Truth Magazine

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

By Morris W. R. Bailey

As we continue our study of attitudes that men have displayed and continue to display toward the truth, I shall point out that there are some who

Withstand The Truth

In his second epistle to Timothy, Paul wrote of grievous times to come when men, holding a form of godliness would deny the power thereof. In further reference to these false teachers, Paul wrote, “And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Tim. 3:8).

We do not know who Jannes and Jambres were. It has been suggested by some commentators that they were Egyptian magicians hired by Pharaoh to duplicate the miracles worked by Moses and thus detract from their effect upon the Egyptians (Ex. 7:11). Whoever they were, and whatever they did, it was an effort to withstand Moses and to hinder him in his attempt to free the children of Israel from bondage. Paul likened them to certain false teachers of his day who withstood the truth that he preached.

So here we have an attitude of open opposition to the truth that culminated in some withstanding it. It is not the indifferent, apathetic attitude of “live and let live” that some who have no conviction assume toward those who preach the truth. Those who withstand the truth are usually not satisfied with their own rejection of the truth, but they stand in the way of others who may be disposed to receive it. Like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day, they “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for they enter not in themselves, and suffer not those who would enter to enter” (Matt. 23:13).

One incident in the life of Paul demonstrated this active opposition to the truth. On his first preaching tour, on the island of Cyprus, he had been given the opportunity to preach to the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who sought to hear the word of God. But a certain sorcerer named Elymas withstood Paul, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. Rejecting the truth himself, he was determined that others should not receive it. This called forth from Paul the burning denunciation, “O full of all guile and all villainy, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). It was strong language but it was Paul’s estimate of them that withstand the truth.

That was only one of many such incidents of opposition to the truth that Paul encountered during his apostolic career. What was even more sad, and must have given him great anguish of heart was that much of the opposition came from his own people, the Jews, among whom were former associates. Time after time, the Jews not only rejected the gospel themselves, but were the ring-leaders in opposition stirred up when he preached the gospel to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:50, 14:19, 17:13).

That opposition to the truth took on an even more serious aspect when the preaching of the gospel began to make its impact on the heathen world where idolatry and superstition were firmly entrenched. Old traditions and customs die hard, and especially where they have been a source of material gain. Thus it was that when Paul cast an evil spirit out of a maiden in Philippi who had brought her masters much gain by the soothsaying, he and Silas, his companion, were cast into prison by the enraged masters (Acts 16:16-24).

Opposition to the truth almost cost Paul his life in the city of Ephesus, which was the site of the great temple of the goddess Diana whom all Asia and the world worshiped. Then, as now, religion was often commercialized, and many were making their living from the manufacture and sale of silver shrines of their goddess. Realizing that Paul’s preaching was turning many away from idolatry, they were able to see that it was a threat to their livelihood as well as to their religion, and so they incited a riot of such violence that Paul despaired of his life (Acts 19:23-31, 2 Cor. 1:8, 9).

Opposition: A Common Occurrence Today

Human nature has not changed since the days of Paul. The spirit of opposition that caused men to withstand the truth preached by Paul has reared its head from time to time and has led men to withstand the truth in various ways today. While it may be a rare occurrence, it is not a thing unheard of for preachers in some foreign countries to be imprisoned and even threatened with death when the preaching of the truth interferes with local customs, or makes inroads on the established religion of that country. This is particularly true in countries where Mohammedanism is the established religion. In a report on a preaching trip to Iran, Brother James P. Needham said concerning the religious situation in that country:

The populace of Iran is almost 100% Mohammedan. To call it a closed society is not far wrong. It is estimated that one in every fifteen citizens is involved in some kind of police work. A secret policeman kept almost daily surveillance of my activities. The Islamatic religion is interwoven in the fabric of Iranian culture, and the culture is a part of the religion. Officially there is almost no tolerance of any other religion . . . . The priests continue to keep local citizens in line religiously, and will intimidate anyone who violates Islamatic tradition, and persecute any who seek to lead them astray. There is a great deal of talk in the country about these priests having murdered such persons, and many feel that they would do it now.

“I have been told that it is illegal for anyone to enter Iran to do religious work among the natives, and that a visa for such a purpose would not be issued. One of the brethren inquired about this at the American consulate and was told that it is not illegal, and that such a visa could probably be obtained, but that such a person would have no standing before the law. If the local priests persecuted him, or even killed him, the government would do nothing . . .” (Gospel Guardian, Vol. 30, 229).

Such is the length to which men will go in some parts of the world, even today, in withstanding the truth.

Here, in our western culture, opposition to the truth is not likely to culminate in violence; but it can be carried on, nevertheless, in various subtle ways. Sometimes it is expressed in a polite refusal to hear the truth when it is preached. They have their mind made up as to what they want to believe, and they think that they can ignore the truth into silence.

Other times the opposition to the truth, while active, does its work in the background. I recall an occasion some years ago when I had the opportunity to conduct some Bible studies with a family. They were nominally members of the United Church of Canada. But they had obviously never taken their religion very seriously, and just as obviously had never been taken very seriously in their church. They were just taken for granted. When I suggested the idea of a Bible study to them, they were quite agreeable. After some nights of study it seemed that we were making progress and they gave evidence of being concerned about their salvation, after we had discussed the subject of baptism. But then they decided that they should talk with their preacher, and that ended our studies. They lost interest, and the husband was later given a prominent position in his church where he had formerly been a nobody. No, it was not violent opposition on the part of that preacher, but it was opposition, nevertheless. I do not know what he told those people. But whatever it was, he was withstanding the truth and, thus, prevented some seemingly honest people from obeying the gospel.

Opposition To The Truth Among Brethren

Since the beginning of the 1950’$ when the current issue of institutionalism and sponsoring churches began to surface, opposition to the truth has come from an unexpected quarter. One of its symptoms was a suggested “yellow tag of quarantine,” and various other ways to silence the opposition of sound brethren, who were set for the defense of the truth, to the wave of liberalism that was sweeping over the church of the Lord, and since that time has swept some formerly sound congregations into apostasy. Some of the religious periodicals published by brethren which had been in the forefront in opposing the previous digression of the 1800’$, under new editors reversed their policy of open discussion of issues and closed their pages to writers who opposed the developing trends.

It has even been the disposition of those who, in opposition to the truth, introduce human innovations with their divisive tendencies, to place the blame for such division on the wrong people – those who oppose their innovations. Old King Ahab labelled the prophet Elijah as “the troubler of Israel,” when in fact it was Ahab and his father’s house who were the real cause of Israel’s misfortune in that they had “forsaken the commandments of Jehovah, and followed after Baalim” (1 Kings 18:17, 18).

In the previous century to this, when the introduction of the missionary society and instrumental music in the worship had divided churches, it was those who opposed the innovations that were blamed for the division when, in fact, the responsibility for the division rested on those who, introduced the divisive factors.

Regardless of how loudly and how long innovators of today may shout the epithets, “troublemaker” and “church-splitter,” it is those who, without scriptural authority, and therefore in opposition to the truth, have introduced the things that divide us, who must bear the blame for a divided brotherhood.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, pp. 120-122
February 14, 1980

By Brooks Cochran

In this section we want to examine some of the teachings of Islam with that of the Bible.

God

The Koran teaches “there is no God but God (Allah), and Mohammed is his prophet.” The belief in one God is the corner-stone of the Islamic religion. Mohammed believed the trinity of the Christians to be three Gods and therefore idolatry.

If it is the same God who speaks through the Bible and the Koran then He is a God who contradicts Himself. For in the Bible, He states that Christ is His Son and all are to hear and obey Him; while in the Koran, He states that Mohammed is His prophet and all are to hear and obey him.

Christ, not Mohammed, is God’s spokesman today (Matt. 17:1-5; 28:18-20; John 1:1-3, 14; 5:22, 27; 10:30; 14:8-10; Acts 2:36; 3:13-26; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-4; 1 Tim. 2:5-6). Actually, all one needs to do is read the gospel of John. If one is honest and sincerely seeking the truth that ought to convince him, whether he be Jew or Moslem, that Christ is the final authority in religion today.

While it is true that there is only one God, the Bible uses such language as to convey the idea that there are three separate and distinct beings which make up Deity or the Godhead (Matt. 28:19; John 1:1, 14; 17:1, 3, 5; Acts 5:3, 4; Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:4-6; John 20:26-31).

Christ

Moslems deny that Christ is God. To them, He is not the Son of God, but just a servant of God who prepared the way for Mohammed. They also deny the fact that Christ died by crucifixion. They believe He was delivered by a miracle from the death intended for Him and that the Jews slew a person who looked like Jesus by mistake. They claim that Jesus, in John 14:16, predicted the coming of Mohammed.

Most of the scriptures used in the above section can be used to prove that Christ is the Son of God. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God; He proved His claim; God endorsed His claim; and the Jews condemned Him to death because He made the claim (2 Pet. 1:16-19; Rev. 2:18; 1:10-12; Matt. 11:27; 16:13-17; 26:63-65; John 5:19-43; 9:35-37; 10:36; Acts 2:22; John 3:1-2; Matt. 17:1-5; 3:16-17; Rom. 1:4; Matt. 26:63-64; John 20:30-31).

Jesus plainly taught that He would be killed and that His death was a necessity. John and Peter, as well as the rest of the apostles, were witnesses to the fact that Christ died, was buried, and arose from the grave (Mk. 8:31; Matt. 16:21; 20:17-19, 28; 26:28; John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 33; 19:31-35; Acts 2:23; 1 Cor. 15:1-8).

A study of John 14-16 will show that the Holy Spirit is the promised Comforter and not Mohammed. In John 16:7-14, Jesus describes the work of the Comforter (or Holy Spirit). Mohammed certainly never did any of these things; i.e. “convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The Moslems confuse the word “paracletos” with “periclytos” in John 14:16.

Holy Spirit

Moslems teach that the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel. Gabriel, being an angel, was created (Psa. 148:2, 5). The Holy Spirit is Deity and was not created. He has always been (Acts 5:3, 4). Furthermore, if Gabriel did reveal the Koran to Mohammed, he is accursed for revealing a different gospel and Islam is certainly that; i.e. a different gospel (Gal. 1:8-9).

Marriage

Polygamy is tolerated. At one time, a man could have up to four wives and there are no restraints upon getting a divorce, in Islam. God from the very beginning intended for a man to have only one wife (Gen. 2:24-25; Eph. 5:31-33; 1 Tim. 3:2). As far as divorce is concerned, unfaithfulness on the part of one of the marriage partners is the only cause for divorce and then in such cases only the innocent partner has the right to remarry (Matt. 5:32; 19:9).

Heaven

“The Moslem is promised a heaven in which he can partake of pleasures denied him in this world; he may drink, gamble, and enjoy the company of beautiful black-eyed maidens, who are mentioned several times in the Koran as rewards promised to the most worthy members of the faith.”(1) “A moment of pleasure will be prolonged to a thousand years,” and one’s “faculties will be increased a hundred fold.”(2)

Such a concept of heaven is one that appeals to the lust of the flesh. Heaven is a spiritual place and all such fleshly desires will be done away with there (Matt. 22:23-30; 1 Cor. 15:50-58; 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8).

War

Mohammed praised what he called the Holy War (Jihad) against unbelievers. “The sword,” we. are told in the Koran, “is the key of heaven and hell; whosoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven.” This is the belief of the current leadership in Iran.(3)

Again, such indicates the fleshly nature and thinking of the Islamic religion. Christ taught His disciples to fight in a war, but it is not a physical conflict. It is a spiritual conflict and the weapons used are spiritual (John 18:36-38; 1 Cor. 1:18-31; 2 Cor. 10:5; Eph. 6:10-20; Rom. 1:16-17).

The Koran

All Moslems recognize the Koran as their sacred book. To them, it is the word of God brought to the world by Mohammed. However, the New Testament is God’s final revelation (Jude 3). There is no need for the Koran; for all the Truth that man needs in order to be well-pleasing to God has been revealed to us in the New Testament (John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:3; 2 John 9; Gal. 1:7-9; 2 Tim. 3:16).

Conclusion

Philip Schaff gives what I believe to be an excellent summary of Islam: “Islam is a compound or mosaic of preexisting elements, a rude attempt to combine heathenism, Judaism and Christianity, which Mohammed found in Arabia, but in a very imperfect form. It is professedly a restoration of the faith of Abraham, the common father of Isaac and of Ishmael. But it is not the genuine faith of Abraham with its Messianic hopes and aspirations looking directly to the gospel dispensation as its goal and fulfillment. Still less did Mohammed know the pure religion of Jesus as laid down in the New Testament, but only a perversion and caricature of it, such as we find in the wretched apocryphal and heretical Gospels. This ignorance of the Bible and the corruptions of Eastern Christianity with which the Mohammedans came in contact, furnish some excuse for their mischief and stubborn prejudices.”(4)

One final thought: as one studies Islam and the arguments that Moslems make to justify its existence, one soon discovers a parallel between it and Mormonism; i. e. the same arguments that are used by Moslems to prove that Mohammed and the Koran are inspired are used by Mormons to prove that Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon are inspired. So, in dealing with a Moslem, many of the arguments used against Mormons can be used against them.

Endnotes:

1. Cantor, Medieval History, p. 150.

2. Schaff, p. 189.

3. U.S. News and World Report, 11/26/79, p. 33.

4. Schaff, p. 183-184.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, pp. 119-120
February 14, 1980

By Larry J. Curry

As I write this article, fifty American citizens are being held hostage in Iran. Their fate is yet to be decided by their captors in spite of world outrage at their outrageous crime of seizure of previously protected property and lives. At the onset, let me state that I will not be considering this from apolitical standpoint. Rather, as we ponder this crisis together let us notice some of the lessons to be learned. Frequently, a crisis situation helps us in our understanding of people and their attitudes.

Concern For Captives

As the crisis continues, the concern of the American people becomes greater. Such things as their health, safety, and even their lives seem to be in greater peril with each passing day. Perhaps of greater significance is the fact that this concern is being shown by the majority of Americans.

You ask, “What can I learn from this?” The answer is simple. How concerned are we about those who are being held captive by Satan. We recognize that the Iranian captives are involuntary captives, while Satan’s captives volunteer to be such – John Calvin and followers notwithstanding (Rom. 6:16-18). Aside from that difference the outcome is the same – captivity. Christian friend, do we not see that something more valuable than this life is at stake here (Mt. 10:28)?

If we recognize the real danger involved, why are we so apathetic? The danger is real (1 Pet. 5:8)! The time is now (2 Cor. 6:2; John 4:35, 36)! The responsibility is ours! Did not our Lord come to proclaim release to the captives (Luke 4:18, 19)?

Concern Produces Unity

Our nation has suffered some very perilous and divisive times in the past few years. Bitterness and alienation resulted from our struggles over civil rights, the Vietnam conflict, and numerous other issues of the past. As a result, many people both young and old have been disillusioned about American values and world involvement. Yet, now as this crisis is upon us, people of all ages are united in their concern for the safety of the hostages. Differences are cast aside so that our unity may be seen and felt by the captors. The American people are demonstrating their readiness and willingness to do what is necessary to effect the release of the captives.

How wonderful it would be if that unity of mind and purpose were to exist in the church. To be more specific think of unity in the local church. By showing united concern we could restore the fallen (Gal. 6:1), instead of relying on a faithful few to accomplish the task. How long will it take for us to realize that we as Christians are a family? We are to comfort the mourning, rejoice with those who rejoice, and, in general, care of one another (Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 12:25, 26).

We must focus our attention upon others – not self (Gal. 6:2; Phil. 2:4). Concern for the kingdom and its citizenry must predominate our life (Mt. 6:33). Until then, until I improve and you improve, brethren will suffer alone, and fall away unnoticed, and yes, we will be lost.

Consequences Of A False Religion

The Moslem religion claiming about 700,000,000 followers today is a false religion. Its foundation rests on Mohammed who lived from 570-632 A.D., and claimed to have a series of visions over a twenty-three year period. Due to his own illiteracy, he relied upon others to write down the things revealed to him. Thus, the Koran is the sacred book of the Moslems. In many ways there is no difference between Mohammed and the “latter day prophets and prophetesses” of our day including Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, Herbert W. Armstrong and others.

As with all man-made religious systems false doctrine is the order of the day. The cause is extended often by force, either physical and/or mental. Yet, the Christian recognizes the spiritual nature of our warfare (Eph. 6:11ff; Lk. 8:4ff; Jn. 18:36). These false religions seek an earthly head and leader while faithful Christians honor Jesus Christ as the only head of the one body (Eph. 1:22, 23). Many of these “great spiritual leaders” do nothing more than exploit their followers. This too is condemned in the inspired word of God (Rom. 16:18; 1 Thess. 2:5; 2 Pet. 2:3). The apostles of our Lord did not act that way nor would they.

How can this happen? It happens when people have no love for the truth as revealed by God. Herein lies the warning for us. When we reject the truth of God, only a lie remains (2 Thess. 2:11, 12). Latter-day revelations are accepted only by those who refuse to believe that God’s will for man today was completed long ago (Jude 3). You ask, “Can it happen today? In our country?” Yes! Witness the followers of Jim Jones, the Moonies, and others. Do you love truth? Do you seek knowledge (2 Tim. 2:15)? Can you give answer (1 Pet. 3:15)? If the answer to the above questions is no, then you or I are prime candidates for the philosophies of men (Col. 2:8).

Conclusion

In the midst of this crisis, there is much to be learned. The cause of Christ must be advanced vigorously by wielding the sword of the Spirit in battle. Remember that the souls of men and women are at stake. The time for action is now while opportunities come our way.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 7, p. 118
February 14, 1980