Truth Magazine

By Earl Robertson

James shows that God tempts no man, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:13-16). In this, James pleads for Christians to awaken from carelessness, that they do not die in sin. This is an emphasis that must be heard constantly. Far too many so-called Christians just do not care what the condition of their lives is in God’s sight.

If such an one should be approached by some interested Christian, the back-sliding one usually blames someone else for his condition. It is repeat of the Adam and Eve and Satan situation in the garden! Sin is man’s enemy whether we think so or not (Rom. 5:12; 6:23, 3:23). Often we falsely label sin! This might be done because of the pleasures in practicing sin (Heb. 11:25). Or, we might feel some justification living in sin because, we declare, “Everyone else is doing it.”

The Bible teaches that sin enslaves (Rom. 6:16). Men become servants of sin simply by doing the will of Satan (John 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19). We then, like the alcoholic, say we cannot quit. One might not quit on his own, but the truth of God will free (John 8:32). Try to do the will of God as it is revealed in the Bible and then see whether you can quit or not!

God’s people are to be without “spot or blemish” (Eph. 5:27), being a glorious people before the Lord. Sin makes of us spots, wrinkles, and blemishes. The prodigal son in Luke 15 illustrates this truth. However, one does not have to remain in this terrible mess; the blood of Christ continues to cleanse all who walk in the light (1 John 1:7). There are no substitutes for this blood, and there is no substitution for its utilization through obedience to God, either! It is either do willing the will of the Lord or continue in sin.

Sin leaves its scar. The sin in Peter’s denial of his knowledge of Christ left its scar on him. His scars were sufficiently tender that afterwards he could remember every crow of the rooster! Are you tender enough to be forgiven?

Truth Magazine XXII: 37, p. 599
September 21, 1978

By Mike Willis

Our federal government has a policy of spending more money than it receives. Consequently, the national debt has continued to escalate throughout the last few years. We at Truth Magazine thought that we would give this deficit spending a try for a couple of years. We have found that it does not work. Our creditors prefer that we pay for what we receive. Consequently, we are going to have to make some changes in Truth Magazine.

Our Present Situation

Our present mailing list is slightly over 3000 subscribers. We pay $775.00 per week to have Truth Magazine printed and mailed. Every week, we spend 220 TO PRINT AND MAIL EACH MAGAZINE. This means that we spend $11.29 every year to print and mail a paper which we sell for $7.50. On every subscription which we sell for $7.50, we lose $3.79. Those subscriptions which are sold in bundles at $6.00 per year cost us $5.29 per year above what we receive for every one that we sell. These losses do not reflect the additional cost of my office expenses, secretarial help, and salary; these prices solely reflect the printing and postage costs.

This year alone, we have received a $10,000 increase in printing costs. We have absorbed that loss ourselves through the sale of books in Truth Magazine Bookstore. We did not pass on this loss to our customers. However, we knew that we could not continue this policy forever. Hence, some changes are in store for Truth Magazine.

Truth Magazine Will Remain A Weekly

When I have discussed our present situation with people whose judgment I highly respect, I have repeatedly been told, “Keep Truth Magazine a weekly.” Truth Magazine is the only weekly presently being published among those who stand opposed to the liberalism which has invaded the church in recent years. Every week, we publish sixteen pages of excellent material designed to teach those who are lost and edify those striving to live as Christ commanded. The amount of material on hand to be published continues to increase faster than I can get it published. Hence, to change from a weekly to a bi-weekly or a monthly was a last resort measure, so far as I was concerned. This was also the consensus of the rest of those who met to discuss the necessary changes we had to make to keep Truth Magazine solvent.

Changes In Printing Format

We consulted with our printer and requested information about what changes we could make which would reduce our printing costs. He suggested several changes which we could make, some of which no one would notice. As a matter of fact, I have already initiated some changes which no one would notice because the work could be done by computer rather than by hand. This will save us a considerable amount each year. However, other changes which we will make will be very noticeable.

The next thing which we are going to change will be the quality of paper on which Truth Magazine is published. Ever since it was founded, Truth Magazine has probably been printed on the highest grade of paper of any periodical circulated among Christians. Yet, we have paid for this. It was my judgment that this should be one of the first things to go in any effort to cut costs. Consequently, we are going to begin using the same grade of paper as that on which Searching The Scriptures is printed. The same printer produces both our papers so the quality of paper will be the same for each of us.

This will also demand that we quit printing the large picture on the cover of Truth Magazine each week. This, however, was another luxury which I would rather give up than to change from being a weekly to a bi-weekly or monthly. Our front page will be re-designed in order to feature an article on that page. Consequently, by making this change we shall be able to include more teaching material than we have been in the past.

Another noticeable change which we shall be making will be to go from two-color printing to single color as the rest of the periodicals circulating among us are presently doing. This will make the paper less attractive than it has previously been but will not affect the amount of quality of material being mailed out each week to teach people. We shall not begin these physical changes until the end of our volume year in order that our bound volumes shall not be intermingled in format.

Price Increase Effective January 1st

Another change that must be made is an increase in our subscription price. For several years, Truth Magazine has been priced significantly lower than any other periodical among us. We have produced our paper for $7.50. Compare that with other papers. Vanguard is a 24-page biweekly with a subscription price of $9.50 per year. Torch is a 24-page monthly with a subscription .price of $5.00 per year. Gospel Guardian has recently announced plans to change from a bi-weekly to a monthly; they will- be publishing a 32-page monthly for $7.00 per year. The Preceptor publishes a 32-page monthly for $4.00 per year. Searching The Scriptures publishes a 24-page monthly for $6.00 per year. Gospel Teacher publishes a 24-page paper six times a year for $7.00 per year. Gospel Anchor publishes a 32-page monthly for $6.00 per year. Faith and Facts is a 75-page quarterly available for $4.00 per year.

From these comparisons, I think that you can perceive that $7.50 for a 16-page weekly was priced considerably under any other paper circulating among us. We have charged the price of $7.50 per year for this weekly paper since January 1, 1974. Everyone knows that these years have been years during which we experienced double-digit inflation nearly every year. We have watched prices increase significantly for the food we eat, the cars we drive, the houses we live in, etc. We should only expect that printing costs and subscription papers are going to have to increase in price as well.

We have held off the price increase just as long as we can. Now, we simply must pass it on to our customers. Beginning January 1, 1978, our subscription price will increase as follows: The single subscription will cost $10.00 per year. Those purchased on a club-rate basis will increase from $6.00 per year to $8.00. Foreign subscriptions will cost $12.50. Brethren, compare our prices with those of other subscription papers published among us and you will see that Truth Magazine gives you more pages of Bible teaching for our subscription price than any other paper among us.

We Need To Increase Our Circulation

Even with these price increases, we need to increase our circulation as much as possible. Already we have experienced a 28% increase in circulation since I began to edit the paper. Yet, we are significantly under the circulation of several years ago. Hence, we need your help to increase the circulation of Truth Magazine. There is no better advertisement of the paper than through word of mouth. Tell your friends about Truth Magazine. Send someone a gift subscription. I send a group of ten subscriptions myself for $5.00 per month (this will cost $6.67 per month with our new prices). Most of us could afford this if we wanted to use our money in this fashion. Will you consider sending a group of subscriptions to those whom you know?

We Need Your Book Business

With all of the changes that will be made, Truth Magazine will still lose several thousand dollars next year. Someone has to pay this loss; our creditors do not encourage deficit spending. The means we have of overcoming such losses is through the sale of religious literature. Hence, we need your book business. We can supply any book in print. We produce what I consider to be the very best two series of graded literature on the market. In addition to that, we supply you with the best of service. Our book store manager, Bob Whitehead, with the help of his staff in Marion, Indiana makes it a policy to mail out orders on the very same day as he receives them. Most of the time, we receive our orders in this area the same week as we send it.

Brethren, the profit which we make selling you literature and books is used to produce Truth Magazine. The profits from similar sales through Gospel Advocate Bookstore or Firm Foundation Publishing Company goes to produce material propagating liberal practices. Yet, some brethren would prefer to do business with the liberals (or denominationals) who use their profits to spread false doctrines than with us when we are trying to circulate the truth with our profits. Our prices are the same so why not help the truth rather than error? If there is any way that you can help us increase our book business, you can help us keep the cost of Truth Magazine down and to increase the number of good books on the market.

Right now, we have several good books which we would like to publish but cannot because of lack of funds. Brother Roy Cogdill has written several good sermon books. We have a desire to publish a good set of commentaries. All of this takes money. That is why we need your business. Please direct your book business our way.

Conclusion

I hope that you will continue to encourage us in the work that we are doing. I have received many complimentary letters from our readers. Brethren are commending our work in every area in which the truth is taught. I appreciate hearing from you and receiving your letters of commendation. This is new labor for me. I am not accustomed to being an editor of a paper. I have made several mistakes this year and will make more in the future. However, I shall continue to strive to honorably correct any error which I make. Thanks for your help as we labor together to publish one of the very best teaching periodicals on the market.

Truth Magazine XXII: 38, pp. 611-613
September 28, 1978

By Steve Wolfgang

From the time I was a child, I have been impressed by the concept of openness in the pursuit of truth that has been espoused (at least theoretically) by faithful churches and gospel preachers. For as long as I can remember I recall gospel preachers opening sermons with statements something like this: “If anyone can demonstrate from the Bible that I have taught anything not taught in God’s word, I will gladly repent, renounce the error and change my preaching and practice. If what I teach is God’s will as taught ‘in the Bible, it should be accepted and obeyed and not simply ignored.” Some have criticized such statements as a pompous declaration that “we have all the truth and everyone else is wrong,” but I learned from it something quite different-the importance of seeking and being open to God’s truth from whatever source.

One of the things which has been striking to me about the work at Expressway which first attracted me to it and which I appreciate even more in my fourth year.of work here is the attitude of the elders and the brethren generally toward an open search for the truth. Expressway truly has an open pulpit policy. We do not mean by that that any false teacher can walk through the door and “lay us low” and then exit immediately; this is not being “open.” But one-anyone-who is willing to take God’s word and show us wherein he thinks we deviate from that word, is welcome to do so (subject only to the same restrictions that are placed upon the local preachers here-that things be done “decently and in order,” that questions and taping be permitted, and that equal time for response, if necessary, be allowed). The same holds true for this bulletin.

Of course, such openness has been characteristically absent from false teachers of false doctrines. Gospel preachers have forever been confronted with “hit-and-run” tactics and other devious maneuvers from the supporters of error. One comes to expect such conduct as a matter of course so that when an occasional “good and honest heart,” who is sincerely willing to defend what he believes, is found it is a rare thing. Just in my time here at Expressway we have seen such conduct on the part of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, charismatics and others. One comes to expect it arid so it is nothing to merit particular attention; it is “par for the course.”

The sad fact, however, is that this attitude pervades even those who now claim to be “gospel preachers,” and the churches for which they preach. Just since coming to Expressway, we have received “open invitations” from one of the liberal “churches of Christ” in this city, indicating their alleged “openness” to discussion of any religious subject. They will pompously prate about denominational error, write letters to the editor of the Courier-Journal and Times, and generally put on a show of “skinning the sects,” whether they be Mormons or otherwise. They will boldly (?) challenge their denominational friends and neighbors to examine their claims-but when it comes to looking at some of their own inconsistencies they are “too busy,” etc. etc. ad nauseam. These churches which have wed themselves (prostituted might be a better analogy) to human institutions will support colleges where these issues which have divided churches are frequently discussed in purely one-sided discussions on their “lectureships,” etc. yet when the opportunity to discuss with something other than a “straw man” arises, they are suddenly too busy or too pious or too something to “bother” with it. Of course, members at Expressway understand such foolishness because this congregation was formed under such circumstances where brethren closed themselves to open Bible study on both sides of an issue and “quarantined” any who disagreed with their preconceived notions.

What is even sadder, however, is to see brethren (including preachers and elders) in so-called “conservative” or “faithful” churches who are adopting the same sort of attitude. Oh, they may be just as doctrinally “orthodox” as you can get-but they have no concept of why one should be that way, or of the applications of Biblical truth to other issues. Since I have been preaching here, at least one gospel preacher, the son of a well-known “conservative” preacher (who has used his father’s good name to hide his own false teaching) has asked to have his name removed from the mailing list. Now we do not object to one who would rather not read what we write (we do not have the inflated opinion of ourselves that one must read what we write)-but here is a man who will pay good money to read (and who writes for) denominational papers full of false teaching, but who will not read (or will not tell us wherein we err) what is written by faithful brethren. The same is true even of brethren in “faithful” churches here in Louisville-they would rather hide their head in the sand and not even consider what is true. On the other side of this coin, we have had at least two “sound” brethren cut us off their mailing lists because we dared to disagree with what they teach. We have never felt, as these brethren evidently do, that one had to agree with us; but we would ask that one at least “consider what we say” (2 Tim. 2:7) and if they disagree we are open to any constructive criticism.

The problem with such openness is that it seems to scare people. It is alright to mouth such platitudes as the one with which we began this article, as long as you are reasonable sure no one will take you up on it! The problem comes when someone takes us at our word. I have known of some churches where it would truly “disturb the church” if someone were to stand up in the assembly and request book, chapter, and verse for what is being taught from the pulpit! (This is what one of the Expressway elders was told when he visited, by public invitation, an area “conservative” congregation and had the audacity to ask a question)! Think about it-what would the reaction be where you worship? Are we truly interested in finding out what the truth is about any and all subjects, or are we more committed to a “don’t rock the boat”, “Maintain the status quo” attitude that we resent anyone questioning of what we do? We have even gotten to the point that some of us are so closed that such a policy toward openness as is maintained at X-way is a shock even to “conservative” preachers (as with one young second-generation preacher who recently asked us, and was visibly astounded upon receiving an affirmative response: “You mean if a Baptist preacher came into the assembly and then asked to get into the pulpit to teach what he believes the Bible teaches that you’d let him?”). Furthermore, I know of at least one congregation of “faithful brethren” where there are objections to having a debate in the building because “it would let a false teacher in the pulpit.” It certainly seems, as my friend and preaching companion Steve Ballou told me one time (Steve being a member of the church only for the last few years) that you almost have to have your credentials in order, (or, as he put it, your “Church of Christ” pedigree) stamped and current in order to even be able to preach in some places. How close to a denominational concept can you get? And yet we have the gall to condemn our denominational friends for having “closed minds.” I pray thee excuse me from such folly. When we get to the point (and it looks like “we have arrived” indeed) that the above is characteristic of “faithful” churches, and where it would truly disturb us and disrupt our services for one to ask us outright to defend what we believe, then we have crossed the line from a fervent, truth-seeking and truth-exalting Christianity to an insipid denominationalism -f-even though we may wear a “scriptural name.” We may still be doctrinally orthodox and be able to give all the “right answers” for the next generation; but let such an attitude go to seed and grow for a generation and the only thing that will result is another full-scale apostasy resulting in just another denomination. May the good Lord deliver us from all such, and give us strength to “search the scriptures,” (John 5:39) and having found the truth, to defend it, “giving answer to every man that asketh” (1 Peter 3:15).

Truth Magazine XXII: 38, pp. 614-615
September 28, 1978

By S. Leonard Tylor

This is a searching but fair and vitally important question. The answer is basic and, to me, essential to any who believes in the all-sufficiency of the Divine Volume, the Bible. Can one be sure, positive, when he is a Christian, a member of the church of Christ? Can he proclaim with confidence this message to others for their salvation? Can a Christian tell when one is turning back into the world or wallowing in the mire? If one starts turning toward denominationalism, can that be recognized? If these questions have a positive answer, truth makes a distinction and we must recognize it. If, on the other hand, the response is negative, truth makes no difference, and we had just as well forget the whole matter-because no one can be positive what is right. If the word of God is not clearly understandable, man is left without clear knowledge and convictions.

These terse questions demand a positive response if one is to find revealed in the Bible an indispensable, vital faith and life in Christ.

Is the Bible the inerrant word of God, complete, absolute, understandable, and the unique standard by which man is to be reconciled to God in Christ, directed and saved eternally? Is the Bible reliable, worthy of trust and confidence? Is it understandable, especially the New Testament, so one can be uniquely, intelligently, and Scripturally identified with its teaching? Can one say like Paul, “I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded (convinced, NASB) that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”? (2 Tim. 1:12).

To respond positively does not necessarily identify one with the Pharisaic, “braggadocios,” self-justifying attitude. It does imply, however, that he possesses a genuine, active, and confident faith in the word of God as trustworthy, authoritative, positive, and understandable. It is saying, “Speak, Lord, I will believe. Command, I will obey. Promise, I will trust.” Then, we must search the Scriptures to learn what the Lord says, commands, and promises, and accept His will be faith with complete confidence.

Attitudes Toward the Bible

There are many views regarding the Inspiration of the Bible. We notice two very briefly. (1) The Bible is Inspired in Thought or Principle. God miraculously and directly revealed His will to certain chosen men but left them to express the message in their own words without Divine assistance. This leaves too much to human judgment or wisdom. Subjectivism and relativism have a great and lasting influence upon the minds of those adhering to such a loose concept of inspiration. Skepticism which opens the door to denominationalism is also very common to such a view. But these delight in the “non-essentials” and the “non-essentials with liberty” rule their religion. Notwithstanding all the warnings contained in the Bible (Matt. 15:9; 2 Cor. 10:5-6, 12-18; 2 Thess. 2; 1 Tim. 4:1, 15; Heb. 2:1-2; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Acts 20:28-32), these continue to allow the doctrines and commandments of men to predominate in their lives (Isa. 8:20; Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12).

(2) The Second View is Plenary Verbal Inspiration.. God miraculously and directly revealed His will to certain chosen men and miraculously and directly superintended their choice of words. Thus, they could speak and write verbally and inerrantly exactly what God wanted them to, exactly as He wanted it said or written, giving man an understandable and infallible guide. This is the claim the Bible makes for itself (Acts 2:1-5; 1 Cor. 2:12-13; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17; 2 Tim 3:16-17), and I most sincerely believe it will stand against every evil wind that blows.

Is It Understandable?

Many accept the verbal inspiration of the Bible but are skeptical about understanding the Bible itself. So, to them, one can not be positive enough to say, “This is it.” If the teaching of the Bible is unattainable to man, he is left without positive directions or law. This brings to my mind, an old but true Latin expression, “Ubi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum”-where the law is uncertain, there is no law. Here the religious wonderers gather, separate, reform, tolerate, and split again. And, here the word of God is thrown to the four winds of the earth. Emotionalism, confusions, divisions and every philosophy and doctrine imaginable to man finds tolerance. The sociological changes sway minds, evolutionary theories are planted, and spiritualism goes wild in this incomprehensible Bible whirlpool. Surely, God would not give man such a Book as that! God has not authored mass confusion and wild contradiction in religion (1 Cor. 14:33). Our concern is not, “Can one person judge another?” We are deeply concerned with, “Can we understand the Bible?”

The Bible is filled with propositional truths. A proposition is `an expression in language, symbols, or signs of anything which is capable of being believed, doubted or denied: a verbal expression which is either true or false” (Webster’s New International Dictionary, Unabridged). Scripture is to be accepted or rejected upon the credibility of its understandable truths.

The Bible claims positive, yea, even Divine truths. David declared, “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in Heaven” (Ps 119:89). Jesus said, “My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Peter states, “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23; NASB).

God’s truth stands regardless of one’s attitude toward it. It is absolute truth. God can declare the end of a thing at the beginning (Isa. 46:10). If a person contends that Bible knowledge is unattainable, or impractical, he cannot claim a firm guide into God’s provision for salvation. To whom shall he go?

God spoke plainly to Moses when Israel was preparing to possess the land of Canaan (Deut. 30:1130). Moses called the children of Israel together and reminded them of God’s goodness, love, and care for their forefathers and His gracious provision for them. He, then, read the Law: (1) He read so all could hear and understand it. (2) They could know their God and His way. (3) This was in order that they might do all the words of the law. (4) Thus, Israel could share in all the blessings of their God. (5) And, then they could teach God’s law to their children with the same provisions, conditions, and blessings. Some one observed: “This law was plain enough to be understood; practical enough to be obeyed; and divine enough to be essential.” This, I believe, is applicable to all of God’s will to man for salvation. The gospel is God’s power into salvation to every one who believes (Rom. 1:16) but “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Further, Paul told Timothy, “These things I write unto you . . . That thou rnayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). It certainly seems from these expressions that God intended for man to understand His written word. Why else would He have written it?

The Bible is what God teaches-no more and no less-neither can any man add to it nor take from it (Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:3; Titus 2:7-8, 10). Too many times however, what is called “interpretation” is nothing more than what man thinks, feels, or assumes and has no place in the Divine Volume. If the Bible does not teach it, it is not part of God’s word.-regardless of what or how anyone thinks or feels about it. Bro. M. C. Kurfees makes the following observation:

It follows that the Divine Creed can never be an unnecessary inference or merely what man thinks. This, according to the etymology of the term, would make it merely man’s opinion. How can we tell, in a given case, whether a thing is what God says or merely what man thinks? Here again, if we have no infallible rule for our guidance, we are in hopeless confusion . . . the science of hermeneutics is a false science unless it seeks, by its principles, laws and rules, to ascertain, and is willing to be satisfied with, what an author says, and this fact especially applies is the case of religion where the search is for what God says. In fact, when we have learned by absolutely correct translation from one language to another, exactly what God says, we have reached the limit of legitimate interpretation and are justified in saying that we have found what God means by finding what God says. He who repudiates this position has only the alternative of committing himself, to the lax and latitudinarian position of guessing at what God means beyond what he says . . .” (Abilene Christian College Bible Lecture 1920-1921, page 17).

Paul wrote the Ephesians to assure them of a definite and positive standard by which to be governed and sustained in Eph. 4:10-16. He assured them that miraculously inspired teachers would continue until the complete, perfect will of Christ was revealed and confirmed. When that time arrived, God’s people would have a full knowledge of Christ communicated, God’s complete will make known. By that will Christians both were and are to be firmly sustained and directed in true fellowship, grace, faith, hope, service and all spiritual relationships in Christ with God, the Holy Spirit and all the saints for salvation (1 Cor. 1:9; Titus 2:11-12; 1 John 1:3-7; 1 Pet. 1:3-9). The same apostle told the Corinthians that “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (i Cor. 13:10). James shows that the “perfect law of liberty” is come (James 1:25; 2:12).

The Bible is the positive, unalterable standard by which man is to be drawn to Christ, directed, and sustained. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). So Paul told Timothy to charge certain men “that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3). Peter said, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). Thus Paul warned the Ephesians about the “cunning craftiness” and deceptive doctrines and pleaded with them not to be “tossed to and fro” by such false teachers and doctrines. Then Paul added, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” He wrote the Colossians to be “grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col. 1:23). In Jude 3, the instruction is to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” This is God’s will for all men today. May God help us to study, believe, obey and teach it with full assurance that what God has promised He is able to fulfill.

Truth Magazine XXII: 38, pp. 616-617
September 28, 1978