Truth Magazine

By Jeffery Kingry

There is a definite attitude displayed toward evangelists and their support by some brethren and churches that is decidedly unscriptural. Brethren speak of “hiring a preacher” and having him “work for us.” Their idea is that a man, rendered free from a 9 to 5 job by the church’s support, in turn becomes an employee of the church.

I have had brethren inform me that as an employee of the church, I would be expected to work 40 to 50 hours a week. Above and beyond my “supported time” I would be expected to put forth “individual” hours to fulfill my personal responsibility as a Christian. Congregations (and preachers as well) have submitted “contracts” that must be agreed to and signed before “employment” can be accomplished. In some instances the contract is renewed annually after a review by the church. Is any of this scriptural? I think not. The basis for all of this kind of behavior stems from a basic misunderstanding of the work of an evangelist, and what his support consists of.

Hire A Preacher?

Our word “hire” carries with it the concept of submission for pay that is characteristic of the employer-employee relationship. Webster’s Dictionary defines it, “To purchase the personal services of for a set sum, to get done by pay, to employ.” Yet this idea of purchasing or buying a service is not one that is taught in the scriptures. For example, the word translated “hire” in the Greek is misthos. It is used in 1 Tim. 5:18 to encourage brethren to support those elders who labor well. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine, for the scripture saith, Thou shaft not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn, and the laborer is worthy of his reward (misthos).” No-one misunderstands that an elder is still an elder, functions as an elder and is responsible as an elder, whether he is supported or not. No one would ever suggest “hiring an elder.”

In Luke 10:7, Jesus sent out seventy disciples to that the “kingdom is at hand.” He told them to go from city to city, receiving their food and lodging from the hospitality of those they taught. “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: For the laborer is worthy of his hire (misthos).” No one would say that those who exercised hospitality to the Seventy “employed” those teachers, were their “bosses,” or had the power to require a certain degree of self-appointed service from the Seventy to assure that they “earned their wages.”

While scriptures do teach that an evangelist labors in the Gospel and has a right to expect a reward (hire) from the gospel, scripture utterly rejects the concept that the evangelist (any more than the elder, apostle, or teacher) “sells personal service for a set sum.” On the contrary, the evangelist may receive misthos but he is not a misthotos, or hireling. Misthotos is used four times in scripture: once as “hired servant” (Mk. 1:20) and three times as “hireling,” as in Jn. 10:12,13. “Here it expresses, not only one who has no real interest in his duty, but one who is unfaithful in the discharge of it; that sense attaches always to the word rendered “hireling” (W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary, p. 222).

To be sure there are hireling preachers (Rom. 16:17,18; 2 Pet. 2:3,14, 15), hireling elders (Acts 20:29; Tit. 1:7b), and false Apostles (Gal. 1:8; 2 Cor. 11:13; Rev. 2:2) who will preach, teach, and deceive wherever there is personal gain to be found. But the true man of God (1 Tim. 6:11) is not an employee of the church, but a servant of Jesus Christ (tom. 1:1; Jas. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1). A preacher serves and answers to God (2 Cor. 6:4). If the evangelist serves God and pleases his master, he should be acceptable to the church. In this sense a preacher can never be a servant of the church and no amount of support can make him that way. In what way then is he a servant of the church?

In Col. 1:24 Paul declared, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church — whereof I am made a minister.” How was Paul a minister-servant of the church? As Albert Barnes put it, “The object seems to be . . . a privilege to suffer in the cause of Christ . . . not for the Colossians alone . . . but for his preaching to the Gentiles at large . . . and that he suffered the same kind of persecution as Christ for the church, not that he suffered as much as Christ . . . but that he felt that it was an object to be earnestly desired to be made in all respects just like Christ . . . what he says is based on the leading desire of his soul — To Be Just Like Christ.” In other words the evangelist serves the body in the same way that Jesus did-as a messenger of truth (2 Cor. 2:1517; 3:6; 4:1-5) willing to suffer, even to die for the truth (2 Cor. 6:3-6; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4). A man cannot be paid to do that (1 Cor. 9:16-27).

What Then Is The Money For?

Words like “hire,” “buy,” and “employ” denote the purchase of a service. One may purchase the service of a hireling, but never the service of one who serves another master (Matt. 6:24). The true man of God serves God in all things whether supported or not. The church may free him to do more by supporting him in the work he is doing. There is a distinct difference between “support” and “hire.” I may support an artist, a government, a cause, and never exercise any control or authority with my funds. My only control is a decision either to support or not to support. It is in this way that the church rewards the man of God for his service in teaching, study, rebuke, and evangelism. The preacher is “controlled” in the same way any individual member is. If a preacher sins, he is not to be “fired” but disciplined, the same as every other member. Money spent on evangelism is not benevolence. “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10) is a principle that applies to preachers as well as anyone else. God did not mean for the indolent to live off the church. But, any control a preacher’s support may bring a church over the man is a shame upon the church and the evangelist as well.

Paul is a perfect example of the true evangelist that all preachers should emulate. His relationship to a local work had nothing to do with his support. While working in Corinth he received his subsistence from the brethren in Macedonia (Phil. 4:10-15; 2 Cor. 11:9). Even when his living ceased from other churches, he would labor with his hands and continue preaching (2 Thess. 3:8). Paul did the work, as hard and as well as he knew how. He knew he had a right to live of the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:4-14) but his joy was in preaching the word (1 Cor. 9:18); often he purposely refused money given to him by some brethren lest some use it as a charge of “hireling” against him (1 Cor. 9:15). He also stated, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more” (v. 19). Paul did not count hours and divide his days into “church’s paid time” and “my time.” He belonged to Jesus, and he gave all of himself that he might perhaps save a few before he slept with the Lord. When brethren ask about hours spent in service by an evangelist who really serves God, they betray their ignorance of what being a preacher is all about.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a diligent Christian who will work in the community where you live and you wish to free him to spend all of his efforts in God’s service, then there are good men available. You can tell them by their fruits (Eph. 5:9; Gal. 5:22, 23). Paul told Timothy “Put the brethren in remembrance . . . labor, suffer reproach . . . command and teach . . . be an example . . . in word, in manner of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity . . . give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine . . . meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all” (1 Tim. 4:6ff). You will be able to tell the difference between a hireling and the servant of God. The hireling will agree with all you say, meet all your demands, sign your contract, take your money, and give you nothing in return except a scratch behind the ear, or a congregation filled with error, division, and hatred. The man of God will prick your conscience, rebuke your sins, build up your soul, motivate you to work, and run the race with you hand in hand. He will be independent, with a head as hard as flint, and will knuckle under to no demand that smacks of compromise. His support will not be a matter of indifference to him, but his words to you will not lose their edge because you sign his check. You see, the real servant of Christ pleases his boss, because he knows that the only paycheck that matters is that one he gets in eternity.

Truth Magazine XXII: 14, pp. 232-233
April 6, 1978

By Larry Ray Hafley

John said, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 Jn. 4:15). This passage is often used by Baptists and others to prove that one is saved before and without water baptism. They connect it with the confession of the Ethiopian eunuch, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). Since the eunuch confessed his faith before baptism, God dwelt in him and he in God before baptism. Therefore, they conclude, salvation, forgiveness of sins, occurs before baptism.

Examination and Refutation of the Argument

On the surface, at first glance, the argument may appear to have merit. Let us look at it a little closer.

(1) False doctrines concerning the nature of Jesus sprang up in the days of the apostles. Some sects said Jesus was a mere man. Certain others said he did not possess a fleshly body. John said, (a) “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” (1 Jn. 4:2) and (b) “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 Jn. 4:15). Each group claimed communion with God, but John shows that- one who denies the manhood and Sonship of Jesus is not of God; God does not dwell in him, and he does not dwell in God. John is not considering the point at which one is saved from his sins.

(2) What about the Roman soldier? He “feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54). Was this soldier of God? Did he dwell in God and God in him?

(3) “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God” (Mk. 3:11). Were they saved?

(4) Many of the chief rulers of the Jews believed on Jesus, “but they did not confess him” (Jn. 12:42). This poses a problem for “faith only” advocates who use 1 Jn. 4:15 as proof of salvation. They believe one is saved “at the point of faith.” Then these chief rulers were saved, but “they did not confess him.” What do we do with these? According to the faith only argument, they were saved, but in view of 1 Jn. 4:15, they are lost. Will some Baptist tell us the state of these chief rulers? Were they saved or lost?

(5) If one is saved when he confesses Christ prior to baptism, we have one saved before the Lord promised. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). So, if the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was saved before baptism, he was saved contrary to the promise of Jesus. The same type argument can be made on Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21; Gal. 3:26, 27; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3, 4; Jn. 3:3, 5.

(6) Confession of Christ as Lord is essential (Rom. 10:9, 10). However, many call him, “Lord,” who will not obey him. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Lk. 6:46)? “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). If we use 1 Jn. 4:15 to show that one is saved before baptism, if we say confession is always indicative of salvation, then those who call him, “Lord, Lord,” are saved in their disobedience. If not, why not?

(7) An item cannot be a condition of salvation and an evidence of salvation at the same time and in the same sense. Romans 10:9, 10 reveals that confession is a condition unto salvation, while in 1 Jn. 4:15 it is an evidence of salvation. However, the argument we are. reviewing makes no distinction. It would have the confession of Rom. 10:9, 10 equated with (the same thing as) the confession of 1 Jn. 4:15. As such, confession is represented as both a condition and an evidence of salvation at the same time and in the same sense. That is impossible.

Faith, for example, is a condition of salvation (Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6). Faith is an evidence of salvation (1 Jn. 5:1). But it is not a condition and an evidence at the same time and in the same sense. A condition points forward; an evidence looks backward.

Belief and confession are conditions unto salvation (Rom. 10: 9,10).

Belief and confession are evidences of salvation (1 Jn. 4:15; 5:1).

In the first case, salvation is to be obtained after the conditions are complied with. In the second, salvation, previously acquired, is demonstrated or evidenced by faith and confession. Without faith, whether before or after salvation, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Without confession, whether before or after salvation, it is impossible to please God (2 Tim. 2:12).

(8) Conclusion: No interpretation of a passage can be allowed if it contradicts other plain statements of Scripture. See point number five above. Even if one could not explain the place of 1 Jn. 4:15, he would know that it cannot prove salvation before baptism because the Holy Spirit said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:4, 38).

Truth Magazine XXII: 14, pp. 231-232
April 6, 1978

By Leslie Diestelkamp

We are all aware that today’s children expect to “do their own thing;” that is, they want to exercise much more independence than that which characterized some other generations. Yet we also recognize that most parents do indeed have considerable influence regarding the aspirations and destinies of their offspring. First of all, many parents today are too busy to be bothered with concerns about the future of their children, so they actually help to determine what that future may be by their neglect. They allow others-teachers, associates, recruiters, etc. to woo their children into various activities and vocations without much home influence. But others do consider the matter seriously, yet fail just as miserably, because they set the wrong goals for their children.

It is not my intent to suggest that parents should choose the very occupation their children follow, but I do mean parents should so direct the character of the children that whatever occupation they have in later life will be an honorable one and will be pursued with fidelity to God. In choosing their occupation, children need to be taught that “any honest occupation is honorable” so long as it does not involve them or others in immorality.

But because many parents have been deprived in their childhood, they are determine to provide every luxury for their own children, and to do so they spoil the child and neglect him as well. In order to provide more “things” for their children-houses, cabins, automobiles, televisions, rumpus rooms, pool tables, motorcycles, etc.,– many time both parents are gone from home most of the time, working so hard and so long that personal attention is neglected and character-building is forgotten. How many times have we heard it said, “I give my kid everything he wanted and as soon as he was big enough he left home in rebellion.”

Source Of Rebellion

It is not possible for me to suggest all the reasons for the prevalent rebellion we see among today’s youth, but of one thing we can be sure: during childhood the parents did not provide a secure family circle! Materialism may have prevailed in the home. Parents must remember that love, respect and honor cannot be bought with money nor provided by the things that money may buy. A child’s loyalty to the home and to the principles learned that will not be secured by supplying large sums of money or every worldly thing that money can purchase for the youngster. In fact, love, respect and loyalty usually come quite naturally in children who learn to share frugal living with their parents and who are guided by parents who think more of the family circle than they do of the almighty (?) dollar.

However, other parents go to another extreme that causes some rebellion. They may deprive their children of things which the children really need just so the parents may spend the money for their own materialistic pursuits. In other words, the family may be neglected as the parents pursue other attainments for themselves.

Educational matters may become a source of rebellion. Some parents may be so obsessed with desire for higher education for the children that they make education a god. Some children may have been relegated to “second class” because they did not want a college education. Furthermore, many youth are lost to the family and to the principles the parents desired because the children have not been properly prepared in heart and mind for the exposure to carnality, worldliness and infidelity which confronts them in most colleges and universities.

Pursuing the Objectives

It is one thing to set some goals for your children, and it is quite another thing to diligently pursue those objectives. Some parents simply wish their children may attain certain accomplishments. Other parents, more realistically, give their attention, time and talents in training the children to reach the desired goals. Let us enumerate some necessary steps and procedures for parents in their pursuit of success with their children:

1. Children must be trained while very young to demonstrate respect. This begins with respect for the parents, but also includes respect for other family members, for friends, for the police, for the teacher, for the unfortunate, for decency, etc. Other peoples’ rights and property must be respected.

2. Especially the children must be trained in respect for the Lord, the Bible, and the church. For instance, they must learn to respect special occasions. They must know how to behave in the Bible Class and the assemblies of the saints. (One reason some children give so much trouble in church services is that they have never been trained to sit! At home and at school, they constantly move as they may choose; thus, it is then difficult to get them to sit still in services. I am convinced that parents should set aside a period each day in which the family conies together, reads from the Bible and prays together. Besides the significant edifying benefit for all, the children will learn to sit still for 15 or 20 minutes, and they will soon be able to do the same in church services.)

3. Teach the children to be honest, and why they should be honest. Train them in modesty and teach them why they should be modest. Teach them to be kind and considerate, and why. Warn them of drink, dope, fornication, sodomy and cigarettes, and show them why these things are wrong and why they should be avoided. Help them to see the great danger in “little things” — little white lies, just one drink, etc.

4. Take time to see the good in your child — and offer generous praise for every desirable quality and action. If he is a good boy, let him know you are aware of it, and that you appreciate it-and that you trust him to continue so.

5. When he faces moral or spiritual conflicts in school, be firm in insisting that he do right and that you will defend him with school officials as he resists and refuses to be involved in dancing, near-nudity and school programs that interfere with his religions life. In spite of evils that are increasingly prevalent in the public schools, I believe that faithful parents and welltrained children can overcome if they will and that they can do so in such a way as to usually win respect of others and certainly to be able to have a happy school experience.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Make that the cornerstone of the foundation in the life of your children. Let the words of Christ not only be your goal for yourself and for the children, but help the children to make those same words their objective in life also. Next: “Parenthood And Patterns.”

Truth Magazine XXII: 14, pp. 230-231
April 6, 1978

By Earl Robertson

Only the naive are unaware that gimmickry is very much a part of religious activities in many of the churches today. Gimmickry is a novel device or gadget or a new ingenious scheme. The important feature of a gimmick is not immediately apparent. It is designed to “catch” — catch the unaware! This truth, from a religious concept, really needs no proof — it is axiomatic.

Churches claim to be biblically oriented, but one would face an impossible task should he seek scriptural proof for the gimmicks sponsored today in the churches. Many churches of Christ have ceased to preach a full gospel — or fully preach the gospel (Rom. 15:19), and have had to turn to the man-made gimmicks to survive. God knows this as well as many brethren. Some churches have long forgotten what the Bible says about many things and, as a result, decay and death is everywhere in view.

From this sickening condition comes the cry, “We must do something!” This something is not a return to the Bible; it is a farther departure with no further discussion about the matter! So, these erstwhile “Book, Chapter, and Verse” people are now embarking upon an adventuresome course far removed from Bible guidelines. Their action ceases to be by faith because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Their hearts and conscience no longer demand “a thus saith the Lord” for the actions of the congregation. They are now conditioned to do things unauthorized in the word of God and to brush off criticisms with “We can do many things for which we have no Bible authority.”

These gimmicks include church-sponsored ball teams, skating parties, hay rides, joy busses, etc. These things have divided churches and are a bone of contention in others. I know of no one who opposes ball playing, skating, and hay riding as such; the issue is, Can they be church-sponsored? How many churches need busses? Look at the large new cars driving into the parking lot with no one in the rear seat! Look at the busses with less than a handful of small children on them! But then look at the busses when they depart to the ball games, picnics, the Opry! They are full! Some churches tape

money under the lucky seat to get more interested in riding the Joy Bus! What a gimmick! What desperation for church growth!

Truth Magazine XXII: 14, p. 229
April 6, 1978