Truth Magazine

By Jack H. Kirby

In 1 Cor. 14:40, the apostle Paul wrote, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I am aware that the admonition was spoken primarily to regulate assemblies of the church, but the principle applies to all we do in life. Very early in my preaching career I discovered I was not very orderly in assembling my study material, sermon outlines, etc., and often spent many minutes or even hours searching for some study outline I had once made, or some article I vaguely remembered reading in one of the papers I received. Like most preachers I had religious papers, bulletins, etc. scattered in selected stacks, files, notebooks, and boxes. Much good and valuable information was contained therein, but difficult and time consuming to locate.

Being supported by secular work and preaching and teaching regularly in the pulpit, on radio, and in a semimonthly bulletin, I became aware of the value of time, and how much would ultimately be wasted in my lifetime by repetition-redoing what I had previously done. So I set out to arrange my material and index it to enable me to recall any article that I had read, or to locate all articles in my library on any given subject or scripture in a matter of seconds. Having spent much time in title and abstract offices, I determined to develop an index along the lines of that used by the abstractor. He is able to produce in seconds (or a few minutes at most) instruments filed in public records, some a hundred or more years ago.

I determined that I needed a double index reference on all printed matter, viz. subject and scripture, as well as on sermon outlines, radio scripts, and special study series outlines. To do this would require a code system to take a minimum amount of space in the index books. I gave certain publications a code name. The Gospel Guardian is GG, the Preceptor is Pre, Truth Magazine is T, Vanguard is Van., etc. Then following these prefixes would be the volume, number, and page where the article was printed. Hence an article appearing on page 10 of the volume 20, number 11 issue of the Gospel Guardian would be noted as GG. 20-11(10). Bound books were treated likewise, except no reference work was done on those that were strictly commentaries such as Barnes’ Notes, Clarke’s Commentary, etc. Threeringed, 8 1/2 x 11 notebooks were selected for the indices because they are durable and readily available. Their size allows plenty of space without crowding. Headings are made for each of the Biblical books and grouped as arranged in the Bible. Three columns are then drawn down each page, and each of the columns contains approximately one-third of the book’s chapters. These then were divided in two columns: one listing the scripture location and the other the material source. Each article that merits recall is indexed in this scripture index. For example, if an article on John 3:16 appeared in the volume 15, number 9 issue of Preceptor on page 3, on the index sheet entitled John under the column containing chapter 3, a notation “3:16” would be made and opposite that would be recorded the source: Pre 15-9(3). Many source references can be listed opposite each scripture notation.

Similar pages are prepared for Subjects with Subheadings shown for various sub-topics of a subject. For example, a sheet is entitled Baptism. Perhaps in Truth Magazine a general article on baptism appeared in volume 10, number 3, on page 4. So a note would be made on the Baptism sheet-T 10-3(4). Perhaps a subsequent article dealing with the subject of sprinkling appeared in Truth in volume 11, number 1, on page 8. This would be noted on the Baptism sheet “Sprinkling T 11-1(8).” Bulletins published and mailed by various congregations are treated likewise when an article appears that contains the quality of material useful for recall. Otherwise, they are given to interested brethren to read and use. Brother C. R. Nichol in his writings said that all sermon outlines should be thrown away after being once used. While I do not doubt the general wisdom and ability of the late Brother Nichol, I do doubt this statement. I see no wisdom in discarding that which required much time in research, study, and planning. I have kept all I have prepared and noted on the back of each when and where they were used. These outlines (prepared on three-ringed 5 1/2 x 8 = paper) are grouped in a general nature in notebooks by subject (first principles, church, etc.). Each notebook is given an alphabetical number, and the sermons in these notebooks are numbered A 1, A 2, A 3; Bl, B2, B3, etc. When an outline is used, it is then re-filed in its proper place. A complete listing of each sermon in a book by number is filed in each book preceding the first sermon. A composite index of each notebook and sermon by subject (using one or more key words) is kept as well as one on the primary scripture used in each outline. This enables me to locate any study I have made in a matter of seconds, and also to vary the “diet” of my listeners by not repeating favored lessons at a too frequent rate. The same procedure was followed for written radio scripts.

Admittedly this took some time to accomplish, but I began several years ago when the volume of my material was small. I had to go back and re-read all of my books and papers (which was profitable for instruction as well as indexing), but now as I get new books, and as the papers come in week by week, I index the worthy articles before I file the book or paper away on its shelf. Like the title abstractor, this keeps my index complete and up to date. The time I now save is incalculable.

Another advantage of this system is the ability to be able to “pick the brains” of so many writers and teachers, some dead for many years. It is possible to study as many as fifty or more articles on some popular subjects by as many authors. By studying with so many men one can get a broad spectrum of ideas and interpretations on the subject under consideration. I find that this keeps me from being too narrow or broad minded, at least to a degree. At least it keeps me studying to “prove all things,” and not to be “led away by every wind of doctrine.” I firmly believe all gospel preachers would benefit by indexing their library material. I urge you to so do. This method is only one successful way.

Truth Magazine XXI: 46, pp. 733-734
November 24, 1977

By Grant Caldwell

Words tell a great deal about a person. It does not take long in listening to a person to tell from what part of the country he is, what kind of education he has, whether or not he is religious, and so on. Words tell who you are.

In Matthew 12, Jesus performed a miracle so that the man who was dumb and blind both spoke and saw. The Pharisees heard of it and said that it was done by the power of the devil. Jesus answered them with four things: (1) “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (vs. 25). While we may believe Abraham Lincoln first said that, it was truly Jesus. If he performed the miracle by Satan, then Satan was defeating himself. (2) “If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?” (vs. 27). Jesus is not affirming that the Pharisees actually did cast out devils, but they did claim to do so. Now, if he cast devils out by Satan, then surely that must be how they cast them out. “It takes one to know one.” (3) “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God. then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (vs. 28). Based on the second argument, Jesus now affirms that if it was not done by Satan, it must have been done by the Spirit of God and signals, in fact, the coming of the kingdom of God. (4) “Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” (vs. 29). One does not destroy what Satan has done without first binding Satan. Jesus is affirming His power and authority over the work of Satan and denying His allegiance with him.

But notice verse 36, where Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment.” The word “idle” is a word which according to Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament means “inactive” or “inoperative.” It simply means “useless” or “worthless.” The word is used in Matthew 20:3 to mean “unemployed.” “It is also found in the religious sense at 2 Pet. 1:8 of those who will stand before Christ in the judgment with nothing to attest their Christian standing either in their individual life or the life of the community” (Kittle, p. 452). The word is used in the sense of “not accomplishing good.” In Matt. 12:36, Christ is saying that we will give an account to God for those words we speak which have not been employed into good service.

My dad always said, “If it won’t do someone good, don’t say it.” This business of just “popping off” whenever we feel like it is not what the Lord would have of us. “I say what I think.” Ever heard anyone boast of that? We ought to be ashamed. Our words ought to be weighed very carefully and prayerfully before they are spoken. Remember that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Words properly may be used in two ways: First, they may be symbols to represent things not around. Someone may say, “I like a good roaring fire.” Second, they may be used to signal things present. “Fire! Fire!” Too often, however, we use meaningful words without meaning. Remember the little boy who cried “Wolf! Wolf!”? We should make sure that our words mean something.

In the church, we use words lightly much of the time. Sometimes, it is in the label department “anti,” “conservative,” “liberal,” etc.-all of which are good terms if used knowingly and properly. Sometimes it is in the title department “Minister,” “Brother,” “Disciple;” etc.-again, all of which are good terms if used knowledgeably and properly. But do we really mean anything by them? Do we know what they mean in the Bible?

Let’s look at just one of them and that is the word “Disciple.” The book of John tells us three basic things about what it takes to be a disciple of Christ.

“Continue in My Word”

In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye’ shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” People say they are free. The Jews said, “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man.” That was no so and they knew it was not so. At that very moment they were in bondage to Rome and wanted a Messiah or deliverer to free there from the shackles of that pagan government. Jesus said that they were in bondage to sin.

We say, “I am a disciple.” But are we? Do we continue in the word of Jesus. Do we listen for his voice? Remember the ad for RCA that showed the dog by the gramaphone listening for the master’s voice? We need to be like that. Even some in the church now say that it does not make any difference what the church does because we have the grace of God. And they go on refusing to recognize sin for what it really is and giving full fellowship to those who practice sin in the church.

There are several reasons why people are tempted not to continue in the word of God:

(1) One is that some feel that accepted translations of the Bible that are written in the Old Elizabethan English are difficult to understand. The King James Version has been thought by many to be the only acceptable version and when one comes to its archaic language or expression, they simply give up.

(2) People are tempted not to continue in the word of God because they think God will judge people on the basis of what He permits rather than what He has said. These folks generally like to talk about the “man in the desert,” or “the thief on the cross,” or “the man on his way when. . .”, etc. But the fact is, we are not that way. We have all kinds of opportunity that we are not using.

(3) Others do not continue in the word because they think the essence or religion is in believing in Jesus. They quote Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Rom. 5:1, and Eph. 2:8. But faith in these passages is merely a summation of all that God has expected of us. Christ did the same sort of thing in Matt. 22:36-40 when he summed up the Ten Commandments into two. Look for example at Eph. 2:8. Is grace in this passage merely an attitude or disposition on the part of God, or does it not rather sum up all that God did and felt for man? The love that He had, the devising of the plan, the establishing of Israel, the sending of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross, the giving of the gospel, the building of the church, etc., are all included in the heading of “grace.” Even so, all that God expects of man is included in the word “faith.” Not just the mental consent to His deity and lordship, but the positive action that takes place in our lives-faith, repentance, baptism, and godliness in our lives.

(4) Finally, some are tempted not to continue in the word of God because they believe that the essence of salvation is in the grace of God, the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They believe that our practice in the church is of little consequence because “none of us is perfect anyway.” I would not minimize the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Nor would I affirm that. we are saved on our own merit. However, I will affirm tat obedience to the word of God is inescapable if we would have our rest in heaven (2 Thess. 1:6-9; Matt. 7:21ff). Truly, to be a disciple of Christ, we must continue in the word of God.

“Love One Another”

In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The apostle John records so much about the subject of love. In John 4:11, he states, “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” How did God love us? Notice two things. (1) Verse 14 says, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” God gave the very best He had. (2) Verse 19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Originating love is God-like love.

People do not like to be alone. We were not made to be alone. “It is not good for man to be alone.” We need our friends and those friends ought to be as much as is possible Christians. Why is it that so much of the time we are at each other’s throats? I do not care who it is or what side of any issue he is on, that attitude is the work of Satan. If the world knows we are disciples by our love for each other, I wonder what it tells them when we display so much anger, wrath, malice, etc., to one another. I say, “I wonder.” I really do not because I know what it tells them.

“Bear Fruit”

Finally, in John 15:8, our Lord said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” Bearing fruit is just making more Christians. In Proverbs 11:30, the wise man said, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). The disciple must have his hub in Christ, but his rim in the world.

How long has it been since you talked to someone about the gospel and their lost soul? The disciple bears fruit for the Lord. If the seed is in you, you can put it in others. You do not have to be a great orator or even a Bible scholar. You just have to have the seed in you to plant it in others. A true disciple will do that.

Truly, the “followers” or “disciples” of Christ must “continue in my word,” “love one another,” and “bear much fruit.” Are you a disciple? Or is that just another word without meaning in your life. “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Truth Magazine XXI: 46, pp. 731-733
November 24, 1977

By Johnny Stringer

Psalm 8 is a psalm pertaining to man and God’s regard for man. As the psalmist considers the vastness and magnificence of the universe which God created, he cannot help but be amazed that the mighty Creator has manifested an interest in feeble little human beings (vs. 3-4). He considers it a marvelous thing that God gave man an eminent position in His creation, making man a little lower than the angels, crowning him with glory and honor, and giving him dominion over all things (vs. 58). The psalmist’s statement here regarding the position which God gave man is in accordance with God’s declaration at the creation of man (Gen. 1:26-28).

The writer of Hebrews quotes the statement from Psalm 8 regarding man’s God-given glory and honor (Heb. 2:6-8). However, after quoting David’s affirmation that God gave man dominion over all things and put all things in subjection to him, the writer of Hebrews adds, “But now we see not yet all things put under him” (verse 8).

Truly, as the writer of Hebrews declares, man does not exercise complete dominion at this time. He does not now occupy the position of glory and honor that God originally gave him and intended for him at creation. We can be overcome and destroyed by many things. We are not the masters of our environment. When a little germ so tiny that we cannot even see it with the naked eye can attack and kill us, it is rather absurd to say we exercise complete dominion.

Obviously, then, man does not now enjoy the status that God intended for him at creation. Why not? If God at creation crowned man with glory and honor, granting him dominion over all things, why does riot man presently occupy such a position? The answer is simple. Man lost his glorious position because of sin. Genesis 3 clearly reveals that it is because of sin’s entrance into the world that man is subject to disease and death. Not only did the entrance of sin result in death for man, but it caused God to curse the earth, hence making man’s environment less hospitable to him. Thus, after sin entered the world, man lost his dominion to a certain extent.

But the writer of Hebrews does not end his discussion of this matter with the gloomy fact that man lost his position of glory. After asserting that we do not see man exercising complete dominion (vs. 8), he then proclaims, “But we see Jesus… crowned with glory and honor” (v. 9). Man was crowned with glory and honor, but lost that position due to sin; Jesus, however, presently enjoys the glory and honor that man lost. Verse 9 observes that Jesus, who presently enjoys glory and honor, “was made a little lower than the angels”-that is, became a man. This being true, Jesus is a representative of mankind. Hence, although men in general do not exercise dominion, there is one representative of the human race that does. In Him, God’s original intentions for man (as stated in Psalm 8) are presently fulfilled.

But that is not all! Because of the fact that Jesus presently enjoys glory and honor, we have the hope that we too can someday enjoy it, regaining what was lost through sin. After affirming that Jesus is presently crowned with glory and honor, the writer of Hebrews proceeds to speak of His “bringing many sons unto glory” as the “captain of their salvation,” Thus, not only does Jesus enjoy glory and honor, but He is the Captain Who will lead many others to share glory with Him. The writer of Hebrews makes clear that this is possible only because of Jesus’ suffering, for it is through His suffering and death that we can be forgiven of our sins; and without forgiveness, we could not receive the eternal glory.

Hebrews 2, therefore, gives us the hope of regaining through Christ the glory that was lost through sin. The eighth Psalm speaks of the position originally given to man and intended for man. Although the writer of Hebrews says that man does not now occupy that position, he gives us hope that someday we can. Even in affirming that all things are not now under man, he adds the word “yet”, thereby hinting that eventually they will be (v. 8), as all will be for our benefit and we will not be subject to the evils that plague us on this earth. Then he proceeds to show that this is possible through Christ.

If we are to enjoy glory with Christ in the end, we must follow Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10), now. The road along which He leads us involves suffering and hardships, but the glory at the end of the way will far outweigh whatever difficulties were involved in reaching it (Romans 8:17-18; 2 Cor. 4:17).

Truth Magazine XXI: 46, pp. 730-731
November 24, 1977

By John McCort

The scripturality of a church treasury is very important in the discussion of Christians’ use of the treasury. If New Testament churches had no treasuries then there could be no scriptural restrictions or regulations on how the treasury could be used by congregations. If treasuries are not authorized by the Scriptures then it would be sinful to divide congregations over how the treasuries are to be used. Thus, it is essential to establish the scripturalness and necessity of a church treasury within local congregation.

We all recognize that some things are authorized in the Scriptures (even demanded) which are not governed by a direct command. Some things area commanded through binding apostolic examples and necessary inferences. For example, we learn on what day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper by an approved example in Acts 20:7. We also learn that we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week through a necessary inference in Acts 20:7. Acts 20:7 furnishes us our only information we have regarding the day on and frequency with which the Lord’s Supper is to be observed. There are no direct commands in the New Testament which authorize a church treasury but there are an abundance of examples and inferences.

2 Cor. 11:8 states, “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you.” The word wages has reference to the regular, stipulated monthly wage of a soldier (“Robertson’s Word Pictures,” Vol. 4, p. 143). How could an evangelist receive regular, consistent wages from a congregation without there being regular, reliable contributions from the members? How could a church support a man regularly without bringing the contributions together on a regular basis and forming a treasury? Acts 6:1-8 records that the Jerusalem congregation supported needy widows. Acts 2:44-46 states that members of the church sold their possessions, pooled their resources, and had all things in common. Pooling their resources would require a treasury of some sort however crude it might have been. 1 Tim. 5:19 reports that certain widows were put on the list of those who were to receive regular support from the church on a permanent basis. How could the churches regularly and permanently support needy widows and evangelists without a church treasury? It would be impossible. 1 Tim. 5:18 states that elders could be regularly supported and. employs the phrase, “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” The word for hire, again, is the word for wages (cf. 1 Cor. 9:7).

In order for a church not to have a treasury, a zero balance would have to be consistently maintained. Today that would be a practical impossibility. Most churches have a building payment, light bill, preacher’s salary, classroom materials, and cleaning supplies that must be purchased and paid for on a regular basis. In order to maintain a zero balance separate contributions would have to be taken for each need and not one thin dime could be left over after paying the bills. Otherwise we would create a treasury.

Some have the idea that we are to save up our money at home and then give as the needs arise. Even taking that viewpoint, a treasury is going to be created at some point. When the money is brought together to satisfy a particular need at least a temporary treasury has been created. Thus the issue becomes not whether a treasury is scriptural but how long can a treasury be maintained. Where are the Scriptures that deal with how long a church treasury can be maintained before it must be depleted? There are no Scriptures that govern the length of time a church treasury may be maintained and thus it is a matter of liberty rather than a matter of faith. After all of the needs are satisfied, the treasury have created a permanent treasury. Where does the Bible speak of temporary or permanent treasuries?

The church is a collectivity of Christians. When the church supports an evangelist, that constitutes joint action of individual Christians. Joint action of individual Christians in supporting an evangelist would demand a common treasury. If you have no common treasury, then the church, as such, is not supporting the evangelist but rather individual Christians would be concurrently Supporting the evangelist. For a church to support an evangelist regularly the church must maintain a treasury of some sort. Otherwise the action would not be joint but rather concurrent.

Some have taken the position that we are to give only on a need-to-need basis. Even if that position were true we have more needs today than all of the churches combined are in are in a position to satisfy. Weekly we receive pleas for assistance in supporting evangelists. Are we ever without evangelists to support and the such like? If we stop giving when we see there are not more needs to satisfy, we then stop giving as we have been prospered. We have been commanded to give as we have been prospered.

The main argument raised against church treasuries is an argument drawn from 1 Cor. 16:1-2. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” The argument is that the phrase, “lay by him in store,” means that Christians are to save up their money at home and are to give as the needs arise, thus eliminating the need for a permanent, common treasury. Examine 1 Cor. 16:2 phrase by phrase. On the first day of the week. In the Living Oracles translation fo the Bible, Alexander Campbell translated the phrase, “On the first day of every week . . . ” Berry’s Interlinear Greek New Testament also includes the word “every” in the literal translation of the passage. The word for “every” is derived from the Greek word kata in the passage. Discussing the word kata, Lenski said, “The first day of the week is Sunday and kata is distributive so that we may translate, `Sunday by Sunday let each of you lay by'” (Lenski, “Commentary on 1 & 2 Con,” p. 759). Vincent said, “Kata has a distributive force, every first day” (M.R. Vincent, Vincent’s Word Studies, p. 807). Also Bagster’s Englishman’s Greek New Testament translates the phrase, “Every first day of the week.”

Let each one of you lay by him in store. David Lipscomb has some very pertinent remarks on the subject. “On the first day of the week, each should separate or lay by itself something, casting it into the treasury. Some contend that the storing was to be at home, but that would be incompatible with the idea that no collections be made when I come, for if stored at home, it would have to be gathered when he came. It was to be separated at home from the amount not given, then cast into the treasury” (Lipscomb, Commentary- on First Corinthians, p. 249). Albert Barnes stated, “The Greek phrase `by himself’ means probably the same as at home. Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; Let him do this by himself when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it, not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself. The Greek phrase `treasuring up’ may mean that each one was to put the part which he had designated into the common treasury. The interpretation seems to be demanded by the latter part of the verst. They were to lay by, and to put it into the common treasury, that there might be no trouble of collecting when he should come” (Albert Barnes, Barnes Notes On The New Testament, p. 803). Alexander Campbell rendered the PHRASE, “let every one of you lay somewhat by itself, according as he may have prospered, putting it into the treasury . . .”

The Greek word for “treasuring up” (lay by in store) is thasaurizon. The word is the verb form of the Greek word thasaursus which is the Greek word for treasury. Both come from the same basic root form. Thasaurzon is the act of treasuring up while thasaursus is the place where the treasure is put. My question is, how could you treasure it up without a treasury to put it in?

There is historical evidence that the New Testament churches took up a collection every first day of the week. “Justin Martyr is of special interest as he gives us our earliest description of a church service. He says the people gather on a Sunday, the Prophets and the memoirs of the apostles are read, the president explains them and exhorts; this is followed by the taking of bread and wine, and finally a collection” (R. Laird Harris, Can I Trust The Bible, p. 80).

The evidence that the New Testament church had treasuries is insurmountable both from a Scriptural and historical standpoint. Since the scripturalness has been established, than there can be restrictions and regulations that govern the usage of a treasury.

Truth Magazine XXI: 46, pp. 729-730
November 24, 1977