Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

There were three reactions to the gospel following Paul’s discourse in Acts 17. “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. . . . Howbeit certain men . . . believed” (Acts 17:32-34). Let us examine these responses.

(1) “Some mocked.” One ordinarily does not mock a thing unless he believes it to be ludicrous, ridiculous and incredible (cf. Acts 25:19; 26:8). This is probably the view of Paul’s audience (Acts 17:18). Their mocking, though, showed their failure to consider the evidence that had been presented. The apostle did not simply say that a man named Jesus died and arose. He outlined a basis for belief.

Occasionally, one will mock that which he inwardly fears may be right. Feeling the force of a position unable to overthrow the weight of proof, one may resort to ridicule in order to direct attention from truth. Have you never felt the blows of logic and reason, and, seeing your stance eroded, attempted to regain your place by lashing out emotionally? Perhaps that is why “some mocked” in Athens. Do not be overly discouraged at such a reaction. Some can still be reached and won (Acts 5:17,18,40; 6:7).

(2) “Others said, we will bear thee again.” They were not quite convinced and converted. Shaken, but not toppled; staggered but not fallen-almost persuaded. There is hope for such souls. This seems to have been the status of certain ones in Antioch (Acts 13:42,43). This condition is fragile. It can go either way. If truth has made a dent or crack in the armor of their error, they must not be neglected or ignored. They must be given time to think, to ponder, to pray, but do not let them drift and be hardened. It is a delicate time. Judgment, discretion and patience are essential. Ask for questions. Set another appointment and encourage them (Acts 13:42,43).

Sometimes people will say “We will hear thee again,” just to be polite. In other words, “I’m not impressed; maybe some other time (never).” There is not much hope for such people. It would be better if they were extremely angry!

(3) “Certain men . . . believed.” This is the reaction all speakers seek. It is the climax to evidence presented. Jesus said, “Every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me” (Jn. 6:45). Note the action verbs — “heard, learned, cometh.” Next, observe the order in which they are listed. It cannot be otherwise.

What swayed and persuaded these men? It was not Paul’s eloquence and personal attractiveness. It was not a popular position where men jump on an emotional bandwagon. It was not a grand display of human intelligence and ingenuity. What, then? It was the barrenness and weakness of idolatry-of their gods, their righteousness, their grace, their hope-all devoid of eternal power, purity and promise. The glorious gospel of goodness, on the other hand, fulfills the enduring needs, calms the awesome fears, and forgives the condemning sins of all men. They heard a message that would not leave them enslaved in guilt and burdened with human ordinances that provided no satisfaction to the flesh or spirit. They saw a God whose gospel would not lead them in chains to the dark and endless bed of the grave.

They heard; they believed; dost thou believe?

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, p. 498
August 15, 1985

By Bill Cavender

Dear Brethren ________ and _________,

Your letters to me, which were published in the 4 July 1985 issue of Guardian of Truth, were greatly appreciated. Thank you for “pressing your thoughts and conveying some of your problems to me. Many of the events and problems in your lives at this time are common to most young preachers and, in fact, to older ones as well, in many cases. All too often older people turn a deaf ear to the thoughts of the young, and older brethren are many times far too prone to dismiss, without consideration, the problems, hurts, feelings, discouragements, temptations and judgments of younger brethren and preachers. We all have a great deal to learn from each other-if we will listen. Churches and families have been greatly hurt at times because a “generation gap” and a “communication gap” were allowed to develop between older and younger brethren, and between parents and their children. Several years ago, I was in a meeting with a church where some excellent and talented younger men were appealing to the elders for training classes, for special Bible classes to study various topics, and for opportunities to use their talents and to be teachers of classes, and to do some preaching when the local preacher was away. The elders turned a deaf ear to these appeals; the preacher was evidently too lazy or unconcerned to work with these young men as he was involved in secular projects of his own, and frustration and discouragement resulted. After a while there was a division in that congregation and over half the church left, began meeting separately, and have grown in number and in spirituality. My impressions were and my opinion is that the elders simply did not know how to lead people in Christ, how to use and develop the talents of souls entrusted to their care and oversight, and how to listen to others, especially younger people, and profit by what they might say.

Being well over twenty-five years older than both of you and the father of four grown sons (three married, one still single), and the grandfather of three grandchildren, I have found that some of the best lessons I have learned in more recent years have been from my own sons, as well as from other young people whom I have met and worked with in local church work and in my travels in meeting work. I find, and have found, many, many upright, excellent, noble young people and young families, in all parts of the country, who are intent on living soberly, righteously and godly in this present world and in serving God in their homes, work and/or businesses, and professions. I only wish there were more of such young people than there are. Yet all these young people, even though not preachers as such, are having problems similar to yours and oftentimes are having difficulties in finding their places and work in God’s kingdom where they can serve well, develop themselves spiritually, and be happy as Christians.

“There is no age . . . in which people . . . do not have their hurts and heartaches, problems and perplexities . . . All of us have to learn to trust in God (Prov. 3:5-6), press on, walk by faith, deal with our problems and set-backs and successes as best we can . . . do(ing) our best to serve God and be faithful to Him as His children in His kingdom. . . .”

Our younger brethren have come up in difficult times. An almost completely materialistic society,- an emphasis on things which money can buy as a means to happiness, rather than contentment of heart and peace of mind by doing God’s will; a “sexual revolution” in which nudity, immorality, pre-marital sex, extra-martial sex, so-called situation ethics and homosexuality are condoned, winked-at and glorified as being acceptable and proper behavior in the sight of God and man, in opposition to the purity, virtue, modesty, decency and lifetime commitment in marriage which God’s word teaches; wars, hatreds, genocides, mass killings of the unborn through abortions; strains and stresses between nations and individuals instead of peace and love of our fellow human beings; lying, hypocrisy, dishonesty and political chicanery in high places have caused deep, widespread doubt, distrust, and disillusionment with the very foundations of orderly society, law and government; major and steady increases in crime and violence have made many despair of their basic rights to life, liberty, happiness and ownership of property; education which is skeptical, humanistic and godless, debasing humans made in God’s image to descendants and offspring of animals; glorifying science and human wisdom as the answers to our needs and leaving the masses and multitudes without a knowledge of God and without a conscience against evil; these, and other components of this present evil world (Gal. 1:4; Tit. 2:11-12), have caused the young to doubt, to waste their precious, God-given lives in futility and vanity, and to have no certain objectives and goals in life.

Besides those conditions and circumstances without, have been the conditions within the kingdom of Christ which have been so hurtful and so far-reaching in their disastrous results. Youngsters of my own children’s ages have been subject to all the problems, heartaches, stresses and divisions which occurred among the brethren-and are often still occurring (sometimes foolishly and needlessly). The terrible tragedies of the forties, fifties and even into the sixties, of divisions in the churches over institutionalism, centralization of power and money in certain churches and elders, liberalism in doctrine and a spirit of apology toward err; all the ostracisms, strifes, alienations, broken friendships and fellowships, divided friends and families; the present, continual tendency and drift of liberal, institutional churches to become more liberal in doctrine and practice, and modernistic in attitude toward God’s word, and more friendly to and closely associated with denominations, especially the Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ; the drift of “conservative,” “faithful” churches into a shell of isolation and opinionism, magnifying opinions and so-called “conscientious scruples” into doctrine and matters of the faith with all their resulting suspicions, arguments, divisiveness and alienations; worldiness (social drinking, dancing, mixed swimming, filthy movies and television, immodest and indecent dress, etc.), and indifference, a lack of real concern for lost souls and a lack of sincere spirituality, dominate in many “faithful” churches; a lack of high-quality, scripturally qualified leadership in elders, deacons, and preachers, and real work and aggressiveness to save souls; all these and many other internal factors have been discouraging to young people and many have not obeyed the gospel or have become unfaithful to Christ, skeptical, and even doubting the worth of salvation, the church, and of worship of God and work in His kingdom. Young people have told me various times of a “double standard” they see: piety and sincerity at the meetinghouse, but worldiness and inconsistent conduct and language at home among their parents and among older brethren; admonitions, warnings and even dis-fellowship of some brethren by elders and preachers, yet others go freely on in unfaithfulness and indifference with never a reprimand; use of some people in public services and class teaching whose habits and conduct are questionable, yet refusal to use others at all because of some fault or weakness they might have; a double standard in preaching where we preachers really “bear down” on some subjects but ignore sins and subjects which are equally as prevalent and damning.

I write all the above, brethren, to let you know that I think I am somewhat aware of the thinking and problems of young people, the perplexities of the times in which we are living, and the difficulties you face. Many of the afore-mentioned matters are, in my judgment, the reasons why we think as we think and do as we do, but it is still forever true that “the way of a man is not in himself.- it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23) and that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain ” (1 Cor. 3:18-20). We all must realize that all people in all places in every generation have had their hard times, and difficulties and discouragements of those times. The Bible is God’s history of men and women as they lived their fives before Him, striving against sin (some of them), and learning to live by faith and in righteousness in the midst of a sin-cursed world. We have never encountered many of the hindrances faced and conquered by our brethren who walked by faith in the olden days (Heb. 11:1-40). We have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin, that I know of (Heb. 12:4). Those preachers and brethren of my generation and age had the great depression, lack of material goods (my father never owned a car in all my growing-up years), hard work with little income, fears among nations resulting in World War II (with the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito, Stalin, etc.), military service, trying to get a bit of education, etc. Within the churches of our Lord (I was a Methodist until February, 1946) were the gigantic errors of premillennialism, and then the rise of institutionalism, and centralization of money, power, planning and oversight into the hands of a few powerful churches, elderships and institutions. There is no age, generation or time in which people, in the church and out, do not have their hurts and heartaches, problems and perplexities, and great discouragements and decisions. All of us have to learn to trust in God (Prov. 3:5-6), press on, walk by faith, deal with our problems and set-backs and successes as best we can, and keep on doing our best to serve God and be faithful to Him as His children in His kingdom (Heb. 12:28). To walk by faith is to keep on keeping on and not shrink back to perdition (Heb. 10:32-39).

Your plans for education, financial self-sufficiency, to make your own way without support and wages from brethren if need be, to preach regardless, and to prepare for service as elders are worthy goals you have set for yourselves. I hope you will persevere. I pray God will bless you and will attain that for which you strive, in harmony with God’s revealed will and by His good providential care for His children. But do not be overly disappointed nor discouraged if you see your life slipping away and some of your goals, plans and hopes remaining unfulfilled and unrealized. One lifetime in this world, be it threescore or fourscore years (Psa. 90:9-10; Gen. 47:7-10), is not time enough to go in many directions and to become proficient in many things. Those who do the best work, in the over-all view, in God’s kingdom as teachers, preachers, elders and Christians, are those who begin early and young in their years and pursue their service to God all their days, not turning to the right hand nor to the left. Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “give thyself wholly to them ” (1 Tim. 4:15, please read the context of 1 Tim. 4:6-16), is excellent inspired teaching, wisdom and advice.

I think all preachers, especially young preachers, when they experience the initial hurts and heartaches of preaching, when they are mistreated by either malicious or unthinking brethren, when they are opposed or ignored instead of helped and encouraged, think in the same ways that I know I did, and that many of my closest preacher friends did. As a young preacher I also had hurts and heartaches, disappointments, oppositions and discouragements (and still do at times), and I saw the inconsistencies and hypocrisies in many brethren and how they deal with preachers, and I saw many who didn’t seem to understand or even care. So I determined, as a young preacher, to get some education, teach school, own my own home and a little farm, live in one area all my life, not subject my children to moving about, teaching and preaching God’s word wherever I could, and being a preacher-elder among people I would live with and know all my life. But it didn’t work that way. I received some education (I could stand a lot more I think), never owned a farm, owned one home briefly, never lived in one area all my life, did subject my children to moving about, and have never worked with and known the same people all my adult life. Instead I’ve lived to see that God had other plans for me and that it would not have been best for me or my family had I done what I thought in my early years. I have been enabled to do more work in Christ’s kingdom, more preaching and have more influence for good (I hope) than if the plans of my early years had been fulfilled. You men are both young in years, having your children, and still finding your ways along through life and in the church. You will change your minds and your plans many times in the next ten, twenty and thirty years, if you live. Some ideas, ideals and convictions will be changed as you live and learn from life and from the word of God. The years change and temper us quite a bit, helping us by our experiences and knowledge of God’s will, to sort out, add, eliminate and change things of more or lesser importance to us in our quest for eternal life, and in the rearing of our children and our building of a good family life and marital relationship.

I appreciate your love for the truth of God, for the church of Christ, and for the souls of the lost. Your willingness to preach the gospel and work where you can, in the cities, in the country, in the towns and villages of the world, is most commendable. My first years of preaching were in the small areas and places, in the country and in the villages, and since then, in an instance or two, in the cities. Meeting work has carried me over most of the USA and into one foreign country on two occasions. I still love to go back to the rural, country, small town places and churches. My roots and raising were there. I suppose I will ever be a small town, country person at heart. I have always held meetings on a “first-come, first-served” basis, regardless of the largeness or smallness of a congregation. I believe preachers ought to help, work and teach wherever they can. What you have to say about older, more experienced preachers going out into the “boondocks” and young men like you working with strong churches and elderships has much merit. I hope to discuss that matter in a later article in this series of “letters” to both of you. Faithfully yours in Christ, Bill Cavender.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, pp. 488-489, 499
August 15, 1985

By S. Leonard Tyler

We seem to listen at times with a corrective, critical, or belittling attitude rather than a seeking, learning, admiring, and appreciative disposition. Criticism has her rightful place in studying God’s word. But criticism does not stand at the top of the ladder. It is not the most valued asset in teaching or learning.

Faults must be willingly corrected by the person committing them. You and I (if we are not the guilty party) should strive diligently, tenderly, patiently, and prayerfully to help the stumbling one understand his or her blunder that correction may be made voluntarily to regain the footing and to be more perfectly informed.

We must refrain from exhibiting “the judge of all spirits” attitude or making a special display of our great wisdom. Humility is still a characteristic quality of a Christian. Wisdom is manifested not only in a demonstration of how much one knows and how confident one is in it. It is also demonstrated in consideration and true concern for truth, for the person involved, and for the situational environment or circumstances involved in the problem. The person we wish to criticize is trying even though he blundered, so let’s help him rather than belittle him.

May God help all of us (for we so much need it) to be interested in being right-truthfully right-and to remember the purpose in helping others is to encourage them to understand wherein the error is made and how to correct it for good We should never assume the mistake to be intentional nor fall into a soft, compromising attitude to by-pass the firmness of right. We must restrain ourselves from exhibiting an opinionated or self-centered disposition. Let’s cultivate more consideration and love for God, truth, righteousness, and those involved in problems-the stumblers, the erring. Then be sure that our efforts are to help restore the fallen, to encourage the erring to regain the right position, and to strengthen the weak. Now we will be able to lovingly approach the task. I believe, if each of us will manifest this attitude, we will accomplish more, be happier and more content in life, and become a living example to others. We shall prove our honest desire in serving God first and in casting the beam out of our own eye, and then tenderly working to help remove the mote from our brother’s life.

We must never forget that we are all in this together, seeking eternal salvation. We need all the help we can get, as well as offering help. We must graciously and thankfully receive the help offered and, in turn, unselfishly give liberally of what we have with grace.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver. But he who receives graciously with no feeling of humiliation and who shows appreciation for whatever criticism others offer (even though it appears to be wrapped carefully in false evaluation) may indeed make the greatest gift of all to those in need of a stable, mature Christian to sustain them. In other words, our attitude in receiving criticism may actually help the critic.

If we really want to prove ourselves true, we must be mature and stable enough to maintain a righteous disposition in the face of criticism, temptation, trials, and opposition of all sorts regardless of origin, purpose, and manner of appearance (Matt. 5:10-12; Rom. 12:17-18; Jas. 1:12). Keep thyself right by being right in desire, love, purpose, and above all in practice. In so doing, you shall prove yourself a true child of God-fit for the Master’s use. Indeed, you will be a vessel of honor with a definite place in the kingdom of God (2 Tim. 2:21-22).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, p. 486
August 15, 1985

By Robert F. Turner

Substitution is a truly basic principle of Christianity, despite the fact that many erroneous theories have been spawned by this concept. The “imputation” of Adam’s guilt to all mankind is one such error; and following close on its heels is the colorful but equally fallacious idea that Christ’s personal righteousness (His “perfect obedience”) is imputed to the saints. We need not adopt either of these concepts to appreciate substitution as taught in the Scriptures. If we allow misuse of the idea to blind us to its proper place in the scheme of redemption, we will deprive ourselves of rich and profitable material.

Isaiah 53 is a prophet’s revelation of the principle. “He hath born our griefs . . . he was wounded for our transgressions . . . with his stripes we are healed.” “Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ” Acts 8:32-35 tells us “He” is Jesus the Christ. Read the Isaiah chapter carefully, noting the many contrasts, and remember, you and I did the sinning, but He paid the price in our stead.

Justice demands, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4). Abel’s offering of the firstlings of his flock (Gen. 4) is our first inkling that God would accept the life of an animal as a (typical) substitute for the life of the sinner. (We are discounting as fanciful and unsubstantiated the idea that God taught animal sacrifice when He made Adam and Eve’s clothing from skins of animals [Gen. 3:21].) Then Noah was told to take seven pairs of “clean” beasts into the ark, some of which were offered upon an altar when the flood was over (Gen. 8:20). Men were not to eat blood (Gen. 9:4), and the religious significance of this prohibition is established clearly in Leviticus, where we are told “the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls” (17:10-12).

Abraham’s use of blood sacrifice upon an altar (Gen. 12:f) is ample proof that this ceremonial significance existed long before the Law given through Moses. But in Judaism the concept is expanded. Greater attention is given to the necessary perfection of the offering, “without spot or blemish” (Lev. 22:19f). Moses once offered himself as an atonement for the people, but God rejected the offer, saying, “Whosoever hath sinned . . . him will I blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:30f). Moses needed to make offerings for his own sins; he was not a fit offering for the sins of others.

In later Judaism the prophets’ rebuke of the priests for offering polluted bread and blind sacrifices is occasion for an additional thought. Isaiah says it is not the offering itself that satisfied Jehovah. Multitudes of sacrifices may be “vain oblations” if there is no giving of the heart (1:11-17). Malachi says the corrupted offerings show contempt for Jehovah (1:6-10, 13-4), and are not acceptable because “ye will not lay it to heart” (2:1f). Animal blood could not be “traded” for forgiveness. But the contrite heart and the perfect (costly) offering were but typical of a plan for redemption which God was unfolding in that moonlight age. There was soon to come “the Lamb of God” who knew no sin yet freely gave Himself for our sins (Jn. 1:36; Rom. 5:6-9). The real character of forgiveness by substitution begins to emerge. (1) There is no sin without cost, and, (2) the substitution principle demands payment on the part of Him who forgives.

Some have raised the question: To whom was the price for sin paid? To Satan? We think not I If man can indeed answer such a question, it seems far more likely the Heavenly Father met this obligation to Himself-to His moral nature which demanded justice even as it extended mercy. Whatever the theological answer, it is clear that forgiveness is not without cost to Him who forgives. And that raises some interesting thoughts about what is involved when we forgive one another. Can we forgive without paying the price?

When someone wrongs us, our inclination is to demand justice. “That is not right,” we say. Of course it is not, and the transgressor should have to “make it right,” for his own sake as well as ours. But sometimes, even when he makes an effort to correct the wrong, we feel “it is not enough.” We want our pound of flesh. Then we remember our own sins, and the words of Jesus, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ” Can we forgive “till seven times” or even more (Matt. 18:21f)? We can not truly forgive even once unless we are willing to pay the price. It is not “forgiveness” to hold a grudge; to await the opportunity ; to “tell it on him,” or “even things up.” True forgiveness, the only kind that enables us to be forgiven by God, means we accept the hurt without demanding our “rights”; we who are wronged become the substitute sufferer for him who should suffer.

But how can we be “partakers of the divine nature” and not forgive? In paying the price to forgive we sense a tiny bit of the hurt God must feel at our sins. We enhance our “fellowship” with God, partake of His spirit, “dwell in Him, and He in us” (1 Jn. 4:13). Substitution, as an essential element in Christianity, encourages us to believe the old adage, “to forgive is divine.”

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, p. 487
August 15, 1985