Truth Magazine

By Lewis Willis

Well, Pat Boone used to sing about writing love letters in the sand. If one has the right to be writing love letters, I guess sand is as good a place to write them as any. Perhaps it would be better, since the evidence of those loving commitments wouldn’t be around for long, sand being what it is. However, writing letters in the sand and building houses on the sand are two entirely different propositions.

Did you see the news film shot during the floods that struck the California coast recently? It was a pitiful site to see -one can only imagine the anguish of the people immediately involved. Some homeowners had actually built their big, beautiful homes on the sandy beach of the Pacific Ocean. Films showed those large edifices literally falling in heaps when the floods and stormy winds unrelentingly beat upon them. I am reminded of the following words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: And great was the fall of it (Matt. 7:24-27; My Emp., L.W.)

I can scarcely imagine a physical circumstance that so nearly parallels something our Lord said while He was on this earth. City councils authorized the issuance of building permits to those California residents to build their houses on those sandy beaches. Of course, those city councils won’t come in and re-build those houses that were foolishly built on such a flimsy foundation. That is the homeowner’s problem.

One thinks of all of the spiritual permission that human counsels give to build spiritual houses on unstable foundations. When those houses are tested by the storms of life and the winds of judgment, they, too, shall fall in the greatest and most tragic fall of all. The authors of this human counsel will not concern themselves with, the tragedy of all of those fallen houses. They will be too busy trying to extricate themselves from the ruins of their own houses that have collapsed about them. Again, the spiritual homeowner has a problem, with no opportunity to re-build.

How good is our vision? Can’t we see the truth that Jesus spoke? A foolish man builds his house on sand. A wise man builds his house on a rock. When tested, one stands – the other collapses. We saw a demonstration of that truth when we saw those California films.

The truthfulness of our Lord’s physical example establishes the truthfulness of His spiritual point. Each of us is building his own spiritual house. These houses will be tested! If we have been wise, heeding the sayings of our Lord and doing them, our houses will stand. On the other hand, if we have been foolish, not heeding or doing our Lord’s sayings, our houses will fall. And great will be the fall of them.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 14, p. 433
July 21, 1983

By Aude McKee

Suppose you were asked to name three or four things that are a great deal less prevalent today than a quarter of a century ago, what would you list? I suspect that hospitality would be ~ named by most people. The oft used phrase, “What ever happened to . . . .?” could well be applied to hospitality and probably listed among the “lost arts.” When I was a boy you could hear, “Come and go home with us” all around as you left the building and people meant it.

As you think about it, the whole thing becomes sort of confusing. Why has it happened? Why are people less hospitable now? We have more in about every way to do with than people did years ago. More money, more time and labor saving devices, more foods that are prepared commercially and only need a few minutes in the microwave or need no preparation at all. But maybe this is our problem. When housewives had to have preparations made ahead of time, perhaps it was easier.

There have been other changes in society that have affected hospitality. During the depression years, people who were “down and out” knocking on your door was a common occurrence. I can’t recall my mother ever turning anyone away. And I can’t recall her ever saying, “I’ll have to call someone from your home town to determine if you are worthy.” We didn’t have the bums and frauds like we have now. Those people weren’t asking for a handout so they could drive their Hudson or Packard to the next city.

Let’s look at hospitality from the Bible viewpoint. The word is from a Greek word that means “love of strangers.” Elders, if qualified, are “given to hospitality” (1 Tim. 3:2), but it is also a responsibility of all Christians. In Romans 12, we learn ‘that a part of presenting our bodies a living sacrifice and being transformed by the renewing of our minds, is “distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality” (v. 13). To the Hebrew brethren, the writer said, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (13:2), and Peter pointed out that we should “use hospitality one to another without grudging” (I Pet. 4:9). From these passages we learn some vital truths.. Hospitality must be vital to the ongoing of the local church – men are not qualified to be elders unless they are hospitable, being hospitable is a part of being a faithful Christian. Great opportunities and blessings are missed when we fail to practice hospitality, and hospitality must be extended with the same attitude of heart that motivates us to lay by in store on the 1st day of the week (2 Cor. 9:7).

There are abundant examples of hospitality to help us understand what sort of activity is involved. Abraham entertained angels unaware of who they were in Genesis 18:1-8. In 1 Kings 17, a widow and her son took Elijah into their home and shared the little they had with him in his need. Elisha was the recipient of the hospitality of a Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-11. She and her husband prepared a place in their house with a stool, a table, a candlestick and a bed so he could stop and refresh himself. In Acts 2:44-45 and 4:34-35, the Judean Christians shared what they had with their brethren. Lydia, immediately after her conversion, “constrained” four gospel preachers to live in her house (Acts 16:14-15) – she literally begged them to make her house their headquarters. Onesiphorus had a “grip” on true hospitality. He helped Paul often, he was not ashamed of him even though he was a prisoner, and Paul didn’t have to look for Onesiphorus – he looked for Paul so he might minister to his needs (2 Tim. 1:16-18).

Hospitality is something extended when it is needed. Every example given suggests this fact. It is also seen in the qualifications given for a widow to be enrolled in 1 Timothy 5:10. She (according to this word used but once in the New Testament) had to be a person who “lodged .strangers” (KJV) or “showed hospitality to strangers” (NASV). We are not suggesting that Christians are to be together and enjoy each other’s company (as well as food), only when a need exists. The “breaking bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46) probably relates to the sort of thing we enjoy so much, but we doubt this really pinpoints the real meaning of hospitality. Let me give some examples without calling names. A family in the Northeast lived close to the building. Several other families had to drive many miles for the Lord’s Day assembly. The family near the building opened up their home so the other families would not have to make two long drives or else miss the evening worship. That is hospitality. During a meeting in another “mission area,” a day service was planned. Usually at such gatherings, everyone in attendance would go to a restaurant at noon, but the preacher and his wife knew that one family attending would lack the financial resources to “eat out” and so they fed the entire group to keep from embarrassing the one family. That is hospitality. In a congregation in Florida, the meal list was posted for the visiting preacher. A widow and her grandson, who had both just recently obeyed the gospel, were among the first to put their names on the list. Then they began to face up to their problems. They only had two chairs and two plates, etc. So they had to go to a second-hand store and buy the things they needed to feed the preacher. That’s hospitality – not because the preacher needed that particular meal, but they needed to do their part! True hospitality grows out of love and concern. In another meeting, many years ago before the barrier between the races were broken down, an old black sister – the only one among the whites, as I recall – took the preacher aside and asked him if he would mind eating in her home. That is hospitality.

We usually don’t need encouragement to visit with and eat with those who are near and dear, but what about those in the local congregation who are usually overlooked? Jesus taught along this line in Luke 14:12-14. We need to extend our hospitality to those in need. Occasionally there will be someone in physical need, but more often, in our experience, it is someone who is in need of spiritual assistance. There is hardly a congregation in the land but what has some neglected people in it. Stop and think of the ones in your local congregation who would benefit from your hospitality. Be sure they are included in the near future.

However, the hospitality Christians extent is not limited to those who are members of the body of Christ. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. . .” is the command of Galatians 6:10. The injunction of Hebrews 13:2, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. . .” would certainly cause those not Christians to be the recipients of our hospitality, like a number of other responsibilities, is limited. First, we could not extend hospitality to false teachers. 2 John 9-11 makes it clear that to do so would make us a “partaker of his evil deeds.” Also, we could not extend hospitality to a person too lazy to work. This prohibition is also a command in 2 Thessalonaians 3:10.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 14, pp. 432-433
July 21, 1983

By Thomas F. Shropshire

In Philippians 1:15, 16 Paul said, “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one does it of love, knowing that I am set for a defense of the gospel.” A defense of the gospel embraces a broad field of teaching and practice, both individually and collectively. But in this essay, I wish to consider one particular phase of this general subject.

Let us consider what Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 6:10-17, giving particular attention to verse 12. “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

In verse 11, Paul teaches us to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” In verses 14 through part of verse 17, he lists the various parts of the Christian’s armor; about which we will not deal particularly, except to say that each particular one is vital to our protection from a spiritual standpoint. In verse 17, he speaks of the only weapon to be used in the conflict.

Now we want to give particular attention to verse 12, in which Paul speaks of the nature of the conflict involved and the nature of the foe to be met. He speaks of “spiritual wickedness” in high or heavenly places. In this verse the wickedness of a spiritual nature or with reference. to spiritual matters, in high places or upon a spiritual plane, gives us the idea of the field of conflict involved.

The vast majority of the sectarian world despise any idea, to say nothing of any practice of controversy upon religious matters. It is a sad thing indeed to see some members of the body of Christ, recognizing sectarians as “Christians” and using terms which are sectarian in their origin. Many will say, “A false religion is better than no religion.” I cannot share this belief. This idea is modernistic in nature. False religions may have some merit in improving .society and life of a temporal nature, but it is deceitful in its influence and wicked in the sight of God. It is fatal spiritually and will cause millions to be lost eternally.

Among many members of the body of Christ, when a preacher has the intestinal fortitude to oppose false doctrine, some will become incensed with indignation toward that preacher and criticize him, even in the presence of their sectarian friends. This makes about as much sense as if one saw his neighbor’s house on fire and let him burn to death for fear of hurting his feelings if he warned him of his danger.

The Issues

The issues between Christians and denominationalists are clearly drawn. Of course denominationalists pay “lip-service” to the Bible, but ignore it when it comes to the conditions of primary obedience as well as church procedures in work, worship and organization. All denominations, with the possible exception of one, teach that salvation comes in a miraculous manner without and independent of obedience to the truth. The idea of faith only “trusting Christ as your personal savior” – does not come from the Bible but from the imagination of men. Paul said, “So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Since our faith that leads to salvation, comes by hearing the word of Christ, our faith will consist in what the word of Christ says in the New Testament. Until one hears, believes and obeys what Christ says in the New Testament, he cannot even come close to being saved or having his sins forgiven.

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” In Mark 16:15, 16 Jesus said, to the apostles, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” In Luke 24:46, 47 Jesus also said, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” These things were combined in the preaching of the apostles on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, through the influence of the Holy Spirit whom Christ had promised would be sent to them in His name. “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly (believe beyond a shadow of doubt – T.F.S.), that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:36-38).

Sectarians will say, “That is your interpretation of it.” I deny that this is mine or anyone else’s interpretation of anything. The Lord simply meant what He said and said what He meant. Actually, the term “interpretation” as they used it, is called by Peter, “wresting” in 2 Peter 3:15, 16. “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of their things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsteadfast wrest, as they do also to the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

Authority Of The Scriptures

One of the largest religious bodies in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, rejects completely the authority of the Scriptures. The only use they make of the Scriptures is when they are trying to convince people who are supposed to accept the Scriptures as the inspired word of God. The whole system of Catholic teaching is founded upon the claim that authority was vested in a succession of men, with the living Pope at the top of the heap, and not in the original apostles and New Testament prophets alone, who wrote the New Testament. The original apostles and New Testament prophets had no successors and wrote the. New Testament through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church in no way remotely resembles the church of the Lord as it is revealed upon the pages of inspiration. Nor do they claim that it does, since they claim to be the successors of the apostles. The Catholics have placed themselves in an insurmountable dilemma. Either they are wrong in their claim of authority or the apostles were wrong in what is written in the New Testament. The Catholic’s claim of the supremacy of Peter, based upon their weak and obvious perversion of Matthew 16:18, is the foundation of their whole system.

The matter of a recognition of the authority of the Scripture is the first line of battle with the devil and his spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places or in regard to spiritual matters. Whether it be the Catholics, whose whole system is based upon the authority of men who are imposters, or those who claim miraculous experiences, as opposed to Divine Truth, until they come to the point of allowing the Scriptures to decide any and every religious discussion, there is no basis of agreement.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 14, pp. 429-430
July 21, 1983

By Dennis C. Abernathy

We all should be ready always to give an answer or make a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15). In Acts 15 we read of some who came down from Judea teaching that one had to be circumcised according to the custom of Moses or they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas were there and “had great dissension and debate with them” (Acts 15:2). I ask you brethren, if men today come teaching that one must do something not taught in the gospel of Christ in order to be saved, can we afford to do any less than did Paul and Barnabas? I am afraid that a lot of my brethren today look upon public debate with disdain. With them it is not “The Fight is On” but rather, “The Fight is Gone.” For shame! Especially is this true with our “liberal brethren.” For the most part, they no longer believe in debate. If you ask them to do what Peter said we should always be ready to do, they will either ignore you or will accuse you of not loving your brethren. Brethren, we need more debates; they will do good!

My object in this short article is not to review the Harkrider-Hancock Debate, from the standpoint of the. argumentation, but to give you some information pertaining to the debate itself. On April 4, 5, 7 and 8, David Harkrider met Steve Hancock in public debate on the subjects of the Godhead, Holy Spirit Baptism, the baptismal formula, and spiritual gifts. David was representing the North Main church of Christ in Gladewater, Texas and Mr. Hancock represented the Gilmer Apostolic Church in Gilmer. The first two nights were held in the building of the North Main church of Christ. The crowd was estimated to be approximately 450 on Monday evening and approximately 410 on Tuesday evening. The last two nights were conducted in the Gilmer Apostolic Church’s building, with Thursday night’s crowd running approximately 450 and then the final evening up to 650.

The debate was orderly, with the participants respecting each other before and after the debate. For the most part, the crowd was orderly with very little disruption. Many good remarks have been made about the debate, from those in attendance who were neither members of the church of Christ nor the Apostolic church.

The brethren of the North Main church of Christ supported the debate in a fine way. We believe in defending the truth on every front, whether it be from among brethren or from without. We believe the truth has nothing to fear and that compromise and failure to speak up is deadly to the cause of Christ.

Brother David Harkrider did an admirable job and, it is the view of this writer that even though .many of the Apostolic people were in disagreement with his position, they had respect for him. Brother David Watts of Louisville, Kentucky moderated for David and did an exceptional job.

In conclusion, the debate was refreshing, and as far as the North Main church of Christ is concerned, it did us good. If you would like the complete debate on eight cassette tapes, the cost will be $15.00 plus postage (in advance).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 14, pp. 428, 439
July 21, 1983