Truth Magazine

By Bruce James

The gospel of John gives repeated attention to Jesus as being the Light of the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). And in John’s introduction to his gospel he says of Jesus that “in him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1:4, 5).

I believe that it is safe to say that every religion in the world gives “light” a prominent place in its creed. In fact, it is commonly believed that the first idol ever worshiped was the sun. And for all men the light is something to be loved and the darkness is something to fear. But the background of the usage of it in John’s writings came from that at which it was aimed: The idea of Jesus as the Light of the world had its basis in the Old Testament (Psalm 27:1; Isa. 60:19; 42:6; 49:6; 60:1). In the religion of the heathens or pagans, light and God were synonyms for one another. And it may be even more relevant to note in the Dead Sea Scrolls from the Qumran community, the title of one of them is The War of the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness.

With all this as a background, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” But, let us also be reminded of the occasion of the statement. Jesus had come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10). At evening, during this feast, four great candelabras were lit. There was enough light from these candelabras to light the streets, court and square in the city of Jerusalem. This helps us that much more to see why Jesus used this figure of speech as His being the Light of the world. And the feast itself commemorated the journeyings of Israel through the wilderness. It was called the Feast of Tabernacles because during its seven days the people lived in little booths or “tabernacles” made of branches to remind them of the days when they had no houses and when they lived in tents in the wilderness. It was during that time that they had been guided by the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). The light from the candelabra reminded them of this guidance Divine. In light of these things, the people must have been reminded of Isaiah’s words: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Isa. 9:2).

Jesus could not have chosen a greater time or place to make His claim that He was the Light of the world. This was a tremendous claim, for in it, He was saying that He was the Messiah, the divine guide of God. But this was exactly what Jesus did as He made manifest so many persons and things. He revealed the true character of God (John 1:18). He made manifest our true condition as sinners being unable to save ourself through any scheme we May divise. And, so, He revealed the way of Salvation, that through our faith and obedience to His gospel we have hope of heaven. He made manifest the necessity of living holy lives. He revealed the high calling and privileges of His followers. He made manifest their future home and glory. These are some of the things Jesus revealed as “the light of the world.” Are you one of those who love darkness rather than light (Jn. 3:19), or are you one of those who have received “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6)? Jesus is the light of the world and only in His light can men find the way to goodness and to God.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 41, pp. 660-661
October 18, 1979

By Mike Willis

We do not frequently make changes in our staff of writers. However, any time that one can improve the quality of this paper by adding another good writer to his staff, he would be wise to do so. We have been privileged to have the opportunity to add such a good writer to our staff in the person of Irven Lee. Hence, I would like to make this public announcement of him being added to our staff of writers.

Biographical Sketch

Brother Lee has been preaching the gospel for over forty-eight years now. He began going out to preach in meetings in abandoned one and two-roomed school houses in 1931 along the Western Kentucky-Western Tennessee border near Murray, Kentucky. Consolidation of schools was just beginning in that area at that time; hence, there were several old abandoned school buildings in which a small group of saints could meet. The first meeting which Brother Lee held was in such surroundings.

During much of his life, Brother Lee has worked with an established congregation in a small town which could support him; at the same time, he would begin working to start another new congregation. For many years, he preached twice each Lord’s day at the established congregation and twice more at the newly formed congregation. This schedule of work would continue with the new congregation until it could get on its feet sufficiently to get someone else to work with them; then, he would move on to establish another new work somewhere else.

Not only has Brother Lee been busy with this kind of labor in the gospel, in addition to that, he has taught in private high schools for about twenty years, serving as principal for about fourteen of those twenty years. He has been blessed with a good portion of health to be able to continue with this work load for as long as he has. Nevertheless, physical strain of this nature can continue for just so long. In 1957, Brother Lee began having high blood pressure and was forced to stop teaching. In 1974, a near fatal heart attack followed by heart surgery forced him to quit preaching for two congregations at once.

That is not to say that Brother Lee has quit working. Since the heart attack slowed his pace in public work, he has written three books: Preaching In A Changing World, Good Homes In A Wicked World, and God Has Spoken. This last book, God Has Spoken, is a book of sermons preached by Brother Lee. It has already been typeset and is presently at the printers now for printing and binding. It is being published by Cogdill Foundation.

In addition to these writings which he has been doing, Brother Lee has also been engaged in a number of gospel meetings all over this country. Last fall, he was with the Knollwood congregation to conduct a special series of lessons on the home. Needless to say, the entire congregation was edified by his sermons; the women were edified by Sister Lee’s lessons in the mornings as well. They have delivered their lessons in a number of congregations, pleading with Christians to have good homes in this wicked world. Although all of these meetings are not on the special theme of the home, Brother Lee has forty (that is nova typographical error; it is 40) gospel meetings scheduled in 1979. His zeal for the Lord speaks for itself.

Brother Lee is known for his calm-spoken manners. A more gentlemanly person, one cannot expect to meet. Yet, he has demonstrated that calm-spokenness and gentlemanly behavior is not identified with spinelessness. Brother Lee is also known for his firm stand for the truth through the years.

In Brother Lee’s biographical sketch, he failed to mention anything about his lovely wife. Sister Lee is a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies. She has been his constant companion and co-laborer for these many years. In addition to that, she has written two books which continue to be favorites for children; they are Mrs. Lee’s Stories About Jesus and God’s First People. If you have been needing something to use in teaching your children the word of God, let me recommend these two books to you. They make excellent lessons to read to your children just before tucking them in bed at night.

An Excellent Writer

In recent months, Brother Lee has been sending us a good bit of his material for publication. We have appreciated receiving it and have always given it a high priority for printing. We are, therefore, especially pleased to announce that his contributions to Truth Magazine will continue on a regular basis. Frankly, I do not know where we could go to find a man more highly respected for his love for the Lord and sacrificial dedication to the gospel in the Alabama area, than to the home of Irven Lee. We commend his writings to our readers.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 41, p. 659
October 18, 1979

By John McCort

A group of liberal brethren operate a school in Indianapolis named “Indianapolis Christian Schools.” It is supposed to be operated by-individuals only and does not solicit church donations. Many of the liberal brethren defend the existence of the school on the basis that the school is not the work of the church and that the church is not involved in its operation. If that were truly the case I would have no objections (a least from a theoretical standpoint) to the operation of the school.

The problem is that the church is deeply involved in the operation of the school. Brethren have been deluded into thinking that the church is not involved when in reality it is. The very buildings in which the school meets are owned by the Westlake church of Christ and are located next to the Westlake church building. The school is charged no rent for the use of the facilities.

Recently the school began a fund raising drive to build new facilities. The project has been a multi-million dollar affair. To raise money for the school, pitch-in dinners have been held in the fellowship halls and basements of church buildings (Park Avenue Church of Christ in Indianapolis to be specific.) Tickets were sold to these dinners and the money was donated to the school. In the August 1979 issue of the Indianapolis Christian Schools Newsletters, several interesting things were said. “A get acquainted tea with the teachers, is the way Dr. Binford described the get together for students and new teachers at the Park Avenue church building on August 12, 2:30 P.M. `Since students are anxious to meet teachers and teachers need to start learning the students we decided to plan this fellowship time.”‘

It was also stated, “Students are being involved in so many ways. Besides resting up to hit the books again in September many of ICS young people are out recruiting. They are visiting churches on Sunday evening to share their experiences at ICS.” An appeal was made to brethren to remember to pray for the school in their public prayers at church services. In recent issues of the Newsletter financial contributions to the school were listed by congregation. Even though individuals were donating the money, the donations were listed by congregations. A competition of sorts was set up to see which congregation could come up with the most money for the school through individual donations.

Brethren, either schools are the work of the church or they are not. If they are the work of the church, then the church should be able to donate to them. If they are not the work of the church, then the church should not be involved in the work of the school in any fashion. They have done everything but put the school in the budget and, in a backdoor way, the school is in the budget of the Westlake church of Christ.

It has always been puzzling to me how some of our liberal brethren can support the Herald of Truth and orphan homes out of the church treasury-and yet oppose the school in the budget. They have long argued that there is no distinction between church action and individual action in benevolence, i.e. that what the individual can do the church can do. If there is no difference. between individual and church action, I fail to see then how it would be scriptural for individuals to support ICS but be sinful for the church to support it.

The ICS Newsletter quoted the passage, “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” They quoted the passage in the context of supporting the school as a good work. Apparently they feel that individual Christians have the responsibility to support the school. If it is an individual responsibility, then it would become the churches responsibility also if there is no distinction between individual and church action.

I would like to call on all of our liberal brethren who still have some convictions left about the school in the budget to take a stand against these innovations. Speak up and be heard. I would to God they all could see where this institutional apostasy is leading. To be consistent, they are either going to accept the school in the church budget or oppose institutionalism all together. I wonder which direction most of them will go? I think I already know.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 41, p. 658
October 18, 1979

By Johnie Edwards

Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).

There are a lot of things which can be found by seeking after. We can find these things to be helpful in our lives. Let’s take a look at some of these things:

(1) Man stands in the need of grace. The word grace means favor. As the apostle wrote the Hebrews, he said. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). As we approach the throne of God in prayer, grace can be found. So many fail to seek this blessing in prayer.

(2) Mercy can be found. Paul told Timothy, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well” (2 Tim. 1:18). Here Paul is expressing his concern for Onesiphorus. In expressing this concern Paul points up the fact that mercy can be found of the Lord. All of us stand in the need of the mercy of God.

(3) The need for pasture. Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9). As the shepherd leads his sheep in for protection and out for pasture and water, so Christ promised these things for His people. The pasture of Christ is the bread and water of life. If we will seek after we can find and say as did David, “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psa. 23:1-2).

(4) We must seek after life. “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:39). The Lord had just said that those who failed to take up the cross and follow Him were not worthy of Him. He who tried to find life apart from the cross would lose his life or soul. Those who sacrifice the temporal life can find eternal life.

The fact that many do not enjoy the things of God is because they fail to seek after them in the Bible manner. Seek that you may find.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 40, p. 652
October 11, 1979