Truth Magazine

By Gardner S. Hall, Sr.

This is an old adage. I saw a cartoon, showing two heavy turning plows, two big mules hitched to each plow. Both teams were standing idle while one plowman held up a mouse he had killed and the other was looking on with much admiration.

This is a good illustration on the subject of first things first. Let the less important things wait for the more important things to be done first. I have seen the time when killing a few score of rats seemed of just about top priority. It was necessary to save what the plows had made.

The gospel plow has been slowed by the tendency on the part of churches to spend “gospel money” on entertainment and fancy buildings. Spending thousands for fellowship halls, camp grounds, etc., wastes money sorely needed for sowing the seed of the kingdom.

But a favorite complaint against us who insist upon close adherence to the Scriptures is that we “major in minors.” Or, we “make mountains out of molehills.” Or, we “stop the plow to kill a mouse.” “A man who preached and who sprinkled water for baptism admitted to me that the Bible teaches that baptism is a burial. But he thought we should just preach to save souls and not take up valuable time arguing about nonessentials. He thought I was stopping the plow to kill a mouse. That is what the brethren who introduced the missionary society and instrumental music said. They thought brethren who opposed them were wasting time on very insignificant issues.

Now that institutions of human origin have been built to take the place of the local church, and churches are engaged in recreation and entertainment, many make it a light matter. They do not consider them that important. I hear that some brethren are really opposed to these practices but just do not preach on them. Well, I can see no reason for neglecting preaching on them except that they do not believe they are serious enough to merit their attention and time.

In fact, there is a trend now among many, many preachers to neglect “first principles” or opposition to false doctrines. They preach sermons, with very few exceptions, that any denominational preacher would endorse. They preach on moral issues; they can become very excited when a vote on alcoholic beverages is coming up. They can preach fine, inspirational sermons. But denominational people would never see the differences in their errors and the simple New Testament plan. The preacher who gets down to the detailed errors of denominationalism is, to their way of thinking, killing mice.

“O, that is such a small insignificant thing. Stop quarreling over non-essentials and join in the fight for the weightier matters of the gospel!” This is the refuge of all religionists who can not produce Scripture for their practices, whether denominationalists or erring brethren. Even if departures from truth seem small, others will inevitably follow. We should be diligent to follow the New Testament in everything. And if we once assume an attitude that little errors are not worth bothering with, we are simply preparing ourselves to swallow big errors. (This article is slightly edited from the 29 July, 1973 Items, published by the Corinth Church of Christ, Nick Davis Road, Athens, Alabama, where Brother Hall was preaching at the time of his death. Ron Halbrook)

Truth Magazine XXII: 30, pp. 491-492
August 3, 1978

By Earl Robertson

Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). One must desire to do what God wants done for His service to be accepted by the Lord. Service to God is not by force; it is by choice! John says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). If one looks at what God wants one to do, thinking it to be galling, he cannot do the will of God. When one gives even of his money, but gives it “grudgingly, or of necessity,” God refuses the service (2 Cor. 9:6, 7). The sour or reluctant mind will not be able to give so that God will accept his offering. Until the heart wills to respond to the calls of God one is wasting his time giving lip service. Initial obedience to God which saves alien sinners is by choice. Jesus says, “Whosoever will” may come (Rev. 22:17). Jesus further declares that some Jews were yet “not willing to come” that they might have life (John 5:39, 40). Many are lost in sin and on their way to hell because they do not wish to do what the Lord says that they might be saved in Christ.

After one becomes a Christian, acceptable living before God remains a choice. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1, 2). Some having been raised from baptism with Jesus keep Him enthroned in their heart (1 Pet. 3:15), while others choose to live in sin for the devil, but at the same time want all the blessings and freedoms enjoyed by the faithful. Whether sin comes alive within one or not is dependent upon one’s choice, sin always takes its toll; the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

The Lord wants a pure church (Eph. 5:26). Sin not only gets the one committing it but, if allowed to continue unchecked, it will destroy the congregation where that one is a member (1 Cor. 5:6). Christ gave Himself up in death “that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:25, l6). The words in the King James “and cleanse” translates the participle katharisas, which is aorist active. Paul affirms the Ephesians were sanctified having been cleansed. He does not tell the when of the cleansing, just the fact of it though the when of their cleansing took place in their baptism. The fact of the cleansing is the point we now emphasize and seek to show must remain with the child of God. Some Christians are careless about the way they live. Their lives are “spots, wrinkles, and blemishes” (Eph. 5:27). This is the course they have chosen and, too often, there is no blush or shame when approached about their sins. In fact, most of the times there is an effort to justify what has been done, or a denial altogether. But when this is the course of life so-called Christians want to live, it becomes a most difficult task for anyone to change because sin hardens the heart (Heb. 3:12, 13).

The influence of one who is pure in heart (Matt. 5:8), and wants his whole life to help others see the Way (nom. 12:1, 2), is unmeasurable by man. The exercise of heaven’s will in the heart of-a man produces influence and power-influence in turning men to God; turning cold, indifferent churches into churches of warmth, strength, evangelism and benevolence-such is the kingdom of God (Lk. 17:20, 21). We must learn that we can be no better than we truly want to be in the kingdom of God. What do you really desire before God (Psa. 27:4; 2 Cor. 5:2) as a parent? citizen? Christian?

Truth Magazine XXII: 30, pp. 488
August 3, 1978

By Irvin Himmel

The posture of one’s mind makes him what he is. Words and deeds are mere reflections of the heart. It is highly important to develop a good attitude. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). Here are some ways in which it is imperative that one show a good attitude:

Toward the Word of God

God gave us the divine word to guide us. We are not capable of directing our own steps (Jer. 10:23). God’s revelation shows us the way out of darkness into light, out of sin into righteousness, out of gloom into hope, out of failure into success, out of misery into joy, out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Christ.

When Paul preached the gospel to the Thessalonians long ago, they displayed a good attitude toward the truth. They received the word of God, “not as the word of men, but as it is in the truth, the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13). God’s word is to be reverenced and obeyed because it is the word of God. To have the right attitude toward God necessitates the right attitude toward His word. This is the disposition to believe and yield to the authority of His will.

Toward Correcting Faults

No matter how terrible a mistake one may make, there is hope if he shows a good attitude. David did not have that kind of attitude immediately after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. For a time, he attempted to conceal his guilt. He wanted to shift the blame. It was not until Nathan the prophet pointed the finger of accusation straight toward David, using the parable of the little ewe lamb, that the proper attitude developed. David humbly admitted his guilt, God put away his sin, and from that time on, David was of a different disposition toward what he had done. If a person has a good attitude toward correcting his faults, he does not become angry with one who lovingly points out his sins, nor does he resent attempts to help him overcome his weaknesses.

Toward Daily Work

Every person is free to choose his occupation. Whether one decides to be a plumber, doctor, lawyer, salesman, farmer, teacher, engineer, policeman, or something else, his mental outlook toward his vocation has strong bearing on success versus failure. Some people complain constantly of their work, the low pay, the horrible conditions under which they labor day by day, and the general misery that they experience. One wonders why they do not change jobs. Is their work really all that bad, or is it a matter of attitude?

Other people have the kind of attitude that makes their daily work a joy. They have been careful to choose the kind of vocation that enables them to do what they really want to do. Their frame of mind contributes to their being successful and feeling a sense of accomplishment. This good attitude toward their chosen field of work enables them to cope with unpleasant situations which may arise.

Toward Solving Problems

Perplexing and distressing developments have a way of surfacing in all human relationships. Problems may arise in the church, in the home, in our work, in school, in the neighborhood, in business transactions, and in numerous other connections. It is a bit unrealistic to expect life on this earth to be free of problems, and it is equally visionary to expect our problems to automatically vanish.

Like the poor, some problems are always with us. But the person who has a good frame of mind toward the solving of his problems, whatever they may be, is to be commended. In many cases, our attitude toward a problem is half the solution. With a good attitude we can approach the problem objectively, view it sensibly, and handle it wisely. Even if the problem is never fully solved, a good attitude will provide the means to forge ahead and not be unduly upset or hindered.

Toward Trials

The times in which we live are trying to our souls. Evil forces are pulling and tugging at us. On every hand there are temptations to sin. Young people who want to do right have an especially difficult task. So many of today’s youth have imbibed the “do as you please” philosophy. Drugs, illicit sex, insistence on one’s rights to gratify his lusts no matter how others may be injured, intoxication, profanity, lying, stealing-these and other evils are increasingly prevalent among young people.

The Bible warns that all who do right will be subjected to fiery trials. Old and young alike may expect pressures and temptations. We must learn to have a good attitude in the face of whatever trials come our way. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial . . .” (Jas. 1:12, NASB). With the proper attitude toward trials the Christian keeps his faith, prays for strength, rejoices that tribulations empower him to develop patience, and draws comfort from the promises of God.

What is your attitude toward the word of God, toward correcting your faults, toward your daily work, toward solving problems, and toward trials? May each one of us examine self and work to develop an improved attitude in all these vital areas.

Truth Magazine XXII: 30, pp. 488-489
August 3, 1978

By Donald P. Ames

A great deal of publicity has been given to our efforts through Viking I and II to find life on Mars. Now it looks like such efforts failed completely to produce any evidence of life there at all. While this might seem to merely be a disappointment to many, the actual significance of such reaches far deeper than many realize. In an article that appeared in the Gary, Ind. Post-Tribune, July 30, 1976, it was pointed out that if these efforts failed to find evidence of life, “it could drastically change man’s theories of evolution and the origin of life on earth, says the chief biologist on the Viking team” (Dr. Harold Klein). In fact, Dr. Klein admitted that since evolutionary scientists were so sure Mars was similar to earth in its beginnings, if they failed to find evidences of life, “then the prevalent theory of chemical evolution here on earth `would need another looking at.'” He added that “the processes should have gotten started on Mars if this theory is correct.” However, if life did not turn up (and it did not), then he would be forced to conclude that the chemical theory of evolution would be “disproven”! And, of course, if that happened (and it did), the very basis of evolution would have collapsed and been proven totally false.

It sometimes costs us a lot of money to learn a very simple truth which the word of God has affirmed all along. We had to pay to learn the moon was not of similar composition as the earth (thus destroying the “explosion” theory), and now to learn there is no life on Mars. Both lessons turned out to be fatal to evolution. Yet, in Gen. 1:1, the Bible contained the answer all along — “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” It would be nice — and worth it — if these experiments forever laid the dust over the false theories of evolution which explain away God; but, unfortunately, they will merely switch to another and quietly forget these tragic losses. Do not be deceived, evolution is not a fact! And certainly these startling discoveries (to them) is clear evidence of this truth.

Truth Magazine XXII: 30, p. 489
August 3, 1978