Truth Magazine

By Hoyt Houchen

Question: Can a man qualify to be a deacon if he has adopted children, but has none of his own? What do the Scriptures teach?

Reply: Some believe that a man cannot qualify to serve as an elder or a deacon in the local church unless his children are his natural descendants (his own flesh and blood). We agree that deacons and elders must have children (1 Tim. 3:12; Tit. 1:6). The question pertains to adopted children.

If a man adopts children, they are his children; therefore, he has children. The Greek word tekna (children) not only means flesh and blood descendants (Rom. 9:8) but, in this same verse, the word is also applied to children of promise (see also Gal. 4:28). Paul speaks of the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:5), so the word “children” is not limited to children of the flesh to the exclusion of children by adoption. If a man rules and controls his children (whether they be his flesh and blood, or whether they be adopted) he meets the qualification as to children. In either case, they are his own children.

We also need to remember that the qualification for a man to serve as a deacon or an elder, concerning children, is not dependent upon his ability to sire them but to rule them. If he is able to control and rule the children who are in his household, whether he has sired them or adopted them, he is scripturally qualified in this regard. There is no reason to suppose that the children in the family of a deacon or an elder have to be his own flesh and blood in order for him to be scripturally qualified to serve.

Guardian of Truth XXVI: 7, p. 98
February 18, 1982

By Weldon E. Warnock

In this article we will deal briefly with a variety of things. We trust they will be profitable to you.

Sound Brethren

Somebody has said that there are three kinds of “sound” brethren: (1) those that sound off at the mouth, (2) the ones that are sound asleep and (3) those that are sound in the faith.

The brethren that sound off at the mouth are the talebearers, gossipers and backbiters. Solomon said, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds” (Prow. 26:22). Paul wrote, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal. 5:15). The remedy for this is “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jas. 1:19). Also, as the Psalmist said, “. . . I will keep my mouth with a bridle” (Psa. 39:1).

Then there are those who are sound asleep. They are not concerned with the progress and work of the church, but are satisfied with the status quo. There is no effort to improve themselves spiritually nor to try to save the lost. To this kind of brethren Paul’s exhortation is most timely; “Awake thou that deepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph. 5:14).

The sound in the faith brethren are those who are spiritually alert and faithfully active in the work of the Lord. They do not have to have somebody constantly trotting after them to get them to do their duty. They can be depended on for the kingdom of God is first and foremost in their lives. The church needs more brethren of this caliber.

Social Drinking

The Bible condemns social drinking. Some have the notion that if one does not drink to excess he has not done any wrong.

An enlightening verse concerning this matter is 1 Peter 4:3. It states: “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” But someone may ask: “Where is social drinking in this passage?” The answer is the word “banquetings.”

R.C. Trench defines the word as “the drinking bout, the banquet, the symposium, not of necessity excessive, but giving opportunity for excess” (Synonmyms of the New Testament, p. 225/. Symposium is defined as “a drinking party, feast” (Webster). “Banquetings” would not mean, therefore, drunkenness as Peter includes this sin in the expression, “excess of wine,” but rather it means “to tipple.” “Tipple” is defined to “drink, as liquor, often or in small quantities.”

Those who see no harm in the social drink should take notice that Peter lists it along with revellings, idolatries, etc. God does not condone social drinking any more than he condones drunkenness. Both are sin.

“Possum-Eared Church Members”

(The following are excerpts from a sermon delivered after the turn of this century by Baxter F. McLendon, a pungent (to put it mildly) and colorful denominational preacher. Wonder how it would go over in many of today’s fashionable churches?)

“I am measuring you Bennettsville (South Carolina, WEW) church members by the Pharisees and remember that they tithed right down to the mint, anise, and cummin, and yet when I talk to you great big, fat, slick, stalled, financial Shylocks about paying God what you owe Him, you wriggle, twist and squirm like you have a hornet in your clothes. I have heard that a big nose is a good thing, it is a sign of intellectuality; that a big mouth is a sign of character, of great character; a big chin is a good sign – a sign of courage; big ears are a sign of generosity. I expect some of the pastors of this town ought to get some ear fertilizer. There are more little, possum-eared church members over Marlboro county than patriotism during an election year.

“And to you, dear women, I would like to say that soiree congregations that I preach to I hardly know whether I am in a hen-roost or flower garden. Some of you pay more for flowers, plumes, feathers, and rooster tails in one season than you do for the cause of the Gospel in a year, and yet you have the nerve and audacity to claim to be a follower of the lowly Nazarene. Understand me: I am not against your wearing plumes and feathers and trying to look good, because some of you need to; but I am afraid you will feel embarrassed at the judgment when the all-seeing eye of God is turned on you.”

Time

The Bible teaches Christians to redeem the time because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). Redeeming the time means “to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes” (Albert Barnes).

We have 168 hours in each week. How are we using this time? It is a shame that some can find only one hour a week for God, if convenient, and the rest they use for their own interests. Week after week is spent with self in the foreground. Sports, recreation, entertainment, clubs, TV and what have you are allowed to interfere with the services of the church, personal work, visiting the sick, studying the Bible, etc. Brethren, let’s use our time more wisely!

Longfellow wrote, “What is time? The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer and winter, months, years, centuries – these are but arbitrary and outward signs, the measure of Time, not Time itself. Time is the Life of the soul”

Getting Out of the Rut

Many have convinced themselves that they cannot do anything in the church. How many times have we heard, “I can’t,” when we asked a brother or sister to do something? It is easy for brethren to get into a rut and remain in spiritual stagnation. Churches can do the same. They have no programs of work. There is no effort to get busy and try to convert souls to Christ. They simply “keep house.”

I am reminded of the story about a frog that once fell into a deep rut and his friends in vain tried to pull him out. Thus, knowing that it was an impossibility, they left him for what surely would be the rest of his life in the deep rut.

The next day his friends saw Mr. Frog hopping along as pert and cheerful as ever. After expressions of amazement, they inquired how he had escaped from the rut. “Well,” he said, “A truck came along, and I just had to get out.”

The moral of the story is that many members and churches need some kind of truck to come along and get them out of their ruts.

Guardian of Truth XXVI: 7, pp. 97, 103
February 18, 1982

By Raymond E. Harris

Today we are dealing with a term that has all but become obsolete in the English language.

With the exploitation of sex and nudity in TV, movies and magazines, we find ourselves living in a generation when most seem to have lost all sense of modesty. “Modest” is defined as “orderly, well-arranged, decent.” That which is modest and decent is in sharp contrast to that which is shameful!

In 1 Tim. 2:9, the Apostle Paul wrote, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.” And in Titus 2:3-5, he explains that older women are to teach the young women to be “discreet” and “chaste.”

With the emergence of spring flowers and warm days we find our streets, shops, parks and lawns over-run with near nudity. It is amazing that the folks from six to sixty-six who would be horribly embarrassed to be seen in their under garments, boldly display themselves in swim and sun fashions that reveal far more.

But what’s behind all this practice of near-nudity? That is the thing that is most disturbing! It is a proven fact that lack of clothing does not make one cooler but rather has the reverse effect by exposing one to the sun and heat. Lack of clothing in fact exposes one to sun burn, insect bites and various poisonous plants So, why all the shorts, halters, bikinis and sun suits? The answer is obvious – exhibitionism! (A desire to show off oneself.)

Despite the fact that God has expressed His displeasure with such action, it is obvious that multitudes expose themselves in order to enjoy the response of head turning, goggle eyed males.

We would remind one and all that it is a sin to cause another to sin. The one who provokes lustful thoughts in the mind of another will not go guiltless. In Gal. 5:19, “lasciviousness” is listed as a work of the flesh that will bar one from the kingdom of God. “Lasciviousness” is defined as “indecency, shameless conduct, absence of restraint.”

We would encourage one and all to enjoy the pleasant days of summer without joining that shameless legion, trudging the road of ungodliness-that ultimately leads to eternal shame and despair.

Guardian of Truth XXVI: 6, p. 93
February 11, 1982

By Eugene Crawley

In writing to Timothy, among other things, Paul made this very interesting and vital admonition, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

This is a statement with which most brethren are quite familiar. It is one that we have read, heard quoted and heard read ever so many times. But are we impressed as we ought to be with all that is found in it? Maybe we are not aware of some of the very important and impressive truths. Let us see!

1. Study is enjoined. Perhaps this is the thing (duty) we remember most from this reference – that we should study! For sure, and I would not discount or discourage to any degree the important and essentiality of study, and the value of it to all of us.

2. Approval of oneself is seen. Certainly no one can so live, act or teach so that he may secure or gain God’s approval for someone else. Individual, personal duty surely is emphasized here. If one is ever approved unto God it must be by his own work, his own efforts.

3. To be a workman. Christianity is indeed an active, demanding religion; one surely must work. We should remember that we are “workers together with God,” as Paul admonished the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:9). By our work we may reach the place that we need not be ashamed, either before God or man.

4. Word to be rightly divided. We must recognize the value and importance of proper division of the word of truth. We should fear making an improper division and, if proper division can be made, so can improper. Thus, we need to strive for correct dividing and proper understanding.

5. Approved unto God. Have we put so much emphasis and attention to some things, as these, and failed to notice and be impressed with this truth? Do we appreciate and respect the demand made here? Some things that are not required here are “approved unto men,” “approved unto brethren,” or “approved unto self.” Seemingly much effort is made by not a few to have the approval of either brethren or men, sometimes both, even to the oversight and neglect of gaining God’s approval. Do we not realize the vital requirement here is “approved unto God”? Let us recognize this, and then let us strive by study and effort to gain God’s approval, even though we may not gain the approval of men, for this is what will really count in the last day!

Guardian of Truth XXVI: 6, p. 91
February 11, 1982