Truth Magazine

By Carrol R. Sutton

Since Arnold Hardin stated in THE PERSUADER, January 16, 1983, that “. . . all of us are wrong about some things. . . ” I would like to ask him some questions and request of him that he answer them in THE PERSUADER. NOTE: THE PERSUADER is a weekly (I think) bulletin of the SCYENE ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST of Dallas, Texas. Arnold Hardin is the editor. Here are the questions:

1. How do you know that “all of us are wrong about some things?” NOTE: Arnold was discussing a person’s “understanding”-of God’s work when he made the above statement and not a person’s actions.

2. What are the “some things” about which YOU are wrong? Please name them.

3. What are the “some things” about which I and others are wrong? Please name them.

4. If you do not know what the “some things” about which YOU are wrong, how do you know that you “are wrong about some things?” Please explain.

5. If you DO know what the “some things” are about which YOU are wrong, why don’t you CHANGE and accept what is right?

6. Did you make the statement that “. . . all of us are wrong about some things. . . ” in order to condemn the “wrong”in all of us or to justify the “wrong” in all of us? Please give a forthright answer.

A NOTE TO YOU READERS: If you have been saying that “all of us are wrong about some things” or that “no one can perfectly understand God’s will for man, ” then I also direct the above questions to you and request that you answer them. As you answer them, please remember such passages as Psalms 119:130 which says: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple, ” and Ephesians 5:17 which says: Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. ” Let us remember that Paul said: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby when you read, you 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; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. ” (Ephesians 3:2-6). It will also help us if we will keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 13:23.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, p. 266
May 5, 1983

By Earl E. Robertson

The Scripture is God-given and can be understood (Acts 8:30ff; Eph. 5:17). Though God has given us His will in such a way that we might understand it, there have always been some people who would mishandle it. To Adam and Eve the devil perverted God’s truth and sin entered into the world. To some Jesus said, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures” (Matt. 22:29; Mk. 12:24). Sometimes people err because they do not know truth; yet, some err knowing the truth. Some believers have “erred from the faith” and some “have erred concerning the faith” (1 Tim. 6:10, 21). James shows us that if any do err from the truth he needs someone to convert him (James 5:19).

Peter says, “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15, 16). Perverting or wresting the Scripture is not done with impunity! There are consequences for so handling the word of the living God. Peter says the consequence, partially, at least, is one’s own destruction. So, great care must be exercised in one’s use of Scripture. The “unlearned” or untaught or ignorant do wrest the scripture, says Peter. Some want to be teachers, but really should be taught themselves.

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 is often perverted. This is used as a funeral text by many preachers. They read Paul’s quotation from Isaiah 64:4, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” and immediately affirm that he is talking about heaven! They tell us how that we someday will see the beauties of heaven, but must wait until we die. I am not disposed to argue with one that we can now know all about heaven, but I am prepared to say that 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 has nothing whatsoever to do with this subject. This passage deals with revelation. What God had not revealed man could not see, hear, or receive. “But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit” (v. 10). We now have what the eye had not seen, but it is not heaven. It is revelation!

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, p. 266
May 5, 1983

By Bill Cavender

A boxer is critically injured in a televised boxing match from Nevada and soon dies in a hospital. Half the nation is up in arms and is ready to abolish boxing. “Boom Boom” Mancini went to his priest, the priest consoled him and pronounced him forgiven, and he has already boxed again. The furor died down quickly and quietly, the dead boxer’s organs were given to recipients who needed new eyes, liver, etc. One person said on the television, “Look what good this young Korean did in his death!” So boxing goes on, others will die, and the gamblers and promoters will make their “filthy lucre” off the hurts and heartaches of others.

Each day many people die in our country by being burned to death in fires begun by cigarette and cigar smokers. Each day hundreds of people die in our country by cancer of various forms, relating to the use of tobacco. People on welfare, relief, food stamps and unemployment still manage money to buy their tobacco, even though the children may be hungry, cold and homeless. Yet this causes no uprising in the nation at all. Our government goes right on subsidizing, with taxpayer’s money, the growers of the filthy weed and cancer-causing agent.

Each day in our country hundreds of people die in alcohol-related auto accidents and diseases. We have over ten million drunks in our nation, and about sixty-five percent of the people imbibe alcohol in some form as social drinkers. Sixty-five percent of all auto accidents involve drinking drivers. We all pay for this, in many ways, yet there is no furor about it. It is accepted.

We murder our young, our unborn. It is estimated that in 1981, between 2,500,000 and 3,000,000 babies were aborted, legally and illegally. Abortion is a legal and acceptable manner of birth control, adding the sin of murder to the sins of fornication and adultery. Yet most folks accept this.

We’ve come a long way – toward hell and toward the complete moral and spiritual decline and demise of our former good nation.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, p. 265
May 5, 1983

By Wayne S. Walker

The Way International is a religious group which we would call a cult. It is based upon the personality of its founder, Victor Paul Wierwille (see the first article for its history) and teaches a number of doctrines that are plainly contradictory to the truth of God’s word (see the last article for a more detailed look and refutation of some of these doctrines). However, it is not enough just to know what they believe. We need to take a deeper look into the whys and wherefores.

When we think of a cult we often think of brainwashing. I have seen Moonies and Hare Krishnas who act almost like glassy-eyed robots. I have talked with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who could not think outside of their memorized presentation. But my friend of “The Way” was not so. He was a sane, sober-minded individual who appeared to have accepted “The Way’s” teaching of his own free will by the process of rational thought. Evidently he truly believed what he was saying. I sincerely wish that all members of the Lord’s body were as well versed in the faith as this gentleman was in his error.

This group has become quite militant in their evangelistic efforts. I have a full-page ad from the DoverNew Philadelphia, Ohio, Times-Reporter of February 13, 1979, promoting “The Way.” How many New Testament churches are willing to pay for a whole newspaper page to advertise the truth. I would guess very few. Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the basis of their zeal is wrong and its direction is misguided, but we have to admire their enthusiasm and devotion to their cause, whatever the reason. Would that we had just a few faithful Christians with this same kind of commitment in every congregation – then we would turn the world upside down too (Acts 17:6).

What is the appeal of “The Way”? I have a pamphlet published by them called “Heart.” It is basically a series of testimonials about changed lives, rich blessings from God, and abundant living for those who follow “The Way.” This message is the same positive-mental-attitude, success-oriented, “God will solve all your problems” type of approach used by faith-healers, Pentecostals, and charismatics for years. Yet, we have to admit there is something to it since “The Way” has doubled in membership in the past decade or so. Of course, error always attracts more people than the truth. Surely we cannot offer people something that God has not authorized in the Bible. But maybe there is a lesson here for us. Should not we strive to find out what people are seeking for in these troubled times – peace, security, assurance – and make a genuinely biblical appeal to these needs?

The main source of growth of “The Way” has been among younger people. At the same time, we are losing our young people at an alarming rate. Many of them just quit coming to services, but some of them are being sucked into false religious organizations. I talked with one preacher whose first contact with “The Way” was through a member whose daughter had joined it. This should make us think. Elders, whose responsibility is to feed the flock (Acts 20:28) and especially parents, whose responsibility is to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), should make sure that young people in the church are well-grounded in the truth to avoid making shipwreck of their faith (I Tim. 1:19).

Another conclusion I would draw is that there must be people out there who are looking for something spiritual, even younger ones. We sometimes try to explain our lack of growth by saying, “Nobody is interested in the Bible any more.” But if “The Way” can go from 20,000 to 40,000 in a short period of time, we will have to give up that excuse. We should be honest and admit that possibly part of the reason for our waning is actually a lack of really dedicated effort in sharing the gospel with those who are lost. Remember that “The Way” claims to follow the Scriptures, even though they are promoting error. Evidently someone is ready to listen!

The afore-mentioned newspaper ad for “The Way” began, “The Way is a fellowship of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ for the manifestation of the more abundant life. A follower of The Way is filled with and manifests power from on high, holy spirit, and freely avails himself of fellowship meetings for spiritual nurture and growth. The Way fellowship is cemented together by the Spirit of God with each individual believer being transformed by the renewing of his mind according to the word of God.” It is obvious that they desire to appear as a loving, united body of believers. People like that. Of course, folks should be attracted to Christ not to the church. But what do they see when they look at the Lord’s church? Certainly, division must come when matters of truth and right are at stake (Mt. 10:34-37; 1 Cor. 11:19). But so many congregations that are as “sound as the dollar” on certain issues are filled with bickering, fighting, and arguing over every little this, that, and the other that comes along. No wonder many are turned off.

The ad continues with a pitch for their Power for Abundant Living Course. This is followed by a statement of beliefs which includes eleven items. Although many of these misuse scriptural teaching, the point I want us to see is their attempt to base their beliefs on the Bible, however misapplied. Those of my brethren who feel the simple teaching of the word has lost its ability to draw men to God (Jn. 6:44-45), both “liberals” who go the food-fun-frolic route and “conservatives” who lament, “No one will listen,” can learn something from this. A group can grow simply by pointing people to the Bible and inviting them to study with it. And we don’t even charge for it!

My conversation with my friend of “The Way” and my subsequent study have changed my thinking a little on the old charge that “we are answering questions no one is asking.” Surely we must never give up the Bible basics we have been preaching for years on salvation, worship, the church, etc. But we should not limit our teaching to that. We must also look out around us and see what people are thinking and feeling in our society, and make a truly biblical application. We have the truth. Let’s give people a chance to hear it before the cults come along and carry them off.

I would like to close by quoting from a letter written by an Ohio University student to the Times-Reporter shortly after the ad appeared.

The Way is considered by an overwhelming majority of Christian leaders and theologians to be a cult. The Way misuses the word of God, denies the divinity of Christ and the lordship of the Holy Spirit. `Jesus Christ is not God,’ at least that is what Victor Paul Wierwille, founder and leader of The Way International, believes and teaches. The Way teaches that Christ was a man, who lived a perfect life and died for our sins. However, contrary to scripture The Way says that Jesus was not the Son of God, even though Christ over and over stated his divinity . . .

By twisting history, Wierwille also tries to show the doctrine of the Trinity of the Holy Spirit, being equal with and a part of God the Father, is false . . . . Victor Paul Wierwille’s purpose in life is not to produce disciples of Christ, but to produce followers of Victor Paul Wierwille. Do not be misled and become one of those followers. Apparently there are also people around who can tell the difference between the work of a cult and something better, and are concerned enough to say something about it. We need to be searching for these as well.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, pp. 263-264
May 5, 1983