ Church.”

2. Loss of Bible morality will result in the church being filled with worldly people. Congregations will become filled with those who attend dances, go mixed swimming, wear shorts and other kinds of revealing clothing, have been divorced and remarried for no scriptural reason, attend PG- 13, R, and X-rated movies, see nothing wrong with social drinking, etc.

3. Loss of commitment will result in dying churches. Worship services will become lifeless, boring exercises in religious formality. The singing and prayers will be dead. Members will want short sermons so they can hurry up and be dismissed. Members will miss for any excuse imaginable.

Conclusion

Yes, I am concerned that we pass the faith down in its purity to another generation. Our God will hold us responsible for doing so.

Ours is not a unique problem. Our parents before us faced the same challenge of passing the faith down to another generation. They were partially successful. Many Christians of their generation have apostatized – some to worldliness, some to indifference, and some to doctrinal apostasy. We will be no more successful than they were. Despite our efforts to preach the word, we will win some to Christ and others will turn away from him. Those whom we lose from our number must be replaced by converts from the world or the mere death of members will cause congregations to pass out of existence.

I pray that there will be young men who will look back to the days of 1987 and remember with fondness the preaching and teaching which we are doing and be committed to the moral principles, doctrinal beliefs, and personal commitment which Christ commanded in the Bible. I pray that I have been faithful in passing down the faith which was delivered to the saints to another generation.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 15, pp. 450, 468-470
August 6, 1987