Truth Magazine

By James W. Adams

Someone has said, “Friendship is the golden thread that ties the hearts of all the world.” On the same subject, Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote:

Fame is the scentless sunflower,
With gaudy crown of gold;
But Friendship is the breathing rose,
With sweets in every fold.

Inspiration immortalizes Friendship by having recorded upon its pages the account of one of the most beautiful friendships of human history – that of Jonathan, son of spiritually schizophrenic Saul, the first king of Israel, and David, son of Jesse, sweet singer of Israel, and a “man after God’s own heart.” I pen these lines today through a mist of tears because of the friendship that existed between me and its subject, believing as did Nicholas Grimbold, “Of all the heavenly gifts that mortal man commend, What trusty treasure in the world can countervail a friend?” Not only were the subject of this article and I friends in the purely human sense but we were and are the mutual “Friends” of Jesus in a special spiritual sense which transcends relationships purely earthly and human. I write concerning the recent death of William Floyd Thompson (429 Eastside Avenue, Santa Ana, California) on August 26, 1984.

One of the most poignant statements in the Bible fell from the lips of Jonathan as he conversed with David at Ramah. Jonathan and David were discussing the phrenetic hatred of Saul for David and Saul’s determination to kill him. On the occasion of the new moon, Saul’s important subjects were to eat at the King’s table. David feared that Saul would use the occasion to kill him or have him killed, hence was contemplating not attending. He and Jonathan devised a plan by which Jonathan would determine the King’s attitude and intentions and let David know so that David could attend or flee. Among other things, Jonathan said, “Tomorrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty” (I Sam. 20:18). No doubt Jonathan referred primarily to the fact that Saul would see David’s empty seat and ask, “Why?” However, I am just as sure Jonathan meant that he and others who loved David would miss him in a tender and loving sense.

Since the death of Floyd Thompson, there has been and will continue to be a vacant chair at the table of the King of kings in His kingdom upon this earth, and its former faithful occupant has been and will continue to be “missed!” Very early on the first day of the week, August 26, 1984, the immortal spirit of that devoted disciple of Christ and our dear personal friend and faithful brother in the Lord took its departure from his suffering body to be with Him whom he had so faithfully and for so long served. For him “it is far better.” For us, it is irreparable loss and deep grief.

My acquaintance and personal friendship with Floyd extended over a period of more than thirty years. In 1955, 1 conducted a meeting with the old, Southside congregation meeting at Birth and Fairview in Santa Ana (now Tustin congregation). At the time, Floyd had been its preacher for twenty years. During the meeting, I stayed in the home of Ruth and Floyd Thompson as I have some three times since. My love and respect for these two wonderful Christians began with this meeting and has continued and grown through all the years since those days.

In the entervening years, I have conducted at least two, and I think three, meetings with Floyd and Ruth in California. These meetings were conducted at Fairview or Berrydale congregation in Garden Grove – the last being in late February and early March of this year. During this meeting, Floyd and I drove out to a beautiful cemetery nearby and stood for a few silent moments at the grave of the beloved T.B. Larimore and shed tears of joy and sorrow as we remembered the greatness of his character and the devotion of his service. Little did Floyd know that within a matter of a few months, he would join the beloved Larimore in the “land of the spirits of just men made perfect.”

In addition to the meetings already mentioned, Floyd and Ruth were with us at Tenth and Francis in Oklahoma City (where I preached) for an unusually good meeting. On numerous other occasions, we have been together at meetings, debates, funerals, and lectureships. As recent as June 1980, Floyd assisted in the funeral services for my aged mother at Redondo Beach, California. Floyd had known my mother for many years. As stated, I was with Floyd and Ruth (staying in their home) while conducting a meeting for Fairview congregation in Garden Grove the last of February and first of March. Ken Dart, the local preacher, became ill during the meeting, so Floyd made all of the announcements etc. I also was privileged to sit in his Bible class on Lord’s day morning. During this meeting, Floyd and I spent many pleasant hours talking, studying, and praying together. He and Ruth always had a devotional at the breakfast table at which time we took turns reading the Scriptures and praying. I shall forever cherish the memory of those hours.

Just before this last meeting closed, Floyd told me he was having pains in his back that he did not understand and would see a doctor after the meeting. When he did, it was discovered that he had an inoperable malignancy in an advanced stage of development. All that the very best medical skill could do was done for him but to no avail. During the six months that Floyd lived, he suffered much but with patience and hope. I talked with him twice by telephone during this period. He told me he had hoped to have another five years at least to teach, preach, and otherwise serve the Lord, but he was prepared to go if such was his lot. In my judgment, if any Christian was ever prepared to meet his Lord, it was Floyd Thompson.

Floyd was born in Hughes Co., Oklahoma, April 5,1910. He was baptized into Christ by J.C. Coffman in March 1925. He was married to Ruth Davis, June 26, 1931 He began preaching at Mt. Zion, Shawnee, Oklahoma in i932 and continued there two years. He moved to California in 1935 and began preaching for the Southside Church in Santa Ana. During the early years of service with this congregation, he attended and graduated from George Pepperdine College. He continued to preach for Southside until 1955. At that time, a new congregation meeting on Berrydale began out of the Southside Church and Floyd served as its preacher until a few years ago. At that time, he requested to be relieved of his duties as the regular local preacher and to work with them in another capacity – holding meetings and otherwise preaching for weak churches and doing such work for the local congregation as might be needed. A considerable amount of his and Ruth’s time was spent in counselling Christians beset with difficulties from all over Southern California. They were so well known and so universally respected and loved that multitudes sought their help. Actually, Floyd and Ruth, though laboring with two congregations, largely served the same group of people and others that were added for almost fifty years. Any preacher and his wife who can do this are uncommon people!

Floyd Thompson, though a man of unusual ability, extensive Bible knowledge, and uncommon intelligence was one of the humblest, most self-effacing persons I have ever met. “Popeye,” famous comic character of my youth, used to say, “I yam what I yaml” This describes Floyd Thompson exactly. He was what he was without apology. There was no hypocrisy about him, no sham, no affectation. He knew what he believed and why, and while he was kind, considerate, and compassionate, he never hesitated to state his position clearly and unequivocally. He had his own style of preaching which he copied from no one. He could quote Scripture copiously, but he chose to read most of his selections. His lessons were rich in content, scriptural, intellectual, but always delivered in a spirit of concern that gave them heart power. He was not flamboyant. His style was that of a pungent and powerful teacher. No person ever came away from his lessons without being spiritually enriched by what he heard.

For almost fifty years, Floyd Thompson’s influence stood on the side of truth and right in Southern California. No person has done more for the cause of Christ of lasting quality in that area, in this generation, than did he. People yet unborn will in time to come have occasion to rise and call him “blessed.” Through the vista of the years, “Though being dead, yet will he speak.”

Author’s Note: I have waited several weeks to write this for emotional reasons. Much more could be said, but Floyd would not wish for me eulogize him unduly. Thoughts literally crowd my mind demanding expression, but in deference to Floyd’s humility and dislike of show, I must allow this to suffice. My heart is sad because I shall never again upon this earth eqjoy the comradeship of my beloved friend and brother, but I rejoice in the hope that one day, perhaps sooner than we expect, we shall meet again in never-endingfellowship and together sing the “new song” of redeeming grace and love

“on the banks of the river that flows by the throne of God. ” With deep sympathy for Sister Ruth in her loss, these lines are penned in faith, hope, and love.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 23, pp. 707-708
December 6, 1984

By Dusty Owens

There is a saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Sometimes, the best of friends will become enemies because they spend so much time together. They begin to take one another for granted. Often, we grow weary of eating at the same restaurant, playing the same game, or wearing the same clothes. Whatever we do, we should never tire of serving God.

There is a danger in letting our relationship with God become commonplace. The Bible teaches, yea God commands, that we reverence Him. But, what does this mean?

There are two basic ideas in the word “reverence”: respect and fear. Our reverence for God should go beyond our respect for and our fear of any man. Yet, I see people showing more reverence for men than for God. We would expect this in the world, but when it happens in the church it is a disgrace!

We do not have the space to give consideration to all aspects of our lives relative to reverencing God, but we will keep our thoughts only on our behavior during the assembly. We can show disrespect for God’s things in the short while we are together.

Reverence In Our Service

Paul spoke of our receiving a kingdom “…whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29). No doubt this relates to the Israelites at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Law (Exod. 20:18-21; Heb. 12:18-21), but it is applied to the church reverencing God.

When we come together we should do everything possible to maintain a reverent attitude. We should realize that God is in our presence. When people whisper about non-essentials, make unnecessary noises, throw spit balls, or get up and walk around (or go to the bathroom) during services, they are showing disrespect for God. Parents should teach this lesson to their children early in life. They should see to it that their children visit the bathroom and obtain a drink before services begin. Then, they should see to it that they remain reverent during the service.

When Moses came into the presence of God at Mount Sinai, He spoke from the bush: “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off they feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exod. 3:5). The account goes on to say that “Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” The Israelites were commanded “to reverence my sanctuary: I am Jehovah” (Lev. 19:30).

Reverence During Prayer

Certainly, at the very time we are talking to God we should give Him our undivided attention. I know that the Bible doesn’t tell us that we must put our body in any particular position when we pray, but I do read that Jesus “kneeled down and prayed” (Lk. 22:41) and “fell on his face and prayed” (Matt. 26:39). The Israelites often stood while praying to God. All of these position show a great reverence for God. The mode that shows the least amount of respect is the sitting position. Even in a court of law, we show respect by standing when the judge enters the room.

Reverence While Singing

In these passages, Paul commanded us to sing: “. . . singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19); “. . . singing with grace in your hearts unto God” (Col. 3:16). It is obvious that our hearts are to be in tune to the thoughts we are expressing in song. “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15). We cannot be singing respectably to God, and at the same time be thinking about something that has nothing to do with the sentiments of the song.

Reverence While Preaching

The respect or disrespect that we show during the preaching is not so much toward the one who is doing the preaching as it is toward God and His word. The Israelites often stood during the reading of the Law, out of respect for it. “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people . . . and when he opened it, all the people stood up” (Neh. 8:5). Contrast that attitude with many today who pay very little attention to the reading and preaching of the word. I marvel at how many literally go to sleep every time the word is preached. “For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep” (1 Cor. 11:31). “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11).

Reverence During The Lord’s Supper

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10: 16) When the saints partake of the Lord’s Supper, they are to be in “communion” with the Lord. He is in our presence. “I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, unto that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:29). Is it not the height of disrespect to be thinking or doing something else while pretending to be in communion with the Lord? “Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord . . . . For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment (damnation – kjv) unto himself, if he discern not the body” (1 Cor. 11:27,29).

Finally, there are things related to the assembly that need mentioning. We should make it a habit to be on time for every service. To be late continuously shows irreverence. We should not become loud and boisterous before or after the service. Sometimes the one who is to get us started on time must wait patiently while others are standing around laughing, joking and patting one another on the back. We should make sure that our children are not turning the church grounds into a circus world. Some like to play “hide and go seek,” even inside the building! Such should not be permitted.

It is dangerous to become too palsy with God, or to show disrespect in the manner stated above. Let us reverence our God, realizing how great He is. “For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah, A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are around about him?” (Psa. 86:6-7)

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 23, pp. 705, 729
December 6, 1984

By Daniel H. King

When Paul made his way back to the city of Jerusalem in Acts 9:26, he was entering into a new phase of his life. According to the parallel material found in Galatians 1:17ff, he had spent some time preaching the gospel in Arabia and Damascus, some three years to be specific. It was a different attitude toward him that he met within the city this time. He had left a hero three years before. He had gone off on a Holy Crusade to bring back heretics from Damascus, those troublesome schismatics who held to the messiahship of Jesus and split synagogues everywhere they traveled. But when he returned he was one of them. He was a Christian. Of all things, a Christian!

A lesser man would have avoided any association with this unpopular group, especially in the Jewish homeland and capital. But the Bible says that Paul “assayed to join himself to the disciples” (Acts 9:26). That is, he attempted to identify himself with them. He actually made an overt effort at having himself connected in the public mind with the church in Jerusalem. That took an enormous amount of courage.

But, allow me to point out that it takes courage for you to do the same thing today. The church was then “everywhere spoken against” (Acts 28:22). Similarly, though to a lesser degree in the USA, the church is attacked by lies and slanderous charges. She is ridiculed and reproached in the popular mind and in the media. But she has stood her ground because there are some who do indeed have the courage to do what Paul did back then.

What did he do? Let me break it down into its components, so you can see it plainly:

1. He associated himself with what the church believed and stood for. It was well known in the community that the Christians believed that Christ was the Son of God and that the Father had raised Him from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. By far the largest element of the community did not share this faith. In fact, many were fully prepared, as Paul had been, to persecute and even kill those who so believed. For Paul to become identified with the church meant that all would know what he believed and where he stood on these issues. They could quite easily pigeon-hole him because of his commitment. He was guilty by association. Yet Paul did not hesitate to make it, because it was the commitment which every genuine Christian must make to stand with Christ. For, you see, to stand with Christ, you must stand with other Christians.

2. He threw his influence behind the church. By letting it be known that he was a disciple of Christ in this way, Paul intended to throw what weight he had behind the church. All of us possess some influence upon others. We influence the way they think and act. That precious influence can be used by us for good or ill. Paul threw his influence squarely on the side of good. He made it known that he was a child of God, a disciple of Christ, and a member of the church of Christ. He did that by “joining himself unto the disciples,” becoming a part of the church in Jerusalem.

3. He worked for the growth and benefit of the church. After having let it be known that he was to be identified with the saints, Paul did not sit down and wait for others to do the work that needed doing. He became personally and actively supportive of the church. “He was with them going in and out at Jerusalem” (Acts 9:28). Moreover, he “preached boldly in the name of the Lord” (v. 29). Paul wanted to see the church grow and increase.

4. He worshiped with faithful saints at Jerusalem. After he had sought out and found faithful brethren at Jerusalem, Paul was “with them” in every way. I cannot imagine that to mean that, when they met to worship God, Paul was intentionally absent from such services. Rather, I see it as his custom to assemble to worship with them as he did elsewhere (see Acts 11:26).

If you are not yet so fully committed to Christ and His Cause as was Paul, why not make it so? Associate yourself with faithful saints and let it be known that your heart is with them.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 23, p. 714
December 6, 1984

By Jimmy Tuten

Someone has said that there are three friendships which are advantageous and three that are injurious: friendship with the upright, friendship with the man of much observation and friendship with the man who is courteous. These are advantageous. However, friendship with the man of specious airs, or one who is insinuatingly soft, and friendship with the glib-tongued, these are injurious.

No hurt is greater than that hurt derived from deception and abuse of one thought to be a friend. A friend is someone to have in time of need and when adversity tries them. A bold foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse by far. There is an English proverb that says: “God save me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.” The irony of this is that there is some merit to it as far as some friends are concerned. Friendship must not be taken too lightly. Also we should be cautious in choosing friends, and even more cautious in changing them. Of course, the best recipe for making friends is to be one yourself.

“I often find myself,” said Thackery Ritchie, “going back to Darwin’s saying about the duration of a man’s friendship being one of the best measures of his worth.” The reckless handling of friendship is a true mark of a foolish man who will never know what true friendship is. No friendship should begin that has no intent of being lasting in nature. No one is more dangerous than a friend who isn’t quite sure whether he’s for you or against you.

I am thankful for my friends. They have been a source of great strength in time of need and I am glad that I made them friends before I needed them. Experience teaches us that a real friend warms you by his presence, trusts you with his secrets and remembers you in his prayers. He is one who is there to care!

Why Some Friendships Fail

Friendship has a price tag on it and some are not willing to pay the fee. To be a true friend one must be willing to do so under trying circumstances as well as in the good times. “A friend loveth at all times,” said Solomon (Prov. 17:17). A friend is closer than a brother, as affectionate and trusty as one connected by the closest ties of relationship (Prov. 18:24). The Greeks had a saying that went like this: “the crisis tests a friend as fire the gold. ” What are some of the costs of friendship that some are not willing to pay?

(1) The Cost of Time. True friendship is a life-long experience. It is never temporary. This is why faith in friendship is so rare. Truly we have made the word “friend” common and robbed it of its depth of beauty. We need more friends who will joyfully sing with you when you are on the mountain top and silently walk beside you through the valley. But this takes time and some friendships cannot tolerate the wear and tear that constant use sometimes give it. One must be more deliberate in friendship knowing that it is not the promises of friendship that are lasting but the performance of it.

(2) The Cost of Need. It is cruel and harsh to be a pretended friend until the time of need. But need is a sure proof of friendship or often the proof of the shallowness thereof. Siracides said: “A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity. In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved; but in his adversity even a friend will depart.” How demonstratable is this when one considers the lamentable cry of Job in his great misery: “All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me” (Job 19:19).

(3) The Cost of Abuse. Friendships are abused. For example, a good friend is one who can tell you all his problems, but doesn’t.

The problem is often the result of a failure to observe that all men have their frailties and all have feet of clay. If one looks for friends without imperfections, then he will have no friends. It is sad to see insult added to injury in the area of human imperfection. One’s failure to understand a particular problem is not necessarily an expression of a lack of appreciation. A friend is one who will allow the leverage of one’s imperfections to express itself, and love him at the same time. I think Thomas Jefferson said it well when he said, “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion or philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend.” One does not have to agree on all points to be a friend. Never injure a friend, not even in jest. Folks who are friends are usually people who have the same virtues, the same enemies, or the same faults.

(4) The Cost of No Profit Or Gain. Some will be friends if there is personal gain involved. “You pat my back and I’ll pat yours” seems to be the motive involved all too often. But a friend that must be bought is not worth what we pay for him. If we can buy such a person, someone else can too. Friendship is to be valued for what there is in it, not what can be gotten out of it. To seek friendship for personal gain is as futile as seeking the end of a rainbow for the bag of gold. Too many are looking upon friends as a mutual benefit association with periodical demands and threats of suspension for non-payment. This should not be. Let us think not of what friends can do for us, but what we can do for them.

Conclusion

How sad to see friendship thrown away in a world where friendship is so rare. In times like these we need the comfort of friends. Whatever the gain, it is never so much that we can afford to lose a friend. Wise is the man who fortifies his life with friendships. To have the joy of friendship one must share friendliness. Happiness was born a twin.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 22, pp. 692-693
November 15, 1984