Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Christians have always been distinctive. The worship of the New Testament church was distinctive from both Jewish and pagan devotions. The morals of Christians made them so distinguishable that the pagan world thought “it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Pet. 4:4). The Christians’ love for one another also set them apart from the world (Jn. 13:35).

Christians today still should be distinctive. In addition to the things mentioned above, Christians are set apart by their insistence on book, chapter, and verse preaching. They also are distinctive in their willingness to defend what they preach in public and private discussions.

Long before doctrinal apostasy occurs, the attitudes of Christians who eventually depart into apostasy begin to change. Among the attitudes which we witness changing today are the commitment to book, chapter and verse preaching (it is ridiculed as “proof-texting”) and the willingness to defend what is taught. Peter insisted that we should always be willing to defend what we preach. He wrote, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). Let us study this text.

“Sanctify the Lord God in Your Hearts”

1 Peter 3:14-15 quotes Isaiah 8:12-13 with application to Christ What was said about sanctifying Jehovah as Lord of one’s life is here applied to Jesus, identifying Jesus with Jehovah of the Old Testament. A stronger affirmation of the deity of Christ cannot be given.

To sanctify Christ as Lord recognizes his lordship over us. Enthroning him as the Lord of my life means that I submit myself to every commandment he has given. Jesus explained lordship when he ask ed, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46) When I have truly enthroned Christ as my Lord, I will submit myself in obedience to his every commandment. Anything less than this means that I have not truly removed self from the throne of my heart and put Jesus there.

Be Ready To Give An Answer

Peter insisted that Christians always be ready to give an answer to those who ask concerning the hope that is within us. There are several points of emphasis:

1. We should always be ready. To be ready to give an answer demands that preparation be made to give an answer. Therefore, we must study the word of God that we might be prepared to explain and defend what we believe (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 5:11-14). How sad is the situation when a person has the opportunity to use the sword of the Spirit to strike a blow for the Lord, but is incapable of wielding it (Eph. 6:17).

2. The best answers to give. Peter explained that Christians should so long so live that they have a “good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (3:16). Hence, the best answers are: (a) a good conscience, (b) good conduct, and then (c) good words (3:15). When a good scriptural defense is given without a good conscience and good conduct, it is hollow hypocrisy.

3. Give an answer. The word “answer” is translated from apologian, from which our English word “apology” is derived. It means a defense. Christians need to be prepared to defend what they believe, teach, and practice. The only proper defense is Scripture. Arguments such as “we have always done it this way” have no more merit when made by a Christian than when made by a Catholic. Can you give a scriptural defense for the following:

Water baptism is immersion?

Water baptism is essential to salvation?

There is one church?

A man must be a member of the Lord’s church, his kingdom, in order to be saved?

One should partake of the Lord’s supper on the first day of every week?

Using mechanical instruments of music in worship is sinful?

We should not be offended when someone asks us why we believe what we believe. Rather, we should be prepared with a scriptural answer.

4. The hope within us. Christians should be prepared to explain why they have the hope of eternal life. This hope rests on the immutable nature of God. God has promised eternal life and he cannot lie (Tit. 1:2). The hope of eternal life is assured by the resurrection of Christ from the dead (Acts 17:31). This hope motivates us to abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

5. To whomever asks you. Christians must constantly be looking for open doors to speak the word of truth. However, we also must recognize that not all men want the truth. Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matt. 7:6). When men plainly tell us to leave them alone, we must respect their freedom of will.

6. With meekness and fear. The word of God sometimes is preached from envy and strife (Phil. 1:15). It can be spoken in a way that detracts from God’s revealed message. This occurs when we speak arrogantly, belligerently, selfrighteously, and condescendingly. We must guard ourselves that we “speak the truth in love” (Gal. 6:1).

The word must also be spoken with “fear.” We speak the word of God. Therefore, we speak the truth like the apostles who were careful not to misrepresent God, lest they should become “false witnesses of God” (1 Cor. 15:15). We must guard against leaving out part of what God has spoken; instead, we must preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). So long as we fear God more than men we shall not hesitate to preach all of his will.

Conclusion

Unhealthy attitudes have developed among us when brethren become incensed because someone has the audacity to question anything they have written or preached. The reactions of anger, personal assaults, and veiled threats are contrary to the Spirit of Christ. A simple Scripture is sufficient answer when men question what we teach. We recognize this is so on such subjects as water baptism, the organization of the church, and instrumental music in worship. But suddenly some forget this when someone challenges their claim that divorce and remarriage should be treated on the same basis as the covering, pacifism, and other matters in which God allows liberty – their teaching that we should fellowship those who are admittedly teaching false doctrine on divorce and remarriage. If the doctrine can be defended, present the Scriptures to defend it. If there are no Scriptures which teach unity-in-diversity on the divorce and remarriage issue, one should have the humility to admit his error and give up the doctrine.

Rather than becoming angry because someone questions our teaching and our practice, let us “be ready always” to give an answer for the hope that lies within us with meekness and fear. This still is a distinguishing characteristic of God’s people.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, pp. 738, 754
December 17, 1992

By Walton Weaver

The ear represents the faculty of understanding. Jesus sometimes used the proverbial expression, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” to appeal to his listeners to use their gift of understanding to carefully weigh his teaching and receive it (Matt. 11:15; 13:9; Rev. 2:7). Just as men may see but not see, so they may also hear but not hear. To hear is one thing, but to hear with understanding is quite another.

On one occasion the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matt. 13:10) Jesus told them they were able to hear the things he was speaking concerning the kingdom (Matt. 13:16), but others were not able to hear (Matt. 13:13-15). “Therefore,” he said, “I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt. 12:13). The question is not so much whether people are hearing what God is saying to them through Scripture as it is, are they really hearing what he is saying? One may hear but not hear.

There is a heavy load in the form of an awesome responsibility placed upon the one who teaches the word of God, and for this reason James says, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment” (Jas. 3:1). He does not mean to discourage one from becoming a teacher. Paul instructed Timothy to entrust the things he had heard from Paul “to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). After a reasonable amount of time all Christians should progress in knowledge and discernment so that they are able to teach others the gospel (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 3:15; Jude 3). The reason Christians do not grow into teachers is often due to the fact that they “have become dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11). They hear but they do not hear.

The burden of divine accountability finally rests upon the one who hears. The teacher must be faithful to the word of God and he must teach the truth in the proper spirit and with the right motivation, but it is the responsibility of the hearer to hear what is taught. It is for this reason that Jesus sometimes reminded his hearers, “Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Lk. 8:18). Mark’s account says, “Take care what you hear” (Mk. 4:24). The more one hears the word of God while neglecting it, or while failing to do it, the less interest he has in it and the less able he becomes to understand it. The same principle applies when one fails to improve what has been received (Lk. 19:26).

To illustrate his point Jesus told the parable of the soils. The parable describes different kinds of persons to whom the word of God is taught. Jesus had a thorough knowledge of the human heart. In this parable the soils into which the good seed was sown represent four kinds of hearers, each determined by the different kinds of hearts represented by the soils. In effect Jesus shows us four ways that men receive his message.

The “Don’t Bother Me, I’m Busy” Hearer

There are those hearers who simply cannot hear. They have cold and hard hearts. This kind of hearer is represented by the roadway, the wayside soil, which has been trampled and packed down so that it is so hard that the seed cannot penetrate it. This kind of hearer has been hardened by the things of the world. His thoughts, interests and ambitions are all occupied. He has no time to hear with understanding. These hearers only give a surface hearing to the gospel message. There is not sufficient interest on their part to give it the careful consideration it deserves. It cannot be understood because it is never seriously considered.

The “Hip-Hip-Hurrah For Jesus” Attitude

The “rocky places” hearer is the hearer who can got excited when the gospel is heard (“immediately receives it with joy,” Matt. 13:20), but in the face of affliction and persecution the excitement quickly leaves after the message has been heard. These are people who are easily stirred emotionally. It is as though the intellect is completely by-passed. “These people get ‘religion’ the same way a person gets sickness during an epidemic. Any prevalent enthusiasm causes them great joy, a much speedier and boisterous type than those whose Christian experience is deep and genuine. They have sentimental fervor and, therefore, an instant response, but their zeal soon flags. Their emotional excitability and inconsiderate compulsiveness produce a melancholy conclusion. Religious movements of this type have produced many converts but few stable Christians, many blossoms but little fruit coming to maturity” (Fred M. Wood).

The problem Jesus is dealing with here is a surface hearing of the message. Some people want to find Jesus, feel Jesus, be moved, and be in love with Jesus, but they do not want to be growing, maturing and developing in character, nor do they want to become more and more like Jesus, There is no root. Their’s is a “feel good” religion without the conviction and commitment essential to carry through when sacrifice or suffering are required in order for one to be faithful, or when it comes to doing the work Jesus has called upon his followers to do. This person may become “offended” at those who urge him to live right. In such a case, who is responsible for his leaving? The teacher or the one taught? In this parable Jesus places the responsibility on the one who hears.

The “I Love Jesus, But The World More” Attitude

The soil where seed fell “among thorns” represents the person who wants the best of both worlds. The only thing we are told is that he “hears the word” (Matt. 8:22). Nothing is said about him understanding it, or receiving it with joy, as in the first two examples, but it is clear that the impression made upon him when he hears the word of God is real, even though it is later destroyed. This person wants all the comforts, joys and hope of Christ, but, like Demas, “having loved this present world” (1 Tim. 4:10), he also wants what the affairs of this life have to offer him, in addition to riches. It is for this reason that he becomes ensnared with the love of riches and pleasure. The possibilities of a good harvest were initially all present, but he becomes disloyal and is turned aside in pursuit of “things.” He tries to serve both God and mammon.

It is harmful to be anxious about the affairs of this life; sometimes it is even worse than thinking that material things bring security, Riches and pleasure are so deceitful. One does not have to be rich to lose his soul because of riches; he only needs to “desire to be rich” (1 Tim. 6:9). This is enough to absorb all of his energies and time so that he neglects the things that are needful for growth and the bearing of fruit in the kingdom of God.

The “I’m Willing To Grow” Attitude

This is the only hearer of the four represented in the parable that bears fruit. There seems to be a gradual ascent in the quality of hearers as Jesus moves from the first through the third kinds of soil. The first was unreachable, the second was shallow, but the third one had possibilities of a good harvest. It proves out however that even this hearer lacks the depth necessary to be loyal to the Lord. Only the fourth hearer has the proper soil (heart) for the bringing forth of fruit to God’s glory. The key to this man’s growth is the seed which is the word of God (Lk. 8: 11), but even the word of God cannot bear fruit unless it is implanted into “good soil” (Matt. 13:23), or “an honest and good heart” (Lk. 8:15).

One cannot come to know the truth unless he “is willing to do His will” (Jn. 7:17). This requires a “good and honest heart.” Even the “common people” came to understand God’s will in Jesus’ day (Mk. 12:37), while the learned and elite turned away. The difference was a difference in attitude. The one loved to hear the things Jesus was teaching, the other had their love directed toward themselves (Mk. 12:38-40).

“He who has ears, let him hear” (Matt. 13:9).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, pp. 739-740
December 17, 1992

By Wayne S. Walker

My family and I, along with the church where I labor, recently encountered a rather strange situation that was, to say the least, a bit unnerving. The brethren decided to sell the preachers’ house that the church had owned, because of its age, condition and location, and allow us to purchase our own. Everything seemed to be moving along smoothly. However, less than twenty-four hours before the closing on the church’s house and just a few days before the closing on the house that we were hoping to buy, the title company informed us of a thorny legal problem.

The church had never formally incorporated. And according to state law, a non-incorporated entity cannot sell a piece of property without first filing a petition with the Common Pleas Court, publishing a notice of that petition in a newspaper for four weeks, and then having the court rule in favor of the petition, a process that can take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks and even longer if any further difficulties are encountered. Since neither the buyers for the church’s house nor the sellers of the house that we had made an offer on were willing to wait that long, the whole process was effectively canceled for the time being.

However, this is not an article about real estate law. There is a spiritual application that I want to make. The experience of being so close to owning a home and having a deal fall through due to last-minute, unforeseen circumstances beyond our control has helped me to appreciate better an important biblical truth. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Heb. 13:14). Certainly there is nothing wrong with a person owning his own home here on earth. In fact, it can be a good thing. However, we must never become so wrapped up in the things of this world, including our property, that we fail to remember some vital concepts taught in Scripture.

First, we are but pilgrims and strangers here on this earth. Even the patriarchs of old recognize this fact (Heb. 11:13). How much more should we, who live with the blessed hope made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ, be impressed with the temporariness of our sojourn here (Jas. 4:13-16). Mrs. M.S.B. Dana wrote,

I’m a pilgrim and I’m a stranger;

I can tarry, I can tarry but a night.

Do not detain me, for I am going

To where the fountains are ever flowing.

I’m a pilgrim and I’m a stranger;

I can tarry, I can tarry but a night.

As a pilgrims and strangers, we are taught to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:11-2).

Second, the reason that we are but pilgrims and strangers is that our primary citizenship is not with some nation in this world but in heaven. Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). I.N. Carman wrote,

Yonder over the rolling river,

Where the shining mansions rise,

Soon will be our home forever,

And the smile of the blessed Giver

Gladdens all our longing eyes.

The reason why our citizenship is in heaven is that our hope is there (Col. 1:3-5). And the reason why our hope is in heaven is that our Savior has already entered there to make atonement for us and to prepare us a home with him (Heb. 6:17-20, 9:11-14).

Third, as a result of the fact that our citizenship is in heaven, we must be careful not to look upon our homes and other physical possessions of this life as having any degree of permanence. Jesus teaches us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:19-20). H.B. Hartzler wrote,

The treasures of earth are not mine;

I hold not its silver and gold,

But a treasure far greater is mine:

I have riches of value untold.

We should place much more emphasis in our lives upon making sure that we lay up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth. Ultimately, everything on earth that we or anyone else will have labored to obtain will be burned up when Christ returns (2 Pet. 3:10-13). Only in the holy city, New Jerusalem of the new heaven and the new earth, will there by anything of eternal value (Rev. 22:15).

With regard to material things – house, lands, goods the old saying, although trite, is true that, “You can’t take it with you.” Or, as others have observed, you never see any U-Haul trucks behind hearses. As pertaining to the congregation here selling the preacher’s house and allowing us to buy our own, the brethren decided to consult an attorney to see what our options are. Someday my family and I may own our own house. But whether we ever do or not, we are working toward a better home, “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). What about you? Are you laying up treasures in heaven rather than just on earth?

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, p. 722
December 3, 1992

By Lewis Willis

I have before me an article by Cal Thomas, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, printed in the Akron Beacon Journal (11-16-92). Thomas advised the “religious right” to leave politics. He reported that Jerry Falwell was being inundated with requests to crank up the Moral Majority again. Thomas’ opinion is this: “if the objective is to change government policy and . . . return America to its spiritual and moral roots, the approach is backwards.” Why?

The reasons he gives are true, but disturbing. He said, “Such an effort cannot work because we now live in what some theologians call a ‘post-Christian culture.’ This means that the old norms are no longer accepted by the majority. “The terminology is even frightening! “Post-Christian”? The majority used to hold a Christian standard of morality. This meant that drunkenness, divorce for any cause, lying, stealing, murder, etc., were regarded as sinful. I can recall, as a boy, how the entire religious community where I was raised stood opposed to sins like these. Are we living in a “post-Christian culture”? Are the days of standing against these sins – because we are Christians – gone forever? Is all of this a relic of the past? If so, what happened? How did it happen?

Thomas wrote, “The majority no longer accepts principles from the Old and New Testaments that once undergirded law, government, human relationships and social policy.” Yes, sadly, this is true. Government, in writing law, no longer is interested in the revelation of God’s mind found in the Bible. They not only do not care what the Bible says, they deliberately enact laws which oppose what the Bible says. There are no better illustrations of this than the legalization of abortion and the laws demanding acceptance of homosexuality as nothing more than an alternate lifestyle. Legislators and judges could not care less what God has said on these questions. The majority of people want to establish any kind of human relationship they please, and they will not tolerate anyone who says they have no right to live like that. They want sanctioned homosexual and lesbian unions, and they want to live together without complying with marriage laws, without being condemned for such. Therefore, they will demand a change of social policy and position which will permit them to do as they please. One secular author recently suggested that we take “In God We Trust” off our money and inscribe, instead, “Anything Goes.” Those who were raised in a “Christian culture” can scarcely imagine what people are doing, and how their peers approve of that conduct.

Thomas said, “To appeal to this majority with the language and values of the past is to invite rejection even ridicule.” We certainly do not need anyone to testify to the truth of that! We just completed electing a new president whose moral values and conduct were under scrutiny, only to learn “that character is a non-issue where the President of the United States is concerned.” To the majority, it no longer makes any difference what a person has done in the past. He can still be elected to the highest office in the land. And, one would suspect, that it makes no difference what he might do in the future, so long as it does not cost the majority any money. During the election an appeal was made to the “Christian culture” about right and wrong, and to a recognition of “family values” as factors in the decision making process of the election. Thomas was right, this appeal was not only rejected, it was ridiculed! This was a hard lesson for religion to learn, but its about time we learned it.

Is the solution to this problem the re-birth of the Moral Majority? I agree with Thomas when he said, “No!” He suggested three things that must be done if we are to change things in America. I only partially agree with some of these things, but he is right on the mark in some instances.

1. He advised religious conservatives to separate their children from the failed public school system which has been invaded and captured by what he called “an alien philosophy.” Our schools have become “hothouses in which young seedlings are converted into towering, liberal oaks.” He advised that conservatives establish their own educational system which will teach their children that there is a difference between right and wrong. There might be some validity to this suggestion.

2. On this point I agree with him whole-heartedly. He said, “Preachers need to get back to their primary mission, which is to build their members spiritually and morally and to attract new members to a life, a cause and a kingdom not of this world.” For too long religion, even some in churches of Christ, has been interested in nothing more than a “social gospel” appeal. Feed them and entertain them, and that will be enough, or so it was thought. Several generations have now been raised on this spiritual “nothingness” and they no longer know what is right or wrong, and really do not care. Thomas said, “It is the layperson, properly committed and properly taught, who has the real power to bring real change.” He is totally right here! You cannot legislate morality. You must teach it. It must be learned and incorporated into the lives of every family. Then, and only then, can we change the direction in which our country is going. No vote will accomplish this, and we are dreaming an empty dream if we think it will. I find it sad that a newspaper columnist knows more about the mission of religion than so-called “religious leaders” know. Don’t you feel that way too?

3. Because of the backlash to the position on abortion of the “religious right,” Thomas said that “conservatives need to reposition themselves and be primarily known by what they are for, not what they oppose.” He then proceeded to extol the virtues of the “positive message” which we are hearing so much about, even in the church. I do not understand why we must “eliminate the negative” from our teaching in order to establish a proper stance for our society. This “either-or mentality” that is taking over religion is ignoring biblical reality. God not only told us what to do, he had a great deal to say about what we are not to do! Consider the Ten Commandments. They were both positive and negative in their approach. The same thing is true about the gospel. Saint and sinner need to affirm what God said we ought to be, and they need to tell us what he prohibits us doing. Only when people learn the whole story will they start living like God wants them to live – you know, like they used to live before we abandoned biblical principles in America.

We can affect a radical change in our country if we will get back to the Bible, God’s statement about how he wants us to live. We must teach it and we must live it. If we will do this, we will change “politics as usual” and this will change American life and lifestyles.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 24, pp. 742-743
December 17, 1992