Truth Magazine

By Raymond E. Harris

When we read some of the declarations, resolutions and recommendations coming out of various church conferences and councils, we are made to wonder if many “religious leaders” and theologians ever read their Bibles. It seems multitudes in “high places” have completely lost sight of the real mission and purpose of Christianity.

1. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

2. The Bible says, “For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

The Bible says “. . . . go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

The Bible says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14).

5. The Bible says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

From these verses we shall see that God, Christ and the early Christians addressed themselves to one thing: The saving of lost souls of all mankind!

But, what are “church men” concerned about today? Let me focus on one example that portrays an attitude that is permeating an ever growing number of religious groups in America.

Recently the Lutheran Church of America held “Consultations” in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and Washington, D.C. And what was it that prompted such far-flung gatherings? It was “ministry to and with Singles in cities.” Well, does that mean they were concerned with how to better lead these people to Christ and soul salvation?

Oh, no! Their time, effort, money and concern was turned to such serious problems as: (1) Many local churches not allowing a single (non-married) person serve as an advisor to a youth group; (2) Not hiring a single preacher; (3) Not having a “brunch ministry” to serve Sunday dinner to singles; (4) Church political involvement to fight singles discrimination in city zoning laws; (5) Stressing that “homosexuals are part of the reality of church life and warrant the full ministry of the church.

A casual reader of the Bible knows that all forms of fornication (adultery, pre-marital sex, lesbianism and homosexuality) are strongly condemned in the Word of God. In plain unmistakable language, we are informed that those who practice such things are doomed to Hell (Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5-6; Rom. 1:24-32).

Likewise, it does not take a Solomon to realize that God never intended that any group be singled out for special attention. Christ died to save the single, the married, the old, the young, the men, the women, the rich, the poor, the educated and the uneducated.

Christ died to save all. And the mission of true Christianity today is the saving of the souls of the lost. Woe be to those who major in minors and neglect “the weightier matters.”

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 10, pp. 303-304
May 17, 1984

By Tom Roberts

There is a great deal of difference between a dynamite blast and a rifle shot. While the dynamite blast has more power and generates more turbulence, the very power that is released may only do more damage due to the la6k of control that is evident in a rifle shot. A bullet is sent to a target, given direction and headed toward a certain goal. One of the great tragedies of life is that some people often explode like a dynamite blast but have no purpose. Their life may have a great deal of noise, heat and power and yet accomplish little. How much we need to learn to harness the enthusiasm, talents and abilities of our life and give them direction.

I remember a man of tremendous wood-working ability who could perform a work of art with a piece of lumber. He could truly be called a carpenter, not just a nail-driver like others I have known. But this man had no control in his life no real purpose, and I saw him literally drink himself to death with liquor. He lost his family, his wealth, his talent and finally his life because he could not give purpose to his life. It was a sad waste.

I remember a man who could preach wonderful gospel sermons. His lessons were true to the book of God, clearly stated and warmly motivating to the lost. He baptized a number of lost souls into the body of Christ. But this man did not or would not control his lust for women and ruined his reputation, lost his family, left the church and has no contact with faithful Christians today. He could not control his appetites.

I remember a number of wonderful teenagers who were filled with the energies of the young. They could put more events into one 24-hour day than most people could in a week. They were bright, able, talented young adults who had vitality, vigor and stamina to do and achieve great things. But they devoted all their energies to worldly things and had no time for the Lord. Some of them will make a name for themselves in the world, some will make a lot of money, some will go far in earthly pursuits. But they failed to realize the value of the soul and did not direct their lives toward Heaven.

I know of some churches that are tremendously busy and active. They have a nursery school, a Boy Scout troop, take the young people and senior citizens on bus trips, keep two or three secretaries busy with paper work, have a number of preachers, associate preachers, educational directors and youth workers. But all of this activity, a veritable beehive of comings and goings, is not so much kingdom business as it is social activity. The mission of the church has been lost and the leaders of this church suppose that the mere flurry of activity is acceptable with the Lord.

Get the point? One person with purpose, intent and direction to his life can accomplish more than 100 people who are busy but have no mission. We have heard criticism of faithful churches by our liberal brethren because, they say, we are not doing anything. While this charge is open to debate (knowing that we could always do more than we are doing), I state firmly that a small band of disciples who are worshiping God and teaching the lost will do more in the long run than a large congregation that is given over to the social gospel simply because, with all its faults, the small church has purpose and direction. Someone has suggested that a train, loaded with many filled railroad cars, going at a high rate of speed will not do the good that a little red wagon can do if the train is headed in the wrong direction. The faster the train goes, the further it goes in the wrong direction. The little red wagon cannot carry the load that the train can carry but it will arrive at the right destination. Like the rifle bullet, it has purpose and direction.

True, there are places where the analogies about the dynamite and the rifle bullet, the train and the little red wagon break down. We should not be content with one shot or with a small wagon load when we can do a great deal more. But like parables used in the Bible, the illustration has one main lesson to teach. That lesson deals with the purpose and intent of our lives that we should have. Friend, you will never accomplish a great deal for God until you determine the direction of your life. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief, you need to put Christ first in your life and let other things be secondary. As the apostle Peter stated, we are strangers and pilgrims, just passing through this life. If we lose our sense of direction and let earthly pursuits become our main interest, we have lost everything.

Which is it with you? Are you busy but have no time for the Lord? Are you talented but accomplish nothing for the Lord? Are you filled with energy but too tired to serve? Do you make a lot of noise in some fields of endeavor but say nothing when you need to speak up for truth? Why not determine to give some purpose to your life in a spiritual way? Make up your mind to channel your life into fruitful service to God and His church. You will find that you accomplish more that will last for eternity and that, like the rifle shot, you will not “miss the mark.”

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 9, p. 273
May 3, 1984

By Earl E. Robertson

In Acts 17:30 Luke records a statement made by the apostle Paul to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers on Mars Hill which, without doubt, has turned many souls from sin to a fife with God. He said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent … .. To repent” translates the present infinitive metanoein, and is defined “to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins.”

Since God’s ways and man’s ways are not alike (Isa. 55:8, 9) but God’s ways are right, it is necessary that man make the change in order to be right in his thinking and living. It is unthinkable that man can honestly and intelligently change his mind without evidence. The gospel of Christ is the evidence which leads to one changing his mind.

Repentance is not something God gives directly to a sinner. God grants repentance but it is through the process of teaching (Acts 11:14-18). There is not the slightest possibility for any one to repent, having never heard the gospel of Christ. Every case of conversion fully impresses one with the fact that one’s ability to repent is based upon the evidence presented in the preaching of the gospel. Let none tell you that you can repent if you do not know the reasons for making such a change in your mind.

Hearing some of the denominational preachers one would think repentance is convulsion. They seem to think if they are able to manipulate one into screaming, jerking, going into emotional spells, to gibber, and foam at the mouth, they have caused repentance in that individual’s life! Such is not true. Repentance is a change of one’s mind, not the personification of ignorance. Since repentance is a change of one’s mind it then is an intellectual action: one is taught the truth and is thereby led to an abandonment of his own thoughts and an acceptance of God’s word. It is then a change in one’s mind that leads to a change in life to be acceptable to God (cf. the incestuous brother at Corinth, 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 2:1-9; 7:712). The case of Jonah illustrates the same thing (Jonah 3; Matt. 12:41). One cannot do any better than one knows; therefore, what one knows is the basis which leads to a change in life. When one changes his mind, that one will not refuse to obey God. “Repent and be baptized” is the command in Acts 2:38! Have you repented?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 9, p. 274
May 3, 1984

By James M. Jonas

For whatever was written in earlier times was “written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). If you have not yet discovered the treasure chest of the Old Testament, my hope for this article is that it will give you just a taste of the riches that can be found therein. From depths of despair to pinnacles of pleasure, through bitter failures and glorious triumphs, one is led along the path of time with the characters of old. All of the pearls of instruction, the gems of encouragement and the richness of hope are free for our taking but more often than not they lie in their chest untouched beneath settled dust. Take out your chest, brush away the time and let’s sample some treasure.

In the First book of Samuel, we are introduced to a character of unsurpassed courage and trust in the Lord. Although he was the son of a king, although he was the beloved companion and friend of another king, and although he was a valiant and courageous servant of the Lord, he is a character often overlooked when the Bible greats are mentioned. His name is Jonathan, the son of King Saul and devoted friend of David, Saul’s successor to the throne.

Jonathan was a man afflicted by many hurtful circumstances. While he should have been heir to his father’s throne, Saul’s wickedness caused God to rend the kingdom from Saul and his descendants and give it unto David (1 Sam. 13:13-14; 15:26-28). Yet, Jonathan was neither bitter nor jealous toward David concerning this. On the contrary, he even loved David greatly (1 Sam. 18:3-4; 20:18-42). Throughout his life Jonathan found himself torn between his loyalty to David and his obedience to his father but never was there found an occasion for animosity in his heart. He remained true to both sides without compromise for either. But perhaps the most inspiring event of this man’s life involved an incident of faith and trust in his relationship with God.

The 14th chapter of 1 Samuel finds the Philistines threatening the children of God and entrenched in the Israelite city of Michmash. The appearance of the Philistine army was an awesome display: 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and people numbered as the sand of the sea (13:5). The magnitude of the army coupled with the cowardice of the Israelites had sent the greater majority of the population scurrying for the shelter of caves, cellars, woods and neighboring countries (13:6-7). Some even defected and joined sides with the Philistines (14:21). Only Saul, Jonathan and 600 warriors were left to face the Philistines, and these few encamped in Geba which was only a short distance from Michmash (13:15-16).

It is in this setting of cheerless gloom and apparent hopelessness that the courage and faith of Jonathan brilliantly shines forth. All those around him were shivering in faithless fright forgetting the countless times that the Lord’s hand had delivered them from their enemies. It hadn’t been very long ago that the Lord had driven these very same Philistines out of the land under Samuel (7:9-14). Even Jonathan’s own father and God’s chosen leader of the nation was found wanting in his willingness to take a stand and fight. In the face of the massive Philistine host and surrounded by his own fearful countrymen: “Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, ‘Come and let us cross over the garrison of these uncircumcised-, perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few. . . (14:6). What incredible faith and trust Jonathan had in the Lord! How often we falter in the face of adversity because our wavering trust in the Lord causes us to lose sight of Him.

It seems that so often we let the influence of others rub off on us and we end up conforming and compromising with the rest. But not Jonathan. It would have been easy for him to say, “Well, since nobody else is going out to fight I’m not going either.” It would have also been easy for him to be overcome by the size of the foe and he could have said, “I might as well not even try because I probably couldn’t win anyway.” But he didn’t.

What Jonathan did do was go out, only he and his armor bearer, and with the help of God slay twenty Philistines 13 and put the rest of the army to flight (14:14-20). You see, Jonathan recognized the very same principle that you and I must recognize as Christians, and it is also the same one Paul wrote the Roman Christians about in Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” What Jonathan realized is that an army of one man plus God constitutes a majority in any battle to be fought.

Friends, when we depend upon our own abilities and resources to fight our battles and we forget about God, we’re going to find ourselves severely lacking. The result is not only going to be failure, but failure to even try. The only thing that stood between the Israelites and victory was a frame of mind. The question was not could they defeat the Philistines, but would they? It was Jonathan’s faith and trust in the Lord that defeated the Philistines, not his military expertise. When we are working the will of God, what enemy is too formidable to be overcome?

As Christians, our warfare against Satan is not physical or fleshly in nature, but it is a warfare of the spirit and of the mind (2 Cor. 10:3-5). However, the principles of war do not change. Satan had deceived the Israelites and Saul into thinking they could not defeat the Philistines. Even though it was a lie, as long as they believed it to be true, it kept them from winning the battle. Is it not the same today? Do not our fears and failures as Christians result from how we think and feel about the situation instead of what the situation really is? I think it happens something like this: (1) we slowly and almost imperceptibly drift away from and lose sight of our Father; (2) realizing that something is now missing we try to take up the slack by trusting in our own abilities; (3) we soon become insecure because we know that we are inadequate to the task and (4) we wind up in discouragement, despair and failure. Either we give it a halfhearted effort or we won’t try at all.

Be a Jonathan. Fight the fight of faith with courage and bravery, trusting and relying on the Lord’s strength and His promises to care for you. As you face the foe, no matter how fearful and dreaded he may appear, remember that the Lord is standing on your side. “If God is for us, who is against us? “

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 9, pp. 269-270
May 3, 1984