Truth Magazine

By W.R. Jones

Serving as an elder of the church is a rather awesome responsibility if a man takes it seriously. If he doesn’t take it seriously, then he shouldn’t be one in the first place. Thus, in admonishing Christians to obey the elders the Hebrew writer states, “for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Heb. 13:17). Watching for souls, and this generally includes quite a number who really don’t want to be watched for in the first place, is no little task. The burden is made lighter by remembering what an honor it is before God to serve in this capacity. To be a good elder there are several things which are absolutely necessary. In selecting elders many Christians look no further than family requirements. If a man has some lovely children who are obedient, they consider the prospect well qualified. Others are well satisfied if the prospect has proven himself to be a good business man. Christians with such attitudes are spiritually ignorant and have limited vision.

An Elder Must Desire the Work!

This is not an “office seeking” attitude, but a free and genuine desire and willingness to “use and be used” in God’s work. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1). He is not to desire the office for prestige, power or prominence, but to serve the Lord in all humility. Elders who are offering a reluctant sacrifice need to change their attitude. There is no way to find happiness in half-hearted service. An elder’s wife needs to understand the nature of the work and encourage her husband in every possible way. I have known of elders who not only carried the burden of the office, which is enough within itself, but carried an additional home burden because their wives resented their work for the Lord. What a shame!

An Elder Must Desire to Lead!

As shepherds, elders must lead God’s people. Lead them into the “riches of his grace.” Lead them into “purity” and “unity.” Lead them into “spiritual productivity.” Therefore, elders ought to be thinking out ahead of the people. I have known many elders who only did what they were compelled to do by pressure applied by the members. This is not leading! I have known elders who were like a hound dog I once knew. He would run just in front of the horses who were pulling the wagon. It looked like he was leading, but when he came to a fork in the road he ran over to the side and waited to see which way the team was going, and then he took up his fake lead position again. That is just not leading! True leadership demands thought, time, patience, prayer and courage. There is no way to truly lead without these things in an elder’s life.

An Elder Must Be Willing To Rebuke the Wayward!

There is no easy way to do this. In the work of overseeing, this is the most difficult task I encountered while serving as an elder. It is not all that difficult as an evangelist to stand behind the pulpit and rebuke the people for their sins, but “face to face” it is not so easy. But, it must be done! Elders must be sensitive enough to detect a straying sheep quickly, and loving enough to act without delay that a soul may not be lost. Elders often excuse themselves with a “wait and see” attitude. Of course, they must be patient, but most of the time “wait and see” is simply a “cop-out from duty.” Overseers must be willing to take the lead in discipline, both instructive and corrective. This can’t be accomplished by the “faint hearted.”

An Elder Must Understand the Value of Teamwork!

God authorized “elders” (plural). When you have a number of men who are leading “together,” it demands teamwork. Those involved may not have exactly the same talents and temperaments, but they all can and must contribute their part. A failure to do this will result in one or more taking too much lead and that it not good. An elder should not be simply an “objector, ” but a “contributor. ” You cannot have good teamwork without good communication and that means overseers need to keep their heads together.

I don’t believe there is anyway to do this without talking. They may not always agree one-hundred percent, but if they truly love the Lord and his church then something good will always come from their talking. Sometimes elders become too busy to communicate except briefly “on the run,” and this doesn’t give time for much thought. When elders become too busy to properly oversee they have become too busy!

There isn’t anything the church of the Lord needs more than godly elders. We badly need men who are willing to prepare for this great work. But, alas, there are many who are not willing to study, grow, work, and prepare for this great effort. We will never just “accidentally” have good overseers. Young men should start preparing and then be ready when the time comes. Instead of this, the time comes and then we scramble to get someone acceptable enough to get in. This is a poor way to run God’s business. Then in some places we have the “extra critical” members who make it impossible for the very best of men to serve God in this capacity. These people may mean well, but they do harm to the progress of the kingdom. In conclusion, let us remember, there is nothing that will stablize and strengthen the Lord’s church more than godly elders. May their tribe increase.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, p. 751
December 19, 1991

By Paul K. Williams

In about 1958 when I was 27 years old the church I was preaching for split. The main doctrinal issue involved (as with most church messes there were plenty of personal issues as well) was the subject of church discipline. A few months after the split a respected older preacher was scheduled to preach a meeting for the church where I had been preaching. In the hope that he could succeed in teaching the truth where I had failed, I wrote to him and asked him to preach on the subject of church discipline. I told him that if he would preach what he had written on the subject that I thought his influence could help the situation very much. His reply to me was, “I have been preaching more years than you have been living. I don’t need you to tell me what to preach.”

I then and there resolved that when I became old I would never pull rank because of age! Now that I am old, I am more resolved than ever. Age helps to bring wisdom, but wisdom is not confined to the old. Meeting an argument by saying, “I am older than you, therefore I know better” is nearly the same as saying, “You have the better argument, but I am not going to admit it.” If I have wisdom, I should be able to demonstrate that wisdom by calm, reasoned, scriptural argument.

These thoughts were triggered by the good article, “Thinking Too Highly of Men” by Robert Wayne LaCoste (GOT, July 18, 1991). His point was that we should not think so highly of older men that we take what they say uncritically. My point is that we older men must not think so highly of ourselves that we will not receive the criticism of younger men. Such sinful pride can take us to hell just as surely as any other sin.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, p. 741
December 19, 1991

By Jerry Parks

The explosion of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines is over and done and no longer a subject of newspaper headlines. All that remains for us is the enjoyment and fascination of the beautiful harvest sunsets that have been enhanced by the volcanic dust that is still floating in the atmosphere. The temptation for most of us now is to view the situation with an “out of sight, out of mind” kind of disregard.

Because of my involvement with the Filipino people over the past years, and knowing the potential for misery from such a catastrophe, I felt compelled to make an unscheduled trip to Manila and make my way to the Mt. Pinatubo area to see first hand how bad the situation really is and gather as much information as possible to supply to brethren here in the U.S. who might be inclined to assist Filipino brethren in need.

Accompanying me on the trip from Manila to Mt. Pinatubo was my good friend and trusted fellow laborer, Ben Cruz. Ben is well acquainted with the brethren in that area and was most useful at helping me make contacts with brethren there. We used Ben’s trusty old jeep as our source of transportation and it served us well through the whole trip. Brother Fred Agulto is a good driver as well as an excellent mechanic. Brother Edmundo Cipriano was outstanding as a scribe. He recorded all information as we interviewed people and viewed the disaster first hand. Brother Emilio Alverez and Gary Aron-rin were also indispensable as photographer and caring for our equipment. I am deeply indebted to these fine gospel preachers for our safe return to Manila.

Our trip was unannounced and none of the brethren in the area had any indication that we were coming. We wanted it that way so there would be no temptation to gather crowds or exaggerate the needs. As soon as we arrived in the immediate area of the volcano, we could see that there was no need to exaggerate the situation. The misery and devastation was very real, almost unbelievable.

Fortunately, the worst of the damage was confined to three provinces; Zambales, Pampanga, and Tarlac. People in other districts experienced discomforts from the volcanic dust, but nothing like those brethren in the provinces just mentioned. We spent most of our time in the worst affected areas. Traveling was very difficult not only because of the volcanic ash flow called “Lahar” which destroyed roads and bridges, but also because at the time we were traveling, northern Luzon was experiencing a severe typhoon with winds up to 250 KPH. So in addition to the normal difficulties of traveling in that region, the wind and the rain blowing through the open jeep made it nearly impossible. But we managed to protect ourselves and the equipment and slowly made our way from village to village.

The brethren were surprised to see us and deeply touched that we seemed to care about their situation. They were eager to tell us their stories of that frightening day when the sun refused to shine because of the raining of volcanic ash and the ground trembling under their feet as the earthquakes repeatedly caused more and more damage to their little houses. They described running out of their houses just seconds before the roof, under the weight of the heavy volcanic ash, collapsed, and leaving their property and possessions in ruins.

I learned a great deal not only from the people, but by seeing first hand the natural results of a volcanic explosion in a populated area. I witnessed what happens when it rains and the rivers that are filled with “Lahar” will not accept the rain water. The water that normally is channeled by the rivers, flows out of control flooding streets, houses, and crop land. Often, all you can see is the roof top or a remnant of a house standing in total ruin. I stood on one hilltop with a sister in Christ named Angelita. She pointed to the fragments of the one wall of her house and explained with tears in her eyes that there was a street below the raging river of water, mud, and volcanic ash that we were viewing. The sea of water and mud behind the crumbling concrete wall used to be a beautiful rice field with a river off in the distance to irrigate the crops. Now the house is gone and the source of income is gone. She is left alone with three children who were obviously not feeling well. Angelita is living in a cardboard shanty in an area the government has provided called “Tent City.” Her husband had to travel to the Manila Bay area to look for work on a fishing boat. She invited us into the little smoke filled shanty house and offered us rice to eat. I gave her what little money I had with me and said that I would tell others in the U.S. about her sad situation. That seemed to be a great comfort to her, at least it was a ray of hope that might help her to continue her struggle for survival.

The sad story of sister Angelita was common and we heard it again and again as we traveled from place to place. Help is needed to buy medicine, rebuild houses, replant crops and to repay the loan sharks that these brethren have had to turn to for help.

Before the trip, I was unable to give any first hand information. But now I can supply names, addresses and damage assessment information and pictures of brethren who are desperately in need of your help. It seems that the terrible calamities in the Philippines are unending. Even as I was making my way to the Manila airport to return home, another typhoon was raging through the Visayan Islands 350 miles south of Manila. The early reports of death and destruction are shocking. I do not understand why so many calamities are befalling these people, but I do know that the suffering is real and the needs are real. All I know to do is what I have done. Hopefully this information that I have gathered will help to generate a desire on your part to want to provide some much needed help. I pray that we will not become weary in well doing. Even if you have helped before, will you not extend a helping hand again? Feel free to contact me day or night to provide you with the information that I have obtained. My home phone is (618) 3773842. My office phone is (618) 259-7532.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, pp. 753-754
December 19, 1991

By Louis J. Sharp

“It has been said that there are two reasons why men turn to God. First, they find an order in the universe that they cannot explain without God. Second, they find a disorder in themselves that they cannot deal with without God.”

I know not the author of this statement, but it does bring into focus two reasons for men turning to God. Many others can be given, but these two are pertinent.

Order in the Universe

There is no way to explain the order of our universe apart from intelligence. This intelligence cannot be accounted for separate and apart from God. In his book, I Believe Because, Batsell Baxter wrote:

The universe demonstrates order and design, hence there must be a designer. The existence of order and system demands an orderer. Beauty, form, design, and purpose in nature all imply a creative mind, an intelligent architect (p. 50).

He also gives a quotation from Dr. Arthur H. Compton, nobel prize winner in Physics:

For myself, faith begins with the realization that a supreme intelligence brought the universe into being and created man (emphasis mine, LJS). It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is plan there is intelligence – an orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered – “In the beginning God!” (p. 64)

When mere man can observe and calculate time, seasons, eclipses, astronomical data, and events in the distant past or predict the future, things that appear unfathomable, one must know that there is an order to our solar system that is perfection. The dream of men reaching the moon became a reality because there is an orderly movement of the earth and her satellite. Every movement of each is predictable.

However, the source of my faith is found in Genesis one. I accept this written record as inspired of God. That which is recorded is verifiable by things which are seen! As the Psalmist declared:

When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psa. 8:3-4)

Disorder in Self

Long ago, Jeremiah seemed to point to this problem. He exclaimed: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (10:23).

Yet, how many are attempting to do just that. Take note of what happens when men try to take direction away from God. Anarchy ensues, exhibited in all kinds of crime, corruption, disease, hostility, disunity, and perverseness of every description. Read Romans 1:21-32 for a demonstration of what occurs when men try to take over from God.

Isaiah suggests the same problem: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (55:8-9).

We should learn this lesson. Yet, men seem to be continually challenging God. The inquire:

“Why did you make me thus?’

“Why is your law given as it is?” or

“What you are saying, Lord, makes no sense at all.”

As we view disorder in our lives, and contemplate God’s plan for bringing order into our lives, we graciously thank God for his wonderful gift. Be reminded of the beautiful invitation of Jesus:

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Yes, the order of the universe and the disorder in ourselves prove the existence of God. We also see our need for him!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, p. 748
December 19, 1991