Truth Magazine

By S. Leonard Tyler

The story of Jesus’ healing the blind man of John 9 offers us a great illustration of one who knows Jesus as the Son of God. After the healing, the miracle was so recognized that no one, who accepted the man as the one who was blind, could doubt for a minute the greatness of the miracle. This is true of all the miracles of our Lord and His apostles. Miracles were performed to prove that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and the apostles were men of God. If the miracles were rejected or doubted, where was the proof? Surely, a great miracle had been performed and even his neighbors inquire of him, “How were thine eyes opened?” (Jn.9:10) And he answered them, “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.”

They then took him to the Pharisees who also asked, how he received his sight? He told them the same story of how Jesus healed him. They questioned Jesus’ being of God and even branded the healed man as a hardened sinner but none could question the reality of the miracle. They rejected the facts because they refused to believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son. They, as it were, stopped their ears, closed their eyes, their hearts waxed gross, and were hardened.

They sought out his parents and inquired of them, “Is this your son whom ye say was born blind?” They answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.” They did not know by what means that he could see or would not admit it. The Pharisees returned to the healed man and re-examined him. They branded Jesus as a hard sinner. The healed man explained that God did not hear or answer sinner’s prayers. And stated, “Since the beginning of the world such a thing as opening the eyes of one born blind was never heard of. If this man had not come from God, he could have done nothing.” They refused to be taught by such a sinner as they classified the healed man of being. They cast him out.

Jesus came to him and asked him, “‘Do you believe in the Son of man?’ ‘Who is he, sir, that I may believe on him?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is he who is now speaking to you.’ ‘I do believe, Sir,’ said the man, and he prostrated himself at his feet.” The King James Version puts it, “And he worshiped him.” To know Jesus is to commit oneself to Him. Do you know Jesus to be worthy of your commitment for life?

One must believe in Jesus before he can accept Him and that faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17). But that is why the Bible is written and the word is to be preached to every creature, the whole creation, to produce faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and man’s Savior (John 20:30-31). The gospel is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17). Unless one believes the message of the gospel of Christ, he can not really believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Heb. 4:2). Faith in Jesus produces a continuous life of faith. It is the “obedience of faith,” a life of faith, that leads one to Christ and holds him in the way of the Lord (1 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1,6; 12:1-2). If one loses his faith or turns from the Lord, he can expect nothing from the Lord (Heb. 3:12) but, on the other hand, if one is faithful to the Lord, he will be blessed forever (Heb. 10:38-39).

How can this work? One must hear God’s word and believe in Christ before he can obey the Lord (Heb. 11: 1,6). The Word of God is so powerful and revealing that is the substance, evidence, sustaining source, and power of our faith. It is God’s message of faith (Heb. 11:1; 4:2). God’s word is so powerful, convincing, overwhelming and life challenging, even so uplifting into immorality, eternal peace and joy in the hope of life after death (Jn. 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15). It is true.

To Know Jesus

To know Jesus is to love Him, His word and all that His word teaches. If one is compelled to believe that Jesus is God’s Son, the Savior of all men through the message of the word, surely, he will fall deeply in love with the truth, God’s word. If you love the Lord, will you not love His word and treasure its holy precepts above any message of man. David’s attitude toward the Lord was sustained by his attitude toward His word. He said, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven . . . . O how love I thy law! It is my- meditation all the day . . . . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. . ., I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love” (Psa. 119:89, 97, 105, 113). Upon reading David’s attitude toward the word of Almighty God, no one will be shocked to hear his prayer, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, 0 Lord my strength and my redeemer” (Psa. 19:14).

David’s attitude of love and respect for the word of the Lord was so deeply impressed upon his heart that he evaluates the man of God not as only refusing the ungodly ways and lives of the wicked but as one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psa. 1:2). His delight and meditation is in the word of the Lord. Why? He knew and understood his Lord; read Psalms 139 and you can well understand the last two verses: “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Do you know the Lord in faith, in obedience and forgiveness (Rom. 5:1; 6:17-18; Col. 2:12; 3:1-4)? Then, surely, you love His word and delight in it. It will furnish the man of God unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The story is told of a young lady who read a book containing material in which she was interested. But having completed the reading she passed her opinion upon it as being very dry and thoroughly boring. Later in her life, she met a young man and fell in love with him. She soon learned that he was the author of the book which she had thrown aside as dry and boring. She searched out the book and reread it. This time her opinion was expressed, “This is the best written and most interesting book that I have ever read.” Why the difference? She knew and loved the author.

Is this our problem in creating an interest in reading and studying God’s word? Are we acquainted with and know the Book, The Bible, but have not come to know and love its author? Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15,15:10). 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.” If keeping God’s commandments, instructions is hard, grievous, you have a problem. Search your own heart, “For out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34).

We recognize that it is only through the word of the Lord that we come to know, to understand, the Lord, but it is through acceptance of his truth that we come to believe, respect and love Him. John said, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us” (1 Jn. 4:6). “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God” (1 Jn. 3:10).

We can show our love and advance in love for the Lord by standing and meditating more upon His word (1 Tim. 3:15;4:15-16; 2 Tim. 2:14-15; Heb. 5:14). This is not meditation by reaching out into the great transcendental, mystical space of God’s unknown. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29). Do you know Jesus to love Him and serve Him?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, pp. 739-740
December 18, 1986

By Johnny Stringer

“Thy Will Be Done”

Since God knows what is best, it is best for His will to be done. We should deeply desire for His will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” His will is perfectly done in heaven, and we should desire for it to be perfectly done on earth. We know it never will be, because the earth is populated by imperfect men. Just think, however, what a wonderful world it would be if everyone on earth carried out God’s will.

It is only through doing God’s will that men can enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21). Of course, no one perfectly does God’s will, but Christ has provided that we can be forgiven of our imperfections, so that it is as though we had carried out His will perfectly. When sins are forgiven, it is as though they had never happened.

Forgiveness, of course, is conditional (Acts 2:38; 8:22). The conditions include repentance. This means that in order to be forgiven of our sins, we must be determined to quit our sins. We cannot persist impenitently in violating God’s will and be forgiven.

How inconsistent it is for men to pray for God’s will to be done, yet make little effort to do God’s will in our own lives. It is inconsistent, also, to pray for God’s will to be done, yet fail to try to teach His will to others, If we really desire for God’s will to be done, we will try to do it ourselves and to lead others to do it.

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”

It is right to pray for our material needs. We are taught to pray about all things that concern us (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7). It is wrong, however, to pray with a covetous spirit, seeking to use prayer as an avenue to gratify our greed, To do so is to “ask amiss” (Jas. 4:3). To ask for daily bread does not reflect such an attitude.

We are not to offer this prayer with the expectation that God will provide food for us apart from our own efforts. We are taught to work for what we have (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 2 Thess. 3:10). The point is, if we do what we are able to do for ourselves, God will help us obtain the necessities of life.

Here is an illustration of the principle that God helps those who help themselves. If a man prays for food while making little effort to get a job, just hoping for a handout, his prayer is vain.

When times are hard and our outlook is bleak, we can pray to God while doing all that we can for ourselves, and trust Him to provide the help we need. Such trust in God brings comfort in the worst of times.

“Forgive Us Our Debts”

We owe God complete obedience. When we fail to obey (sin), we have failed to pay what we owe. We have made a debt we can never repay.

But our situation is not hopeless, for God is a merciful creditor Who is willing to forgive the debt. Forgiveness was made possible through the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28; 1 Jn. 1:7). When we are forgiven, it is as though we had paid Him all we owed – as though we had given Him perfect obedience.

In the model prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray for forgiveness. This teaching is applicable only to God’s children – those who can address Him as our Father. Those who are not in God’s family must meet other conditions to be forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:38). Upon doing so, they become God’s children (Gal. 3:26-27) with the privilege of praying for forgiveness when they sin.

Prayer for forgiveness must come from a repentant heart (Acts 8:22). One who prays for forgiveness, but has no intention of quitting his sin, cannot be forgiven.

Moreover, Jesus makes it clear that God will not forgive Our sins if we are unwilling to forgive those who sin against us. To forgive them is to regard them as no longer guilty. As God’s forgiveness is conditioned on repentance, our forgiveness of those who sin against us is conditioned on repentance (Lk. 17:4; Eph. 4:32). We must love them before they repent, but we must continue to recognize their guilt until they have repented.

We do not deserve forgiveness; we deserve punishment. Let us ever praise God for His marvelous grace.

“Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil”

Recognizing our weakness and our susceptibility to temptation, we should pray that as God providentially intervenes in our lives, He will lead us so as to help us avoid temptation. It is obviously not God’s will to keep us from ever being tempted, but we trust that He will help us avoid temptations to whatever degree His wisdom will allow, preventing us from being overwhelmed by them. Through thus shielding us, He will deliver us from evil.

Praying for God to help keep us from being overwhelmed by temptations is like asking for our daily bread. We must do what we can to help ourselves. It is inconsistent for one to pray to be kept from temptation, and then deliberately and unnecessarily put himself into a position in which he will be tempted.

Inasmuch as temptation begins with lust (Jas. 1:14), we can help ourselves by avoiding activities which stir up our lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). For example, to pray for help in avoiding temptations, yet engage in lustful dancing or view provocative movies or TV shows is grossly inconsistent.

Concluding Thoughts

It is noteworthy that most of the requests in this model prayer are spiritual in nature. Inasmuch as prayer is an expression what is on our minds, is this not a pretty good indication of the kind of concerns that should weigh heaviest on our minds?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, pp. 742-743
December 18, 1986

By O.C. Birdwell, Jr.

Religious journals have long been used as an excellent means to get before the reading public different positions that are taken on numerous biblical and religious subjects. Since there are obvious differences on many subjects there needs to be a discussion of those differences in the light of Bible teaching. Most public debates, both oral and written, have been conducted in order to investigate these differences and establish truth. In past years many brethren were fearful of a position until it was tested in public discussion. If it was tested in such discussion and found to be untrue it was immediately rejected. Open and honorable religious discussion was regarded as the best way to establish truth. Religious journals were used as the most practical media for such discussion.

Many need to be re-educated to the purpose and need for religious discussion and debate. Too often, in our day, there is objection to even a small amount of friendly disagreement in a Bible class. Some refuse to take a religious paper lest there be what they call “a fuss” found somewhere on its pages. A number, including some preachers, have become so sensitive to any disagreement that if one thing they say is called in question, they will immediately impugn the motive of the one who questions, and in turn will attack his character, misrepresent what he says, and try to destroy his reputation.

In the Gospel Advocate (June 5, 1879), under the heading “Church Difficulty at Bowling Green, ” brother David Lipscomb had the following to say. What he said then is just as relevant today as it was when it was written over 100 years ago.

The expression “newspaper wrangle” in reference to the effort of brethren to teach truth and correct error through the papers savors neither of the courtesy of the well-bred gentlemen, nor the gentleness and kindness of the Christian. What is termed the “newspaper wrangle” has been the most efficient means of delivering the masses from the bondage of error, and developing the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, of all other instrumentalities within the last century. Indeed written and published exposure of error and defense of truth have been the means from the apostolic day down, above all others used by men earnest for the truth, for infusing truth, and eradicating error among the people.

A man who sneers at it advertises his own incompetency to appreciate the truth’s most honored instrument of defense and offense. He casts no obloquy upon what all sensible men know has established its character. Errorists of every hue, conscious of the weakness of error yet wedded to it, greatly oppose A newspaper wrangles.”

Brother Lipscomb did not, nor do we, make any defense of an ugly and unkind spirit on the part of anyone in the discussion of differences. Effort should not be made to bind personal opinion and human tradition on others. Let us not be contentious for our own will and way while contending for the truth. The fact that some are not honorable in discussion should not be an argument against all discussion. I fear for any people when open and honorable investigation, objection, and even rejection is suppressed. History shows that such people have all gone into apostasy.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, p. 743
December 18, 1986

By Mike Willis

In recent months, considerable interest has been manifested on the subjects of “positive” and “negative” preaching. I have been reading in preparation for some future writing on the positive thinking philosophy circulated by Norman Vincent Peale, Mary Baker Eddy, Oral Roberts, and many others. I am more concerned at the present with the growing tendency to label preachers as exclusively “positive” or “negative,” creating factions among brethren. Some churches and preachers only invite “positive preachers” for their meetings, consider “negative preachers” as useless, and write like they have discovered something in the Bible which none of our forefathers before us could see. On the other hand, some brethren complain that “negative preachers” only invite “negative preachers” for their meetings, look at “positive preachers” with suspicion, and leave the impression on “positive preachers” that the gospel must be preached in an abrasive manner.

Surely an improvement in attitude toward our comparative abilities in preaching the gospel will help ease some tensions among us and toward that end this article is written.

The Church As The Body Of Christ

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul develops the theme that the church is the body of Christ. He was faced with the problem in Corinth of men with differing spiritual gifts who were unable to work together. Those with the gift of tongue-speaking apparently thought that they had the most important spiritual gift and all others were relatively useless when compared to them. In overcoming this problem, Paul compared the dissension in the body of Christ to a physical body in which the ear and eye were competing with one another. Just because the eye cannot hear is no reason to conclude that it is not a part of the body and just because the foot cannot see is no reason to conclude that it is not a part of the body. He said, “. . the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7). Every spiritual gift was given to the entire body for what it could contribute to the overall functioning of the body. There is a need which every member fills. This lesson needs to be learned today just as certainly as it needed to be learned in Corinth in the first century.

We do not have the same abilities and interests in all areas of activity. Each of us has greater abilities in one area than another. Each of us differs in approach, style, and technique. Each preacher has different interests as to methods such as writing articles, radio or TV work, home studies, correspondence lessons, pulpit preaching, debates, charts, intensive classes, and the like – all devoted to spreading the truth and fighting sin. As each of us develops his abilities and pursues his interests, he contributes something to the overall functioning of the body of Christ as long as he preaches nothing but the gospel of Christ.

This truth needs to be applied to the discussion on “positive” and “negative” preaching. Some among us have greater abilities to move an audience, exhort to obedience, encourage to faithfulness, stir our hope of heaven, and otherwise do many works often associated with “positive” preaching. I pray that every man who is blessed with these talents will use them to the praise and glory of God. Others among us have greater abilities to meet denominational preachers in debate, to call brethren’s attention to error being preached among us, to write articles unmasking the claims and doctrines of false teachers, and otherwise do many works sometimes associated with “negative” preaching. I pray that every man who is blessed with these talents will use them to the praise and glory of God. Each of us should try to develop some degree in all of these areas as we have the opportunity, but even then we cannot all be equal in degree or effectiveness in every way.

Brethren, we need each other! Gospel preachers of a bygone era understood our mutual dependence upon each other in these areas. On some occasions, they worked together in meetings. One man who was particularly skilled in instructing in the gospel would preach the sermon; another brother who was skilled in exhortation would offer the invitation. The instructor did not consider the exhorter soft and neither did the exhorter consider the instructor contentious. They worked together as a team.

Problems Arise

However, problems arise when brethren do not consider themselves working together on the same team and to the glory of the same God. Here are some occasions when problems arise:

1. When “positive” preachers lack appreciation for “negative” preachers. Some “positive” preachers are leaving an impression that there is no room in the kingdom of God for debaters who defend the gospel against denominational error. They criticize as unchristian conduct the work of Roy Cogdill in fighting institutionalism, Foy E. Wallace in fighting premillennialism, and the host of brethren who opposed missionary societies and instrumental music in worship.

If there be any “positive” preachers among us with this attitude, I pray that they will consider where the church would be had there not been men such as Roy Cogdill and papers such as Gospel Guardian, Truth Magazine, and Searching The Scriptures opposing institutionalism. Where would the church have been had there not been a Foy E. Wallace and Bible Banner opposing premillennialism? These false doctrines would have done more severe damage to the church than they did and many pulpits now occupied by “positive” preachers would have been under the control of liberal brethren and closed to faithful preachers. The only way we can avoid falling into the same errors today is to continue teaching on these themes. We must be positive toward the divine pattern of truth and negative toward every depature from the faith.

I am thankful for the work of men such as Benjamin Franklin and David Lipscomb who fought and opposed church support of missionary societies. I am thankful for M. C. Kurfees’ work in opposing instrumental music in worship. I am thankful for the work of Foy E. Wallace, Jr. in opposing premillennialism. I am thankful for the work of Roy E. Cogdill in opposing the sponsoring church arrangement, church support of colleges and orphan homes, and church supported recreation. We owe these men a debt of gratitude for passing down the unblemished gospel to this generation and we owe it to the Lord to preach the truth on such matters today. Those who know the works of these men recognize that these men were not lopsided in their preaching. They preached many “positive” sermons to develop Christian character, to convert the lost, and to bring the erring to repentance. That same thrust is needed now!

There are men among us today with exceptional abilities in these same areas. James Adams, Larry Hafley, Ron Halbrook, Robert Welch, Marshall Patton, and many other men have demonstrated through the years a deep understanding of the word of God in calling to our attention dangerous doctrines which threaten the church. Yet I can personally testify that these men work to preach sermons which emphasize the need for strong Christian character, work to baptize alien sinners, labor to stir up enthusiasm in local churches, and otherwise do many things generally associated with “positive” preaching.

2. When negative preachers equate exhorters with soft preaching. If there be any “negative” preachers among us who have no appreciation for those men who can exhort us to greater work and more faithful service, they need to realize the contribution which exhorters have made to the gospel of Christ.

Walter Scott was one restoration preacher who was renown for his ability to touch the hearts of those to whom he preached. N.B. Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons were preached to over 5000 people each night in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Those who heard him preach still talk about his ability to hold an audience’s attention. Through the years, several men have been so effective in gospel meeting work that they were able to give all of their time to holding meetings. These men have done the cause of Christ a great service in kindling again the waning flames of faith in the hearts of erring Christians, in persuading alien sinners to be baptized, and in encouraging faithful Christians to persevere.

Those who know these men and their works know that these men were not afraid to preach against premillennialism, instrumental music in worship, and church support of the missionary society (or other evils of their day). These men had a healthly respect for the debaters and editors of their day who joined the battle against the evils confronting them. These men who differed in talents and relative abilities stood shoulder to shoulderfor the truth and against sin and digression – just as the apostles did – just as we should do today.

There are men with similar talents in our own day. I am thankful for the work of men such as Granville Tyler, Dee Bowman, Johnie Edwards, Irven Lee, Aude McKee and others. Their names are synonymous with positive preaching – exhortation and encourgement. I respect and admire their abilities to create enthusiasm in a local church and to cause numerical growth. They have greater talents in these areas than I have. Nevertheless, I have seen work from each of these men which demonstrates their recognition of the need to stand against any innovations which threaten the church.

3. When neglect is given to either kind of preaching. Robert E. Welch called our attention to what will occur if positive preaching is done to the neglect of negative preaching, when he wrote the following:

A great number of us, who fought against the onslaught of institutionalism among the churches a few decades ago, yet live and remember what it took to keep the institutions out. A few have forgotten the fight that was made and have decided to go “positive” and make love to the brethren who digressed. And a host of younger men have come on the preaching scene who have not had such experience and have decided that such preaching is not profitable, and have turned to preaching the kind of pap which any sickly little denominational pastor turns out. Barclay’s comments are more effective than Paul’s they think. About the only “negative” preaching and writing they do is against those who openly condemn sin, doctrinal error and false practice. . . .

Positive preaching is desirable and necessary. But if we expect Christians and the churches to be built up in spiritual strength we are going to have to mix it with negative preaching against sin, error and every false way. Neither do we need “specialists” in the preaching and writing field. We do not need some who will specialize on the positive, while others accentuate the negative. When that is done the hearers will choose, and you can be sure who the popular ones will be (2 Timothy 4:3,4). They will take only the “positive” papers and have only the “positive” preachers, leaving the negatives ones with no audience. It will kill the churches. Let all preachers recognize that it is their duty to preach the word, reprove, rebuke and exhort (“The Power of Positive Preaching,” Faith and Facts [October 1986], pp. 15-16).

The danger which brother Welch describes is manifest among our liberal brethren. Many liberal churches have been fed a steady diet of positive preaching for twenty or more years. They have raised a generation which sees no difference in the Lord’s church and denominations and now they are ready to join hands in fellowship with at least one denomination, the independent Christian Churches. If the positive preaching movement becomes accepted among us, it will produce the same result in time. We have no patience or respect for anyone who peddles compromise, denominationalism, or human philosophies under the cloak of “positive” preaching!

On the other hand, if preaching becomes so negative that the positive aspects of the gospel are neglected, damage will also be done. Christian character will be viewed only as “thou shalt not.” A man will be judged to be sound if he is against instrumental music in worship, church support of human institutions, church sponsored recreation, dancing, social drinking, etc. He might never learn his obligations to grow in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, perseverance, and other graces. If preaching which is exclusively negative becomes the norm, a contentious spirit might develop among brethren. Wrangling over judgmental matters might become commonplace, destroying the Lord’s church.

A Call For Balance

These matters should remind each of us of the great need of balance in our work. The need of the moment will determine the kind of preaching we should be doing. There is a place for the strong rebukes of I and 2 Corinthians and Galatians. There is a place for the encouragement of Philippians. There is a place for the disciplined instruction of Romans. A faithful preacher will try to preach that portion of the word of God which is needed at any given moment of time. To the very best of our ability, each of us should strive to preach “all the counsel of God” without becoming exclusively “positive” or “negative” (Acts 20:27). We may excel in one area or another, but we should always appreciate the complementary efforts of brethren who excell in an area where we do not. Also, each of us should constantly aim for a better balance of the two emphases in our own preaching. This is the challenge of a lifetime!

However, there is no room for backslapping preachers who only preach what is non-offensive. This kind of preacher will not preach what is needed in a local congregation; he will only preach what makes and keeps him popular. Paul said, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1: 10). Backslapping preachers – mere men pleasers who refuse to speak to the needs of the audience – cannot be the Lord’s servants.

May the Lord give us the wisdom to see the needs of the churches with which we labor. May He give us the moral courage to preach what is needed whenever and wherever it is needed. And may the Lord show us our need for one another – to be able to appreciate the significant contribution which each of us makes and to love one another for his unique contribution to the Lord’s work.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, pp. 738, 750-751
December 18, 1986