Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

In the last several years, brethren have witnessed churches becoming involved in any number of activities which they were not heretofore involved, though the denominations were involved in them for many years. Formerly gospel preachers mentioned this as one distinguishing point between the Lord’s church and human denominations. Today many churches of Christ could not be distinguished from the neighboring denominations on the basis of the programs of work in which they are involved.

Has God Given The Church A Mission?

The great God of heaven who planned the church from all eternity (Eph. 3:10-11) had a purpose for creating the church. He gave it a work to do. All of the work which God has given to the church, as collective work, is to be done through the local church. He has given no work to the universal church; he has revealed no officers or qualifications for officers for the universal church. Hence, when I speak of the work which God has given the church to do, I am speaking of the work which every individual local congregation has to do. What are those works?

Years ago, N.B. Hardeman wrote, “The work of the church can be stated under three heads: (1) the building up of every member in it; (2) the work of benevolence; (3) the preaching of the gospel to sinful humanity” (Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. V, p. 52). I believe that the Scriptures will sustain this statement. These are the works in which God has revealed that the local church is to be engaged. Let us look at them more closely.

1. The work of edification. The work of “building up every member” is the work of edification. In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul wrote that God had given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the purpose of “perfecting the saints.” This work is to be done so that the saints grow into mature men and no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:13-16). Hence, the early church was involved in the work of edifying its members.

Saints are built up through the study of God’s word. They must be fed the milk of God’s word that they may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2:2). Hence, when Paul departed from Miletus, he told the Ephesian elders, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). The word of God is what builds a man up. The assembly of the saints has, as one of its purposes, the teaching of God’s word in order to edify the members (1 Cor. 14:12, 26).

Saints must exercise themselves in order to grow. The mature saint is the saint who, having studied God’s word, “by reason of use” has his “senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). By the study of God’s word, the Christian must grow to be able to discriminate between that which is good and that which is evil.

What are some programs of work in which the church may be involved to edify the saints? The Bible study programs, special meetings, lectureships, publication of bulletins, usage of tracts, etc. are just a few programs of work in which the church can be scripturally involved in helping to edify its members.

(2) The work of benevolence. The program of benevolence which was carried on by the local congregations discussed in the New Testament was that work of relieving the needs of the saints. Study Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; Rom. 15:25-26; I Cor. 16:1-4; and 2 Cor. 8-9. Each of these passages shows that the early church relieved the needs of its own members. The program of relieving the needs of the poor of the whole world was never given to the church, so far as our New Testament records.

In carrying out this program of work, the local church may give money to one of its needy members, purchase groceries for them, pay a medical bill, pay for the education of the children of the members, etc. The local church may even find it necessary, on occasions, to purchase a house in which some of its poor can live. All of these works would reflect the local church discharging its obligations before God in the field of benevolence.

(3) The work of evangelism. The local church has an obligation to spread the gospel to the lost world around them. The early church sent gospel preachers to spread the word of God (Acts 13:1-2; Phil. 4:15; 2 Cor. 11:8). The work of disseminating the gospel to the world is one of the works which God has placed upon the church.

In carrying out this work, the local church may print a bulletin to mail to the community, conduct a gospel meeting, print an article in the local newspaper, support men to work in the community, conduct a radio and/or television program, etc. The local congregation should use every means at its disposal to spread the gospel in its community.

Does This Constitute A Pattern?

These are the only works revealed in our New Testaments in which the church was involved. Does this constitute a pattern? The answer to this question is either “yes” or “no.” If the answer is “yes,” then churches for all times are obligated to follow that pattern. For the church to be involved in programs of work other than those revealed in the New Testament is sinful because the church acts without authority in so doing. If the answer is “no,” then the church has no pattern of work revealed to it. Where there is no law, there can be no transgression (Rom. 4:15). Consequently, any program of work would be just as good and pleasing in the sight of God as any other program of work. The church which decided to use its resources to build a money-making business enterprise would be just as pleasing as the church which used its resources to preach the gospel, if there is no pattern revealed for the work of the church.

God has revealed a pattern for the work of the church. That work is (1) the work of evangelism, (2) the work of edification, and (3) the work of benevolence. For the church to become involved in things not connected with these works is sinful because it is contrary to the pattern revealed in the Scriptures.

These Things Are Not The Work Of The Church

In order to make this as clear as possible, I want to list some works in which some denominations and some liberal churches are involved which are not the work of the church as revealed in the Scriptures.

1. Social Reform. In the early twentieth century, many denominations became involved in trying to effect reforms in our society through participation with labor disputes. More recently, many churches have been involved in the work of improving the living conditions of the black race. Though I am sympathetic with the desire to improve the living conditions of any people, the Lord never gave the church the work of improving social situations in a society. Though slavery was practiced in the first century, though the government was corrupt in the first century, though living conditions were sometimes deplorable, and though many other social problems needed corrected, the New Testament churches never were involved in proposing revolutionary of renovation programs or any of these activities. Social reform and improvement were not the works which God gave the church.

2. Recreation. God never gave the church the work of providing recreation for the young or the old people. Many denominations and denominational churches of Christ hire a “youth minister,” giving him the job of keeping a full schedule of recreational programs for their children. Churches spend thousands of dollars of the Lord’s money to erect “fellowship halls” in which the members can assemble for recreational programs. Some churches are building “family centers” which include gymnasiums and other recreational facilities. God has not given the church the work of providing recreation for its members.

3. Business. God never gave the church the responsibility to enter the business world to make money. Many churches have purchased money-making businesses such as Burlington Mills, Christian Brothers Distilleries, and any number of other businesses. The Catholic Church holds interest in many businesses operated in the United States and other parts of the world. The Bible does not reveal that the church ever went into a money-making business venture.

4. Secular Education. Many, churches are in the business of providing secular education for the world and its members. Many denominations own “church schools” which are supported by contributions from the local denominations. The liberal churches of Christ are doing the same; schools such as David Lipscomb, Abilene Christian University, Harding College, and a number of others are receiving support from the churches of Christ. God never authorized any church to be involved in the work of secular education.

5. Politics. The work of the church is not that of politics. The Catholic Church was involved in politics for years; more recently, the Protestant denominations have tried to influence the politics of our country. The modernists have been influencing American politics for years. Now, when the conservative Moral Majority decides to enter the political arena, they are crying for separation of church and state! So a of the churches of Christ are entering politics in trying to clean up television. Though I am sympathetic to their goals, we must remember that God has not given to the church the work of political involvement or supervising public morals. Though we may work individually in politics as each of us judges best, the church as such cannot scripturally be engaged in politics.

6. Medicine. The Lord never authorized the church to be involved in the work of building hospitals and medical clinics or the work of supporting doctors and nurses. Though these are good works which we can and should be involved in as individuals, they are not works which God has placed upon the church. For years the denominations have been building their hospitals; around the country, there are hospitals reflecting this work–Baptist Hospital, Methodist Hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital, etc. More recently, some brethren in the church have started calling upon churches to pay the bills for erecting and maintaining hospitals in foreign countries (if it is right to do it in Nigeria, it is certainly right to do the same thing in America). There is no scriptural evidence where any church ever used its contribution to build medical facilities.

Is This New To You?

To some people this article will be startling; they have never read anything like this before. The churches where they worship are involved in all of these works (this includes some churches of Christ). However, those who have been pleading for the restoration of the ancient order of things have been preaching this for years. In 1942, N.B. Hardeman wrote,

Now, may I ask, what is the purpose of the church of the Lord? Suppose I discuss the negative side first. I may say some things with which you do not agree, but I bid you hear me regardless. I do not consider it a part of the work of the church to try to run the government. I am taught in the Bible to be subject unto the powers that be, just so far as I think they do not conflict with some law of God. Again, I say to you, with caution and thought, that it is not the work of the church to furnish entertainment for the members. And yet many churches have drifted into such an effort. They enlarge their basements, put in all kinds of gymnastic apparatus, and make every sort of an appeal to the young people of the congregation. I have never read anything in the Bible that indicated to me that such was a part of the work of the church. I am wholly ignorant of any Scripture that even points in that direction. Furthermore, it is not the work of the church to try to adjust labor troubles, or to supervise our social conditions. It was never intended that the church should run politics, stop wars, supervise public morals, or to be any kind of collecting agency to pile up a large sum of money. The church should not go into the banking business (Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. V, pp. 50-51).

We are preaching today what N.B. Hardeman was preaching then. Some of our brethren have departed from the plea to restore the New Testament church in order to involve the church in many activities for which they can give no Scripture.

The tactic of these liberals is simple: just label the work a “good work” and send the bill to the church! The result is that the church becomes a collecting agency for every human institution which someone among us decides is doing a “good work.” Colleges, orphan homes, unwed mothers homes, reform schools, hospitals, and who knows what else are now looking to the church for money to pay their bills.

Brethren, we need to be reminded of the work which God has given the church. The Lord only authorized the church to do the works of evangelism, edification, and benevolence. For the church to be involved in any other activities is sinful. Brethren may persuade the church to become involved in feeding and clothing humanity and providing good homes for them. However, if every man in the world lives in a beautiful home, wears expensive clothing, is educated well, and has good health, without the gospel he will still die and go to hell. The work which God has given to the church is more important than improving man’s conditions on the earth; the church is to be involved in spreading the word of God – taking the soulsaving gospel to a world doomed to hell. Let us not become diverted from this revealed program of work!

Truth Magazine XXIV: 45, pp. 739-741
November 20, 1980

By Eugene Crawley

Through the centuries many have spoken on conversion, a vital subject in regard to man’s salvation from sin, and proper relationship to God. That there is disagreement and division in their teachings is too evident to be overlooked or ignored. Far too many people have listened; and continue to listen, to the various and differing doctrines of men relative to this subject. And, too few have been sufficiently concerned to see what God has spoken on the matter. Apparently some have forgotten, or do not know, that God has spoken! It should, therefore, behoove us to seek to learn that which God has revealed unto man in the Bible, His inspired revelation. Our attitude should be one of willingness to turn to the inspired Scriptures and allow God to tell us what He requires of responsible persons on this great subject.

Speaking through His Son, He said, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). In Matt. 7:21, He said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And, notice in connection with these instructions, the statements in Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The church, according to Jesus’ statement in Matt. 16:18, 19, is the kingdom of heaven. Have you detected in these that each of them is equal to the same thing – entrance into the kingdom, the church?

To be born again = entrance into the kingdom

To be converted = entrance into the kingdom

To do God’s will = entrance into the kingdom

To be saved = entrance into the kingdom

What this means is simply this: Things equal to the same thing, as these are, are equal to each other. Thus, there should not be as much mystery about the new birth or conversion as some think and would have others to believe. If a person cannot understand the new birth, as some contend they cannot, then surely he can understand what is meant by doing the Father’s will; and remember, these are equal to the same thing and are, therefore, equal to each other; they mean the same, result in the same. Yes, to be born again is the same as being converted, doing God’s will, or being saved; there should be no difficulty at all here.

Man’s need for conversion, salvation, can be seen from these facts: all have sinned (Rom. 3:23); sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:1, 2); the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). However, God has made provision for man to be delivered from such and to be translated into His kingdom. (See such passages as John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Luke 19:10; Matt. 20:28; Heb. 2:9; Col. 1:13 and Phil. 2:7, 8.)

In the great Commission given by Jesus following His triumphant resurrection from the dead, He instructed His apostles to “teach all nations, baptizing them” (Matt. 28:18-20); to “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15); and “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name in all nations” (Luke 24:47). Thus, He would have the taught to believe the truth, repent of sins, and be baptized in His name for remission of sins.

To even further simplify the means by which man is saved from sin and to make it easy to be understood, God has included various examples of conversion in the book of Acts. In each case, the gospel in its purity and completeness was preached, responsible persons heard this message, repented of their sins, and were, upon confession of their faith in Christ, baptized in the name of Christ for remission of sins, or in order to be saved, born again, converted, and enter the kingdom. You may read these accounts and be even further impressed with the truth of God’s will, and its simplicity: Acts 2:22-47; 8:1-13; 8:26-40; 9:1-18; 10:1-48; 16:14, 15; 16:25-34; 18:1-8 and 19:1-6. Then, compare these with each other, and measure your conversion by that which these people did. Having done so, you can know whether or not you have been truly converted to Christ. Have you? If you have not met these same conditions of faith as they were required to meet you have not been saved; you should seriously consider the spiritual condition of your soul and your standing before God.

For God to save you, you must meet His conditions! Your soul is too valuable to risk being deceived in this life, and going to judgment unprepared to meet the Lord. So, be certain by searching the inspired Scriptures, and doing what they teach – nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else! Then you will become what the inspired word of God instructs – simply a Christian!

Truth Magazine XXIV: 46, p. 738
November 20, 1980

By the late W. Curtis Porter

I cannot conceive of there having ever been a time in all the history of the church that distinctive preaching was not needed. Perhaps there have been periods of that history in which such preaching was more sorely needed than at other times; but, if so, the failure of some to preach a distinctive gospel was responsible for the increase of the need for it. And it may be that there was never a time when the need of distinctive preaching was more imperative than now. We have entirely too much preaching that means nothing, and the need of the hour is for men who have the courage to preach a distinctive message.

To me it is no compliment to a speaker for the audience to be unable to place him. I have heard it said of preachers: “He has preached in our community for two weeks, but people could not tell by his preaching to what church he belonged; he was an orthodox preacher.” While such things have been said by way of compliment, to me they shout their criticism and are not complimentary words at all. Whenever a man is so vague, indefinite, or general in his preaching that his auditors cannot place him, or identify him, there is something seriously wrong. A preacher is certainly not filling his mission as a preacher when his pulpit proclamations are characterized by such vagueness. I am talking, of course, about a preacher who stands identified with the church of the Lord. I am not so much concerned about how other preachers preach. If they are preaching the doctrines of men, there is nothing vital to the soul lost if they never become definite about it.

And yet if I were a member of some human church, I would want my preacher to preach the things for which the church stands. If I were a member of the Baptist Church, I would want my preacher to preach a Baptist; and if I belonged to the Methodist Church, I would want my preacher to preach a doctrine that would be distinctively Methodist; and the same goes for any other denomination. In any case I would expect my preacher to preach definitely the doctrines of that denomination. Then since I am a member of the church of Christ, should I expect less of the preachers of that institution? The world will lose nothing of importance if denominationalism is not distinctively preached; but if the gospel of Jesus Christ is not preached in a distinctive manner, a great loss is incurred.

Who Preaches What

There is a vast difference between the truth of the gospel and the theories of denominationalism, and that difference ought to be held up to the people who hear. Jesus said: “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13). Why, then, make any compromise with such plants? Or why fail to show that human institutions are not growth from a heavenly planting? I am just certain of the fact that it often becomes necessary to tell who preaches what. This would not be so necessary if denominational preachers would preach the doctrines of their churches, but they are like some of my brethren would be if they listened to the clamor of the audience for “soft preaching.” They have no distinctive message to proclaim. Consequently the average member of denominations does not know the doctrines of his church. You may preach ever so strongly upon some point of error, but he does not know you are talking about his doctrine, for his preacher has not preached it; such things have been kept from him. To this there are some exceptions, but the condition is very general.

In order for a member of the Baptist Church to know that you are contrasting the truth with Baptist error it becomes necessary to .state that the error is taught by the Baptist Church. Otherwise he may not discover that you have taken his doctrine apart. The need of this was very forcibly impressed upon me as a result of one of my own sermons. I was engaged in a mission meeting near where I was laboring for the church. At one service I preached on the subject, “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” I contrasted truth with error and showed plainly what the Bible teaches about that subject. When the service had been concluded, a stranger came to me, took me by the hand, and complimented very highly that sermon, stating that he believed every bit of it. Upon later inquiry I found that he was the main leader of the Baptist Church of that community. And yet I had been preaching things that were in direct conflict with the doctrines of the church to which he belonged! The next day a conversation was heard over the telephone in which one lady told another that she should have been at meeting last night, for she would have heard one of the best Baptist sermons that she ever heard. And yet I had not failed to preach the truth! However they did not know the teaching of the Baptist Church; and if I had told who preaches what, they would have seen the difference. At least,, they would not have accused me of preaching Baptist doctrine!

I know that harm can be done by mentioning denominations in the spirit of sarcasm. There is a difference between Jesus Christ and the apostles did not hesitate to let men know they were lost. Paul called Elymas a “child of the devil,” an “enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:10). There was no reason for Elymas to think that Paul considered him in a safe condition. Peter plainly told Simon to repent and pray that God might forgive him (Acts 8:20-23). He let him know that he stood condemned. And Jesus said the Pharisees were children of hell (Matt. 23:15). With such worthy examples before us, why should we fail to preach so that men in sin and sectarianism can see that they need to be saved?

-Originally appeared in the Gospel Advocate, but reprinted here from the West End Contender, Aug. 1, 1956.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 46, pp. 737, 747
November 20, 1980

By Owen H. Thomas

Those who have an understanding of the teachings of Christ and are also acquainted with the teachings and practices of Masonry, find it difficult to understand why anyone would want to be a Mason. It is even harder for them to understand why anyone claiming to be a Christian would want to be a Mason. But the sad truth is that there are several members of the Lord’s church who are practitioners of the false religion of Masonry. It is the conviction of this writer that the majority of Masons are deliberately deceived by the Masonic Lodge as to its true nature and teachings, and that if they knew these things at the beginning they would never become members of the Lodge.

When one makes the charge that the Masonic Lodge is a religious institution, Masons in the lower degrees will vehemently deny it and accuse them of misrepresentation. They are honest in this because they have been led to believe it by their instructors in the higher degrees. It is not the purpose of this article to prove that Masonry is a religion; another article in this series will deal with that point. But I do want to show from their own writings that they deliberately deceive their initiates as to the real meaning of the symbols and teachings of the lodge, and to point out some other things which most Masons do not know about the lodge.

All quotations in this article are taken from Morals And Dogma of the Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, edited by Albert Pike and “prepared for the Supreme Council of the Thirty-Third Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States and published by its authority.” Now, as to the proof that they practice deception, I ask that you consider the following statements.

The Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them. Their true explication is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry. The whole body of the Royal and Sacerdotal Art was hidden so carefully, centuries since, in the High Degrees, as that it is even yet impossible to solve many of the enigmas which they contain. It is well enough for the mass of those called Masons, to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees; and whoso attempts to undeceive them will labor in vain, and without any true reward violate his obligations as an Adept. Masonry is the veritable Sphinx, buried to the head in the sands heaped round it by the ages (Morals And Dogma, p. 819).

Masonry, like all the religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled; to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it . . . . So Masonry jealously conceals its secrets, and intentionally leads conceited interpreters astray (Ibid., pp. 104, 105).

It is only after the initiates have proven themselves willing to accept and do whatever they are told by the “Princes of Masonry” that they are permitted to the higher degrees where the real meaning of the symbols and a true understanding of the teaching is revealed unto them. “You have taken the first step over its threshold, the first step toward the inner sanctuary and heart of the temple. You are in the path that leads up the slope of the mountain of Truth; and it depends upon your secrecy, obedience, and fidelity, whether you will advance or remain stationary” (Ibid., pp. 106, 107). “Secrecy is indispensable in a Mason of whatever Degree. it is the first and almost the only lesson taught to the Entered Apprentice” (Ibid., p. 109).

Masonry does not believe and teach that God has revealed all truth unto mankind in the Bible as promised by Jesus in John 16:13 and affirmed as being so by Jude (v. 3). “We hold that God has so ordered matters in this beautiful and harmonious, but mysteriously-governed Universe, that one great mind after another will arise, from time to time, as such are needed, to reveal to men the truths that are wanted, and the amount of truth that can be borne. He so arranges, that nature and the course of events shall send men into the world, endowed with that higher mental and moral organization, in which grand truths, and sublime gleams of spiritual light will spontaneously and inevitably arise. These speak to men by inspiration” (Ibid., p. 225). In fact, they deny the need for any written revelation from God: “He considers that if there were no written revelation, he could safely rest the hopes that animate him and the principles that guide him, on the deductions of reason and the convictions of instinct and consciousness. He can find a sure foundation for his religious belief, in these deductions of the intellect and convictions of the heart” (Ibid, p. 226).

Masonry teaches that “no human being can with certainty say, in the clash and conflict of hostile faiths and creeds, what is truth, or that he is surely in possession of it” (Ibid, p. 160). “Perfect truth is not attainable anywhere” (Ibid, p. 223), and “No man can say that he hath as sure possession of the truth as of a chattel” (Ibid, p. 166). Therefore, they believe that, “No man is responsible for the rightness of his faith; but only for the uprightness of it” (Ibid., p. 166). It is on this basis that they accept and approve all religions. That they do not understand nor believe the truth as taught by Jesus Christ is evident from this statement: “Its teachings are eminently practical; and its statutes can be obeyed by every just, upright, and honest man, no matter what his faith or creed” (Ibid, p. 138). This statement is an outright indictment against ever person who believes the Bible to contain the perfect revelation of God’s will and that it is the absolute truth. It accuses those who believe that faith in Jesus Christ is essential to salvation as being either dishonest, unjust, or not upright, for Masonry teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is not essential and that the Bible does not contain all the truth, and that if you are just, upright, and honest, you can accept their teachings. I deny it!

I plead with those who are already in the Masonic Lodge and with all who are contemplating becoming members, to consider these things. I ask you: can an institution that knowingly and deliberately practices deception upon its members be of God? Can you honestly accept and believe a doctrine that denies the Bible as being true? Can you honestly and in good conscience support an institution that denies that faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is essential to one being justified before God?

QUESTIONS

1. Do most Masons in the lower degrees believe Masonry is a religion?
2. Does the Masonic Lodge want its initiates, or new members, to understand the truth about Masonry?
3. What do the “Princes of Masonry” do to keep the new members from understanding the true meaning of their symbols and teachings?
4. Name three things which those in the lower degrees must do if they want to advance to the higher degree?
5. Do Masons believe that the Bible or any written revelation is necessary to their belief?
6. Do you believe one can believe the Bible and also accept the teaching of the Masonic Lodge? If so, please explain why.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 45, pp. 732-733
November 13, 1980