Truth Magazine

By Randy Reynolds

Parents, wouldn’t it be nice if our children could grow up in a bubble isolated from every evil influence? Wouldn’t it be great if they would somehow avoid hearing vulgar language and not be exposed to so much ungodliness via television and music? Obviously all parents who are striving to do that which is right fear the sinful influences that their children must face on a daily basis. And at times most parents have tried to plan and scheme (at least in their minds) how they can provide a perfect environment for their children so that they can be protected from facing the temptation of worldliness. However parents soon discover that this place called utopia that they are seeking for their children does not exist. It’s probably a good thing that it doesn’t because if it did we would raise children who are severely handicapped.

What Can We Do?

Since we cannot realistically remove all evil influences from their lives, as parents what can we do? How can we assist our children in making the right choices?

First and foremost in my estimation is your child’s home environment. What do they see at home? (“What have they seen in your house?” cf. 2 Kgs. 20:15; Isa. 39:34). If we want our children to follow the Lord then we must show them what it means to love the Lord and put him first in our lives. Far too often our children see that we are not as committed as we tell them that they must be. Parents, our children are not stupid! As a matter of fact they are very intelligent and very observant individuals. Thus, we must demonstrate for them the life that we would have them to live in service to the Lord. They need to see with their own eyes what serving the Lord is all about.

Second, parents we must retake control of our homes and our children. We are the ones whom God has placed in charge. Yet in many homes the children have assumed command. They tell their parents where they are going, what they are going to do and when they will be back. Solomon clearly tells us that children are not capable of making all of their own decisions (cf. Prov. 22:15). Parents, we are the ones that God has placed in charge in the homes. We must be the one who make the decisions for our children until they are old enough and mature enough to make them for themselves.

Third, instead of focusing on placing our children into that perfect environment we should be concentrating on how we will raise them to love the Lord in spite of the ungodliness that they must face. The Bible shares with us the fact that Timothy grew up in Lystra (Acts 16:1,2). Do a little research on this Asia Minor city when you have the time. When you do you’ll find that Timothy grew up in an environment where idol worship was prominent. Generally idol worshippers were more immoral than those who had no religion at all. These were people who stoned Paul until they thought he was dead (Acts 14:8,20). Are you interested in trading environments with Timothy? Not me!

How did Timothy grow up to be the devoted follower of the Lord that he was? He was taught right from wrong. He was instructed to choose good and reject evil (cf. Prov. 22:6; Rom. 12:9; 1 Pet. 3:8-16). And the indication from Acts 16:1 is that Timothy was instructed in the way of right in spite of his father. Timothy was blessed with a mother and grandmother who truly loved God and his word (2 Tim. 1:5).

Fourth, prayer must be important to us as parents. I would like to think that I could be a perfect parent. I would like to thank that my example, along with all of my instruction that I have rendered, has been flawless. but it certainly doesn’t take long for us to swallow our pride and admit that we made mistake as parents. This is one of many places where prayer becomes very important. My prayer has been and continues to be, “Father please help my children to turn out alright in spite of my many mistake as their father. Help them, Father, to see that even though 1 do make mistakes that l am willing to repent and try harder the next time. Father, help them to see past the flaws in my imperfect example. Give me the courage, strength and wisdom to do better and to raise them in harmony with your will.”

Fifth, parents your children are going to make mistakes. It will be important how we deal with their mistakes. Sometimes we deal with their mistakes. Sometimes we would like to become like the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand. But that won’t help them nor will it help correct the wrong that has been committed. And we need to learn that we cannot correct their wrongs for them. That is their responsibility. We can instruct and guide in matters, but it’s their responsibility. It won’t help our children one iota if we either turn our heads or take their blame. And let me quickly add to that thought by saying, if we don’t teach our children the important of repentance for wrongs committed then they will soon lose their sorrow for sin. Apart from the many good things that my children have done and the good deeds that they have performed that continue to make me proud of them in my eyes, their greatest achievement continues to be their sorrow for sin and their voluntary willingness to repent.

Sixth, when a child admits wrong and tries to do better it’s time for celebration. I have learned many things from the account of the lost son that is recorded for us in Luke 15:11-32. Yet for a while I freely admit my focus in this passage was on the actions of the son, how he left and came back. But now my attention has been directed toward the actions of the father. While it is evident that the father rightfully demanded that his son repent for his wrong doing, it is the father’s attitude and actions toward his repentant son that fascinate me most. He didn’t continue to scorn his son over his sinful actions. Why? In my appraisal, simply because he was totally absorbed in celebrating his return!

Perhaps we can find a place in this world for our children where humanistic, atheistic, ungodly and immoral ways do not permeate the society. But until we do we’ll have to do the best we can where we are.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 10-11
August 5, 1993

By Kenneth D. Sits

A few weeks ago, the number one ladies tennis player of the world, Monica Seles, was stabbed while playing in a tennis tournament in Germany. During a break between games, an unknown man ran out on to the court and stabbed her between the shoulder blades. This criminal was wrestled to the ground while Monica moaned in the center of the court at the net. Fortunately, Miss Seles will physically recover from her stab wound.

Why was Monica Seles stabbed? Has she been involved in some outrageous crime worthy of death? No! Has she been on the fringe end of some political or religious group, making people violent from controversial viewpoints? No! Monica is quite reserved, seemingly as harmless as a fly. The man who stabbed her told the media why he did it. He stabbed Miss Seles because he wanted Steffi Graf, the number two ladies tennis player of the world from Germany, to once again be the number one player. Can youbelieve that! This man was willing to kill Miss Seles for Miss Graf to be number one again. He was willing to kill in order to have what he wanted. I am sure that every superstar in modern athletics has been checking his back-side since this incident has occurred.

Friends, these kinds of incidents continue to escalate around the world. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (NKJV). When men turn their backs on God’s inspired Word and determine to live only for themselves, society deteriorates to the level of “every man out for himself.” When immorality runs unchecked, when standards are ignored, when “kill or be killed” is the motto of the day, death and destruction will always be the catastrophic result.

I have heard several people say, “Why has God given man all those laws? He must be a mean God, ordering people around like that!” Why you ask? To protect us from ourselves. Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:24, “And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is this day.” When man hates God and his laws of righteousness and morality, he often turns into a brutal, selfish, uncontrolled maniac who will have his way, regardless of who or what is standing in his way. What else could possibly explain the infamous L.A. riots last year? Over 50 people lost their lives because total selfishness and ungodliness was on parade.

When you consider that listing in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, you can find a lot of people who fit those wicked character descriptions. You don’t have to look very long to find many who live only to please their passions and pleasures. They have lost respect for authorities figures and reject the Bible as God’s word. Even within some churches of Christ, strife, contention and worldliness have become the order of the day. Paul told Timothy to turn away from such people (v. 5). The church of Christ must stand up against those who are filled with themselves, serving only them-selves. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me.” If people would follow after the King, society wouldn’t have to carry guns for self protection. It wouldn’t have prisons filled with rebellious, evil people. It wouldn’t have Monica Seles with a knife wound in her back.

That evening, most of the sportscasters that I saw seemed visibly shaken and unsettled by this incident. Steffi Graf went and saw Monica Seles in the hospital, obviously an emotional wreck over what happened. Many shake their heads and wonder what this world is coming to. Jesus has been trying to tell us for almost 2000 years. Isn’t it time that all of us take his words of heavenly wisdom to heart? Now is the time to examine ourselves in light of the wickedness revealed by Paul in 2 Timothy 3. How do we compare? It’s not too late to change with Jesus’ help.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 11-12
August 5, 1993

By Al Sandlin

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. 0 when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord (Psa. 101:2-8).

Let us pause for a moment of consideration of this great Psalm of David. How easy it is and how frequently we tend to blame others for our misdeeds and poor judgments! Not so with David. This man after God’s own heart takes total and complete responsibility for his own behavior rather than placing the blame on someone else.

Let us notice the sequence of things here. He first makes up his mind that the way of integrity shall be the norm for him. His declaration is, “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way” (KJV). “7 will give heed to the blameless way” (NASV). When an individual makes up his mind to behave in a certain way, with determination he accomplishes that goal. David’s assertion is one thing, but to follow through is quite another matter. The all-important ingredient here is the resolution of the will of the individual to follow a specific course of action.

Coupled with this resolution to do right must be the de-termination to seek the right way, the way of integrity, the way of blamelessness. In all of life’s situations, the resolution demands that the right way be sought out and then perform-ed. The man of honesty will soon learn “that a man’s way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). So a righteous man is made to acknowledge as did David in Psalm 19:7-8, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Wanting to follow in the way of righteousness not only teaches one that he must pursue after God’s way, but also that prayer to that end is a necessity. Look at a prayer of David in Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me thy ways, 0 Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Again, in Psalm 27:11, “Teach me thy way, 0 Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

In order to accomplish this behavior in blamelessness, David says in Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Prior to David becoming involved with Bathsheba he did not have this determination, else his sins of the flesh would not have brought him down. The lust of the eyes has been a problem with mankind ever since Eden. How keenly aware is David of the power of sight. Paul said, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess. 5:22). Especially in our day, our grit must equal that of David if we are to resist the temptations thrown in our path by Satan. The books, movies, plays, magazines, provocative clothing, et al, of our day are, in so many cases, designed with an appeal to sensuality through sight. Be careful little eyes what you see!

Notice in Psalm 101:3 that he hates “the work of them that turn aside.” He does not hate the doers but that which is done. We too, must be sensitive to the need of a soul, that is, to be saved. In James 5:20, the statement is made, “Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” So many times it seems next to impossible to separate the doer from his deeds. It is imperative, dear Christian, that we develop a tenderness for lost souls. Would you be a Christian unless someone had a love for your soul? Are we so selfish that we have no interest in the eternal destiny of others? The person under consideration in verse 3 is the one who has fallen away; not the wicked per se. He mentions the utterly wicked in vv. 7-8.

Finally, in order to behave wisely, we need the influence of the faithful on our own lives. Psalm 101:6 (NASV), “My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.” We are known by the friends we keep. Had you rather be around the faithful or the worldly? The idea in this passage is to watch and make their ways of faithfulness my ways and to surround myself with them and their good influence. May God help us to be serious about the lives that we live while here upon the earth. Let us pray that he will lead us in the paths of righteousness and that as he leads us, we will gladly and willingly follow and bring along any and all that we can persuade on this side of eternity.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 14, p. 11
July 15, 1993

By Paul J. Casebolt

The apostle Peter said that in Pauls epistles there were “some things had to be understood” (2Peter 3:16)

I do not understand that Peter was paying Paul a “left-handed” compliment, and neither does Peter mean to discourage us from trying to understand divine revelation. He is simply stating some facts, and when we look at the context of his statements, it is easy to understand why some of Paul’s writings may be hard for some people to understand.

Peter had just made the statement that “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (v. 15). In the earlier part of the chapter, Peter had been speaking of God’s longsuffering and how it could lead people to repentance and salvation. Consider the conditions under which Paul wrote on these things, including events which must precede the second coming of Christ.

At times, Paul had to explain the differences between the law of Moses and the law of Christ to fleshly Israelites who were rooted in traditions and customs which often contradicted the very law which they claimed to observe. They were so “high minded” because of the advantages which they had over the Gentiles, that they failed to benefit from those advantages (Rom. 3:1,2; 9:4,5). The Jew was so busy excluding the Gentile that he (the Jew) denied himself of those promises to be found in Christ and the gospel of the new covenant.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Gentile could not understand why God was longsuffering toward his people and suffered their manners through several instances of apostasy (cf. Jer. 50:7; Rom. 2:24). Neither could the Jew understand how that God’s longsuffering toward them should lead to the salvation of Gentiles, and ultimately to the salvation of the Jews themselves (Rom. 9:22-26).

The difficulty of the Jew to accept God’s longsuffering as a means of salvation for the Gentiles is seen in the objections of Peter’s Jewish brethren when he went to the Gen-tiles in Caesarea (Acts 11:1ff), in the objections at the Jerusalem conference (Acts 15:5), and even in Peter’s own “dissimulation” (Gal. 2:12).

When Paul has to write through and around such prejudice and tradition, it is no wonder that some of his epistles may contain “things hard to be understood”not because the gospel is hard to understand, but it is hard to get it into hearts that are filled with prejudice and unbelief.

To the Jews who sought justification by the works of the law of Moses, it was hard to explain justification by faith not by faith only, but by an obedient faith which works by love. And it is still hard today to explain to souls steeped in the doctrines and commandments of men how that we can be saved by “grace through faith” and by works which make our faith perfect (Eph. 2:8-10; Jas. 2:14-26).

Circumstantial evidence may indicate that Paul is the author of the Hebrew epistle. But whether or not that is true, this epistle serves to explain why it is hard to explain some things to some people.

Concerning the priesthood of Christ, the writer said, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11). The fault was not with the writer, but with the hearers. Jesus himself resorted to parables in his teaching because of blindness and hardness of heart (Matt. 13:13). I have no trouble explaining the joys and heartaches of a preacher to another preacher (or his family), but at times find it next to impossible to ex-plain those emotions to others.

And let us remember that Peter said there were “some things” hard to be understood, not all things. And the ones who wrested these things were unlearned and unstable readers who did the same thing with other Scriptures.

If we have an “honest and good heart” (Lk. 8:15), we can understand the “mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). And the more we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of.. . Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18), the better we will understand.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 14, p. 10
July 15, 1993