Truth Magazine

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

By S. Leonard Tyler

Did you know, when you drop a dime, quarter, or whatever in t..e Salvation Army’s “little red-pot” on the street that you are contributing to a religious denomination? Well, you are! It is a church just as much as the Methodist, Baptist, Mormon, or any other. The Merit Students Encyclopedia (Vol. 16, 317), states it thusly:

The Salvation Army, an international Protestant religious and charitable movement, organized and operated on a semi-military pattern. It is primarily evangelical in nature but also has a vast program of social services. The Salvation Army’s activities include preaching Christianity in sixty-nine countries throughout the world. Worship services have no set form, but singing and brass bands are utilized and have become commonly associated with the movement. Each corps hold weekly religious meetings for adults and young people, and a program of Christian education is provided for all age groups.

To impress the religious nature of The Salvation Army, we quote from the Oxford Dictionary of The Christian Church, Edited by F.L. Cross (p. 1210). It reads:

The religious teaching of the Salvation Army is largely in harmony with traditional evangelical belief, but rejects all Sacraments and stresses especially the moral side of Christianity. It enjoins complete self-denial on all its followers. The technique of producing conversions is aggressive and emotional and makes extensive use of public testimony and penance; its realistic methods of presenting religion to the peoples in which open-air meetings with brass bands and banners play an important part, differ greatly from those of other Christian bodies.

Her principle doctrine is “faith only” and “direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart in salvation.” However, people in general do not think of the Salvation Army as a religious denominational church. But it is from start to finish.

The Salvation Army is not just a social benevolent organization as the Red Cross. It is a religion and church in the fullest denominational sense. In fact, it is listed as being one of the fastest growing denominations in the world. Do you want to aid her religious growth and help her convert people to her denominational, erroneous and false doctrine and church? If you aid her in her work, you help her convert innocent people and build a stronger Army.

I am not opposed to the good work that is done. But when any group of people presumptuously, in disrespect to Christ’s teaching, bind themselves together and form a church in name, doctrine, faith, worship, organization, and work, one must cry out against it. God warned Moses a long time ago in plain and strong terms regarding any prophet speaking or doing any thing presumptuously., Listen to it:

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously . . . the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandments, that soul shall utterly be, cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him (Num. 15:30-32; see also Num. 17:12; 18:20).

No wonder David prayed,

Keep back also thy servant from presumptuous sins . . . Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer (Ps. 19:13-14).

Today we must hear and follow Christ’s Word to be His (2 John 9; Matt. 7:21, 24-29).

The reason is simple and yet profound, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). And, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13; see also verses 3-9).

We must not allow some good work to blind us nor to nullify the teaching of our Lord. Just because some group calling themselves a church does temporal good in helping needy people certainly does not commend them to God as being right scripturally and spiritually. God does not accept humanitarian service as spiritual salvation. We must never forget that the very purpose of Christ’s coming to earth and dying was to save the soul of man. The gospel is given for the same reason, to reveal Jesus and His way of salvation.

The gospel of Christ is given that man might be saved (John 20:30-31; James 1:21-25), just as Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Therefore, whatever state Paul found himself in while serving the Lord, he learned to be content (Phil. 4:11), and we should do the same (Heb. 13:5). It is not the material things that equates salvation, but faith which by love follows God’s directions (Gal. 5:6). “Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the’ fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22). Obedience is a manifestation of faith and love (Rom. 6:16-18).

It seems we are becoming so materially minded and subjectively related that we are unable to accept the reality of the soul of man. In this case, the soul is at stake and the teaching of Jesus regarding man’s salvation. If the false doctrine preached by the Salvation Army will effect salvation, we need not worry about the truth of any doctrine any more. But in reality that is all that counts for life eternal – Jesus and His teaching.

Community Chest Support of Salvation Army

The Community Chest should be non-religious, not religiously related. But it has become associated with and connected to churches by contributing to various programs of their benevolent work. “This ought not so to be.” But we wonder why The Salvation Army shares in the Community Chest, and is allowed to set up her booths on our streets to solicit funds for benevolent purposes? Other churches do benevolent work; why not grant them the same privilege? If it is right for one church (Salvation Army), is it not right for the other? If not, why not?

The response, “They care for our stragglers and benevolent cases.” Since when does the city government depend upon a church to do her work? The city has benevolent obligations and should expedite them and involve no church.

Some may ask, “Are you in favor of allowing all churches to set up booths on every street corner and `beg’ money?” My answer is a firm, “No.” No church, in my judgment, should establish their own teaching and program of work, join them inseparably together, then case the whole thing upon the public for support. It is my strong conviction that each church should handle her own affairs, plan her own work and depend upon her own members to support it.

Another thing. If any church solicits through the mail, radio, on the streets, or appeals to the public for support, she should be lawfully obligated to give an accounting to the public for the disposition of every dime collected.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 40, pp. 651-652
October 11, 1979