Truth Magazine

By Daniel H. King

The word “anti” has been unblushingly used to refer to brethren who, in recent decades, have opposed the machinations and promotions of certain “big churches” and “big-name preachers,” as well as a host of human institutions. Many of the ideas have so little resemblance to anything found in the Bible that few can be found to defend them in public debate or private discussion. Yet the caustic title “anti” has served in many instances as sufficiently derogatory as to need neither argument nor reason in defense of the promotions. It conjures up all sorts of baleful notions, “anti-located preacher,” “anti-Sunday school,” “anti-multiple-containers-in-the-Lord’s-Supper,” etc.

That we do not believe these things any more than they do makes no impression upon the one who has heard the blast. The reason: we seldom have the opportunity to defend ourselves. The use of this ugly word alone is enough to close the investigation. After all, who wants to be labeled “anti”?

Well, I think upon further consideration and reflection we ought to, every one of us,. be downright proud to be called “anti,” especially with the course that we see many presently taking throughout the brotherhood. The term itself simply means “against,” and I am prepared to admit that I am “against” a great many things. For example:

(1) 1 am “against” the theory of evolution as an explanation of the origin of the world and man. Divine revelation says God created the world in six consecutive days, with all of its hosts (Ex. 20:11). 1 am “against” any view that conflicts with this scriptural teaching. Yet some liberal brethren have figured out a way to believe both the Bible and evolution, or so they say. Reminds me of a little boy who told his teacher that two plus two equals three. “No, it equals four,” she replied. “It equals that too!” said he. Here we deal with two mutually exclusive answers to the origin of the universe – and some consider them complimentary!

(2) I am “against” fellowshipping those as brethren who are not “in Christ,” since they dwell in darkness (Eph. 5:11). I also oppose brethren who believe and practice heresy, for the incredibly simple reason that God said to do just that (Rom. 16:17-18). Nevertheless there are those who consider the unimmersed. as brothers and fellow Christians. They have little practical or theoretical use for verses of scripture like Gal. 3:27 and Rom. 6:3-4. The same people wink at every sort of error and will fail to endorse no one, accept every form of adulterous relationship and spread the umbrella of “open membership” over all that come their way, then make all sorts of boasts and brags about how they have grown and rank among “the great churches of the brother hood.” Disciplinary action, with drawing of fellowship, and marking of false teachers is a thing of the hoary past. I am definitely “anti” that entire hog wallow.

(3) I am “against” the gimmicks and tricks and devious tactics being heralded all across our land as the way to church growth. Puppet ministries, bus ministries with all of their dubious modes of enticement and motivational tricks, carnal rewards, church birthday and anniversary banquets, “children’s church,” church testimonial dinners and the rest, have taken the place of the saving gospel of Jesus (Rom. 1:16) in houses of worship where the thunder of great Bible preaching was once heard – but echoes no more. No question about it, I am “anti” all such nonsense.

(4) I am “against” the watered-down preaching of the bland, neutral, “lovey-dovey,” “soft-soap,” spineless importers who fill a multitude of pulpits in churches of Christ across our broad land and around the world. As far as they are concerned there is no such thing as sin, only many “social problems”; the church is merely a social and recreational club; their major concern is that the church make a good impression in the neighborhood and fulfill all of its social obligations. The only time trey have anything negative to say is when they warn their flocks about the dread “antis,” those dastardly enemies of digression! It would be safe to say that I am “anti” with reference to what these men represent.

In addition to these things I can think of many things I am opposed to: fornication, theft, murder, agnosticism and atheism, Catholicism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Calvinism, Pentecostalism, Neo-Pentecostalism, modernism, premillennialism, drinking and gambling, cursing and swearing, and a lot more! Why, all of us who renounce and denounce these things (along with the Herald of Truth and other unscriptural conglomerates and church-supported institutions) deserve a better name than just “anti.” Maybe we should be called “ultra-antis,” “hyper-antis,” or even “super-antis”!

Seriously, though, we have no right to be “against” anything that God is in favor of. But God’s favor is clearly and easily demonstrable. Book, chapter and verse; Bible authority, be it general or specific, command, example or necessary inference drawn from scripture. Any of these will do. But if there is none, then God is not in favor, and we had better be “anti”!

Truth Magazine XXIV: 8, p. 130
February 21, 1980

By Earl Robertson

The question has long plagued the people of God as to whether it is scriptural and right for churches of Christ to momentarily support human institutions or not. The conservative ones say no, the liberal ones say yes. What makes such a difference? Does the Bible authorize churches to support these human institutions? Or, does it make any difference whether the Bible gives authorization? Do we need’ Bible authority for churches to do such, anyway?

We hold that the Bible does not authorize churches of Christ to give support to David Lipscomb College to teach the Bible; yet, many churches are doing so. We contend they are doing so without Bible authority. Do they offer Bible to support them in such action? We are not aware of any! We are not alone in our contention. Guy N. Woods said in a speech at Abilene, Texas, “On the theory that the end justifies the means, brethren have not scrupled to form organizations in the church to do work the church itself was designed to do. All such organizations usurp the work of the church, and are unnecessary and sinful” (ACC Lectures, 1939, p. 53). He was then talking about organizations like Potter Orphan Home and School and David Lipscomb College. He declared them unnecessary and sinful! Woods further declared, “Religious secular organizations are always trying to encroach on the function of the New Testament church, interfere with its obligations, and attempt to discharge some of its functions. The church is the only organization authorized to discharge the responsibilities of the Lord’s people.When brethren form organizations independently of the church to do the work of the church, however worthy their aims and right their designs, they are engaged in that which is sinful” (Gospel Advocate Annual Lesson Commentary, 1946, p. 338).

Twice in those earlier years, the present Associate-Editor of the Gospel Advocate, said exactly what we teach: church support to such human institutions is not only unnecessary but without Bible authority and is therefore, sinful. Will the liberals of our day try to answer and defend their practice? Can they show the position set forth by Woods to now be wrong? Would either the College at Abilene or the Gospel Advocate in Nashville print and support these same writings again? Three to four decades have witnessed much doctrinal change! But the word of God has not changed at all.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, p. 124
February 14, 1980

By Mackey W. Harden

It seems that every time I pick up a religious journal or bulletin anymore, I see an article dealing with some “opinions” from our liberal brother in Madison, Tennessee, Ira North, concerning the “conservative” churches of Christ. He believes that we are “drying up and withering away.” Of course we know that such is not really the case.

I have been corresponding with brother Diosdado L. Anelle for over a year now. He is a faithful gospel preacher who lives in Pagadian City, Philippines. Evidently brother Anelle has been reading the same things many of the rest of us have, and he doesn’t agree either. I am going to quote a segment of a recent letter from him. You judge for yourself and see if we are “drying up and withering away.” I wonder what brother North would thing about these statistics?

“The gospel is fast spreading in all directions in our country. New congregations are being established in cities, towns, and villages. Far from “drying up and withering away” as editor Ira North of the Liberal camp has wrongly concluded, we, the so-called “Antis” are growing and multiplying on. Ira North needs only to come to our province of a million people and discover for himself that the opposite of what he said is true. He would be lucky if he could find more than 5 congregations of his own kind against 55 congregations of those whom he brands as “Antis.” Actually the ratio is 11 to 1 in favor of the conservatives. Right here in Pagadian City there are 3 conservative congregations against none or 0 for the Liberals. It’s them who are “drying up and withering away.”

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, p. 123
February 14, 1980

By Leonard Tyler

Prayer is the avenue through which one approaches the Almighty. It should be accepted with thanksgiving and reverence. Christians should live in the atmosphere of prayer. If we are to appreciate and properly appropriate the blessing of prayer, we must understand God’s teaching on it. Who can pray acceptably and on what conditions can acceptable prayer be offered to God Almighty? Since we are taught to pray, it is the more important that we learn how to pray. Do you use the opportunity to pray? As often as you should? In harmony with God’s will? Do you regard prayer as one of the great privileges afforded to God’s people? Do you feel as James gives it, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b)?

Who Is To Pray?

The Old Testament affirms that sin will separate between God and man. Isaiah 59:1-2 warns, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that is cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (see Psa. 34:15; 66:18; Prov. 15:29; 28:9).

This was also understood during the days Christ lived upon the earth. The blind man of John 9:31 stated it thusly: “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” This statement was not challenged by even the enemies of Jesus. They accepted the truthfulness of the conclusion – even though it was reached by the man whom they were trying to entangle. It must have been true.

Jesus prayed, “. . . not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He taught His apostles to pray, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Peter quotes Psalms 34:15-16):

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

John gives us confidence in prayer “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). In these texts, whom has God promised to hear? I conclude, God hears the person who believes and obeys His will. The erring child of God is told to repent and pray (Acts 8:22).

The best way I know to answer, “Does God hear (to answer) the sinner’s prayer?” is to simply say, “Let the sinner turn from his unrighteousness and do God’s will, become a child of His, and He will hear.” There is no question about God’s hearing the righteous man’s prayer. There has always been and will always be a challenging question, “Will God hear the sinner’s prayer?” Why not erase the question by becoming a child of God?

Prayer must be offered by faith. James said, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (Jas. 1:6-7). “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). Could one with faith, such as this text includes, refuse to do God’s will and yet expect God to hear him? Surely not. If one did not believe strongly enough to forsake sin and do God’s will, would he have sufficient faith to even expectantly and sincerely pray? Could he pray in faith while he refused to live by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)?

Prayer must be in reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28), in resignation to God (Luke 22:42), in penitence (Acts 8:22), in humility (Luke 18:9-14), in the spirit of forgiveness (Matt. 6:12-24), and in accordance with God’s will. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 Jn. 5:14).

This was certainly so in the Old Testament. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psa. 66:18). “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov. 28:9).

The conclusion is apparent. A child of God is granted the privilege of prayer. He can pray, “Our Father which art in heaven.” But to be a child of God one must be born again (Jn. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). Even an erring child of God is instructed to repent and pray (Acts 8:22). It seems clear that faith and obedience precedes acceptable prayer. After one becomes a child of God, he must approach the Mighty Throne of God with reverence and awe. But when this is done according to God’s will, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Paul said, “Pray without ceasing.” “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:8). Prayer is a privilege and a vital part of a Christian’s life.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, pp. 122-123
February 14, 1980