Truth Magazine

By Karjor A. Caldwell

Greetings from Sturgis. We continue to enjoy good health and rejoice in God’s continued blessings. I thank God so much for good, faithful brethren who have sup-ported me financially in preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. This help came from all over the U.S.A. May the Lord of heaven bless everyone of you.

The work here in Sturgis, Mississippi is coming along slowly but just fine. I am doing all the preaching, teaching, song leading and praying but I do not mind that one bit. With God’s help, we’re working to change that situation. In the meantime, the Lord’s work must go on! Sometimes I get a little discouraged because I am alone (single) but with God’s help and your prayers I can make it. Please remember me in your prayers.

Our regular attendance is between 17-20 members every Lord’s day. Two weeks ago our attendance reached its highest at about 30. All praise unto God for that. The brethren here (mostly sisters) are growing in the Lord’s word every time we meet. We have just finished studying brother Roy E. Cogdill’s book on The New Testament Church and now we are studying Walking By Faith. These brethren have come a long way in a short time. We praise God for this. By building up our own faith, we are preparing ourselves to be able to convert others. That is our goal, make no mistake about it! I have done some out-of-town preaching in the last three months in Jackson, Mississippi; Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; and Alabama. I am willing to preach the gospel of Christ anywhere I am needed, but at this point it is necessary for me to concentrate my efforts here at Sturgis. The Lord willing, now that the weather is warming up, I want to do some more personal work here in the Sturgis area. Pray for this effort.

Brethren, I wrote this letter to let all of you know how the work in Sturgis, Mississippi is coming along and how much I appreciate your help and financial support and prayers. Thanks to all of you brethren, I am now fully supported financially for this year. All praise and thanks go to God for his wonderful blessings. I will send a quarterly report to Guardian of Truth about the work here in Sturgis because of the interest already shown by its readers regarding our work. Thank you so very much for your help in everything.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 17, p. 19
September 2, 1993

By Tim Haile

Some local churches of Christ have become like the city dogpound. They take in all the strays that have been “run off’ from the other churches. These “dogpound” churches have the tolerance of the Corinthians when it comes to sin and immorality (1 Cor. 5:2). The purpose and importance of church discipline is clearly taught in the New Testament. It saves souls, aids in keeping the church pure, and the identity of the church is preserved and maintained (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Con 5:3-8 K 2 Cor. 2:6; Matt. 18:17; 2 Thess. 3:6,14). The 2 Thessalonians 3:6 passage makes it clear that churches do not have some type of “exempt option” by which they “opt out of practicing discipline.” Paul said, “We command you by the authority of Jesus Christ.” A church simply has no right to fellowship those who are not in fellowship with God (Eph. 5:11).

Are We Stronger Than God? (1 Cor. 10:22)

It is against God’s nature to forgive an unrepentant person, whether an alien sinner or a child of God (Acts 2:38; 8:22), but some Christians have the idea that they can “go the extra mile” and forgive the sinner regardless of his unwillingness to repent! They view themselves as “Christ-like” when in reality they are violating the very words of Christ. Jesus said, “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Lk. 17:3). We simply have no right to forgive those who will not repent of their sins! We are certainly taught to have a forgiving disposition. That is, we should be ready and willing to forgive when repentance does occur, but to do more is to “go beyond the doctrine of Christ” (Col. 3:13; 2 Jn. 9). This is thelesson that some churches have notlearned. Theyfeel they are doing a great service to God and man by taking people into their fellowship who have been “disfellowshipped” elsewhere. It is true that there are times when the righteous are withdrawn from by congregations that are ruled by the wicked (3 Jn. 9-11). I am not condemning their admittance. I am questioning the “open-arms” policy of so many churches of Christ which overlooks sin and its dangerous consequences. A little yeast will eventually “work through the whole batch of dough” (1 Cor. 5:6). When we knowingly and willingly receive sinners, then we are sinners!

How To Escape and Avoid “The Dogpound Syndrome”

1. Let us not become so concerned about numerical growth that we lose sight of the importance of the purity of the church (Eph. 5:25-27). One saved is better than one hundred lost. Churches sometimes lose their spiritual sense and objectivity when faced with the possibility of gaining a new family.

2. Question the new prospect(s). Sometimes people have just moved, and they are looking for a church to work and worship with. Sometimes people havebeen withdrawn from because of lying, sexual immorality, teaching false doctrine or other sins resulting in that person “walking disorderly” (Acts 5:3-5; 1 Cor. 5:1; Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6). The only way to find out is to ask! In my experience, those Christians who are dedicated and conscientious are happy to answer background questions. They are happy to know that this church is concerned about its own purity and standing with God.

Follow the Jerusalem church example. After Paul’s conversion (“Saul” at that time), he “straightway preached Christ in the synagogues” (Acts 9:20). When Paul went to Jerusalem and “tried to join the disciples,” they were “afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26). It was necessary for Barnabas to explain Paul’s situation to the Apostles at Jerusalem before they were willing to accept Paul. We read nothing in the New Testament that would indicate that the Jerusalem church was wrong in their refusal to accept Paul into their fellow-ship. They acted in accordance with their own best knowledge of the situation. In this case, the prospective member was in fellowship with God, but at that time the church did not know it. They refused fellowship until they found out the facts! By the way, this is an approved apostolic example since there were “apostles” in that Jerusalem church (Acts 9:27). We need to study, learn, and apply the New Testament lessons of the nature and extent of church fellowship. We need to understand the importance of the purity of the church and the purpose of church discipline. The failure to act may cost us our souls.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 17, p. 15
September 2, 1993

By Bobbie Jean Cook Burnett

Much is said today about surviving. We hear educators saying, “In order for our children to do more than just survive in today’s schools, teachers must challenge them each day to achieve their potential and soar to newer heights of learning.”

Business men emphasize the need for employers to do all they can to make sure their workplace is one that will survive when others may fail.

The entertainment world spends billions of dollars to ensure that their ratings will be at the top. Each network wishes to be the one that excels all others. They know that this is what they must do to survive.

Have you ever taken the time to really look at that word survive? Look at it closely, and you will notice the two ingredients that are necessary for any survival of perilous situations. They are U and I. Yes, you and I are the ingredients to assure survival.

You and I are the ones who must “be diligent to present ourselves approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” as Timothy reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:15.

Through diligent study we can provide the spiritual nourishment that will help us survive in a world so full of sin. As we fortify ourselves, we will be able to instruct others to godliness and faithfulness and thereby help them to survive so they, too, may teach others about God’s grace which called us to be saints (2 Tim. 2:2; Rom. 1:7).

You and I can strengthen our chances to survive wickedness by having faith which is the route to God’s saving grace that Paul told the Romans about (Rom. 5:1-2).

Only when we acted upon our faith did we repent of our sins as Luke tells us in Luke 13:3,5. Also, Peter told the people on the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church of our Lord, that they would have to repent if they wished to survive damnation (Acts 2:38).

Once we acted upon that faith which caused us to repent, we confessed that precious name of Jesus as the Ethiopian eunuch did in Acts 8:37.

This same faith catapulted us to be baptized for the remission of sins as commanded of us in Acts 10:48 and 2:38.

You and I can continue to survive when we show love for our brethren as we read in Romans 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, Hebrews 13:1, and many other places too numerous to mention in this short article. You and I can survive many obstacles if we would practice hospitality in our homes. This would eliminate even the thoughts of brethren engaging in social activities in the church buildings. We would avoid the condemning words of Paul when he wrote to the Corinthian brethren in 1 Corinthians 11:22. Also, we would do well to remember Paul’s words in Romans 12:13.

Elders can help the church survive slumps of spiritual depression by adhering to the admonition of Paul to Titus when the Holy Spirit guided him to write that :hey were to be hospitable.

You and I can assist spiritually to survive in our lives if we practice what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:9. It is one thing for you and me to be hospitable, but when we practice hospitality, Peter reminds us that it is not to be done by grumbling about having to do it but rather do it without grumbling.

Why not now resolve to do all we can to help the church survive in this old world of sin an strife? Remember it is us, U and I who can do this.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 17, p. 23-24
September 2, 1993

By Jady W. Copeland

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul admonished brethren to present themselves as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.” When one obeys the gospel, he becomes dead to sin, and alive in Christ. The same writer says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Hence, one giving himself to the Lord is totally committed to Christ in thought, word and action. We must not be conformed to the world, but dedicated totally to him who died for us. In “renewing of your mind” we see a total transformation of self (affections and will) to the service of God.

In previous articles we have established several principles which we summarize briefly:

 

 

1. We must not be con-formed to former lusts (1 Pet. 1:14).

 

 

2. Nothing comes between the dedicated Christian and God (Matt. 22:37).

 

3. The love of money is the root of evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

4. Covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5).

5. Material things are temporary; spiritual things are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18).

6. God is our Master in all things (Matt. 6:24).

7. Christians lay up treasures in heaven (Lk. 12:13-21).

In our study here, we want to make some specific applications showing how too much emphasis on the things of the world adversely affects the progress of the Lord’s work.

Giving into the Treasury

of the Church

While giving as prospered must be decided by each Christian, it is easy for us to reason that we are making a sacrifice when in reality we are not. Sacrificing means different things to different people. To some it may mean giving what is left after all other desires have been met. Some seem to never think that they should give up luxuries (expensive sports equipment, huge houses that they don’t
need, etc.) so they can give more to the Lord. Brethren, is it really true that we “can’t afford” to help one needing support to preach the gospel when we see many of the members living so luxuriously? We hear the elders announce that Brother Preacher wants to preach in China, but we (the church from its treasury) can’t afford to help him and then we leave, get into our $40,000 cars to go to our $150,000 homes. There just seems to be something wrong. In contrast the Macedonians gave out of their poverty because they were willing to give “themselves to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:2-5).

Neglect of Family

The second way the Lord’s cause is hurt by materialism is that it hurts the family life. The father takes two jobs so that he can have those luxuries, far above necessities, but in so doing he is home little with his boys or girls growing up. He sacrifices valuable time with the family in order to have things he could easily do without. I’m convinced that the reason many young people don’t obey the gospel is that they see Dad taking his religion so lightly. They can see by his example that the Lord and his church mean little to him, and often it is because of his working such long hours  unnecessarily. Fathers, remember the responsibility of bringing up the children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” has been given directly to you  the father. It is so easy to forget that the child (even in tender years) sees the examples of parents which make a lasting impression.

Then there is the working mother. This is perhaps even more devastating to the child. Sisters, there is no substitute for “mom.”‘ It really makes me heartsick to see so many day-care centers in our society. I think of the hundreds of children who are largely reared by people other than parents. The young woman becomes accustomed to a certain living standard and when married is not willing to live on her husband’s salary. So she continues to work, and when the baby comes, he is off to the day-care center. The question is this: “Is the extra money worth more than the time she has with that child?” I’m sure many mothers claim they can rear their child properly and work too, and I’ll admit that some do a pretty good job, but there is little room for argument that the mother who is with the child all day does a better job than the one who is gone one-third of the time and when she does come home, she is tired, irritable, and not in the best mood to deal with that child properly.

Work in the Local Church

As we noted in the last article, men need to plan carefully in choosing an occupation that lends itself to his best work with the local fellowship. The man with two jobs often cannot attend all of the assemblies. The man with dollars in his eyes too often is more concerned about his job than worship. Perhaps little things such as the second communion on Sunday night has played into the hands of those who say, “I can worship tonight.” While it is not wrong to have the communion on Sunday night, it is an easy excuse for the one who likes material things so much he is willing to give up much of his time for money. A man once told me he took the second job, and he would make so much money that he could perhaps buy a plane to take me to meetings. He not only never got around to that, but now has quit the Lord entirely. The excuse that making more money allows one to give more is a “cop-out” pure and simple. His problem is that he is serving the god of materialism instead of the God of heaven.

Many men with two jobs, or even one that takes themaway from home nights (or one that takes them from home much of the time), simply cannot be of as much service to the Lord in the local church. Certainly motivation must be considered here, but if the motivation is one’s desire for money he must consider carefully this: “Can I afford to miss out on working for the Lord because of the extra money I am making?” It was indeed refreshing to hear a man say recently that in his schooling and in choosing an occupation, he thought first of the time he would have to spend in personal work, and other activities in the local church. “If every member of this church were just like me in the amount of time I have to do the Lord’s work) what kind of a church would this church be?”

Another way the Lord’s church is affected by material-ism in the local church is that due to so much leisure time many think too much of week-end pleasures  camping, boating, fishing, and going to the beach or mountains. How can one be of much value to the Lord with the local church if he is gone one or two week-ends out of the month? The curse of “week-ending” is another blight on the growth of many churches. The concept is “I go to church” while away. Maybe (but some don’t), but even if they do, do they not realize that being gone so much is hurting their work for the Lord? They not only have little time for personal work, etc., but the being gone so much has an affect on the attitude of other members of the body.

The Effect of Materialism

on Children

Children learn from their parents. Not only is this true in politics, economics, and social graces, but it is also true in religion. First they teach them the improper attitude to-ward money as exemplified in the above points. But in the next place, when they see their parents with the attitude toward recreation, missing services for trivial things, and other forms of indifferences, they grow up with the idea that this is proper and right.

In the parable of the rich man (Lk. 12) we note that the man was evidently not immoral, and he also provided for his family well so far as we can see, but he was not thinking enough of his eternal welfare but more on “things.” or

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 17, p. 12-13
September 2, 1993