Truth Magazine

By Frank Jamerson

One of the major problems through the years among brethren has been the accumulation and use of money. The major reason for the trouble has been the failure to distinguish between individual and congregational activity.

When churches have bazaars, operate businesses and rent property to make money, they are doing what individuals are authorized to do, but the church is not authorized to raise funds in these ways. Individuals are to “work with their own hands” in order to have resources to support themselves and to help others (Eph. 4:28). The same writer said that if a man will not work, “neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3: 10). An individual may farm, operate a business or work for someone else, own rental property, etc., but churches that engage in such methods of raising money are acting without authority from God.

A local church is to raise money by the giving of members on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). God has revealed no other day or way for churches to raise money. When brethren recognize the distinction between individual and congregational activity, they will not contend that the church can do what the individual can do. Those who do not understand this distinction will have churches involved in all kinds of business enterprises to earn money.

Another problem area is the use of money. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a difference between what belongs to the individual and what belongs to the church. The property of Ananias and Sapphira did not belong to the church, and the money gained from its sale did not belong to the church (Acts 5:1-6). God killed them because they lied about how much of it they were giving. They wanted people to think they had given it all when they had not. God knew that what they kept was under their control and did not belong to the church!

Other passages clearly indicate that individuals have responsibilities that the church does not have. A Christian is to “relieve” his widow, “that the church be not charged” (I Tim. 5:16). Individuals are authorized to provide recreation (1 Tim. 4:8), participate in business (Eph. 4:28), engage in social activities (such as PTA, Red Cross, Scouting, etc.) (Lk. 10:30-37; 1 Cor. 5:9-11), support political activities (Rom. 13), and fulfill domestic obligations (Eph. 6:14), but this does not authorize churches to participate in, or to support, such activities.

Churches are limited to those things that God authorized congregations to do, which basically may be summarized in “teaching” (1 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 10:24,25), and “relieving” (Acts 2:44,45; 4:32-35; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; 1 Tim 5:16). When a church provides for recreation, entertainment, social meals, political rallies, secular education, etc., it is engaged in projects that are authorized for individuals but not for churches!

A third problem area is in saving money. There are too many brethren who feel that the church may do what the individual may do in saving money.

I know of no one who would contend that an individual may not invest his money in property, savings certificates, etc., for the purpose of earning a profit. In fact the one talent man was condemned for not putting his money to proper use and gaining “interest” (Matt. 25:26,27). There are brethren who are opposed to churches spending their money like individuals do, but they have not seen that churches that save money are making the same mistake!

I am not saying that a church may not save money for a particular need. Corinth gathered for at least a year to send to Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8:10,11; 9:1,2). This is not the same as a church going into the “saving business” to get gain.

It certainly would not be using good common sense to spend every dollar collected within the week, but churches that have big bank accounts while the world dies in sin and preachers beg for support, need to realize that churches are not to run their business like individuals run theirs. Brethren if it is wrong for churches to spend their money like individuals do, it is also wrong for them to save it like individuals do! “Saving for a rainy day” (the roof that may start leaking or the central heating and air-conditioning system that “may” break down, etc.) may be simply an excuse for brethren who want to save instead of use the Lord’s money!

The Lord’s treasury must be raised as God authorized and it must be used as He taught. We are not at liberty to use it for “any good work that the individual may do,” neither are we at liberty to save/ invest it like individuals do. Let us contend for God’s way in every respect.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 3, p. 80
February 2, 1984

By Earl E. Robertson

The idea of “once saved, always saved” is nowhere taught in the Scriptures. Yet, this is one of the doctrines taught by many churches today. Many manuals contain this article of perseverance (see The Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, Edward T. Hiscox, p. 67).

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). 1 believe this statement is most emphatic! There are no exceptions to Jesus’ statement. No man can enter the kingdom except he is born again. I did not say this, it is so stated by Jesus Himself. Yet, the same Lord also said, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41, 42). Having already observed that only those “born again” enter the kingdom, and now the record says that some will be “gathered out of his kingdom,” leads one to conclude that some born again people will be lost in “fire.” This is exactly what Jesus says. Look at it again; only the born again enter the kingdom; yet, some shall be taken out and burned. If the “furnace of fire” herein affirmed is not heaven then it is torment, and being torment it will contain some “gathered out” of Christ’s kingdom. Born again people, having committed iniquity, are gathered out and cast into the fire. Believe it or not, this is what the Master says, my friend. This doesn’t sound like “once saved, always saved” to me. If born again people are saved it is saying that some, having been saved, will finally burn in fire for having lived iniquitously.

Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8: 1). First, one must be in Christ; second, one must not walk after the flesh to enjoy salvation and no condemnation; third, he must walk (live) after the Spirit. Now, the question is: what shall be the results if this one refuses to walk after the Spirit and walks after the flesh? The same results cannot be. “No condemnation” is predicated upon the fact that one walk after the Spirit and not the flesh. If one walks after the flesh, he reaps corruption (Gal. 6:8).

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 3, p. 79
February 2, 1984

By David D. Back

The Greek word koinonia is used 20 times in the New Testament and 12 of those times it was translated fellowship. The basic definition of the word is “communion`,and is so translated four times in God’s Word. It has also been translated “communication … .. contribution,” “distribution,” and “to communicate,” once each.

Much false doctrine and, at best, very poor judgment has been spread by the improper use of the word fellowship. We have brethren who proclaim that their suppers and entertainment are fellowship. Some say that as long as a person has been immersed for any reason, we can fellowship with him for he is our brother. Others claim that there is no fellowship as long as one does not contribute to the treasury, thus allowing them to worship with those in error when they please. But is this what God would have us believe? Just what does constitute fellowship?

Called By The Father

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). Notice that what begins our relationship (or fellowship) is that the Father must call us. How are we called?

The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thess. 2:13,14, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (emphasis mine, ddb). God calls us by the Spirit who searched the deep things of God and revealed them to the apostles, who in turn spoke them unto mankind (1 Cor. 2:9-13). This is, of course, the truth that sanctifies us. Jesus, as He prayed in John 17, stated, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth” (v. 17). The only truth we have is the word of God. And we are told that we are chosen by belief in the truth. We are called by the gospel which the apostles revealed unto us. Can we say that we have fellowship with our Lord and refuse to obey the words of truth? This reminds me of the words of our Lord, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46). Do we make mockery of our Lord? Why not obey the words of our Lord and begin your fellowship with Him.

Is It Suppers And Entertainment?

In reading bulletins from time to time from our brethren who are persuaded to support human institutions from the church treasury I have seen them misuse many passages. But probably the worst I have ever seen was the using of Acts 2:42 to say that fellowship in that passage justifies the use of the building for such purposes as these. There was no explanation given; he just used it. Brethren, I believe in get togethers, pot-luck dinners, and I enjoy entertainment, but this is not a gimmick we are to use to draw men to the Lord. Romans 1: 16,17 tells us that the gospel is to be the drawing power to salvation, for therein lies the righteousness of God.

All we can hope to draw with food and entertainment are those the apostle Paul speaks of in Philippians 3:18,19. Their god is their bellies and they mind earthly things. Let us not be guilty of this wrong. Jesus Himself did not want any to follow after Him because their bellies were being filled. In John 6, there were those who sought after Jesus, not because they saw the miracles, but because they ate the loaves that were provided and were filled (v. 26). Jesus continues in verse 27, “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you . . .” We need to be concerned with that spiritual f6od as Peter puts it (1 Pet. 2:2), “. . . the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Let us feed the manna of God unto our souls that we may have life through obedience unto it.

Fellowship is not a word to be trampled under foot in such a way. Acts 2:42 is talking about the communion they had with one another because of their relationship with God. That is, they labored one with another for the same goal to bring lost souls to Christ by the truth of the gospel. Take a look at Galatians 2:9; it is the same Greek word. There Paul said that James, Cephas, and John extended the right hand of fellowship to him that they may go unto the heathen while the others went to the circumcised. The word means the same as in Acts 2:42; they said they stood behind them in their work, that they bid them Godspeed. Again in 1 John 1:3 the same Greek word appears two times. John tells them that he declares or proclaims the word to them so they can have fellowship with them. This is not talking about feast or entertainment. It is teaching us that those obedient to the word are now children of God; now we can be partakers together in the hope of salvation and working for the same cause. John continues to say that their fellowship is truly with God and His Son. Does this sound like the entertainment our erring brethren are promoting?

If you are involved in these tactics then you had better come out from among them. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).

Is Giving Into The Treasury All Of Fellowship?

I want to say, first of all that the Bible teaches that giving is a part of fellowship in passages such as 2 Cor. 8:4,5; Phil. 1:5; 4:14-16. But does the New Testament teach this is all that constitutes fellowship? The answer to that question is “no,” as we have seen in other realms of this study.

The apostle Paul wrote that he was made a minister to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:7-9). This in turn would make all men see the fellowship of the mystery. This was hid in God. Fellowship here has nothing to do with giving but refers to our relationship to God. 1 John 1:6 tells us that we can say we have fellowship with Christ, but if we walk in the worldly paths of sin we are a liar and do not practice the truth. I John 1:7 continues, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here the fellowship spoken of is that horizontal relationship we have with our fellowman. That relationship is established because of the common bonds which we have with God. The fellowship here is established not because of our giving (although it is a part of fellowship) but because of our obedience to the gospel. This is nothing but a rationalizationused by those who want to attend where they recognize there is error.

This Is The Sum

As Hebrews 8:1 puts it, “. . . this is the sum” as we look at all the evidence. Let us not stand in the works of darkness but come out from among them. Think of the words of John, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there be any come unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” You are bidding these erring ones Godspeed through your misuse of the word fellowship. Let us swallow our pride and obey God’s truth.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 3, pp. 78-79
February 2, 1984

By Daniel L. Holloway

These days, we hear much about our country’s economic woes. And we do not have to look far to find that society is beset with plenty of other problems. Of course, each individual has his own personal difficulties as well. To make sure that we feel sufficiently miserable, we are often given to counting our many troubles. If this is our attitude, there is a lesson which we are in need of from God’s word.

From Ephesians 5:20, we learn that we are to give “thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” However, I fear that, too often, we take our blessings for granted. We may even feel that we have earned them, that they are ours solely because of our own efforts. We must guard against such an attitude. The truth is that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights” (Jas. 1:17). Although we may labor to get something, it is still from God in that He makes it possible to obtain it. As Paul and Barnabas told the people of Lystra he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). Paul said of the church in Corinth, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6).

Not only does God provide us with material blessings, but our very existence is dependent upon Him. Paul declared to the Athenians in him we live, and move, and have our being . . .” (Acts 17:28). Rather than feeling that God has cheated us if we do not receive something that we want, we should be thankful for what we have. “Come now, ye that say, today or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that” (Jas. 4:13-15).

Also, we ought to be thankful for the spiritual blessings which God offers. From Ephesians 1:3, we learn that God blesses with all spiritual blessings in Christ. We do not earn these blessings either. Paul explains, “. . . for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory” (Eph. 2:8,9).

However, there is a significant difference between the way in which God bestows material blessings and the way in which He bestows spiritual blessings. We may receive material blessings whether we want them or not and without meeting any conditions for them. As Christ said, “. . . he maketh his sun to rise on,;he evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). But spiritual blessings are not poured out on us whether we want them or not. They must be accepted. After preaching to the Jews of Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas told them that they were putting the word of God from them and judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life (Acts 13:46). This shows that we can reject the spiritual blessings that are in Christ. On the other hand, Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (Jn. 14:23). We should be thankful that He has given us the terms which must be followed to receive His spiritual blessings: we must believe on Him (Jn. 8:24), repent of our sins (Lk. 13:3,5), confess our faith (Matt. 10:32), and be baptized (Mk. 16:16).

As Paul wrote, we ought to be “rooted and builded up” in Christ, “established” in the faith, “abounding in thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). But how can we be thankful for the spiritual blessings if we have not accepted them? The spiritual things are much more important than the material things which we prize so highly. That which is material shall pass away with time, but that which is spiritual will never fail (Matt. 6:19,20; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Matt. 16:26). We ought to be thankful for our material blessings because they truly are blessings. We ought to be thankful for our lives. And we ought to obey our God that we might receive the spiritual blessings, and be thankful!

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 3, p. 77
February 2, 1984