Truth Magazine

By Billy Ashworth

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:17). “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

I feel that it is necessary in the very beginning to give the readers some facts that will let them know why I am writing this article. I am not writing it to boast about my experience and the knowledge I have gained in my many years in federal service in official capacities, both civil and military. Also, I have preached the gospel of Christ for over forty years. Neither am I writing for partisan political reasons. If I were, one might be justified in refusing to read and consider what I say, even though it would reveal a closed mind in this matter.

I am writing this article as a concerned citizen of my beloved United States of America, and of the kingdom of God. I am writing from a standpoint of history in which I have been involved personally, and am setting forth facts that are painfully obvious in the light of God’s divine revelation. Hopefully I can awaken many of my brethren and sisters to the alarming decay in this nation that affects all citizens of the nation and of the kingdom of God.

I was born into a theistically-oriented family in a free country which had as its foundation a belief in God and in the Bible as his revealed will. In the days of my youth, this country was in its ascendancy, on its way to become the greatest nation that has ever existed on the face of the earth. God-fearing, family-loving, hard-working, honest people labored to build a country in which they could be free to live their lives as they believed to be right and good, and to be free religiously to worship and serve God as they saw fit, or to refrain from doing so as they desired.

Having obeyed the gospel in March, 1950, I studied the Scriptures diligently and have preached the gospel of Christ for over forty years. God’s Word reveals that he ordained “the powers that be” (Rom. 13:1), and “that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth to whomsoever He wills” (Dan. 4:17,25,32). Peter wrote: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praises of them that do well” (1 Pet. 2:13, 14). Paul wrote: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Tim. 1:1, 2).

The Scriptures give only one exception to the command to obey civil rulers. In Acts 4:18, 19, we read: “And they (their rulers, elders, scribes, the high priest, BA) called them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Cf. Dan. 1:8).

From these scriptures references, it is evident that: (1) God ordained (ordered) the powers that be, including civil rulers. (2) God’s people are to be subject to (obey) them. We are to obey “every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” We have no right to pick and choose what laws we will obey, and those we refuse to obey. (3) God’s purpose in ordaining civil government was to have an orderly society under law in which rulers were to “punish the evildoer and to protect and praise them who do well.” God’s wisdom is seen when we realize that there are duties that his people sustain that the church, as such, cannot perform. (4) “Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil” (Rom. 13:a). It is obvious that God’s people could not have flourished without the stability afforded by civil law, even under the heathen Romans. (5) God’s people are to pray for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and holiness.

It is true that civil rulers have a profound effect upon the morals of its subjects. How foolish is the assertion often made by misinformed people that, “The government cannot regulate morals.” That is precisely what God intended that civil rulers do! These same people speak of a “person’s right” to do whatever he pleases  even to a woman’s decision to have her unborn baby aborted (murdered). Question: Where do they get the “right” to do what they please? Answer: not from God! If civil rulers fail in their mission as ordained of God, people live in an uncivilized jungle, a situation that prevails in many areas of this once-great nation today.

The “Founding Fathers” (a term rejected by radical feminists today) wrote a Constitution with a Bill of Rights to guarantee freedom to the citizens of this country under law. They knew that freedom without law is not possible. They established a government in which the people had the right to elect their own rulers, and to remove them when they were guilty of malfeasance in office of public trust. This constitutes democracy.

The people of this new nation, who fled Europe to escape the tyranny of religious bigots, hewed themselves out an existence in a wilderness and endured disease, severe weather, and strong opposition by the inhabitants of this land. The nation they founded became great  a tower of strength and bastion of free people under God  and the object of fond hopes of people in foreign lands.

This nation has existed for over two hundred years, the longest of any democracy that history records. Why did so noble an effort by our forefathers succeed beyond their wildest dreams? I believe that Psalms 33:12 sets forth an answer: “Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, the people whomhe has chosen for his own inheritance “I hasten to observe that this passage refers primarily to Israel of old, but I believe that the faith most of the pioneers had in God was a vital factor of the wonderful growth. It was during the early years of this nation that the restoration of the Lord’s church had its greatest success.

Why is this once-great nation now in chaos and decay? I call the readers’ attention to an article that appeared in the U.S. News and World Report (February 1, 1993). It was titled, “The Fueding Fathers.” The article reviewed the battle between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at length. The difference between the two was the attitude each had toward the kind of government the new nation would have. Jefferson favored democracy (government of the People) while Adams held a more aristocratic position, seen by many as a “hereditary aristocracy.”

A most interesting statement by Adams was placed in a box, which reads: “There never was a democracy that did not commit suicide.” I do believe that democracy of and by the people is the greatest form of government any human beings ever conceived. Remember, God did not ordain any one particular form of government, although he gave the Israelites a kingdom (monarchy) whose kings he selected. Of course the kingdom of Christ is a spiritual monarchy, ruled over with absolute power by the King, Jesus. When Paul wrote the book of Romans and Peter wrote his epistle on the subject at hand, they were living under the control of the heathen Roman Empire under the rule of the Caesars.

I believe, in light of history, that Adams was right in his statement that democracies commit suicide. Rulers elected by popular vote of the people, tend to believe that they must rule according to the desires of their constituents. As the incumbents bend to increasing demands of the people, which are usually selfish, eventually all drown themselves in selfishness and greed.

President Roosevelt introduced socialism into this country in his efforts to break the economic depression that began with the Market Crash in 1929 and extended into the forties.

This “Great Depression” held the United States, as well as the rest of the world, in its vice-like grip. It was imperative that Roosevelt try earnestly to rescue the nation from total economic collapse, the very thing he was elected to do in 1932.

But it is a well-known fact of history that once socialism is introduced into a democracy it will escalate; as many people prefer the government solve their problems. This eliminates much personal/individual responsibility that democracy requires. (Consider how soon the Israelites forgot the burdens of slavery in Egypt when they were subjected to hardships in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses.) Personal responsibility, the basis of democracy, chafes the unthinking, lazy masses who prefer the government take care of them. Consider the millions of citizens in America on the government dole today. It has been well said: “The government that is big enough to give its citizens everything they want, is powerful enough to take everything they have.”

The escalation of socialism continued until General Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for president in 1952 and was elected. His administration lasted from 1953-1961, and slowed the acceleration of socialism. His eight years as President gave America its best years in my lifetime. (I have lived under fourteen Presidents, not including the present one.)

During President Eisenhower’s eight-year reign. America enjoyed prosperity and relative peace within, as well as around the world. The “Cold War” with Russia occurred during this time. Military intelligence recognized Russia’s overall military might, but found that their leaders apparently feared to attack us because we had the atom bomb.

The Psalmist wrote: “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:17). Proverbs 14:34 reads: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” As God is no respector of persons (Rom. 2:11), this nation began to decline from greatness when she turned away from her spiritual values and “forgot God” and began to indulge in “socially acceptable” sins.

I believe that the turning point from greatness to decay began in the late forties just as America reached the zenith of her greatness. At the close of World War II, the old saying that “prosperous times are dangerous times,” came to pass.

The introduction of television into our world changed our lives and country forever. No one in his wildest imagination could have foreseen the havoc that such an invention could bring to this nation as well as to all the industrialized countries.

The invention of television was not bad within itself. It is a fascinating but addictive thing. Estimates of the average hours a person watches TV in America is about six hours a day. In our affluence, many families have several TV sets in our homes: one in the den, in the kitchen, and in each bedroom.

But the wasted time before the silver screen is not the main problem. The main problem involves what is being shown and who determines programming. The sad facts are that programming is being done in all too many cases by ultra-liberal humanists (atheists). These evil people have gained control of the widest, most effective means of communication the world has ever known.

By controlling TV programming, these atheistic humanists control most news media, the educational systems of this country, including what textbooks are to be used, and alarmingly, the Federal Judiciary which they manipulate through their legal arm  the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Because of the propagation of their rotten concepts of atheism through the means described above, I predict that the on-coming generation will be, to a large degree, agnostic! A few years ago, there was an article in Humanist magazine in which the author exhorted school teachers to use the classrooms as pulpits for humanism. I know of no more effective way to brainwash a generation  in this case, our children and grandchildren. Beware my brethren.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: No 19, p. 12-14
October 7, 1993

By Andy Alexander

There are issues which children of God are faced with in every age and our age is no different. The sins remain the same, but the particular ones that must be dealt with more specifically vary from time to time. It is good to analyze the specific issues of our time so that we can be on the alert and defend the truth against any attack (1 Pet. 5:8).

The preaching of Jesus and the apostles sounded an alarm. They tried to alert people to the dangers about them. Jesus warned his listeners of false teachers in the Sermon on the Mount and Paul warned the elders at Ephesus about corruption from within the eldership and attacks from without (Matt. 7:15-20; Acts 20:28-32). Thus, one of the works a gospel preacher should be engaged in is the work of warning the brethren of dangers. This brings us to an issue we face in the church today. There seems to be less and less warning coming from preachers today and when some do sound a clear warning signal, they are derided for being alarmists and divisive.

Sermons that call the names of false teachers and their heresies are not wanted in many churches today. They are considered out of place in our refined society. That may be one reason why some churches have problems, because the problems seep in and fester for a few years and then finally erupt. Had adequate warning been given, the problems may have been recognized much earlier and taken care of before much damage could be done.

Soft, compromising preaching is an issue that faces us today in the church of our Lord. Preaching that would make a member of a denominational church comfortable at our services may be truth, but not the truth that is needed. Some preachers avoid sermons that specifically deal with the works of the flesh. They are aware that members are present who are involved in those sins and are afraid that direct preaching from the pulpit on such might scare them off. This lack of strength is conditioned by fear of losing one’s source of income, which may result in a cramped lifestyle. Gospel preachers must always remember that we are accountable to God and not to man for the message we preach (1 Thess. 2:4).

Another issue facing the church today is worldliness. Christians who blend in with the world are not friends with God (Jas. 4:4). More and more we hear sins of worldliness being defended by Christians. Mixed swimming, attending the high school prom, drinking of intoxicants, the wearing of shorts and other scanty attire, and watching filthy entertainment on television or at the movies are some of the activities that are being practiced and defended by some Christians today. The influence of Christians is disintegrating as they condone more and more of these sins. Many churches have members in them who participate in one or more of these sins and other members who would oppose these sins sit silently by and slowly deteriorate. They have not the faith in God or his word to firmly stand against the error among the members of the local congregation.

Worldliness is an ever-present danger and we must be reminded about its deceptiveness and taught about its various forms. Elders who chaperone dances and preachers who defend their right to do so are examples of how far into worldliness some have gone. The frog that slowly boils to death a degree at a time is just as dead as if he had been run over by a car. Many Christians are slowly but surely headed down the road of spiritual death.

The cares of this world is another danger in the church today. Jesus warned about this in Luke 8:14 when he said, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are chocked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring o fruit to perfection.” Sometimes our wants turn into our needs and we spend countless hours working for that which will perish one day (Jn 6:27). During those hours of working for the perishable, our spiritual side diminishes until it finally dies altogether. A life that at one time was filled with zeal for the Lord gradually smothers to death. What a horrible and tragic waste. Rarely does one go down this road without taking some with him; the wife, the children, or others in the Lords body.

Another issue we face today is the issue of fellowship. We are being encouraged, by once faithful gospel preachers, to fellowship false teachers. These false teachers are defended because they only teach a “little” bit of error. How much error does one have to teach or practices before he displeases God?

Rat poison is 98% grain and only 2% poison. Does the fact that a rat only eats a small amount of poison in relation to the amount of good grain change the rend result? He is just as dead as if he had eaten 100% poison. Those teaching error on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, the deity of Christ, or any other soul-damning heresy are to be marked and avoided (Rom 16:17). Those advocating that faithful Christians fellowship them should also be marked and avoided as they, too, have stepped outside the doctrine of Christ (2 Jn 9-11; Eph. 5:11). This is a growing problem among churches today and brethren need to be taught Gods truth on these matters.

These are some of the issues we face today. They have faced brethren before and some have stood and others have fallen. Le us be like the Bereans who “received that word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). And then, after receiving that word, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Cor. 16:13).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: No 19, p. 15
October 7, 1993

By Daniel H. King

God’s world is filled with many wonders which testify to his greatness and power. As David wrote in his appraisal of the creative work of God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge” (Psalms 19:1, 2).

Many examples of this could be offered to the interested reader. Here we would like to mention one of the fish found in the world’s oceans, the deep-sea anglers. They appear to belong to science-fiction rather than the real world. Inhabiting the deep oceans at depths of over one mile, the deep-sea anglers possess some amazing capabilities which suit them to this inhospitable environment.

These fish belong to a group of marine fish (order Laphiiformes, suborder Ceratioidei) whose foremost dorsal spine in the female is located on the head and elongated into a “fishing rod” tipped with “fleshy” bait. The bait is dangled in front of her mouth and when another creature comes near enough to investigate a possible meal, the curious one suddenly becomes a meal. However, at the depth of one mile, there is no light; how then can the bait be seen? Most deep-sea fish have some kind of light-producing capability. The angler fish is no exception, it possesses this light in the “bait,” and it is primarily the light which attracts the prey. It is produced by a complex chemical process: luciferin is oxidized by molecular oxygen with the aid of the enzyme luciferase. The result is a flourescent bait which can be readily manipulated so as to supply food to the angler even in the darkest recesses of the ocean.

The deep-sea angler has another unique feature. Thelarge female is generally found with several smaller fish attached to its abdomen. At first these were thought to be its young. Later investigations uncovered the amazing fact that these were the male of the species. Upon emergence from the larval to the adult state, the male searches out a female and bites into her abdomen. Eventually their tissues blend and the circulatory systems unite into one and the male literally lives the rest of his life as a parasite of the female. The all-important matter of finding a mate in a pitch-black sea is thus uniquely solved.

This fish is also different in that it lacks a swim-bladder. In most marine fish there is a small air-sac that provides sufficient buoyancy to prevent sinking. But sinking to the bottom is precisely what the deep-sea angler requires; hence, it has no swim bladder. Besides, even if one were present, it would not be able to withstand the tremendous pressures of the deep ocean (at these depths the pressure is in excess of 2000 pounds per square inch). The angler’s entire system is amazingly well suited to fit the hostile environment of the ocean depths.

The modem evolutionist tells us that these systems have merely developed in order to adapt this creature to its environment. (As though their godless processes of mechanical change were some sort of Supreme Being looking to the needs of each of its creations.) We need to ask ourselves, however, “What environment did the angler inhabit until it developed these systems?” And, again, “How could it have survived in the deep oceans until it did develop these unique mechanisms?” The answer is that God provided these systems to this miniscule but magnificent part of his creation to fit it for survival. These are not changes which existing species of fishes evolved, they are the product of the handiwork of God!

… God provided these systems to this miniscule but magnificent part of his creation to fit it for survival. These are not changes which existing species of fishes evolved, they are the product of the handiwork of God!

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 18, p. 19
September 16, 1993

By Harry A. Osborne

At 10:35 am. on Monday morning, August 16. 1993, Robert Wayne La Coste left the pain and sickness of this temporal world to receive his reward. For the past week, I have alternated between laughter as I have remembered so many blessings he brought to my life and tears as I think how much I miss him. Bob was more tome than my sisters husbandhe was my brother, no in-law” attached. From the time he was dating Carolyn. our family received him as our own.

For the past two years as he continued to preach, Bob was on oxygen at all times. His problems with his lungs had started in childhood with having pneumonia in each of his first eight winters. At age eight, the lower lobe of one lung had to he removed. In addition to this problem, he also had bronchitiss from childhood, a disease which slowly destroys the ability of the lungs to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. The only solution to his condition was a double lung transplant. He was on the list awaiting that transplant when he passed away.

Over the last two months, Bob reminded the whole family that things would soon he much better one way or the other. He would either be able to resume his responsibilities in this life with new lungs or he would depart and he with the Lord. When the window of opportunity for the transplant passed, he calmly accepted death without fear or question. By his example, he preached a great sermon on faith in the face of death to all of those around him. In the last hours before a transplant became impossible, drugs could not ease his pain. He asked the family to sing spiritual songs and read Scripture. Carolyn remained by his side at all times singing untold numbers of hymns. The brethren at the Kleinwood congregation made a tape of songs for him. Unable to make a sound due to the ventilator tube down his throat, Bob mouthed the words. The thought of spiritual things calmed him when nothing else could.

My first thoughts of preaching the gospel came as a result of my admiration for Bob in his proclamation of the truth. As a teenager, Bob involved me in preaching trips to the Northwest with him. Much of Bob’s time in meetings was spent with small, struggling works in the West, Northwest, and into Canada. Many brethren from those places asked for his funeral to be taped because they could not come to it personally. Bob loved those brethren dearly, and that loved was reciprocated.

In 1 Timothy 4, the apostle instructed Timothy that “a good minister of Christ Jesus” must be “nourished in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine” (v. 6). He later adds,

Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that they progress may be manifest unto all. Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee (vv. 15-16).

By that measure, Bob was “a good minister of Christ Jesus.” He was diligent in the study and declaration of God’s will, giving himself wholly to such. He did not merely preach one standard while he lived by another. A constant inspection of his own life was a daily task for Bob. His teaching also underwent his constant scrutiny to make certain he spoke the truth which makes men free, rather than the cancerous message of error. Wherever Bob want, souls who would hear the truth were aided in their search for the salvation offered in Christ.

I remember going with Bob to his meetings both as a teenager and in my beginning years of preaching. It was very unusual if there were no baptism during the week. Those who heard Bob heard the truth and they knew he wanted them to obey it. His sincerity was readily apparent. His lessons did not delve into sociology, psychology or the fads of the day. They were simple, Bible-based lessons which plainly identified sin and its consequences while upholding the solution available through the gospel of Christ.

Bob also sought to lead souls to Christ by meeting the charge to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). He had debates with those from denominationalism and institutional churches. Bob understood the good done when the conflict between truth and error is brought into focus. In a debate with a United Pentecostal preacher in Sunnyside, Washington, that good was especially apparent. The Pentecostal moderator left the United Pentecostal Church on the last night of the debate. Several families from a liberal church left liberalism to take a stand for the truth saying, “This kind of teaching would never be allowed where we are.” In addition, the church as a whole was strengthened by seeing the power of truth.

In areas of the country where there was a loud call for compromise on divorce and remarriage, the “A.D. 70 doctrine,” and other errors, Bob raised his voice in defense of the truth. Instead of following the popular path by remaining silent on the issues, Bob boldly preached the truth on these and other subjects. He loved the souls of men and women too much to let them remain in the paths of sin and error due to ignorance. His influence in opposition to the current apostasy will be greatly missed.

When the time came that men would not endure the sound doctrine closer to home, Bob did not scratch itching ears, but continued to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:1-5). I was in a meeting where Bob preached not long ago and heard the sounds of compromise and error from several influential members. It was clear that those following the path of digression had no love for Bob and wanted him to leave. His kindness towards them despite their animosity was a testimony to his character. I will never forget the night during that meeting when he broke down in tears and we prayed for those who stridently opposed him and the Lord’s will. Bob truly lived the admonition of Romans 12:14-21.

If Bob had not been related to me, I would have still esteemed him “exceeding highly in love” for his work’s sake (1 Thess. 5:13). However, in addition to my love for him as a fellow-worker in the cause of Christ, he was my brother and my friend. We often spoke of our mutual love for one another and, in the words of the wise man, spoke of each other as “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). A deep and unceasing ache abides within my heart because I miss him so much. Though I am happy for his move to a better home, I find it more difficult than I ever imagined to be without him. Our family has been left with a huge void that he always filled with joy.

As Bob passed from this life, our family was by his side. Our love was with him throughout and continues until we meet him again before the eternal throne where there will be no more separations. As he drew his last breath, I tried to sing “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” Though the words would not come out, that was and is the sentiment of my heart. Heaven is more real to me now than it was before. My desire to be there is increased. It is the hope given to us as Christians which makes our time of sorrow more bearable than that of the world (1 Thess. 4:3-18). I do not say, “Farewell,” to my brother, but only, “God be with you till we meet again. I love you, brother.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 18, p. 24-25
September 16, 1993