Truth Magazine

By Bill Cavender

“I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied . . . . Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity” (2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:15-16).

It is a matter of “the faith,” the plain will of God in the New Testament, that churches are to pay wages to gospel preachers. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). Paul preached the gospel. He gave his life and time to that work. Churches supported him with wages while he did so (2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:14-16). It is a matter of human judgment as to which preacher(s) a church will pay wages, but it is a matter of faith that they must do so. A church which does not pay wages to preachers for their work is not obeying the will of God. By plain precept and by apostolic examples, this truth of God is established.

Until a church and its elders really believe that the greatest, most necessary work in the world is gospel preaching, they will not have a dedicated and sacrificial disposition toward preaching. Until brethren really believe that “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21), they will continue to be unconcerned for the lost and for the world beyond their own city or area, and will continue to be content to be preached to but not to preach to others who have not heard the truth. Selfishness with the gospel and with money is generally widespread among the brethren.

Many elders and churches are afraid to “launch out” and let down the gospel nets for a drought of souls (Luke 5:1-11). They want to “play it safe and not over-commit ourselves with the Lord’s money,” lest a depression comes or the meetinghouse burns down, and “we are not able to pay our bills.” Many elders and brethren sit on the Lord’s treasury in the congregation as if it were a bank account to be saved “for a rainy day and hard times. ” Such brethren have little faith, not believing God’s great truth and principle of sowing and reaping: “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully . . . . And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work . . .” (2 Cor. 9:6-11).

I would offer some suggestions to brethren, especially to elders and preachers, regarding the support of preachers and the amount of wages paid to them. Perhaps these thoughts will help you to do some thinking in these matters and result in increased awareness of God’s will and our duties to God and to those who preach the gospel.

1. Preachers should not hesitate to preach the truth (and practice it) of the New Testament regarding the use of money and material possessions, giving, generosity, unselfishness, and supporting of preachers. There will always be brethren who will say, “All he talks about is money . . . . Every sermon is about money . . . . The preacher is wanting a raise . . . . He makes too much already . . . . He ought not to make any more than the average member of the congregation,” etc. These, and other statements by sometimes unconcerned and even covetous brethren, should not deter us from teaching the truth on this part of God’s will and encouraging our brethren in liberality, generosity and sacrifices for the gospel’s sake. While some will scoff and mock, and close their ears and hearts, some others will hear, listen, learn, purpose, and obey the truth in these matters. Especially will there often be young, sincere people, married couples and families, who will become generous and liberal givers all their lives because they were taught by word and deed from faithful preachers, elders, and brethren who are thoughtful, purposeful givers of their money to Christ.

2. Elders should be men of vision, far-sightedness and understanding, planning the work of Christ and of supporting preachers at home and abroad, and urging and insisting that these plans be carried out by the church. If the elders are not out in front, leading and inspiring the church to do more and to do better in our Lord’s work, little progress will be made. No church rises above nor excels its leadership. If elders and preachers and deacons are not men of generous, sacrificial dispositions, then they will be poor examples to the flock of God. Elders should take the leadership in inspiring and urging a congregation to greater levels of activity, interest, and giving. They should keep before the people the need for preaching the gospel in all the world and the needs of various faithful gospel preachers who work in barren, hard, difficult areas throughout the world. Elders should not leave it up to the preacher to do all the urging, exhorting, and teaching of the church in the matters of giving and supporting faithful preachers. They should be before the church, leading and guiding into greater areas of work and giving of our prosperity to spread the gospel. So often elders will not do this. They leave it to the preacher(s) to do this, and then allow him to be subjected to unjust criticism from brethren who, in many cases, care little about the souls of the lost in all the world and who have never learned to truly give as they are prospered.

3. Brethren should be taught by elders, preachers and all Bible teachers that it is necessary to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). We will never convert everyone “right around home,” and “right around here in our own community and state.” The Bible examples in Acts of Apostles, in which the gospel was preached in many cities and nations, then resulting in the gradual spread of truth throughout those areas, are still the best ways. We need to preach in all areas of the world. Then those Christians in those areas will, in turn, evangelize those places further. We cannot expect nor see people “believe and be baptized to be saved” (Mark 16:16), if we who know the truth and have an abundance of God’s material blessings do not with vigor obey Mark 16:15.

4. As much as possible, every member of the church should be informed about the Lord’s work in our own country and throughout the world. We can get people to see and support gospel preaching the more they are informed about it. They will not be enthusiastic about nor give their money generously to preachers, nor to good works needing support, if they are not informed and interested. Reports from preachers supported by a church should be read publicly, reprinted in church newsletters and bulletins, and posted on bulletin boards for members to read. Every member of a congregation should be aware of the work being done by preachers supported by the congregation. This will beget even more enthusiasm and concern, causing brethren to feel more partnership with those who are out preaching the gospel to the lost.

5. Preachers should be given wage increases regularly. Living costs and the extra expenses preachers have make this imperative. Many men do not preach because they cannot support themselves and their families in doing the greatest, most needful work in the world. Others of experience and ability have quit because of lack of wages and income. Some churches never increase a preacher’s wages. He has to move if he gets an increase, or go into secular work. Many churches want to know and try to figure out how little they can pay a man to get him to work with them. Yet churches will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to move a man but will not pay him well after he gets there. Some brethren work night and day to make all the money possible, their wives work, and all the income they can have is wonderful to them. But a preacher must sometimes beg or almost beg for even livable wages. Workers in businesses, professions and industry have life-long benefits from excellent wages, job security, pensions, social security, life insurance, hospitalization insurance, vacations (up to 5-7 weeks a year in some cases) fully paid, 40 hours per week work with overtime pay for over 40 hours and double time for holidays, and other emoluments. A preacher has very few or none of these benefits unless he provides them for himself and few preachers are paid enough to do that, nor do they work with brethren who are deeply concerned about his welfare and want to help him to have the best “pay-package” and benefits possible. Oftentimes the preacher’s wife must work to help provide income and insurance when she is really needed by her husband at home to help him and to be with their children. Often she does much work with him and in behalf of the church, yet she is rarely ever compensated. Brethren, in many cases, want to “hire” the preacher’s wife along with him, getting two for the price of one. It is little wonder that young men of good minds and good educations want to do something besides preach. (I am not arguing that this is the way it should be with young men; I am just saying this is the way it is.) Yet the work of preaching the gospel and saving souls is the only absolutely essential and necessary work in the world. Many brethren do not realize or believe that!

6. Brethren need to establish (and in some cases, rearrange) their priorities in the Lord’s work. Instead of so much emphasis on buildings, comfort in the buildings, steeples, eating and recreational facilities (unscriptural and unauthorized by Christ), keeping the grounds, investing in property, etc., the first emphasis should be upon preaching the gospel at home and abroad. (What property a church owns should be kept neat, presentable, in good repair and conducive to study, worship and good influence in the community. But brethren sometimes get worldly and gaudy in their excessive and unreasonable expenditures upon meetinghouses.) I know of churches who get involved in building and then terminate all gospel preaching except to themselves at home. I know of churches who pay for buildings, doubling and tripling the payments, “to save interest, ” and support no preachers. I know of churches which keep surplus funds, large bank accounts, and certificates of deposit on hand to pay the building payments “in case of a slump,” and ignore the pleas of faithful men who need wages badly so they can preach the gospel and support their families. These things ought not so to be! No church ought to cease support of gospel preachers to engage in building programs. Meetinghouses, brick and mortar, wood and glass, have never converted one soul in all. the history of the world. People, preachers, and preaching the gospel have and will. Preaching and saving souls is the heart and soul, the life-blood of the kingdom of God. All meetinghouses will perish when Jesus comes and the world ends. Saved souls will not.

If you have read this far in this rambling article, my dear brethren, I thank you. I trust you are thinking with me. I know of many brethren and churches who could greatly increase their contributions personally to the Lord’s work, and the churches could increase their support of gospel preachers at home and abroad – if they would. I urge all to take inventory in this matter to see if we are doing what we should in the matter of giving as we are prospered and supporting gospel preachers as we ought to do.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, pp. 133-134, 153
March 7, 1985

By Irven Lee

I recently received a letter from a lady in another state asking some questions concerning elders. Her main inquiry was whether a man may be an elder if he has only one child. This, in part, is my answer to her. I hope that it may be of benefit to someone else as well.

“I like the spirit of your letter concerning an elder with one child as you indicated your desire to know the truth. This question about whether an elder must have more than one child has been a matter of controversy among good brethren for all of my lifetime and before. I have preached for a little more than fifty years. No one now living could write a well-prepared scriptural letter that would settle the question for all, even if all the brethren should see and carefully consider the remarks. I do not write as one who will be able to remove all controversy. There is a correct answer, and it is proper to search, but I would offer a word of restraint in one’s being too dogmatic for his understanding.

“Chapter 21 of Genesis tells of the birth of Isaac, so it is not about elders and their qualifications. It does give an example of an inspired writer’s using the plural form of the word ‘child’ in reference to one son. Sarah said, ‘who would have said unto Abraham, tha t Sarah should have given children such? For I have borne him a son in his old age.’ She had only one child, and yet the word children is used in reference to this one. One of the brothers mentioned in Matthew 22:23-30 would have had children if he had one son. Note Matthew 22:24.

“If one visited my father sixty years ago in taking a school census and had said, ‘Do you have children who will be in school this fall?’ he would likely have said, ‘yes, I will have one boy in the second grade.’ Would that have been the correct answer? My father had only one child.

“There are several examples of the plural form of sons or children in referring to one child in the first few chapters of 1 Chronicles (e.g., 1 Chron. 1:41; 2:7, 31; 3:22; 4:13). It is my impression that the plural form – children – is used to refer to one or more. As a young preacher, I was convinced that an elder must have more than one child, but verses such as those listed above have changed my mind. I was wrong then or I am wrong at this time.

“I would not agitate and disturb the church to demand that it accept my understanding of the use of th word children. If the church in a given community could not agree to use an elder with one child, such a man would be defeated before he began his work. There is often a closed mind on this and several other matters concerning elders, and many churches have suffered much from bitter friction.

“I hope my remarks may help some and do no more harm at all. Let the church be spared anguish and bitterness.”

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, p. 143
March 7, 1985

By C. Titus Edwards

“Three high school seniors were late for school one day and did not arrive at school until the afternoon classes. They had spent the morning just riding around town. They explained their tardiness by stating that their car had a flat and they did not have a spare. ‘OK,’ the teacher replied, ‘But here is your makeup test,’ as she separated them. One question, ‘Which tire was flat?'”

There would be times that you can lie and get away with it, but more often than not you cannot. Moses warned the Israelites years ago, “. . . be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). One of the problems with not being truthful is that it normally takes another lie to prop up the first one you told. And then another to prop that one up, and before long you have built a fragile lattice work of lies that will easily cave in on top of you! You also have to have a good memory to be a liar. You have to remember what story you told to whom! If you are not careful, you may forget what lie you told to which person, and may slip up and contradict your own story later.

The best approach is honesty. “Honesty is the best policy” may be an old saying, but it is so true! “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17). “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor . . .” (Eph. 4:25). Integrity is a great virtue. Dishonesty ruins such and will cause you to lose your influence.

Look what all you have to lose by dishonesty: your reputation, the respect of others, your integrity, the trust of others, and most importantly, your soul! “. . . and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone . . .” (Rev. 21:8). Just make up your mind that you will always be truthful – in all circumstances. Feel like George Washington did, “I cannot tell a lie!” Keep your word. Do as you promise that you will. Have the attitude that says, “I would rather lose the game than to play unfairly!” Lying will simply get you into more trouble. Always tell the truth to start with. You’ll be glad you did!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, p. 134
March 7, 1985

By Ron Daly

At least three things are implied by the title of this article, viz. (1) Ascertaining how the Scriptures authorize is obligatory (cf. Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11); (2) Inasmuch as God demands that we have His sanction before we act, it is possible to know how God authorizes; or put another way, it is possible for rational, accountable men to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17; et.al.); (3) There are certain criteria by which one cannot determine what is and what is not authorized in the realm of religion. It is with this particular fact which our title implies that we consider to be one of great urgency at this time.

It appears to me that some brethren believe what they believe about “issues” past and present, not because they have diligently “searched the scriptures daily, with all readiness of mind, to see whether the things are so” (Acts 17:11), but they adhere to “positions,” “opinions, ” and “judgments” based on criteria which are within themselves dangerous, and lead to perilous tendencies. What follows is my analysis of what some of these false standards are, and an explanation of why I believe some are “bent” on relying on these false standards.

The majority or large numbers are employed by many to determine what is right or wrong as a religious practice. I know that error does not always have the larger following, but I am firmly convinced that, as a general rule, the “way of truth and right” will not have many to adhere to its tenets! One possible reason why people seem to have a sort of “natural inclination” to be “crowd followers” is, we want to convince ourselves (and some have done so) that there is strength in numbers, and as some say, “Surely, all of those people are not wrong on the issue(s).” I think that such individuals fail to realize, many people can be (and have been) dead wrong about one (or many) issues!

To ancient Israel, God by Moses said, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude (lit. “run after many”) to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice” (Ex. 23:2). The underlying principle of this enactment is still binding, viz. right and justice are not established by numbers! Evil does not become good, even when espoused and practiced by a multitude! It takes a great deal of “intestinal fortitude” to oppose erroneous doctrines and/or positions, especially when standing with the truth puts you among the minority!

Jesus taught the disciples in Matthew 7:13-14 saying, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.” Our beloved Lord said in Luke 13:24, “Strive (lit. “agonize”) to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” These texts demonstrate that, relatively speaking, the vast -majority of people are traveling the wrong road!

I think there is another reason why some are influenced by the dictates of the multitude, viz. “they love the praise that is of men more than the glory that is of God” (Jn. 12:42-43). This certainly involves the constant fear of some of being “labeled and stigmatized.” No friends, number does not establish authority in religion. Let all of us resolve to stand with truth regardless of who or how many do otherwise!

Another thing which does not establish authority in religion is the pronouncements of well-known, highly respected men whether denominationalists or brethren.

Paul and Silas were two well-known men who did much for the cause of truth in the first century, and were, therefore, highly respected, but when they went into Berea, Luke records, “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.”

This same attitude should characterize every person today, who is truly concerned with the eternal well-being of his soul! The apostle John admonishes, “Beloved, believe not (lit. “stop believing”) every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Preachers have been wrong in the past on vital issues and many are wrong today on the very same issues! A thing is not authorized just because “your favorite preacher” says it is! The job of the faithful evangelist is to proclaim what has been written and “not go beyond the things which have been written” (1 Cor. 4:6). They must “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11), and when they fail to do so, must be reproved the same as anyone else.

Elders of local churches are in the same category. They are not legislators. They are men who are sometimes wrong. They are not ones who make laws for God; they simply see that the things which God requires are done right by saints in congregations. Nothing is right in that elders recommend and/or enforce it. It is right if authority can first be found in the sacred writings, and then expediently carried out under the oversight of the elders (Acts 20:28-3 1; 1 Pet. 5:1-2; Heb. 13:17; et.al.). It is sectarian in essence and denominational in scope and approaches Catholicism’s diocesan (man-made arrangements of authority) arrangements when we recognize elders and preachers as speaking ex cathedra (or as the voice) for the saints! Were the elders and/or preachers “crucified for you? or were you baptized into the name” of the elders and/or preachers? If the answer to the above questions is “no,” then they cannot be the determiners as to what is, and what is not authorized in religion!

Authority in religion is not established by uninspired literature such as religious periodicals, Bible class material, commentaries, word studies, and lexicons! The reason is, these documents are the products of men who are not free of error; they are fallible. These works are useful in the study of the Bible, but they are not the standards by which we determine what is an acceptable item of worship or a doctrine to be espoused. This is settled by the word of God!

I think one of the “tell-tale” signs of a periodical which is approaching a dangerous scale of authority is when both sides of an issue will not be carefully and thoroughly examined. One journal published in Los Angeles, California, consistently carries a “special notice” on page two which reads, “The publisher of ______ reserves the right to refuse to publish any article that he feels does not contribute to the unity and growth of the Lord’s Church.” This appeals to one as a worthy aim, but the significance of it, as it applies to controversial subjects, seems to have been in the past (and even now), “The publisher reserves the right to refuse to publish any article with which he disagrees and/or cannot answer, especially if said article contains the truth in opposition to liberalism and the social gospel!”

Regarding commentaries and lexicons, I must say, they are not always right. There are times when I must for the sake of truth and conscience differ with a widely recognized “scholarly” work because I do not think the author gives the correct definition and/or exegesis in keeping with the context and/or scriptural usage of a word or phrase. Notable examples include New Testament word books which define psallo to mean “to play on the harp or mechanical instrument,” or lexicons which define hades to mean the “grave” in the New Testament, or Old Testament lexicons which define almah in Isaiah 7:14 and its counterpart parthenos in Matthew 1:23 to mean “young married woman, etc.” My hesitancy to accept with blanket endorsement, each comment of the various commentators does not mean that I disavow their scholarship or expertise in their respective fields; I merely recognize that they are not inspired and are, therefore, subject to error! Hence, I must be cautious. They are not the authority in religion!

Religious authority is most definitely not established by uninspired, human tradition. There are basically two kinds, viz. uninspired, human tradition, and inspired, authoritative. The former is exemplified in Matthew 15:2-6 and the latter in 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15. Human tradition usually manifests itself in the following words, “We’ve always done it this way,” or “I’ve never seen or heard it that way before.” I ask, so what? What does that have to do with the validity of it? Human tradition can be a detriment, especially when we begin to think that to do a thing some other way is sinful, or when we become attached to doing the wrong things and refuse to change because of “traditionally practicing error.” Some examples of traditional practices which are an integral part of the work and worship of some local congregations are: (1) segregated singing groups which violate Colossians 3:16, (2) humming during the Lord’s supper violates Ephesians 5:19, (3) midweek collections which violate I Corinthians 16:1-2, Acts 20:7, and many other unscriptural practices which are condoned and justified (?) on the basis that “We have always done it this way with no objection(s), so why should we stop now?” The point which is often not understood is, the thing that makes an act right or wrong is not the past or present practice of it, but whether or not the word of God authorizes it to be done.

Nor is the authority established by expediency. The first question to ask is not, “What is best and most advantageous for us?” Nothing is expedient which cannot first be proven to be lawful! Expediency does not establish or precede law. It grows out of law, i.e. the lawfulness of the act must first be established (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23). The missionary society is not lawful (authorized), hence cannot be expedient in evangelism between local churches, the evangelists, and lost ones. The benevolent organizations supported (built and maintained) by local churches are not authorized by God’s word, and, therefore, cannot be expedient “methods” through which churches work in doing their work of benevolence or caring for the needy. Educational societies supported by churches from their treasuries are not authorized, hence, cannot be expedient means for churches to edify their members and/or develop elders/preachers.

Finally, authority is not established by the silence of the Scriptures! Some have said, “Well, after all, the Bible does not say, ‘thou shalt not’ do thus and so; so what is wrong with it?” The problem is this: those who seek to walk by the apostolic way, do only what the Bible says (teaches, authorizes), not what it says nothing about, i.e. what it does not teach or authorize (cf. Col., 3:17)1 Man may not act where God has not authorized by explication or implication. Those who did so in early Bible history stand as memorials to the consequences of such presumptuous acts (cf. Gen. 4; Lev. 10: 1-2; Heb. 7:11-14). God told Noah to use gopher wood, and he meant gopher wood, all gopher wood, nothing but gopher wood (Gen. 6:1-4,22). God by the Spirit, in the apostles, through the word commands us to sing in worship, and he means sing only with respect to New Testament music (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19; Jas. 5:13). We are instructed to immerse the penitent believer of the gospel. There is no authorization provided in the word of God for the immersion of infidels, idiots, or infants (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:30).

Friends, the only infallibly safe guide is the Sacred Writings. They are inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Thess. 2:13), ought to be searched and studied (Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15), and will save one from sin and prepare him for heaven (Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 2 Pet. 1:3; Acts 20:32). Let us endeavor to be absolutely certain that the acts which we perform are proven to be in harmony with divine revelation, for only in that way will we please the Majesty in the heavens and bask beneath the starlit throne of glory throughout the ages!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, pp. 135-136, 148
March 7, 1985