Truth Magazine

By Rick Christian

After a long, gray winter comes the onset of summer and the warmth of the sun and the blossoming of colors we all love to behold. I must admit, I enjoy that time of year and anticipate it greatly as it draws closer. Sometimes though, we have a tendency to forget our convictions in the summer months. This ought not be, for the Lord is not pleased with the “seasonal” Christian. It is at all times we must let our light shine to exemplify the fact that we are a peculiar people! (Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:9)

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:2 “ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” The term “memory” here is from the original which means to “hold fast” and involves a strict, constant, steadfast adherence to the faith of God. This is not a flippant recall but a determination to stand continually on the precepts of God by continuing to mold one’s intellect, emotions and will around Jesus Christ! The problems which occurred at Corinth were their failures to remember the things which they had been taught by the apostle Paul. Remember, they had received the things he preached (I Cor. 15:1), but failed to remember to hold fast to them. Paul stated in v. 2 that their salvation rested upon the remembrance of the things which he had taught them!

In an effort to remind us of things we ought never to forget (especially in the summer), let us note the following:

Let’s Not Forget to Be Modest

“Modesty”  simply “decent, restrained” (Webster). “unassuming; restrained; decent; retiring in manner and not excessive” . . . Greek (kosmios)  “orderly, well arranged, decent, modest.”

In the warm climate one often finds on the part of some, a casting off their attire. Men and boys parade in public with no shirt on or pants so short or tight that it leaves nothing for the imagination. Women and girls wear halter tops or short shorts and dresses so short they find themselves tugging at material which will not stretch any further in an effort to cover themselves. This seemingly is an admission that this apparel is immodest!

Men, boys, women and girls may be enticed to attend a mixed swimming pool and parade in attire which is less covering than what they wore to bed the night before! Remember, God sees you whether you are in your local town at the swimming pool or away at the crowded beach. Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Don’t forget, immodest dress causes men to sin (Matt. 5:27,28; Prov. 7:6-23; Rom. 14:21). Immodest dress causes women to sin (Rom. 14:21; 1 Tim. 2:9  “In like manner … “). Let’s not lose our ability to blush this summer. Let’s not forget that immodesty is sinful and can cause one to lose his soul!

By searching God’s word we can see that the terrible con-sequences of the sins of immodesty are many. Many mothers will be lost who did not set the proper example in dress. Many men will be condemned who fell prey to immodesty of women and who failed to restrain those in his household in this respect. Now is the time to “live soberly, righteously and godly!” (Tit. 2:11,12)

Let’s Not Forget to Assemble

“Let’s play ball,” may be on the lips of some as soon as summer arrives. Sports mania! Now, before everybody has a heart attack let me say that I enjoy sports just like the next person. Basketball, baseball, you name it, I like it, but, I will not allow it to become an obsession!

Sometimes folks becomes so obsessed with it that that’s a lot more important to them than mid-week Bible study, attending a gospel meeting or any other service for that matter.

If you are a Christian, you understand the Bible commands that we assemble (I-kb. 10:25). Jesus says in John 14:15  “If ye love me keep my commandments.” Failure to assemble is the sin of omission. James 4:17  “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Assembly is essential for the proper function of the church (Eph. 4:12-16). How then can this function and mission be successfully accomplished if 1 do not meet and serve and worship with the saints?

Don’t let the Lord become second in your life this summer. If your child’s sport function, or any other function is put first in his life, what message are you sending? Talk to that coach, leader, teacher, whoever and explain to them that assembling is important to you. Most people will understand when you say, “I think ball is important but I think the service of the Lord is more important!” Matthew 6:33a  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. . . ” Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Let’s Not Forget the Lord While We’re on Vacation

What a privilege it is to live in a country that affords us the freedom of travel, to see places we have longed to see. It’s refreshing. But, when you go on vacation, do you think ahead about where to assemble with saints? (Remember what you just read above about the command to assemble.) The congregation here where I am a member has a directory of churches which is very helpful. I know when we leave to go on vacation my wife fixes the family food to eat as we travel. We certainly must not forget that food! I doubt when you leave on vacation you forget the physical food thus, lets not forget to attend feeding time on spiritual things as well! I should have a compelling “desire” for such food (Matt. 5:6; 4:4; 1 Pet. 2:2-3).

Do you plan on being just as morally sound away from home as you do while at home? Let’s not feel that geographical location can allow me to engage in things I wouldn’t otherwise do at home. Because I am away from those who know me should not permit me to behave in ways which I wouldn’t if I were home! This is not the will of God!

Jonah tried to run away from the Lord but the Lord knew where he was all along! David states in Psalm 139:7-10 “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If 1 ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Think seriously of the message we send our children, if they see us behave in an immoral way while away from home. It’s going to be rather difficult to expect them to act godly at school, a friend’s house, college etc. when they witness their parents behaving unseemly while away from home!

Before I conclude let me also state that we must not forget the Lord while we’re on vacation with respect to our giving on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1,2). Do you make sure your contribution to the Lord is prepared for the first day of the week even while on vacation? Sometimes individuals may feel a vacation looses them from the responsibility to give locally on the first day of the week.

Remember friend, when you leave your own residence and travel afar, you may leave behind bills to be paid but those bills still must be paid; thus, money is prepared ahead of time to take care of those bills. In the work of the church there are bills that must be paid even if I go on vacation! Prepare ahead that the week you are gone the work doesn’t suffer because you didn’t plan ahead in recognition that you would be gone (I Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9).

I hope everyone has a safe and joyous summer and most of all I hope that we who profess to be Christians will not fail in our profession this summer or any other season of the year!

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 21-22
May 20, 1993

By Dean Gibson

The cross of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to you? What does it symbolize? Is it an image to be worn proudly by a Christian? It is referred to in the Bible as the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). It is also referred to as a symbol of shame (Heb. 12:2)! Symbols can be very strong messages of attitude. Consider the sign of the swastika during World War II, unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, or the “sign of the cross.”

Let us consider the cross in both history and Scripture. The first time we read of “a cross” in the Bible is in Matthew 10:38 and 16:24, where Jesus says if one wants to follow him, he must “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” This does not refer back to Jesus’ cross, for he had not yet been crucified. It is unlikely, at that time, that his disciples knew what he meant. “The Greek word stauros means merely `a stake'” (Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, 1863 Ed., Vol. 1, p. 364). Whether Jesus spoke in Greek or not, the word is not used literally, but from this context we can see that the idea which best fits for the word “cross” is “attitude of self-sacrifice.” This, then, is one way the word “cross” is used as a literary symbol (a “word” symbol as opposed to a “thing” symbol).

What other ideas are symbolized by the “cross” in Scripture? First, where the four witnesses of the Gospel describe the actual crucifixion of Jesus, there is no metaphorical or symbolic meaning at all. He did not carry a symbol up the streets of Jerusalem; nor was he symbolically nailed to a metaphorical cross. It was as real as pain and as literal as the blood from his side.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul wrote, “For the preaching (lit., “word”) of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” He referred to the part of the gospel which says that God died on the cross by Roman hands, a fact which seems self-contradictory to unbelievers (“How could men kill a god?”), but the most wonderful of miracles to the saved! In the parallel passage of Romans 1:16, Paul says the “gospel of Christ” is the “power of God unto salvation.” So, sometimes the word “cross” stands for “the gospel.”

Again, in Ephesians 2:16, Philippians 2:8, Colossians 2:14, and Hebrews 12:2, the word means his “death by crucifixion.” The “cross of Jesus” is, then, a literary symbol of several scriptural ideas. The songs that we sing about the cross, which use the same metaphors as the Scriptures, do not misuse or abuse the word.

But what about the cross as an image: used as the “logo” of Christianity; an architectural design on buildings; worn as a talisman or charm against evil in the form of a crucifix (the body of Christ on a cross)? Historians are in unusual agreement about these practices:

As the emblem of a slave’s death and a murderer’s punishment, the cross was naturally looked upon with the profoundest horror, and closely connected with the ideas of pain, of guilt, and of ignominy (shame DG, E. Gibbon, Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 2, p. 153).

The early Christians generally avoided representing the body of Christ on the cross, for the first evidence of such representation comes from the 5th century. In fact, until the 4th century, even the simple cross rarely appeared in public (New Catholic Encyclopedia [NY: Catholic Univ. of America, 1967], Vol. IV, p. 473).

It was not till the 6th century that the emblem of the cross became the image of the crucifix (Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, p. 366).

It is often hard for present-day people, after the cross has been glorified for so many centuries, to imagine the disgrace linked with crucifixion during Roman times. For the ancients, the word itself carried not a single positive connotation. . . . Centuries were to pass before Christians felt at ease representing Jesus on the cross pictorially (emphasis mine  DG) (After Jesus: The Triumph of Christianity [Reader’s Digest: 1992], p. 7).

Where did the glorification of the cross come from? What brought about such a change of attitude?

But after the celebrated vision of Constantine (312 A.D.), he ordered his friends to make a cross of gold and gems, such as he had seen, and the towering eagles resigned the flags unto the cross (R.L. Fox, Pagans and Christians [New York: Harper & Row, 1986], p. 613).

Thus under Constantine the church experienced a profound alteration in its attitude toward reproductions of the cross

The discovery of the word of the Savior’s cross, together with the worship and honor rendered to the cross, rapidly transformed the former reticence into conspicuous public devotion (The Encyclopedia of Religion (New York: Macmillan, 1987], Vol. 4, p. 162).

For those of us who are dedicated to restoring first century faith and practice, when the churches were built by the “apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, we should limit the cross to a literary symbol and use the proper symbols to “show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:26).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 5
May 20, 1993

By Micky Galloway

Israel was commanded to teach their children (Deut. 6:6ff, 20ff). They were to teach them the law of God, to know God, and to fear him (Deut. 31:9-13). The observance of the Passover was to be a means of reminding their children of the great works of God (Exod. 12:24ff). So also were the twelve stones that Joshua set up in Gilgal as a memorial of God parting the Jordan River so that the people could enter the land of promise (Josh. 4:20ff). They were to teach their children so that they would not forget God (Deut. 6:10ff). This involved talking with their children as well as teaching by their example. Yet, we read in Judges 2:10, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.”

We also are to teach our children. “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). In a world where the minds of our children are influenced by the degenerate teaching of worldly minded people, we must ask, “What are we teaching our children?”

What Are We Teaching Our Children About God?

God is the creator of heaven and earth and as a divine creator he possesses all the attributes of deity (Gen. 1:1). As the apostle Paul declared the one, true God unto the Athenians in Acts 17, he declared that even though they worshiped in ignorance, God had made them to “seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us”(v. 27). The Athenians were then commanded to repent, implying that they were account-able to God even though they were ignorant of God (vv. 30-31). Whatever they were doing, it was displeasing to God and they needed to repent. Yes, they were under law to God or they would need no repentance (cf. Rom. 4:15).

Paul spoke of the goodness and severity of God (Rom. 11:22). God’s goodness is manifested in the sending of his Son to die for the sinner (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). His severity is also revealed by Paul when he said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11; cf. Heb. 10:26-31). Examples of God’s righteous indignation are numerous. It is this righteous God of goodness and severity before whom we all stand and give an account of our lives (Rom. 14:11-12). Let us speak of him with honor and reverence that our children might learn to fear him and love him (Psa. 111:9).

What Are We Teaching Our Children About Jesus
As the Son of God?

His coming fulfilled prophecies that were made from the beginning, revealing the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3; Eph. 3:10). Even his conception was a miracle (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25). He came to offer salvation to a lost and dying world (Matt. 1:21; Lk. 19:10; I Tim. 1:15). What do we teach our children about why Jesus died? Oh yes, he died for our sins, but why was it necessary for Jesus to die for our sins? Do we teach our children how horrible sin is, to require the blood of Jesus? Do we teach them that the justice of God is seen in this sacrifice (Rom. 3:23-26)? Unfortunately, all that many children hear about Jesus is when something tragic occurs and the name of Jesus is uttered as a byword.

What Are We Teaching Our Children About the Bible?

It is the most wonderful and most available book in our age. Its message is from the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:10ff; cf. Jn. 12:49-50). It contains the words of life (Jn. 6:66-68; cf. Jn. 12:49-50). That word was delivered unto the apostles and recorded by them upon the pages of the New Testament (Jn. 17:8,14,18; Eph. 3:3). This message is all sufficient and complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jude 3). It is revealed in such a way that it is understandable (Eph. 3:3; 5:17). We are commanded to read it, study it, and teach it unto others (2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Do our children see us spending time with this wonderful book? Do they hear it read and taught in our homes? Do they perceive our reverence and respect for the words of Almighty God? I will never forget the words of sister Lena Hope (wife of brother B.G. Hope). She said that while her children were just babies, she would tell them that the big old book on the table in the living room (the family Bible) was God’s book. It was different than their story books. It contained the words of God. Perhaps we are just too busy to impress upon young minds the importance of understanding the words of God. Yes indeed, we are teaching our children about the Bible.

What Are We Teaching Our Children

About Their Purpose In Life?

Ecclesiastes 12 teaches that children are to “remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” If parents are not living lives before their children emphasizing that their purpose in life is to “fear God and keep his commandments, ” how can we expect children to realize the purpose for living and remember the Creator (Eccl. 12:13-14)? It takes time to obey God’s commandments. Considering that life is short and time is limited, many have so misconstrued their values that they do not have time to visit or teach or pray or study (Jas. 4:14-16). These are so busy “making a living” that they don’t have time to make a life for themselves or their families. When we diligently lay up treasurers on this earth and we believe that our lives consist of what we possess, be not deceived, we are teaching our children the purpose in life, but it is not to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Matt. 6:19ff; cf. Lk. 12:15ff). Small wonder why many sons and daughters of Christians cannot find time to worship and serve God. They are worshipping and serving God, just as their parents taught them!

What Are We Teaching Our Children

About Respect For Authority?

It is no mystery that crime is at an all time high and schools have difficulty with rebellious students and yes, even churches are plagued with the introduction of unauthorized practices when children are not taught respect for God’s authority. Respect for authority begins in the home. Children must be taught to obey (Eph. 6:1-4). Sometimes that involves the rod of correction (Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; 29:15). Notice what was to be done with a rebellious son under the law of Moses (Deus. 21:18ff). Unfortunately, many are not consistent in their teaching, but operate on the principal, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Our children are more perceptive than we think. They see our inconsistency and they are learning from our example.

What Are We Teaching Our Children

About the Church and Its Work?

Do our children ask on the Lord’s day whether or not we are going to church? My friends, this decision should have been made a long time ago (Heb. 10:25). It should be understood if it is time to assemble with the saints, we are going! Do our children understand why we have assembled? We have not come together to play or be entertained, but to worship God (Jn. 4:24). I have great admiration for the parents of children, who are teaching their children reverence for the occasion of worship and the distinctiveness of what the church is.

What Are We Teaching Our Children About Morality?

Oh, we may well teach against adultery and fornication, but dress our “sweet little Sally Mae” in attire that tempts everybody on the block to propose fornication (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; 1 Cor. 10:8; Prov. 7:10). We must teach our children regarding the permanence and sanctity of marriage and the home, but we must also help them understand what it means to “flee fornication” and to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:22). There was a time when parents instructed their children that certain circumstances were to be avoided because “it just doesn’t look good.” We live in a time when people commit all kinds of “abomination” and are not “ashamed, neither could they blush” (Jeri 6:15). Let us accept soberly the responsibility to teach our children to behave and dress modestly that their lives will be an example of purity (1 Tim. 4:12).

Israel failed to properly teach their children and the next generation did not “know Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.” Therefore, they did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. We are teaching our children both verbally and by our example, but what are we teaching our children? Certainly, the next generation will tell.

In the words of Helen M. Young from the poem “Children Won’t Wait,”

. . I will not exchange this birthright for a mess of pottage called social position, or business or professional reputation, or a pay check. An hour of concern today may save years of heartache tomorrow. The house will wait, the dishes will wait, the new room can wait, but children won’t wait. . . . May I know that no other career is so precious, no other work so rewarding, no other task too urgent. May I not defer it nor neglect it, but by the Spirit accept it gladly, joyously, and by Thy grace realize that the time is short and my time is now. For children won’t wait.

When we diligently lay up treasurers on this earth
and we believe that our lives consist of what we possess, be
not deceived, we are teaching our children the purpose in life,
but it is not to ‘fear God and keep his commandments’ (Matt. 6:19ff; cf.
Lk. 12:15ff). Small wonder why many sons and daughters of Christians cannot
find time to worship and serve God. They are worshipping and serving God,
just as their parents taught them!”

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 14-15
May 20, 1993

By P.J. Casebolt

“Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 6:9).

Not only does the wisdom of Solomon recommend contentment, but the Holy Spirit also stresses the need for this commodity in the New Testament (Phil. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; Heb. 13:5). Some cannot be content with little, and some cannot be content even with prosperity.

Children dream of fair lands where they eat what they want, play when they want, sleep when they want, and are accountable to no one. They can afford to dream. They have a place to sleep, plenty to eat and wear, and someone else to be responsible when things don’t go well. They can always turn to “the sight of the eyes” their parents.

Children will be children, but some adults have never outgrown their childhood.

A wife or mother may dream of a handsome man who will buy her nice things, whisper magic phrases, hire maids and servants to do all the chores, while she goes places and does things to her heart’s desire.

She can afford to engage in “the wandering of the desire” while she is waiting for her knight in shining armor to “take her away from all this.” Her husband is a hard worker and a good provider. She has healthy children, a comfortable home, and all the convenience anyone could want or need if her goal were to be a good wife and mother.

Her husband dreams of meeting an exciting waitress, a clerk, a successful business woman, a free spirit who is attractively clothed (or unclothed), charming, flattering, and has nothing to hold her down. She is “foot-loose and fancy-free” and would make an ideal companion to take on a vacation to some exotic land.

He thinks of the plain woman who “let’s herself go” after the honeymoon, and especially after the children came along. She’s always tired, gets behind in the housework, paying the bills, shopping, running errands and mowing the lawn. She doesn’t seem to have the time to comb her hair, put on makeup, and seldom wears attractive clothes around the house.

This fortunate husband can afford to indulge in “the wandering of the desire” while he watches TV, goes hunting or fishing, associates with the “boys” at the local hang-out, or chases other women.

His clothes are washed, his meals cooked, people brag on his children, and his financial broker (his wife), has juggled the paycheck to buy food, clothing, pay all the other bills and even have some left for the husband to spend on his favorite indulgence.

No wonder a man has time to dream. He has a queen without a throne.

The congregation has seen worse days. Times were hard when it struggled to rent the store building, buy a piece of ground, and finally build a modest but adequate church building. The congregation even suffered through the services of part-time preachers whose bodily presence was weak and their speech and manner unpolished (cf. 2 Cor. 10:10).

But, now the congregation has prospered, and it is time to think about its status in the community. It is time to dream of a more elaborate building and a “pastor” who can win friends and influence the wise, the mighty, and the noble with “good words and fair speeches” (1 Cor. 1:26; Rom. 16:18).

The congregation can afford to satisfy “the wandering of the desire,” because sacrificing members and down-to-earth preaching made all this possible.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 24-25
May 20, 1993