Truth Magazine

By Adria Edwards

It was about nine or ten months ago that I had decided it was time for me to start looking for a job. I was fifteen and was ready to start making my own money and to save some for college and have a little spending money.

I was interested in some type of restaurant work, and that is where I headed first. I filled out an application at a nearby family style restaurant, that was close and very easy to find. Two weeks had gone by and I didn’t hear from them. I called them and they told me that I was a little bit young for the job, but they had not fully decided yet. This process went on and on for about a month. I made up my mind that I would call one more time, and it was a success! The manager told me to come in so she could talk to me about the job position. The interview went well and I began my job as bus girl/dish room helper shortly after that day.

My first evening went extremely well. All of the other employees showed me around and took time to explain everything that I needed to know. One of the things that I noticed immediately was that everyone helped each other out. I was pleased that I had found such a nice job where everyone worked together like a family.

The schedule that I was given was just enough work for me to do and not be so worn out by the end of the week. On my application I wrote that I could not work any Sundays or any Wednesday nights because I attended church services. They told me that they wouldn’t have a problem with that.

As the months went by, I became attached to my job and all of the other people that I worked with. I was getting quicker and beginning to feel comfortable. The owner and the manager told me often that I was doing well and that they liked me a lot. Shortly after that I got a raise in pay. The owner took all the employees out for dinner a few times and gave us presents and gift certificates. I greatly enjoyed those times being with them and getting to know them better outside the work place.

About a month before New Year’s Eve we were all told that it was mandatory that everyone work that night. At the time I didn’t think much of it until I found out that it was on a Sunday evening. I wrote the manager a note asking her if I could have off an hour and a half for church. She told me that I would have to write the owner of the restaurant and ask him. I wrote him a similar note, but I used stronger words that I thought would be appropriate. Shortly after he read the note, he told me that there was no way that he could let me off. He said that it would not be fair to just let me off and no one else. He told me that if I didn’t show up I would be fired! At that moment my emotions went crazy. My heart was pounding so hard and fast, that my tears wanted to come out, but I tried my best to hold them in.

I went home with mixed feelings about my job. I knew that I had already made up my mind that I wasn’t going to work, but I hated to lose my job. I had a very hard time understanding why everything was going so well and it had to come to a sudden stop. I realized that I had an extremely tough decision to make. I knew what my mom and my dad wanted me to do and they told me it had to be my decision.

I went in shortly after this and told them that I would not be able to work on New Year’s Eve. They were extremely upset and they tried to talk me out of it. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I’m glad it’s over.

Several passages helped me make my difficult decision: Hebrews 10:25, which reads, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (I knew that if I worked I would break this command and might be forever lost.) In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” From this I learned that I needed to put God first in my life and let no one cause me not to keep him first. I also read in Matthew 5:11-12 that we are blessed when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you and falsely accuse you for Jesus’ sake. I realized that throughout this life there will be many obstacles in our way and things will get tough at times. If we didn’t have obstacles such as this one most of us probably wouldn’t be as strong as we are.

I hope that you never have to go through an experience like this. But I hope that if something like this comes up that you will make the right decision and be stronger because of it. Always remember that if you stand up for Jesus that God will bless you more than you’ll ever begin to imagine.

Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen you, yea I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 5
April 18, 1996

By Steve Willis

Calling the Kettle Black

Here’s an item, where the Roman Catholic church has ruled that a particular woman is not giving divine revelations:

“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the theological watchdog for the Roman Catholic Church, ruled last month that Greek Orthodox seer Vassula Ryden communicates “private messages” that are “not divine.” Ms Ryden claims she takes dictation from Jesus Christ for six hours a day. The Vatican said Catholics should not regard Ms. Ryden’s writings and speeches as supernatural ….” (Alberta Report, Nov. 13, 1995, p. 43).

When will Catholics see that their Pope should not be regarded as giving supernatural speeches when he speaks regarding faith and morals from “the chair” of Peter?

Hell Hath No Fury

This is from a review of a review of their new publication: The Mystery of Salvation. The book has not been available to the reviewers time of writing, but this is based on interviews and reports from England:

“On the 11th day of January, Anno Domini MCMXCVI, the Doctrine Commission of the Church of England published a 220-page report, The Mystery of Salvation. There the theologians of the `middle way’ declare there is indeed a Hell. But it’s not a place of suffering, physical or other-wise. It is `total non-being.’

“`Total non-being,’ marvels a sceptical [sic] Peter Kreeft, a philosopher at Boston College and author of A Handbook on Christian Apologetics. `Hell exists, but if you’re there, you don’t. They endorse the existence of what isn’t, the being of non-being. How very inclusive.’

“Two weeks after its publication, The Mystery of Salvation is still non-existent at the Anglican Church of Canada’s headquarters in Toronto. But according to media reports from London, the document treats the bare-bones existence of hell as a logical necessity. `No one can be compulsorily installed in heaven,’ it is quoted as saying. `The possibility remains for each human being of a final rejection of God’ (Alberta Re-port, “Hell hath no fury  at all” [Jan 29, 1996], p. 32).

Some of this doctrine seems similar to the Jehovah’s Witness teaching on hell, and not a lot different than that presented by Edward Fudge in his book The Fire that Consumes. Fudge is mentioned and answered in a book, Repent or Perish (With a Special Reference to the Conservative Attack on Hell) by John H Gerstner. Note: Gerstner holds to the Calvinist doctrine that children are born in guilt and in sin and he denies baptismal regeneration.)

Guardian of Truth XL: 7 p. 26
April 4, 1996

By Max Tice

I remember the first business meeting I ever attended as a young Christian. Some of the brethren had a disagreement over how certain deacons had been chosen. The climate in the room quickly grew significantly warmer as heated accusations and sarcastic comments were being exchanged. I came away feeling somewhat disillusioned and wondering how these could be the same people with whom I had worshiped so often. Little did I realize that this was only a foretaste of bitter experiences yet to come.

Having been a Christian now for over thirty years, I have both witnessed and heard about many scenes in which brethren have displayed less than exemplary and often out-right disgraceful behavior toward one another. These episodes have been especially common in Bible classes and business meetings. Imagine the effect of such conduct upon young Christians and visitors. Imagine also the demoralizing impact upon a local church. Although it is inevitable that brethren will sometimes disagree, it is far from necessary that they wrangle and misbehave. In James 4:1, James asks, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” In other words, such things are the product of allowing fleshly lusts to have free reign. Whenever a little thoughtlessness and twisted reasoning are added to these evil desires, then shameful conduct is an absolute certainty. Habits are formed which lead to misbehavior under the slightest provocation.

It is in the hope of promoting peace, that I would like to discuss some of these habits and the means by which they can be broken. I humbly ask you as a reader to own responsibility for your actions. Please do not say, “I’ll be sure to give this article to brother. He’s the one who needs it.” What about you? Do you have any of the habits which are described below?

Failure to Listen to Others

I have sometimes witnessed two brethren arguing with one another who were in complete agreement on the topic under discussion. Why were they arguing? Because they did not know they agreed? Why didn’t they know? Because somebody wasn’t listening. Some brethren are terrible listeners (with a capital terrible)! When they recite what they think someone else has said, it is often the very opposite of what was actually said. Although an entire room full of people may try to tell a brother he has misunderstood another party, he will continue wasting everyone’s time while blasting away at his supposed opponent.

Brethren there is a very simple solution to this problem, assuming that one does not just wish to fight. It is called paying attention. If someone tells you that you have misunderstood what was said, maybe you have. Ask for clarification.

Failure to Listen to Self

I have a strong feeling that if some brethren could watch themselves on video, they would be surprised at how they “come across” to other people. If only they could hear their ill-natured tone and inflammatory language, perhaps they would make some changes. Proverbs 12:18 states that “there is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Insistence on One’s Point of View

In both Bible classes and business meetings, there are sometimes brethren who have not outgrown the immature self concept of egocentrism. Everything must revolve around them. They seek to dominate discussions, and their point of view has to be right. The controversies which they generate are not really about the meaning of a Bible verse or some decision by the elders or the men of the congregation. They are about ego! These brethren feel a need to control others. Their behavior may be driven by insecurity, jealousy, or pride. The cure for this personality defect can be found in heavy doses of brotherly love and a biblical (rather than a twisted) concept of self.

Exaggeration of Questions Importance

With some brethren, nearly every question is a “matter of life and death.” Those who take the “wrong position” must be fiercely debated in the interest of sound doctrine. For example, consider all of the heated exchanges that have arisen over whether or not people baptized in John’s baptism be-fore Pentecost need to be rebaptized (not that they know too many to whom this would apply). This does not mean that such questions are unworthy of Bible class time. There are many subjects which do not affect basic issues of faith and God’s requirements for our salvation that are interesting to study. Yet, we must not exaggerate their importance. They are worth a limited amount of discussion. However, they are not worth embarrassing arguments with exhibitions of hot temper and rude remarks.

The Tendency to Judge Others

One reason some brethren get so angry during business meetings and Bible classes is their habit of judging others. They assume there are hidden agendas behind proposals. They imagine that the reason for a disagreement over a Bible passage is that the other party has no respect for God’s Word.

In short, they believe that any number of evil motives most likely drive other people’s words and actions. While these assumptions may sometimes be correct, they may also amount to jumping to completely erroneous conclusions. Both Jesus and James warned against unjust judging of others (Matt. 7:1,2; Jas. 4:11, 12). James asked the question: “Who are you who judge your neighbor?” Indeed, who are we to play God and pretend to know with certainty the innermost thoughts of another man’s heart?

Conclusion

Whenever we behave in such a way as to unnecessarily alienate our brethren and cause visitors to our classes to wish they had never come, we should be ashamed. We are allowing worldly lusts, thoughtlessness, and twisted reasoning to take control. Although we cannot avoid having disagreements, we can certainly avoid shameful conduct. If Christ lives in us, it will be so!

Guardian of Truth XL: 7 p. 22-23
April 4, 1996