Truth Magazine

By Gianni Berdini

I have written this article because I feel the necessity for the brethren in America to know of the serious problems that, through the years, have evolved within the Italian “missionary work.” The use of institutions to establish and develop the work of the local churches has divided churches by creating confusion, discouragement and the most complete apostasy.

Historical View

The work in Italy was started again in 1949 because of the preaching of some American Missionaries. We thank God for their sacrifices for their courage and zeal, as they faced persecution and made many efforts to bring the Word of God to the Italian people.

Unfortunately, in spite of their zeal and “good conscience” the methods used for the spreading of the Gospel were not scriptural as they should have been. The coined phrase “the end justifies the means” is not a biblical principle! Romans 3:8: . . . and why not (as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say), let us do evil that good may come? Whose condemnation is just.”

In fact, at the beginning of the Italian work the center of all activities was an orphan’s home supported by the sponsoring church, Crescent Hill Church of Christ, in Brownfield, Texas. Preaching was made attractive to the people by “gift packages” (clothes, food, and so forth) coming from the States. Therefore, the majority of the “baptized” had their faith, not in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God, but in the “gift” they were receiving. Unfortunately, those means (or methods) did not cease after the “missions” were established. The American Missionaries who came some years later were less concerned with scriptural authority than those who came before them. Therefore, the development of many varied ideas was spread throughout Italy and the digression from the Truth was soon realized.

I would like to give you a brief summary of the escalation of these works:

1959 – This is the birth year of the “Florence Bible School of the Church of Christ.”

1963 – The birth year of the “Biblical Studies Center of the Church of Christ” in Milan (Seme del Regno, December, 1963, p. 520)

1968 – There is established in Genova a “Publishing House Company” supported by churches’ money. After a few good books they started to print Catholic and Protestant books. Then they spent something like 6 billion of lira (that is a very big amount in dollars, too) for printing an edition of the New Testament translated so badly by two Italian preachers, that this edition is not used even by those in the ranks of the organized Christian Church.

1969 – The open fellowship with the Christian Church was realized and practically imposed on many churches. This came about by the Florence Bible School, which was in desperate need of students in order to justify its role in the Italian work! A group of well known preachers went to hold some meetings at Bari in the South of Italy where the work of the Christian Church is concentrated. Their -opening” was published and spread abroad by their magazine Il Seme Del Regno. It is self-evident, I think, that the “opening” was nothing but a gross attempt of imposing the will of a few preachers on all the churches in Italy. Isn’t that something just short of Catholicism?

1970 – This is the birth year of the “Christian Camp” of Nepi just near Rome which caused tremendous and terrible divisions in many churches. It was referred to as a beneficial means for evangelism. In those years we started to question everything that was connected with the “new fellowship idea.” Note that all the “leaders” of the Italian institutions were also the chief actors in the “opening” enterprise. So “institutions” and “new fellowship” were walking arm in arm.

Let us come back to the “Christian camp.” I remember that though my father was preaching against it, many brethren of the church in Aprilia, where I grew up, went to that camp. I remember very well what they said once they returned: “The camp is the place where the true Christian atmosphere can be enjoyed! It is such an edifying thing! It is not so important if members of the church (which, by the way, Christ died for) do not attend the regular meetings of the Church, if they attend “camp gathering.” Thus, when we are at the camp we are at church! In my opinion the least that one can say about these statements is that they are blasphemous.

1976 – The sad but necessary division of the Aprilia (near Rome) church. Twenty-five years of good work done by my father, Rodoflo, was destroyed in the name of the Christian Camp! A church of 98 members was, without pity, divided.

In the same year a meeting was held in Genova for the purpose of creating a “confederation of churches.” That occasion started the so-called “Political Gospel” (actually Marxism) and women preachers in the assembly! Many congregations today are still involved in that practice.

All these institutions were operated by American missionaries and received money from churches in the USA. At the same time, while these institutions were established, some missionaries had begun to teach that evangelists or preachers are not necemary in the churches (the very purpose of the Florence Bible School was not educating preachers but that of creating “more mature members of the church”). It was in that way that missionaries began a subtle psychological, mental and doctrinal control of local congregations. Justto cite only one example: Before the division of the church in Aprilia, several problems that actually caused the split came by the interferences from the Bible School Committee. Members of that Committee were engaged from several local congregations in Italy and were all “faithful” to missionaries here.

Liberalism Today

One cannot expect to sow to the wind and not to reap the whirlwind. Confusion and terrible chaos characterize liberalism today. If yesterday the problems were connected with those human institutions (how to use the Lord’s money, etc.), today we have before us nothing,but semi-Protestant people! Evil practices have borne evil principles:

“Let’s talk of the things that unite and not of those things which divide us.” (Isn’t that the typical old refrain of Catholics and Protestants?)

“Love is all we need.” (Doctrinal differences do not really make a difference!)

“After all, we cannot judge our brethren.” (They even have the courage to quote Romans 14 to maintain that principle!)

“After all, it is sufficient to believe in Jesus and be baptized by immersion. . . . ” (If Catholicism would start tomorrow to teach adult baptism, many of these our “brethren” would be in serious trouble.)

Some of the above mentioned institutions are no longer existing today.

The books printed by the Lanterna Publishing House of Genova are no more used today. According to a man (Paolo Mirabelli, from Rossano, South Italy) who visited the former meeting place of the Genova church, he found pentecostals meeting there, and he saw mountains of books printed years ago just left in some corners of the rooms, unused, bound to be ruined. (Among these books we remember the special edition of the NT translated by Italo Minestroni and Fausto Salvoni in the early ’70’s.)

The Nepi Church Camp, formerly presented as an extraordinary means of preaching, was sold. Today many consider the St. Peter in Bevagne’s Church Camps as the “camping of the church.” (Note that this camp is operated by Christian Churches.)

As far as we know, there are no more Italian students at the Florence School whose present director is Mr. Howard Bybee. We know that now there is a branch of the Pepperdine Christian College in Florence, and that once in a while American students come to visit and have Summer courses.

The Biblical Faculty of Milan was closed. We know for sure that the church building in Milan is used also for dancing courses. (Brother Rodolfo Berdini and Stefano Corazza saw an advertisement in front of the door saying: “This week dance lessons have a different schedule.”)

The church in Mestre (national center of Bible course) is no more existing. In the same meeting place there are today members of the Evangelical Pentecostal church. Consideration: when we open the door to error, it becomes impossible to close it. And the consequences are far more negative than in the past.

Examples of Further Digression in the Last Years

1982 – In October the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock (TX) organized the “World Mission Forum” to discuss and plan the “Mission Work In The World.” Mr. Italo Minestroni, who preaches in Italy in Bologna, participated in this meeting as the “National Representative of the Church” (singular) in Italy. Note that this forum has been defined by Earl Lavender, a young American missionary that worked at Cervignano just 25 miles from Trieste, as the Church itself, an assembly of Christians.

On that occasion Mr. Italo Minestroni asked for:

(1) Increasing the activity of the Florence Bible School in order that it might become the propulsive center of the Italian work.

(2) He asked for money to build a home for the old, “because, he said, this is very needed by the Italian churches.” (?)

(3) He asked for money to buy another printing house. Note, brethren, that they had wasted many dollars on the first one.

(4) He asked for money to install radio stations in the main Italian towns.

(5) He asked for money to buy several meeting places.

Needless to say, they are doing the very same things they already have done in the past, without having learned anything from the past experiences. I frankly doubt they really believe what Paul teaches: “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16).

On January 23, 1984, on the national TV station there was a broadcast by the Protestant Churches Federation. In that transmission the Church of Christ was presented as a Movement started in the U.S. between the 18th and 19th centuries by men like A. Campbell, B. Stone, and others. It showed the first meeting places in Kentucky, the pictures of the “founders,” and information on the movement mostly based on the human institutions which the movement has all over the world (hospitals in the state of Ghana, church camp in Nepi, which had already been sold in ’84, the Florence School, etc.). In that way the blessed church of the New Testament is becoming nothing but a denomination, at least in the minds of some people!

In ’84 a building was begun in a small village called Valmontasca (Tourin). It was all built with the money of an 80 year old man “converted” by some missionaries. He wanted to build his own church. Great men were invited for the occasion: Melvin Pownall, Italo Minestroni, Leoluca Bonanno, and others. We have pictures of that event and also pictures of the meeting place. It is a sort of Catholic temple, with a sort of altar in it, and with many signs. One sign quotes from John 19:27 and says: “Mary is the little mother of all the believers.” There are signs on eucharisty. There is a sign about the evangelical worship of Jesus’ brethren. There is a big star on the roof. (Pictures are available for all who may be interested.)

This building is presented as something very good. Few Italian church members have seen the place. And while it is commonly reported that there is a church there, the fact is that there is only this old man there. He and he alone, in a place absolutely desert. There are practically no people living there.

August 1985 – A Christian camp was organized by the church of Christ in Pescara in a place called Scarfano. LAppello Cristiano, a paper published by the Christian Church in Italy, reported that in that camp brethren from the Church of Christ, the Christian Church, the Church of Nazarene, the Church of God, and the Church of the Brethren enjoyed together the good side of the Christian life (LApello Cristiano, n. 1, 1985).

Prejudice and “Hierarchy”: A Sad Example

Months ago, brother Roberto Tondelli received calls from a man in South Italy. This man asked for literature, showing a good attitude and not involved with liberalism. Calls followed and he was always asking for some counsel or advice on doctrinal matters like: fellowship with Christian Churches, problems where the Florence School is involved, etc. Since the first call, brother Tondelli had tried kindly to let this man see the problems which have caused division among churches In Italy and the biblical solutions to such problems.

Telephone contacts went on to the point that this man (Paolo Mirabelli) seemed quite interested in having a personal meeting with us. After having made agreements for having this meeting, Paolo Mirabelli called brother Tondelli revealing to him that: “I am supported by a congregation in U.S. and the elders there have forbidden me to meet you or others like you.”

Note that he said in the same call that all the literature he was receiving is good and sound. But there was some kind of danger in meeting some of us.

The same behavior is followed in Italy by Catholic priests and Protestant pastors. Here is a clear and sad example of prejudice, and the established practice of hierarchy which hinders personal contacts and personal Bible study. Among other considerations, we may say that such behavior is contrary to 1 Pet. 3:15.

And is it not ridiculous that so-called liberal brethren in Italy say that we are preaching what we are preaching just for the sake of . . . money! That is an obvious example of how a psychological dependency (also a financial dependency) can be established on an eldership in the U.S. (obviously a “liberal” eldership). But we are bound to Christ, not to men.

Conclusion

We invite “liberal” brethren and elders to come to Italy and see with their own eyes the reality of what we are saying here. Many local churches are disappearing in the midst of problems and troubles of every kind: ignorance of the Scriptures, women preaching in public assemblies, worship on Saturday nights, fellowship with Protestant sects, the use of “Gospel pop-songs” to better attract young people to the gospel (but are they truly attracted to it?), and last but not least the obvious fellowship with those who use instrumental music in worship.

We hope and pray and work hard in order to regain the broken unity within some local churches. But this Unity must be based only on “Thy Word,” as Jesus prayed in John 17. However, we are not naive in working toward that objective. In fact, to obtain that blessed kind of Unity, it is necessary that people be honest with Scripture, be studious, and be truly interested in obeying and serving the Lord not men. So far, we have found very few people with such good attitudes.

We are persevering in “the good fight,” going to Catholics and atheists and Protestants. May the Lord help us.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, pp. 737, 752-753
December 18, 1986

By Morris Hafley

I wish I had a dollar for every time I had heard or said that phrase. I think we all know what application is made of that statement. However, I think further application can also be made and it is concerning parents and not the children in school.

Parents, please do your homework! Do you know the joy it will bring you in years to come. Don’t be “ignorant” of the responsibility that is yours. The all-sufficient book has provided us the instruction. As a teacher to his student, the book of Proverbs informs us to tell our children to “hear (obey) the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chain about thy neck.” May our children’s heads and necks be abundantly adorned with these ornaments and chains. They can only be so if we as their parents will give them instruction. The Psalmist compares our children to arrows. Make certain the targets at which you aim your children are soberness, righteousness and godliness. They can only hit the target if we aim than in the proper direction.

Parents do not received an “F” on your report card; you guessed it, do your homework!

Guardian of Truth XXX: 23, p. 722
December 4, 1986

By Raymond E. Harris

The foregoing statement by the Apostle Paul is found in Galatians 5:17. It is a reminder that all of us live under law, in various realms, all the days of our lives.

(1) As children we must abide by the laws of our parents.

(2) As students we must abide by the laws of the school.

(3) As citizens we must abide by the laws of the land.

(4) As human-beings we must abide by the laws of God.

To be law-abiding is to live a peaceful and quiet life. To disobey law is to bring punishment upon ourselves that can range in severity from a paddling, to physical execution, to eternity in Hell!

In the strictest sense all disobedience is disobedience against God. The Scriptures tell us that it is God’s will that children obey their parents (Eph. 6:1) and that citizens are to obey the laws of the land (Rom. 13:1-2). Furthermore, God demands that all mankind live according to His commandments.

We need to understand that God is a loving God and that His commandments are for our own good. That in fact is the purpose of all law. Laws are enacted to promote the common good. Parents lay down the law for our own good. Schools must have rules and regulations to prevent accidents and chaos. Government at all levels must have laws to regulate society for the just benefit of all citizens. And, finally we need to realize that God knows man better than man knows himself. God’s laws are the laws of a loving Father who wishes only good for His creation. If you will consider the laws of God as found in the Bible, you will find that they are all there to promote love and respect toward God and our fellow man.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Also, when we consider the consequences of violating God’s laws, His commandments are “not grievous.”

No one can escape the restraints of law. From the cradle to the grave we find ourselves subject to the laws of parents, teachers, governments and Almighty God. At the same time the self-willed nature of man cries out to be totally unrestrained. However, when mankind is unrestrained, grief and disaster will follow. Jeremiah wrote, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (10:23). Hence, man left to his own desires, passions and lust cannot survive.

Adultery

In Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul specifies actions and attitudes that will bring the downfall of all who engage in such. Verse 19 begins, “Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed . . . .” Then the list of evil, soul condemning practices unfolds. First on the list is adultery! Unfaithfulness in marriage has always stirred the wrath of God.

In Genesis 2:24, it is written, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife – and they shall be one flesh.” When God gave the Ten Commandments to the Jews they were instructed, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” and “thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife” (Ex. 20:14,17).

And then when Jesus appeared upon the scene He said, “. . whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication (unfaithfulness, unlawful sex, REH), causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:32). Then in Matthew 19:3-12, the Lord dealt with the subject again. On that occasion He warned, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (v. 6). And in v. 9 He continued, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Note that the term “fornication” as used in Matthew 5 and 9 refers to all unlawful sex by either married or unmarried persons and would include homosexuality.

In Hebrews 13:4, it is written, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Truly man cannot do just anything and everything he might want to do! Adulterers will be condemned in the judgment. Paul wrote, “. . . they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21).

Fornication and Homosexuality

In Galatians 5:19-21, “works of the flesh” which can cause one to be denied the inheritance from God are listed. The list is headed by acts of immorality such as adultery, fornication and homosexuality. America would do well to take heed! Suddenly we find our country has become a world leader in divorce which is a vain attempt to legalize adultery and fornication. We have an ever growing “Gay” community which is popularizing homosexuality to a degree that makes our country a powder-keg, potentially as doomed as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Idolatry and Witchcraft

But then in Galatians 5:20, Paul moves on to warn of yet another grievous evil. He lists two more works of the flesh as “Idolatry” and “Witchcraft.” Throughout the Old and New Testaments God denounced the folly of supposing that a man-made god could in any way bless or enlighten any one. Romans 1:21-25, 1 Corinthians 10:7, 14-,8:4, are but three of many New Testament passages forbidding the use of idols. Also we need to understand that turning to anyone or anything, other than Jehovah, for spiritual enlightenment or guidance is a form of idolatry. That would include, witchcraft, astrology, spiritualism and fortune tellers of every stripe. Anyone who becomes serious about horoscopes, palm readers, seances or Ouija boards, is practicing idolatry and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul’s warnings are clear and unmistakable. To dabble in the Occult or Mysticism will bring the wrath of God.

Attitudes

In Galatins 5:19-21 we notice a variety of evils that have to do with ugly and unacceptable attitudes and dispositions. God reveals that evil attitudes can be just as soul-corrupting as wicked acts. In Galatians 5:20 (NASV) Paul explains that enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions and envyings are attitudes that would bar one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.

These sins of attitude are often relegated to the realm of “Little Sins.” Often these attitudes are excused with a casual, “I’m only human.” Or, “you will have to excuse me and understand that, that’s just the way I am.”

Such self-righteousness and self-justification is unacceptable. The whole point of Christianity is self-control and selfdenial. Just as we are commanded to be moral and to worship the one true God, the Almighty expects us to develop a kind and loving nature. All of the aforementioned evil attitudes can be overcome if we will develop the “Divine Nature,” “walk after the spirit” and have “the mind of Christ.”

In Ephesians 4:31-32, Paul wrote; “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

It is interesting that everyone insists that they want to be happy. Yet, it seems that most people never stop to realize that they can neither please God nor be happy so long as they are filled with anger, jealousy, envy and contentiousness. How awful to die and spend eternity in a Devil’s Hell just because we could not forgive, forget and live in peace with our fellow man.

Drunkenness and Revelry

In Galatians 5:21 Paul concludes his list of soul damning practices with, “drunkenness” and “revelings.” It is natural that these two words are used together. In Romans 13:13 we find the same. The KJV of the New Testament reads: “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness.” The NASV renders the verse: “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness.

It is obvious from reading both secular history and the Old and New Testaments that throughout the centuries, the ancient world had nothing but contempt for a drunk. The ancients knew nothing of modern brewing techniques that greatly increase the alcohol content of wine, etc. Therefore, for a person to be drunk in Bible days, fie would have to consume considerable quantities of strong drink. The British scholar Barclay notes that the common practice was to dilute the wine with three parts water to two parts wine. Therefore, drunkenness, which produced temporary insanity, portrayed one who was to be held in contempt because he was gluttonous and totally without restraint. And, to this day, the results of drunkenness are the same. Acts of robbery, brutality and immorality are coupled with loss of employment, divorce, ill health, loss of self-respect and death. Woe be to those who indulge in strong drink!

Above we noted the Greek word komos is variously translated: “Revelings, riotous, and carousing.” Such activity would greatly contribute to the gluttonous drinking that produced drunkenness. Komos is defined as unrestrained and uncontrolled partying, dancing, brawling, drinking – debauchery!

Conclusion

Again we conclude with Paul’s warning, “They which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” It is truly amazing that so many trade their very souls for a drink that “biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Prov. 23:32).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 24, pp. 744-745
December 18, 1986

By Bobby L. Graham

The Book of Ruth stands as a monumental reminder of the possibility of practicing goodness, even when most around us are doing evil. Set in the days of Israel’s judges (1:1) – a time when moral and spiritual degeneracy was the rule (Judg. 21:25) – the narrative depicts the contrasting virtues of moral uprightness, familial loyalty, and spiritual devotion.

During this checkered period of ancient history, a famine forced Naomi to go to Moab with her husband and two sons, where all of the males in the family died. Though she lost these loved ones, she gained the loyal attachment of two daughters-in-law from Moab, one of whom returned with her to Bethlehem. There Ruth attracted the attention of Boaz, a wealthy relation of her dead husband’s family, whom she ultimately married.

Woven into the fabric of this inspired narrative is the record of a simple, happy, godly life. Such life forever proclaims a forceful example and exhibits the benefits of life in which love for both God and man are mingled. Let us explore some of the virtues here depicted in the domestic life of this family.

Devotion to God

Ruth’s resolve to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem makes it clear that a godly influence had been an important part of their association. Read about the effect of such influence upon this Moabitess in Ruth 1:16,17. Study also Naomi’s prayer on behalf of the two daughters-in-law in 1:8,9. Such faith on the part of this godly mother-in-law, combined with her genuine concern shown in prayer to God, surely has an influence that abides in minds and lives for generations. We do not know the religious associations of Ruth in Moab, but it is reasonable to associate her with the influence of idolatry among the departed family of Lot.

After Boaz had begun to extend helpful kindness to Ruth and Naomi, Naomi prayed that God would bless Boaz and indicated that the kindnesses shown the two women were really a bestowal from God to “the living and the dead” (2:20).

Love of Family

Ruth’s kindness to Naomi after the death of Elimelech – coming to a strange land after leaving father and mother – were cited by Boaz as influences on his decision to treat Ruth in a similar fashion. He insisted that she eat at his table and glean in his fields (2:8-14).

Ruth and Naomi’s discussion of the day’s activities and Ruth’s willingness to receive counsel from her mother-inlaw provide cheerful glimpses into the loving life of this family. The filial piety, the loving constancy, and the human kindness in their dealings are today too often absent from family life (1:8, 16-18, 15-22). It is urgent that adults impress upon the younger ones their responsibilities to parents in later years. Such financial aid is good and acceptable in God’s sight and constitutes repayment, according to 1 Timothy 5:4. That natural affection that should be strong is frequently non-existent, as seen in the abortions taking place, older parents being neglected at home or in nursing homes, and parental abuse of children in various ways (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3).

Liberality to the Poor

Permission to glean in the fields of Boaz was a part of God’s provision for the poor under the Mosaic economy. In addition to granting such permission, Boaz also instructed his workers to drop additional grain for the benefit of Ruth (2:14-17). Oppression of the poor was forbidden in Deuteronomy 24:14,15, and definite provisions were made for them in Deuteronomy 24:19-22.

“Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; you will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed” (Psa. 41:1-3). “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (Prov. 19:17). Both passages present principles that still operate today in a society of plenty.

Uncomplaining Toil

The younger Ruth went to the grain fields and worked without complaint. It is too often the case that many think themselves superior to manual work, viewing such as undignified. The God of our being dignified such work at the time when He assigned man his work. Ruth was not the kind of woman who would have stood in line at the welfare office. This is not to say that none should ever do so. The willing work of the virtuous woman, in Proverbs 3 1, for the benefit of her family and the poor, is a model deserving current study and effort.

True Chastity

All of Bethlehem’s residents knew Ruth to be a virtuous woman (3:11). Such a reputation had been earned through her circumspect conduct in relation to young men (3:10). Youthfulness was not then a justification for unwise actions like careless familiarity, nor should it be so used today. Ruth followed the advice of Naomi in conforming to the custom of her day and place as he proposed to her goel (near kinsman) in keeping with Levirate Law in Deuteronomy 25:5. The near kinsman bore the responsibility to redeem the dead relative’s inheritance and to raise up seed for him. This proposal is chronicled in 3:3-9.

The simple, yet stablizing virtues of this lesson must be instilled in the minds of us all, lest we forget them and disregard them. When we earnestly practice them, we shall speak “with double sway.” In the closing verses of the Book of Ruth, we learn that Naomi held in her arms an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David . . . Jesus; 4:16,17). How inconsistent it is for one claiming to be Jesus’ spiritual follower and joint heir to be unconcerned about such matters as these!

Guardian of Truth XXX: 23, pp. 714-715
December 4, 1986