Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

Kate Hankins was the daughter of Murray and Susie Bell Hankins. She was born 15 March 1921 in Lamar County, Alabama and died 28 August 1993 in Birmingham, Alabama. She was a Christian for most of her life and her godly influence touched a great many people through the years. She was affectionately known as “Kate” to most who knew her, but she will always be “sister Johnson,” the wife of an elder, to me. Truly, to know her was to love her because she exemplified the beauty of holiness in so many ways.

Sister Johnson was a graduate of Lamar County High School and attended Florence State College (now North Alabama University). Jay F. Johnson married Kate on 19 December 1941. While her husband was in the army and overseas during World War II, she taught grammar school. After the war was over he arrived back in California and her teaching days ended so that she could re-turn to being a homemaker. Being a homemaker was her highest calling and she was deeply devoted to it. Their three children are Jane, Kay, and Louis, and in addition they have five grandchildren.

After obeying the gospel at age 16, Kate continued to grow and to be faithful throughout all the days of her life. She loved the Lord, the truth, and the church with great intensity. Severe back pain tested her for a number of years and yet she continued faithfully to attend the services, even though it meant standing at the back of the building at times because of the discomfort of sitting. The joy of spiritual refreshment and fellowship with the Lord meant so much to her that she often attended services when she did not feel like it.

Sister Johnson loved to teach the Word of God. Most of her adult life included teaching Bible classes at church. The Johnsons have attended the Midfield (AL) Church of Christ for many years, where her husband has also served as an elder for many years. Her favorite class to teach was a class of young girls at Midfield which she conducted for several years. In the summer the girls would come to the Johnson home where she would teach them Bible, cooking, sewing, crocheting, and many other things women need to know to be good wives and mothers. Sister Johnson was an accomplished seamstress who made many wedding dresses and bridesmaid gowns and never charged for them beyond the cost of materials. She exalted the importance of the home and of the woman’s role in the home as God ordained it. She exalted this great truth both in practice and in teaching.

The Johnson home was always open for guests and visitors, and sister Johnson especially loved to cook, and was a master at it. The Johnsons have extended their hospitality to many Christians through the years. Preachers have stayed in their home on many occasions while holding gospel meetings for the church at Midfield. She has washed and ironed their clothes, polished their shoes, and even cut the hair of some!

Sister Johnson was always a hard worker and one who put the Lord first in all of her work. She exemplified the quality commended by Jesus when he said, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10:41-42). All the godly characteristics of the virtuous woman found in Proverbs 31 could be seen in the life of sister Johnson. She was an ideal helper to her husband, and he safely trusted in her. She worked “willingly with her hands” and was diligent to supply every need of her household. “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor” and did not hesitate to share what she had with anyone who needed it. “Strength and honor are her clothing . . . and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Her children “call her blessed” and her husband “praiseth her.” She will be remembered and praised as “a woman that feareth the Lord.”

Even when sister Johnson became very ill, she did not fear death but looked forward to it. In spite of all of her suffering, she only missed worship the last three Sundays of her life. Her worship to God on this earth was only a prelude to her worship of God in eternity. She embraced the exceeding great and precious promises of the gospel, fully believing that a better life awaited her beyond this world of sin and sorrow. Plans for her funeral service were made by herself long be-fore her death, including the songs, the pallbearers, and the other arrangements. No “sad” songs were selected but only songs such as “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” Singing was congregational. Brother Barney Keith, local preacher at Midfield, and brother Pete McKee, a former preacher at Midfield, spoke during the funeral service to a record crowd which had registered at the funeral. Brother Ed Owens, a long time member at Midfield, spoke at the graveside. Sister Johnson is buried in the Valhalla Cemetery at Bessemer near Birmingham to await the great resurrection day.

I must add this personal word. My family and I moved to Midfield to work with this good church in the summer of 1982 and stayed through the summer of 1984. Working with the Johnsons and the whole church there was a rich and rewarding experience in many ways. One of the highlights was being closely associated with the Johnsons, being in their home numerous times, eating at their table, and learning from them. They have been unusually dedicated people to the Lord, the kind who truly help others to reach heaven. Brother Jay F. Johnson (4905 Avenue R, Birmingham, AL 35208-5106) still lives in Birmingham and continues to work and worship with the Midfield Church of Christ there.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 12-13
July 7, 1994

By Ray F. Dively

Protestantism is the general name for all denominations outside the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Protestantism resulted from a great religious and political movement, the Reformation, which began in Europe in the 1500s. The word “protestant” comes from the Latin protestants, one who protests. It was first used in Germany in 1529. At that time a Diet, or special assembly at Speyer decreed that the Bible should be taught only along the lines authorized by the Roman Catholic church. The assembly also decreed that Mass should be restored in the German states where it had been discontinued. Several princes and fourteen imperial cities made a formal protest against the decrees. Because of their protest, they became known as Protestants. The name soon came to mean all those who separated from the Catholic Church. There are now hundreds of Protestant denominations and sects that differ slightly or greatly from each other.

Protestantism may be said to have expressed itself in two main forms, classical Protestantism and radical Protestantism. Classical Protestantism includes the original groups which first revolted against the Roman Catholic church, especially Lutherans, Calvinists and Anglicans. Lutheranism, founded by Martin Luther, was the earliest expression of Protestantism. Calvinism or “Reformed Christianity,” came second in historical order and forms the largest Protestant denomination in the world. It originated in the teachings of John Calvin. Protestant denominations which follow the Calvinistic teachings include the Presbyterians, and various Reformed churches in America and Europe. Anglicanism grew out of Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic church. It includes the church of England and related groups such as the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States.

Radical Protestantism designates religious groups that broke away from classical Protestantism or grew up independently. Many such groups were formed around some particular doctrine which members of the group felt to be expressive of the essential core of Christianity. Several radical Protestant denominations stress evangelicalism, or salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. Their members often exhibit an intensely personal religious commitment and may view the church as essentially voluntary association. You are a Christian before joining their church. The main groups include the Baptist, Congregationalists and Methodists.

The Reformation was a religious movement of the 1500s that resulted in the establishment of Protestantism or denominational churches. The Reformation movement began in the heart of a German Augustian monk named Martin Luther. Among his conclusions was that only the Bible, not the pope was infallible, or free from error.

Luther’s outrage at the way indulgence, or spiritual pardons, were sold in Saxony led him to speak out against the Catholic Church. On October 31, 1917, he nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the All Saints church building in Wittenberg. He had no intentions of starting a movement to destroy the Catholic Church. He meant only to reform abuses within. But, when the theses was circulated throughout Germany, they stirred up a major upheaval. Later Luther was declared a heretic and excommunicated. He defied the pope and began to organize his conservative Lutheran church in 1522. Luther was the first to translate the New Testament into the language of the people of Germany.

The reformation spread to Switzerland, France, En-gland and other countries. More and more man-made churches were begun. Since that time and even now more sects are beginning.

The Roman Catholic church and the denominational churches are religious sects and not churches, for the Lord said, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). He did not say, “churches” but church. The Lord promised to build only one church. The church was built upon Christ. Christ is the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), and chief corner stone (Eph. 2:20). The church was established on the day of Pentecost 33 A.D. (Acts 2). The Lord purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

We must teach the Roman Catholic and Protestant people how to become Christians. We must do this in love. Let us face our responsibility and teach all people about Christ and his church (Mk. 16:15; Matt. 28:19). For without Christ and his church they are lost.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 12, p. 22
June 16, 1994

By Mike Willis

As we move away from a rural environment, we may forget some of the images from rural settings which have been used to illustrate important spiritual lessons. Sometime ago, an elder used the example of “playing possum” to remind us of our need for action when spiritual dangers threaten. His use of the illustration reminded me of what I had seen as a child.

Some of our readers probably don’t know what the phrase “playing possum” means. Those who grew up in the country do. While growing up in a rural setting in East Texas, I occasionally heard our dogs tree a possum late at night. Sometimes the dogs would continue howling until someone would finally go to the tree and kill the possum. On several occasions, the dogs found the possum on the ground and tore into it. For whatever reason, whether it is a defense mechanism or a reaction to fear, the possum falls over and pretends to be dead when danger threatens. When the danger is gone, the possum awakens from his stupor and resumes his activities. This is what is known as “playing possum.” I have watched our dogs chew on the possum which was “playing possum” until I could hear his bones breaking inside, but still the possum pretended to be dead.

One day, my brother Cecil and our cousin Billy Mochman who were teenaged boys at the time, brought home a possum which was “playing possum.” After the dogs had chewed on it but were unable to awaken it from its stupor, these two young men decided they would make the animal quit “playing possum.” They got a can of kerosene and poured it in the possum’s ear. Nothing happened. You can guess what they tried next. They poured the kerosene all over the possum and lit it on fire. The possum woke up and took off running toward the house in which we lived.

Our house was flat against the ground in the front and was raised about 18 inches off the ground in the back so that it would be level. The possum was running toward the back of the house, blazing with fire. About this time, Momma walked out the back door. Something had to be done to stop the possum from running under the house and causing the house to burn down, so Billy grabbed the possum by the tail. The flames of fire were licking too close to his hand. He began to swing the possum around in a circle so that it would not burn him. Momma was standing on the back door steps and screaming.

About that time, the skin on the tail burned off, it slipped out of Billy’s hands, and the possum hit the ground running toward the cover which the house would provide. Momma hit the possum with the broom handle just as he went under the house. That knocked him out or killed him. Whichever, it saved the house from burning to the ground. All of this proved one thing: you can make a possum quit “playing possum.”

My cousin Billy is dead now and I have never turned my brother

Playing Possum .. .

Cecil in to the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals. Perhaps the statute of limitations has expired for his offense. The incident was related to me years later. I have ever since remembered what “playing possum” means.

Some Brethren Play Possum

Brethren used to describe how some handle the threat of false doctrine and false teachers, saying they are like the ostrich who buries his head in the sand. Some still try to pretend that there are no dangers threatening the church. They accomplish this by burying their heads in the sand, like the ostrich. They refuse to read papers or listen to preachers who warn them of imminent dangers to the church. Soon the problems troubling other churches across the nation have invaded their local congregation and a major conflict ensues  a conflict that could have been averted had brethren been alert to the issues threatening the church.

Others “play possum” when danger threatens. They role over and play dead until the danger is passed. Stronger brethren take up the sword of the Spirit and confront the error and false teachers  the wicked men who attack the peace and unity of the local church. All the time they are fighting the error, other brethren are “playing possum.” When the danger is passed, these brethren will arouse from their stupor and talk about how “we” whipped them and drove them from among us.

Unfortunately, “playing possum” with false teaching has become the accepted conduct among preachers in some places. Those who have the audacity to put on the whole armor of God and stand against sin are castigated as “watch dogs,” “guardians of orthodoxy,” and other derogatory terms. These are the terms used by those who say they agree with the truth on such subjects as unity-in-diversity, institutionalism, the sponsoring church, and divorce and remarriage, but never raise their voices or lift their pens to expose the error. The bottom line is this: the false teacher has a higher position on the social ladder among those brethren than does the man who exposes his false doctrine. The highest position on the social ladder, of course, is reserved for that preacher who is too refined to dirty his hands opposing false teachers (his strongest words are reserved for those who expose the false teacher). He states that he agrees with the truth but “plays possum” when the false teacher arrives. However, he awakens to fight like a lion the man who exposes the false teacher!

“Playing possum” antics also exist in local churches threatened by strong-willed brethren who would rather tear a church apart than not to get their way. When such factious men are resisted, some of those whom godly men depended upon to stand with them in facing and overcoming the danger begin to “play possum.” They are as silent as if they were dead.

There have been times when I thought I needed to get Cecil and Billy to arouse brethren from playing possum. When the battle needed to be fought, brethren rolled over and played dead. Sometimes in a business meeting, those who you were counting on for support sat as quietly as a bump on a log while the battle raged. When false teachers are publishing their materials in the journals circulating among us, capable brethren sat back and said nothing, except to criticize those sometimes younger and less experienced brethren who loved the truth enough to resist the error. These were the times when I thought about calling for Cecil and Billy to awaken my brethren who were playing possum.

Playing possum may be a good defense mechanism for a possum, but not for Christians.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 2
July 7, 1994

By Larry Ray Hafley

Reproducing After Its Own Kind

(1) One of God’s laws of nature is that seed produces after its kind (Gen. 1). Because of this, alligators do not hatch chickens and chickens do not hatch alligators. Horses do not give birth to kittens and cats do not give birth to dogs. Corn seed does not produce watermelons and water-melon seed does not provide “corn on the cob.”

The same thing is true in the spiritual realm. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Matt. 13:19; Lk. 8:11). To “enter the kingdom,” one must be born of water and of the Spirit (Jn. 3:3, 5). Simply put, when one is taught the word of God and is obedient to that word, having believed and been baptized into Christ, he enters the church (1 Pet. 1:22-25; Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor. 12:13). In the New Testament, the seed, the word of God, produced Christians, members of the body of Christ, citizens of the kingdom (Eph. 1:13; 2:16, 19-22; Col. 1:5, 6, 13, 18).

That seed did not produce Catholics and Protestants. It did not give birth to Mormons or Methodists, to Presbyterians or Pentecostals. When men accept the seed of Baptists, they become Baptists; they do not become Lutherans. When men obey the word of Mormons, they become Mormons; they do not become Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the New Testament, when men obeyed the gospel, the word of God, they became “none of the above.” Conclusion? When someone produces a Baptist or a Mormon, he must be sowing a different seed, something other than the word of God. Or do eagles hatch monkeys?

In the Bible, the seed, the word of God, produced Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). It did not give birth to denominational churches. There were no Baptists or Methodists, etc. Why should it be different today?

Kindness  A Fruit of the Spirit

(2) “Kindness” is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22, 23). It must be a part of every thought, word, and deed (Eph. 4:31, 32). One may oppose error with a mean, bitter spirit. God knows (Heb. 4:13)! One may declare the need for peace, unity, and love with a heart poisoned with bitterness. Again, God knows. Not every earnest contender for the faith is pure in heart as he ought to be. Likewise, some rail against ugly, ungodly attitudes with an ugly, ungodly attitude. It works both ways. This article may be motivated by evil motives. It may be read with unloving eyes. God knows, and he will judge. No matter how “right” one may be, no matter how outwardly sweet one may be, God is not fooled. Pray for me that I will be kind, pure, sincere, and provide for honest things in the sight of men and God.

Paul, A Pattern

(3) Paul said “that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (I Tim. 1:16). Paul’s conversion was “a pattern” for us. That particular “pattern” included the command that he “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “But,” it may be objected, “the text says it was “a pattern to them which . . . believe on him to life everlasting, not to those who are baptized.” If baptism is thereby excluded, so is repentance and confession (Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9, 10). “Yes, but repentance and confession are included in what it means to truly “believe on him.” Likewise with baptism.

Paul was “justified by faith” (“we,” Rom. 5:1). Paul had been “baptized into Jesus Christ,” along with the Romans (Rom. 6:3, 4). With the Corinthians, he had been “baptized into one body,” the church (1 Cor. 12:13). The Corinthians had “believed through grace” having been baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 18:27; 19:1; 1 Cor. 1:12, 13; Acts 2:38). So, too, had Paul. Let us preach this “pattern to them which hereafter (shall) believe on (Christ) to life everlasting.”

Unity-In-Diversity

(4) Certain elements of “unity in diversity” are being smuggled in among the Lord’s people. Listen for the key, “catch” phrases below:

A. “We can no more think alike than we can look alike.” Since we cannot look alike, we are supposed to conclude that we cannot “think alike.” Hence, we may teach and preach different doctrines and still be accepted of God, according to some (cf. 2 In. 9; Jas. 5:19, 20; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). Jesus is either the Son of God or the illegitimate son of an immoral Jewish woman. Is this one of the items about which we cannot “think alike”? May we teach it both ways and be approved of God (2 Tim. 2:15)? Baptism may be “for the remission of sins,” or it may be an outward sign of an inward grace, designed to manifest salvation which occurred before. Is this one of the things about which we must not be expected to “think alike”? Shall we preach it both ways? Is Jesus now reigning on David’s throne, or must we yet expect him to come and set up his kingdom? May we preach it both ways since we cannot be expected to “think alike”? We may sing with or without a piano or an organ. Shall we preach and practice it both ways? We cannot “look alike,” so shall we be expected to “think alike” regarding instruments of music? What about the seven ones of Ephesians 4:4-6  one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Godare we to be expected to “think alike” regarding the “oneness” of these items? Are there many churches, many Lords, many Gods, many baptisms, or are we expected to “think alike” concerning those things? Are we expected to “think alike” regarding the sinfulness of homosexuality and polygamy?

Since we can “no more think alike than we can look alike,” what will those who espouse that view say when I say that I cannot “think alike” with them in that view? Do they expect me to believe that we can no more think alike than we can look alike? Yes, they do. They expect me to “think alike” with them. But that contradicts their statement! Since I cannot look like them, how can they expect me to think like them regarding it? Accordingly, I must reject the premise of their clever little statement.

B. Salvation is in a Savior, not a system; Pardon is in a Person, not a pattern. True, salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ, but we must also “hold fast” to that “form (mold, pattern, system) of sound words . . . which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13; 2:10). Jesus, the person, is “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). However, the Lord does not give that eternal salvation until one obeys “that form (mold, pattern, system) of doctrine which was delivered” to him (Rom. 6:17, 18).

One receives the person of Christ by receiving the word, the system, the pattern (Col. 1:5, 6; 2:6; 1 Thess. 2:13). If you have not received his word, his system, his pattern, you have not received him!

One rejects the person of Christ by rejecting the word of Christ. “Then said Jesus (the person) to those Jews which believed on him. If ye continue in my word (the pattern, the system), then are ye my disciples indeed” (Jn. 8:31). “If a man love me (the person), he will keep my words” (the pattern  Jn. 14:23). When some “went back” and walked no more with the person, Christ, the apostle Peter said, “Lord to whom (to what person) shall we go? Thou hast the words (the pattern, the system) of eternal life” (Jn. 6:66-68). The words, the plan, the pattern, the system of the Savior, “they are spirit (spiritual), and they are life (life giving)” (Jn. 6:63). Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me (the person), and receiveth not my words (the pattern), hath one that judgeth him: the word (system of teaching) that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).

“If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father” (1 Jn. 2:24). It is “the word of God” that abided in them (Cf. 1 Jn. 2:14). Hence, if the word of God (the pattern) abides in you, “ye also shall continue in the Son (the person).”

Make this note: Whenever a man starts talking in pious tones about “the person” of Christ and begins to denigrate “the form (the pattern) of sound words,” that man has a doctrine that will not stand the scrutiny of the Scriptures. Beware of him! He would feign point you to Christ in order that he might bring in his error unawares. “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Pet. 3:17).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 6-7
July 7, 1994