Truth Magazine

By Jamey Hinds

“We love him because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). “By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son, the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:7-10).

God’s love is astonishingly indescribable. And, yet, his love is limited in that it cannot force anyone to be saved from their sins. Of course, that is the beauty of God’s love he has created us to be morally free in choosing right and wrong.

According to Mark, “Now as Jesus was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him, and asked him, `Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, `Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, God. You know the commandments.’ … And he answered and said to him, `Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.’ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, `One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions” (10:17-22).

Notice Jesus’ love for this man. But even his love was not enough to remove the requirements necessary to be pleasing to God: he had to make an individually responsible choice  a choice we all must make. “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

There are those who deny the necessity of water baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And, yet, they proclaim their absolute faith in God’s incorruptible love. They often forget that his love is incorruptible and cannot simply disregard such things as the command to be baptized for the remission of our sins (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-14; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 3:21).

God’s love is magnificently beautiful and pure. It is most powerful and majestic. But it cannot, alone, save us.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 9
July 7, 1994

By Derek Chambers

The phone call came late one night from one of the local brethren. “You should have seen it,” he said. “They were healing people with different afflictions.” “First they sang songs, then they preached a sermon, and then they healed people.”

So-called faith healers have been around for a long time in the United States. In eastern Europe however, they are quite a novelty. It was no surprise to me that this brother, who has been a Christian for just over a year now, was excited about what he saw. He knew from our previous studies that these things were not right but was fascinated by them just the same. Reluctantly, I decided to accompany my friend to the faith healers’ service the following evening. Earlier that day we studied the matter briefly. I wanted him to understand exactly what mendacity would be taking place.

Knowing the curiosity of Lithuanians and the mass advertising of the faith healers, I expected to find quite a crowd at the service. Instead there was only about 15 people. The service proceeded rather lethargically, with poor piano playing and little singing by the audience. The sermon was soft and empty with very few passages read. The American “pastor” ended his sermon by telling every-one to close his eyes, bow his head and pray. Then he offered an invitation. Anyone who wanted to be saved needed only to raise is hand. “Don’t worry, no one will see you,” he said. “Everyone’s eyes are closed.” About seven people raised their hands (my eyes weren’t closed). He called them forward and instructed them to hold hands and repeat a prayer. Then the “pastor” pronounced them saved Christians. The people themselves, however, didn’t seem much different. They didn’t seem joyful at all, only con-fused. They seemed to sense that something was missing in their “conversion.”

Then it was show time. There were going to be some real miracles they claimed. They spoke nobly of the previous night and all the healings that went on. They asked the family sitting next to me (whose son had been prayed for the night before) if their boy was any better. “No,” they said solemnly. Then the “pastor” asked the mother if she was better (as they had also laid their hands on her the previous night). “Not yet,” she said. “Well you’re looking better,” they claimed, “You’re smiling twice as much tonight.”

“Anyone who needs a healing, please come forward.” First forward was another man who had been there the night before. He had already been “healed” of having one leg shorter than the other (the oldest trick in the book). However, the real problem was that he had been in a car wreck and many bones had been broken. He walked with a terrible limp, a limp that was no better after their “healing.” He went forward for another “miracle” but nothing happened. “It will just take time,” they said.

The rest of the “afflictions” included nervous tension, stomach aches, weakness, cramps, another lady with one leg shorter than the other, and my friend who asked them to remove a mole. Naturally, all the problems were “cured,” except the mole. The following night another brother who attended their service informed me that they cured two more people with one leg shorter than the other, including the same lady I saw get healed of this same affliction the night before. (There seems to be a lot of people in Lithuania with one leg shorter than the other.)

The service finally came to a close and the small group in attendance left, seemingly disappointed and confused. It was not hard to see that the work of the faith healers had fallen flat. Ultimately, no one believed that any miracles had taken place and no one really thought they were saved. Fortunately I was able to talk to a few of these people and invite them to our worship and lectures. My Lithuanian brother who invited me to the service saw just what a farce the service was and did not return.

I would like to offer three suggestions of why the faith healers did not do well in Lithuania:

1. They preached a false plan of salvation. According to these men, all that is necessary for salvation is “accepting Jesus into your life.” Although repentance was hinted, it was not preached specifically and baptism was completely ignored. “Baptism is nothing,” one of the “pastor’s” wives was overhead saying. The people who were told they had been saved somehow didn’t seem to quite believe it. They had enough sense to know that raising one’s hand and repeating a prayer didn’t save one’s soul. Therefore they found no satisfaction in their salvation.” Acts 2:38: “And Peter said to them, Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the same of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

2. Their worship was false. Instrumental music was used and the preachers applauded each other and everything else that went on. The prayers were spoon fed to the audience to be repeated and it seemed that one of the men was trying to pray in “tongues.” These men were sickeningly pretentious and their worship was just as wrong as it could be. John 4:24: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

3. The miracles were false. The men claimed that Jesus would work miracles through them, but there were none. There are some faith healers who can put on quite a show and fool you with parlor tricks but anyone could see that these men were all talk. Perhaps the people in the audience reflected upon the true miracles of Christ and his apostles in the New Testament  miracles which were certain, complete, and irrefutable. Jesus didn’t go around healing belly aches and moles. He restored sight to the blind, the lame were made to walk, the dead were raised. Matthew 11:5  “the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

This group of faith healers is but one of the many groups of “miracle workers” in Lithuania. All of these groups boast of Jesus and the Holy Spirit working miracles through them. They also claim to know the truth because God reveals it directly to them, yet there are major doctrinal differences between all of these groups. In light of 1 Corinthians 14:33, how can this be? In claiming to proclaim the praises of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, the faith healers deny both. They deny the true miraculous power of Deity and the true revelation of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. If what these groups preach is true, then the Holy Spirit failed to reveal “all things” (Jn. 14:26; 16:13) the first time around.

I am no longer worried about the Christians here in Lithuania being carried away by the doctrines and tricks of faith healers. With some very basic teaching anyone can understand how terribly erroneous these men are. Their efforts will continue with some minor success, but their works will be revealed in the last day. Rom. 16:18: “For such men are slaves, no to four Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 8-9
July 7, 1994

By Randy Blackaby

The good reception given the preaching of the gospel in Kaunas, Lithuania this spring nearly demands a longer term effort and, ideally, the commitment of a preacher to a year or more of full-time evangelism in this city of 430,000 people.

As the accompanying article already has indicated, crowds at the Sunday lectures were steadily increasing as interested people returned week after week and additional students were convinced to attend.

Imagine getting 30 or more people to attend a meeting in this country by simply handing out tiny printed invitations in front of a local grocery store. That’s what is happening in Lithuania. These people will listen to an hour or more of lectures and then ask questions for two or more hours. The type of questions asked reflect both the confusion caused by centuries of Catholic tradition and an eagerness to learn more about what the Bible teaches.

After Bill Bynum and I left Kaunas May 3, Brother Thomas Bunting of Bergen, Norway took over the work. His son was to join him a week later. Recently, I have learned that Derek Chambers and Ivan Valdez will continue this spring’s effort through the end of June.

Steve Wallace already is planning to return this September and we are hoping more brethren from the United States will commit to three or four weeks each to keep the evangelism of this city alive well into the fall.

But beyond these initial forays into this once closed country, there is a critical need for a longer term effort, similar to the work being done in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, by brother Chambers and Jay Horsley. Are there brethren ready to accept such a challenge?

If there are conversions in Kaunas in the next few months there must be someone there to help these new Christians grow in the faith.

One thing we observed is that the window of opportunity doesn’t stay wide open long in these former communist countries. Already the denominations are beginning to flood into the region. We saw evidence of strong efforts by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists and Pentecostal groups. If the truth can be widely and repeatedly taught before the errors of these groups take a major hold, the cause of Christ will be greatly enhanced.

At present, evangelistic endeavors in Lithuania can be carried out inexpensively. For about $1,500 to $1,700 a preacher can spend an entire month preaching there. This includes air fare, hotel accommodations, transportation, meals, advertising, translators and rental of lecture rooms. This economy makes it possible for even smaller congregations to underwrite the shorter term efforts.

Eastern Europe is full to opportunities to preach the gospel. And, as quickly as things are changing in this part of the world, we don’t really know how long those opportunities will be present.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 12, p. 11
June 16, 1994

By Archie E. Proctor

And David the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept: and as he went, thus he said, 0 my son Absalom! My son, my Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Sam. 18:33)

Nothing in this world can tear at the heart of a parent who is a faithful Christian more than the spiritual death of a child. It is even more tragic when that child trapped in sin is caught into eternity by death in that condition. All the years of careful, patient teaching, nurturing in the Lord, the many times that precious soul was taken to the assembly of the church to hear the gospel preached and the Bible taught seem to be as nothing. Those patient, faithful lives of mother and father lived as best as they could, giving an example of how one should be a Christian, seem to have no meaning or effect.

David knew that feeling many times in his life. The death of Absalom was one occasion. Going up to that upper chamber, he must have recalled the prophet’s words; “Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and! will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.” This was spoken after he had confessed to the sin of adultery with Bathsheba.

Now the consequences of that awful sin had come fully home. The death of an infant son, the murder of his son Amnon by Absalom, and finally, the slaying of Absalom by his general, Joab, all resulted as a consequence of his fall into sin.

Too often, however, parents of wayward children have done nothing to bring about such loss of a child, either in sinning themselves or failing properly to teach the child how he should live his life. Yet, many times, the guilt that David felt seems to come crashing down on the shoulders of godly parents who have seen that child go astray. To add to the burden, it seems Christians and friends, who should know better, assume that it must have been some failure of character or teaching that let the child go off, and that there surely was something that could have been done if the parents had done this or that.

Parents in this situation spend many hours in fervent prayer asking for strength, help, and the opportunity to say or do that one more thing that might reach the child before it is eternally too late. Night after night, sleep fades as the parents play the “what if ” game in their minds. (What if I did or said this or that instead of what I did say.) Tears are shed without measure in regret and remorse. The sinning child can never know the burden he places on the heart of that loving mother and father by his actions.

What words of comfort can we bring to parents in this condition? First of all, we need to recognize that Proverbs 22:6 is not an absolute. Children can be properly trained and still go astray.

The Bible gives many examples of this. Perhaps the best known is Solomon. He was so faithful in his youth; he asked the Lord for wisdom over wealth or fame or other things. But in his maturity, he let other wives turn his heart away from God.

Faithful Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, yet only one was the son of promise and followed the Lord. Ishmael was never known as a servant of God, and his descendants became the enemies of Israel. Lot is called a righteous and vexed man, yet he lost all of his household to sin, even though he kept himself to serve the Lord. We need to realize that all men must stand before God and make their choice to obey him. Being raised in the Lord’s church is a tremendous advantage, but only if the opportunity is used and not wasted. Many times the most faithful elders, preachers and Bible teachers are men and women who do not learn of the gospel and its power until well into their adult lives. Often they must obey the gospel under some personal sacrifice, losing contact with friends and family. Others, with the advantage of being raised by godly parents, may never come to their full potential, but drift along year after year, having no real root and becoming easy prey for the first false teacher to come along. This is the reason good and faithful congregations go off into error over the period of a generation.

When parents have a child gone into error, rather than waste effort and time in regret, they should ask themselves the following questions:

1. Did he understand the terms of the gospel while he was under our care?

2. Was he exposed to sound gospel preaching, or did he get “sermonettes” while he was under our care?

3. Did we have caring thoughtful Bible study at home on a regular basis while he was under our care?

4. Was he disciplined when it was needful?

5. Regardless of how much he did or did not want to come, did I insist on his attendance at every service of the Lord’s church?

6. Did I attend myself at all times possible?

7. If the elders applied discipline to the case of my child’s unfaithfulness, did I approve and do what I could to reinforce the lesson in the child’s mind? Did the child know beyond a doubt that I would do so if his behavior required such discipline?

8. Do I continue to try to talk to my child about his unfaithfulness, and continue to encourage him to serve the Lord, and pray for him always?

Parents who can answer in the affirmative to these questions may take some comfort in knowing that they did all that was possible to teach this child, and must accept the fact that when he is an adult, he must stand before God and give account of his life. Nothing we do or fail to do at that point will cause him to save or lose his soul; it is between him and his God.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 12, p. 21-22
June 16, 1994