Truth Magazine

By Dennis C. Abernathy

Today it is quite common for people to dress immodestly. People of the world think little of it. But the Christian is not to be “conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). Modesty is to characterize the Christian. “In like manner, also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Tim. 2:9-10). From this passage you will notice that a Christian woman has a godly profession. It is evident that one cannot profess godliness while at the same time dressing ungodly.

A close study of this verse will show the censure of wearing gaudy or sensually appealing clothing. One may be guilty of this by “overdressing” which is motivated by pride and vanity. But primarily (especially at this time of the year) we are concerned with a lack of dress. As one good brother put it: “At this season when little boys are thinking of going barefooted their older brothers and sisters frequently ‘out-strip’ them by baring considerably more than a foot.”

It is a shame the way many dress today. But I think an even greater shame is the fact that many Christians join right in with such ungodliness. The woman who would be seen in public with shorts, halters, mini-clothes, see-through blouses, slacks which are so tight the under garments can be seen, etc., has not learned the principles of modesty! Clothing that is bold, daring and down-right risque should not be a part of the wardrobe of the Christian. Excuses, situations, and circumstances will not justify such.

Young people (young ladies especially) need to be taught modesty at home. If mothers and fathers do not teach their children modesty, the world will teach them immodesty. An integral part of teaching is setting the right kind of example before them. A mother cannot teach her daughter to be modest if she is constantly seen with little on in public. She cannot teach and emphasize the importance of the “hidden man of the heart” (1 Pet. 3:1-6), while exposing and emphasizing her physical body to the gaze of the world.

Pure thinking is to be encouraged (Phil. 4:8). How can Christians encourage such and at the same time dress in such a way as to discourage the same? How can one “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18), while dressing in such a way that encourages that very sin? If a man “looketh on a woman to lust after her,” he commits a sin (Matt. 5:27-28). But at the same time, how can the woman be guiltless if she dresses in such a way that invites that kind of look?

After all is said, and all of the excuses are offered (“We can’t define modesty … .. Everybody dresses this way, so no one thinks anything about it,” “I just want to keep cool,” etc.) the Bible will still teach that Christians are to dress modestly, and all immodesty will still be sin and ought to be repented of. My fellow preachers, dust off the sermons on this subject and, my fellow Christian, let us set the example for others to follow.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 11, p. 321
June 4, 1987

By Billy Ashworth

Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” had warned Israel of a coming desolation because of her sins in turning away from the living God to serve heathen idols. While the prophet warned with tears flowing from his eyes and words of love and warning flowing from a broken heart, he felt the total rejection of not only himself, but of Jehovah also. Having warned the people in the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is found in the introduction to his book of Lamentations mourning over the once mighty city Jerusalem which now was reaping the bitter fruits of her rejection of God and His prophet.

As Jeremiah sat in the rubble of that once great city and observed the sacking of the city and the ravishing of her people, he cried out in his grief: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” (Lam. 1:12) I am sure that to Jeremiah it was incredible that these people who were once the people of God could be so calloused as they went their way without feeling any pain or regret for the fall of this once mighty city. What was wrong with these people?

The reason for the captivity of God’s people by a heathen monarch is found in the first part of chapter 1. “How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! ” (Note: That is not a question; it is an exclamation.) He continues: “she that was great among the nations, and princess among provinces, how is she become tributary! . . . Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone unto captivity before the enemy. . . . Jerusalem hath grievously sinned” (Lam. 1:1, 5, 8a). Yes, Jerusalem ad forgotten God, sinning grievously, and reaping the bitter fruit of her own wickedness. Remember Paul’s solemn warning to the churches of Galatia: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but lie that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7, 8). But the people of Jeremiah’s day, of Paul’s day, and the people of our day, did not/do not listen! Sinful man closes his eyes to the dangers that lie ahead because he wants to do whatever he wants to do! And he resents any faithful servant of God who dares to warn him of impending doom.

The writer of the book of Judges revealed a very important fact concerning how soon succeeding generations turn away from the religion of their fathers and turn away from God. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers (the generation that followed Joshua, BA) and there arose another generation after them which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers . . . and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and provoked the Lord to anger” (Judg. 2:10-12). Think of it – only two generations removed from Joshua’s time, there arose a generation that knew not the Lord!

Alas, history repeats itself. Over and over, the people of God have apostatized from Him only two generations removed from faithful grandfathers and grandmothers. And, their attitudes have been as calloused as in the days of Jeremiah. I cry aloud today as Jeremiah did in his day to my brethren and fellow-Americans: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” I grieve at the sight of a generation that is only one generation removed from me; how many do not hold rigidly to the sound doctrine that is plainly set forth in God’s holy Word. The attitude of liberalism has set up in many professed Christians concerning purity of heart and life that is required of God as laid down in the New Testament. Why is this true? I hasten to add that I am no indicting all of the succeeding generation. But I am concerned about those who bold a “more liberal attitude” toward the supremely important things mentioned above.

The answer as to why it is that the “new generation” is being affected by liberalism is manifold. First, God’s people are always adversely affected by the people of the world around them. This happened to the Israelites who went after the “gods” of the heathen around them. Today, we live in one of the most affluent and worldly countries ever known. Yet we, as well as our children, live daily in grave danger of being contaminated by the world around us which has invented so many ways of seducing God’s people to the heathen “gods” of our day. The “gods” of gold, pleasure and modern technology have devastated a large portion of God’s people in our generation.

I love this great country (yes, still great) we call America. I thrill when the flag is waved and people sing the National Anthem and such songs as “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.” But, will God continue to bless this great country of free people who e in a land that is becoming not so beautiful? Will e continue to be free when there has arisen a generation, some of whom do not appreciate the sacrifices of millions to give them a free country, some of whom fight to defend this freedom, some who would capitulate to a heathen aggressor because they become rotten in their lives and ideals?

TV miniseries, America, should shake up a bunch of complacent cowards who think that “it could not happen to us.” There are some naive Americans o refuse to look at the heathen country of Soviet Russia in the light of their own boasts that they will take erica without firing a shot, Every American should w the show America more than once. Although it fiction of America’s being in subjugation and servitude to the Communists of Russia only ten years from w, it surely gives any sober-minded, God-fearing, country-loving citizen of this great country food for bought and alarm. To those fellow-Americans who think “it could not happen to us” and who take personal freedom for granted, I ask: “Is it nothing to you hat daily this country is sinking into a quagmire of its own filthiness; that the horrible disease of AIDS, which s a disease usually resulting from immorality on the part of godless people who have tried to mock God, is rampant? It is nothing to you that the frantic attempts at fighting AIDS in this country are not aimed at the cause of the disease – i.e. sexual perversion – but at trying to find a cure? Is it nothing to you that the public school systems have been taken over by the Federal government and the Humanists are controlling what must be taught -organic evolution – and what must not be taught – the Genesis account of creation? The American Civil Liberties Union is an atheist front, having been formed by communists, whose goal is to eradicate the idea of God from the consciences of our children who are “the next generation.” The ACLU is the legal arm of the Humanists and together they control the Federal Judiciary which rules that “creationism” cannot be taught in public schools while the godless concept – evolution – will be taught as true science! Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by?

While I love this great country in which we live and enjoy civil freedom, I love the kingdom of God more and value my citizenship in it far more than the earthly one. For thirty-four years I have been preaching the I ‘gospel of the kingdom” (Mt. 4:23) as it is revealed in the gospel of Christ, God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16). 1 have engaged in the battle over human institutionalism which resulted in the apostasy of the majority of God’s people. We saved a remnant of God’s people from apostasy, but now we find these people in far too many places engaged in worldliness, bitter fightings among themselves, condemning any preacher who dares call their ungodly lives and practices in question. Many no longer want plain, powerful gospel preaching, preferring “smooth words and fair speeches” from timeserving “preachers” who love themselves more than the souls of men.

As I look around and observe the current status of churches of Christ, and the shameful actions of many individual members plus the ungodly activities of the saints collectively (church action), I feel as Jeremiah did in the long ago. I want to cry out, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” While it is good to have a “positive approach” to all matters, including spiritual things, we need to get our heads out of the clouds and come down to reality. There are many things going on that are destroying the churches’ influence for good, plus destroying the hope of heaven for many, if not all, members of those churches.

What can we do? The only answer I can think of is Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). And to the church at Corinth Paul wrote: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). And finally, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16).

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 10, pp. 308-309
May 21, 1987

By Gil Holt

I would like to relate a true story that illustrates God’s plan at work. I only recently learned of the details that are involved. Some 60 years ago there were two ladies who were members of the Lord’s church in Athens, AL. These two ladies took an interest in a young girl, by the name of Mary Sue Bailey. They began to invite her to go to worship with them. Upon doing so, she began to learn. As she learned she made application to her life. She obeyed the gospel. Mary Sue began, then, to work on her parents. They began to attend the worship services and were eventually converted. Mary Sue had six sisters and one brother. Each one obeyed the gospel. Mary Sue met and married a young Baptist man by the name of Roy C. Hargrove. She led her husband to the Lord. Mary Sue and Roy had four children, three girls and one son. Each obeyed the gospel. Each has companions that are members of the Lord’s church. Roy was an elder at the time of his death. Most of Roy and Mary Sue’s grandchildren are members of the Lord’s church. Some of them are now married. Those who are, have believing companions. Some of the grandchildren have not yet reached the age of accountability.

I know that, no doubt, other such stories could be told, but this one is of special significance to me. The little girl that was converted through the efforts of the two older ladies was not known by me as Mary Sue, but Mama Mace. She was my grandmother.

What compelled these two Christian ladies to take such an interest in this little girl? There was obviously very little such a young girl could do to benefit them. Were they looking at what she was then, or, perhaps, imagining what she could be? She was not from a wealthy family. It was a family that was well liked and respected, but not wealthy. It was not, then, a selfish motivation that drove them to do this thing. Why did they take such an interest? It’s very simple. They were Christians and it is the business of a Christian to be concerned for the souls of men. These two fine Christian ladies put the Lord’s plan to work. The young girl that was converted put the Lord’s plan to work, as did her parents, her husband, her children and on it goes. Look at the good that was done, the souls that were affected by the interest taken in one little girl.

These two ladies took the instruction to Timothy, not merely as something one preacher told another preacher to do, but they applied it to themselves. “Till I come, give attendance to reading to exhortation, to doctrine. . . Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:13, 15, 16). “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). These two ladies recognized, as did Paul, that as children of the most high God they were “debtor” (Rom. 1:12, 15) to take the gospel, the message of salvation, to whosoever will. They being unashamed of the gospel, recognized it to be God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).

I shudder to think of what my circumstance might be had these ladies offered the same excuses we hear so often today, and had not tried to reach this one little girl. These ladies did not dwell on what they could not do, but recognized what they could do, and did it (read Mt. 25:14-30). Rather than dwelling on the fact that some will not obey the gospel, let us take courage in the fact that some will listen and obey.

By the way, the two ladies have passed from this life as has the little girl, however, their works do live after them. What better epitaph could be written?

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 10, p. 294
May 21, 1987

By Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 17:15 NKJV).

The balance demanded of the Lord – neither justifying the wicked nor condemning the just – is not always easy to maintain. This is especially so in our dealings with religious people, even our own brethren. Easy or not, it is a balance for which Christians must strive. The ability to strike that balance comes through study, growth, and spiritual exercise (cf. Heb. 5:14). Through these, one learns to look at things more as the Lord does – seeing good as good and evil as evil.

Brethren constantly damage the Lord’s cause by neither understanding nor striving for this balance. The disposition of many finds a way to condemn others regardless of the good that is in them, while the temperament of others is to justify brethren regardless to the wickedness that is in them. Still others are apt to do both.

I hear praise for individuals because “they never see any evil in anyone.” One gets the impression that this must be the greatest of all virtues. It is really? Could it be that backbiting and gossip have caused many of us to flop to the opposite extreme?

Justifying the wicked is not the greatest trait that one can develop. One does not have to be a super-critic who condemns even the just; nor does one have to a super-conciliator who finds a way to justify even the wicked.

Preachers can be found without such balance in their preaching and dealing with their fellow man. They may have developed one extreme or the other by misunderstanding the “whole counsel of God.” They may have succumbed to the constant pressure to preach the gospel in a way that reflects the prevailing mood of those who support them. If the supporters tend to justify the wicked, then so does the preaching. If the supporters tend to condemn the just, then so does the preaching. Regardless of how either extreme comes about, the church is hurt when the preaching it receives and/or supports is turned predominately in either direction.

One aspect of the overall problem may be a misunderstanding and/or misapplication of terms. One may excuse and/or justify the wicked because he has a different view of “just,” “righteous,” wicked,” “abomination” than God. We may think of these terms in the light of our own thinking and that of those around us rather than from God’s perspective.

The super-critic equates “righteous” or “just” with near absolute perfection. It does not take long for this man to condemn as wicked almost everyone (but himself, of course) because he can find perfection in no one. The Lord’s righteous man or just man is one made so by the pardon that comes through the blood of Christ when one obeys from the heart the gospel of Christ (Rom. 6:3,4,17; Acts 2:38; 22:16). He is kept righteous or just by practicing righteousness (I John 3:7), confessing his sins (1 John 1:9), and asking God’s forgiveness (Acts 8:22). He may even show unwise judgment in word and deed in some matter without sinning (cf. 1 Cor. 7:36-38). Further, the super-critic tends not to give another the benefit of a doubt before passing judgment.

The super-conciliator equates “wicked” or “abominable” with near total depravity. “Wicked” and “abominable” are reserved for the lowest forms of immorality, if ever used at all. Maybe he should examine some wicked in the New Testament:

In both the parables of the talents and pounds (minas NKJV) the unfaithful servants were called wicked. They were not murderers, robbers, adulterers, or the like; they simply ignored the authority of the master. They did not carry out the expressed will of the master – thus were disobedient (Matt. 25:26; Luke 19:22).

Simon, in Acts 8:22, was guilty of wickedness when he tried to buy the power of God with money.

A brother who married his father’s wife was a wicked person (1 Cor. 5:17).

Jesus warned some, “For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). So, man and God may not have the same list of abominations. Some of God’s abominations may be high on religious men’s lists of virtues.

One needs to be careful in passing judgment upon others because Jesus said, “Judge not that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1). Jesus also tells us to judge righteously (John 7:24). There may be times that one simply withholds judgment, neither condemning nor justifying. He is simply in no position to know the facts in the matter.

However, one needs to understand God considers both those who justify the wicked and those who condemn the just equally abominable before Him. God through Isaiah put it rather strongly by saying: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitterl Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa. 5:20,21).

There are basically two ways that one may go about justifying the wicked. (1) He may not see their conduct as wickedness. He agrees that the deed in question was done, but does not believe it to be wrong. (2) He may see the conduct as sinful, but finds ways to excuse the person for having done the deed. He may even tell himself that he is acting out of love for the offender. How loving is it to let people continue in their wickedness without having to face up to the responsibility and consequences of it? In either case he has justified the wicked.

There are basically three ways that one may go about condemning the just. (1) He understands what is done, but May think it is something a Christian has no right to do. His lack of knowledge and discernment causes him to condemn what God allows. (2) He does not really understand what is done because he bases his judgment upon insufficient evidence and/or hasty judgment. (3) He may not be able to condemn what is done, but imagines without evidence, it to be done from wicked motives.

I stand amazed at brethren who will freely admit that certain brethren are guilty of unrepented of wickedness -immorality, worldliness, compromise, destructive heresies and general unfaithfulness. The evidence is open, sufficient, and so strong that even those who refuse to rebuke them have to admit that the thing was done. They will find some way to say that such may be so, but . . . … They simply cannot find the courage to deal with these brethren as unfaithful, as compromisers, as worldlings and as teachers of destructive heresies. They are often more critical of those who do recognize and deal with such brethren in a way that the Bible teaches they should.

I stand just as a amazed at many who upon flimsy and often contradictory bits of evidence think they must inform the brotherhood that a certain brother or church has departed from the faith. If brethren everywhere do not share their judgment in the matter, then woe be to them! These seem to be unwilling to consider that they just might have misinterpreted the “evidence” at hand. They are not willing to consider that what may seem to be clear evidence might not be as clear to another.

There might be little disagreement as to how we should treat the brother or church in question – if indeed they are guilty as charged. The Bible is sufficiently clear, complete and confirmed. All brethren have equal access to this information in it. If one has indeed violated its teachings then he should be dealt with accordingly. Yet, the evidence of what was actually done in the incident(s) in question may not be so clear, complete, reliable and readily accessible. That is why we have hung juries and mistrials in civil law. It is not that the law is vague, but the evidence as to what actually happened may be. So, we need to be careful that we do not “condemn the just.”

In all cases one would do well to study the Bible to better discern between good and evil. He needs to practice applying it to real life situations, having the wisdom and courage to call evil “evil” and good “good” wherever he finds it – even among religious people.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 10, pp. 291-292
May 21, 1987