Truth Magazine

By Bill Hall

“Do all things without murmurings and questions; that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14, 15).

The Philippian Christians had to serve God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. They were neither the first nor the last to find themselves under such circumstances. In fact, every person who ever served God did so “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,” and so must we.

Surely no-one would question the perverseness of the generation in which we live. We are surrounded by indecency. Moral filth lines the shelves of the neighborhood store and video shop. Drug scandals rock the sports and entertainment worlds. Christians working in factories are exposed to bad language, filthy stories, and rumors of immorality among their fellow employees. Our children attend schools that are filled with wickedness. We are not overstating the case – this is the world as it really is, a crooked and perverse generation indeed.

We face two possible choices as Christians: (1) try to clean up the society in which we live, so that we and our children can serve God without the pressures and evil influences that presently exist. We would not discourage reasonable effort on the part of individual Christians along these lines, but success in any such efforts will be on a small scale. It matters not how hard we work at it, by and large, the world will still be a corrupt world when we die: evil will still exist on TV and in the movies; pornography will still be a problem; corruption will still exist in government; and schools will still have their ungodly influences. Our purpose as Christians is to call people out of darkness through the gospel and into light. We can do that, but efforts to eradicate darkness will for the most part be futile. Fortunately, we have another choice: (2) make up our minds to serve God faithfully in whatever environment we find ourselves. Ths is the only viable choice for the Christian.

It can be done. Consider Noah’s generation when “every imagination of the thoughts of (man’s) heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5); or Lot’s generation when ten righteous souls could not be found in all of Sodom; or Elijah’s generation when wicked Ahab served as king in the wicked nation of Israel; or Daniel’s generation when as a young man he found himself in a foreign land facing pressures to eat the king’s meats and drink his wines (Dan. 1:8); or the apostles’ generation when Rome ruled the world and the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees dominated the religious scene. What were these men doing in such crooked and perverse circumstances? They were serving God! That’s what they were doing! The point is this: if these could serve God in the midst of the crooked and perverse circumstances in which they found themselves, and if the Philippians could shine “as lights in the world” in the midst of their crooked and perverse generation, so can we. Our eternal destiny is not determined by the environment in which we live, but by our own determination to be what we ought to be in whatever environment we find ourselves. We must lay aside our excuses, both for ourselves and our children, and make up our minds to say with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). This we shall do, and with God’s help we shall overcome.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, p. 684
November 21, 1985

By Ron Halbrook

Just as emphatically as unity is pleasant, sin and division among people professing to serve God are unpleasant (Psa. 133:1). Yet, heresy and schism serve the providential purpose of keeping distinct the line God has drawn between righteousness and unrighteousness. “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11:19). When we continue to speak the truth in love, those who love not the truth will manifest themselves by causing “divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” – until finally we must mark and avoid them (Eph. 4:15; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Rom. 16:17-18). Or, they will manifest themselves by initiating a separation so that they can pursue their apostate course without the restraint of truth. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 Jn. 2:19). These principles resulted in a major division over institutionalism during the last 30-40 years.

When men transgress the doctrine of Christ, we cannot aid or abet them in their error (2 Jn. 9-11), but we can and should seek ways to turn them or those deluded by them back to the truth. The end does not justify the means (Rom. 3:8). The evil of compromise as a means to “reach” them makes us guilty of not walking “uprightly according to the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14). We may have legitimate opportunities to teach and reach them when, in the passing of time, their departure from truth produces more and more ungodliness (2 Tim. 3:13). As the apostasy of the last 3040 years has proceeded from bad to worse, some in the liberal camp have cried out against the progression of decay and some have come out of error (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Others will persist in both promoting and protesting liberalism without leaving it.

Christians In All the Sects?

Thinking about these matters which are discussed in the Ephraim’s Idols column, Frank Walton (Rt. 1, Box 233A, Charlotte, TN 37036) sent us some clippings and comments. The Christian Chronicle of March 1984 reported, “A Center for Restoration Studies will be established at Abilene Christian University.” One of the purposes will be to project “Restoration heritage into the mainstream of American scholarly discussion.” Brother Walton observes that increasing consciousness of the “mainstream” of American scholarship and religion was characteristic of the ultra-liberal Disciples of Christ in their historical development. He also noted the March 1984 Action article by Reuel Lemmons on “Keepers of Orthodoxy” which protests “the ultimate in sectarian foolishness – the self assumed claim that we are the only Christians (sic).” Lemmons in his latter years at the helm of the Firm Foundation and more recently in Action has promoted the sectarian foolishness that there are Christians in all the sects. His new paper, Image, will reflect the same image of error.

Brother Walton explains,

I was shocked to read bro. Lemmons’ comments. He has gone so far as to say that we really can’t know right from wrong. Being a Christian is at best a fuzzy concept. Soon there will be a split in the institutional camp as groups drift further apart. I believe that we can reach and teach the truth to some of the more conservative element in the institutional camp as they honestly see the fruit of their digression.

It will take great patience, love, kindness and meekness, but with great, fervent faith it can be done. Many in the institutional camp object to what is going on, but we’re not available and making contact with these alienated brethren beginning to see the light. Let’s pray and work hard to do all we can. Time is short.

As to who is a Christian, it is the man who accepts God’s ace for the pardon of alien sins, and accepts it in God’s ordained way, and no one else! Not just the one who hears the gospel, or believes it, or repents of sinful living, or confesses Christ as God’s Son – but the one who proceeds upon those steps to be immersed in water. That immersion must be upon the authority of Christ, not on denominational authority, and for the remission of sins, not for any other reason. Mark 16:16 shows that scriptural baptism is as essential to salvation from alien sins as faith is. Acts 2:38 shows that scriptural baptism is as necessary as repentance – both looking to the object of the remission of sins. One must be baptized with the understanding of baptism that then, and only then, will his sins be washed away by Christ’s blood – then, and not before then, he will be alive in Christ – then he will be added by God to the undenominational body of Christ, and added to nothing else (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:34, 17-18; 1 Cor. 12:13).

If a man is baptized “to obey God” or for some similar generic reason, or if he is doing it to “join the church of his choice” or some similar sectarian purpose, he is not a Christian. Here, on the purpose of baptism, is where Rubel Shelly in I Just Want to be a Christian and Lemmons in the journals are compromising the conditions of pardon in an effort to broaden the horizons of grace and unity. They have no more right to sacrifice immersion as the procedure of Bible baptism than to sacrifice its purpose. Thomas and Alexander Campbell tried to make some room for the “pious unimmersed” as being Christians among the sects. Do Lemmons and Shelly embrace “the ultimate in sectarian foolishness – the self assumed claim that the immersed are the only Christians???” Another way these men broaden the lines of unity is by claiming God’s grace asper 1 John 1:7 covers “Christians among the sects” who sin by involvement with sectarian names, worship, and organization. Such “sectarian foolishness” makes John contradict himself in 2 John 9-11.

Brother Walton is right about “a split in the institutional camp.” There is a large number of well known preachers in the institutional camp who will not go with Lemmons and Shelly. We should do all we can in the good spirit suggested by brother Walton to persuade such brethren to see that their present woes are the result of their institutional theories which undermine the Bible as a perfect and final pattern of true Christianity.

Moderate vs. Mainstream Movement

Occasionally, someone wonders if the pains of the progressive cancer of liberalism will result in a general movement among those moderately infected toward repentance and reapproachment with faithful brethren. History says, “no. ” The moderates today are not a bit more upset than were the moderates 100 years ago. The December 1869 Prospectus of The Apostolic Times promised “the propagation and defense of the Gospel as it came pure from the lips of Christ and of the Apostles” without “even the semblance of a compromise. ” No more powerful and popular men could have been grouped together as Editors: Moses E. Lard, Robert Graham, Winthrop H. Hopson Lanceford B. Wilkes, and John W. McGarvey. Within two years there were about 5,000 subscribers.

But by 1885 the momentum was lost and another effort was made under the name The Gospel Guide. With sadness, David Lipscomb observed in 1889,

Bro. McGarvey retires from the Guide, as exegetical editor. This takes the last of the conservative element from the Guide. The Times was started specifically by Hopson, Lard, McGarvey, Wilkes and Graham, to steer a middle course, between the latitudinarianism course of the [Christian] Standard and the course of the [Gospel Advocate in adhering firmly to the scripture precedents in work as well as worship. They supported the societies, but opposed the organ. They would depart from apostolic precept and example in the work and order of the church so far as the pastor distinct from the eldership is concerned, but would in the worship so far as the organ is concerned adhere to the scriptures. The position is an illogical one, and cannot be maintained. When we take the liberty to set aside the Divine order as developed in the precepts and examples of the inspired men, in one point, we license and invite others to do it in any and all other points they wish.

This end shows the impossibility of compromising principles. No paper ever started among us with such an array of popular talent as did the Times. . . . Their labor, the paper they built up has been turned to destroy that which they brought to their work, they have acted simply as a rear-guard to protect the army they aimed to oppose (“Resignation,” Gospel Advocate, 17 July 1889, p. 459).

Today papers such as The Spiritual Sword published by the Getwell Church of Christ in Memphis, TN, Ira Rice’s Contending for the Faith, and The Restorer edited by Gary Workman are filling a role much like that of The Apostolic Times. Some fine principles are stated and needed protests uttered, but these brethren are tangled up in hopeless contradictions of their own teaching. They approve some church sponsored social activities and disapprove others, accept some institutional schemes and attack others. They are the rear-guard of the institutional camp. They help to keep people in that camp who otherwise might be shocked enough to leave.

The ultra-liberalism which became pronounced in the 1880s-90s resulted in the formation of the North American Christian Convention during 1926-27 as a forum for the moderates, and formal division occurred with the liberals’ Restructure movement in 1968. Our moderates today speak more and more of “a growing chasm in our beloved brotherhood” (Contending for the Faith, Feb. 1985, p. 13) and “the threat of yet another division” (Gospel Advocate, 16 May 1985, p. 299). When and how remain to be seen. Meanwhile, let us labor to save as many as we can.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, pp. 685-686
November 21, 1985

By Mike Willis

Recently I watched a thirty-minute Jimmy Swaggert broadcast. Swaggert preached a typical Pentecostal sermon in which he stated that anyone who had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit had not been born again and was lost. In trying to persuade people to accept what he was preaching, he described the typical person who becomes dissatisfied with his religion and finds answers in Pentecostalism. Such a person goes to a church which is dead and unemotional; the members sleep through the services; the singing is dragged to death; the services are dull and boring. The spiritual needs of the members are not met. They begin to look elsewhere and are attracted to Pentecostalism.

Pentecostalism is a false religion. Its doctrines are not found in the word of God. Its emphasis on subjective emotionalism as a testimony of salvation (“I know I am saved because I feel so good”) establishes man as the standard of authority rather than God.

However, I am afraid that we are preparing the soil for the planting of sectarian Pentecostalism by some of the things which are happening in many churches among us. We need to feed the souls of men. That means that the gospel involves that which satisfies the mind, the heart, the soul, and the strength of man. Sometimes our services do not leave men satisfied because part of man’s nature remains unnourished. Because these needs are not met, members of the church look with longing eyes into Pentecostalism or other forms of sectarian denominationalism.

Things Which Cause Members To Look Somewhere Else

I would like to suggest some things which might cause members to look somewhere else to find spiritual satisfaction. Perhaps my observations are too subjective and others would disagree with them. These are but one man’s expression of concern.

1. Lifeless members. Many assemblies are attended by corpses the body is present but the spirit is somewhere else. You can perceive this because of the glaring look in the eyes. While the sermon is being preached, these members sit in a daze with their minds somewhere else. They drag themselves to services, frequently just once a week, and have little or no commitment to what is being done in the congregation.

2. Unemotional services. The services in many congregations leave one emotionally drained; they do not build up the Christian so that he will convert someone to Christ.

I have not attended a congregation in the last decade where one freely said “Amen” when he heard something in the sermon with which he agreed. We have created an atmosphere in our worship where the audience is observing rather than participating in the sermon. The result is that preaching is viewed as a performance by many rather than something designed to bring about change in life.

The sermons themselves are sometimes dry. Sometimes a sermon from an outline book is lifted on Saturday night and a canned lesson is presented. Without having applied himself to the lesson the preacher does not touch the hearts of those in attendance. Too many preachers have become lecturers who present the facts without the least indication that their hearts are touched by the facts. One does not see a burning fire within them which must speak because of their deep convictions. There is no urgency to act upon what is preached. The pulpit is dry which never has a preacher who emphatically makes his point and calls on the audience to respond to what has been preached.

Sometimes the matters are made even worse by preachers who preach their doubts rather than what they know. Such sermons leave the audience in a state of doubt and uncertainty. We have not been sent by God to preach our doubts; we have been sent to preach the Gospel – the Lord’s good news.

The prayers sometimes have little input from the one leading them. A standard prayer using repeated phrases such as the following is prayed:

“We pray for the sick the world over and especially of the household of faith.”

“Give the preacher a ready recollection of the things which he has prepared.”

“Be with us as we go to our places of abode.”

I am not trying to poke fun at anyone who leads prayer; I do not want to discourage any young Christian from growing in this area. Each of the things mentioned is a legitimate thing to pray about and can be expressed in the very words cited. However, our prayers need to reflect the intensity of our feelings on various subjects. They need to be the outpouring of our hearts to God. Sometimes I get the impression that we have a ritualistic prayer that we say rather than opening and baring our souls before God.

The singing is sometimes laborious. Everybody who thinks he can sing is encouraged to lead singing. I recognize that we need to develop talents and do not want to discourage anyone who is trying to improve himself in this area. However, the overall impact of the worship on the local church must also be considered. Song leaders who consistently pitch the songs so low no one can sing, who drag the songs, who never try to introduce new songs to the church, and who give no thought to what they are going to lead until they get to the building make this part of our worship uninspiring. Members who will not sing also discourage us during worship. Some never open a book and others who open a book never open their mouths. The singing in many churches is discouraging, not inspiring.

The Lord’s supper is commemorated with little emotion. In many congregations practically nothing is said before the emblems are passed. If something is said, it generally pertains to Bible authority to take the Lord’s supper every first day of the week. Surely our hearts would be better prepared to commemorate the death of the Lord if the man presiding at the table would remind us of Jesus’ love for us, the agonies of His death, His example, and other aspects of Jesus’ life to call our hearts back to Calvary.

The announcements sometimes leave a lot to be desired. ,An announcement of the birth of a new child and the death of an aged saint are sometimes made with no distinction in emotion; the man making the announcements is stoical. Surely these areas can be improved.

3. Lack of growth. Many churches are not growing. In some areas, we are actually losing members instead of gaining them. I recognize that not all spiritual growth is numerical and sometimes no baptisms occur despite the genuine efforts of consecrated Christians. However, too many churches are not growing because they are not working. Few home Bible studies are in progress; few efforts to reach those in the world are being made. We have contented ourselves with two meetings a year, a church bulletin which is generally circulated among faithful Christians throughout the United States, a radio program, and Bible classes. Consecrated efforts to make contact with and teach non-Christians are rare.

4. Internal fussing and bickering. In addition to lack of growth, the local church is frequently troubled by internal fighting. Gossip, slander, whispering, jealousy, envy, and such like works of the flesh are all too common. In some congregations, the preacher is the chief culprit. Those who cross the preacher can be guaranteed that their reputations will be attacked and assaulted. Some preachers are known for sticking their noses in other people’s business and then writing letters all over the country to maliciously destroy another’s reputation. Perhaps the adage, “A kicking mule cannot plow and a plowing mule cannot kick,” is especially applicable at this point. Churches which are busy working have fewer problems than those which are doing nothing. Who has not been discouraged by these kinds of internal problems?

These problems create a feeling of dissatisfaction among members. Who should be satisfied when these problems exist? These are the things which prepare the hearts of men for the reception of sectarianism.

The Solution

Is sectarianism the solution? Absolutely not. Teaching the false doctrines of sectarianism will not solve the problems of the works of the flesh, the spiritual deadness in some members, and any other problem. One’s problems will only be increased by adding the burden of false doctrines!

The solution is a revival. We must bring those dead members back to life through repentance; we must rekindle the smoking flame of some members who are nearly dead. Our zeal must be awakened.

Members are going to have to start thinking more about God and less about sports, television, material possessions, fashions, and any other thing which is rooting out God. Members are going to have to give more time to prayer, Bible study, serving their fellow man, and other works. When these things begin to occur, there will be an excitement and zeal about the worship and work of the local church. Let each of us work and pray for this spiritual revival.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 23, pp. 706, 726
December 5, 1985

By Dennis Abernathy

As we look around us today we see disobedience on every hand. With many, obedience seems to be a thing of the past. Disobedience is in evidence in homes, in the schools, with regard to the civil authorities, and even in the church of our Lord. It may help to read such passages as Ephesians 6:1-3; Romans 13:1-7 and Hebrews 13:17.

In Hebrews 5:8-9, the Hebrew writer says that “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Salvation, then, is predicated on obedience. One must obey God; i.e., do His will. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Let us now notice five ways in which man disobeys God.

1. We may do what He has forbidden us to do. Adam and Eve were guilty of this very thing. “And the woman said unto the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Gen. 3:2-3). Adam and Eve knew God’s will in this regard (Eve stated it to the serpent), but being deceived through the serpent’s lie, they did what God had forbidden them to do. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (v. 6).

Another clear case of doing that which God has forbidden is that of Lot’s wife. God’s instructions are given plainly in Genesis 19:17. “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said: escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” In verses 24-26 we read: “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Jesus said in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” She therefore become a monument of warning for all time concerning doing that which God has forbidden.

Shall we leave out Jeroboam as another example of this particular kind of disobedience? Read 1 Kings 12:25-33. We have the kingdom dividing with the two tribes staying with Rehoboam, and thereafter being referred to as Judah and the ten tribes going away with Jeroboam and being referred to as Israel. Jeroboam knew what God required of His people concerning their religious activity and the feasts and festivals that were to take place at Jerusalem. He felt that if the people were to go back up to Jerusalem to do sacrifice that they would be influenced to stay with Rehoboam, so he devised a wicked plan clearly involving things which God had forbidden! He set up idols (golden calves), making the same claim for them that Aaron had made for the golden calf at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 32:4). “Behold, thy gods, 0 Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (v. 28). He played upon the longing of the people for convenience by saying, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem” (v. 28).

God had forbidden idols, and they were to worship in Jerusalem in the temple. The priests were to come from the tribe of Levi and they were to make their offerings on the altar God had erected, and observe the feast days which God had set up. But Jeroboam changed everything! Just here, it would be well for you to read 2 Chronicles 11:13-17. The tribe of Levi had rebelled against the House of David with Jeroboam, but when he devised his own system of religion, and the Levites were rejected and cast out, they returned to Rehoboam and Judah.

As you read this account of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12, notice the phrases: “He set,” “he made,” “he offered,””so did he,” “he placed,” “which he had made,” “he ordained,” “which he had devised of his own heart.” But God said, “and this thing became a sin. . . ” (v. 30).

One last example will suffice. The young prophet we read of in 2 Kings 13 disobeyed God by doing what God forbade him to do. They both did what God said not to do and they were punished for it. When God directs us and forbids us to do a certain thing, we peril our very souls when we do it. Brethren, take heed!

2. We may refuse or fail to do what he has commanded. Jonah is guilty of this very thing – at least the first time the Lord appeared to him. In Jonah 1:1-3, we read: “‘And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” At this point, God clearly outlined to the prophet Jonah what He wanted him to do. But Jonah refused to do it! God said go one way and Jonah went the other. He disobeyed God! You know what happened to Jonah, and so after his experience in the belly of the great fish, God came to Him a second time. God’s instruction was the same as it was at the first, but this time the Bible says “. . . Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. . .” (Jon. 3:3).

Friend, Jonah refused to do what he was commanded, because he did not like the mission he was given. He did not want the Assyrians spared, and he knew that if they heeded his preaching that God would spare them (read 4:1-3). Will we be guilty of refusing to do what God says because we do not like what He tells us to do? Remember Jonah. He had to learn some very valuable lessons and the learning process was not too easy for him.

One more example will be enough on this point. Read I Samuel 15. This is the account of Saul and God’s instructions to him concerning the Amalekites. God’s instructions were clearly outlined to Saul. “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (v. 3). But in verse 9, we see Saul refusing to do what God had commanded! “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. . . . ” Saul was disobedient to the Lord and his trying to “pass the buck” didn’t help him one bit. The Lord accepts no excuses or alibis for disobedience. Some may reason that it is alright to do “part” of what God says, or refuse or fail to do what He says as long as the failure is well intentioned, i.e. “to offer sacrifice.” But what does God say? “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. . . ” (v. 11) Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king” (w. 22-23). When we fail to do what God has commanded, He sees us as stubborn and rebellious!

Now, let us read 1 John 2:3-6 – “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. ” That one who claims fellowship with God while refusing to do His will is characterized as a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” That one who claims fellowship with God while refusing to do His will is characterized as a liar! It is one thing to “claim” to know God and another thing altogether to actually know Him. Paul writes of those who “profess that they know God; but by their works they deny Him. . . ” (Tit. 1: 16).

With these things in mind, does one know God or is he found a liar with regard to the following:

(1) God commands us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25). But I refuse to obey that command, while claiming fellowship with Him.

(2) Christians are commanded to be modest in their dress (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Rather than obey this command of God I conform to the standards of styles of this world. Does God hear my affirmations of “knowing Him” when He can see that I am a “liar” due to my rebellion?

(3) God commands people to be baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16). Can one “know” God and claim to love Him and be closely acquainted with Him and rebel against this plain command? Will sincerity and good intentions be enough?

(4) God commands that we sing in worship to Him (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). What about one who refuses to obey and adds mechanical instruments? Does he know God? Are his claims found to be false?

When we refuse to obey God’s commands, we become stubborn and rebellious people! We turn our backs upon God and regardless of all of the claims to the contrary, our profession of fellowship with God becomes a lie!

3. One may add to His word The Bible is filled with warnings about adding to the words and commandments of God. We put our souls in jeopardy when we presume to add to the Word of the Almighty.

In Deuteronomy 4:2, Moses said: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you. . . that ye may keep the commandments of the’Lord your God which I command you.” The only way to keep the commandments of the Lord is to do it exactly. When we add our “think-so’s” and presumptions, when we apply our own human wisdom to the matter we wind up not keeping the commandments of the Lord at all! Moses states again in 12:32: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto. . . . ” I can well remember my mother telling me as a child: “When I tell you to do something, I mean do it!” I knew what that meant, and we had better understand this truth with regard to God’s law as well.

Joshua, who took over as leader for God’s people after Moses, reiterates the same thing when he says in Joshua 1:7: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee, turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” Emphasis is placed upon “all” the law “commanded” thee. He did not say “part” of the law, neither did he say some “additional” laws. In other words, if you want to prosper, do not deviate from My law! True wisdom dictates that we “add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:6). Any person who adds to the word of God and claims God’s approval in doing so, is found to be a liar.

Two passages from the New Testament will suffice on this point. In 2 John 9, we read: “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” When one “goes too far” he “does not abide” in the Lord’s teaching. To add to the Word of the Lord is to go too far, and thus one is guilty of not abiding in His teaching and loses God! That person who abides in the teaching of Christ is one who veers neither to the right nor the left of it. He does not add anything to it. He regards it as God’s complete and sufficient standard insofar as his life is concerned. Adding to the Word of God is serious business and results in the loss of God Himself.

In Revelation 22:18 we find the following words: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things. God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” What book in all of the Bible has been more abused than has the book of Revelation? Men have added this and that — speculation upon speculation — all without any proof whatsoever. Friend, be warned. The same principle that applies to the Revelation letter applies to any other part of God’s word. Take heed. God warns!

May we never be guilty of adding to the word of God. Accept it as it is, “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). Any who seek to add the doctrines of men or feign some new latter-day revelation stand condemned of God and cursed in His sight.

4. One may take from His word. In Deuteronomy 4:2, Moses said: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. ” Then in Revelation 22:19, we read: “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” The prophet Jeremiah echoed the same sentiment: “. . . all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word” (Jer. 26:2).

Our obedience to God must be complete. God will never accept a partial obedience. We need not think that we can please God by altering, mutilating, adding to, or substracting from His will. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Doing the will involves all of the will. Paul said: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Paul understood that nothing was to be taken away or substracted from God’s word. He stated in Acts 20:20: “. . . I kept back nothing that was helpful. . . . ” Friend, let us learn when we take anything away from the revealed will of God we sin!

5. One may substitutefor God’s word. The classic example of this would be Aaron’s two boys, Nadab and Abihu. This is found in Leviticus 10:1-2. They “offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not.” Just exactly what was involved in this violation, I’m not definitely sure. Perhaps it was taking the fire from the wrong place (16:12) or maybe it involved the incense also (Ex. 30:9). But one thing I do know. Nadab and Abihu did that “which he commanded them not. ” We learn that “fire is not fire” when the Lord has specified a certain thing. We do not hastily offer just any kind of service and expect the Lord to accept it, for He will not! He did not then and He will not today.

Other examples could be cited, such as David transporting the ark and Uzzah touching it and losing his life because of it. Substitution is certainly involved here for the things and ways of God (read 1 Chron. 13; 15:13; Num. 4:15; Exo. 25:14-15). Also the account of Naaman the leper, who when told to dip seven times in the river Jordan became wroth and thought to substitute two others rivers that he surmised “would do just as well.” Had he not gotten over his anger and listened to reason and finally obeyed the commands of God, he would have forever remained a leper. Listen friend, it is no small thing to substitute for God’s word.

Brethren, look around you today. Churches are substituting for God’s word in every realm; substituting human institutions for God’s divine institution, the church, substituting the patterns of men for God’s pattern revealed in His will, corrupting His worship by substituting the things of men for the simple worship outlined in His Holy will (Matt. 15:8-9). The organization of our Savior’s church is prostrated before the world because ungodly men who have no respect for His way have substituted their own organizational structures for His. I can assure you brethren, a day of reckoning is surely coming, and what a sad day it will be for those who would tamper with God’s will.

We must never disobey God in any of these five ways. God is dear to us and very good to us, but He demands that we obey Him in all things (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9). Honesty and sincerity are honorable and necessary, but they alone are not enough, without obedience. God does not “wink at ignorance” no matter how sincere one may be (Acts 17:30). We must know God’s will and we must do God’s will.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, pp. 682-683, 692
November 21, 1985