Truth Magazine

By Irven Lee

We have all heard of the tail wagging the dog. That, of course, refers to the little thing that has assumed a place of too great importance. Many times man loses his proper sense of values and emphasizes the trivial to the neglect of the important. It is much more decent and orderly if everything can be kept in its proper place.

Surely we should all be glad to have the inspired apostle to the Gentiles give us a word on comparative values. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). This verse does not say that it is wrong to play or enter into some form of physical exercise as a means of recreation. Neither does it say that it is a sin to forget the stress and strain of life’s problems for a few minutes by becoming absorbed in observing an interesting game or in interesting reading. Solomon’s remark that there is a time to laugh still makes sense (Ecc. 3:1-8). Man needs to relax. Doctors may advise fishing, hunting, golfing, w,dking, or even running. It need not bother their conscience to offer such advice because there is no evil in this. Many modern occupations do not give one the proper exercise for physical health, but many modern occupations do threaten mental health. Please do not suppose that the following remarks are intended to discourage the proper effort to maintain physical or mental health.

We may be careful not to forget bodily exercise for the good of the physical man, but the apostle would also advise that a man exercise himself unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). The latter is the more important exercise because it can mean more in this life, and it looks forward to the life to come. Our senses need to be exercised to discern between good and evil (see Heb. 5:14). Much has been said about America’s need for physical fitness. Much should be said about America’s need for spiritual fitness. The proper chastening yields the peaceable fruit or righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby (Heb. 12:11). In or permissive generation many young people reach the age of maturity as spiritual weaklings because they lack this very valuable exercise.

A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches (Prov. 22:1). A good name is of greater value in this life than the strong body is to the physical giant who is immoral and vulgar. America has many athletic heroes and lavishes its honors upon them, but America is sick spiritually, and does not seem to notice its spiritual giants. It is great to be physically strong. It is greater to be spiritually strong.

This article is not written to influence those who act like pagans. Those who loot, rob, and burn through lack of respect for law and property rights will not read this. This article is written with the hope that it may be worth something to members of the Lord’s church. All of us need to be reminded to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). We may still garden, fish, or watch a game. We must not let the tail wag the dog. We need common sense and self control.

During gospel meetings great crowds miss Friday night to see the game at the school. They say they will be there the other six nights of the week. They do not dare miss the game, with the remark that they will see the other ten or eleven games and cannot afford to miss this particular game. My hat is off to those who enjoy games but who gladly and cheerfully put the worship first. It is easy for some to let a television show take precedence over midweek Bible study. Hollywood may influence many church members far more than the apostles influence them, and Hollywood’s influence is far from holy.

There is a difference in reasonable interest in recreation and in going insane over a game or a hobby. Some spend an unreasonable amount of money for the sport of greatest interest and give an excessive amount of time to the same. The children, needs of the home, and the place of the Lord’s church are pushed aside to let the tail wag the dog. Examine yourself if you see any reason to think you might be putting bodily exercise ahead of godliness which has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. The search for happiness among the pleasures of this world is a vain search. The peace that passeth all understanding is not obtained in bodily exercise or in some suggested form of modern recreation (read Phil. 4:7). Read the context of this great verse. If one finds no joy in his religion, there is a great possiblity that there is little religion. What does the Lord see when He looks on our hearts? Does He see too much emphasis on the fleeting and the trivial, and too little on the eternal and the precious things? Too much emphasis on things that pertain to this life that are legitimate in their proper place can become a form of worldliness.

Some have gone so far in their interest in what they call recreation that righteousness is discarded in favor of the social drink, unholy revelling, and lasciviousness. They are asserting their liberty, they seem to think, when, in reality, they are becoming slaves to their own bad habits. It is indeed sad for those who have “clean escaped” to be “brought into bondage” (see 2 Peter 2:18-22). In the parable of the sower, one patch of thorns that choked out the word was the “pleasures of this life” (Luke 8:14).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 1, p. 24
January 6, 1983

By Raymond E. Harris

The foregoing title is from Acts 27:31. The context makes reference to physical salvation from a storm at sea. Those who remained in the ship would be saved. And those that tried to abandon ship would be lost. Throughout the centuries God has always provided for man’s well being.

1. Many will remember that in Genesis 6, 7, God commanded Noah and his family to get into the Ark to assure their salvation from the flood. Everyone in the Ark was saved and everyone outside the Ark was lost.

2. Then, in Exodus 12, God explained to Moses that he was going to destroy the first born of every family that was not inside a house that had the blood of a lamb brushed around the door. So, once again, God determined that salvation would be granted to the obedient that stayed in the designated place of safety. All the firstborn in the houses were saved and all the firstborn outside the specially prepared houses would die.

3. Still later, when the Jews entered the promised land, God established “cities of refuge.” These cities to which a person who had accidently killed someone could flee to save themselves from becoming victims of the law which allowed “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” God was quite explicit. The objects of vengeance would be safe only so long as they remained in the city. If they ventured out of the city during a prescribed period of time, they could be killed. Those in the city were safe; those out of the city could be destroyed.

4. Then when Jesus came to earth, God made a far greater provision for mankind. This had to do with the salvation of souls! In Ephesians 1:3, Paul explains that God has determined that all spiritual blessings are in Christ. In Galatians 3:27 and Romans 6:3 we learn that to get into Christ one must be baptized into Christ. The Scripture also teaches that one must live faithful to remain in Christ (1 John 1; Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22). Hence, those that die in Christ will be saved, but those who die out of Christ will be lost (Rev. 14:13; Rev. 21:8).

This is most serious! Are you in or out of God’s provided place of safety?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 1, p. 23
January 6, 1983

By Hoyt Houchen

Question: Is it a sin to wear very conservative shorts and bathing suits? If so, where do you draw the line on what is modest, and who is to judge?

Reply: It is presumed that our querist is referring to wearing shorts and bathing suits in public.

God desires that mankind be clothed, as opposed to the modern nudists and hedonists who advocate “freedom” and “naturalness” while they openly display their bodies. God Himself provided clothing to cover the first man and woman (Gen. 3:21).

Christians are to dress in modest apparel. Paul instructed women to adorn themselves in modest apparel (1 Tim. 2:9). The word “modest” is the Greek word kosmios, which according to W.E. Vine, means “orderly, well-arranged, decent, modest” (Expository Dictionary of Greek Words, Vol. 3, p. 79). Arndt and Gingrich define it “respectable, honorable” (Greek-English Lexicon, p. 446). The idea is that a Christian is to dress orderly, decently, modestly and with respect; and it applies to both men and women. It is not modest and respectable to parade about on the streets in short attire, nakedness being in plain view to the public eye. Such behavior is unbecoming of Christians. It is incompatible with Bible teaching. Paul wrote in Titus 2:11, 12, “. . . for the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world . . . .” The world approves of halter tops and bikinis but this standard does not make them acceptable for Christians. 1 Timothy 2:9 should be the guideline for the Christian’s apparel – it should be modest.

Another word in 1 Timothy 2:9 which deserves our attention is the word “shamefastness” (ASV), “shamefacedness” (KJV), translated from the Greek word aidos. Thayer defines it as “a sense of shame, modesty” (Greek-English Lexicon, p. 14). When these two words are considered, there can be no doubt that the wearing of shorts, bikinis, halter tops and such like in public are condemned by the word of God.

As to how we are to draw the line on what is modest, common sense must be applied in light of what the word of God teaches. When this is done, there will be no question in one’s mind as to what is modest and what is immodest. This same rule applies as to what is moral and immoral, decent and indecent, whether it be entertainment, recreation, speech or whatever. The business of the Christian is to serve God in truth and sincerity, and to do nothing that is questionable or that will bring any reproach upon his character. Paul expressed the aim of every devoted child of God when he wrote, “that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14, 15).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 1, p. 23
January 6, 1983

 

Recently I read the “Diary Of A Bible.” I do not know the author. Any one of millions of Bibles covered in dust could have written the following:

January 10. Been resting for a week. The first few nights of the New Year my owner read me regularly, but he has now forgotten me already, I guess.

February 7. Clean up time. I was dusted with other things and then put back on the shelf.

February 9. Owner used me for a short time after dinner looking over a few references. Went to Bible school today.

March 6. Clean up. Dusted again. Have been in the hall since my trip to Bible school last month.

March 30. Busy day. Owner had young people’s meeting and had to look up references. He had an awful time finding them but they were there all the time.

May 3. In Grandma’s lap again this afternoon. She spent most of her time in 1st Corinthians 13 and the last four verses of the 15th chapter.

May 7, 8, 9. In Grandma’s lap again this afternoon. She spent most of her time reading and sometimes she just talks to me. It is so comfortable there.

May 10. Grandma is gone. Back to the same old place. She did kiss me bye before she left.

July 3. Had a couple of four-leaf clovers stuck in me today.

July 4. Packed in a suitcase with clothes and other things. Off on vacation I guess.

July 7. Still in suitcase.

July 10. Still in suitcase, though all else has been taken out by now.

July 15. Home again in my old place. Quite a nice journey they say, though I did not see why.

Aug. 1. Rather stuffy and hot. Have two magazines, a novel and an old hat on top of me.

Sept. 10. Used by Mary for a few minutes today. She was writing a letter to a friend whose brother died and wanted

appropriate verses.

Sept. 23. New mail order catalogue came today. Certainly is getting a lot of attention. More than I ever received.

Oct. 10. Wished someone would take these stinking four-leaf clovers out of me. They have been here five months now, and they tickle me, they are so dry and flaky.

Nov. 29. Thanksgiving season. Was taken to church last Sunday.

Dec. 31. End of another year. Not interesting for me. Maybe next year.

(“The Pointer,” Volume VI, Number 31, October 13, 1974.)

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 1, p. 21
January 6, 1983