Truth Magazine

By Earl E. Robertson

Without fear of successful contradiction we affirm that we live in a permissive society. Frequently we observe permissive actions stemming from what religious guides identify as sufferance conditions. This behavior is situational and these people know it. They allow a situation to determine whether God’s word is standard or not; that is, whether the word of God will apply to one and all alike under all circumstances and conditions. To illustrate the point: men who are convinced that the New Testament word “baptism” means a “burial” (Rom. 6:3, 4; Col. 2:12), will grant, under certain situations, a substitute-pouring or sprinkling. Some allege to believe the sufficiency and independency of churches of Christ in their government, work, and worship. But through efforts of the churches in subsidizing human organizations, and the hierarchical arrangements called sponsoring churches, they belie this allegation.

Some refuse to accept the truth because they believe they already have it. One’s honesty is not attacked in this statement. We only say he is honestly mistaken in his religious thinking and convictions. The Eunuch in Acts 8 well illustrates this point. This man was deeply religious. He had gone to Jerusalem “for to worship” and was returning home. This distance was about 1500 miles. He was a Bible reader! He was honest. But he was wrong! When Philip the evangelist taught him the truth, he not only believed it but obeyed it before he got home. He told no experience of grace and no church voted as to whether he might obey Christ in baptism for the remission of his sins. Up to the time of Philip instructing him correctly, this man thought he had the truth.

Others are prejudiced. They have already made up their minds and quickly tell you they are satisfied and do not care to be bothered. Like Nathanael, when first approached, these quickly declare their minds are made up and closed. Nathanael was told by Philip, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” But this man replies, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-51). Prejudice is one of the world’s greatest robbers! Let it not rob you of what Jesus came to give: truth and life!

Truth Magazine XXIII: 4, p. 76
January 25, 1979

By Irvin Himmel

By words and actions, Christians are making some kind of an impression on people around them. Our neighbors who are outside the kingdom of Christ are being influenced, either for good or for bad, by what we say and do. True enough, some may pay little attention to us, but others take more notice of our way of life than we may suppose.

Paul admonished the saints at Colosse, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without . . .” (Col. 4:5). When the apostle wrote concerning “them that are without” versus “them that are within” (1 Cor. 5:12), he was referring to brethren in the Lord in contrast to people out of Christ. To Christians, “them that are without” means people who have not embraced the truth and, therefore, remain outside the body of our Lord. The following are some of the principles involved in our conducting ourselves wisely toward outsiders:

Practice Honesty

Honesty should be viewed as a basic law of right conduct, not a matter of mere policy. We should show integrity and freedom from deceit in all our business transactions. Our means of livelihood must be honorable. Writing along this line to the Thessalonians, Paul said, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have need of nothing” (1 Thess. 4:11, 12). A Christian quickly kills his influence for good when he acts deceitfully, becomes involved in shady dealings, or pursues a course that is less than honorable.

Live Consistently

Everything which the Christian does should be consistent with the teaching of Jesus Christ. Some things are so manifestly contrary to right that they should never be named as befitting saints (Eph. 5:3). In doctrine, in worship, in our individual work, in all that we do – there must be harmony with the will of God. Outsiders may not know much about the Bible, but they soon detect inconsistency between teaching and practice on the part of professed believers in Jesus.

Consistency demands constancy. Some members of the church live one way on Sunday and another way on Monday; one way when in the company of other Christians but differently before the worldly. This is plain hypocrisy and is detested by both the Lord and the world.

Show Understanding And Sympathy

Outsiders need help. Some of them are engulfed in immorality and unbelief. Some have high moral principles but are ignorant of God’s positive divine laws. Others are caught up in religious errors – perhaps Catholicism, Protestant denominationalism, or the false concepts of some cult. True Christians must try to understand their plight. We must teach rather than berate, lift rather than crush, pointing to the Lamb of God as the means of salvation and hope eternal. We can show sympathy without compromise. We need not abandon the truth to defend it in love.

Be Distinct

Christians are a called-out people. Through the gospel we are called out of Satan’s kingdom to serve in the kingdom of Christ. We must keep ourselves unspotted from the world (Jas. 1:27). “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened . . .” (Eph. 4:17). Whatever time we spent in sinful living prior to our conversion to Christ ought to suffice (1 Pet. 4:3).

It is sometimes hard to live among outsiders, to work among them, and be sympathetic toward them without partaking of their deeds that are evil. The Christian’s watchword is “vigilance.” We must be watchful over our own conduct to prevent our losing those distinct qualities that make us God’s people.

Exercise Good Judgment

Wisdom means prudence. James said, “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (Jas. 1:5). Often sincere attempts to do good end in failure for lack of sound judgment. The Christian needs discernment, practical and well-informed wisdom – the good sense to apply the word of God. Paul walked with wisdom when he was “made all things to all men” that he might by all means save some (1 Cor. 9:22).

Let us pray that God will help us to conduct ourselves prudently toward outsiders that our influence might be to His honor.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 4, p. 75
January 25, 1979

By Harold Hancock

We live in a time in which time to forget rather than confession is the path of restoration sought by many Christians, and accepted by some churches. Many questions have been asked about the Christian’s confession of sin, especially the “public confession.”

The Bible teaches that Christians ought always confess his faults unto God, and sometimes unto men. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). “Confess your faults one to another, that ye may be healed” (Jas. 5:16). In the parable of the prodigal son (Lk. 15:21), the son returned confessing, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.”

Sometimes the knowledge and effect of our sins travel much faster and further than news of our repentance and confession. I remember the story of a lady who traveled through a certain town dropping feathers as she went. She then returned trying to recover them. Many had been blown by the wind and were irretrievable. So it is with some of our sins. Our best efforts can not undo all the harm that has been done.

A good rule to follow when possible is that the confession be as broad as the knowledge of the sin. This would assure us of always confessing our sins unto God, for He always knows of our sins (Heb. 4:13, 14). It would mean that sins that were public, or generally known, would be confessed publicly, or generally. I think we see this principle applied in the scriptures. In Mt. 18:15, we read, “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained a brother.” All responsibility toward men can be fulfilled by letting one person know of our repentance if our trespass is against one, and only one knows of it. In Gal. 2:12, we are told that Peter sinned before all; Paul rebuked him before all (Gal. 2:14). Could Peter’s confession have been less than before all to be effective? When a sin is carried before the church (Mt. 18:17), should not the church also be informed of the repentance?

Suppose that a teacher sees a student at his desk write 2+2=5. The teacher may inform the student of his mistake, and the student may correct it without anyone other than the teacher knowing of it. No harm will come. However, if the mistake is made at the board before all, then it must be corrected before all.

Are we saying one must “walk down the aisle” to confess sin? We care not how one goes about confessing his sins – whether he calls each individual and informs them, or acknowledges to all at once while they are assembled together. Just remember that when possible the confession should be as broad as the knowledge of the sin.

I am not sure all have grasped the importance of the confession. We must confess our sins to God to have forgiveness of them (1 Jn. 1:9). Without confession unto God, there is no forgiveness. We confess our faults one to another that we may be healed (Jas. 5:16). Again to be healed is to be forgiven. Compare Mt. 13:15 and Mk. 4:12. This is God’s plan of restoration. We have no more right to change it than to change the command of baptism for the remission of sins. The confession also relieves one of the burden of sin. David felt the hand of God pressing upon him while he kept silent about his sin. The burden was lifted when he acknowledged his sin and confessed his transgressions (Psa. 32:1-5).

A confession of sin lets all know where one stands. I like the story of the man with a peg leg who answered the invitation after a sermon on worldliness. He wanted all to know that he no longer danced just because he could not, but because he now felt it was wrong as well. All knew where he stood. What kind of a Christian are we if we are afraid to let all know where we stand? All of us sin (1 Jn. 1:8, 10). We need to make some kind of a confession. May we all make the ones we need to. It has long been said, “Confession is good for the soul.” Truly it is.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 4, p. 74
January 25, 1979

By Bill Cameron

“For 1 say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

Some of the brethren addressed by Paul in his letter to the church of Rome must have had a false pride over spiritual gifts that they had received. Although these miraculous gifts have long since ceased, the attitude which moved the apostle to write these words is too often seen in the church today. Thinking too highly of self seems to be a universal weakness of man. It was so two thousand years ago; it is so now.

Also, Romans 12:3 may be better understood when viewed against the background of the spiritual gifts which were necessary in directing the church in her work and worship in those early days. Now, of course, the New Testament has been completed as the perfect rule of faith and practice. With the completion of divine revelation these miraculous gifts ceased to exist, having fulfilled the purpose for which they were given.

In Paul’s time, although every gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon certain members of the church was of equal importance, some of the unusual powers were looked upon by men as having more significance and greater prestige than others. This misunderstanding led to false pride on the part of some who were endowed with gifts which men considered to be more essential than others. Thus they came to “think of themselves more highly than they ought to think,” and the apostle was moved to warn them of the danger of such an attitude. He reminded them that each person was just one in a body of many members; every office and every gift which God had placed in the church was essential; and each was to exercise his peculiar gift without esteeming one above the other.

Moses, the Great Servant of God, was not allowed to enter the promised land “because ye sanctified me not in midst of the children of Israel” (Deut. 32:51; Num. 20:1011). Moses took upon himself the glory that belonged to God only; he thought of himself more highly than he should have thought. Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was given a “thorn in the flesh” lest he be exalted above measure (2 Cor. 12:7-9). The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were condemned by our Lord for the high opinion which they had of themselves, which opinion caused them to look down on others (Luke 18:9-14). The parable of the Pharisee and the publican is a contrast between the man who thinks too highly of himself and the one who thinks humbly of himself as God would have us all to think. These examples should impress upon our minds the importance of developing within ourselves a humble spirit. The proper Christian attitude is expressed in Philippians 2:3 where the apostles admonished the Philippian brethren to “let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

However, there are two sides to the coin. This text does not indicate that a Christian is not to think highly of himself. Because of a Christian’s relation to God and Christ he should have a high regard for himself. If one is to be respected and regarded highly by others, he must maintain self-respect. That we are to love ourselves is implied when Christ tells us that we are to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:39). If we do not think highly of self, we are not likely to think highly of our neighbor. If we have respect for self, we are better prepared to have respect for our neighbor. There are many reasons why a Christian should have self-respect. A Christian should take pride in being separated from the world (John 17:16; 2 Cor. 6:17). Therefore, there are things he will not do, places he will not go, and activities in which he will not participate. A faithful Christian should think highly of himself and his influence as a child of God, too highly to participate in immoral and wordily practices (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Pet. 4:3-5). James said a friend of the world is an enemy of God (James 4:4).

The Christian who seeks to hold himself in high regard and maintain his self-respect in order to be acceptable to God will be found doing the following:

(1) He will understand that our talents are God-given (1 Pet. 4:11).

(2) He will use his abilities instead of losing them (Luke 8:18).

(3) He will store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20).

(4) He realizes that his abilities and opportunities are God-given. Failure to use them is sinful (James 4:17).

(5) He will seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

As our love grows toward God and we mature in Christian graces, we will truly learn to love our neighbor as ourself. With this maturity in faith will come self-esteem and avoidance of thinking of self more highly than we ought.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 4, p. 73
January 25, 1979