Truth Magazine

By R.L. Whiteside (1869-1951)

The evidence that elders were intended to be a permanent feature in churches of Christ seems so clear as to admit of no doubt. It is not my purpose to argue this point at length. However, I call attention to two considerations, which, to my mind, settle the matter without further argument.

1. In every group of men there must be leaders, some one or more, to take the oversight, or there can be no order or system. That has always been true, as all men of experience and discernment must admit. It is as true of the church as of any other group of men. Certainly they are as much needed now as in the days of the apostles. Then they were called “elders” or “overseers.” If men of age and experience now direct the affairs of a church, are they not elders and overseers? The whole contention on this point seems to me to be a war about words to no profit.

2. It is assumed by some that elders, or bishops, were made such by spiritual gifts, belonging, at least, to the class of inspired men. Is that so? God selected the men upon whom he bestowed spiritual gifts. “But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will” (1 Cor. 12:11). For that reason it was not necessary for the Lord to tell the church, or any member of it, what qualifications men must have in order to the reception and use of these spiritual gifts. Men did not appoint miracle workers, prophets, unknown tongue speakers, etc. But men did select and appoint elders, and for that reason we needed to know what sort of men to select. And so God gave full directions as to the necessary qualifications for elders. Develop this argument; it completely refutes the idea that elders were spiritually gifted men and passed away with the passing of spiritual gifts.

“Take heed unto your selves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch ye” (Acts 20:28-31). The word from which we have “bishop” is defined by Liddell and Scott as “an overseer, watcher, guardian.” This definition harmonizes with the duties laid down by Paul in the foregoing quotation. As a guardian, the elder is to see that the flock is fed and cared for; as a watcher, he is to see that no enemy comes in and destroys the flock. The overseer is an inspector. Any one can see trouble after it develops. An elder, by close and constant inspection, should be able to detect the seeds of trouble without waiting till the ripened fruits appear. Not many people apostatize suddenly. A little watchfulness at the right time might save a soul. Neither does division in a church come suddenly. Complaints come that a preacher has run things over the elders and the more conservative members by majority rule. How did it happen? The elders employed a preacher and allowed him gradually to assume control. When he reaches a point where they can stand him no longer, they find that he is the ruler and they are the ruled. It is too late then to save the congregation from ruin.

The responsibility of the watchman is set forth in Ezekiel 33:1-6. If the watchman ~ does not sufficiently inform himself so as to be able to recognize an enemy, how is he to be of use as a watchman? The watchman on the walls must know the enemy when he sees him approaching. Any man who divides churches in an enemy. If we do not inform ourselves concerning such men, how can we obey Paul’s injunction? “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and turn away from them” (Rom. 16:17, 18). Because we have not informed ourselves concerning such men so as to avoid them, much harm has come to many good churches. Sometimes the watchers, instead of giving the alarm when such enemies appear, go out and invite them in, and practically turn matters over to them. Then, before the elders realize it, the enemy has spiked their guns and is in full charge. In a recent letter from a .friend where the church was in trouble, I found a statement like this: “If we had investigated Brother Blank’s record, we never would have had him here.” Because of that failure, trouble has been stirred up that may never be settled. Instead of giving alarm at the approach of the enemy, they went out and hired him to come in, thinking he was a friend. The preacher who runs over the elders and divides a church is doubly a sinner, but the elders must share their part of the blame. They frequently wake up too late. But trouble may be expected when the command to watch is disregarded, and also when God’s order both in nature and the Bible is disregarded, as it is when mere boys are given practical charge of a church. Also, Absaloms are too much in demand for the welfare of the kingdom.

The Bible tells us to submit to those who have the rule over us, but gives no hint that we are to submit to majority rule. In majority rule Paul would count no more than Mr. Care Less, who cusses, gets drunk sometimes, and goes fishing on Sunday. Generally there is no such thing as real majority rule, even when it is claimed. That is especially true when the party spirit runs high. A group rallies around a leader, and he dictates every move. He votes his followers. Instead of going through the farce of calling for votes, the leader might as well say: “I control the votes, of my two hundred followers, and I cast their votes so and so.” When the preacher is the bone of contention, he naturally becomes the party leader. As he has more experience in public speaking and manipulating a body of people than the elders have, he has a decided advantage over them, even if they should care to resort to his tricks. And Paul says of such men that their god is their belly, and they will work all the harder for their bread and butter. As he votes all his followers, there is really only one voice raised on that side. All he needs to do is to tell how he stands and how many followers he has. That is all there is to such voting as that, and it is folly to call it “majority rule.” And we are told that the ballot is a safeguard against the unfair rulings of the elders!

It is readily conceded that God’s plan of church government is imperfectly carried out. The best men make mistakes. Elders have a heavy responsibility and a hard task. They are not infallible. They may, at times, deal unjustly with a preacher; but is better that the preacher suffer wrong than to divide a church. If the preacher thinks it unfair for them to put him out, how does he figure that it is fair for him to put them out?

Whereto shall this voting lead? Where will it stop? It is contended, of course, that only matters of opinion shall be voted on; but who shall decide what are matters of opinion? The Methodists and some others have decided that the form of baptism is a mere matter of opinion. If you believe in voting, and your congregation decides by popular vote that these things are matters of opinion, what can you do about it?

But it is contended that every expression of a preference is a vote. If that is so, some men, when a political campaign is on, vote several times a day for months before election day! If that is voting, most of the votes are cast prior to the election and are never counted. But the claim is too absurd for serious consideration. (Originally appeared in the Gospel Advocate, 1 Jan. 1932, p. 42, and reprinted in Whiteside’s Doctrinal Discourses [Denton, TX: Inys Whiteside, 1955, reprint 1977], pp. 90-94.)

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 12, pp. 367-368
June 16, 1983

By Irvin Himmel

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed by called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb. 11:17-19).

There were many times in the life of Abraham when his faith was put to the test. The trial recorded in Genesis 22 is a narrative charged with emotion, sympathy, and triumph.

God addressed Abraham by name. The faithful patriarch responded, “Behold, here I am.” The Lord said, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Abraham’s great faith was exemplified in a number of ways in connection with this unusual command.

Prompt Action

Abraham “rose up early in the morning” fully determined to obey God’s will. He made no excuses for delaying what he had been told to do. He did not consult Sarah or anyone else. He did not pray to be excused from such a difficult trial. There is no hint that he argued with the Lord about this matter. God had spoken. The affair was settled in the mind of Abraham. There was no time to waste. The first order of business was to do exactly what God commanded.

Thorough Preparation

Abraham saddled an ass, clave the wood for the offering, took two of his young men with him, took Isaac, and set out for the land of Moriah. The journey was long. On the third day he lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. There was much time to reflect on what God had commanded. But Abraham was prepared in heart to fully accept the responsibility for doing whatever God wanted. Many people make only physical preparation for obeying God; they fail to prepare their hearts.

Complete Confidence

For a long time Abraham had awaited his promised son. The whole future, according to the divine promises, centered in Isaac. No loving father would want to take the life of his own son. The severity of the command did not destroy Abraham’s confidence in Jehovah. When the land of Moriah came into view, he said to the two young men, “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” He trusted God that in some manner all would turn out well.

Proper Priority

The father took the wood for the burning of the offering and laid it upon Isaac, and he took the fire and a knife, and they went both of them together. Suddenly, it occurred to Isaac that they had no lamb. The silence was broken when Isaac said, “My father.” Abraham calmly replied, “Here am 1, my son.” In a puzzled tone Isaac asked, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” The crushing weight of the circumstances did not take away Abraham’s calmness as he explained, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Quietly they plodded on to the location chosen of God. In the heart of Abraham, despite his attachment to his son, God was first.

Implicit Obedience

Arriving at the designated spot, Abraham built an altar, laid the wood in order, bound his beloved Isaac, and laid him on the wood on the altar. Courageously, the father of the faithful took the knife and stretched forth his hand to slay his son. There was no thought of stopping short of what God had commanded. In the mind of Abraham the deed was to be performed fully, and he was in the very act of offering Isaac as a sacrifice. Abruptly, the Lord called out of heaven through an angel. Before the knife could be plunged into the body of Isaac, God said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”

Perfect Faith

James wrote these words: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (Jas. 2:21-23). Having passed the test, Abraham looked behind him and there was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. He understood that God had provided a substitute for Isaac. He took the ram and offered it for a burnt offering.

Today, God puts our faith to the test in numerous ways. Many men and women do not have the faith to obey the plain commands of the Lord in the Bible. Either they do not trust God or else they are unwilling to put Him first. Some simply ignore everything God says. Let us profit by reflecting on the faith of Abraham. When trials come, let us be firm in our stand for what we know to be the will of God. Great is the reward for faithful service.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 12, p. 366
June 16, 1983

By Johnie Edwards

There is no greater responsibility than that of making your life right with Godl The wise man Solomon said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: For this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). After all has been said and done, the only thing that will count in the day of judgment is whether you have respected God enough to do what he says.

Sin

Because of sin, you need to make your life right with God.

(1) All have sinned. Every person who reaches the age of accountability is a sinner. Paul told the Romans, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

(2) Sin is transgression of God’s law. John said, “Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3:4). To sin is to miss the mark either by committing acts of wrong doing or as James said, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17,).

(3) Sin separates one from God. Man is created without sin just like Ezekiel said, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezek. 28:15). But as one reaches the age where he sins, he is separated from God. “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). Since sin separates us from God, we need to make our lives right with God by being reconciled “unto God in one body by the cross . . .” (Eph. 2:16).

(4) The wages of sin is death. Sin has its pay. Paul told the Romans, “For the wages of sin is death . . .” (Rom. 6:23). James put it this way, “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1:14-15). The desire for evil leads one to sin and that sin grows until one is so carried away by it that he lets it become fullgrown and the final state is eternal death.

Even though we are living in times when sin is looked upon by man as not being too bad, sin is still sin and is hated by the Lord. What have you done about your sins?

God’s Love For You

Have you ever thought about the fact that God’s love for you caused Him to give His only Son for you?

(1) God gave His Son to die for you. Countless millions have memorized, “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” (Jn. 3:16). God’s love was expressed while we were sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). The love that God has shown toward us should cause us to want to make our lives right in His sight.

(2) Jesus died for sinners. Jesus was concerned about the lost. It is written, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:1). Paul told the Corinthians “that Christ died for our sins . . .” (1 Cor. 15:3). In fact, the Bible teaches that Jesus died for every person. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). Jesus did not die for a pre-selected few, but He died that all might have the right to be saved. The love that Christ had for the church caused Him to “give himself” as Paul said in Ephesians 5:25.

Do you appreciate the fact that Jesus died for you?

The Holy Spirit Revealed The Truth

The Bible is inspired. While Jesus was still on the earth, He told the apostles, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (Jno. 16:13). Christ did just as He told the apostles “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

(1) The Bible is From God. “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God breathed into men truths He wanted us to know and as we read the Bible we are reading the will of God.

(2) The word of God was revealed by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of sinners is that He revealed the word by which we can be saved. Paul told the Ephesians, “Whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ; which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:4-5).

God has made known all of the truth He ever intends to reveal.

God’s Plan In Saving You

God, Christ and the Holy Spirit have done their part in saving you. In fact, they have done all they intend to do. The religion of Jesus Christ is an active religion. There are some things that you must do in making your life right with God. Your part in making your life right with God involves:

(1) Hearing the gospel preached. The Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). God does not miraculously give one faith but faith is produced as one reads and studies the word of God. God said of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). You see, the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16) and the gospel is that “by which ye are saved” (1 Cor. 15:1-2). Begin now to read and study the word of God.

(2) Faith in Christ and in God. As you study the Bible, you will be able to see that God and Christ are divine and that you can easily believe that they are real. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Jesus Himself said, “I said therefore unto you; that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jno. 8:24). Every case of conversion in the book of Acts involved folks believing in the Lord.

(3) Repentance. God has commanded repentance of those who would serve Him. “And the times of ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Repentance is illustrated in Matthew 21:28-30. “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented and went . . . .” Notice that the one boy said, “I will not, but he repented and went.” Now what did he do when he repented? He simply changed his mind. The repentance is seen in a change of mind that resulted in a change of life – he went! So when one repents of his sins, he simply changes his mind about sin and turns away from his sins. Repentance is perhaps the hardest command in. the Bible, but God still requires it.

(4) The Confession. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). You will note that the confession is a confession of one’s faith in Christ and not a confession of sins! A good example of the confession being made is that of the man of Ethiopia. He said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). Godly sorrow brings about repentance that stems from the heart “and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).

(5) Baptism. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). This passage requires the believer to be baptized in order to be saved. It is as Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This passage teaches that baptism along with repentance is necessary to have your sins remitted. Baptism is a burial in water as Paul told the Romans and illustrated by the conversion of the eunuch. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). The element into which you must be buried and raised out of is water. The eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Why not be baptized today and make your life right with God?

(6) Faithful living. Upon being baptized, you will be “added to the church” (Acts 2:47). As a new creature in Christ you need to “walk in the newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Upon becoming a child of God, you are a Christian. “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Faithful living is required in making your life right with God. Paul told the young preacher, Titus, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Tit. 2:11-12). That living is important!

(7) Worship. God has required that His people worship Him. Jesus said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matt. 4:10). Jesus told the woman at the well, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). Worship must be with the right disposition of mind and according to the truth. The first Christians, “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). In worship then, you must continue in the teachings of the apostles; give as you have been prospered (1 Cor. 16:2); partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7); pray and, as Paul told the Ephesians, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Proper worship is necessary in making your life right with God.

(8) Work in the Lord’s church. The Lord expects His people to be a working people. Paul wrote the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Both the church and the individual Christian is called upon to do the work as God has outlined. A good example of the work of a Christian as an individual and the church as a group, can be seen in these words: “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged: that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” (1 Tim. 5:16). As a member of the church you will want to “be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The church is all-sufficient to do all of the work God expects the church to do. The church in the New Testament did not provide for entertainment and recreation and the support of human organizations out of the funds contributed to do the work of gospel preaching and taking care of needy saints. In making your life right with God, you must engage in the work as provided for in the New Testament.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned how to make your life right with God, we encourage you to take care of it right now! For it is written, “. . . Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 12, pp. 364-365, 374
June 16, 1983

By Carol R. Lumpkin

I feel certain, that each of us have heard it stated many times, “Drunkenness is a disease.” Those who are drunkards surely need help; not only because of a physical problem, but most of all because of a spiritual problem. The Bible labels this problem “a work of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21).

Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, said, “Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:10). If drunkenness is a disease, then so is adultery, so is effeminancy, so is homosexuality, so is extortion, so is theft, etc. Paul places all of these in the same context and category (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Paul does not label the above mentioned works of the flesh as diseases, but calls them works of the flesh which will keep the guilty out of the kingdom of God.

The state of California in 1981 spent thousands of dollars in an attempt to destroy the “Medfly.” A large percent of the fruit grown is used to produce alcohol-related drinks. Factories are licensed to manufacture alcohol related drinks which are both harmful to the body and to the souls of people.

The National Government, and on down to the smallest element of government, either has not realized the deadly effect which alcohol (whiskey, beer, wine, etc.) leads to or they careless as to what the results are. It is a proven fact attested by police records, child abuse, car wrecks, murders, divorce records, etc., that alcohol is one of man’s worst enemies.

Consider the broken homes which could be saved, lives which are caught away in death, hours lost from jobs, etc., if alcohol was totally blotted off the earth. But more importantly, souls which could be saved. I doubt that a hog would drink the filthy junk, much less a person who is wise and understanding.

The drunkard is a sinner before God. People in position to enact laws to license its manufacture and sale will answer to God for their part in making it available to a gullible public.

Whenever there is an outbreak of a dreaded disease, the medical profession will combine their knowledge and wisdom to treat the afflicted and search for the source that it might be stamped out. God bless all such efforts.

Alcohol is deadly to those who drink it, as well as to many innocent people who are caught up in its web. There should be a concerted drive to destroy all substances which leads to drunkenness. Why don’t men and women with wisdom and power enact laws which would forbid the manufacture and sell of alcohol which destroys bodies and is sinful to all users?

Some people would argue that a large sum of tax money would be lost. Others would say, we cannot do away with all those jobs. It is a proven fact that more money is spent to police alcohol-related matters than is ever received from its tax revenue.

No non-drinker ever got drunk. No drunkard can be saved, unless he stops (repents) drinking and obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ. We people who believe it is sinful to drink alcohol related drinks should do all within our power to destroy it.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). Drunkenness is sinful, evil, and will keep the guilty out of the kingdom of heaven.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 12, p. 363
June 16, 1983