Truth Magazine

By Loren T. Stephens

Preachers are called upon for many things in this life, by the nature of the vocation they have chosen. On February 22, at the request of brother Tom Wheeler, I spoke, along with brother Gary Fiscus, at the memorial service for Tom’s dear wife Sylvia. She had passed from this life to await the coming of her Lord on Thursday night, February 19, 1987. Sylvia was a friend, a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, loved one, and especially, a Christian. She truly loved the Lord and Tom Wheeler. Her life was filled with doing good. She was quiet and reserved, yet possessed with an easy manner and enjoyed people, even some pranks every now and then. Preachers were always made welcome and at home with the Wheelers, and hospitality was a way of fife for Sylvia. She will be missed.

I had the privilege of knowing Sylvia, and my life is blessed in that. Many of you who read this knew her longer than I, yet I feel honored that I knew her both as a friend and fellow Christian, and that Tom asked me to participate in the memorial service.

I would like to share with you an unusual circumstance which occurred in my life that Thursday evening. I sat at the bedside of Sylvia Wheeler, with her husband Tom, his brother Frank, and their daughter and son-in-law. We sat watching the hospital equipment record the declining day of the fleshly abode of Sylvia. Her spirit had already left the body, we were watching a monitor showing an electrical response from a heart which had ceased pumping, and would not die. That continued for about five hours. During the time this was happening, Tom and I talked of memories. He mentioned some of the good times, and some of the bad times, that he and Sylvia had shared. He said, “You know, even those tough times are good memories because we shared them.” Later, he spoke softly of other things. He said, “I have no idea the height of her I.Q., but it was considerably higher than mine. She could have been anything in this world she wanted to be, and I thank God she chose to be my wife.”

As the drama of the end of her life was unfolding, daughter Cheryl, in Beaver Dam, KY was giving birth to a beautiful baby girl. Think about that, friends.

It was well said by brother Fiscus that the writings in Proverbs and all those passages we normally refer to are fitting regarding Sylvia, yet for those who knew her best, those verses almost seem inadequate. A poem given me by a dear friend speaks it best, the author completely unknown to me, but so much the attitude of Sylvia as to suggest her to all who knew her.

My Death

I obeyed His will and kept His command,
Now death beckons from yonder land.
Life has been sweet in this short space,
But bow glorious to meet Him face to face.

I am crossing a river to celestial land,
The Lord is my shepherd, He holds my hand.
The promise is fulfilled, nothing to dread,
My spirit lives on, I am not dead.

The beauty of death buries the sting,
While heaven rejoices and angels sing.
The body returns to the earthly sod,
But the spirit lives on with the eternal God.

Loved ones, mourn not the passing soul;
Trials I have endured to reach this goal,
So grieve not as I have this world of pain,
But hold His hand, we shall meet again!

Life is not over, tis a beautiful morn,
The mortal is passed, but immortality is born.
My soul on the Word has graciously fed,
Asleep in Jesus, I am not dead.

Sylvia Wheeler is gone from this life, but leave a legacy of love and good will behind, that shall live on in the lives of her dear husband and her daughters and grandchildren, so long as the Lord tarries. Her example of the godly woman, the loving and supportive wife, and friend to everyone she knew, and a lot she did not, stands in testimony and tender memory. Our deepest sympathy is extended to Tom, and our prayers offered that all may see Christ living in us, as He did in Sylvia. She rests in peace from her labors.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 9, p. 278
May 7, 1987

By Dennis C. Abernathy

“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal. 5:15). As sad as it is, the situation described by the above verse of Scripture is all too true in many congregations of the Lord’s people.

This is seen in an atmosphere of bickering and fussing, backbiting, talebearing, the hurling of taunts, the use of snide and sarcastic remarks, and in general, that of agitation and turmoil.

I suppose there are various reasons for such a sad and sorry state of affairs to exist among God’s people. It may be jealously, envy, factions, the party spirit, etc. Whatever it is, it is wrong and the church of the Lord suffers!

In congregations, brethren will have some disagreement with the preacher or elders, or, perhaps they do not like some decision that is made. In a group of people working together, these things happen from time to time. But brethren, there is a right way and a wrong way to air our disagreements and make our feelings known. Instead of making their feelings known to the preacher or elders in a brotherly way, they begin to eat away, causing all the turmoil they can, looking for anything they can use to get their point across or to get at the one or ones who have now become their “foe.” To make the situation even worse, all too often they conduct themselves like termites – never out in the open – but working – continuously working gnawing away – spreading a little bit of gossip here – a sarcastic remark there – and on and on it goes until it erupts into open contention and in some cases splits the church!

Another scenario is seen when members are disciplined for ungodly conduct, and some do not like such action for one reason or the other, so they will try to get everyone they can to take the side of the sinner (the one disciplined) against the elders and the church. In other words, “the poor sinner is just misunderstood.” “He is not really doing anything all that bad.” Next, you begin to hear how two or three “just had it in” for this poor misunderstood and sorely maligned brother. Juicy tidbits of hearsay are tossed about among the members of the church, motives are imagined, maligned, and impugned. Brethren begin to line up, petitions are drawn up, and everyone who can be persuaded sign up, and what you have is one big sinful mess!

On and on we could go. But you can mark it well. It is a sad state of affairs when the church is thrown into turmoil. Pity the one guilty of causing such. Please do not make charges and spread rumors and slander the good name of others. If you have a legitimate charge to make against your brother (you have clear cut proof and reliable witnesses), go to him and handle it in a brotherly way. If decisions are made and they are according to truth, then support them. If ungodly members are worked with, rebuked and finally withdrawn from, encourage them to repent of their ungodliness – but please never sympathize with them and encourage them in their wrong by telling everybody how wrong the church is in taking such action.

Remember, if we “bite and devour one another” we will be consumed the congregation will cease to exist and even if it does continue on it will have lost its good name and reputation and will be a hindrance for the Lord’s cause in that community.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 10, p. 289
May 21, 1987

By Donald Townsley

We believe this subject needs to be studied because, as we look at the pages of history, it seems there has never been a reformation or restoration among men where the people as a whole remained faithful to the principles of that reformation/restoration for even one hundred years! Generally, it seems, the descendants of the reformers/restorers do not remain faithful to the principles of their fathers throughout many generations!

During the lifetime of the Lord’s apostles “the mystery of lawlessness” was already at work (2 Thess. 2:7) – the “man of sin” was on his way! The restoration which made such great strides in this country in the first half of the nineteenth century had, by the middle of the century, begun to drift into “societyism” with the great majority finally departing from the faith. Tolbert Fanning, David Lipscomb, along with some others, were the “salt” that kept a few churches from going with the departure – they worked hard to keep a few from leaving the New Testament pattern. Then, it was not long before brethren would begin drifting from the truth again. During the lifetime of brother J.D. Tant (who died in 1941) another drift had begun. Brother Tant, seeing the drift, warned over and over: “Brethren, we are drifting!” The warnings were not heeded and the drifting gained momentum. By the early 1950s churches were surging into a complete apostasy from the faith! A few strong voices were heard pleading for a return to Bible authority, and we thank God that there were those who heeded the admonition and stood against the harsh wave of digression! Now, as we stand thirty years this side of the last major departure, I feel the need to sound brother Tant’s warning – “Brethren, we are drifting!”

Many who espouse the truth and run well for a while have allowed the force of their fleshly appetites to lead them into error – or to drift from their love for the truth to such an extent that they no longer have the taste to do battle with our adversary, the devil (1 Pet. 5:8) – and when the devil is not resisted, he is going to gain a greater foothold (Jas. 4:7; Eph. 4:27)! Let us look at some things that bring a departure from the faith.

When Preachers Quit Preaching The Gospel

When preachers quit preaching the gospel a departure from the faith is not long in coming. Simple, distinctive gospel preaching is the only thing that will save the church from error and set it apart from all other religious institutions in the world! Gospel preaching not only sets forth the truth, it refutes sin and error wherever it is found – in the church or in the world. Gospel preaching is not like denominational sermonizing and the telling of personal experiences and stories (which appeals to most religious people); gospel preaching has its basis in God’s word. Time cannot change the nature of true gospel preaching; it is the same in every generation because its basis, the word of God, is the same!

The New Testament reveals some distinctive characteristics of gospel preaching. Inspired preachers did not deal in generalities; sin, whether in the church or out, was pin-pointed and condemned! This is the way Peter preached on Pentecost (Acts 2:22,23), and the way Stephen preached in the seventh chapter of the book of Acts. Paul preached this way when he rebuked Barjesus (Acts 13:6-12) and Peter (Gal. 2:11) for their sins. Religious error was always refuted by inspired preachers (Gal. 2:4,5).

Tolerance And Compromise Toward Sin And Error The disposition of tolerance and compromise that is found toward sin and error will ruin and destroy the church of our Lord! There can be no compromise with worldliness, modernism, institutionalism, denominationalism, Calvinism, or any other “ism” without traveling the road of digression! Brother Foy E. Wallace made a statement many years ago that we had better take to heart. He said: “The strength of the church is found in the truth, and the defense of it.” All error must be met with the full force of the gospel, and with the determination to put it down (2 Cor. 10:4,5).

We are being told today to preach “positive” sermons; to leave error alone because someone might be offended and never come back to our services. Brethren, positive preaching only – that which never exposes any error – will fill the church with unconverted people who stand for nothing and will follow every wind of doctrine! A solid diet of positive, ethical sermons – sermons that are not rooted in the redemptive system and are undergirded by no doctrinal base -will restructure the church into a denomination!

The late B.C. Goodpasture (who was a leader in the departure from the faith thirty years ago) became very disturbed in his dying days of February 1977 because of the type preaching that was being done in many liberal churches. He made the following observation to his friend, Ralph T. Henley: “Some preachers are apparently trying to restructure the church of our Lord by resorting to preaching only positive sermons. ” Henley said that brother Goodpasture “was visibly disturbed over statements, from many quarters, making fun of quoting the Bible to prove the validity of a sermon” (Gospel Advocate, Sept. 15, 1977). Brother Goodpasture was soberly viewing the work of his own promotions, and he knew that this kind of preaching would completely restructure the church. Ralph Henley goes on to say: “Can the church be restructured by a solid diet of positive ethical sermons, undergirded by no doctrinal base? The answer is a resounding ‘yes'” (Gospel Advocate, Sept. 15, 1977).

Young preachers today who think they have found something new in this positive method with the Dale Carnegie approach need to understand that this style of preaching is not new – it was around thirty (or more) years ago – and that the preachers and churches who went for that kind of preaching were the leaders in the disgressive movement! Many of these same preachers are now trying to unite with the Christian Church. Older men among us today who seem to think they are going to “lead us out of the wilderness” and “put us back on the road” with this positive type of preaching are only hastening the day of a departure from the faith! The word of God, and history, will bear this out.

A Lack Of Bible Knowledge

A lack of Bible study, resulting in a lack of Bible knowledge, will bring about a departure from the faith. God said through Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). The Hebrew Christians were rebuked for a failure to study (Heb. 5:11-14). Paul told the Ephesians to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17); and Peter said that we are to be able to give a reason for our hope (1 Pet. 3:15). This requires study of God’s word! Every member of the church needs to be informed on the church and its organization; the work of the church; the plan of salvation; the second law of pardon; worship; Bible authority; marriage, divorce, and remarriage; worldliness; what is wrong with denominationalism, Calvinism, institutionalism, instrumental music and premillennialism. When the people of God lack Bible knowledge on these vital subjects, we are in danger of a departure from the faith!

A Lowering Of Morals And A Breakdown Of Home Life

The lowering of morals and a breakdown of home life will help bring about a departure from the faith. The morals in this country are at an all-time low! We are told that more than fifty percent of married women and more than seventy percent of married men have been (or will be) unfaithful to their companions; that forty-nine percent of girls seventeen years old have had sexual relations; that 23,000 people have already died with AIDS, and that one-quarter of a million will be dead (or dying) within the next five years. Immodesty and vulgarity are the common things of the dayl Men and women make no effort to flee fornication (1 Cor. 6:18) – many seem to make opportunity to engage in it! People don’t seem to care what they say, what they wear, or what they do! And the saddest thing about all this is that many who call themselves children of God get caught up in this worldliness! We see marriage, divorce and remarriage for any cause (Matt. 19:9); married couples who are unfaithful to the marriage bed (Heb. 13:4); worldly, lascivious dress (Gal. 5:19) even among those who call themselves “Christians”! Also a factor contributing to the breakdown of home life is the working mother – mothers who are out of the home working so they can have more “things” while their children are not receiving proper guidance (Tit. 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 5:14).

A lesson we all need to learn is that immorality and departing from the faith go hand-in-hand! A people who are weak morally will not long be strong in the faith!

Cowardice

Cowardice among God’s people will help to bring about a departure from the faith. God has never had any use for a coward. When Israel went to battle, God did not want them to be afraid (Deut. 20:1). Those who were fearful or fainthearted were allowed to return to their homes lest they cause others to become fainthearted (Deut. 20:8). God told Gideon, as he prepared to fight against the Midianites, to let those who were fearful and afraid go home (Judg. 7:5-7). John said the fearful would be lost (Rev. 21:8). Peter said we are to add virtue (courage) to our lives (2 Pet. 1:5).

Many are too fearful to “stand and be counted” when error is taught. They say: “Let us have unity. If you teach the truth on that you will stir up trouble.” Let us all be reminded that unity is to be based upon the word of God (John 17:20-21). Truth is what we must have at all cost (Prov. 23:23; John 8:32; 2 Jn. 9)! Unity will come, without fail, to all who walk in truth (2 Jn. 4; Eph. 4:1-6). Unity in compromise with error is not New Testament unity! Those who are too fearful to stand always play a role in every departure from the faith! The departure over institutionalism and the sponsoring church is filled with examples of men who were too fearful to stand, and who thus lost the Cause to error!

Those Who Have No Real Desire To Be Christians

Those in the church who have no real desire to be New Testament Christians help to bring about a departure from the faith. These people don’t want all the truth (Jn. 8:32)! They don’t want all the truth on the church and its work; all the truth on how Christians are to live and dress; all the truth on how Christians are to worship; all the truth on how Christians are to be forgiven of their sins; nor all the truth on what the Bible teaches about unity, fellowship, and the plan of salvation! Yes, those in the church who have no real desire to be dedicated New Testament Christians are the leaders in every departure from the faith!

Yes, brethren, we are drifting! If this article disturbs you, it may be a sign that you have already drifted farther than you realize! Let us stop the drift before it results in another departure!

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 9, pp. 272-273
May 7, 1987

By Forrest D. Moyer

III. On Authority And Expediency.

A. We have, I believe, sustained the fact that everything authorized for God’s church is in the N.T. We must have book, chapter and verse for everything we do religiously. Problems, however, arise in the realm of expediency – that is, in carrying out God’s orders in ways that are decently and in order and without violating God’s order.

1. God’s teaching, whether to the individual or to the congregation, authorizes everything that is necessary to obedience to the command. For example, we realize that the command to baptize authorizes water in which to baptize. The command to assemble authorizes a place of assembly. The command to sing authorizes the words that we sing.

2. May I suggest that there is no such thing as a “law of expediency.” There are expedients because there is law. Where there is no law, there can be no expedients.

a. The Bible is not “silent” regarding the words of a song – it authorizes them whether written in a book or projected on a screen. The expedient is authorized by a Bible command.

b. The Bible is not “silent” regarding a place of assembly – it authorizes a place of assembly by the command to assemble and by the fact that early Christians assembled in “places.”

c. The Bible is not “silent” regarding a congregation’s “means” of giving aid to the saints in need. There are adequate examples of this in the practice of the early church. It is silent concerning another organization’s receiving contributions from churches to do this work for the churches.

3. Thus, general authority includes the ways and means of obeying the command (understanding that these ways and means do not violate God’s order).

a. We must take care lest we violate an order of God in our claim that something is expedient. Beyond doubt, David thought that his bringing the ark on a new cart pulled by oxen was an expedient way of carrying it. After all, other parts of the tabernacle were carried on wagons (Num. 7:3-8). But David sinned by putting the ark on the wagon. The reason is stated in Num. 7:9: God gave no wagons to the sons of Kohath because theirs was the service of bearing on the shoulders. Again, there was an absence of authority for wagons. They could not reason that it was expedient.

b. We cannot use the idea of expediency in any area that violates an order of God. For example, we might reason that it is expedient in our society today for women to preach or lead in public prayer. They might be quite effective in doing so. Yet, such would violate an established order of God as stated in 1 Tim. 2:8-12.

c. Instruments of music cannot be classified as expedient because they are not a part of God’s order and are not in any way necessary to our obeying the command to sing. They are an additional kind of music and are without New Testament authorization. The kind of music God authorized is singing. Words from a book or on a projector expedite our obedience to God’s command and are not another kind of music. Instrumental music is another kind. It is without authorization and cannot be expedient.

d. The local church is a body of people that is authorized to support gospel preachers (Phil. 4:15-16). It might be expedient for a messenger to deliver this money in person (2 Cor. 11:9) or for it to be delivered by the mail service. There is no violation of the oversight of elders in so doing. But the missionary society cannot be classified as an expedient because there is no authorization for the church to donate money to any other organization of any kind. The missionary society is not authorized in the New Testament and is not in any way necessary to our obeying the command to take the gospel to the world. I most emphatically believe that men like David Lipscomb and a host of others were biblically right in their opposition to the missionary society.

e. Benevolent societies among us cannot be classified as expedients since there is no New Testament authorization for the church to donate money to another organization. Benevolent societies are not authorized and are not necessary to our obeying the command to give aid to saints in distress. The church uses expedients when it provides a house or the care necessary for its needy saints such as the widows of 1 Tim. 5:16. Donating money to another organization is not an expedient. That organization must use expedients itself such as a house or the care necessary for those put in its charge.

B. The truth is that before anything can be expedient, it must not in any way violate God’s order. It must be in the realm of that which is authored by God. Therefore, anything that the church does must be authorized (authored) by the Lord in the pages of the New Testament. Will any of our brothers disagree with this?

IV. Application.

Brethren, we must get down to the brass tacks of application of Bible authority. We are here today because we recognize that there are differences between us on some vital issues. The way for us to be united is for us to discuss and resolve these differences. The only way we can is by the application of Bible authority to our practices. Now we all recognize each other as brethren, and we truly do love one another. But however great our love may be, that alone does not solve the problems any more than love alone will solve problems that may arise between husband and wife. The problems have to be addressed.

A. We must allow the New Testament to teach us what the work or function of the church is. Are we not agreed that the church has an obligation to carry the gospel to those lost in sin? Are we not agreed that the church has a responsibility in edifying its members? Are we not agreed that the church has a responsibility to aid saints in distress?

However, many congregations have gotten involved in providing recreational facilities for their members, their children and others. But can the church scripturally provide for the recreational activities of its members and of the community? Can we spend the money from the church treasury for facilities for recreation. I am sure that we would agree that money collected by the church can only be used for that which is its work. A church building is but an extension of the money given into the treasury of the church. Thus, it is a legitimate question to ask, What did God assign the church to do?

B. Can we choose for the church to function in other areas than that set forth in the New Testament? Remember the principle: from Heaven or from men!

1. The early church sang – can we choose to play? Is such from God or is it authored by men?

2. The early church had the Lord’s supper on Sunday. Can we choose some other day of the week to observe the Lord’s supper? Is some other day from Heaven or from men?

3. The early church took care of its needy members. Can we choose another organization to do this work and receive donations from the church? We are not talking about the means such as a place or food. We are talking about the organization that provides the means. Is a human organization authored by God or by men?

C. Is there a way by which we can be united and yet do all the work effectively, as well as scripturally? If I didn’t think we could, I wouldn’t be here.

1. First, let’s look at supporting gospel preachers throughout the world. This is something in which each one of us is interested. We want to see the world taken for Christ! Can such be done without forming a missionary society – a separate organization from the church? Yes, it can be done. Can such be done without our forming a sponsoring church kind of arrangement through which churches funnel their funds?

Yes, it can be done. How? Let us look to the Scriptures for the answer since there is no other place for us to get a proper answer.

a. Did N.T. churches support gospel preachers? Yes, 2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:15-16.

b. How did they do so? They sent support to the preacher! (Same verses)

c. Will any brother deny that it is scriptural (authorized by the Scriptures) to send support directly to the preacher? When brother W.W. Otey debated J.B. Briney on the missionary society issue, they discussed this issue. Briney defended the society by saying:

“Now, is there any objection to those small congregations cooperating with each other? I ask my friend how small congregations that are not able to send a missionary each are to cooperate? How are they to take part in this work? Now, the society provides for that” (Otey-Briney Debate, p. 199).

Brother Otey replied:

“How can a church that can give but ten dollars work without working through a society?” “Now, my friends, we are going to tell you exactly what the Word of the Lord says about it. We are going to turn to Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi … Phil. 4:15-16… Now, who sent it? Was it some great missionary society or organization? Oh, no, but the church in Philippi, sent directly to Paul, the man in the field. Could the weak church now do that? That church did it” (Ibid., p. 280).

d. The same answer can be given today. Brethren, we believe whole heartedly in congregational cooperation. The church in Cayucos where I preach helps currently in the support of eight gospel preachers other than myself. Other churches are also helping in the support of some of these preachers. We send directly to the preacher. This is being done throughout the world. Will it get the job done? Yes. Is it scriptural. Yes. Can we unite on this? My answer is yes. Can we unite on a missionary society? No. Can we unite on a sponsoring church arrangement? Not unless we see God’s authorizing such a practice in His word. Brethren, we want to do everything that God has authorized us to do.

2. Can we take care of all needy saints without forming a human institution to do it? Yes. The local church can provide the means in caring for the needy saints. Such was done in Acts 6. If the care was provided by a human organization, it would still have to provide the means of such care. The question is which organization shall provide the means? We would do well to ask, “Why were human institutions called into existence in the first place?” Was it because we read of such in the Word? Or was it because men decided for such? Are they authored by God or by men?

a. In the Otey-Briney debate, Briney made an appeal to prejudice as he sought to defend the societies in their care of aged preachers and little children by speaking of “. . the dear little orphans, under the fostering care of these institutions, and there because the hearts of good people have moved them to make an arrangement like this. (Ibid., pp. 272-273).

b. Otey replied: “I am not denying that it is right to care for the aged preachers. That is not the question. It is not what you do, but the organization or channels through which it is done . . . My opponent’s position is that God has authorized people to organize such institutions as these societies through which to do it. That is the issue between us” (Ibid., p. 257).

c. “1 Tim. 5:9. What institution or organization is in view here? The one body of Christ, the church” (Ibid., p. 274).

d. We can respond exactly as brother Otey did. Let the church do its own work without donating money to a human institution.

3. Whenever a work or obligation is one that belongs to individual Christians rather than the congregation, then let individuals do it in whatever way they see fit without infringing upon the work of the congregation. Paul set forth this principle in 1 Tim. 5:16. “Let not the church be charged” in matters that belong to the individual.

a. If brethren want to build a college in which they teach Bible classes along with arts and science, let them do so. But it is not the function of the church and we need to keep the church out of the college business.

b. If brethren want to get involved in recreational activities for themselves, their children, or others, let them do so as individuals, but keep the church out of the recreation business.

4. The church can do its own work of preaching, edifying, maintaining worship, and aid to saints in distress. We can spread the gospel to the whole world. We can be united, but only if we seek for and follow the authority of the Scriptures in all things.

Conclusion: The church of our Lord can spread like wildfire without societies, machinery, or central headquarters. Brethren, we have a message; it is the greatest in all the world and fills the greatest need of the world. Let us diligently work to lay aside all our differences and join arm in arm in the greatest conflict that this world has ever known. Let us march shoulder to shoulder fired with the zeal of discoverers. Let us preach God’s message with love for one another and for our -fellow-man and with a sincere desire to “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. ” Our hearts can beat in spiritual unison. Let us cry “Back! Back over the commandments and doctrines of men! Back to the worship ordained by God! Back to the truth in its original power and simplicity! Forward – back to Jerusalem!”

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 9, pp. 265-266
May 7, 1987