Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Words Of Appreciation To Johnny Stringer

This is the last issue of Guardian of Truth for 1985. The last issue generally contains the topic and author indexes for the year. These indexes make the material in the bound volumes of Guardian of Truth accessible for those who collect them. Johnny Stringer, faithful gospel preacher from Loudon, Tennessee, prepares our indexes for us. He is doing an excellent job, making the information in the bound volumes readily accessible for years to come. We appreciate the work which he does. Many of you appreciate the indexes; now you know who to thank for making them available.

Appreciation To Guardian of Truth Bookstore Customers

The Guardian of Truth Bookstore has just completed a record year in sales. We have picked up many new customers and new accounts. We appreciate the goodwill and encouragement which we receive from our customers. The sales which we enjoyed this year enabled us to print some more new books in the revision of the Walking With God material, to publish a new church directory for 1986, this magazine, and other materials. We appreciate your business because it enables us to continue producing material which is useful to faithful Christians. Other bookstores exist solely to make money; our bookstore exists to pay for publishing material which Christians cannot generally find elsewhere.

Brother and sister O.C. Birdwell, with their fine staff, continue to provide good service to our customers. Orders are generally mailed the same day they are received (at least within 24 hours), unless they require special attention (such as back ordering which places the customer at the mercy of the publisher). In my meetings, I hear brethren compliment the service they receive from our bookstore. Recently, a customer in West Virginia commented that he placed his order late on a Monday and received it on Wednesday. Customers appreciate that kind of service.

Our business is in better condition now than it has been in the recent past. We are delighted to be in our own building with suitable accommodations for walk-in business. Our financial situation is improving month by month. There are always books we would like to print if more money were available to us. We have several new works we would like to print and some classics we would like to reprint, if funds were available.

Guardian of Truth Foundation: A Service Organization

The Guardian of Truth Foundation remains a service organization. We are not an individually supported missionary society; we support no preachers and do not consider it our work to do so. We publish and market religious literature. The profits which are accumulated from this legitimate business enterprise, in keeping with our non-profit charter, must be used to publish more material. Those profits cannot be paid as stock dividends, for there is no stock in this company.

A dedicated Board of Directors donates their time and money to administer the affairs of this organization. The Directors receive no compensation for their time or travel expenses. Theirs is a labor of love. The men are respected preachers and business men from various parts of the country. We appreciate their sacrifices and good-will.

Some men mistakenly think that those who work for an organization such as the Guardian of Truth Foundation are in a glory position. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no glory in packing books, filling a book order, sweeping a floor, and other jobs associated with running a bookstore. Our bookstore manager does this because he believes in what we are doing. There is no glory in proofreading articles, tracts, and books, addressing and mailing a magazine, maintaining a mailing list and accounts for subscribers and advertisers. I do this work because I believe in what we are doing – providing good literature for Christians to use in their teaching program and a magazine which provides a forum for Christians to discuss problems within and without the church.

Future Plans For Guardian of Truth

The year 1985 has been good for Guardian of Truth. We had so many new churches choosing to advertise with us that we had to add another page of advertising. Our subscription list remains stable. We had good response to our special rates for new subscribers and many names have been sent to us for samples copies of the paper.

We have several special issues planned for 1986. We will begin 1986 with a special issue entitled “Lest We Forget.” This issue will remind us of the battles which have been fought in the past with an admonition not to forget the important Bible truths which we learned in such conflicts as the church supported missionary society, church supported benevolent society, church supported college, use of mechanical instruments of music in worship, sponsoring church arrangement, church sponsored recreation, etc. We think you will want extra copies of this special issue for wider distribution.

Later in the year, we plan a special on “The Restoration of New Testament Christianity.” This special issue will remind us of our heritage, emphasizing our need to continually teach on the need for the restoration of the ancient order. Fundamental lessons, sermons which some are neglecting and omitting, on such themes as baptism, the Lord’s supper, the organization of the church, etc. will be presented in this special issue.

Other ideas for special issues are beginning to be worked on. We think that 1986 will be a good year for reading Guardian of Truth. You will not want to miss it.

Appreciation For Our Writers

I personally would like to close with a word of appreciation to the many brethren who have written for us in 1985. Our staff of writers includes some of the best preachers living. Their work is respected and appreciated all over this country. In addition, we receive many unsolicited manuscripts for publication. I appreciate every one of them. The brethren who take the time to write their lessons and share them without readers are appreciated. We appreciate their good-will, as seen in the fact that they chose us to publish their article. May their tribe increase.

Conclusion

We look forward to serving you in 1986. As 1985 draws to a close the staff at the Guardian of Truth Foundation sends you seasons greetings and wish you a Happy New Year!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 24, pp. 738, 751
December 19, 1985

By Larry Ray Hafley

The article below under the title above appeared in the Peoria Journal Star, October 15, 1985.

“The wife of singer Pat Boone went to Rock Hudson’s home shortly after he died of AIDS, chanted over his body, grasped his thin legs and began speaking in tongues, according to People magazine.

“Shirley Boone and members of a Pentecostal church in Van Nuys, Calif., arrived at the actor’s Beverly Hills home about 20 minutes after his death was announced Oct. 2, and chanted, ‘Get the disease out of the body,’ the magazine reported.

“The night before, a Pentecostal prayer group that included Pat and Shirley Boone and two of Hudson’s nurses had visited the actor.”

Just Imagine

Now that is just what a dead man needs – someone to begin “speaking in tongues” “over his body.” Imagine that Peter went to Dorcas’ corpse, and, instead of raising her from the dead, he “began speaking in tongues”! Imagine Paul chanting and “speaking in tongues,” and then dropping dead of the venomous viper that “fastened on his hand” (Acts 28:3-6). Just what he needed t6speaking in tongues” rather than miraculous protection from the vile viper! Imagine the “sick folks” in Acts 5:15, 16, being treated with 69speaking in tongues” and left sick. Imagine living unbelievers needing to hear the gospel in their “own language” being allowed to see the resurrection of a dead man. Imagine Jesus going to the tomb of Lazarus, chanting (babbling like a baby, chattering like a chimp), “speaking in tongues” (mumbling like a moron), and imploring, “Get the disease out of the body.” Just what Lazarus and Rock Hudson needed, a tongue speaking exercise. Rewrite John 11 if that had occurred. Imagine Jesus “speaking in tongues” before blind Bartimaeus and the ten lepers, but leaving them blind and leprous. What could be worse? Surely, Shirley has her “gifts” in reverse.

“Death On Pneumonia”

It reminds me of the story my good friend and brother, James P. Needham, tells so humorously. A fellow went to the Doctor with a terrible cold. The Doctor said, “Stand outside barefooted in a cold rain.” The patient sniffled, “But, Doc, I’ll catch pneumonia.” The Doctor said, “Great! I can’t cure a cold but I’m death on pneumonia!’ Sister Shirley cannot cure the Aids disease, but she is death on “speaking in tongues.”

Reuel Lemmons needs to write another article defending Pat and Shirley Boone as he did after they forsook the faith for the fraud of Pentecostalism. I suggest that he dedicate it to the memory of Rock Hudson and submit it to People magazine.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 23, p. 723
December 5, 1985

By Bill Cavender

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. . . . And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (Acts 8:4; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Herein lies the prescription for evangelizing the lost world, the saving of sinful souls, the spreading abroad “of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). By the means of personal contact and effort, by one person teaching another person, by the impact of one personality upon another personality, by each Christian teaching another fellow human being the gospel of our Lord Jesus, did “the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world… which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven,” permeate the first century world (Col. 1:5-6, 23; Rom. 10:18). This is still the only way, the only means and method by which the twentieth century world will hear the truth and some be brought to salvation in Jesus Christ and in His kingdom (John 3:1-8; Col. 1:13-14).

We live in a period of time in the world’s history and in the church of our Lord in the U.S.A. in which Madison Avenue advertising techniques, saturation mailings, promotional and begging campaigns, youth rallies and retreats, hamburgers and hotdogs and eating and drinking, high-powered and well-known brethren endorsements, large and powerful church(es) and eldership(s) planning and overseeing, are constantly and continually bombarding us with propaganda, telling us what great works and things are being done in the name of Christ and to the glory of God – and what greater and more marvelous works can be done if we will only supply the money and have faith in the projects, plans, talents and wisdom of men!

The world is going to hell around us, as the old south and the confederacy made its last stand and struggles around burning Atlanta. It is estimated in the next quarter to half century (if God lets the world continue), that there will be about eight billion souls – lost souls – on the planet called “earth,” almost double the present population. Yet God’s people diminish in numbers and in proportion. “Conservative,” “faithful” churches are not growing in numbers and in spirituality. “Liberal,” “digressive” churches are not growing in numbers and in spirituality. Many of them, with their elders and preachers, are holding meetings with and having affinity with denominational churches (so-called “Disciples of Christ,” or “Christian Churches” or “Churches of Christ” which use instrumental music).

The techniques and talents of brethren, their human wisdom and ways, their plans and promotions and projects, have not worked to the saving of lost souls in the world and the edifying of the churches toward eternal life. The results have been divided and alienated brethren, and churches spiritually weakened by worldliness and substitutions for God’s gospel, work and organization for His people. Our brethren are less knowledgeable in the Scriptures, with much less faith in God and in Christ and in the Scriptures, but they are far more knowledgeable in worldliness, sports, economics, the pleasures of sin, and have far more faith in men, money and machinations. Comparatively fewer brethren, individual Christians, are personally working and teaching the word of salvation to the lost. Fewer fathers read the Scriptures to their families, pray with their children, and take them to worship regularly. Fewer mothers are reading the sweet stories of the Bible to their little children and teaching them to pray. Fewer families emphasize spiritual matters in their daily lives, teaching God’s word and singing His praises “diligently unto the children, talking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6-7). Fewer boys and girls are growing up among us, dedicated to Jesus and to the church, and desiring to be teachers and preachers of the word, and elders and deacons in the churches.

Only as individuals will we work out our own salvation in fear and in trembling (Phil. 2:12). Only as individuals will we be wise in winning souls to Christ (Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3). Only as individuals interested in serving our Father and going to heaven can we each develop our talents and make ourselves useful for the Master (Matt. 25:14-30). Only as individuals can we teach and make discernible inroads into a lost world in saving souls along the way. Only as individuals can we learn to pray, to think, to meditate, to study, to visit, to teach and to encourage others. Centralized projects, overseeing elderships, human institutions, vast sums of money, and all kinds of programs will not get the job done which each of us should hope and want to do – saving souls! Even local congregations, as such, will not get the work done. It is only when each of us quits being a spectator in the crowd in the congregation and gets down on the field of action, and goes to work for the Lord, will we begin to do what our first century brethren did when they “went every where preaching

the word.”

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 23, p. 716
December 5, 1985

By Hoyt H. Houchen

Question: What do you believe about women attending business meetings of the local church?

Reply: Leadership in the local church belongs to men. A decision making business meeting is in itself a ruling entity. The role of the woman is that of subjection. This is God’s arrangement, not man’s. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression. . .” (1 Tim. 2:11-14). It is evident from this passage and others that the woman is not to assume authority over the man. Just as it is men (not women) who are to conduct the worship of the assembly, it is men (not women) who are to conduct the business affairs of the local church.

Where there are elders in the local church, they are to rule; thus they are to make the decisions (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:2). Where there are no elders, business affairs are tended to by the men of the congregation in business meetings. They make the decisions. It is true that women have part in the decisions which have been made by the men. For “ample, in Acts 15 there is the record of the controversy over circumcision; it involved whether or not Gentiles had to be circumcised according to the law of Moses as a condition of their acceptance. The matter was considered by the apostles and elders (men), although the whole church (including women) were in accord with the decision made (Acts 15:22). Actions in the local church which involve such matters as the selection of men for certain work (the seven in Acts 6) and the selection of elders include women. The church is to do the selecting and women are a part of the church (see Acts 6:2, 5), but that men took the lead in these matters is evident (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5).

Women, without doubt, make valuable contributions to the work of the local church. They render services, some of which could not be as efficiently filled by men. There is more work to be done by Christians than public speaking and decision making. Christ is the head of the church, His body (Col. 1:18), and each member (male or female) has his or her function as a part of the body (1 Cor. 12:12-27). Women usually excel as teachers of women and small children. Aged women are instructed to teach younger women (Tit. 2:3-5). Priscilla, with her husband Aquilla, modestly taught Apollos (Acts 18:26). Under such conditions women may teach. The work of widows which would qualify them for support from the church is given in 1 Timothy 5:9-14. The adornment of women is given by Paul. “In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety. . . through good works” (1 Tim. 2:9, 10). Her exemplary conduct has its effect upon others (1 Pet. 3:1, 2). Phoebe was a servant of the church at Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1). Euodia and Syntyche labored with Paul in the gospel (Phil. 4:2). Indeed, there is a great field of work for women. Her participation in the singing and other acts of worship directed by men, means much to the service. Her teaching in her proper sphere, her good deeds, her encouragement, her acts of kindness, hospitality and general humble service in the Lord’s work are all valuable and appreciated. The woman, then should not feel that she is suppressed, dominated, or discriminated against because she is not invited to participate in the business meetings of the church where decisions are made. It is not to be considered an attitude of chauvinism that she is excluded from these meetings, but rather that respect is given to the Scriptures as to the woman’s role and to their silence as to women making decisions for the church. This is not to say that women are not to be considered when it comes to decisions of judgment, even where there are elders. Neither is this to say that women should not be informed of decisions that are made.

There are occasions when the church may meet for a special item of business, such as information about a proposal to purchase land, or to read a letter of withdrawal from some disorderly members (2 Thess. 3:6). Sometimes the worship assembly is dismissed, all the members (including women) are asked to remain and the visitors are granted permission to leave. Women, along with all the other members are informed as to actions that have been taken.

Caution must be exercised, lest little by little, degree by degree, things are allowed to creep in which result in such practices as women chairmen and women preachers. The Christian Church, with her women preachers, did not develop over night. It was gradual in coming. It is so easy for practices and movements in our society to effect the thinking of brethren. The ERA and the women’s liberation movement can very well have their influence upon the church. Again, this is not to say that women who believe they should attend business meetings of the church are necessarily members of these movements, or in sympathy with them. This is simply a word of caution that brethren can be influenced by the thinking of our society without being aware of it. There is so much for women to do, so there is really no reason why they should attend business meetings. It is safe for the men to conduct the business affairs of the church; the Scriptures authorize it. Furthermore, we already have enough issues that divide us without inviting another. A good sister in Christ wrote to me recently stating that a church in California has split over this matter. I am alarmed at some things that are being written in some of the papers. Women lectureships are also giving some of us concern. There are some trends among us that are dangerous, to say the least. They need to be watched carefully. The realm of woman’s subjection is as true in the church as it is in the home (Eph. 5:22, 23). In the home it is the business of the husband to make the decisions, and in the church it is the business of the men to publicly preach and make the decisions. Women, fulfill your God-given role; you will be blessed and your work will be valuable to the cause of Christ.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 23, pp. 714-715
December 5, 1985