Truth Magazine

By Mike Vestal

The name “Ichabod” means “without glory” or “the glory has departed” (1 Sam. 4:20-21). How we should all pray that Ichabod never enters the pulpit! After all, preaching Jesus Christ necessitates proclaiming a message that glorifies and exalts him as Lord, and that remembers what he has done for sinful man (1 Cor. 1:18, 31). Every man who ever has the privilege of preaching the gospel should deeply relate to what Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and Ito the world.” The focus of our preaching must be to glorify Christ. In a very real sense, all other ground is “Ichabod”  without glory.

Those who preach and teach the word of God dare not be guilty of a conflict of interest as it relates to whom goes the glory and praise. It all goes to God, not to us! “I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another” (Isa. 42:8). Everything we do as Christians ought to be done out of an intense desire to glorify God, and in nothing should this be more true than when we are communicating the very message of God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). But this is where the ideal con-fronts reality, for it is all too easy to allow our pride, comfort, and lust to supersede the preeminence of Jesus. It is then that Ichabod enters the pulpit.

Ichabod enters the pulpit when sermons and Bible classes are filled with jokes, stories and secular philosophy instead of with the clear bringing out and application of God’s word (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). Scripture is dealt with superficially from too many pulpits, if it is actually dealt with at all. Due to this misguided approach, classes and sermons have come to be judged more for their entertainment value than for the edification of the saints, evangelization of the lost, and glorification of the Lord. In real exposition of God’s word, truth does indeed meet life. And it changes those lives who lovingly and humbly embrace the will of God (Jas. 1:21; 1 John 1:4).

Ichabod enters the pulpit when through “smooth and fair speech,” false doctrine is taught and brethren are led astray (Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). Those who pro-claim the gospel must be constantly aware that Satan wants to take God’s servants and to make them his own. The devil will seek to tempt us to become self serving rather than Master driven, and the strategies he uses are both ingenious and insidious (2 Cor. 2:11 ). Whatever may prompt one to teach false doctrine and to lead others astray, one thing is certain: Satan has been at work. If the devil gets a foothold in the life of a person who preaches and teaches, it is only a short step to Satan’s getting a foothold on the pulpit!

Ichabod enters the pulpit when an evangelist lacks the boldness and conviction to deal with sin as he should. On one occasion, Paul withstood Peter “to his face, because he was to be blamed” (Gal. 2:11). Such action on the part of Paul was doubtless neither pleasant nor easy, but it was necessary in order for the gospel of God’s grace to be vindicated (cf. Gal. 2:12-14). Men of God must have the strength and courage necessary to deal with sin. It is interesting to note that in 1 Timothy 4 Paul first mentions sins such as unfaithfulness and hypocrisy (vv. 1-5), and then goes on to deal with the character qualities that are a must for servants of God (vv. 6-16).

Ichabod enters the pulpit when one manifests a harsh, vindictive, uncompassionate spirit completely out of harmony with the Lord whom we are supposed to be lifting up before others (Eph. 4:15). Are we truly motivated by a sincere love for God and for the souls of others? Without such motivation, we accomplish nothing of lasting value (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1-3). Our logic may be impeccable, the force of our arguments unavoidable and our will indomitable, but if the love of Christ does not constrain us (2 Cor. 5:14), we are robbing God of his glory.

Ichabod enters the pulpit when a preacher refuses to declare “the whole counsel of God” out of fear of repercussions (Acts 20:20, 27). It seems that some individuals sadly fear so much a loss of income, friends, security and popularity that they can rationalize their silence on matters pertaining to eternity. Could it be that the only one who finds our preaching and teaching offensive is God? Gospel preachers are not mercenaries; we are not hired hands to merely tell people what they want to hear so as to fill our pockets. We are ministers of Christ. We are ambassadors of the King and soldiers of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:19-20; Eph. 6:10-24). It is God’s will, God’s pleasure, God’s way and God’s blessing we must seek. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:16 are especially appropriate: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Ichabod enters the pulpit when preachers and teachers allow a short fuse to take the place of patience and longsuffering. Second Timothy 2:24-26 lists qualities such as gentleness, ability to teach, humility and patience as qualifications for a servant of the Lord. Those who proclaim God’s word are to “convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). If we are prone to “fly off the handle,” how does such an attitude manifest the glory of God? True, there is such a thing as godly anger (cf. John 2:13-22; Eph. 4:26), but that is not what is under consideration here. The proper exercise of self control and the manifesting of a Christlike character must not be underemphasized lest Ichabod enter the pulpit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

Ichabod enters the pulpit when preachers care more about themselves and self-promotion than their Savior and the souls they are trying to reach (1 Cor. 9:22). As often as we may have heard and read Philippians 1:21, its message still needs to be appreciated and applied: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Some grunt and groan to climb ‘the brotherhood ladder of success,” but shouldn’t the privilege of preaching Jesus and touching the lives of people for eternity be enough? Won’t the greeting from God, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” be more than we could have ever comprehended? Self-promotion is not what preaching Christ is about; it is about praising the glorious Savior (cf. Phil. 3:7-21).

There really is no glory when Ichabod is in the pulpit. John the Baptizer struck at the heart of effective minis-try centuries ago when he said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). When the Lord is so glorified, so magnified and exalted through our proclamation of the word of God, that people are drawn closer to him, that is glory enough. Gospel preachers should rejoice to be little servants of an illustrious God!

(From The Restorer, September 1994, via The Knight Arnold News, October 21, 1997.)

Guardian of Truth XLI: 24 p. 16-17
December 18, 1997

By Leslie E. Sloan

Sin is the universal problem of man. Ever since the transgression in the Garden of Eden, all men (with one exception) have become guilty before God through sin (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). And just like Satan’s deception through human reasoning then, men are induced to accept his lies now. Sin is man’s constant enemy and is ever before him. Sin is a sovereign in the life of a sinner, as he allows sin to reign in his mortal body (Rom. 6:12). One who is “sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14) is brought by sin into a state of wretchedness (Rom. 7:24). (Do you suppose that John Newton had this in mind when he penned the lyrics of the time-honored old hymn, “Amazing Grace”?) Ultimately, sin destroys everything worthwhile that man possesses, his soul in a devil’s hell. Now, is there any subject of greater significance to all of God’s creatures than this one? No.

In this article, I do not propose to waste your time or mine to discuss the senseless, unprofitable, and impractical question of whether man has to sin. I prefer a more sensible approach to the subject. The problem is not contained in that question, and no one is helped by the answer, either pro or con. If you want to help me, then deal with the problem of sin. Regardless of the interest and enthusiasm one may have for his position on this question, to argue such is simply being impractical. There is no practical application which may be made of the conclusion whether pro or con.

The apostles of Christ did not address or argue the question, but rather addressed the problem. And, beloved, this should be our approach to this question today. Our work as Christians, and especially preachers, is to help those who are in sin to be able to free themselves of slavery (Rom. 6:16-18).

Beloved, it is a waste of time and energy to discuss a question within a context of whether or not the problem had to exist. Reality demands that we not get “caught up” in such divisive questions.

If I am drowning in a pool of water somewhere, it doesn’t help my situation for my preaching brethren to stand by the pool and argue about whether I had to be in the water. To be of assistance, they should urgently implement a rescue operation  get me out of the water. To stand by and allow me to drown while they argue the question is, in effect, what brethren are doing today. While lost souls are drowning in the sea of sin, some are discussing whether they had to be there. If we want to help, then we need to urgently. Because the situation is urgent, implement a rescue operation that involves dealing with the problem of sin. The gospel is the remedy for this, and to rescue souls from the depths of sin, the gospel has to be proclaimed; nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.

Interesting, too, is that you may question those who affirm that man doesn’t have to sin, and they readily admit sin in their lives (1 John 1:8-10). Well, why? This, to me, is inconsistent. I make no argument here either way, but simply point the reader to this aspect of the question. I would, however, in closing, like to encourage all my beloved brethren to be more zealous in dealing with real problems and less energetic in the direction of such questions as our subject. Brethren, this is badly needed for I fear that some have made a hobby of the question of our subject. And, to argue such questions, is in reality, a diversion from reality.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 24 p. 5
December 18, 1997

By John Wallace

Call it a fetus, an embryo, a blob of tissue or a product of conception, but don’t use the profane ‘B” word. It’s the worst vulgarity, almost as bad as saying marriage, family, or husband. It must be eradicated from our dictionaries and its users’ mouths washed with abortionists’ soap. The reality that it’s a b _ _ _ must be denied at all costs. It must be depersonalized and compared to a venereal disease. The terrible “B” word must be forgotten, because it makes it human, encourages an emotional bond, ignites a natural affection, and envisions something warm and cuddly.

So, what name did you give to your fetus? How much did your embryo weigh? What did your product of conception wear when you left the hospital? Did your husband witness the birth of your blob of tissue?

Seriously now, why are abortionists so terrified of this “B” word. The following quote will reveal that the avoidance of the “B” word has been the planned agenda of the feminists and abortionists from the early seventies.

In the December 1971 issue of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, a pro-abortionist instructing nurses in the care of induced abortion patients said, “Through public conditioning, use of language, concepts and laws, the idea of abortion can be separated from killing.” She further cautioned nurses, “If you say, ‘Suck out the b ,’ you may easily generate or increase trauma; say instead, `Empty the uterus.”‘ Similarly, Hitler’s command to take Jews to the death camps was, “Empty the ghettos.”

If it’s a “B” word inside a mother’s womb, abortion would be killing a “B” word  so it can’t be a “B” word. It has to be called something else. Should we call it a hippopotamus or a kangaroo  what about alligator? Some innocent, naive person raised in the abortionists’ camp who has never heard the “B” word may ask, “Is that profane, vulgar, never to be mentioned, must be eradicated word “baby?” Oh! Oh! He said that naughty word, wash out his mouth with abortionists’ soap.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 24 p. 11
December 18, 1997

By Connie W. Adams

Throughout the Bible the word “table” has been used both literally and figuratively. When God gave instruction about the tabernacle, he ordered a table of shewbread (Exod. 25:23). The Psalmist described the bounty of God’s provision in that “thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” (Ps. 23:5). In the time of Malachi divine worship had been polluted in that animals which were sick or lame were brought for sacrifice. In doing so Malachi charged that they said in essence, “the table of the Lord is contemptible” (Mal. 1:7).

When Jesus sat at the Passover table with his disciples, he instituted the Lord’s supper and said, “I appoint unto you a kingdom that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” (Luke 22:29-30). The Lord’s table holds a central place in the kingdom of the Lord. It is there that we remember his sacrifice, that we commune with the body and blood of our Savior and that we look longingly to his coming again. Paul said we are “partakers of the Lord’s table” (1 Cor. 10:21) and pointed out that we cannot eat at the table of the Lord and the table of devils. We cannot have communion with both.

As Paul asked later, “what fellowship hath light with darkness .. . what communion hath the temple of God with idols” (2 Cor. 6:14-18)? Tables symbolize oneness, communion. How treacherous that one of Jesus’ disciples “which sat at the table with him” should leave that place of closeness to strike his evil bargain to betray the Son of God.

The Family Table

Historically the family table has not only met the physical needs of its members, but has done much to nourish their emotional needs as well. In godly homes, the table has been the place where God is thanked for daily provisions. It has been a place for shared moments for laughter, for concern, for instruction and training and has done much to establish memories which contribute to lasting bonds within a family. “Dinner is ready” has been a welcomed sound to many for a long time.

The demands of modern life in our culture have been such that the value (or even presence) of a family table has been diminished. In many a household, families do not eat together. It is difficult to set a time when everyone is present at the same time. Work schedules, school functions, part-time jobs, the desire to eat in a separate room to see something on television, or the notion that “I’ll eat when I am hungry” has interfered with the family table. Many in the present time regard anything which smacks of a routine or schedule as sinister. Forgotten is the fact that family meals are not just to satisfy hunger. They are social events  a time for families to share the same food at the same time, to talk of the events of the day, learn about what happened at work, at school. It is an ideal time for children to listen to their parents and learn something of their heritage. It is a time which ought to challenge every parent to make the occasion special.

Ah, but therein lies some of the problem. A family dinner demands, well, a dinner. And who shall prepare it? Whose turn is it to make dinner? The absence of a full-time homemaker in the modem home does create special problems about family meals. It is hard to set a time when everyone can be together. The lack of parental control of children whose whims and boorish manners set the agenda in too many households is a further hindrance to any kind of family dinner time. Parents who allow their children to grow up with picky eating habits deserve whatever grief and embarrassment that may cause them.

The Family Table in a Yard Sale

I always knew the family dinner table was special but I had it brought home to me in poignant manner which I will never forget. After my mother died in 1995, we decided to have a yard sale to dispose of things we did not intend to keep in the family. It fell the lot of Bobby and me to conduct the yard sale with the help of good folks from the congregation where my mother had attended at Rivermont (Chester), Virginia. We had two days of it and it went fairly well. I have never liked yard sales and some-how the excitement which seems to grip some about them has eluded me. It was distasteful to watch strangers rummage through things which my parents had handled so many times in the course of a lifetime. But I did all right with that until late the second day. We had all decided to sell the old kitchen table and six chairs (we used extra chairs at numerous times). The table was topped with a hard, vinyl-like surface with chrome legs and strips around the top. The chairs had been patched a number of times but were still sturdy and serviceable. Late that day, an older couple came and bought the table and chairs. As they loaded these on a pickup truck, I watched in silence as they hauled it up the hill. And then I had to go in the house for awhile to collect my thoughts and emotions. Through my tears I reflected on a flood of memories all of which had that table right in the middle of them.

At that table we learned respect for each other and especially our elders. We had our turns to say what we wantedto say, but we did not interrupt when the “grown folks” were talking. At the family supper table I learned so much about the men with whom my father worked that I felt like I knew them all. From my father and mother we learned much about our heritage. Our grandmother added much spice with her stories of times past. Somehow we felt attached to the people and places of which they spoke so fondly. At that table I learned not to aggravate my brother, at least not in reach of my fathers hand! The only time I remember that he ever physically struck me was over just such an occasion. It startled everyone and scared the living daylights out of me! My father’s method of correction was usually to talk to us in such a way that we felt ashamed of ourselves. His sudden action was totally unexpected, uncharacteristic, and never forgotten.

It was at that table, when I was eleven years old, that my parents explained to us why we were leaving the Christian Church, in which we had many relatives and long-time friends. Serious Bible talk made lasting impressions. Somehow, at that table, we were all one family. There we could mourn our losses, savor our victories, commiserate with one another, pass down folk-lore from one generation to another. There at that table the pressures and stresses of the day, of work, school and play, dissolved as we sat down together. The food was not always gourmet, but it was abundant (even in hard times) and lovingly prepared. We did not have the finest china and silverware, but we sure did set the table with love.

And now, that table with all its memories had just been hauled away by strangers who could never fully know what memories had been made around it. It was just an inanimate object. Had I known what emotions the selling of it would evoke, it would never have been sold. That inanimate object was the centerpiece of events which had much to do with who we all became and what we have tried to do with our lives.

So, amid the rush and press of life as it is lived today, don’t forget the importance of the family dinner table. Take time to eat together, then sit back for a little while and savor the moment and talk to each other. Neglecting the family dinner table will have the same harmful effect on your physical family as neglecting the “table of the Lord” will have on your spiritual family. Do you think it was just an accident that the Lord chose a table as the place to re-member his suffering and to renew our hope for the world to come?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 24 p. 3-4
December 18, 1997