Truth Magazine

By Keith Hamilton

As Israel passed into the land of Canaan (promised land) they came to the city of Jericho. The people there had inhabited and possessed a land that had been promised to Israel for a possession. If they were allowed to remain, their idolatrous and unrighteous life styles would have a damaging effect upon Israel (Ex. 34:11-17). Therefore, Israel by the power of God defeated and removed this enemy (Josh. 6:1-2, 20). However, there was a time when they sent forth spies who were awed by the size and might of their enemy and they turned away discouraged (Deut. 1:19-28). Yet, it is not so now! How many Jerichos do we face? Do we trust in God and His power to remove the foe from our midst or do we see the size of the foe and shrink back?

Jerichos In The Church

Heresies and factions which ultimately lead to division are to have no “possession” in the church (1 Cor. 1:10). Even though this is true the apostle Paul tells us, “For there must be also heresies among you, and they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11: 19). They prove our true metal (1 Pet. 1:6-7). It is easier to run and let someone else handle the problem or “stand on the other side” pointing an accusing finger. The conscientious Christian may find himself in the minority even among his brethren. (Remember Joshua and Caleb!) Yet, by God’s power we can make this Jericho fall!

Immorality is certainly on the rampage in the world about us and its influence is seen in the church. If allowed to continue unchecked, its effect will damage the church (1 Cor. 5:1-7) and ruin its influence for good upon the world (1 Pet. 2:11-12). The obstacle one faces in dealing with this problem are the misplaced affections of some who believe we should let the sinner alone lest we hurt his feelings. or make him mad and cause him to leave. While one should certainly be concerned with tactfulness there should not be such apprehension that we fail to do or say anything at all! We must remember that God’s ways are always best. Best for us, the church, the world, and sinner too (2 Cor. 2:6-8). This Jericho is mighty and scares many, but by God’s power we can make it fall.

Apathy, the Jericho of Jerichos, has destroyed many sound churches and is causing the deterioration of others. Like the church at Sardis many have the name that “thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1-3). Repentance and the humbling of spirits in revenential prayer are the only cure. The epitome of faith is seen when one goes on and does what he knows to be right inspite of what others are doing. Yes, this Jericho can also be felled.

When problems enter the church, we cannot have an “I do not want to get involved” attitude and be right in God’s eyes. The faithful child of God stands fully armored and prepared for the enemy’s onslaught.

Jerichos In Our Personal Life

Temptation is something each of us must face every day of our lives (Jas. 1: 12-13). The “roaring lion” is a mighty foe and some cannot cope with the day in and day out struggle with temptation. Rather than repenting, seeking God’s forgiveness, and then getting on with the business of life some get discouraged and give up when they find that they have succumbed to Satan’s devices again. It seems to me that they are depending too much on themselves and not enough on the Lord. By casting their cares upon Christ they can defeat this Jericho (1 Pet. 5:7).

Indifference is an ever present threat to all Christians (Heb. 2:1-3). It is disenchanting for a church to plan some work and then have to “beg” and “pamper” the members to get involved. Though some may try to excuse themselves for lack of experience the way to “learn” is to “do” and we must be “doers” of God’s word (Jas. 1:22-24)! By this means we can overthrow this Jericho.

Lack ofself-control may manifest itself in different forms: cursing, gluttony, losing one’s temper, loosing one’s tongue, etc. The ideal situation is for the Christian to be in control of his life even though he may not be in control of his world (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

Lack of prayer and Bible knowledge has hindered the growth of many (Heb. 5:12-14). We have not been left in this world to wander aimlessly without any help. God has made provisions in these areas (Rom. 8:26; 2 Tim. 2:15; Jas. 1:5). Therefore, by seeking His aid we can destroy these Jerichos (1 Thess. 5:17).

Do we encompass and defeat our enemies by God’s power or shrink back discouraged by our enemies size and power? “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:38-39).

Fall Down Jericho!

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, p. 341
June 7, 1984

By Mike Willis

With the blossoms appearing on the trees, I am reminded that summer will soon be here. School will soon be out. Families will be planning and taking vacations together. Gardens will be planted and worked. Flower beds will be cleaned out and new plants placed in them. Grass will need mowing.

Summer brings a peculiar kind of problem to many Christians. There are temptations which they face in the summer which do not confront some Christians in the winter. We must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. He will use any and every form of temptation to persuade us to forsake the Lord and enjoy sin’s pleasures for a season. In an effort to better prepare us to resist the Devil, let us consider some of the temptations which we will be facing in the next few months.

The Temptation Of Immodesty

One of the temptations to which many Christians succumb in the summer months is the temptation to dress immodestly. In the summer months, many Americans wear shorts, halter tops, tank tops, swimsuits, and other forms of immodest dress in public places.

The beaches and public swimming pools are filled by those who are going there to swim or to sun bathe. The attire that is worn at the beaches is designed to expose as much of the body as the laws of the land will allow. Some Americans practically live at the pool during the summer.

There is nothing sinful about swimming. Many Christians find private places in which to swim. However, not all Christians are so careful about finding private places to swim. Some go to the public beaches and swimming pools. Unfortunately, some preachers and their families can be seen at the beaches and pools in the same immodest attire which characterizes the non-Christians who are there.

Some preachers have quit preaching that sin is committed by mixed swimming. Indeed, in some parts of the country, mixed swimming is accepted by Christians as a legitimate form of recreation.

We need to be reminded of what the Bible teaches concerning dress codes for Christians. Paul commanded women to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1 Tim. 2:9). The word “modest” is from kosmios which is defined as “well-arranged, seemly, modest” (Thayer, p. 356). The word “shamefacedness” is “a sense of shame” (Ibid., p. 14). It is the moral purity which is rooted deeply into one’s character so that he will not do wrong, even when no one else might know about it (see R.C. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament, pp. 66-72). The word “sobriety” is “soundness of mind.” Trench distinguished the last two words in the following way:

At 1 Tim. ii.9 we shall best distinguish between aidos and sophrosune, and the distinction will be capable of further application, if we affirm of aidos that is that ‘shamefastness,’ or pudency, which shrinks from overpassing the limits of womanly reserve and modesty, as well as from the dishonour which would justly attach thereto; of sophrosune that it is that habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all the passions and desires, which would hinder the temptation to this from arising, or at all events from arising in such strength as should overbeat the checks and barriers which aidos opposed to it (Ibid., pp. 71-72).

These words demand a moral character which has a sense of shame rooted fast within. This sense of shame prohibits the indecent exposure of one’s body. The reason that women are willing to expose their nudity is because they have lost this sense of godly shame which characterizes women of godliness. They have no embarrassment when men, other than their husbands, see them parading around in a swimsuit which covers so little of the body.

The problem is not confined to the weak sisters. Men frequent the same places as do the women. The Scriptures forbid sinful lust. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). Why would a man want to place himself in circumstances in which he is constantly exposed to nearly nude women? The only explanation I can give is because he likes being in those circumstances – he is lascivious in character. Christian men need to imitate the example of Job. He said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (31:1).

With summer coming on, Christians need to resolve not to be conformed to this world in reference to the immodesty which characterizes the dress of non-Christians. We need to keep ourselves pure from immodest dress and lascivious and lustful conduct.

The Temptation To Miss Worship

The beautiful summertime lures many people away from the services. Some prosperous brethren resort to their cabin on the lake for fun and relaxation to the neglect of their labor in the local church. Bible classes, song services, and other jobs in which they serve for nine months must suddenly be done by someone else because these brethren are going to enjoy some time away from everything.

During vacations, some brethren who would not think of missing a Sunday or mid-week service at home put themselves in circumstances in which they cannot even assemble with the saints to observe the Lord’s supper on Sunday. The contribution which is generally given at home is consumed on personal pleasure while away in vacations. There is nothing wrong with a family taking a vacation. However, Christians should be careful not to leave God out of their vacation plans. Here are some suggestions:

(1) Plan your vacation in order that you can worship with brethren while away from home. When my family travels, we sit down with a map and a directory of churches to plan where we will worship on Lord’s day and mid-week. We enjoy the opportunity to meet new Christians while traveling.

(2) Leave your contribution at home. The local church’s expenses will continue with you gone. The building payment, the utility bills, Bible class materials, preacher’s support, and other expenses will continue just the same when you are away as when you are at home. A man would not think of leaving his family without money to live on while he is away on a business trip; he knows that the family’s expenses and needs continue whether or not he is at home. Hence, he provides for them even when he is away. A Christian should take the same thought for the local church’s expenses when he travels.

Not all of the absences from services relate to vacation traveling. There are couples who stay at home to cook out, take the children to little league games, and other summer activities. One would get the impression that the command not to forsake the assemblies (Heb. 10:25) has application only to the months of September through early June. Whatever the Bible teaches regarding one’s responsibilities in the local church, it teaches for all of the year, including the summer months.

Conclusion

I too look forward to the summer. I am tired of shoveling snow and I am planning on baiting a hook or two to entice some nice, big bass somewhere. There are summer pleasures not available to us in the winter months which all of us can enjoy. However, let us be careful not to forget our responsibilities to God during the summer.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 12, pp. 354, 376
June 21, 1984

By Ron Daly

Often, during the course of a Bible class in the home of one who is not a Christian, I have sought to kindly and firmly impress upon the mind of the unbeliever, the absolute necessity of being a steadfast and faithful member of Christ’s church. Usually, in seventy-five per cent of all cases, the response will be something to the effect that, “Well, I am a Methodist, that is, a member of the Methodist Church, and I believe that I am a member of Christ’s church, because all churches are apart of the church of Christi” Or, it may be worded like this: “You know Mr. Daly, I believe that there is only one church, and it is the church of Christ, and I am definitely a member of the one church, because I am a Baptist, a member of the Baptist Church, a part of which the church of Christ consists.”

Friends, nothing is further from the truth! Simply stated, the Bible nowhere teaches that “all churches are a ‘part’ of the church of Christ”. And, if the Bible does not teach this doctrine, why should you believe it? Please, carefully observe the following reasons why “all churches do not ‘make up’ the church of Christ.”

First of all, when one obeys the gospel of Christ by believing (Acts 15:7), repenting of sins (Acts 3:19; 17:30), confessing the Lord (Rom. 10:10; Matt. 10:32), and being immersed in the name of Christ in order to receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16), the Lord adds him (i.e., the individual) to the church, the body of the saved universally (Acts 2:41,47). Hence, Christ’s church is composed of members, not churches (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). Being composed of members, one must think of the “brotherhood,” not a “churchhood” (1 Pet. 2:17).

Next, “all churches are not a part of the church of Christ” because all churches (denominations) are not named in the Bible. To be right, a church must be named in God’s word. It must be described in and authorized to exist by the inspired word of the living God! Paul said to do “all in the name of Christ” (Col. 3:17). Peter said, “If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God . . .” (1 Pet. 4:11). We must give book, chapter, and verse for all we believe and practice! Where is the verse of Scripture which mentions the Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, or Pentecostal churches? Friends, this is a very serious matter!

Another reason I know that “all churches are not a ‘part’ of the church of Christ” is Christ did not build all churches. He built His; men built theirs (Matt. 16:18; 15:9-13). Those which were built by men cannot possibly be a “part” of what the precious and unique Son of God established.

Finally, the Bible plainly says, “there is one body” (Eph. 4:4) which is the church (Col. 1:24). If there is only one church made up of members (as we have proven), then there cannot be one church made up of 1200 churches (denominations)! The Lord Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23). If I ‘the head” identifies only one head, why doesn’t “the church” mean only one church? No friends, “all churches are not a ‘part’ of the church of Christ!

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 12, p. 356
June 21, 1984

By Bob Palmer

In the sport of baseball, some outspoken fans expect every baseball team to have players who always get a hit and never make an error. The only problem is, you can’t get those loud-mouth critics in the grandstand to lay down their hotdogs long enough to come onto the field and play.

Yes, its’ easy to sit in the crowd as an observer and criticize those who are participating in the game. In football, the “armchair quarterback” has quite an advantage over the poor fellow whose team is behind and has its back to the wall on its own 10-yard line with time running out.

There’s a lesson in this for the Christian. Every church seemly has its “team” and its “grandstand crowd.” Some members are deeply involved. They take an active part in the work of the church. These Christians are likely to be seen at gospel meetings conducted by other congregations in their area. They are active in patiently teaching their friends and neighbors the gospel of Jesus Christ. In short, some members are not content to sit back and watch; they’re always involved.

On the other hand, while some members are deeply involved, others merely watch like spectators in the bleachers ‘ But to hear them talk you would think they had all the answers. They would improve this and they would improve that. If they were in charge, the order of the services would be changed, the songs would be different and the preacher would be fired and a substitute put in his place. They don’t like the decisions made by the elders or the way the Bible classes are being run. Yet, ask them to help and you get a quick “No!”

A song of a few years back seems appropriate here. It contained the following lyric, “Walk a mile in my shoes before you abuse, criticize, or accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.” We all need to be careful not to criticize others until we have “walked a mile in their moccasins.” Jesus condemned this kind of fault-finding when He said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:1-5).

Don’t misunderstand me. Constructive criticism is always in order. Even as players on a team welcome helpful advise, so should Christians who are conscientiously serving the Lord. We all need constructive criticism. This type of criticism is aimed at helping one another become better people. When criticism is used properly, we will all greatly benefit from the criticism of others.

In addition, as you endeavor to criticize others because things aren’t going the way you think they should, are you available to assist? When offered a job, are you willing to accept it? If not, then you have been a grandstand expert long enough. It is time you got into the game! He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, p. 342
June 7, 1984