Truth Magazine

By Earl Robertson

After the contention between Barnabas and Paul as to whether they should take John Mark with them on the second tour of gospel preaching, Paul chose Silas and Barnabas chose Mark. It would have been scriptural to take Mark but Paul felt it would not be expedient. This action did not break the fellowship between Paul and Barnabas. They did not split apart over judgment and neither should we. Grounds for cleavage of fellowship must be faith.

The evangelistic efforts of Paul and Silas took them through Syria and Cilicia. “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the degrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:4, 5). These brethren were of the conviction that churches could not be established in the truth (faith) unless they knew the apostolic decrees. Preaching apostolic doctrine will establish churches and it will maintain them! When Book, Chapter, and Verse preaching ceases that is when churches cease growing and start dying. I think we can judge the, kind of preaching some churches are getting by watching the development of conditions within these churches.

As they went forth preaching the highest authority in the kingdom of God (cf. Mt. 19:28; Acts 2:42), they did so in view of the churches keeping what was preached. Divine authority, expressed by the Lord’s apostles, can never-be exchanged for something else and the right results exist. Neither can man go beyond. what is written, binding such upon churches through his preaching (2 John 9). Institu-, tionalized brethren do this very thing! They preach a human judgment which goes beyond the word of the Lord and so bind it upon the churches that they split them apart. They will tell us that churches do not have- to support Potter Home and School or David Lipscomb College, but they go right on anyway to the division of fellowship. Apostolic decrees :were delivered “for to keep.”

Luke says, “And so were the churches established in-the faith, and increased in number daily.” It was by means of apostolic truth preached unto these brethren that they were established. in the faith, and increased in number daily. There is no -acceptable substitute for gospel preaching! This is a truth that some brethren will never learn. The present condition of some churches causes us to know this to be true.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 46, pp. 738
November 22, 1979

By Earl Robertson

Courage is not always easily found even among the people who claim to be followers of the Lord. Though many of the Lord’s people were among the most courageous, at the same time others were fearful. The return of the spies from Canaan illustrates this point well. In the midst of the protests made by the ten spies with the evil report, Joshua and Caleb pleaded, “We are well able to overcome it.” Their faith and courage made them cry out saying, “The Lord will bring us into this land, and give it to us” (see Num. 13).

Being in the minority did not cause them to remain silent; they both believed God and had the courage to defy the people who has ceased to walk by faith. People today know many times what is true and right, but do not have the moral courage to act in harmony with their inward awareness. Many in the churches are following the current; their courage is not sufficient to cause them to stand and plead for what is right and then do it. I know people who not only know within themselves that their religious practices are not in harmony with the Scriptures but also express such feelings, but they do not have the courage to correct them or else get out and go where they can work for and worship God correctly.

Many Christians in the churches that give monetary support to human organizations such as missionary societies and benevolent societies, have been heard to say, “When this church gives money to the colleges I will leave it.” However, the progressive nature of apostasy conditions people to accept one apostasy after another. The time has come when this practice has become a regular thing among just such people, but they have not made the change! Get the courage to do what is right!

Truth Magazine XXIII: 45, p. 731
November 15, 1979

By Ron Halbrook

“For the truth’s sake, ” we must discern good from evil during the latter part of December and early part of January, a season of special activities in America. Some of the activities can be good for us; others are wrong at any time. Some people grunt “Humbug” and deny they participate in any of these seasonal activities, but we are all involved to some extent.

Some activities are religious. Others relate to business enterprise, government, and school. Many things that once had a peculiarly religious meaning have lost their original significance. Many of this season’s practices have become part of the secular customs, social traditions of American culture. To withdraw from all custom, social tradition, and cultural byways is to become a hermit – a thing our Lord does not expect (Jn. 17:15).

A Seasonal Sabbatical

Various terms describe this season. It is a “holiday” in more ways than one; “a religious . . . or holy day;” “a day of freedom from labor; day set aside for leisure and recreation;” “a day set aside by law or custom for the suspension of business.” This time is a “respite” – a temporary period of relief or rest, as from pain, work, duty, etc.” In some ways there is more work, but it is also a season of festivities and parties for families and friends. It is a “recess” from ordinary patterns, a sabbatical from everyday habits and tasks. Such periods can refresh both body and mind.

Discern Good and Evil

In view of the great variety of activities available, those who would please the Lord ask, “Which are appropriate to a godly life? To what extent should I get involved? Where shall I draw the line?” We must ask such questions at all times of the year, so this is not out of the ordinary. As God told Israel, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” We can join with others only up to a point: “have not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. ” “Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.” At every season, we are to “discern both good and evil” (Ex. 23:2; Eph. 5:11; 1 Thess. 5:212; Heb. 5:14).

What Activities?

Here is a list of some things which take place at this time of year: (1) special offers and sales at stores; (2) family gatherings; (3) special baking, candles, desserts; (4) other diet delights: nuts, fruits; (5) singing and listening to season songs; (6) giving and exchanging gifts; (7) special vacations, trips, time off from work; (8) greeting cards and verbal expressions of good-will; (9) curtailment or closing of business activities; (10) household, business, and school decorations; (I1) various kinds of parties, visits, and get togethers; (12) vacations from school, and from government and civic agencies; (13) special bonuses from employers; (14) taking special pictures of children or family to give relatives and friends; (15) special religious “masses,” services, plays, and observances.

No Special Religious Practices Authorized By God!

This is certain: God authorized no religious observances peculiar to December and January! He does warn against “commandments and doctrines of men.” He said of those who “pervert the gospel of Christ,” “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain” (Col. 2:22; Gal. 1:7; 4:10-11).

Children may decorate rooms at home or school with red and green paper, cut-out snowflakes, etc. But whether at home, school, or place of worship, they should not be taught to participate in plays presented to “observe the birthday of Jesus.” We might send greeting cards of various kinds. Not on our lawns, not in our houses, not on cards sent out under our signatures should there be “manger scenes” and admonitions to “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

Someone objects, “Religious observances at this season are meant as service to God; shouldn’t we serve God?” Yes, we should serve God, but these religious practices do not honor God because He did not appoint them. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22). Another objects, “If we reject seasonal religious practices, we must reject all social activities of the season.” No, to sing “Jingle Bells” does no honor to a Roman Catholic so-called holy day. If it does, then we should send our children to school though no one else will be there, we should reject all time off from work or special bonuses, we should eat no nuts or fruit, and we should engage in no family gatherings lest someone might think we are recognizing the Pope’s holy days. The truth is that we must simply discern between good and evil – between false, unauthorized sinful religious observances, on the one hand, and activities on the other hand which are social and seasonal, customary and traditional, harmless and innocent.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 45, pp. 730-731
November 15, 1979

By O. E. Watts

In a Bible class Col. 3:16 was read, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . .” The question was asked, “What does let mean?” One person answered, “Let here means permit or allow. ” An older man disagreed by saying, “In such expressions as this, let means, `It is commanded.”‘ He was correct. The instruction in the original Greek proves him right. The word construction is one which we do not have in English. It is the imperative mode in the third person. Such a form always expresses a clear cut command, not merely permission of consent. Every time it is used it gives a direct order.

English

Even without the Greek, careful consideration in our language will convince anyone that this is true. We note Eph. 4:28, “Let him that stole steal no more . . .” Are we thus told that we should allow a thief to stop stealing if he wishes? Is this saying that we should not stand in his way if he desires to quit his dishonesty? Or, is this an absolute command? Does the word let here direct that the thief definitely must stop stealing? A little reasoning will give us the answer. As the sign by the side of the road says, “Think!”

Different Meanings

Another factor which might lead to misunderstanding here is that our word let has several meanings. The one person answering (see above) mistakenly gave another one of these. That meaning is found elsewhere in the Bible as in Psalms 19:13-14. In our speech now we use let often. By it we never give a command. We say, “Let me do that.” “Let the children play not.” “We can let John be captain.” “Let them have some candy.” The word has come to mean permit, allow, give permission for, consent to. We are settled into this rut of usage. Perhaps we need something to jar us into the realization that in God’s instructions to us the word always means something else. We should remember that let always tells us, “It is commanded!” If we are going to “understand what the will of the Lord is,” we must do so.

New Testament Letters

Mere permission is never expressed by let in the Epistles. In every New Testament instruction for us which begins with, “Let,” and is followed by him, them, or corresponding nouns (third person), we have a command, a demand that something be done. Nearly all of this kind of directives are in the twenty books between Acts and Revelation. In these, dozens of instructions to Christians are worded this way. Some of these books do not contain even one such form. Four of them are in one verse, 1 Peter 3:11. The first chapter of James has seven. The book which contains by far the most “let commands” is First Corinthians.

Examples

Scores of illustrations are at hand. We give a few. We agree that brotherly love should continue. But the wording of Hebrews 13:1 commands that it do so. According to I Cor. 7:3, the marriage duty if not optional; it is mandatory. A Christian at the Memorial Supper is not required to do so. In Rom. 13:1, subjection to civil law is not recommended; it is demanded. It is not that women may keep silence in the churches (worship assemblies, I Cor. 14:34); it is that they must. Corrupt speech, bitterness, fornication, and guile are not only discouraged by the words, “Let . . .” They are forbidden.

Translations

Can it be that when some Christians read, “Let . . .” they are thinking, “We can do this if we like”? Need we be told constantly that these are requirements? Does our language lose here what God is telling us? While He is saying, “He must be,” are we “receiving” it as, “He may be?” Could a better translation make it clearer?

Indefinite as this rendering may be to some of us, it is due, perhaps, to our own limitations and to those of our language. At least that was the verdict of those scholars giving us the New American Standard Bible, which is by far the best of the modern speech translations. They used, “Let . . .” In some cases the New International Version is better. In most it is worse, too free, too far from the original. It renders this Greek construction in various passages in an even dozen different ways. But, in my opinion, when that committee used the word must they had it right. In Romans 13:1 (“Let every soul be in subjection . . .” ASV) the NIV clearly states, “Everyone must submit himself . . .” If one word need be used for clearness instead of, “It is commanded,” that word would be must. See how the following would be. “All things must be done decently and in order.” “He that stole must steal no more.” “Brotherly love must continue.” “Sin must not reign . . .” “Each one of you must lay by in store.” This expresses the thought with the demand of the imperative, and, by keeping the third person intact, is true to the original. We recommend it.

Reminder

To you as a reader: If you would like something to help you remember this and its importance we suggest the following. Open your Bible (KJV or ASV) to First Corinthians. In large letters in ink write across the top of the page, or of two facing pages, these words: “Let means it is commanded.”

Truth Magazine XXIII: 45, pp. 729-730
November 15, 1979