Truth Magazine

By Randy Harshbarger

Many people in the religious world subscribe to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. It is sometimes expressed thusly: “Just accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Savior; at the point of faith you enter a saved relationship with the Lord.” A passage often used to justify such a notion is Acts 16:31. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.” From a study of this chapter, clearly, Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailor to believe. Did they mean that was all he had to do in this obedience to the Lord? Many are quick to say yes! But, consider another passage that will help us better understand this matter.

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened. unto you.” Jesus said ask and then it will be given; seek and then you will find; knock and then it will be opened to you. Can we not see that the giving, the finding, arid the opening are all predicated upon asking, seeking, and knocking? In other words, Jesus is stating the conditions that must be met before one is blessed as per this verse.

James 1:5-6 says, “But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who givetb to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.” James says we must ask in faith nothing doubting. Other passages shed light on our asking. For example, we must ask but also keep the commandments of the Lord (1 Jn, 3:22). Do we see that a failure to do so hinders our receiving? Also, we must ask according to the Lord’s will (1 Jn. 5:14-15); we must ask in recognition of what the Lord’s will is for us. We might ask about something in prayer that we have no business asking or we might ask in a way that is contrary to truth. James 4:2 says: “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.” James speaks to the attitude of one’s heart. When men are consumed with devouring each other their prayers are going to be hindered. The conditions of acceptable prayer must be met. If we do not meet these conditions we cannot expect our prayers to be heard or answered, we may reason otherwise but do so in conflict with the word of God.

Paul told the jailor to believe. Other verses such as 14ank. 1:14-15, Luke 13:3 and Acts 17:30 speak about the need to repent. Romans 10:9-10 speaks about confession. Are repentance and confession necessary? Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; and he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:15-16). Can a person be saved without baptism? Not if the Lord knew what he was talking about! Is obedience necessary (1 Pet. 1:22)? Some say that if you have to do anything regarding your salvation then you are working arid salvation then is no longer a matter of grace.

Which is it? Ask and receive or do not ask and you will receive anyway? Believe to be saved or believe, repent, confess and be baptized to be saved? Yes, the Lord knew what he was saying in each passage, Do we believe it and will we accept it?

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, p. 745
December 17, 1992

By Robert Wayne La Coste

Some of you probably watched the television show 20-20 not long ago that called into question the use of corporal punishment for children. I watched with amazement. My amazement was only beginning! Immediately after this production, the local news did a feature story also on physical punishment that called such practice into question. “Physical violence only begets physical violence,” they said. There were other “pearls of wisdom” such as “Being physical with a child creates a disdain for those older and bigger.” Then there was “How do we teach children violence is wrong when we exhibit such?” By this time I could only shake my head. When the host of the show was asked, “Does this mean the Bible is wrong?” The response was, “according to the experts, the Bible is wrong.”

Dear reader, that can be equated with stating that our Creator who made us and knows us stated an untruth or lied (something impossible for God to do – Heb. 6:17)! God however s the expert. He is the expert in all things.

God has commanded the following: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him ” (Prov. 13:24). “Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Prov. 19:18). “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). “Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die” (Prov. 23:13).

Men however think they are wiser than Almighty God. They would use little or no discipline at all and certainly not any physical punishment when it comes to correcting children. Certainly as godly parents we are not talking about abuse, but today if you say you beat your child (using the word Solomon did) you may well be reported for abuse! I learned while preaching in Canada recently, they have outlawed any form of corporal punishment. You paddle or take a switch or belt to your child there and you will be fined or imprisoned or both! Our country is not far behind! When the time does come when it is against man’s laws to use corporal punishment, we must stand and say with the apostle Peter, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

What do these people mean when they use the word “violence”? When a child misbehaves or disobeys that’s not violence, no more than it is violence to correct such. See how evil works though? Convince someone that corporal punishment is violent and you make the punishing parent look like a beast.

What do we have in our society as a result of following this “Dr. Spock mentality”? We have the prisons and reform schools filled to the brim with young people who grew up being allowed to do whatever they desired and whenever they desired to do it. Worse, the cemeteries are also full. They are filled with the bodies of youngsters who were never taught to respect authority -young people who never had parents who said “no” and if necessary who reinforced their word with “Solomon’s rod” of chastisement.

God said that a man who spares the rod of chastisement hates his son. Looks like a lot of folks hate their children.

Admittedly, there were times when I thought my dad was going to “love me to death.” When administering the punishment, he would always tell us how he regretted he had to do it. I didn’t believe him then. Now I do! For now I find the same regret present when I must spank my children. It didn’t take us boys long though to realize that his word was law and he was ready to back it up with a 38. A 38 inch belt that is! By way of this belt, this gentle man stood ready to impress upon us the folly of disobedience, when words failed. Parents, when words fail, listen to God’s words, not the “experts.”

Our God, who is our heavenly parent chastens us who are his children. Why does he do it? “. . . for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Heb. 12:10).

Proper discipline, yes even physical discipline will always “bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, p. 749
December 17, 1992

By Harry R. Osborne

Around the time of the Republican National Convention, a major confrontation over abortion took place in Houston. Those favoring the present state of legalized abortion sought the help of almost anyone who agreed with their cause to help in their opposition to those against abortion on demand. The most interesting aspect of the whole confrontation to me was the groups lining up to support the pro-abortion crowd. Even tax dollars were put to work to support the pro-abortion cause and keep the Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinics (partly funded by United Way) free from everyone except those women who seek to kill their unborn child.

Two groups called “Act Up” and “Queer Nation” (their name, not mine) announced that they would help the pro-abortion forces (misnamed as “pro-choice”). Both of these groups favor the free expression of the homosexual lifestyle. Of course, this connection between the pro-abortion and pro-homosexuality groups is nothing new. The so-called “National Organization of Women” (NOW) has repeatedly expressed their support for abortion and homosexual rights. In addition to the above group, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed support for the pro-abortion forces in Houston. The ACLU has gone to court on behalf of every ungodly practice in existence, including homosexuality and abortion.

Anytime that I found myself aided in a cause with moral implications by a group of people favoring gross immorality as defined by God, I would take a second look at my position. Imagine you;,self in a crowd with a group calling themselves “Queer Nation” standing on one side while the ACLU stood on the other side as you rallied behind the NOW banner to uphold a common principle. If that is not enough to make you sick, then you are too far gone to be helped! If God still displayed his wrath by sending fire from heaven, I would suggest keeping your distance from that crowd.

The obvious reason for all of these groups banding together is that they have common ground. They all deny the Bible truths showing the sinfulness of the actions in which they are engaged. As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The wise man wrote of the plea that evil people always have to one another – “Let us all have one purse” (Prov. 1:14). The same holds true in our time. The forces of evil will always use their combined strength to oppose those exposing their evil.

The Evil of Homosexuality

Well into my teenage years, I had never heard the word “homosexuality.” Today, it is difficult to go through a single day without hearing about it in some way. The “homosexual rights” advocates have brought the topic out of the closet and into the forefront of discussion. In Houston and other large cities across the nation, homosexuals and lesbians even have a day for parades to “celebrate” their “pride” in their practice (see Prov. 29:23; 16:18).

They have political action groups to advance their cause. There are “support groups” funded by tax dollars on various college campuses across the nation. Whether it be the protests for inclusion in “spousal insurance” on par with “straight” couples, or the attempt by various denominations to “ordain” homosexuals into “the clergy,” the debate is increasingly heard.

While the debate is raging, there is an active effort to portray homosexuality in a positive light. Its practitioners are rarely termed “sodomites” anymore. The new word is “gay,” a word which before its recent abuse referred to one who was light-hearted and cheerful, not limp-wristed and sinful. The present attempt is to redefine homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle rather than a practice of sin. Our children are increasingly told that negative views towards homosexuals are evidence of bigotry on a par with racial prejudice.

The entertainment industry has played a significant role in attempting to transform public attitudes towards homosexuality. The movies and television shows which depict homosexuality do not view it as a case of immorality, but of “civil rights.” They realize that they have a public relations problem with which to deal and they are doing their best to change popular opinion. Newsweek (July 20, 1992, p. 55) revealed a study comparing the values of Hollywood to the national average. When asked whether they believed homosexual acts were immoral, only 20 percent of those in Hollywood answered “yes” versus 76 percent of the rest of the nation. Given the previous success of Hollywood at changing public values and the low morals of our society, we dare not underestimate the impact such a campaign will have in coming years.

Though our society may be bombarded with efforts to reprogram our values, God’s standard has not changed. His values are the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). That standard of holiness is an expression of God’s character and his character cannot change. What does God tell us in his word about homosexuality. Does he view it as an alternate lifestyle or as a practice of sin?

Leviticus 20:13 – If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 18:22 – You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Deuteronomy 23:17 – There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

1 Kings 14:24; 15:11f – . . . and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of Israel. (Later when Asa put away the sodomites by the death penalty commanded in the law, God approved of the cleansing of such immorality.) And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father. And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

Romans 1:26-27,32 – For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due . . . who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

God’s attitude towards homosexuality is plain – he abhors it! No amount of Hollywood redefinition or changes of terminology will change his mind on the subject. The socalled “Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus” will not manage to get God’s law condemning sodomy to be overturned. All of the denominations on the face of the earth may vote to accept homosexuals into their fellowship, but God’s standard will remain unchanged. God will not tolerate one to practice homosexuality and still approve him. It is just that simple. Neither will he tolerate those who give comfort to those who practice homosexuality by excusing or approving it.

The Evil of Abortion

We have already seen the biblical condemnation of homosexuality. The Bible’s opposition to abortion is just as plain to see.

The Bible speaks of the child within the womb in the same terms as the child out of the womb. Luke speaks of the “babe” (Gk. brephos) leaping within the womb of Elizabeth (Lk. 1:41, 44). The same word (Gk. brephos) is used to describe the baby Jesus as “the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths” and “the babe lying in a manger” (Lk. 2:12, 16). The child within Elizabeth was not called a tissue of the mother’s body, but a “son” (Lk. 1:36). A son (male in gender) could not be correctly represented as a part of the mother’s (female in gender) body. When did he become a son? The text says she “conceived a son” (Lk. 1:36). Therefore, a distinct life began at the point of conception.

There is nothing difficult to understand about the Bible’s teaching in reference to the beginning of human life. Neither is there any difficulty in understanding the Bible’s teaching about the unlawful taking of human life. It is termed murder and the Bible says, “You shall not murder” (Exod. 20:13).

No wonder these forces promoting homosexuality and abortion stick together. They have a similar background in violating God’s plain law! In the New Testament, homosexuals and murderers are said to come from the same mind set . Please read and examine Romans 1:18-32.

The passage says that God’s wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. How did they get in that shape? The following steps are mentioned:

(1) They denied God (vv. 19-21).

(2) They became vain in their reasonings (v. 21).

(3) Their foolish hearts were darkened (v. 21).

(4) They professed their wisdom while they became fools (v. 22).

(5) They made their own ideas into “gods” through idolatry (v. 23).

(6) God gave them up to vile passions such as uncleanness and homosexuality (vv. 24-27).

(7) They refused to have God in their knowledge (v. 28).

(8) God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting (vv. 28-32).

The text does say people of that kind of mind will be involved in various sins. Among the sins listed is something called “without natural affection.” If there is a term which aptly describes the mind of one who would seek to rip apart the child within her womb by abortion, “without natural affection” is that term.

Our nation needs to wake up and see the direction we are headed and the kind of creatures leading us down that path. More importantly, brethren need to be aware of the truth on these issues. When I go in meetings, I am coming across brethren in greater frequency who see nothing wrong with abortion. One was a card carrying NOW and ACLU member who supported abortion! It just makes me wonder how long it will be before I meet a member of the church who is a member of “Queer Nation.” Sin works that way (2 Tim. 3:13).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, pp. 746-747
December 17, 1992

By Benson A. Onwuchuruba

The above caption appeared on page 2 of the February 1992, issue of World Bible School (WBS) monthly journal Action which you serve as its editor.

A copy of the journal in reference was made available to me by a brother who does the work of an evangelist in the northern states of Nigeria. Going through the various articles that formed the contents of the paper, I came across the quoted caption by brother Steve Worley.

According to brother Worley’s report, he observed and detected some lapses along the line of American benevolence and support to “Nigerian Preachers.” These are:

1. A case of an unbeliever who tricked churches and received shoes on benevolent ground. The recipient later sold the shoes and made brisk financial gains.

2. Another was brother Worley’s discovery of one who receives more than one support. Quote: “I found one man receiving support from two sources in USA and neither knew the other was helping.” It is understood that a measure to curb such excesses led to the suggestion of a “Data Base.” The report further showed that the measure suggested by brother Worley has been ratified and approved “at a special meeting on Nigeria.” Quote: “At a special meeting on Nigeria at the International. Bible College Expo 90 it was suggested that Chisholm Hills Church act as a collection point to receive information from churches or individuals who are supporting preachers in Nigeria.”

Measures are intelligent means to check abuses and excesses which are prone in any system of an organization. But in Christianity, unlike in other organizations, the Scriptures direct in whatever should be done or introduced, to fall in line with the already laid down divine rule (1 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4: 11). It is on the basis of these divine injunctions, I decided to forward this rejoinder to point out demerits of the report, so that the record of the report should be put straight scripturally. My doubts of the report and the “Data Base” measure, stem from these questions:

1. Which book, chapter and verse(s) either from the precept, apostolic approved examples or necessary inference in the Bible can one read and learn of the so-called “Data Base” for churches and individuals to supply information about who and whom they support to preach the gospel at a given area?

2. According to the report, does brother Worley mean that it is dubious or unscriptural for a preacher to receive from more than one source for the gospel he preaches.

3. Regarding the “shoe deal” episode that involved an unbeliever, was a Nigerian preacher linked with the deal?

However, the following are my convictions on the question; expecting to know more from you sir.

1. I am yet to trace the Scripture(s) either in the precept, apostolic approve example or necessary inference, that support the “Data Base” measure method. I hope you will supply me the hidden Scripture. However, I traced that information or reports about the gospel work and support to the preacher to work in the gospel in an area, is direct affair between the sending church and receiving gospel preacher.

Apostolic Example:

a. The Jerusalem church queried apostle Peter face to face about his affairs with the Gentiles. In the same vein, Peter reported to the church how God used him to bring the Gentiles into his service (Acts 11:3-18).

b. The Antioch church sent and sponsored Paul and Barnabas in the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3). Their mission’s report was a direct affair between Paul, Barnabas and the church (Acts 14:27). If the Data Base method was followed, Paul and Barnabas should have nothing to discuss with Antioch church; rather they should have deposited the information about their mission with Jerusalem church, where they first had their membership.

2. I believe brother Worley is conversant that the Scriptures are not against a gospel preacher receiving support from more than one source. Paul received from churches to work in Corinth (2 Cor. 11:8). Then if the brother’s report about one who receives from more than one source does not mean that he is against such, what does brother Worley want readers of his report to learn about his reported finding?

(3) The shoe deal was an abuse of benevolence which attracted the “Data Base” measure. Even though if preachers in Nigeria are involved in the trick, it did not justify introduction of an unscriptural measure to check the omission.

The “Data Base” to police information and funds going out of America for gospel work in Nigeria, is more “selfcentered” than for the proper utilization of the Lord’s money as adduced by the reporter. I quite agree that the Lord’s money should be properly accounted for and judiciously utilized, but not by adopting an unscriptural measure.

The hidden fact about the innovation in the field of evangelism is that brother Worley and his fellow American Missionaries in the northern state of Nigeria act as “supervising evangelists.” The measure is to enable them to maintain full control of the funds sent by American churches and individualsfor the gospel work in Nigeria. Investigation has revealed that these American missionaries serve as intermediaries between some American churches and individuals supporting gospel work in the northern part of Nigeria and the preachers and churches there in the north. They are not messengers of churches as some are deceived to believe. They are custodians of all the funds from America for the gospel work in Nigeria. With preachers support they appoint preachers and rate them on their own discretion. This act of monopoly they enjoy in the northern states of Nigeria qualified them as intermediaries and not messengers. Because of this unscriptural monopoly and supremacy they enjoy, any attempt to adopt the scriptural way attracts their stout resistance. This gave rise to “Data Base” measure.

Therefore, may I use this opportunity to call on the churches and individuals in America who deposit money for evangelism in Nigeria with these American missionaries in the northern States of Nigeria to restudy the divine method of sponsoring the gospel work.

1. Support means for the gospel preaching should go to the preacher from the church. It is not intercepted by a middle person or organization. The receiving preacher receives exactly what the church sends (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15-16). There should be not alteration by the messenger. If there is any alteration of the support, the messenger has deviated from his work and acts as an intermediary. This is what American missionaries in the Northern States of Nigeria do. They tamper with the support funds and use their initiative. This is wrong for a messenger of the church.

2. Information both from the church to the preacher or from the preacher to the church is not scripturally centered.

It flows direct from either side (Acts 11:13-18; 13:1-4; 14:27).

3. American churches should learn their lesson and desist from centering funds meant for the gospel under the custody of a sponsoring church or the so-called missionaries. They should learn the scriptural direct affair method rather than the unscriptural second hand affair system. Such is digression from the divine pattern (2 Tim. 2:5; 2 Jn. 9).

4. The missionaries on their part should allow scriptural justice on giving and receiving of support for the gospel preaching to prevail. The bridge they form between churches and preachers amounts to building up what they destroy, they become transgressors (Gal. 2:18). I wish that they would read between the lines of the hand writing on the wall of our faith and retrace their over stepped steps.

5. Finally, to the Nigerian preachers doing the work of an evangelist in the Northern States of Nigeria under the oversight of the American missionaries, do not be deceived (Gal. 6:2). Remember that godliness is not for material gain (2 Tim. 6:5-6). Therefore what you receive from the supervising evangelists who approved your stay in your area of work is not the scriptural way. Opt out of such an ungodly method. Remember that you are encouraging the destruction of divine orders by so doing (Rom. 1:32).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, pp. 720-721
December 3, 1992