Truth Magazine

By William C. Sexton

Eight months have rapidly passed since I came to work with the congregation that meets at 711 Access Road in Van Buren, Arkansas. Some good things have happened:

1. We have had several families be identified with us. After observing and listening, they have decided to be a part of the congregation  to work and worship with us. Most of them are young families. For them we are so grateful and anticipate that the future looks bright for the Lord’s church in this location.

2. We baptized one person in the community. She worships and works with us. In addition, I had the privilege of baptizing one of my granddaughters (Sheryl Harden) over the new year’s week end holiday. She was visiting from Wichita, Kansas and desired to be baptized. That’s a thrill for a grandfather to be able to baptize his granddaughter.

3. On the last Lord’s day of February (the 26th) elders were installed. Two men, Louis Brown and Bill Sexton, were appointed to serve as elders/bishops in the congregation. We hope that shortly deacons can be installed and we’ll become a “fully scripturally organized congregation.”

The congregation is at peace: each member manifests love and respect for each other. We are a family of the Lord, wanting to serve him faithfully as the Bible teaches. The congregation meets in a new building, in a growing part of the city and county. New houses are all around the building, new houses are going up all the time.

We are located at a good place for anyone traveling from Little Rock to Oklahoma City on Route I-40. We hope if you are traveling this route, that you’ll plan to worship with us. Where is Van Buren Arkansas: Just across the river from Fort Smith, about five miles or so east of the Oklahoma line. Should you be moving to the area, please investigate the congregation here at 711 Access Road. I was surprised to find that this part of the country is growing as fast as it is. Crawford county (of which Van Buren is the county seat) is one of the fastest growing places in the vicinity, I’m told. We believe that the church here is poised to stand firmly for the truth of God’s word for time to come.

Last summer we had a number of visitors from other parts of the county. We hope that this year we’ll have the privilege of meeting more of you passing down I-40, either going east or west. Also, should you be traveling north or south on Highway 59 or 71, we would be easily found. You’ll find a very friendly group of God’s people glad to have you visit with us, determined to hold fast to the teachings of the New Testament (1 Thess. 5:21). There is a large “Truck Stop” at I-40 and 59. Last summer a few truck drivers left their truck at the stop and walked down to worship with us. There are two motels located at this intersection: Motel Six and Motel Eight I believe they are. So, come by and see us.

If we can be of help to you, let us know (ph. 501-474-2617). Call (501) 471-5801 and you’ll get a recording that tells of our times of worship, etc., if we are not at the building.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 9 p. 12
May 4, 1995

By Larry Ray Hafley

The poignant words that serve as our title were taken from Matthew 26:75. They are found in a passage that will serve to recall the situation to the mind’s eye. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.” Doubtless the great fisherman apostle never forgot that moment. Tears and time did not erase the agony and remorse of the regretful event.

Perhaps there is no connection; it may be but a coincidence of Scripture, if there be any such thing, but in the second epistle by the same apostle we find the repetition of the word “remembrance.” “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. . . . Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (2 Pet. 1:12-15). “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful” (2 Pet. 3:1, 2). Peter once forgot the word of Jesus. It came crashing to his remembrance in a painful manner. When the Lord looked at him after that rooster crowed the third time, it pierced his heart, “and he went out, and wept bitterly.”

Could it be that Peter wanted no one to endure the thing that haunted him? He knew what it meant to be reminded of the words of Jesus. He understood the way of sin when the word of Jesus is forgotten. Therefore, he was not negligent to put the brethren “always in remembrance” of the word of God as delivered by the apostles and prophets. It is an engaging and intriguing thought. But regardless of whether or not that was the compelling idea behind Peter’s words, let us not fail to do as he urged, that is, remember the word of Christ. “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119: 11).

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 9 p. 4
May 4, 1995

By Mike Rogacs

A recent article of mine, “Painful Observations,” appeared in the January 5, 1995 issue of this magazine. The results of that article have overwhelmed me. I wish to share some of my thoughts concerning those results.

Firstly, I wish to thank brother Willis for his agreement to print the article. The observations are blunt and painful and potentially controversial. I respect him for his work with GOT and thank him for his help in getting my thoughts aired.

What has overwhelmed me are the many letters, phone calls and comments of brethren both locally and elsewhere. In almost every letter there were comments of encouragement for me and/or thankfulness that I returned to faithfulness. Above everything else, these comments moved me deeply.

But that is not the point of this second article.

Briefly, I remind the reader that in “Painful Observations” I referred to the very obvious decline of growth in the Lord’s church and other unhealthy changes that have come to pass in the past quarter century. I attributed much of this to laziness, bickering among brethren, declining spirituality and other factors which make it look like the church is bent upon self-destruction. The result has been a hindrance to the main mission of the Lord’s people, teaching and saving souls, and also a decline in the vitality of the church itself.

In the letters and comments that resulted, a few brethren agreed with some of the observations, but the majority strongly or totally agreed.

The brethren who only partially agreed were preachers. All others (which included a few preachers, too) totally agreed. The preachers seemed bent upon justifying, or explaining why, these weaknesses and problems exist. It was suggested that I was too hard on my brethren. In one letter, a brother wrote that if some are leaving the church perhaps we should, indeed, reexamine our methods and motives. He went on to add, “But there have always been people leaving the church in disgust.” Well, of course! It is never right for brethren to “quit” or leave our Lord. But my point was that many people are leaving in disgust because of the bickering (locally and nationally), complacency, lack of zeal, the poor attempts at preaching to the lost and the lack of attacking the enemies of our Lord outside of the church.

Another preacher indicated that in a certain part of the country, congregations were shrinking because jobs were being lost and brethren were moving away. I remember brethren used to say that churches were not growing because the economy was too good! Actually, this observation only proves my observations. We are not teaching the gospel to the lost around us. If some brethren leave to go elsewhere (as they did in the book of Acts), all the better, if we were doing our work. The gospel would be spread elsewhere. And if brethren must move away, we would still be converting and growing, if we were doing our work. Instead, we seem to hope the saved will move to our towns to help our congregations grow.

Let me be blunt. We have become a church full of people who have made excuse making an art. We have become a church that has too many members who find it easier to fight among ourselves than to fight the enemy outside the church. It has become easier to preach to the “already saved” than to reach out effectively to the unsaved.

In contrast, read now some of the comments from the majority of letters. One sister, who said that in the seven years that she has read the Guardian of Truth she had not felt compelled to respond to any other article, wrote the following: “The spirituality (or lack thereof) of the church today frightens me. If you’re an alarmist, then an alarmist is what we need. May God send us more.”

This next respondent wrote a quick note on a post card and said, “I’m also distressed to learn of the all-to-frequent bickering and sniping by brethren instead of fighting the enemy.”

Another brother wrote, “I too am saddened by the flow some of the brethren are moving into. I believe your painful observations are well founded. Sadly, brethren in the U.S.A. have become at ease.”

Another brother, who said that he read the article three times, wrote, “I see the same things down here” in his part of the country. Among many other comments he added, “the problem is us, not the Lord or his word. We need to get up and get to work.”

And another: “Your observations were painful to you, me, and I have an idea to many others, too. Painful because they are true.”

There were many more such comments.

I have written these two articles out of the desire to motivate us all to reevaluate the condition of the church as it is today. There must be changes. I stand by every statement of my painful observations. And let it be clearly understood: I am not saying that we should compromise the truth. Those who really know me will confirm this. We must always teach against error among brethren. But I strongly believe that we have gotten lost in that effort. We must remember that, for the most part, the enemy is outside and not within. Too many of us are caught up in acting like “defenders of the faith” and seem to forget that we are to be “proclaimers of the faith.” The lost go untaught and unsaved, many of our brothers and sisters are discouraged, and the kingdom of our Lord is suffering and shrinking.

Let’s stop excuse making. Let’s figure out how to most effectively, and scripturally, reach the lost and let’s do it. The enemies of God who call themselves believers and have never known the truth are stealing away those who might believe if they were taught. Let’s fight those enemies of the truth. Can we do it or will we be doomed to continue the status quo?

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 9 p. 7
May 4, 1995

By Johnny Stringer

Review

We have shown that the Bible sets forth the general principle that women are to teach the word of God. We pointed out, however, that there are two passages which place a restriction on the woman’s teaching. According to 1 Timothy 2:9-10, the woman is to maintain her place of subjection to men. She may not teach in any circumstance in which she would be out of subjection to men. Having discussed that passage, we will now give consideration to the other passage emphasizing this restriction: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

1. Context. In the letter of 1 Corinthians Paul dealt with problems that plagued the church in Corinth. In chapter 14 he addressed himself to the conduct of the Corinthians in their assemblies. His remarks indicate that their activities were not always edifying but were characterized by disorderliness and confusion. According to our text, women were contributing to the problem by the manner in which they spoke.

2. A Shame to Speak. Paul forbids women to speak because it is a shame for women to speak in the church. Yet, this same Paul commanded all Christians — including women  to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16); and singing is a form of speaking. It is clear, therefore, that not all speaking is shameful. If it were, it would be a shame for women to sing. Paul was obviously discussing a certain kind of speaking when he said that it was a shame for women to speak, and singing is not included in the kind of speaking that is shameful.

This is a simple verse, making it quite clear what kind of speaking is forbidden. After saying that it is not permitted for women to speak, Paul adds, “but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” Thus, speaking is contrasted against being under obedience. Obviously, therefore, the kind of speaking to which Paul refers is speaking which would cause the woman not to be under obedience (subjection). This is the reason singing does not fall within the realm of the speaking that is forbidden; scriptural singing does not cause the woman to be out of obedience. One would not contrast the woman’s participation in congregational singing against being under obedience. For her to lead the singing, however, would violate that principle and therefore would be included in the kind of speaking that is shameful.

It is a shame for the woman to speak in any way that would cause her not to be in subjection. Hence, she may not preach to an assembly that includes men, for the one preaching is in control of the study; he is not in subjection.

3. Asking Questions. Because it is a shame for women to speak so as to be out of obedience, Paul said that if the women had a question, they should ask their husbands at home. Depending on the situation and the attitude and manner of the one asking the question, a question may violate the principle of being in subjection. Questions may be asked in an insolent manner or in a way that is disruptive.

We do not know the exact situation at Corinth. We do know that in dealing with problems found in the assemblies at Corinth, Paul was discussing the matter of speaking so as to be out of subjection. Therefore, women must have been asking questions in a way that violated the principle of subjection.

Additionally, we can conclude that Paul was directing his remarks to a certain group of women who were causing the problem, for the command to ask their husbands at home could not be obeyed by all women. This command could be obeyed only by women (1) who had husbands and (2) whose husbands had access to truth they did not have. Inasmuch as Paul had just spoken to prophets, then said “Let your women …,” some have surmised that the reference is to the wives of the prophets. This may be so. It is difficult to imagine who else it could have been. One thing is certain: The command to ask their husbands at home is not applicable to women today. Women today do not have to ask their husbands at home; they have Bibles just as their husbands do. Husbands do not have any access to truth that their wives do not have.

Do not misunderstand. The command to maintain their subjection is applicable to all women. Paul taught that it is a shame for women to speak in the assemblies so as to be out of obedience. Certain women in Corinth perhaps the wives of the prophets  were violating that principle by the manner in which they were asking questions, and Paul told them to ask their husbands at home rather than to disrupt the assembly with their questions. Paul addressed a certain group of women because they were violating the principle of subjection, but the principle of subjection is binding on all women.

We do not know the specific details of the problem at Corinth. One possibility is that as prophets were revealing divine truths to the assembly, their wives were interrupting them with questions. Such would surely be out of place and disruptive. Whether or not that was the problem, the women were in some way asking questions in a manner inconsistent with their place of subjection.

Some use this passage as a basis for prohibiting a woman from asking a question in a Bible class today. This is a misuse of the apostle’s words. What is insubordinate in one situation may not be insubordinate in another situation. The fact that it was out of order to ask a question in the kind of assembly Paul was discussing in 1 Corinthians 14 does not mean it is out of subjection to ask a question in today’s Bible classes.

In the assembly described in our text, inspired men were revealing divine truth as the Spirit guided them. Today’s Bible class is a different kind of gathering. A group of people have gathered to study the Bible and to help one another in reaching an understanding. In that situation, it is not insubordinate for a woman to humbly ask a question or submit an idea for the class’s consideration. Yet, a woman in a Bible class can get out of line in the manner in which she asks questions or expresses her ideas. If she asks questions or speaks in an insolent manner, or speaks to the extent of dominating, she violates the principle of being under obedience. She must manifest a meek and quiet spirit.

Conclusion

The woman is to teach the word of God. The only restriction in her teaching is that she must not violate the principle of being in subjection to men. She may teach in any circumstance or capacity that is consistent with that restriction. She may teach classes consisting of women or children, for in such classes she is not in authority over men.

The woman may even teach men so long as she remains in subjection. In congregational singing, for example, she is involved in teaching others in the congregation, including the men (Col. 3:16). Priscilla helped teach Apollos (Acts 18:26). If a woman and her husband are discussing a passage at the dinner table, and the woman brings up a scriptural point that has never occurred to the husband, she has taught her husband; but she was not out of subjection when she did so. In a Bible class that is taught by a man, a woman may quietly and meekly make a point that enlightens some men who are present, but she has not dominated the class or taken control of it. If a woman thinks a man is in error on some point, she may discuss the matter with him without being in a position of authority over him.

Whereas God has placed only one restriction on the general principle that the woman is to teach, some brethren have added another restriction. They say that while she may teach her children at home, she may not teach in the church building or in a class arranged by the church. This restriction is not found in the Bible. In fulfilling its mission of teaching the truth, the church may utilize anyone who is scripturally qualified to teach; and faithful, knowledgeable women are scripturally qualified to teach classes of women and children.

Sisters in the Lord, learn God’s word, live God’s word, and teach God’s word. God has not gagged you; rather, he has given you the responsibility to teach. He has simply placed one restriction on you. Do not fret because of the restriction; it is unlikely you will ever do all the teaching you could do in accordance with that restriction.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 9 p. 8-9
May 4, 1995