Truth Magazine

By Harry R. Osborne

During the presidential primaries, we have heard some charges regarding the alleged marital infidelity of presidential candidate, Bill Clinton. It sparked a large controversy over whether such points are worthy of consideration by the voters even if true. While I do not know about the allegations, I would like for us to consider what marital infidelity says about one’s character.

The overwhelming evidence from recent studies regarding drug abuse, crime, violence, homelessness and poverty suggest that a common factor is the leading cause for all of them – the breakup of the family. Furthermore, studies regarding the breakup of the family show that marital infidelity, or adultery, is present in the majority of those marriages which end in divorce. We really did not even need the studies to expose the obvious. A little observation of our world tells us the same thing. The American family is in deep trouble and has been for some time.

Divorce is so common in our society that advertisements for “quickie” divorces are found in our TV guide. Is it a sign of advance when you can end a relationship meant to provide the security of love and acceptance for a lifetime for $59.95? Does it help children to learn about commitment and trust when their mom and dad show the opposite to each other by breaking the commitments of marriage and betraying its trust? Obviously not! What has gone wrong?

Adultery = Lying

In every wedding ceremony I have performed, both the man and the women made vows which went something like this:

Do you take this man/woman to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to him/her your undying love and life-long devotion? Do you promise to honor and cherish him/her? Forsaking all others, will you keep yourself for this one and this one alone until death severs the tie that binds?

If you are married, do you remember taking a vow like that? Do you remember answering something like “I do” to the questions? I remember that vividly when I married my wife. That was a lifelong commitment! It was a solemn promise. To betray it would make me, in simple words, a liar.

Breaking that commitment of fidelity in adultery not only makes one a liar to the spouse and the people before whom the promise was made at the wedding, but also before God. He was a witness to the promise as well. God demands that vows made before him must be kept. Notice what he says: “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth ” (Num. 30:2). The following verses show a woman has the same obligation.

Regarding the commitment of marriage, does God really expect and demand lifelong fidelity? His word is plain concerning the matter: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; butfornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). That is simple enough for anyone to understand.

Adultery is not a trivial matter! It shows a terrible problem in one’s character regarding a betrayal of one’s spouse, one’s commitment and the God of heaven. In simple words, an adulterer is a liar and lying reveals a serious problem in one’s character. It has tragic and far-reaching consequences. We must not view adultery as a thing to be taken lightly or something about which we laugh. Instead, we must regain the respect for marriage and its commitments which will lay the groundwork for marriages that are severed only by death. The God who is witness to our actions demands such trustworthiness to our vows.

Avoiding the Problem of Adultery

God never meant for the home to be a place of heartache and sorrow ultimately destined to destruction. He meant it to be a place filled with joy and security. How can we build the kind of families God designed and avoid the tragedy of broken homes so common in our time? God’s word has the answer. Let us see what he says.

First, as the core of the home, a marriage must be built upon love. Not merely a love of mutual attraction and “chemistry,” but a love which is deeper, seeking the best for the other. The love God says ought to exist in a joyful home is one that is selfless. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved us when he died for us (Eph. 5:25). That love must mean more to the husband than all he owns (Song of Solomon 8:7). He must never leave that love to engage in adultery (Prov. 5:15-20). In short, he finds the ultimate joy in providing for the happiness of his wife. The kind of love God instructs for marriage is one that can be taught (Tit. 2:4). It is just such a love that causes the wife to seek the happiness of her husband (Eph. 5:24). This kind of wife is pictured in Proverbs 31:10-31.

Where love exists between husband and wife, it will be extended towards the children as well. Where that love is absent, children will also be deprived of the love God intended. When the husband and wife do not have the proper love for one another, the stage is set for multiplied problems. Children learn about love from their parents. When love is not present in the home, the children will grow to imitate the same lack of love in their homes. What is the result? A multiplying of more and more unhappy, unloving homes with each generation. On the other and, when the proper love is shown in the home, children grow to imitate that love in their families as well. The result of such families is a blessing to each member and to the people around them.

Second, God must be respected in the home for it to be complete. In the words of the psalmist, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psa. 127:1). The joint effort to serve God provides the direction and avenue for the family to work together throughout life. As the wise man of old said, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man” (Eccl. 12:13). God designed us as creatures who should reverently serve him. When that central purpose of man is overlooked, it leaves one without the proper foundation for all aspects of life.

Today’s society has denied these two important components to successful families. Instead of selfless love for another, the selfish “what’s in it for me” attitude has prevailed. Instead of jointly serving God, people have increasingly denied God the rightful place as Lord and Master of their lives. But the family that God describes in the Bible still works. It is still a place where joy and peace abound. God’s word will show us how to build it.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 11, pp. 323-324
June 4, 1992

We were told that if we would relax about sex, take our clothes off and not get all uptight about it, there would be no more sex crimes. So we let it all hang out and sex crimes and rape have doubled.

We were told that our children need to be taught sex education in the schools to stop the number of illegitimate births in America. So with all the sex education, the number of unmarried teenage girls having babies has more than doubled.

The greatest number of illegitimate births occur in areas where the Planned Parenthood organization is successful in teaching sex education unrestricted by the schools.

We were told that we were too tough on criminals and that if we would go easy on them and be nicer to them, the rate of violent crimes would decrease. So we did, and violent crimes have more than doubled. Crimes will be kept in check when the penalty is at least as severe as the crime.

We were told that our schools must boot God out and rely on enhancing Junior’s intelligence. So we kicked God out of our public school system. Now our schools are plagued with crimes and dope.

The students are uncontrollable. The level of education is at an all-time low, and the dropout rate has never been worse. Officials do not know what to do.

Why should they be surprised? They got what they wanted. This is what you end up with in a godless school system. A godless system breeds godless citizens.

They told us we should not spank our children; that we should only speak to them and take away privileges. Yet we have raised up the most unruly, wild and rebellious generation America has known.

Our jails are full. Drug treatment centers are filled to capacity. Family crime has never been worse.

The Bible has the answer to man’s problems. It says we should not be slothful in our business. In fact, it says he who does not work — let him not eat.

It says women should dress modestly. It says do not steal anything – ever!

It says you sleep only with your spouse. It says you do not do what you “want”; you do what you “ought.”

The Bible is the inspired Word of God; but even if it were not, it is still the best book for an orderly existence. (Reprinted from Pulpit Helps)

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 10, p. 299
May 21, 1992

By Norman P. Smith

The Scriptures provide ample evidence that paying those who devote their lives to the proclamation of the gospel is authorized in the New Testament (Lk. 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:9,14; 2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:16; 1 Tim. 5:18). The subject of pay for preachers is one that I’m convinced does not receive the consideration it deserves by most elderships and churches. I have never been a “full time” preacher, but having served as an elder in a fairly large congregation and having worked and worshiped in congregations that didn’t have elders, I know that in any meeting of the elders or men of the congregation when the idea of giving the preacher a raise is brought up, some individual will invariably say, “He is making more than I am already,” as if that should have any bearing on the matter! Generally speaking, a preacher’s salary comes at the mercy of the brethren. In considering pay for preachers I am afraid many brethren fail to understand the difference in the way preachers are paid and the way those of us who work in secular businesses are paid. Those who work in secular endeavors have many “perks” or advantages that preachers do not enjoy!

Self-Employment

For income tax purposes most preachers are considered to be self-employed. This means they are required to pay approximately fifteen percent of their pay into the Social Security System in order to enjoy the benefits thereof in old age. Those employed in secular endeavors pay in about half that much with the “company” paying in that much or more for them. A few churches may pay this for the preacher, but not many do.

Life and Health Insurance

Most companies offer free or low-cost life and health insurance to their employees. Preachers have no such benefits. If the preacher wants life insurance for himself and health insurance for himself and his family he must pay for it from his salary. When he buys this he doesn’t get the advantage of low-cost group plans offered by other employers. Rather, he must pay the extremely high premiums of individual plans. The premiums for a small life insurance policy on the preacher and minimum health coverage for him and his family may well run into the neighborhood of $5,000 per year. Check it out?

Home Ownership

Some churches own a “preacher’s home” that the preacher and his family are required to live in whether that is their preference or not. Thus, a preacher is furnished a “home” and doesn’t need as much salary. In this way the preacher(s) actually pay for the “preacher’s home” but never builds up an equity in a home for himself (as the rest of us do). Also, he does not have the privilege of taking the real estate taxes and mortgage interest payments off his income tax. Over a period of several years this can amount to a tidy sum!

Overtime, Vacation Pay and Longevity

Workers in the secular field, paid on an hourly basis, receive time and one half pay for any time worked over eight hours per day. Although I am not aware of any preacher who is required to punch a time clock, most preachers work much more than eight hours per day. Most companies give their employees paid holidays and paid vacations each year. If the local church allows the preacher a couple of weeks vacation, he usually has meetings scheduled for those weeks instead of being able to take his family on an extended trip. Also, preachers do not build up the advantages of longevity with reference to job security and job retention.

Entertainment

I have never been able to understand why, but in most churches where I have worked and worshiped, the preacher and his wife seem to be expected to do more entertaining in the home than other members of the church. This, too, may be a drain on the preacher’s finances. I’m not advocating an “entertainment allowance” for preachers, but I suggest this should be taken into consideration when determining how much we will pay the preacher.

Libraries and Study Aids

As a general rule, most preachers maintain a much larger library than most other members of the church. They must constantly buy study helps, such as commentaries, for their work. If you have purchased a new Bible or commentary or other study aid recently, you know how expensive they have become. Some churches maintain a good library for the use of the preacher and other members, but these are few and far between.

Other Factors

There are many other factors that should be figured in when we are determining what we should pay the preacher. Moving expenses, replacement of furniture and appliances damaged in a move, college tuition for the kids, extra clothing and cleaning bills (remember, the preacher and his family must look “presentable”), extra gasoline and car expenses (because he is expected to do more “visiting” since he has so much more time than the rest of us), and I am sure you can add to this list.

Some Other Considerations

Preachers do not have opportunities for promotion to higher paying positions as we do, unless some other church offers them a few bucks more than they are getting to come work with them. Perhaps that is why many preachers move every two or three years. Inflation rises, living costs go up, but too many brethren fail to see that need to give the preacher a raise. Maybe there would not be so much moving about if we, at least, allowed their salaries to keep up with inflation. It is no wonder that many preachers are tempted to go into a “sideline” business in order to supplement the meager salary some brethren want to pay. I know of some good men who have quit full-time preaching to take a secular job in order to provide a decent living for their families. They grow weary of having to “beg” for enough pay just to keep their heads above water!

I know two very capable, effective preachers, who have been preaching the gospel for more than 30 years each and have upheld the truth in debates with denominationalists as well as our institutional brethren. Over the years they have preached for large as well as small congregations and have preached uncountable meetings. One told me he has never received as much as $400 per week salary and the other said he has not had a raise in pay since 1980! Brethren, this is not as it should be! The cost of food, gasoline and everything else has gone up for the preacher as it has for the rest of us. And, I am confident that most of us have had several increases in pay over the past several years. Even those retired on Social Security receive regular cost of living increases!

I have not written this as a blanket condemnation of all churches. Some congregations pay their preacher well, a few pay more than the man is worth, but many pay far too little. There is no work more important than the preaching of the gospel. Therefore, when considering pay for the preaching, let us not be concerned that on the surface it looks like “He’s already making more than I am,” but let us consider all things involved. The laborer is worthy of his hire (Lk. 10:7).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 10, pp. 300-301
May 21, 1992

By Frank Jarnerson

Contrary to the thinking of many today, there can be no true liberty without law. Lawlessness would result in anarchy, not freedom.

In sports events, there must be laws (rules) in order for anyone to have the freedom to participate in the game. Though true sportsmanship will not try to take advantage of the rules, that does not mean that no rules are necessary. In civil government, there must be laws so that those who want to do right will know what is expected of them, and those who violate those rules will be punished. Without laws there would be no security. It is not possible to even conceive of living in a country without laws, yet there are some brethren who so dislike the word “law” that they have convinced themselves that we are free from God’s rules.

James said, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (Jas. 1:25). It is called “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), “the law of faith” (Rom. 3:27), “the implanted word” (Jas. 1:21), or “the faith” (Gal. 3:23). The New Law is a “law of liberty,” not because we are free from law, but because obedience to it truly liberates us from sins, in contrast to the temporary forgiveness under the Old Laws (Heb. 10:4). It gives us “freedom from law” in the sense that perfectly keeping law is not the means of justification. The law of Christ provides genuine forgiveness through the blood by which it was dedicated (Matt. 26:28). The rejection of the law would be a rejection of the blood of Christ.

What did Paul mean when he said, “for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14)? First notice that if this teaches that we have no law, it would negate the need for grace, for “where there is no law, there is no transgression” (Rom 4:15). Second, notice that the fourth chapter teaches we are free from “works” (in the sense of perfect works), but this does not mean that we do not have works to do. There is a difference between earning our salvation by meritorious works, and striving to obey Christ while depending upon his grace for our failures. Chapters five and six talk about freedom from sin, but that does not mean that we never commit sin. There is a difference between committing sin and living a life of sin. Likewise, being “free from law” does not mean that we have no law, but that our justification is not on the basis of law-keeping. The law through which we are justified provides for failure, but that does not justify failure to respect the law! When John said, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17), he did not mean that there was no “grace and truth” under the Old Law, nor that there is no “law” under the grace and truth. The “truth” is the law, or rule of right and wrong.

We may not understand why God gave some of the rules, but love for Him will result in sincere effort to obey in all things, realizing that our justification is through His grace, and not through our perfection in law-keeping. Our efforts to obey should be from a heart of love, but those who do not strive to obey do not love him. God did not say “love is the only law a Christian has.” He said, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn 5:2,3) The one who despises law despises the law-giver.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 10, p. 294
May 21, 1992