Truth Magazine

By Lance Baines

They morph, they teleport, they even plant flowers in Angel Grove. They’re the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and if you haven’t heard of them, you probably don’t own a calendar either. Unlike most of the media offerings for children’s entertainment, the producers of the Power Rangers insist this is a show that teaches some-thing. You know what? They’re right!

Mixed Messages

The Power Rangers teach us about the failure of mixed messages. Picture this: A team of twin tongued sales people pitching the Rangers to network big-shots under the guise of “non-violent” action heroes. The net-works buy it and advertise programming that teaches children how to resolve their conflicts peacefully. Now picture this: Every small child in America kicking, flipping, hitting, and receiving such in return as they recreate the latest fight sequences from the last episode of Power Rangers. No, Im not saying that it’s wrong for kids to wrestle in good fun, but I am saying that children imitate what the Rangers do, not what they say. It seems evident then that a mixed message and no message at all are hard to tell apart. Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of giving off mixed messages too. Have you ever heard somebody preach “both sides” of some important issue in an “unbiased way” so that people can “make up their own minds”? Or how about this one: If you teach that it is a sin to add onto the church institutions that the Lord did not put in his church, will you yet worship with institutional churches? The thought of a mixed message isn’t worth a penny.

Parental Fanaticism

The Power Rangers also teach us about how much time and energy the average parent has to spend on little Jr. In almost every major city in America, parents with small children have been bribing, harassing, and even threatening truck drivers and retailers in bold but futile attempts at obtaining the new “zords.” The rest of us simply weary ourselves as we fetch for our children their fair share of amusements. No, it’s not a sin to take your kids toy shopping, but if we could spend even half of that automobile time drilling our kids on the plan of salvation, lessons from the lives of Bible heroes, and basic morality, most of us would be increasing, not de-creasing, the amount of time we spend teaching our children. Don’t say that the time isn’t there when it is.

Strength and Unity

Last but not least, the Power Rangers drive home a strong message about the power of strength in unity. What any of the Rangers cannot overcome as individuals, they always overcome together. They nurture friendship and brotherly love and this bond is the crux of their victory. The congregation with whom you worship could probably use a double dose of that same spirit, and I wonder to myself about how much more our young people would admire the church if we took this more seriously. Some people will do everything they can to avoid contact with their fellow saints. They run out after services. They don’t like to greet people enthusiastically. The speck in your eye provokes their wrath more than their pity, so they don’t want to get too close to you. No, we don’t need another committee to study the problem, but we do need to pray, each and every one of us that the Lord might heal any pig headedness harboring in the recesses of the soul. Show some hospitality. Say some-thing nice to your spiritual family. We can show our young people a strength and a unity far greater than the Power Rangers. Believe it!

Shrewd with the TUBE

Kids watch TV, and a lot of it too! Surely such a time consuming device has a higher calling than being a mere idiot box. Why not use what they are interested in to teach them lessons that will stick to their souls long after the Rangers and shows like it have gone the way of the dinosaur? Simple but valuable lessons are all around us. Practice what you preach, teach your kids during those idle car rides, and treat your spiritual family to something worth coming out of the world for. Some day, the world will lose interest in the Power Rangers and they’ll be gone. Parents probably won’t miss them one bit, I know I won’t, but let’s not miss one bit of opportunity to give our kids something that’s here to say. Have you taught your child today?

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 2 p. 1
January 19, 1995

By Gene Frost

For years I have tried in vain to get John Welch, of Indianapolis, Indiana, to engage in a written and oral study of the deity of Jesus. He has been adamant in his demand to set every condition for a debateformat, propositions, and place. I have concluded that John Welch will never debate under terms fairly and mutually determined.

Finally, it has come to this: if there is to be a debate on the deity of Jesus (which we believe is sorely needed in order to offset the gross distortions emanating from the Welch party, to clearly set forth the issue, and give occasion for a public scriptural refutation of the heretical position being espoused by them) we would have to meet John Welch on his terms. Therefore, we acquiesced and on August 31 we submitted to him his propositions for debate. On September 24, he accepted. On November 10, the Expressway church in Louisville, Ky. offered their building for the discussion, to be held the third week of May. I accepted immediately. As of November 28, when no word had been received from John Welch, Greg Litmer (evangelist with the Expressway church) telephoned John. John wanted a later date, the third or fourth week in June. The elders of the Expressway church agreed to the third week, and since John Welch has no further demands, the debate is scheduled.

The propositions to be debated are:

(1) “Resolved: The Scriptures teach that the inner being of Jesus, his Spirit, was unchanged when he came to earth.”  Gene Frost, affirms; John Welch, denies

(2) “Resolved: The Scriptures teach that when Jesus came to earth his spirit was changed.”John Welch, affirms; Gene Frost, denies

The debate will be conducted June 19-20, 22-23, 1995, in the building of the Expressway church of Christ, 4437 South Sixth St., Louisville, Ky.

John Welch has had his way in arranging this debate. He has his propositions, his format, his place (he demanded Louisville), and his time. And, as one of his associates said, he has been preparing for debate “for nearly five years”; I am now beginning my preparation (I never get serious about a debate until propositions are signed). Yet, he writes in Faith and Facts that I have “every advantage”! My first reaction was laughter . . . but, then, you know, in a way he is right: I have the advantage: I have the truth! And he knows it, and this is why he has tried to assume the position we defended at Beaver Dam, Ky., which he denied, and ever since has desperately tried, but without success, to push the opposition into another position.

It should be an interesting discussion.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 24
January 5, 1995

By Daniel H. King Sr.

We all have many choices to make in life. Most are trivial and a few are significant. When we wake up in the morning we may puzzle over which breakfast cereal to have, or whether to have cereal at all. A lady considers which color lipstick to wear today, which dress to put on, and which type of shoes is best for today, heels or flats. Tomorrow we probably won’t even remember how the decision turned out. Many such inconsequential things are thought through and decided by us on a daily basis. We hardly recall the result from one day to the next.

Occasionally, however, we must decide about important things. So many have been the trifling issues in our lives, that if we are not careful, we may tend to treat them as trifling also and not give them the care and attention which such vital matters deserve. The determination to become a Christian is an issue of such consequence that most of us give it much thought and reflection before making the commitment.

This decision puts us into the “house of God” of which Paul speaks in 1 Timothy 3:15. But how much thought have we given to whether we shall be a vessel of honor or of dishonor in that house? In the second epistle to Timothy, Paul considers this question in Timothy’s case. For, Timothy, you see, was making daily decisions which determined which type of vessel he would prove to be in God’s house:

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work (2 Tim. 2:20-21).

The Lord’s house is a great house, not a small one. It is composed of people of all types and descriptions. And, like a grand mansion which has special fine china bowls in which to serve the most dignified guests, so is God’s house. Yet that same great mansion has also a lowly bowl for feeding the dogs, and a container for holding the trash. The point which Paul is making is that we may choose what type of vessel we are to be in the Lord’s house, whether unto honor or dishonor. And, just because we have decided to be inside the house does not mean that we have also decided to be a vessel of honor. The two are not necessarily the same.

Who, then, is that person who is a vessel unto honor in the Master’s house? Here are the apostle’s thoughts on the subject:

1. The Man Who Purges Himself Of Sin. “If a man therefore purge himself of these…” writes the apostle. “Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness,” he had said earlier (v. 19). And later in the chapter he said, “But flee youthful lusts…. (v. 22), and `But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse..: ” (v. 23). His point is that you do not put the trash in the fine china. If there is trash in it, then it is not a vessel of honor. Nor do we feed the dog in a sterling silver vessel. If the dog is fed out of it, then it is not a vessel of honor. How it is used and what is put into it determines if it is a receptacle of esteem or of contempt. But Paul does not stop there.

We need to see ourselves in that light. If our lives are filled with the practice of sin, then we are vessels of shame. If, on the other hand, our lives are purified from these shameful things, we may be suited for service in the Master’s house.

2. The Man Who Is Sanctified. The idea of sanctification, mentioned in this context and elsewhere by the apostle Paul, is no great mystery. The notion is actually rather simple, though the word is intimidating to some of us on account of the eccentric, and even sometimes bizarre, interpretations which have been forced upon it by theologians. All it means is that something or someone is “separated,” “set apart” or “set aside” for special uses. Most Bible dictionaries and lexicons define it as “to separate from the world and consecrate to God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God.” That pretty much says it all. In the Old Testament such items as the tent of meeting (Exod. 29:44), the holy altar (Exod. 29:36), the offerings placed upon it (Exod. 29:27), the Sabbath day (Neh. 13:19-22), and the whole nation of Israel (Exod. 19:5, 6) were sanctified by God for his special uses.

The root from which the word “sanctify” comes is the same as that from which the word “saint” is also derived. We are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place” (1 Cor. 1:2). Do we see ourselves as living to please ourselves or to please the one who “sanctified” us?

3. The Man Who h Meet For The Master’s Use. The NIV renders this line as “useful to the Master.” A person who loves God wants not merely to be identified with him, but to be useful to him, helpful in his purposes and his work. Each of us has talents which may be beneficial to the cause of Christ, but whether they will be “useful” or not is another question. A hoe or shovel which has a broken handle is not very useful in the garden. A rake with many loose tines will not serve its purpose well in raking the yard. Likewise, a Christian whose life is not in proper order cannot be “useful to the Master.” This will ever be a matter of priorities. “Christ has no hands but our hands to do his work today, he has no feet but our feet to lead men in his way…” When we recognize that we, in the church, are the Lord’s only workers today, it becomes the more important that we live up to our responsibility to be “useful to the Master”!

4. The Man Who Is Prepared Unto Every Good Work. The vessel which can serve a useful purpose in the service of the Master is the one which is ready to hand. A container which is hidden in the deep recesses of a closet or a cabinet will not be of much value. Neither will the one which is still enclosed in the fancy box it came in, stored safely in the attic. The vessel of honor, the Master’s “favorite” is the one which is ready for use when work needs doing.

Every cook has her favorite pots and pans, often well used, and sometimes dented and scratched in the process. They may not look like something the TV chefs would use, but she would not part with them at any price. A new frying pan or kettle would have to be “seasoned” and that might take several weeks or even months. The old one is ready for work. It needs no preparation because preparation is al-ready over. As God’s people we go through a similar process. We are at first clumsy and of little use in the Lord’s kingdom. Over time, though, we become more and more useful if we have weathered the preparation stages as we should. This is where we need to be heading, so that we may be “vessels unto honor” in the service of our God. Once prepared, we need to remain ready, prepared for every opportunity to do good.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 14-15
January 5, 1995

By Samuel Csonka

Several weeks ago the church in Angleton where I worship received a letter entitled “From where came Hell?” This six-page letter indicated that the writer had done a great deal of studying on Hell. He recounted the definitions of Gehenna, Sheol, Hades, and Tartarus; he discussed usages of the Greek words apolummi and phthora, and our English words life, death and destruction; then, he concluded with “six major evils” of our teaching on Hell. He didn’t sign his name or give a return address, but I assume that he is a “brother in Christ” by some of the comments in the letter. He said, “If I put my name, I may not be allowed to preach or teach.”

My first thought, after skimming over the letter, was to throw it away. But, after thinking about it for a few days, and re-reading it a few times, I decided to challenge his position in writing. Hope-fully, he will find this rebuttal the same way (I assume) he found the addresses of the many churches around the country to which he mailed his letter.

The following is a summary of his letter along with my thoughts about his doctrine.

Gehenna

First, as “brother Anonymous” looks at gehenna, he cites several passages in which the word is found: (1) Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5, (2) Matthew 18:9 and Mark 9:43-45), (3) Matthew 23:15-33, and (4) James 3:6. He mentions its derivation from the Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem, and concludes his point by saying that Gehenna was only used as a symbol of fire and consumption. He retorts:

Fire is never used by God to torment, but for destruction. Matthew 3:12  `… gather his wheat (the saved) into the garner, but he will burn up … the chaff (the lost) with unquenchable fire.’ Do we not teach the exact opposite, not burn up (consume completely and destroy as the farmer does the chaff), but burn (torture) forever? Matt. 7:19 worthless trees are `cast into the fire’ . . . Trees are cast into the fire to burn up, to get rid of them, not to be tortured forever.

In his remarks, our anonymous “brother” suggests that spirits can burn up like wood or paper; but, the Bible never indicates such. Also, he forgets that five of these passages are parables that do not describe what will literally happen; but, explain in the closest terms the things which will take place in the spiritual parallel.

Gehenna is described in the Bible as a place of unquenchable fire “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mk. 9:44). It was a real place into which people could be cast (Matt. 5:29-30), not just a one-time event. In fact, with reference to torment, Revelation 14:9-11 says and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone . . . and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.” Souls would not burn up, but would continue in flaming torment for eternity.

Hades

Second, as “brother A” looks at hades, he accuses us of confusing it with hell. He makes this point about Luke 16:19-31:

If this is not a parable, and the rich man and Lazarus are real people, then Abraham is also a real person, but now in the place of a god. Is he not? No, for this is a parable, not a true story. it is also when the rich man had brothers living on the earth, not after the judgment, therefore couldn’t be what we call `hell’ as no one will be in our `hell’ until after judgment day.

But, we can see who is confused. As any Bible student will affirm  hades is not hell. Jesus said to one of the thieves before they died, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”(Lk. 23:43). Did our Lord not know where he was going? Acts 2:27 says in reference to Christ . . . You will not leave my soul in Hades.” Along with the previous verses, Revelation 20:13-15 make a clear distinction as to the difference between hades and hell.

On top of these facts, I also affirm that there is no reason why Luke 16:19-31 should be viewed only as a parable. Whether it is or isn’t has no bearing upon what is implied by the story, and cannot nullify the application. Though the men died, they spoke, were cognizant of their situation, and had feelings of torment or comfort. Abraham was not a god, but was mentioned there because he was the lather of the faithful, and the Pharisees would have understood that.

Apollummi

Next, in delving into the usages and definitions of apollummi and apoli, he makes several points based on an inconsistent usage of the Greek words, even though he himself points out the proper definition. “Brother A reveals:

. . . it is translated destroy, perish, lost, lose, die all from the same Greek word. Bottles perish (Matt. 9:17). Losehis reward (Matt. 10:42). Lost sheep (Mart. 15:24. Gold that perisheth (I Pet. fl7). These things will not he tormented forever, but will come to an end. Yet, when the same word is used for people – . . we teach they will not and cannot come roan end, but must live forever in torment”

First of all, when he says they will “come to an end,” what does he mean? Were the bottles, gold, and sheep annihilated or vaporized into thin air? No, they were ruined, lost, or made of no use. Therefore, spirits would not realize a loss of being, but of well-being. They would be in a state of detriment, and not annihilation. But, rather than having the wicked souls eternally tormented as prescribed by God, “brother A” would have them vaporized after Judgment. This idea of annihilation certainly does not come from the Scriptures.

Phthora

Again, he uses phthora which means corruption, perish, and destroyed to mean vaporized or annihilated. He simply decides on his own definition and then uses it freely to fit his purposes. Every time he sees these words he automatically thinks annihilation or vaporization. He starts with a wrong assumption and reaches a wrong conclusion.

Life and Death

“Brother A” then brings into the argument a few paragraphs on Life and Death. But, his views of physical and spiritual life versus physical and spiritual death are not scriptural. For a definition of physical death look at James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead “Physical death is the separation of body and spirit. With reference to what happens at death, the wise man in Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Now then, whats spiritual death? It is separation also. We are spiritually dead when, as Isaiah says, Your sins have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:2). Sin separates us from God to make us spiritually dead. Thats why in Romans 6:11,13 when we die to sin, we are made alive again to God. But, “Brother A” doesnt agree with the Scriptures. He says,

“First death is of the body, the end of it. Then second death must be like the first or it is not like the first  the end. We teach spiritual death! the second death is being separated from God. Then (1) there is a place where God is not at, therefore He cannot be God in that place. (2) There is in this place life without God. This makes two reasons he cannot be God. Maybe we need to relook at our teaching. Spiritual Death is not in the Bible, but a very big part of our speaking where the Bible is silent, and not saying Bible things in Bible ways.”

Can you see what he has done? He makes spiritual death and the second death the same, when they are not. He also does not see that physical and spiritual life are two different forms of life as physical and spiritual death by baptism or repentance, if he is still physically alive. One cannot return, though, from the second death. I believe he still has trouble with the difference between life and death both physically and spiritually because he says this:

“With the view I had for many years, I had a hard time with this verse (1 Cor. 15:23, sic). (I) My I soul could not be dead, so could not be made alive. (2) My body, flesh and blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven. (3) The only answer was that at death the soul of a sinner would be alive some place where God is not at, but must be dead (according to my definition of death separation from God) in order to be made alive at his coming. All this does not make much sense tome now, but did then as it was necessity to support our view of death.”

Also, in this section, he mentions Matthew 25:46 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and how they must be a once-for-all-time punishment. He says,

Is this a destruction that will be bit by bit, but will take forever? No. It is a destruction (or punishment) that will be final, and will last for eternity.”

He believes that spirits will be annihilated; gone forever and never to return again. But, what does Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 say? “They shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” It will not just be one powerful zap from God and they’re gone forever, but continuous torment and agony.

Six Major Evils

Finally, in his `Six Major Evils’ of Hell he claims that our doctrine (1) slanders God, (2) makes Christ’s death, not a death, (3) means that death is not real, (4) means there is never a victory, (5) makes the resurrection impossible, and (6) is the cause of atheism or stumbling in many. He also states:

“The God of the Bible is a God of life and justice, not as our teaching makes him  sadistic, fiendish, cruel, evil, and in character much like Satan.” … “Satan has had many victories: (1) the Catholic church, (2) the Protestant divisions, (3) the Christian church division, (4) the liberal division, (5) etc. etc… but the invention of `Hell’ may well be his biggest one. And we preach his lie!”

He certainly doesn’t leave us guessing about his position.

What the Bible Says

So what is the scenario of gehenna and hades as taught by the Bible? Upon physical death the spirit departs and the body goes to the ground (Eccl. 16:19-31; 2 Pet. 2:9). A final judgment will be made (Matt. 25:31-46), after which the wicked will suffer eternal punishment (Rev. 14:11; 20;10), and the righteous will enter into heaven.

Now, the eternal punishment is due to the severity of sin and God’s hatred of it. He promised punishment, and no matter how hard we try to imagine it away, it will still be there. That’s why the Scriptures mention the following verses: “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2.12); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31); also, “. . . since it is a righteous thing for God to repay with tribulation those who persecute you …. (2 Thess. 1:6). God is a God of justice, love and tender mercy. Eternal torment shows the vengeance of a just God upon sinful souls; and, Christ’s sacrifice shows he loved us enough to provide a way to be cleansed from sin, and escape the consequences.

In conclusion, remember that “Brother A” calls hell an invention of Satan; and he believes that anyone who preaches it is a liar. That apparently means Jesus was a liar when he said, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33) Here are five other “Major Evils” of his doctrine of Annihilation:

1. Slanders God  It infers that he is not really a God of justice, and that the wicked will not indeed be punished as he promised. You make God a liar, “Brother A”!

2. Christ’s death was vain  There is really no reason to be saved from sin if there are no consequences to be saved from.

3. The apostles were liars  You assert that all those who taught that hell was a place of torment and retribution were liars. If they were not really inspired by God we might as well throw out the Bible!

4. The cause of Atheism or stumbling in many If there is no Hell, we might as well live-it-up (eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we get zapped!).

5. A victory for Satan  Satan has had many victories: (1) denominations, (2) liberal divisions, (3) religious cults, (4) etc., etc., but, the invention of this doctrine of annihilation may well be his biggest one!

For all those who have believed and preach Satan’s lie  May God have mercy on your souls at Judgment Day.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 16-18
January 5, 1995