Truth Magazine

By Irven Lee

My high school class celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in May of this year. As I look back down the hill it seems that that diploma was given to me only a little while ago. I lacked a few weeks being sixteen, and I weighed about sixty-five pounds less than my. present weight of one hundred eighty. Money and jobs were not- in abundant supply since the indescribable depression had settled down on every community in the land. I cannot now remember where I laid some object that I had in my hands a few minutes ago, but many of the events of those school days at the Murray High School are easy to see as I look back over my shoulder.

When I marched by to be given that diploma I had a future and now I have a past. It would have been impossible to describe my future on that big day fifty years ago. I now know what my future was in 1930 because it has become my past by this time. Nashville, Tennessee, Valdosta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee were to be called home at intervals along the way, but most of my years were to spent in northwest Alabama. You young people who are finishing high school this year might also be surprised if you could see your future.

When the forty-eight seniors at Murray came to the big day, we made plans for a commencement service. We had finished something, and we were about to commence something else, but we did not know what we were commencing. We were pushed out into a world that knew poverty and hard work. What we would do or become was determined more than we knew by our parents, teachers, intimate friends, preachers, and habits of those days. Who knows how much the providence of God may have helped us? I wish I had known how great my debt of gratitude was in 1930 and had been more thoughtful and skilled in expressing it. I think I just took things for granted.

By nature I was a boy with dreams and optimism, so I did not feel afraid to commence whatever it was that I was to commence. Each day passed with some satisfaction and left hope for tomorrow. There must have been some days that did not qualify for such description but, honestly, I do not remember where or when they fitted into the picture, if there were those unhappy days. I was a timid boy without money or prestige and only a few people in the world even knew that I existed. That did not bother me. In my little world I had my hopes, and they could hardly be called ambitions, but they were enough as I anchor my soul so I gladly “commenced” the rest of my life after that commencement service.

My classmates and I never dreamed that the depression would give way to the most extravagant and wasteful generation that has lived on the earth. I could drive a T-Model Ford in those days, but I have seen better cars since. I then knew of no family with central heating that was thermostatically controlled. I had never seen a television. Houses were generally small, and bedrooms had no closet space. Can anyone estimate what percentage of the world’s oil has been used in my generation? Those of us who have thought through the years that we were poor have lived with luxury as compared to the past and as compared with the possessions of people in other parts of the world. I think we just took things for granted while we went on consuming the world’s natural resources.

Let me say to you young people that my past does not give me power to foretell your future. You are beginning (commencing) a journey into an entirely different world to that in which I have lived. I would be afraid to touch the button on a time machine to turn my age back to your age. I would be afraid to face the future if I were your age unless the time machine could give me the hope and optimism that were mine fifty years ago. Expect changes. Live life as it comes passing by and make the most of it. May God’s blessings be upon you. My oldest grandchild is graduating from high school this year. Can any of you describe the world in which he may celebrate his fiftieth anniversary with his high school classmates?

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has not changed in my life time, nor will it change during yours. High school graduates this spring, and all others, should take the Bible with them through life’s journey. Have reverence for it, knowledge of it, and a strong determination to follow its counsel regardless of what others may do. My generation has allowed our moral standards to be lowered very much. Divorce and all major crimes are much more common than when I got my diploma in 1930. Alcohol and other drugs are destroying more lives. Be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is. Ire knows best.

I make no boast of a perfect life. My hope of eternal life is based on grace and mercy even though I have tried to do right and to encourage others to do the same. It is a joy to me to see young people who are devout in this vulgar and skeptical world. Selfishness is not a part of the Christian’s life. Let us remember this until the end.

One’s life is a little like a book with many chapters. The book could end at the end of any chapter. If I live another decade, I will be able to see my grandchildren through school and married. I do believe these will be pleasant pictures to see. I would theta want to see their children and watch them grow up into wonderful young people. Let me die in hope for good things for them. My age and limitations in health let me know that the end of the last chapter in my case is near. Since family, brethren in Christ, and my hope of the crown have made my life pleasant, I am willing for the end to come. The chapter of helpless senility is one I do not desire to write. May the Lord spare me that period of life.

I can easily look back and see many events of the past, but I can look ahead only by the eye of faith. I find myself as hopeful as I was when I passed by the principal for my diploma and went back to my seat fifty years ago. The vapor of my life has appeared for a little while, and it must soon vanish. There will be a new generation moving ahead into the future. My hope is that that generation will accomplish more than my own has. Let spiritual values be appreciated more in the future. May there come a great awakening of interest in the Bible.

Life does not consist of the abundance of things possessed. Ideals, friendships, love, principles, hope, and heaven’s approval are far more important than things. Happiness is a by-product of the abundant life, and it is not to be bought at the market place. The very best things of life remain with us in greater abundance after we have shared them with others.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 28, pp. 454-455
July 17, 1980

By Mike Willis

Approximately 80 million Americans, roughly 40% of the total .population, do not consider themselves members of any church (J. Russell Hale, Who Are The Unchurched?, p. 2). Several sociologists have undertaken the task of defining who the unchurched Americans are and what they are like (see Hale’s study, also see David A. Roozen, The Churched and the Unchurched In America: A Comparative Profile, and The Unchurched American [The Princeton Religion Research Center]). Though these studies are primarily aimed at the sociologist, a person can learn some interesting statistics from an examination of these materials.

One of the interesting results of Hale’s work has been his classification of those who are not going to church. By using his classification system, I would like to consider the kinds of reasons people are giving for not going to church. My methodology will be to consider what legitimate criticisms might be involved in each of these groups (with the hope that we can learn to correct whatever might be leading to these objections, so long as the truth of God’s word is not compromised) and then consider what God’s word might answer to each so far as his reason for not going to church might be considered. Throughout this presentation, I shall be using Hales classification and description of those who are “unchurched.”

1. The Anti-Institutionalists. “This category includes those persons who -are defectors from the church on the basis of what they perceive to be the Church’s preoccupation with its own self-maintenance.” Many of those who do not go to church for this reason consider themselves to be better Christians because they do not participate in the institutional church.

What is occurring in modern denominationalism is certainly giving some legitimacy to this objection. Denominationalists (and some liberal congregations of the Lord) are building exorbitant edifices for worship, constantly begging for money to pay for these buildings and some other works, and use every form of promotionalism to raise money and boost the attendance. One certainly gets the impression from what he reads in bulletins and newspapers that an inordinate emphasis on money and numbers is present in not a few churches. Consequently, many Americans have correctly perceived what is going on in twentieth century denominationalism and are properly turned off by what he sees. The emphasis on spiritual things has been thrown out to be replaced with a good dose of positive mental attitude.

This unchurched person makes the mistake of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Because he has been turned off by sinful abuses and activities of denominationalism (both in and out of the church), he simply throws out the church. However, one must not forget that the church is a part of God’s eternal plan through Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:10-11); no less important person than Jesus Himself built the church (Matt. 16:16). Reconciliation to God occurs through Christ in that one body (Eph. 2:16). Hence, God has a true purpose for the church to exist; the church was not born simply because some lazy preachers schemed a way of earning a living without working. This person needs to reject the sinful practices of modern denominationalism and begin a search for the Lord’s people! There are people of the Lord who are serving Him, without being guilty of the things which are turning this group of Americans off!

2. The Boxed-In. “These are people who, for the most part, have once been church members and have left . . . . Doctrine or ethics have been so narrow as to smother them . . . . The church is viewed as worse as a prison, at best as a strait-jacket. Their psychological state is expressed in such phrases as `Don’t fence me in!’ or `Unhand me!’ or `Let me go!’ They want no external restraints. They will be captive to no one. They have taken charge of their own lives.”

There are certain legitimate objections in these kinds of criticisms. Some churches have legislated traditions and opinions which have bound their membership over and above what God has bound. Ridiculous moral regulations which would have the effect of “turning off” the general public include such things as teaching that receiving a blood transfusion is sinful, that celebrating one’s birthday is sinful, that a young lady cannot wear make-up, trim her hair, or wear slacks, that a person cannot attend a movie of any kind, that a young person cannot wear a graduation ring because wearing of jewelry is forbidden, and that using any form of contraceptive is sinful. Obviously, many Americans reject such taboos and are turned off by them.

Others find the doctrines of their church unbelievable; consequently, they are unwilling to go to church because of their doctrinal disagreements. Frankly, I would be turned off by such doctrines as the following as well: (a) the doctrine that God predetermined who would be saved and who would be lost without regard to anything that they do (election); (b) the doctrine that once a man is saved he can never be lost regardless of how he lives (perseverance of the saints); (c) that tongue-speaking is authentic; (d) that one cannot see a doctor; (e) that faith healing is true (especially when one witnesses the sick come to church, testify to being healed, and then turn again to the beds of affliction); (f) snake handling; (g) purgatory; (h) papal infallibility; etc. These and many other doctrines which are taught in modern denominationalism are recognized as ridiculous; many are turned off by churches which teach such ridiculous doctrines.

The other side of this coin is that some Americans refuse to be bound by the revelation of God’s word. They are going to do what they want to and believe what they want regardless of what the Bible says. Hence, they find the doctrinal standards of the Bible to be too confining to them. They are unwilling to believe that there is only one church, that salvation is only available through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6), that one must be baptized in water in order to be saved (Mk. 16:16), and similar doctrines. Too, they reject the moral instructions of God’s word. Some Americans refuse to believe that homosexuality is sinful (1 Cor. 6:9-10), that pre-marital and extra-marital sexual relationships will damn one’s soul (Gal. 5:19-20), that dancing is condemned as lasciviousness (Gal. ,5:19), that drinking (social drinking included) is prohibited (1 Pet. 4:3), and that any person who divorced his mate for any reason other than fornication and subsequently remarried is guilty of adultery (Matt. 19:9). Frankly, I do not have anything to offer these unchurched people. They are lawless men – men who refuse to walk in the light of God’s word. Consequently, there is no fellowship with God possible for them so long as they walk outside the revelation of God (1 Jn. 1:6-7).

3. The Burned-Out. These “are some who feel that their energies have been utterly consumed by the Church . . . . The used feel that they have been exploited or manipulated.”

I can understand why some would feel that way. Many of the faith healers are constantly writing letters to people all over this country telling how God directed them to write and ask for a contribution. Some people have given thousands of dollars to religious charlatans; no wonder they feel used. Others have worked long hours in different denominations to keep the institutions going. They have been involved in every fund-raising, promotional scheme employed by denominational pastors to increase the membership and contribution. Many of them have seen through the facade to perceive that spiritual work is not being done in these denominations. Hence, they feel that they have been manipulated and used.

The fact that one has been used and abused in the past, however, does not excuse him from future responsibility. Such a man must be guided by the revelation of God in working for the Master, not some denominational machinery. However, work he must (1 Cor. 15:58; Tit. 2:14; 3:1). Our lives are to be filled with serving others, even as Jesus came to serve rather than to be served (Matt. 20:26-28). The day of rest for the servant of God is not in this world but in that which is to come; rest will be given to us at the second coming of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7). Hence, though a man might be burned out by the exploitative schemes of denominationalism, he needs to turn to Christ and work with the saints of God in serving the Master.

4. The Cop-Outs. These are “those who were never really committed to the Church in the first place . . . . The Apathetic Cop-Outs lack any deep feelings for or sensitivity toward what the Churches stand for, say or do . . . . They are indifferent to the point of saying, `I could care less.’ . . . The Drifters are Cop-Outs whose association with Churches has been so marginal that floating from place to place without ever establishing strong ties has become habitual. They may fear the demands of responsibility to others or to programs.”

I can see no legitimate justification for these people not worshipping with saints. The problem is that they have never been converted to Christ. They simply do not love God .enough to be concerned about obeying His word. Some, consequently, simply never take any interest in spiritual things. Others have only a nominal interest. These are the people who visit every congregation in the city and never take an active part in any of them; they hold membership-at-large, being a part of the church universal but not of the local church. Any excuse they give for’ not being involved is simply a “cop-out” because they have never been involved in the first place!

The gospel has no promise of everlasting salvation to such people; the eternal punishment of hell is all that remains for these kinds of unchurched people. Because they refuse to worship and serve God, He will reject them in the final day.

5. The Happy Hedonists. These people “find fulfillment of life’s purpose in momentary pleasures or a succesion of pleasure-satisfying activities . . . . Their hedonism was not often manifested in their idolization of leisure pursuits.”

Many of our neighbors are happy hedonists. They want to spend their Sundays sleeping in, going golfing or fishing, watching sports events on television, and any number of other pleasure related activities. They are happy with the way they live and have no plans or intentions of changing. They remind me of the people described by Paul who were “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4), people “whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). Obligations of church membership to such. people are rejected because they intrude on the time they can spend more profitably on some form of instant gratification.

Unfortunately, the churched Americans are just about as guilty of being hedonists as are some of the unchurched. By constantly preaching on attendance, some of them will be persuaded to attend one service a week. On Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights, they are too absorbed in the pursuit of pleasure to take time out to worship God. They never find time for prayer and Bible study because it interrupts watching television. Like their unchurched counterparts, the church hedonists prefer to pursue pleasure rather than serve God.

When Solomon considered what it was good for man to do all of his days on this earth (Ecc. 2:3), he considered the pursuit of pleasure (Ecc. 2:1-11). He withheld from himself no pleasure which might bring happiness to him. Yet, when he reached the end of his course, he said, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecc. 2:11). The pursuit of pleasure offers no permanent happiness; “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecc. 1:8). Many people find out how empty life is from the mere pursuit of pleasure and seek, for something else; others go to their grave without learning this only to be tormented forever because they did not “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecc. 12:13-14). Though pleasurable pursuits are good when kept in proper perspective, they cannot save anyone’s soul.

6. The Locked-Out. These “are the opposite of BoxedIn. These are those unchurched people who feel that the Churches have closed their doors against them.” They include those who have been rejected by the church because of their refusal to comply with some doctrine, those who have been neglected by the church because of various reasons (they are in the wrong social class or some other reason), and those who feel that they have been discriminated against.

Some of these criticisms are legitimate. For example, Wayne B. Williamson frankly admitted that the Episcopal Church has made little attempt to evangelize the poor; he said, “Many of its leaders came close to holding the lower classes in contempt and made their greatest appeal to the affluent and the powerful” (Growth And Decline in the Episcopal Church, p. 138). In some churches, the blacks have not been welcome; many have done little or nothing to evangelize the blacks and other minorities. Older people are sometimes treated as if they were unimportant because they have so little to contribute financially and are unable to do much labor in the local work. Hence, the religious world has “locked-out” some of the world. Fairness demands that we add that some of the minorities have also locked-out the white, middle-classed American.

This should serve to remind each of us of the universality of the gospel. The gospel is to be preached to every creature of every nation (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). The invitation of Christ is extended to “whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17). Hence, we should make equal attempts to evangelize all men, so much as we have opportunity.

Some are locked-out of the church, however, because they refuse to live by the moral codes of the New Testament. This sociological category includes as “locked-out” those who do not go to church because they have been divorced and remarried without scriptural cause, social drinkers, and other moral perverts who refuse to walk according to the revelation of God. Frankly, I know of nothing. to offer these people except the preaching of a gospel of repentance.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 28, pp. 451-453
July 17, 1980

By Ben M. Shropshire

In our previous articles on this subject we .showed that Christians are required by God to do certain kinds of judging, none of which are in violation of Matthew 7:1-5. Then we showed the kind of judging which Jesus forbids in this passage; that is, judging in which we use our own lives, beliefs or opinions as the law by which we condemn another. We are guilty of this when we hypocritically apply the law of God to another person to condemn him but refuse to apply the same law to ourselves; when hatred and malice in our hearts causes us to speak evil of another person; when we attempt to condemn another person on the basis of his motives which we cannot know; and when we condemn a person on the basis of a misunderstanding or misapplication of God’s law. In this article we want to draw some general conclusions about judging drawn from what the New Testament teaches on the subject.

First, we need to keep in our minds continually the fact that we, ourselves, will someday be judged; there is no escape from this judgment (Heb. 9:27). “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). We also need to realize that one of the things to be considered in our own judgment will be how we have judged others; whether we have judged in the way required by God or in a way forbidden by Him. “So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment” (James 2;12, 13). In the verses immediately prior to this passage James was discussing the same kind of wrong judging that Jesus said was wrong in Matthew 7:1-5. The same thing is discussed by Paul in Romans 2:1-3. The sin of improperly judging others will be remembered against us when we stand before Christ to be judged.

The possibility of our being able to stand approved before God when we are judged to a very great degree depends on our well-informed in what the word of God teaches; we need to be able to “rightly divide (or handle aright, ASV) the word of truth” as a result of our having studied or given diligence to be able to do so, in order that we might not be workmen that will be ashamed (disappointed) when we are judged (2 Tim. 2:15). We need to be “fully assured” in our own minds with regard to our service to God that we are doing what He would have us to do (Romans 14:5).

Being “fully assured regarding our beliefs and religious and diligent study of God’s word, we would not be so easily offended when someone judges us or suggests we might be wrong about something. The uneasy feeling we have when someone suggests that we might be in error arises out of an awareness on our part that our beliefs do not rest on solid evidence or that our practices are not based on a firm foundation of the authority of God’s word. Knowledge produces a firm conviction that is not easily shaken by someone suggesting that we are in error. Ignorance of God’s word, on the other hand, causes us to feel unsure and to be resentful when it is suggested we might be wrong. Of course, when we really are wrong about something as determined by God’s word it is much easier to pass off the judgment of our error by taking offense at the one who shows it to us than to admit we are wrong and change. However, honesty and the fear of God demand that we do the latter.

Again, in view of all of this, instead of resenting the person who might believe we are wrong and taking offense at his “judgment” of us in telling us he believes us to be wrong, we should develop within us the capacity to appreciate the person who so “judges” us. Instead of condemning him on the basis of improper motives, we should be grateful for his desire to help us and for his effort in trying to teach us what he believes is right. If it should be determined by what God’s word says that we are not wrong at all, but that he is, we would then be given the opportunity of trying to teach him the way of the Lord more accurately. However, if it develops that he is correct, based on the teachings of the Bible and proper application thereof, we then should be eternally grateful to him for having taught us the way of the Lord more accurately. While a thorough knowledge of the Bible should give us convictions that are not easily shaken (being “fully assured”), we should never be so dogmatic and selfrighteous as to be unwilling to listen to another person’s reasons for believing we are wrong. Instead, we should be grateful for his knowledge, for his interest in our spiritual and eternal welfare, and for his courage in trying to teach us wherein he believes us to be wrong. We should be grateful to him in the same way we would appreciate our doctor when he tells what is wrong so that remedial treatment can be started immediately. A doctor who suspects there is something wrong with us but does not tell us about it because he does not want to “judge” us and upset us would not be much of a doctor. Likewise, a friend who thinks we are wrong but who is unwilling to be thought of as “judging” us and who does not wish to upset us is not much of a friend. “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend . . .” (Prov. 27:5, 6).

Finally, we need to remember that we are all going to be judged by the word of God (Jn. 12:48); not just by our sincerity, not by the fact that we thought we were right (Prov. 16:25), nor by our motives only. Furthermore, in the day of judgment ignorance of God’s word will be no excuse (Acts 17:30). In view of this, how holily, righteously and unblameably we should strive to live in this present world (1 Thess. 2:10).

Truth Magazine XXIV: 28, p. 450
July 17, 1980

By S. Leonard Tyler

Mr. Malcolm Boyd wrote an article in the April, 1972 issue of McCall’s Magazine under the above title. It was interesting, as well as suggestive. May I use some of his material in search for the correct answer? His question has echoed through the 1960s and 70s. We may expect to hear it repeated in future decades as traditional denominations continue to decay and decline.

Mr. Boyd suggests a growing interest in the question, “Do we still need the church?” He thinks the question is relevant and feels that many are inventing their own answers, and I agree. His approach is sectarian or denominational. Such is self-evident to any, with just a little understanding of the New Testament, who reads his article. He shows no scriptural basis for arguing the need for the church. His concept of the church, seems to me, is purely social. The soul of men and eternal life are only alluded to and the spiritual nature of the church forgotten.

Confusing Social Values With Higher Spiritual Values

Mr. Boyd has some good things to say regarding the value of the church for morals, stability in life, broader concept of man and our relationship one with the other, as well as windows of vision and “affords us punctuation marks for the rituals of our own lives – birth, love, marriage, work, study, leisure, crisis, tragedy, and death.” But in all this he never gets to the point that Jesus came to seek and save lost men. If one fails to recognize the church as a spiritual institution with spiritual values and purposes, he misses the whole reason for its existence.

This should impress us because there is a growing tendency within the Lord’s church to overlook its spiritual values and emphasize its social, political, and moral values. The sociological concept of the church gives way to a “social gospel” and classifies the church as a human organization rather than a divine spiritual institution.

The teaching of Christ affects man’s thinking and touches every phase of human life, since it regulates his relationships within the bounds of what is right. It lifts his thoughts to higher living and nobler designs than any earthly treasure of accomplishment can offer. It not only keeps before him the mysteries of life but gives a firm basis upon faith for their solution.

The church has an inestimable impact upon the sociological relationships of man, but this is effected only as Christ’s teaching seasons each individual’s heart to act within its bounds sociologically, politically, or morally. However, the very purpose of the teaching of Christ is to lead men and women to accept Him by faith as both Lord and Savior. This is sustained by the great commission as well as other texts (John 8:24; Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Tim. 1:15). When men and women hear the gospel message, believe in Jesus Christ and act upon that faith in obedience to His commands, they are saved (Rom. 6:17-18). Thus they make up the church of Christ (Phil. 1:1).

The Church As Ordained By God

The Greek word ekklesia from which “church” comes means “the called out.” To be the church of Christ, members are “Called out” by Christ. This call comes through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Thess. 2:12; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:1-3). Therefore, the church of Christ is composed of all those who are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord and become his possession, His people (Acts 2:47; 20:28). These have obeyed the gospel being baptized into Christ and must abide in His teaching (2 John 9) to continue as His possession, His church. “Do we still need the church?” is but to ask, “Do we still need the saved?” or “Do we still need people who believe in Jesus Christ and obey Him?”, for such is the church.

Christ is the head of His people, His church, with all authority both in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). His people, the church, must be subjected unto Him (Eph. 5:23-24). He loved the church and died for it “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). Christ is the Savior of the body, the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18). Do we need the church?

The people of God, His church, have a divine arrangement or organization through which to function as His people. Christ is the head, elders are to superintend under His instruction (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4), deacons to serve (1 Tim. 3:8-13), and all the saints work together with God (Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:22-23; 1 Tim. 5:1-7; Titus 1:5-13). The inspired Scriptures give the absolute standard by which the church of Christ is maintained or sustained as the true church. This is the church as revealed in the New Testament. “Do we still need the church?” Do we still need that which God ordained in His eternal mind to manifest His manifold wisdom and through which He receives glory throughout all ages, world without end (Eph. 3:10-11, 23)? Keep this in mind as we recite some-of the comments regarding the church.

Confusing The Lord’s Exalted Church With Decadent Human Churches

Mr. Boyd quotes a lady in Cleveland as saying, “I don’t go to any church or religious meetings now. My religion is being with God. I don’t need any help with that.” This lady has no concept of what the New Testament church is – much less, its purpose and need for today.

A Chicago woman, wife of a former Catholic priest, said, “The church as an organized institution is dead for both of us. We don’t care about its renewal or its failures. However, we have decided to join a commune. That’s where Christ is – in the inner city or out in the country, in poverty and service to other people.” These remarks confuse Christianity with Catholicism, which has very little resemblance to the Lord’s church. No one should be amazed as to why such people are down on the church. They know only the highest order of ecclesiastical organization and biggest “religio-politico” institution on earth. The Pope claims personal infallibility when speaking ex cathedra. The Roman Catholic Church holds the same Claim. but her history is one of war, persecution of dissenters, and blunders of every sort. It should come as no surprise when such people become disappointed and discouraged. They come to recognize the uselessness of such a monstrosity claiming to be the simple church of Christ revealed in the Bible.

One should never allow this to drive him away from the New Testament church. Why go to a commune? Why not meet with the redeemed people of the Lord? Why not search the Scriptures and examine the gospel as originally preached? This is what so many people longing for God did in the first century. And when your faith becomes strong enough, obey the Word of the Lord and become a child of God – such made up the church then and such makes the church today. The word is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11). A commune is only a group of people discussing, talking together. The church is a group of saved people studying, worshiping and working together ‘according to God’s instructions.

A Protestant clergymen told Mr. Boyd, “I don’t know what I believe right now about church doctrine. The main thing is that I have to support a wife, a kid in high school, and a girl in college. So I have to stand up on Sunday mornings and preach a sermon that won’t get too many people too mad. I have to go on being the `man of God’ even though I don’t have any clear idea what it means. I can’t stand doing it much longer. My wife and I both want out. But how can I earn a living? This is all I’m trained to do.

Woe Unto Me If I Preach Not The Gospel

This is a terrible blight in which to live. And, think! What an ungodly impact it has upon the hearts of men and women, boys and girls, from a spiritual standpoint. But the problem, it seems to me, in back of it all is the idea of a professional ministry. Schools for the ministry are among us and are manufacturing professional ministers to the destruction of the Lord’s church.

Do you mean to say, “It is wrong for a person who wants to preach to go to college?” No, a thousand times no! But when one goes in search of professional training to make a preacher, it would be better for him to make a lion trainer or politician. This would save the church many problems and open the door for true preachers of the gospel of Christ. The truth of the matter is that God did not establish the college to make preachers. He established the church. One should be a Christian and love the truth enough to want to preach it regardless of college or no college. He should preach to save his own soul as well as saving others.

Paul said, “. . . necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). He brought His body under subjection, he said, “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27). This attitude gives the right disposition toward preaching. Listen, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). Paul was not a “professional minister” promoting his own career. One must be firmly convinced within his own heart first and then he is ready to tell the glad tidings of good things to others – yes, preach the glorious gospel of Jesus and His love!

It would not be right to close without giving Mr. Boyd’s last paragraph, “The church is not simply a building on the corner of Second and Elm, although that building may house a bit of it. The church expresses a thunderous shout of joy, a lamentation so loud that it fills valleys, a restless Christ who roams the earth. The church is bigger than any of us or our attempts to make it conform to our own image. Yet it is an intimate community – wherever two or three are gathered together – that links us to judgment, healing and love.”

He forgot one essential in his gathering. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). They must gather “in the name of Christ.” This means by His authority or according to His instructions. Therefore, it is not just a commune of people with whom Jesus meets, but rather two or three gathered in His name.

The Church: The Everlasting Kingdom

The church of Christ is needed today just as it was when Jesus established it upon the earth. It has the same origin, doctrine, name, organization, worship, work, and eternal destiny. This is the everlasting kingdom which cannot be moved (Heb. 12:22-29). Time and timely things pass but the everlasting word of God endures forever and such sustains the everlasting kingdom or church of our Lord. It shall not pass away.

The church is the pillar and support of truth. She proclaims the gospel of Christ and serves to please God, for her design is to give God glory throughout all ages (1 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 12:1-3; Heb. 12:1-3; Eph. 3:21). In the final great day, Christ will deliver her to His Father (1 Cor. 15:22-28). If God be for us, who can conquer us?

Truth Magazine XXIV: 28, pp.459, 460-461
July 17, 1980