Truth Magazine

By Earl Robertson

Many questions pertaining to things of the Bible go unconsidered by many today because they believe them to be too insignificant. But Bible questions need to have our earnest care. We believe this question is a legitimate one and that there is a Bible answer for it. We furthermore believe this question cannot be rightfully answered without giving it a Bible answer.

Many manuals of denominations discuss this issue. Here is a statement from the Hiscox Standard Manual For Baptist Churches (page 22); “It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but `one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, `baptism was the door into the church.’ Now, it is different; and while the churches are desirous of receiving members, they are wary and cautious that they do not receive unworthy persons.”

This author readily recognizes what the New Testament now says happened in the days of the apostles, but he alleges the practice is now different. This is amazing! The New Testament still says exactly what it was saying when the apostles wrote it, but the practice of the apostolic has changed with the churches today. What makes for this change? If the authority that produced the action of the churches in the days of Peter, James, and John has not changed, how can the action today be changed? Mr. Hiscox says that “baptism was the door into the church” back then, but “now it is different.” Let the preachers and churches who teach and practice this give answer as to how this can be.

Baptism puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3, 4). All who are baptized into Christ, put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). Baptism puts one into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5) where he can enjoy all that Christ died for him to have. Baptism puts one into the body of Christ, which is the church (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18, 24). Now these passages are the ones which caused Mr. Hiscox to say that baptism was the door into the church in apostolic days. Luke says the Lord “added to the church daily” the ones who thus submitted to Christ’s authority as expressed by the apostles.

The practice of denominations is a departure from apostolic doctrine. The baptism authorized by Christ puts one into the body of Christ-which is the church of Christ.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 10, p. 173
March 8, 1979

By Wallace H. Little

A Potpourri Of Geography, Hygiene And Living Conditions

“How many islands in the Philippine nation?”

“At high or low tide?”

If that conversation has not actually taken place, it surely represents a real situation. Specifically, at low tide, there are approximately 7000 islands. When the tide comes in, about 4000 of them are covered. Of the remainder, about 300 are occupied. The total land areas is 29,000,000 hectares. A Hectare is 100 by 100 meters (10,000 square meters). This is a little larger than a football field in both directions. It includes the islands which are not much more than rocky outcrops, those with no water, the mountain tops, rivers, lakes and the concrete and asphalt jungles called cities, the real jungle as well as the productive farmland. With a total population estimated at 53,000,000, this means each person is “allotted” slightly more than half a hectare to provide sustenance for himself. Actually, it is far less than that, because much of the land is not usable or used in production of food.

In some cities, the density of population is greater than Tokyo. Even in the countryside where this is not so, the conditions of crowding are everywhere present. The Filipino home, regardless of construction materials or where located will usually consist of three rooms. One is essentially a kitchen, where food is both prepared and eaten. The others are bedrooms, with one doing double as duty as sort of a living room. The furnishings will be spare at best. Rather than chairs, most will sit on benches somewhat resembling saw horses, or use the floor. If cooking is done in the house, it will probably be in a metal lined box using wood or charcoal. These are hard to control, and things are lost – such as houses, occasionally including a neighbor’s which was too close. Often the houses are stilts, and in these the cooking is done with the same arrangement under the house. The same danger of burning exists. Running water in houses in the country is rare; a community pump usually serves. Also, there are no bathroom facilities. Latrines are outside the house and many times are common to several houses grouped around them, and often too close to the water supply, contaminating it. The average life-span of the Filipino today is forty-four years.

Rarely will brethren have a refrigerator. Food must be purchased daily, and must be consumed quickly, before it spoils. This is a tropical nation. Preparation o-f a meal is a major household undertaking; it all must be done “from scratch.” Visiting ladies go immediately to the kitchen and lend a hand; they do not wait to be asked, nor do they ask what to do; they just do it.

Filipinos have some very tasty food; but this is not their usual fare, nor is it often that of the brethren. Their main staple is rice. They will eat it three times a day – if they eat three meals. Sometimes there will be something else with it; often it is the only item. Food costs money or must be raised. If they raise it, they eat it; if it takes money and they do not have cash, they get credit if they are able, or if not, go hungry. Some do not get credit.

In the city, a house is apt to be made of hollow block construction, or lacking that, it will probably be of wood. But the basic size will be about the same as in the countryside. Usually the roof is corrugated steel sheets or, lacking these, either nipa palm fonds or cogon grass, tied like wheat sheafs. These are laid on a lattice-like frame, stems toward the ridge pole, and tied into place. Generally a roof like this will last about six months. But they can be replaced in a matter of hours.

The seasons there are really only two: the dry and the wet. During the dry season, there is little if any rain (but the humidity remains very high). During the wet, there is little else but rain. In one month while I was there, it rained 180 inches. Brethren, that is fifteen feet of solid water. And that is a bunch, like getting the Pacific Ocean turned upside down on top of you! Stilts supporting a house keep the water below the floor and the house remains livable.

Typhoons sweep through the Philippines. Sometimes they will do only spot damage, such as the one in November, 1977. At other times, as in 1974, the results can be devastating. Unless you have endured a typhoon (equivalent of our hurricane), they are difficult to describe. But their results are easy to see. Houses flattened; folks drowned; fields flooded and crops ruined; water supplies contaminated; food scarce to non-existent. And in a nation which barely makes it from one meal to the next, there is nothing to “take up the slack.” A real emergency needing benevolence can develop quickly. Some U.S. brethren have been questioning or critical concerning the needs which arise there. Particularly, I am asked why so many appeals are made to the U.S. Christians for help. Undoubtedly some of them are not justified in terms of what Paul wrote on “equality” in 2 Cor 8:14. But it takes little wisdom to understand that a people who are barley making it by the lowest possible standards would have no reserve for an emergency. When we object to helping in a valid need, I am made to wonder where our treasure is (Mt. 6:20, 21).

Generally the farmer will plant and harvest three crops a year. If he is a land owner with several hectares, and works hard, he will provide a reasonable living for his family, by standards there. If he rents the land out, and works at another job, he will collect the land-owner’s share (25%), and combined with the income from his other work, enjoy an even better living. But not many brethren own land. Of those who do farming, the majority are tenant farmers and, thus, must pay the land-owner his 25076 share. Working the same number of hectares as a land-owner, his standard of living will be substantially less. Farmers in the lowlands can often depend upon irrigation to insure making three crops. Upland farming is another matter. Rain alone determines their crop. In a season where a drought has seriously damaged or destroyed one crop, the farmer is reduced to a dangerous condition. He has little if any residue from the previous crop to carry him any longer than to the next subsequent harvest. Whatever extra he may have had, he sold and used for other necessities. Brethren in these situations suffer the same want and privation the non-Christian does. Without a harvest and lacking cash, they do without or submit to the food speculators.

On the income th-y have, the Filipinos do as little traveling as possible, and what they do, will be on jeepneys (World War II jeep frames and engines, with an enlarged, hand-wrought body for passengers), Anything else is inordinately expensive by their standards. Thus, places of worship need to be as close as possible to where the brethren live. To attend, they must walk. That results in several small congregations in a relatively small area. Where we might have one larger and more effective congregation, they may have two or three smaller, weaker ones. This arrangement has been criticized by Americans who do not understand why these extra churches exist. I know one family which regularly walked ten miles eacy way to worship on the Lord’s day, and did this for more than a year, but the Filipinos acknowledge this a rare thing. It would be so among us also.

Their professional training in medicine, nursing, and dietary areas is good. Their training standards are high, and after graduation from school, they must spend another long period of cram-training in preparation for extremely tough board examinations. If the training alone determined the quality of medical care available, and the hygenic level of the people, theirs would be high indeed. But once they are licensed, these highly trained professionals are turned out on a society which has few hospitals or other medical facilities we would even care to go into, to say nothing of being treated in them. They do the best they can, but with medical care, as well as all things there, if you have the necessary money, you are treated; if not, you do without. Hard? Then, what is the solution? They would be glad to learn it.

Life in the Philippines is difficult, but since there are so many of these people, it obviously is not impossible. The Filipino has learned an important truth in life – he is happy in whatever state he is. They are a cheerful people, open-hearted and generous, and their hospitality is worldrenouned. But the difference between what we are accustomed to here in the U.S. and what is available there is so great it needs to be experienced to be explained, and then that often leaves the American stunned. I have been asked on a number of occasions when the churches in the Philippines will become self-supporting. My reply: “Probably not in this generation.” Sound pessimistic? Not really. Do we think we have some better use we can put our excess money to than supporting faithful gospel preachers there in their work?

Truth Magazine XXIII: 10, pp. 167-168
March 8, 1979

By Ron Halbrook

The only sure and safe way to avoid all forms of religious idolatry is to follow the New Testament pattern of faith and practice. Unity blesses those who adhere to that standard. Naturally, they will be separated from all who act upon some other principle. the Holy Spirit admonished first-century Christians to hold fast the form or “pattern of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13). The pattern was binding and exclusive, not optional. Timothy was to charge hearers to “teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3).

The message inspired by the Holy spirit was first proclaimed through apostolic men, then presented in writing. This inspired Word constituted the pattern. “These things write I unto thee . . . that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of god, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). The things proclaimed by apostolic men and presented in writing by them were all-sufficient, and binding for all ages (2 Tim. 3:16-1’7; 2 Pet. 1:12-15). The pattern of sound words revealed the will of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the life and work of Jesus Christ; the scheme of redemption; the conditions of pardon; the graces of godliness to be developed in our lives; the origin, work, worship, organization, doctrine, and discipline of the church; and the hope of eternal life.

Many churches of Christ are slipping away from the New Testament pattern and separating themselves from the Lord (Rev. 2:5). An excellent tract by Cecil Willis identifies “The Taproot of Digression: No-Pattern-Ism.”

The history of man is the history of his digressions from God’s divine will. Man has, at one time or another, perverted and polluted every divine provision of God. He has corrupted the sacred worship, distorted the organization of the church, and perverted the divine mission of the church. Again and again, man has changed the unchangeable. Herein has been the source of a multitude of digressions.

Brother Willis then explained, “The basic assumption of the digressive is that there is no New Testament binding pattern.” The question of “freedom” and “unity” are always raised by the digressive. He wants “freedom” to change the New Testament pattern, and considers those who deny this freedom as disturbers of the peace. Faithful men recognize that in adhering to the pattern there is freedom from the chaos of idolatry. Either there is a pattern of there is not; here are two irreconcilable concepts of what it means to serve God.

Leroy Garrett argues, “Those who look for a `fixed pattern’ might well give up their search. There is no pattern of Christian worship in the Scriptures.” There being no pattern of what must be done, none of the following can be excluded: “coffee and doughnut session” as part of “social or corporate worship,” “children’s church,” “a symbolic candle-lighting to enhance the Supper,” “choirs,” “counseling and group therapy,” and, of course, instrumental music (Restoration Review, October, 1978, pp. 142-46). Garrett thrilled to report, “A Church of Christ in the Dallas area recently had a candle lighting as part of its worship and edification” (p. 160). It is not deviation from the pattern which causes division, he says; rather, the “fatal error” is “restoration ism,” the idea that “the New Testament constitutes a fixed pattern,” also called “legalism” (p. 148). Carl Ketcherside reports that he had a private, true conversion experience 27 March, 1951, escaping “legalism and tradition,” while Robert Meyers explained that he only gradually reached “the wisdom of uncertainty,” “Christian” agnosticism, the concept that “one can never know very much for sure” (pp. 152-58). These men have tested the heady wine of no pattern-ism and gotten gloriously drunk on it.

In discussing “A Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things,” a young preacher named Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) wrote in 1825 that before inquiring “what was the ancient order of worship . . . . it may be expedient to consider whether there be any divinely authorized worship in the assembly of the saints.” He saw two irreconcilable answers: “Either there is a divinely authorized order of Christian worship in Christian assemblies, or there is not.” Campbell then reduced no-pattern-ism to its logical absurdity, as follows.

On the supposition that there is not, then the following absurdities are inevitable. There can be no disorder in the Christian assembly, there can be no error in the acts of social worship; there can be no innovation in the department of observances; there can be no transgression of the laws of the King. For these reasons, viz. Where there is no order established there can be no disorder, for disorder is acting contrary to established order; where there is no standard there can be no error, for error is a departure or a wandering from a standard; where there is nothing fixed there can be no innovation, for to innovate is to introduce new things amongst those already fixed and established; and where there is no law there can be no transgression, for a transgression is a leaping over or a violating of legal restraints. Those, then, who contend that there is no divinely authorized order of Christian worship in Christian assemblies, do at the same time, and must inevitably maintain, that there is no disorder, no error, no innovation, no transgression in the worship of the Christian Church – no, nor ever can be. This is reducing one side of the dilemma to what may be called a perfect absurdity (Christian Baptist, Vol. 2, pp. 239-43).

If there is no pattern, Campbell pointed out, that various assemblies of worship could be devoted to nothing but dancing, singing, shouting, running, lying prostrate on the ground, reading, listening to a speaker, sitting silently, waving palm branches, crying, or playing an organ. To exclude any act from worship, a person must refer to some fixed standard.

Ephraim’s idols originated in a spirit that refused to be restrainted by a set pattern of teaching. The same spirit is producing the same results today. Ultimately, nothing revealed in the New Testament can escape the destructive hand directed by the spirit of no-patternism. The only way to avoid the total destruction of New Testameqt faith and practice is to hold fast the pattern of sound words.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 10, pp. 165-166
March 8, 1979

By Mike Willis

When a person is trying to communicate anew thought to someone else, he must use things which both of them understand to bridge the gap of the areas in which their knowledge differs. When Jesus revealed to us the kingdom or church which He planned to build, He made use of several terms to describe this new relationship into which we enter. , He used such terms as Household of God, Kingdom of God, Body of Christ, Temple of God, etc. One of the terms which He used was the term church, translated from the work ekklesia. Each of these words convey to us some aspect of the Lord’s people with which we need to be familiar. Let us consider what can be learned about God’s people from the fact that they are called the church.

The Meaning of the Term

The English word “church” is derived from the Greek word kuriakos which means “belonging to the Lord.” Today, the term is used to refer to a building for public worship, all of the denominations in the world, a peculiar body of “Christians” united under one form of government and believing one creed (a denomination), and a local congregation. The Greek word ekklesia did not bear this meaning. Ekklesia is composed of the preposition ek (out) and klesis (a calling). Hence, the word simply means “the called out.”

The word was used to refer to secular assemblies which had been called out for some particular purpose (cf. Acts 19:32, 39, 41). Stephen used it to refer to the Jews who had been called out of Egypt by Moses (Acts 7:38). However, the word took on a technical meaning to refer to those who had been called out by Jesus Christ. When referring to those called out by Christ, the word is used in a universal sense to refer to all of God’s people (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23-25) and in a congregational sense (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1).

The Nature of Our Calling

Inasmuch as we are the called out body of Christ, let us notice several aspects of this calling.

1. It originates with God. Paul wrote, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:8-9; cf. 1 Pet. 1:15; Gal. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:24). Hence, this calling originated with God and can be called a “holy” calling (2 Tim. 1:9) or a “heavenly” calling (Heb. 3:1). There is something impressive to me about the fact that God has called me!

2. We are called into the fellowship of God’s Son. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). God has called us; He has called us into the fellowship of His Son. What a blessed privilege to have joint participation with God’s Son.

3. We are called out of darkness. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). One cannot have fellowship with God while walking in darkness (1 Jn. 1:6); consequently, our divine calling leads us out of darkness and into light.

Other things which participate in the nature of our calling might be listed as follows: (1) we are called to be children of God (Rom. 9:25-26; 1 Jn. 3:1); (2) we are called to be saints (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:6-7); (3) we are called to be in His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12). From these considerations, we can see why the term “called” can be used to refer to the fact that a certain person has been saved. Hence, the “called of God” are simply the saved people of the world (Rom. 1:6-7; 8:28; 1 Cor. 1:24; Jude 1). This “calling” frees us from our burden of sin and saves us by the blood of Christ. It is a calling to freedom (Gal. 5:13) – freedom from sin and freedom of bondage to the Mosaical law.

We Are Called To Sanctification

Every as we are called out of darkness, we are also called unto sanctification. Paul wrote, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7). In this context, Paul was showing the Thessalonians that the call of the gospel was a call to moral holiness. They should abstain from fornication and possess themselves in sanctification and honor (v. 4).

This simply shows our responsibility as a result of this call. Men are sanctified through the word of God (Jn. 17:17). We are initially set apart unto God when we are baptized (1 Cor. 6:11). Then, we start the process of sanctification — that continual process whereby we seek to remove sin from our lives and replace these sins with moral virtues. Hence, we are to “walk worthily” of our calling (Eph. 4:1-3). Having been called out of darkness, we are expected to walk in the light (1 Pet. 2:21-24). We are to press on to perfection in accordance with our upward call (Phil. 3:13-16). This call of God is a call to depart from sin and to walk in moral purity.

The Hope of Our Calling

Paul said that there was but “one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4). The Scriptures testify that (1) we are called unto glory (i Pet. 5:10), (2) we are called to inherit a blessing (1 Pet. 3:9), (3) we are called for entrance into the eternal kingdom, and (4) we are called to inherit eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12). We understand, therefore, what the one hope of our calling is. We have the hope of being blessed to live forever with God in the bliss of leaven. We have the hope of escaping the torments of hell. God has called us unto eternal life.

The hope of the Christian’s calling is not limited to some kind of better life on this earth below. The hope of his calling is not to make this world a better place in which to live. The hope of the Christian’s calling is the mansion in the Father’s house prepared for us by Jesus (Jn. 14:1-3). Plainly and simply, we have been called to go to heaven.

How Are Men Called?

Many who admit that the Bible teaches that God’ people are “the called of God” have no proper concept of how the call is made. They have been taught that they an to expect a call from God through a direct operation of thk Holy spirit. Hence, they are waiting for God to call them. Some of them have been waiting for years, begging and pleading for God to save them in the meantime. I met one such man in Indiana. He had been pleading for God to save him for five years without success.

To men tormented by their failure to receive a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, the truth of God’s word should sound refreshing. Paul wrote, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13-14). Notice that this passage teaches us that men are called through the gospel, not through some better-felt-than-told experience which is incorrectly labeled the direct operation of the Holy Spirit.

The call of the gospel is directed to all men. Listen to the call for yourself. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). Listen to the call of the gospel again: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,a and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). Here is how Jesus calls men. The call has already been given. We have no reason to wait for any other call.

The Church Is The Called Of God

The church is simply composed of those men who have heard the voice of the Savior calling them – calling them out of darkness into light, calling them into the fellowship of His son, calling them to be children of God and saints, calling them to inherit a blessing, calling them to enter the eternal kingdom, and calling them to inherit eternal life. They have heard the call and answered it. They have fled to Jesus for refuge. They have forsaken the paths of darkness and dwelt in the paths of light.

This being so, let us draw some conclusions. Since the church is simply “the called out ones,” none of those who have been “called out” are outside the church. By definition, they are one and the same. A man is not one of God’s called out people unless he is a member of the church. No man who has not answered the calling of God is properly a member of the church. The saved, the church, and the “called out” are synonymous.

Are you a part of the church? Have you heard the calling of the Savior and responded to it? If not, why not do so immediately?

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home,

Calling today, calling today;

Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam

Father and farther away?

Jesus is calling the weary to rest,

Calling today, calling today;

Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest;

He will not turn thee away.

–Fanny J. Crosby

Truth Magazine XXIII: 10, pp. 163-165
March 10, 1979