Truth Magazine

By Dennis Tucker

In Luke 15 we read of a young man who wanted to live life his way. He asked for his part of the family inheritance and left for greener pastures. Perhaps he felt too confined by his father’s standards. The lifestyle he chose is described in Luke 15:13. The New King James uses the term “prodigal living,” King James and American Standard says “riotous living,” the New American Standard prefers “loose living. ” In today’s language people might say, “having a good time, or “going for the gusto,” or “being wild and sowing some wild oats. As people get ready to go out and live life their way there are some lessons that can be learned from this passage.

First, he learned that riotous living is a waste. “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living” (Lk. 15:13). The cost of being the life of the party is high. Materially speaking a lot of people throw away a whole week’s salary on Friday and Saturday nights. Money needed to buy food, clothing, medicine, and housing is simply wasted. I have seen people put back the milk and baby food so they can buy the six pack of beer. The use of illegal drugs is linked to robberies and burglaries in our county. The habit is so costly that people revert to illegal means to pay for their practice.

I recall the story of a player for the Washington Redskins. He was on a team that won the Super Bowl in the early 70s. A few years after his retirement he was broke and even had to sell his championship ring. Why? He lost everything by having a “good time.” “For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty” (Prov. 23:21).

Second, it separates us from those who really care about us. This young man left his family to go to a distant country. Away from family he probably had some buddies also living the loose life. But once his money ran out so did his friends. “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want” (Lk. 15:14). Here is a description of a man lonely and broke.

The same is true today. The party animal will only have companions as long as he can afford to party. His buddies are not true friends; they are users. Their attraction is to loose living and not real friendship.

Drinking alcohol, using drugs and doing your own thing causes you to be separated from your family and friends. I have seen cases where the husband/wife starts going to the local bar. The kids start parking at the local hang outs and get involved with the drugs and partying. What happens next? Among husbands and wives divorces occur due to infidelity. Children become unruly or discontent with the rules at home and leave. Folks, prodigal living will separate you from those who love you.

Let us not forget that sin separates us from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:2).

Third, it makes people do things they would not normally do. Most likely this young man was a Jew. As a Jew, swine were unclean. Not only would they not eat pork they would not be seen around it. Now he was willing to eat the very slop the hogs were eating. That is what I call being hungry. If this young man was told before he left his father’s house what he would do, he would probably have said, “never.”

Sin causes people to do more than they ever thought possible. People will steal, lie and commit adultery in order to get some more drugs or have a good time. One of sin’s dangers is that we get used to it and no longer become offended. We must step up to the next level to get that special feeling. If you start on the path do not be surprised at how far you will go.

Fourth, ritous living has a hidden cost. This young man was lost. “For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Lk. 15:24). Spiritually speaking a person living in sin is dead even though he is physically alive. “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Tim. 5:6). Physically, the consequences of sin can cost a person his life. Recently Magic Johnson found out that fornication has a high cost. Having contacted HIV he will most likely die of AIDS in the future. That simply illustrates a part of the cost of sin. The number of people who die because of drunk driving, anger out of control, murder, etc., are all examples of the cost of sin.

Finally, the only way to make things right is to say “I was wrong” and change your life. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son'” (Lk. 15:21). He did not make an “if” confession. “If” I have done something wrong, or “if” I have offended you please forgive me. He did not have to be prodded. Because he realized what he had done and was willing to admit it.

Today, people try to pass the buck. I sinned because they made me. Even worse is the fact that a lot of people consider the word sin to be outdated. No one should have to confess a sin, it is too negative, is the modern philosophy.

The Bible defines sin as a transgression of God’s law. The fact that man sins cannot be denied. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). The only question is what are we going to do. God has made a way possible for our forgiveness of sin. “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23b). As we are baptized into the body of Christ we are cleansed of our sins. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7a). The child of God can go to his Father and confess his sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). The result will be a life with God. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry'” (Lk. 15:22-23).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 21, pp. 643-644
November 5, 1992

By Don R. Hastings

I am a preacher who does not get his feelings hurt easily. It is advantageous for preachers to be “thick skinned.” It is good to let cutting remarks go in one ear and immediately out the other. Don’t let the insult lodge in your mind and you will find it easier for you to obey God’s precepts found in Ephesians 4:31,32.

However, the persistent little jobs about preaching too long are making a sore spot on my “thick skin.” I know exactly how long I preach! I can read a clock. The watch on my wrist is not there just for decoration. I can see the clock in the back of the auditorium. I strongly detest clocks in the front of the auditorium or on the side wall near the front of the auditorium.

Am I preaching too long? What is too long? Will someone give us a short, but clear definitive answer? The apostle, Paul, a preacher whom all preachers should strive to imitate, “prolonged his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). Did he preach too long? Remember, Eutychus went to sleep during his sermon, “fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9). I know: I am not the apostle Paul; he left the next day; and I couldn’t bring one back to life.

Paul was not a dynamic orator. He didn’t use “persuasive words of wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:4). His enemies said that “his speech of no account” (2 Cor. 10:10). If anyone complained that Paul, or any other preacher of the gospel, preached too long, it is not recorded in the Bible. It was a blessing that they didn’t have clocks or watches in their worship services. Do you think someone took a sun dial to the worship services and held it up for the preacher to see?

God is observing our worship of him and he hears the numerous complaints about the worship service lasting too long. He knows the anger in the hearts of his children because the worship service lasted longer than one hour. With whom will, he find fault in the judgment day? This should be of great concern to all of us.

Will God find fault with the preacher who is: faithfully preaching the soul-saving gospel; speaking the truth in love; fervent and zealous in proclaiming his love for mankind; boldly defining what is sin and calling on sinners to repent; preaching his whole counsel; a diligent student of his word who delivers lessons that have been carefully thought out so the message is clear and true to the Book; preaching 40 to 45 minutes; etc.? The answer is an emphatic “No!” God will condemn the evangelist who is not doing “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

Will God find fault with the worshiper who is: worried about how many verses of a song are sung, how long the prayer lasts, how long it takes to partake of the Lord’s Supper, and how long the preacher preaches; fretting about eating lunch at one o’clock instead of twelve o’clock; anxious for services to be over so he, or she, can go visiting, watch ball games, go to work, take a nap, etc.; not hungering and thirsting after righteousness because of little spiritual appetite; not worshiping him with the whole heart for the body is present, but the mind is absent; etc.? The answer is an emphatic, “Yes!” (Amos 8:4-10) How can we think, that our worship of our Creator and Redeemer, is acceptable to him when we resent assembling with the saints to praise him and study his word for more than the maximum 4 hours a week?

Our eyes should be filled with tears when we realize that our standard for determining the worth of a worship service is how long did it last! How sad that a gospel sermon is criticised if it lasts 40 minutes, or longer, but praised if the sermon is 30 minutes or shorter. Preachers are often held in contempt for being long-winded if they preach longer than 30 minutes and praised if they will “boil” the sermon down to 30 minutes or less.

God wants preachers to: “suffer hardships”; preach his word exactly like it is written; seek the lost; try to restore the erring; and practice what they preach. God wants his worshipers to worship him “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:23,24). He wants them to be caught up in the acts of worship for they glorify and exalt him and build up the faith of the worshipers. Heaven is a place where true worshipers will worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever. Will you be there? Do you want to be there? There will be no clocks in heaven!

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 21, p. 651
November 5, 1992

By Brooks Cochran

Once back in the 1950s I was in a drug store looking over the selection of paperback books that were for sale. One certain book caught my attention, or at least its title. It was George Orwell’s 1984. At the time I thought to myself: “1984 is a long way into the future.”

Well, that “long way into the future” has come and gone! In a few short years we will be living in the 21st century. It only seems like yesterday that we were living in the 50s (at least to those of us who grew up during that time). But the same could be said of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. My grandmother Cochran’s father stayed up the night of December 31, 1899 thinking over the 19th century and wondering what the 20th century held in store for man. I suppose that others in similar fashion will do the same on December 31, 1999.

The Bible admonishes us concerning the swiftness of time. Job compared his days to the swiftness of a “weaver’s shuttle. ” Jesus told his disciples that “we must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). Paul tells us to redeem “the time (buy up the opportunities), because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16; cf. Col. 4:5; Gal. 6:10). We are being warned by God that our lives come and go so fast that we had best make the most of what time we do have.

We are all stewards of the time God has given us in which to live our lives on earth. At the judgment we will give an account to him as to how we have used this time (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; Matt. 25:37-40, 44-46). We must, therefore, evaluate our lives insofar as our service to God is concerned. There is much that needs to be done in this great service. Life is too short for us to waste time! Resolve now to do all that you are able for God in whatever time he may allow you to enjoy.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 21, p. 649
November 5, 1992

By Partick Donahue

The charge of “Phariseeism” has been made by many in the religious world in recent times. I believe that many, if not all, of those making the charge misunderstand what Phariseeism really was. According to their view of Phariseeism, as seen in their explanations for their charges, the “arch-enemy” of the Pharisees in biblical times, Jesus Christ himself, would be charged a Pharisee!

What Really Was Phariseeism?

Before we proceed further to prove our proposition that “Jesus would be called a Pharisee today,” let’s look closely at the Scriptures to see why the Pharisees were actually condemned. According to my Bible, the Pharisees were guilty of:

1. Thinking that they needed no help (Matt. 9:10-13; Lk. 7:36-47; Jn. 9:39-41; Lk. 18:10-14)

2. Neglecting the weightier matters of the law (Matt. 23:23)

3. Being hypocritical (Matt. 23:3,5; Lk. 11:47-48)

4. Trying to trick Jesus (Matt. 22:15-22; 22:23-33)

5. Transgressing the commandment of God with their tradition (Matt. 15:1-9). The Pharisees were certainly sinners, but not in the way that most religionists view them today.

Denominationalists Charge Christians With Phariseeism

No doubt many Christians have been accused of being Pharisees by denominationalists. Notice that Jesus would have been accused of many of the most common of these charges, which are listed below.

Jesus Taught That Salvation Is Connected With Obedience

Have you ever been looked down upon because you didn’t go along with the theory that “our works have nothing whatsoever to do with our salvation”? Take comfort in the fact that you are in the company of Jesus on this point. Notice that in Matthew 7:21 Jesus taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Hebrews 5:9 reads, “And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Jesus “Argued the Bible”

Matthew 22:15-46 could well be termed one long Bible argument between Jesus and the Pharisees. Thankfully, Jesus “won the argument” (v. 46). Jesus even argued the Bible with the devil himself in Matthew 3:11.

Jesus Didn’t Affirm That “You Believe Like You Believe, and I’ll Believe Like I Believe”

Many denominational people say this when made to feel uncomfortable by the Scriptures. I wonder if Paul was ascribing to this obvious cop out, when he said in 2 Timothy 2:17-18, “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” Jesus obviously expected everyone to believe his one certain way, because he said in John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” Paul thought that it mattered what someone believes or teaches; he taught in Galatians 1:6-9 that teaching any gospel different from what he taught would bring about a curse.

Jesus Thought That “There Is Only One Way”

Denominationalists teach that there are many ways to heaven; that it is possible for non-believers to be saved if they haven’t heard the gospel; also, that it doesn’t matter what a Christian believes. Some call anybody who believes otherwise a bigoted, dogmatic Pharisee. Again, Jesus becomes the accused. He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Ephesians 4:4 says that there is but “one faith,” many false teachers’ “good words and fair speeches” (Rom. 16:18) notwithstanding.

Jesus Taught That “His Little Group Was the Only One Going to Heaven”

Christians are sometimes ridiculed for believing that there is only one true body, or church. Evidently, Jesus thought the same, as he only mentioned one when he said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church” (singular). In addition, Ephesians 4:4 states unequivocally that there is just “one body.”

Jesus Was Concerned About the Outside As Well As the Inside

An acquaintance of mine once told an off-color joke in my presence. When I questioned him about it, he assured me that God was concerned about the inside, not the outside; that God knew that he had a good heart. My first thought was that it was too bad Jesus didn’t know that principle. Instead, Jesus said in Matthew 15:18, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

Jesus Thought That “Doctrine Was Important”

It seems that, nowadays, anybody who thinks that it is important to be right about doctrine is labeled a Pharisee. Jesus will have to accept the same label because he said in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Romans 6:17 reads, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” 2 John 9 teaches that if one does not abide in the doctrine of Christ,” he “hath not God.”

Conclusion

As can be easily seen, according to the denominationalist’s view of Phariseeism, Jesus Christ himself could be called a Pharisee. Therefore, we shouldn’t get discouraged if some call us a Pharisee for simply following in the steps of Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21). We must not let false accusations keep us from continuing to follow Jesus’ example, even if it does mean being called a Pharisee. In our next article, we will consider some charges of Phariseeism that Christians make against other Christians, that again, could be levied verbatim against Jesus.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 21, pp. 646-647
November 5, 1992