Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

In the recesses of memory echo referenced by gospel preachers to an article by J.B. Briney in which he warned, “Ephraim is joined by his idols, let him alone.” This was probably the taproot of our decision to name a column on the meandering of the recent liberalism “Ephraim’s Idols.” In the early years of controversy among brethren in this country over instrumental music in worship, Briney (1839-1927) was a lion in opposition to the practice as a perversion of worship. In the American Christian Review (Vol. XIII, no. 7 [15 February 1870], p. 50), he reacted to N.A. Walker’s report of many baptisms resulting from efforts to teach which included instrumental accompaniment in worship. Briney wondered if Walker’s infatuation with the instrument grew out of a new, improved edition of the Great Commission. The true source of such paraphernalia as musical instruments and mourner’s benches is sectism and denominationalism, as Briney noted. When the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached in fulness with love, these gimmicks are not necessary. The man who introduces perverted worship borrowed from denominationalism causes division among Christians for the sake of a practice not authorized in the apostolic writings of Scripture. Romans 16:17-18 says to mark such a man and avoid him. When Ephraim is joined to his idols in hardness of heart, there is nothing we can do but “let him alone.”

The sad sequel to the story of Briney’s article is that he was later swept along by the strong tide of popular demand for the instrument. Briney defended the practice in written debate with J.W. McGarvey in the Apostolic Times, orally debated W.W. Otey in Louisville, Kentucky, during 1908, and tried to answer M.C. Kurfee’s Instrumental Music in Worship (1911) by publishing the book Instrumental Music in Christian Worship in 1914. Failing to heed his own warning, Briney joined himself to the idol and was finally let alone by faithful brethren. Briney’s article from the 1870 American Christian Review was entitled “The Organ, Or the Gospel – Which?” It is here reproduced for our admonition.

The Organ, Or The Gospel – Which? J.B. Briney

N.A. Walker, in reporting meetings recently help by himself in Kansas, Ohio, and Indiana, says: “We used the musical instrument at every meeting during the year save one, by the harmonious consent of the brethren.” He also reports Oar three hundred additions during the year. The obvious intention of this report is to make the impression that the instrument was a means, if not the main means, of bringing these persons into the church.

It appears that this son of Jabal carries his instrument with him all the time, and plays it wherever he can get the “harmonious consent of the brethren.” I suppose he has an improved edition of the commission to this effect: “Go preach the gospel and play an instrument to every creature!” What a mistake the Savior made in leaving the instrument out of our commission, when N.A. Walker can convert (?) three hundred persons per annum by the use of the instrument, while he might fail altogether with the simple gospel! I can not account for this blunder upon the part of the Son of God, only upon the supposition that he never dreamed that such men as N.A. Walker would ever attempt to preach the gospel. The fact is, he does not tell us in his report whether he preached the gospel. He only says that he used the instrument. Now, by his permission, I will make a suggestions to N.A. Walker, by which I think he can swell his figures considerably for the present year. Let him combine a mourner’s bench with his other instrument, and I think his usefulness (?) will be greatly increased. Most any carpenter can make one, and it would not cost much.

With N.A. Walker I am personally unacquainted, but how to reconcile a disposition to travel through the country sowing the seed of discord and strife among brethren with the spirit of the Master, I know not. N.A. Walker knows that the use of an instrument in the worship is an offense and a source of deep mortification to many of his brethren in all parts of the country.

He knows that its introduction has caused strife and contention in various places, and, in some degree, injured the influence of some congregations. He knows that some of his preaching brethren can not conscientiously preach for a congregation where an instrument is used. He knows that leaving the instrument off can do no harm, while taking it on must work mischief. He known all this and much more, and yet he is going through the country introducing the instrument wherever he can, and organizing churches with it in. Not only so, but he publishes the fact to the world. He glories in this work of mischief. But he says it is done by the “harmonious consent of the brethren.” Certainly. This “harmonious consent of the brethren” is understood in these parts. I have no idea that N.A. Walker will ever change his course. He will evidently lose the respect of many of his brethren. It may be, however, that he cares as little for the respect of some of his brethren as he cares for the conscientious protestations against his course.

Concerning him, I can only say to the brethren, “Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone.” Especially let him alone.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 44, p. 706
November 6, 1980

By James W. Adams

The news which follows may bring joy or sadness to the heart of the reader depending upon your attitude toward Gospel Guardian. Whatever your reaction, we want you to know that it is not something that was done without due consideration and prayerful thought. Due to Brother Theron N. Bohannon’s advancing age, his health, Sister Bohannon’s health, and his personal affairs, the editor of Gospel Guardian has been for the past year urging Brother Bohannon, is some way or the other, to get himself out from under the burden which continued publication of The Gospel Guardian imposed. Several courses of action were considered. The editor of the paper had first chance at buying and continuing to operate the paper himself. He considered it, but ruled that course out due to insufficient capital and his own age. Had I been ten years younger, I would have bought the company and continued to publish it myself, despite my finances, but unfortunately I am not ten years younger. The paper could have been given or sold to a Non-profit Corporation which we had set up with that it view. In fact, the corporation had already achieved both State and Federal (IRS) 4pproval and was ready to be activated. Several considerations caused this to be rejected. Brother Bohannon finally decided to sell The Gospel Guardian, Inc, lock, stock, and barrel, to The Cogdill Foundation. This became an accomplished fact, September .19, 1980, but it will not pass from one to the other until December 31, 1980. Until that time, the company and paper will continue to be operated as it has been for the past five years.

Theron N. Bohannon has unselfishly underwritten the company and the paper for five years. He has sacrificed thousands of dollars of his personal funds to do this. He has given the editor an absolutely free hand with the paper’s publication. Our relationship has been close and brotherly in every sense of the word. It remains so at this moment and w”continue to remain so as the years pass whether few or many. I regret that we did not achieve our goal of getting the paper operating in the black financially. We were approaching this goal, but only by the editor giving his time to the task without remuneration, except for reimbursed expenses. This is how we have operated throughout 1980. I leave the paper with no regrets and by choice. My reasons are strictly personal, hence no person’s business except my own. Beyond this statement, I plan to make no comment. I would appreciate not being asked, and I shall consider any speculation, publicly or privately voiced, as unwarranted meddling in other men’s matters, hence will dignify all such with the contempt of silence which it deserves. I regret the necessity for having to say this, but knowing the disposition of some, I deem it proper and necessary.

I shall make no comments concerning the future, either of the paper or the bookstore, but shall let the new owners of the company and paper make whatever statements they care to make and reveal whatever plans they have in mind for the future. I shall only assure our subscribers that all subscriptions will be fulfilled satisfactorily by those who assume ownership. This was a part of the sale agreement. We have no unpaid obligations beyond current operating expenses which will all be satisfied.

During my tenure as editor of the paper, my daughter, Patricia Spivey, has efficiently and faithfully operated the bookstore. It has been a great experience for her. She is a university graduate and competent, hence could have made more money elsewhere. I could not have managed the operation without her, so she made a large contribution to my editorship in this respect. I enjoyed writing for the paper and doing the work of an editor, however imperfectly. I trust that good was accomplished. May the Lord bless the good and overrule anything that was otherwise. A special thanks to our faithful readers for the hundreds of letters I have received encouraging me in my efforts, for those who may have respectfully written criticizing this or that about our efforts, and for your subscriptions and book business that helped us continue.

As to my future: I shall continue, as I have for more than forty-five years, to “do the work of an evangelist.” I work fill time with the good church at Huntington, Texas, in which labor I am most happy. I shall continue in this capacit~, will hold a few meetings each year, and plan to do some writing of a more permanent nature that I have contemplated for a number of years. When I perceive, as I will inevitably if I live long enough, that my powers of mind and body are waning to such an extent that my work is no longer productive, I shall retire from public work and dedicate the remainder of my life in simply living for God so as to go to heaven when I die and to take as many with me as possible. I hope it will be in the Piney Woods of East Texas that I spend these years. Though not a native of this section, I regard it as home!

Truth Magazine XXIV: 44, pp. 705, 715
November 6, 1980

By Bobby L. Graham

In 1979, one hundred nineteen international scholars combined to produce the New Testament of the New King James Bible (NKJB). Their purpose was to preserve the beauty and purity of the original King James Version (1611) while bringing the grammar and vocabulary up to modern practices. Quotation marks were added and pronouns referring to God were capitalized.

While the technical devices used by the translators are under consideration, let it be noted that italics was dropped in the case of interpolations. “Many of these additions are now unnecessary and have been omitted,” according to the Introduction. I do wonder, however, whether many interpolations have been made, without being noted in italicized letters.

An Improvement

Acts 12:4 is an instance in which this revision has improved the renderings of the original King James Version. Whereas the 1611 version read “Easter,” the NKJB has “Passover.” Such is an improvement because of the complete lack of justification in the 1611 work; in fact, every other case in which the same word occurred, it was translated Passover in 1611. Acts 12:4 was the lone exception.

Some Failings

Romans 7:5 is an instance where interpolation was done without italics. The word aroused is supplied but there is no indication given to the reader. I am not sure that I can agree with the point made by the sentence when the word is inserted, but its addition certainly should be signaled. Paul’s point is not that the Law produced sinful passions, but that it defined and condemned such passions as sinful.

1 Corinthians 16:2 is another verse in which there is a failing in the NKJB. “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” This rendering does not say “at home,” but I do get that dinstinct meaning when I read the verse, because of the combination of “lay something aside” and “storing up.” Of course, the purpose clause in the latter part of the verse (“that there . . . come”) prevents such a meaning being drawn from the verse; but I would still classify-this-as a poor choice of words.

The differences that I have noted in the NKJB are not as numerous or as serious.as those found in most of the newer and more recent efforts. I do think that it has much to commend it, but it should used in comparison with other reliable versions.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 43, p. 698
October 30, 1980

By Keith Sharp

A few years ago a popular song was entitled, “The Games People Play.” The crooner jeered of hucksters who “sock it to you in the name of the Lord.” Sadly, this skeptical view of religious people is reflected in the lives of too many professed Christians.

Following Christ is not a game. True Christians are not “putting on a show” to either fool others or to amuse themselves. The real disciple has “obeyed from the heart” the gospel (Rom. 6:17, 18). He has forsaken all for Christ (Lk. 14:33). He is “crucified with Christ” and lives his entire life “by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20). To him, being a Christian is serious, constant business, not an amusing, occasional game.

Dear ones, how earnest are we about our religion? If we profess to be His disciples, yet use foul language (Eph. 4:29), cheat in business (Rom. 12:17), dress immodestly (1 Tim. 2:9, 10), give grudgingly (2 Cor. 9:6, 7), fail to assemble with the saints (Heb. 10:24, 25), fail to study the scriptures, (2 Tim. 2:15) or fail to teach the gospel to our friends and neighbors, (Jn. 15:1-8), are we really serious about living for Christ?

“Play-acting” at righteousness is, by definition, “hypocrisy.” The scriptures indicate the Lord takes an exceedingly dim view indeed of such actors (Matt. 15:7-9; 23:13-36). Their threatened lot in eternity is horribly desperate (Matt. 24:51).

I wonder how amusing it will be to hear the Judge of the universe sternly pronounce:

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

How serious are you, dear Christian, about following Christ?

Truth Magazine XXIV: 43, p. 697
October 30, 1980