Truth Magazine

By Herschel E. Patton

What is it? A disease? Do I have it? Is it fatal? Curable? Yes, it is a disease (spiritual). Yes, you have it – you were born with it, and yes, it is fatal if untreated. It can, however, be successfully treated. Narcissism is defined as “concern for self, feel good about self, erotic feeling aroused by one’s own body and personality” (Webster).

The word has it’s origin in Greek mythology. “Narcissus, in Greek Mythology, the handsome son of the river god, Cephissus and the Nymph, Liriope. He rejected the love of Echo and was punished by Nemesis; being compelled to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He pined away until he was transformed into the flower of the same name. The Narcissus was considered the symbol of premature death . . .” (Funk & Wagnall’s Encyclopedia).

Dr. Aaron Stern, a noted Psychoanalyst, has written a book entitled ME, The Narcissistic American, in which he writes of this inborn trait, basically the love of self, and its destructiveness. He points out that the baby is born narcissistic, concerned only with self, caring not whom he awakens in the middle of the night or displacing other siblings in the family, for his own desires. Dr. Stern says that unless the child is disciplined to think of others, it is headed for a life of misery and destruction. The doctor continues, “When narcissism is for survival, as with the infant and the founding of a country, it is not as destructive as when one is established, successful, and affluent; that no nation has survived success and the guest for immediate satisfaction.” He mentions the fall of ancient Rome as an example.

Diagnosis And Treatment

The treatment for this destructive, inborn, disease, Dr. Stern says, is in learning self-discipline, self-denial; in learning to love others. He says “too much narcissism causes one to loose the capacity to love others and other things. The more you love and do for others the less narcissist you are.”

Dr. Stern, of course, is right in his diagnosis and needed treatment, but his suggested treatment of this disease is from a social base only. Like so many psychologists, Dr. Stern is an evolutionist and does not believe in God. To treat this destructive disease, he would “program” people, as you would a dog, to deny self-expression, to avoid pain or displeasure, and to receive a greater reward. Society, what it accepts or rejects, would be the basis for determining one’s actions. If society accepts living together without marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, and incest, there would be no need for restraint of desires, but if society rejected such life-styles, inflicting censure and punishment, then you would be happier and more content to deny self in consideration of others. Continual censure, rejection, and pain from others as one bumps into them in pursuit of personal desires will cause emotional disturbances, leading to physical illness, says the doctor.

While the consequences of being narcissistic and practicing self-denial in preference to others are, indeed, as Dr. Stern points out, what he fails to recognize is the fact that some actions are wrong in themselves, that they should be abstained from for soul preservation, and that a society free from “hang-ups,” as some are want to say, is itself a narcissistic society “gone to seed,” like the ancient Rome – destroyed because of this. There can be no successful treatment of this disease apart from God and His Word.

Is It In The Bible

Really, Dr. Stern has discovered and written about nothing new. This disease, narcissism, its origin, nature, consequences, and remedy is revealed in the Bible, only it is called “selfishness,” “self-love,” “self-willed.”

Jesus warned of those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). The Holy Spirit warned of men who were “lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim. 3:2). The apostle Paul warned “every man not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Rom. 12:3), and exorted the Galatians to “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Gal. 6:2-3).

The self-willed, humanistic course of the Gentile world is thus described by the apostle Paul, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools . . . changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image . . . changed the truth of God into a lie . . . changed the natural use (of women and men) into that which is against nature . . .” (Rom. 1:21-32).

It was this conflict between narcissism and enlightment (knowledge) that Paul personified in Rom. 7:14-25. “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin, for that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I . . . . For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do . . . I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me . . . O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Notice, Paul does not say that the cure (deliverance) is through programing in self-restraint by the evaluation of pain and rewards from society, but in Jesus Christ our Lord. The apostle does present the results of each course as an incentive for making the right choice, taking the right action. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:5-6). The Bible remedy is “love the Lord thy God” supremely, involving the submission of one’s own will to the Lord’s will. This results in forgiveness and leadership that guarantees happiness.

Evils Of Narcissism

Narcissism is the basis for false (vain) religion. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:13). False teachers “walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness”, and “presumptuous” and “self-willed” (2 Pet. 2:2, 10). Their narcissistic hearers “will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” and are “turned away from truth to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Every religious faith or practice not found in Scripture (The Faith) is a result of and manifestation of destructive narcissism. No wonder God demands that preachers and -elders not be “self-willed” (Tit. 1:7)!

Atheistic thinking says that the cure here is to develop love for others, their right to worship in their own way, and acquiesce in every religion. This may remove the conflict in society, but true religion is not society founded; it is of God. Even if society becomes ecumenical through acquiescence, the Lord still says “every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13).

Narcissism is behind the demise of many fundamental moral standards and institutions. It has become a designated philosophy – even a religion (so recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court) known as “Humanism.” The Bible designation of this disease “selfishness,” “self-willed”; its warnings and condemnation keep many from looking favorably toward its advocates and participants, so a new name or title is coined. Giving an evil deed a name or title free from stigma (e.g. sickness, self-awareness, my own person, etc.) is one of the devil’s “cunning devices.” Humanism, narcissism, selfishness, self-centered, self-willed are all one and the same. It is a sure road to destruction, physically and spiritually, a disease that every one has-from birth; but is treatable so that its destructiveness can be averted. Indeed, the treatment is self-restraint and love for others, but one doesn’t have to visit a psychoanalyst or even pay $8.95 for Dr. Stern’s book to learn this. The Lord and His Word (The Bible) is the best treatment for narcissism available. Nowhere are the dangers and destructiveness of “self-esteem” pointed out more clearly than in the Scriptures.

The Lord’s Remedy

It was the Lord, centuries ago, who emphasized love as the antidote for this evil. When Jesus was asked what is the great commandment in the law, he replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:36-39). Loving God supremely will result in submitting self to His will, which is always right and best for us. Loving our neighbor as our self will result in thoughts and actions for him instead of for self only. Truly, here is the antidote for narcissism.

Loving the Lord supremely, humbling ourselves before Him, is always for our happiness and welfare, for He only is all wise, powerful, and knowing, using these attributes for us because He, Himself, is love. God never demands anything of man, or leads in a way, but what is for man’s own good. He is the greatest example of love for man, acting for others, that has ever been. Read Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:5-8; Jn. 15:13.

Submitting ourselves unreservedly to Him is essential to our having the salvation and contentment which He provides and promises. Jesus said, “Come unto me . . and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28); “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). The Holy Spirit says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jas. 4:10); “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jas. 4:6). When we can say for our lives as Jesus did concerning His passion, “not my will, but thy will be done,” and thus act, damning narcissism will be under control.

His will also directs us to love our neighbor, or others. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on.the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:3-8).

Psychiatry properly lists restricting self out of love for one another as proper treatment for the destroying disease of narcissism, but this is treatment only for society – this life. Unless love for God is included, the spiritual hurt and loss is left unchecked and even the social treatment become extremely difficult.

To what extent are you plagued with narcissism? Take a test!

	Yes	No
1. Do you have faith in the omnipotent God of creation?
2. Do you believe the Bible to be His complete, inerrant, revealed Word?
3. Is your every religious act scripturally authorized?
4. Are you willing for your religious faith and practice to be tested by Scripture?
5. Is your chief aim in marriage to give satisfaction rather than to receive it?
6. Are you concerned about how your actions are regarded by others or affects them?
7. In temporal matters, are you willing not to have your way without complaining or criticizing?
8. Are you able to rejoice in the success and achievements of others?

Every “No” answer is indicative of narcissism. You have this disease and every “No” answers suggests “to what degree.” If you answer to question 1 and 2 is “No,” you are doomed. The disease is too far gone. Only the Lord, through conversion, can save you from complete and final destruction. If your answer to question 3 and 4 is “No,” the disease is far advanced. Only radical surgery will treat it. The number of other “No’s” indicate the extent of the disease in you. It will never arrest itself, but will continue to grow, unless properly and regularly treated. Untreated, it is always fatal, both here and in the hereafter.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 33, pp. 530, 538-539
August 21, 1980

By Carl Lungstrum

After reading some of the ideals of the promoters of ERA I noticed a great resemblance in their philosophy and the philosophy of those who were idolaters in Athens (Acts 17). The Athenians were totally materialistically and humanistically minded. They did not believe in Jehovah. Thus, as Paul accused the Jews, they “worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25). Paul declared the occurrences of this philosophy as the times of “ignorance” (Acts 17:30).

I now quote some of the atheistic consents of Betty Friedan, an ERA promoter.

We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural, it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race. As nontheists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity (Humanist Manifestos, I and II, page 16).

Just as the Athenians, the ERA promoters will never find progress in atheism. In fact, I wonder how quickly digression will take place. With a society ignoring their Creator and His precepts can you imagine what the consequences would be? The husband would cease to be the head of the home (if homes are still in existence), sexual fidelity would be unheard of, children would suffer the environment of illegitimate births and broken homes, and, with such a sinful society, the world would soon become a very dangerous place in which to live.

ERA promotes progress but yet they deny the only way in which man has had progression. The atheistic promoters claim, “Too often traditional faiths encourage dependence rather than independence, obedience rather than affirmation, fear rather than courage” (Humanist Manifestos, I and II, page 16). There has never been a totally independent man since the creation of the earth. When has man ever been able to live in a society where there were no moral laws? A Christian has fear, but he also has courage. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). It is the neglect of having genuine dependence, obedience and fear which besets society, not the presence of them.

The ERA movement is headed directly for “times of ignorance.” In a relatively short time this nation could forget God just as the children of Israel did (Judges 3:7). More and more we need to preach the same truth Paul proclaimed. “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Truth Magazine XXIV: 32, p. 525
August 14, 1980

By Greg Litmer

In this lesson, we are going to study the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory. I suppose that for most of you, the idea of Purgatory is a hazy one, something that you have heard about but are not quite sure what it is. The Catholic dictionary defines Purgatory in the following manner: “The place and state in which souls suffer for a while and are purged after death, before they go to heaven, on account of their sins. Venial sins, which have never in life been remitted, must be purged away after death, by some pain of sense, inflicted probably by material fire. It is of faith that those in Purgatory can be helped by the prayers and sacrifices of the faithful on earth and especially by the acceptable Sacrifice of the Altar (Mass, in other words).” You notice in that statement the use of the word “venial” sins. In order to get an understanding of what is actually supposed to be taking place in Purgatory, we need to define what is meant by a “venial” sin.

According to Catholicism, there are two kinds of what they call “actual sins.” We are going to give just a brief definition because we will be dealing with this in another lesson. The first type of sin is called a “mortal” sin. The Baltimore Catechism defines it as being a grievous offense against the law of God. A “venial” sin is a less serious offense against the law of God. If you have committed a mortal sin and have not confessed it to the priest and gained absolution, when you die, you go to hell. If you have a venial sin that you have not repented of or confessed, when you die, you will go to Purgatory.

SIN

Mortal Venial

1. Grievous 1. Less Serious

2. Condemns to hell 2. Sends to purgatory

So when we discuss the doctrine of Purgatory, what we are talking about is a place or state of being, that exists after death, separate and apart from heaven or hell, where a person who has died with unrepented of venial sins will go and be purged of those sins by a real, physical punishment, and then be fit to enter into heaven. A most important part of this doctrine is that those who are in Purgatory can be helped by those who are still alive on earth by prayer and by having special masses said for them. In this way, the length of their time of punishment will be shortened.

In the book, The Faith of Our Father, James Cardinal Gibbons teaches the doctrine of Purgatory. In there, he says that it is “clearly taught in the Old Testament” and that it is “insinuated in the New Testament.” Our purpose will be to examine the proof texts that are used to teach the doctrine of Purgatory and see whether or not that is what they actually teach.

The only passage from the Old Testament that is cited in an attempt to prove the doctrine of Purgatory is from 2 Maccabees 12:43-46. This is one of the Apocryphal books, meaning of doubtful origin. These books were not accepted as inspired by the Jews and belonging in the Old Testament; they were not accepted by the early Christians; and they are not included in the Canon of the Bible accepted today by all non-Catholics. If the doctrine of Purgatory is clearly taught in the Old Testament as the Catholics claim, isn’t it strange that it is limited to a book which lacks canonical authority and was not accepted by the Jews as being inspired? That passage says,

“And making a gathering, He sent 12,000 drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection. (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may by loosed from sins.”

The “he” that is spoken of here is Judas Maccabees. In the story of the book of Maccabees, those people who had died and were being prayed for here were guilty of the sin of idolatry, a mortal sin according to Catholicism, one that condemns people to hell. Catholics contend that Purgatory is for those who have committed venial sins. Therefore, their Old Testament proof depends upon a book that does not belong in the Old Testament to begin with, and the very passage that is quoted contradicts their own teaching about mortal sin when it is used to defend Purgatory. Furthermore, try as I might to find it, 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 does not mention Purgatory.

Let’s move into the New Testament. Matthew 12:31, 32 is said to infer the existence of Purgatory. There the Bible says,

“Wherefore 1 say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him: but neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

According to James Cardinal Gibbons, once again, the words of Jesus “leaves us to infer that there are some sins which will be pardoned in the life to come.” He goes on to say, “Now in the next life, sins cannot be forgiven in heaven, for nothing defiled can enter there; nor can they be forgiven in hell, for out of hell there is no redemption. They must, therefore, be pardoned in the intermediate state of Purgatory.”

I agree that no sin can enter into heaven and that once in hell that is where you will stay. But to say that there will be no forgiveness for a sin in this world nor in the world to come in no way implies that some sins will be forgiven in the world to come. That is reading something into this passage that simply is not there. What it really shows is that that sin is totally without forgiveness, now and forever. It is showing the seriousness of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The parallel passage in Mark 3:29 makes it clearer. There we read, “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”

The world to come that is spoken of in Matthew 12 refers to the age when men will have eternal life. I think that Luke 20:34, 35 brings this out very well. It is the time following the resurrection and the judgment. The Catholics do not believe that Purgatory will exist after the judgment. Therefore, even if Matthew 12 taught that there would be future forgiveness of sins after one had died, which it does not, that passage could not be referring to Purgatory because according to their own position, Purgatory will not be in existence at that time.

Now turn to 1 Cor. 3:13-15. This is another popular text for Catholic support of the theory of Purgatory. There Paul writes,

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so far as by fire.”

Brethren, this is an important passage in the defense of Purgatory, and I would like for us- to reread it carefully. But this time, let’s begin with verse 11. There we read,

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Now let us notice a few things about that passage. First, the apostle Paul is speaking about a man’s work being tried or tested. He is not talking about a man’s soul being purged or purified. Second, every man’s work is to be tested, but according to the Catholics, every man does not go to Purgatory. Third, Purgatory is nowhere mentioned or implied in that passage. The apostle is teaching that all of us build upon the one foundation, which is Christ, when we spread the Gospel and seek to build the church. The people who are converted are going to be of different types; some will be as wood, hay, or stubble which will be burned up when the going gets rough; others will be like precious stones, silver or gold which will be able to withstand the trials.

Now if we lose our work, or our converts turn out to be like the wood and hay and stubble, certainly we shall suffer loss, but we ourselves can still be saved. If our work abides (in other words, those that we have been instrumental in helping to convert), then we will have the reward of the joy of seeing those people remain true to the Lord. It is possible, however, that the fruit of our labors may perish without it necessarily being our fault. A whole lot depends on the types of people that the converts are, and that is what Paul is talking about.

The next passage is kind of hard to understand. It was used in a Knights of Columbus ad campaign a number of years ago to offer proof of Purgatory. The passage is 2 Tim. 1:18. Let’s look also at verses 16, 17 so that we will get a better understanding of what is being talked about. There we read,

“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.”

The ad stated that “Paul himself observed the custom of praying for the dead: `The Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day . . . .’ Would Paul have prayed for Onesiphorus, then dead, if he believed the soul of his departed co-worker was beyond help?” The reason this is hard to understand is that the whole argument revolves around whether or not Onesiphorus was dead. The Bible does not give us one reason to believe that he was dead. What is happening is that Catholics are assuming the very thing that they need to prove. Paul simply says, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. ” Now this could be the day he dies or it could be the day of judgment, try as you might, yon simply cannot find the slightest hint of Purgatory in that passage.

Brethren, there are other aspects of the doctrine of Purgatory that I believe should be mentioned. I have known a large number of people who have spent their hard-earned money to have Masses said for the souls of their departed loved ones whom they have been convinced are languishing in Purgatory. Remember, by praying and having special Masses said for these dead people, Catholics on earth are supposed to be able to shorten their time of punishment. Now, in case the full impact of what this means has not hit you yet, consider this letter which was sent out years ago by the Vincentian Seminary Auxiliary of St. Louis.

“Can you afford to forget your friends and relatives whom God has called away into eternity? This would be a sign of disloyalty and a poor indiction of your love for dear ones. Perhaps the soul of your departed relatives is still in Purgatory. You loved them in life; you should not forget them in death. They cry to you; `Have pity on me, at least you, my friend, for the hand of the Lord has touched me.’ You can answer this plea by enrolling your beloved deceased in the Vincentian Seminary Auxiliary Purgatorial Novenas of Masses – All Saints Day. Remember too, your offering will aid in the educating of our young men preparing for the priesthood of Christ. Your charity will please the Divine Master very much and He will reward you abundantly for He cannot be outdone in charity. Write the names of your beloved deceased on the enclosed sheet and mail it to me.”

Do you see what has happened? By using this approach, the doctrine of Purgatory has become one of the most lucrative doctrines ever thought up by man. Poor hard working people are being told that they should have Masses said to get their dead loved ones relieved from suffering (Pay to pray, in other words). Lest anyone think that I am exaggerating about the tremendous amounts of money that have been generated by this doctrine, study the history of the sale of indulgences by the Catholic church down through the ages.

Friends and brethren, the Bible does picture an intermediate state between death and the judgment, but it does not give any hope of forgiveness for the wicked in that state. When we die, our fate is sealed. A reading of the account of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 helps us to understand this. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). The only time to get forgiveness for our sins is in this life. Even though the thought of Purgatory may seem pleasing and even plausible to the human mind, it is nothing but a false hope that is not supported in any way by the Word of God.

Now, lest any claim that Purgatory can be justified by human tradition, that it is a natural instinct to pray for the dead and therefore, there must be something to it, I have also heard people attempt to justify fornication on the basis of natural instinct. Our rule of faith must be God’s Word, not tradition or instinct. And God’s Word does not teach the existence of Purgatory.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 32, pp. 522-524
August 14, 1980

By Darrell Haub

There appears to nearly always be apprehension about the spiritual well-being of those who are planning to leave home to attend college. This is particularly pronounced when the college which the student will attend is a state or private institution not operated by our brethren in Christ. Undoubtedly, the concern develops now that the student is leaving his somewhat protected environment and will face temptations without the watchful eye of those who love him most. However, much can be done to help the student spiritually in his college years and a great deal of apprehension can be avoided by making proper preparation for the student’s spiritual needs ahead of his leaving home. This article is going to consider some of the things which can be done by the student, his parents, the elders of the home congregation and the local church near his college in order to provide what is needed for the spiritual well-being of the college student. We shall consider for the parties involved expectations and responsibilities which will help in this critical time in the life of a young person leaving home to attend college.

Expectations

The Lord expects all Christians to be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). This requires dedication of us to the point of dying to be faithful to the Lord. Therefore, the student should anticipate some regular minor sacrifice of his time, energy and popularity in order to please the Lord. Very frequently this involves the control of extra-curricular activities to not interfere with spiritual goals.

The student has the right to expect the congregation of the Lord’s Church and her members in his college area to glorify God by remaining true to the purpose of the church (Eph. 3:21). The church has never been authorized to entertain men. Therefore, do not expect congregations faithful to the Lord to do so because you are lonely while away from home and friends. You may well find churches called churches of Christ which will offer you church-sponsored social activities, but they are not faithful churches.

Since the church is charged with the responsibility to teach the word of God for edification (Eph. 4:12), you can expect the local congregation at school to encourage you in spiritual matters. You can expect the members to be friendly and interested in you as they are all souls but remember they also have family responsibilities of their own to discharge which may prevent them from bestowing all of their attention on you. In short, you can expect the faithful church at school to offer you pretty much the same things the faithful church at home offers you. There may be minor differences in procedures such as the order of worship, etc. but do not let such expediencies destroy the benefit of the worship activities for you.

Parents have the right to expect their children who are away from home to be faithful to the Lord and respectful to their parents, not defaming the name of their family. Students may not live the same life-style they did at home due to scheduling and similar things. For example, their hours of sleeping and eating may change but that does not make them wrong. Their dress may change but that does not make them sinful as long as they dress modestly. You should also expect the local church where the student attends while at school to teach the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). The church at school will be able to continue the teaching which you and the church at home should have begun. However, if a child has not been faithful in attendance at home, the situation at school will likely be worse, not better. No amount of encouragement from strangers will do what the encouragement from friends and relatives at home could not do.

The elders of the local church which have members who are going to be away at school should expect their charges to be faithful to the Lord, especially in attendance at worship activities of the church (Heb. 10:25). School work is important, but no more so than the work of other members who are employed to support their families. You can expect the church at school to provide scriptural worship services and encouragement for the student to attend because you have referred them to a sound church. Their ability to resist new, as well as stronger older, types of temptations may well depend on the edification and encouragement they receive regularly from other Christians including yourselves, other college students, and the church located near their school. Do not necessarily expect the elders of the church at school to replace your oversight. In many cases, the students attending worship near their college feel themselves visitors while still members at the congregation where you are elders especially when they are home very frequently. Even though you may not see them as often as you once did, the college students may still look to you as their spiritual leaders. Please show concern for their spiritual well-being as often as you can.

The local church near the college should expect the students to be advanced young people reaching for adulthood. They will not be perfect but neither are the local members. They should be expected to serve the Lord reasonably (Ram. 12:1-2), as the Lord expects all members of the his body to serve him sacrificially. Expect many of them to attend worship services when they are in town and to add vigor to the services but to be away frequently on week-ends and holidays. Expect them to have the zeal of youth which does not always display the wisdom of experience. Do not expect them to remain a permanent part of the local church, but expect to send them on in their lives more grounded in the faith.

Responsibilities

We cannot charge the Lord with responsibilities since we are the created and He is the Creator, but we do find in the scriptures that He assumes certain responsibilities. He promises the crown of life to those who will be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). He promises to help in our temptations by providing a means of escape with each one (1 Cor. 10:13). In Matthew 28:20), He says that He will be with His people always. Therefore, we see the Lord assuming the responsibility of helping us to do all that He expects us to do.

Students, your responsibility is to be faithful to the Lord. Paul wrote Timothy as a young man saying “. . . show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). In order to do this, you should plan your school activities, as much as you can control them, to not interfere with church activities. You should also be careful to consider your own spiritual well-being when deciding whether some activity should be done. Paul describes the need for planning in our lives as running to win a race or boxing to beat the opponent, not the air (1 Cor. 1:24-27). You should study your Bibles as you have been taught already to study at home. When you need help on a spiritual problem at school, let someone in the church know who can help you. If you need transportation to the services ask for it and if you do not, say so. Members of the church at school are interested in you, but no one can read your mind as to your thinking. The Lord’s people are not plotting to spoil your fun or run your life, but they are interested in helping you into heaven, whether you have a college degree or not. At judgment, only our faithfulness to Christ will be considered.

In the fulfillment of your responsibilities to the Lord you should consider what you should do about congregational membership. It appears that many students think of their stay at school as temporary and that they will always have roots at home. However, is this the best thinking when congregational membership is considered? Might it not be better spiritually to seek to identify with a faithful church near school and become an active part of that church’s membership? You might even adjust travel plans to provide for stable congregational involvement. This also gives the eldership of the church near school a better opportunity to serve you as God expects. These things require us to use wisdom to serve you as God expects. These things require us to use widsom in judgment that our spiritual well-being is enhanced and not threatened by a few years of schooling.

Ephesians 6:4 requires that fathers see to the training of their children in the Lord’s ways. Should this stop when they are away in college? Much help can be given by simply taking the student to visit the worship services of the congregation near school before school begins. Shyness can be expected in a young person away from home for the first time. Therefore, why not make an effort to introduce the student and the congregation before the time for school to begin. Also, this gives the parent a chance to investigate the congregation where his child will be taught. Not all churches are teaching what they should even through they claim to be churches of Christ. Show interest in the student’s spiritual activities at school as you do his academic.

Simple questions asked of the student about the congregation at school and her activities will help show your child that you are interested in his spiritual well-being as well as in his scholastic achievements. Is any effort to help insure that all things are done to help the student spiritually too much to ask of a parent?

Elders of the Lord’s Church which the student calls home should still oversee the well-being of the soul in their charge. Many students become lost in the shuffle between home and school. Do not expect the student and his family to automatically seek out a faithful church near school and attend without your encouragement. Some will do as they should, but some will not. Do not expect the faithful churches near colleges to get information about students from the school. If the information is available at all, it will probably not be available until several weeks after each session of school begins. In many cases, early contact before school routines are set is vital. In some cases, the school will only recognize churches that have on-campus organizations for the students. Churches of Christ which see no error in tampering with the Lord’s organization form these groups and they get the information from the college. The church near the college can help find and encourage a student, if you will see that they make mutual contact. As soon as you can, furnish a faithful church near the college the name, campus and home addresses and phone numbers of the student you would like them to contact. Remember that a college may well be a large institution of several thousand students living in a variety of places; therefore, give as much information as possible. Also, furnish the name, address, and service times for the faithful church or churches near the school to the prospective student.

In some cases elders in the student’s home town congregation should encourage the student to place their membership in a faithful church near school as Paul did when he left Damascus to travel to Jerusalem (Acts 9:19-28). This is true where students travel away to school and stay in that area nearly all the time. However, since many students stay at school only weekdays and travel home nearly every week-end, your oversight of them becomes much more difficult. If, in your judgment, you determine that they should have identified with a sound church near school, do not assume they have automatically done so. Encourage them in this most important action.

The congregation at school is responsible to sound forth the word (1 Thess. 1:8). It is a tremendous responsibility to be entrusted with a new generation of Christians who are embarking on their own for the first time. The way they are taught and encouraged at this time in their lives may well affect the rest of their lives. The great potential which is in them requires the church to be concerned for their spiritual well-being. Classes adapted to their needs and problems will pay a great reward for them and the church of the future. Genuine care and concern for them by the local members will help them adjust to their new freedom with proper perspective. However, none of these things can be done unless the church and the student make contact. Do you really seek students out and encourage them? Do you let people know where you meet, when you meet, and how to contact you? Do you advertise in periodicals such as Truth Magazine or Searching The Scriptures? Every effort should be made on your part to let yourselves be known by advertisements, letters, word of .nouth and any other honorable means. We are discussing the losing and saving of precious soul.

It saddens me to see and hear of cases where young Christians and/or children of Christians are lost to the Lord due to their attending college away from home. This is especially disturbing when we of the older generation due to lack of attention to our responsibilities, contribute to their loss. It is not uncommon to hear criticism by one party in this matter against all or part of the other parties. We have no reason to act in this way about the Lord’s people or His work. Excuses and accusations accomplish little. Therefore, let us as Christians, parents, elders, students, and the Lord’s church near a college expect the right actions from those involved and discharge our own responsibilities that none of these distressing things need happen again. Let us all plan to go to heaven and help everyone else we can influence to go there also no matter what other plans we may be making along the path of this life. No one need lose heaven to gain an education.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 32, pp. 520-522
August 14, 1980