Truth Magazine

By P.J. Casebolt

A good preacher’s wife would be the female counterpart of what some brethren consider to be the ideal preacher. She would be the composite of a woman 39 years old, with 35-40 years of experience; a mixture of blonde, brunette, redhead; outgoing, yet reserved; always with her husband, but never away from her children; stands beside him in the pulpit and at the door as he shakes hands with the congregation, but stays in the background; fashionable and attractive, yet plain; a social butterfly who is conversant on every topic, but never gossips.

What I mean to say is that no two preachers are the same from the standpoint of personality and ability, yet we have arbitrary concepts of what “a good preacher’s wife” should be.

I was preaching for several years before I was married, and I would have to be a polygamist if I had married all the woman that brethren (and sisters) told me would make a good preacher’s wife. But, according to some preachers now, I could have done that as an alien sinner, and baptism would have washed away all the polygamy, if not the wives, Of course, I would have to have done it (the marrying), in a country where polygamy was lawful. And every single preacher and every preacher who has become a widower knows whereof I speak.

When I went to one congregation for a meeting, the brethren had three prospects that would make me a good preacher’s wife. One was not a Christian, one was only half-converted, and the other one was 15 years older than I was. I guess the latter would be somewhere around 80 now, and brethren would be gossiping as to why I married a woman 15 years my senior.

The sectarian concept of a good preacher’s wife for me would be embodied in the title, “Evangelist and Mrs. P.J. Casebolt” – a husband and wife team with the wife singing or playing special music or testifying publicly about what a good preacher her husband was. And the modern concept of assigning (or usurping) public roles for women in the assemblies of the church is becoming all too prevalent among the Lord’s people. For the benefit of those who have never read their Bibles, or who have never heard “their” preacher teach on the subject, I refer you to such passages as 1 Timothy 2:9-15 and Titus 2:3-5.

I have no objection to a preacher’s wife, or any other woman, teaching children or other women. And if the preacher’s wife is capable of doing this in her home congregation, or in a meeting where her husband is preaching (both by invitation), I have no problem with that as long as she behaves like a woman should and doesn’t neglect her other duties as a wife and mother.

Brethren have prayed for me and my wife, and for our family, and such prayers were and are appreciated. But I think (and hope) that they understand my wife’s role in her relationship to the preacher as well as I understand it. But within the past few years I keep getting the impression that some folks are making arbitrary qualifications for preacher’s wives which may make it either impossible or unscriptural for the next generation of preachers to find “a good preacher’s wife.”

Even as one preacher may have talents above and beyond those of other preachers, that doesn’t mean that all preachers have to possess those talents. In a verse, the qualifications for a good preacher or “minister” (1 Tim. 4:6) are stated in 2 Timothy 2:2 – “faithful” and “able.” And while one preacher’s wife may have talents not possessed by other women, it doesn’t follow that we should use one woman’s talents as a criterion for all preacher’s wives.

Some preachers are married before they decide to preach. Must they trade in their wife for “a good preacher’s wife”? Some preachers quit preaching for different reasons, but should they trade their wife to some other preacher who needs “a good preacher’s wife” (by brotherhood standards)? I know that sounds ridiculous, but that’s the way I intend for it to sound, to get my point across.

Some preachers’ wives have all that they can do being a wife (“help meet” – suitable) to their husbands and a mother (or grandmother) to their children. They may have to try much harder than the many-talented women who can do several things well.

A good wife will make a good farmer’s wife, a good carpenter’s wife, a good lawyer’s wife, a good doctor’s wife – or a good preacher’s wife. And God will be satisfied, and so should the brethren.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” (Prov. 18:22). And the good wife of Proverbs 31 is not necessarily a preacher’s wife. But if a preacher has a wife like that, “she shall be praised” (v. 30), by the preacher, by her children, and by the Lord.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 16, p. 487
August 20, 1992

By Brooks Cochran

Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Lk. 17:32-33).

Whenever I think of lukewarm Christians this passage comes to mind. It serves as a warning. Lot’s wife, though nameless, was lukewarm in her attitude toward God and the salvation he offered when the “cities of the plain” were to be destroyed (Gen. 19). She began her journey to safety with her husband and daughters; but the farther they went from Sodom the more she lagged behind. As a result she perished along with the inhabitants of Sodom.

Implied in these words is the fact “that Lot’s wife was seeking to hang on to her life in Sodom, and that, consequently, she lost her life in its destruction. The word ‘look back’ has the connotation of ‘looking intently.’ It might possibly be rendered ‘lagged back,’ or maybe even ‘returned back.’ In any case, she was not with her husband and daughters, so that only she perished” (Henry Morris, The Genesis Record, 355-356).

Lot’s wife efforts to save herself from the destruction of the cities lack the determination as seen in her husband and daughters. Her heart was still in the city. She evidently did not appreciate all that had been done for her salvation (Gen. 18:16-33). She almost made it to safety; but sadly she allowed her vigilance to relax. As in the words of the writer of Hebrews, she came “short of the grace of God” (Heb. 12:15, NASB).

Jesus gave this warning for our good. As Lot’s wife was destroyed because of her divided loyalty, so too, will professed Christians who seek to hang on to the things of the world. It is sad to see such individuals who are lukewarm in their attendance, giving of their means, personal evangelism and general support of the local work. They are making an effort to reach safety; but their heart is torn between Christ and the things of the world. As time passes they linger farther and farther behind until they become unfaithful. In the end they will perish along with the people of the world.

If these words apply to you it is not too late to catch up. But you must hurry as none knows what the future holds. Jesus spoke of lukewarm Christians in Revelation 3:15,16. His remarks were not complimentary: “. . . because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew (vomit) thee out of my mouth.” This is not a nice thought, but at least you know what Jesus thinks of lukewarm individuals. Determine now to get “hot” for the Lord and be totally committed to his work.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 16, p. 481
August 20, 1992

By Robert F. Turner

In John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (Bk. 2, Par. 20), we read, “It thus appears that none can enter the kingdom of God save those whose minds have been renewed by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit.” He cites 1 Corinthians 2:14, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned. ” He defines “natural man” as one who trusts to the light of nature; and says, as respects understanding spiritual mysteries, “though he exert himself, it is of no avail: they are . . . hidden from human discernment . . . made known only by the revelation of the Spirit. ” A few sentences later: “The mind of men have not capacity enough to know their calling.” He calls us “prating Pelagians” who say God, by the teaching of his word, directs man to truths he could not otherwise have known.

1 Corinthians 2:11 makes it clear that things of God must be revealed by God – man cannot take them by his own wisdom. But the context here says God has revealed his truths to chosen witnesses, who make his truths known by inspired teaching. Calvin is saying each hearer or reader must have some indwelling, enabling power in order to understand the message of the inspired speaker or writer. Calvin’s “natural man” is the unregenerate – any one who has not been miraculously changed by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit. With such a view there is no point in preaching the gospel message to alien sinners. One must wait until God has miraculously saved them before they can understand it.

This is consistent with Calvin’s TULIP: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Preservation of the elect. But it runs counter to free will and a gospel message that is seed of the kingdom, sown in honest and good hearts and producing fruit in those who hear, believe and obey (Lk. 8:1 If). The natural man of I Corinthians 2 is one who rejects the miraculously confirmed message of the inspired apostles and prophets in favor of his own human wisdom. This is a far cry from saying the Bible cannot be understood except by one who has some personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Paul had said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom (appealing to the “natural man,” rt) but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (2:4-5). The self-crucifying message of the cross (1:18f) calls for faith in a power higher than man; for humble people who welcome the confirmed words of God even though they reveal matters that could never have been known by human wisdom alone. “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. . . ” (v. 6); and the “we” and “us” right on through the chapter refer to those who spoke (or wrote) by inspiration. Paul is not saying no alien sinner can understand his message. He is saying they must trust the confirmed word rather than their own wisdom.

Consider Ephesians 3:1-5, where Paul says he (and other apostles and prophets) received information by revelation, but he “wrote” so that “when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (vv. 3-4). Calvin is dead right in saying man cannot know the things of God apart from the revelation of God by His Spirit. He is dead wrong in assuming the recipients of the message by the Spirit were incapable of passing it on to “every creature” in all the world. Man is taught by the Holy Spirit when he receives their message.

Despite these truths, I see things in “our” bulletins that disturb me. After setting forth a truth concerning material possessions, “. . . natural man cannot comprehend such things, God gave us his Spirit to enable us to discern them ” (1 Cor. 2:11). Again, “How does each new babe grow? He must study (2 Tim. 2:15), but God must give him discerning power” (1 Cor. 2:14). And, “God give us the wisdom to understand his commands (Jas. 1:5) (check that passage – rft), and the power to accomplish each and everything he commands (Eph. 1:19) (check that one too, in its context – rft). 2 Timothy 3:17 does not limit that which God had “throughly furnished” to the written word. ” Would you call the writer of these statements, and more like them, a Calvinist?

Sometimes we are hasty to label – especially to apply a general system label to someone who may only be in error on a point or two – and it is my hope that error is limited in this case. However, such statements as these spring from a misconception of Spirit operation today, and can only encourage further error. It seems apparent that the writer believes in the “personal indwelling” of the Holy Spirit. But most of our brethren who so believe are hard put to say what the Spirit, apart from the word, does for us. Not the writer of these statements. He indicates the indwelling Spirit (1) gives us the ability to understand the word; (2) leads us apart from the word; (3) “enables” us to walk in the light; and various other things.

It seems once a person accepts the concept of miraculous indwelling, he sees that in every passage on the Holy Spirit and his effect upon us. Those who differ with him are “not spiritual” or have never been “born again.” I remember a man telling me I could not understand the plan of salvation because I did not “have the Spirit.” I asked where he got such an idea, and he cited 1 Corinthians 2:14, saying, “Read it, just read it!” Of course I replied, “Why should I read it? According to you, I cannot understand it.” I tried to help him read it in its context, but apparently he could not understand that.

Man’s “flesh” is not, of itself, sinful; but one who puts appetites of the flesh above the service of God is “fleshly” in a sinful sense. And the God who gave us “flesh” also gave this “natural” man the capacity to examine, reason, and draw conclusions. “Human reasoning” is not, of itself, bad. It is, in fact, one of the characteristics that sets man above the beast. We must use this capacity in reading and studying God’s word – a message compatible with the man to whom it is given. We read first, then believe (Jn. 20:31; Rom. 10:17), not the other way around. The unsaved man can understand the word, and “come” of his own free will in obedient faith. But if he refuses to accept God’s word because it does not conform to conclusions of his own experience and learning, apart from the revealed message, he is a “natural man” in the sinful sense of the word (1 Cor. 1:21).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 16, pp. 485-486
August 20, 1992

By Randy Harshbarger

Long ago the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children” (4:6). Ignoring God’s instructions brought ruin to the children of Israel. They refused to consider and heed divine law and were thus cast off. Men today continue to do the same thing. One has only to consider the false religions and the conflicting doctrines of denominationalism to see that ignorance of the Bible is widespread. God does not speak to men today through some religious guru or a self-appointed Messiah. Rather he speaks in these last days through his Son (Heb. 1:1-3). The extensiveness of sin demonstrates lack of knowledge about God and his word. The disgrace of adultery, the shame of homosexuality, and the tragedy of drunkenness, and countless other “acceptable sins” all point to a lack of knowledge of the Bible. Not enough people do like the Bereans of old, and “search the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). It is obvious, due to the prevalence and publicity of sin, that people believe they can defy the laws of God and never suffer the consequences (if they even care at all). Yet, the Bible still says: “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). We need to know and then declare the true nature of God and his will for men. The Bible is sufficient to guide men safely home to heaven; its finality affords proof of its value as the only word we need.

Many have been the attacks upon the word of God. Some are insidious while others make no pretense about the desired goal of undermining faith in God’s revelation. We are not surprised when the atheist or infidel attacks the Bible, but it is sad when so-called Bible believers embrace doctrines that repudiate God’s word as complete and final. Roman Catholicism tells us that the Bible is true because “the church” says it is. But, how can the infallibility of “the church” be proved that we might accept such a pronouncement? It cannot be according to Matthew 16:18-19. “And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Joseph Smith gave us the book of Mormon, claimed it was the word of God, and said it should occupy a place alongside of the Bible. But, even the Book of Mormon claims that the Roman Catholic church corrupted the Bible and is an instrument of Satan (1 Nephi 13:26-29). Whom do we believe? Many claim to be lead by the Holy Spirit in a direct, miraculous way, separate and apart from the word. One lady claimed that the Lord told her to be a stripper! Did the Lord contradict himself when he said in 1 Timothy 2:89 to keep one’s clothes on? The list goes on, as men continue to either in part or all together pervert and twist to their own liking, God’s revealed will from heaven.

Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel will accomplish what God wants accomplished. It is the only message that will make men what they need to be, namely Christians. No other power on earth can equal God’s power. The messages of men always fail and fall short.

Peter said, “Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3). God’s power is seen in creation (2 Pet. 3:5), in punishment of the wicked world by the flood (2 Pet. 3:6), and will be seen in terminating the world we live in (2 Pet. 3:7-12). These things were and will be accomplished at God’s word. The Bible provides information on “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” Man needs direction and guidance in life (Jer. 10:23). Man who is lost in ignorance needs to be enlightened. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). Knowledge of truth is essential (I Tim. 2:4). The Bible also provides needed motivation. 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “In meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth.” Sometimes a motivation gap exists between knowing and doing. The Lord reveals what sin is and what sin will do; that should be the driving impetus to turn from wrong and serve the Lord.

The Bible also provides preservation. Peter says we are guarded by faith as we wait for our final reward in heaven (1 Pet. 1:5). It is not “once saved always saved” but it is assurance from the Lord that we can obey and be acceptable in his sight. “For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4). Loving God rather than the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17), walking in the light of truth (1 Jn. 1:7-9), and confessing our sins as we repent (1 Jn. 2:1-2), all help to provide needed confidence as we remain safely tied to the anchor of hope (Heb. 6:19). Let us continue to walk with the Lord, studying the Bible, trusting and obeying each and every day.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 15, p. 470
August 6, 1992