Truth Magazine

By Hoyt H. Houchen

Question: Can you please explain Matthew 12:43-45?

Reply: Jesus was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees in the verses under consideration. These verses will be easier understood when we consider the context; but first, let us read them. “But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.”

While Jesus was upon earth, there were evil spirits which took possession of men’s hearts. There were occasions when Jesus cast them out (see Matt. 4:24; Mk. 1:34; etc.). The Pharisees accepted the fact that Jesus did this; but they claimed that He did it, not by the power of God but by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. Jesus refuted their claim by reasoning that if he were casting out demons by the prince of demons, then Satan’s kingdom would be divided against itself and brought to desolation. It could not stand. This was an obvious fact.

Jesus described the unclean spirit going out of the man and not finding rest, returning to the house to find it empty. He then took with himself seven other spirits, more evil than himself, to enter the empty house and dwell in it. When evil spirits were cast out, they inhabited dry places. The Jews, Arabs, Egyptians and others believed that deserts were the haunts of evil spirits.

Our Lord clearly applied the empty house occupied by evil spirits to that present generation. He had denounced that generation by declaring that the men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with it and condemn it, because they had repented at the preaching of Jonah (v. 41). Also, the queen of the south would rise up in the judgment and condemn it (v. 42). Then He related the incident of the restless unclean spirit and his return with seven other spirits more evil, who dwelt in the empty house (w. 43-45). He concluded the narrative with the words: Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.

The meaning of verses 43-45 is clear. Israel had rejected the message of both John the Baptist and Jesus. Their hearts were represented by the empty house. They had not replaced their hearts with good – they were empty. Because of their failure to acknowledge and accept Christ, their hearts were represented as being occupied with evil spirits worse than the first. Having learned the truth, they were in worse condition.

Emptiness is an evil, and as it was the problem of Israel during the time that Jesus was on earth, so it is today. Many have hearts which are empty because they have not accepted the gospel of their salvation, and having not filled their hearts with good are now worse off than when they first heard the truth. Many allow their lives to remain empty.

Brethren are often guilty of the evil of emptiness. They suppose they are growing wings because there are so many things that they do not do. They dote on the fact that they are doing no harm; but when those things are added up that they are not doing, their service to God and others is a total blank. A string of zeros total up to zero. We are not only to be good but we must also do good.

The evil of emptiness is emphasized over and over in the Bible. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it was barren, nothing being found on it but leaves (Matt. 21:19). It represented Israel which had produced no fruit. John the Baptist declared that every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire (Matt. 3: 10). The man who received the one talent (Matt. 25) was given a scathing rebuke upon the return of his master (vv. 26-30), not because he wasted the talent in riotous living, not because he used it to pervert justice, not because he had used it for gambling, not because he lost it, but because he buried it; he simply did not use it.

The only cure for the empty head is fullness. Error must be replaced by the truth. Lives must be filled and made complete by faithful obedience and service to God. The story Jesus related does have an application to us today.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 7: p. 197
April 4, 1985

By Peter McPherson

The “Western Reserve” is rich in early “Restoration” history. Walter Scott preached throughout this area in the early 1800’s. Churches were established in New Lisbon (now Lisbon), Warren, Youngstown, Sharon, (PA ), Salem and in many other places. Nearly all of these churches fell into digression ranging from the extreme modernism of the Disciples of Christ denomination to the somewhat less liberalism of the Christian Church. In some of these localities, sound churches of Christ were established over the years and, as history so often repeats itself, they too accepted centralized cooperative machinery and human institutions to do the work of the local church: thus “liberal” churches of Christ resulted. But once again in some of these areas doctrinally sound congregations have been planted and Salem is just one such place.

In 1962 Bill Wallace helped to start a congregation here in Salem. Bill only stayed two months. For three years the church here struggled to grow by the help of “appointment speakers” from other places (mostly Akron). Preachers that followed to date are Billy Farris, Jim Loved, Marvin Noble, Larry Chaffin, Morris Hafley and myself.

From meeting in an old budding on 2nd St. (which they literally outgrew), they moved into a lovely new meeting house in 1982 (Made largely possibly from an estate inheritance). Having extra finances because of this inheritance the church has not only been able to support their own preacher but have helped others also, as well as done local benevolent work.

The attendance is running around 80 on Lord’s day morning. With the inheritance money nearly gone, the membership has been informed that they will have to dig deeper if we will continue as a self-supporting church (the area has been financially hit hard and some of our people have had it difficult in this regard). Hopefully within a few years elders can be appointed as we have many good families developing.

Cooperation, peace and unity as well as zeal characterize this church presently. The future of this congregation looks bright as regards spiritual and numerical growth. One of our senior members, H.W. Eddy (81 years and still teaches the senior high class) has been heavy on education . . . reading material, special meetings and topics, etc., and this has contributed greatly to the work. His zeal, life and dedication have been outstanding. And because of a number of other very fine class room teachers and dedicated families, this church is what it is today . . . sound spiritually and growing.

Personal evangelism has been one of my main targets. We have been converting our young people as well as bringing in “new blood” (new families from the community). Such has not been easy . . . rather slow and discouraging at times, but progress has been made. When one contact turns sour or falls by the wayside we just look for others. I have been having about a half-dozen outside classes a week. And thus we have been baptizing one here and one there, sowing the seed and letting the Lord give the increase. The church here has mailed out about 20,000 Bible courses and from this we have converted a few.

In 1984 we had meetings with Bob Waldron (special on singing), Jim Needham (special on humanism) and Lewis Willis (special on first principles). In 1985 we will have Bob Waldron (special on Bible-Geography) and Gene Frost (special topic not yet arranged). A host of other gospel preachers have held meetings here and to them we are grateful.

One more final thing. The teenagers asked for a special class! So, on Monday nights at my home we conduct a special young people’s class. It is made up of quizzes, variety, etc. So far they have loved it. If anyone has any good, ideas along this line, let’s share, okay? We must not forget the young people . . . help them and work with them. Families must provide outside “get together” times for them also.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 7, p. 204
April 4, 1985

By Jackie Derrick

As faithful Christians who are striving to go to heaven, we are highly interested in knowing all that God expects of us and the works we will be held responsible for doing. One responsibility that I do not hear much preaching or teaching on is the command given to older women in Titus 2:3-6. Notice these instructions are not directed to Titus or the elders, but to the older women. I also do not see much concern from older Christian women in the form of actually taking an interest in young women to teach the things mentioned in these verses. Oh, I do see and hear disapproval from older women when they see conduct from young wives and mothers that indicates they need much guidance in properly fulfilling these roles.

For the aged women to have an y influence with the young women, they must be able to communicate with them. So many have reached the age when they need to be teaching the young women; and instead of developing lines of communication with them, the older women have settled into a rut with friends who are their same age or their immediate family circle and do not know how to even causally talk to the young women who are outside this circle. They should make every effort to make the young woman feel at ease with them and show that they are genuinely interested in them. Encourage them to be faithful as a Christian, wife and mother during those tender years when that young marriage needs nurturing and those small children are being modeled. Are you easily approached if some young women needs mature counsel? When young women seek other young women for advice and guidance, there is a very dangerous possibility that they may receive immature advice. The knowledge and wisdom that you may have, which comes from having lived and experienced the problems the young are struggling with at present, is so needed. Why would you not be interested enough to help?

Older women, you have never considered the command of God to teach the young women to apply to you. You may have assumed that you are responsible for only your own daughters, but can you not look around and recognize just how few of our young women are really prepared for being a wife and mother? This may be a failure on the part of the mothers of these young women, but it does not relieve you of the responsibility to do what you can.

It is sad when a woman has raised her family and looks around and decides that she should find a job to occupy her time or just settle back in a state of apathy now that her children are independent. To the contrary, this is the time to really be of service to others. Now there is time to visit the sick, encourage the discouraged and to “teach the young women,” whether in a Bible class in the local church or privately. Use that wisdom you have gained from serving God as a Christian, wife and mother all those years.

Notice the things Paul instructs the aged women to teach the young women. Love your husband, your children, and your home, as you serve your Lord. Do not resent your position as “help meet” to your husband and as a worker at home. Society causes young mothers who choose to be homemakers to feel inadequate, unfulfilled and less than intelligent. Perhaps husbands have failed to make them feel appreciated, and perhaps older women have failed to encourage them in this great work by assuring them that they have made the right choice. I have ad so many young mothers confide in me their feelings of inadequacy when they are women who have careers and have turned the raising of their children over to babysitters and daycare centers. Christians, this ought not to be! You can be assured that through society, the devil is at work in an attack to minimize these responsibilities that the Lord requires of young women. It is our duty to teach, admonish and encourage them as we do what we can to counteract this attack.

Also to be taught to young women is conduct and character that is “sober, discreet, chaste, good.” She is to have her desires and passions under control and have a well balanced state of mind as she is pure in heart and mind. One of the most dangerous activities a young homemaker can engage in that is destructive to her acquiring this noble character is to habitually fill her hours at home with the soap operas. The very nature and theme of these shows are demeaning to God’s laws concerning marriage, morals and woman’s role in the home. A young mother who raises her small children with soap operas flashing across the TV screen daily, need not wonder why that child grows up with no respect for God’s marriage laws and can so easily justify “living together” and all sorts of immortality that are portrayed as good and normal on these shows. A young woman cannot develop this character that is sober, woman cannot develop this character that is sober, discreet, chaste and good when she daily fills her mind with this kind of filth. Older woman, warn the young mothers and wives of this evil. Teach her to fill her mind with “things that are true, honest, pure, lovely and of good report” (Phil. 4:8).

The body of Christ is made up of individual Christians (brothers and sisters) sealed and cemented together by the blood of Christ. We are commanded to help each other as we grow to spiritual maturity and as we overcome temptations here on earth. Now brothers and sisters, how much of this helping the weaker and tempted have we done? Have we left the weakest and humblest ones to strive alone? When we do this, we have injured ourselves by neglecting God’s commands. We are prone to be disturbed when a congregation has existed for years without qualified elders. We should be disturbed! Something is wrong! We should also be disturbed when the older women are not teaching the young women “to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands.” A lack of elders to oversee the flock and a lack of aged women to teach the young women in a local congregation is indicative of failure.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 7, pp. 203, 215
April 4, 1985

By C. Titus Edwards

Smoking – The No Good Habit

You can hardly have a lesson series for young people without sometime talking about smoking. Well,, sometime has come I The use of tobacco is nothing but a foul, filthy, disgusting, offensive habit. There just is not anything good to be said about itl

I know, that most of you will try it anyway (if you haven’t already) sometime between the ages of 9 and 14, and that about 68% of you will become regular smokers. But let me suggest that you carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of smoking before you get into it. If you do, then you will obviously decide not to be a smoker.

Most people that smoke will admit that it is no good for them and that they would like to be able to quit. Do you know the best way to handle this problem? Don’t ever start smoking to begin with! One night on the Johnny Carson show, Tony Randall was trying to encourage Johnny to quit smoking. Johnny admitted that he had tried to do so in the past unsuccessfully. Johnny said that he knew he would be better off not to smoke and even made an appeal to his audience not ever to start. He made the point that most people started smoking when they were young. They did so to be big, or because other kids were trying it, or just because they were told not to. Johnny said that it was not worth it ever to begin smoking. These points are obvious, even from people of the world!

The Bible lays down three principles which tells me that smoking is wrong. First of all, smoking violates God’s laws on health and our bodies. We are to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12: 1), recognizing that it is the temple of the Holy Ghost and that we are to use it to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Second, smoking violates God’s law on being mastered. We are to be temperate and in control, not overcome by bad habits (Gal. 5:23; 1 Cor. 9:25-27; 6:12). And third, smoking ruins a person’s influence. We are to be setting a good example for others to follow, letting people see Jesus in our lives (Phil. 2:15; Mt. 5:13-15). We should want not to smoke that we can serve God acceptably.

Is smoking harmful? Of course it is! That is why millions of people have quit smoking the last 10 years. The percentage of people who smoke is dropping, because of all of the research that has come out in the last 15 years showing how harmful it is. “Cigarette smoking not only causes 90% of all lung cancers, it also is the single most preventable cause of disease in America,” said Dr. Charles LeMaistre, president of the University of Texas System Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Why do you think that the U.S. government requires cigarette packages to carry this warning: “Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous To Your Health”? Heart diseases are the number one health problem and leading cause of death today. We know that smoking is one of the primary contributions to such. Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid. Smoking is slow suicide!

If this isn’t enough to get you not to smoke, then I hope that your first puff turns you green and you get sicker than a dog! Maybe that will convince you to leave it alone! Isn’t it interesting, that when you’re young, you’re big if you smoke, but when you’re older, you’re big if you can quit? Remember, you don’t smoke – the cigarette does. You’re just the sucker!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 7, p. 202
April 4, 1985