Truth Magazine

By Dan K. Graham

During the month of July millions of Americans have received a piece of literature in the mail* from the “One Nation Under God” campaign. This effort is advertised as a work of churches of Christ. Many of our readers already know that not all churches of Christ in the United States chose to take part in this. However, there might be some readers who do not know this, and some of them might not understand why. It is the purpose of this article to help explain why Underwood Heights and hundreds of other congregations have nothing to do with “One Nation Under God.”

God’s plan. First of all, let us be clear that we all understand God’s plan for congregational organization. According to Acts 14:23, each local church is to have elders appointed. Obviously, there is something more to this than just their being aged, for it is something to which they are appointed. Their realm of authority is that local church, period (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Thus, each congregation is autonomous (self-governing) and independent of all other congregations. No congregation has the right to take the oversight of another group, nor does any congregation have the right to relinquish its autonomy to another. Further, no congregation is to pay another to do its work for it. Finally, the only scriptural way for a church to raise funds to pay for the work it does is through the weekly contribution described in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Later we will see how the “One Nation Under God” campaign violates these principles.

What the problem is not. In order not to be misunderstood, let us clearly state what the problem is not. First of all, the problem is not that somebody is trying to reach the whole nation. According to Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15, the church needs to try to reach not only the whole nation but the whole world. This is not the problem. Second, the problem is not the fact that literature was mailed. In fact, the New Testament itself is in large part “mailed literature.” This is not the problem. Third, the problem is not the use of TV and radio to promote it. Underwood Heights has a radio program. Other sound congregations use TV programs. This is not the problem. Fourth, the problem is not that large sums of money were spent of evangelism. This is the best possible use of the Lord’s money. The church needs to spend as much money as possible to preach as much gospel as possible. This is not the problem. Fifth, the cartoon format used in the flier is not the problem. Some might question the judgment, but it is only a matter of judgment. This is not the problem. Sixth, what was taught in the flier is not the problem. As far as I can tell, the truth was taught about the best way to overcome society’s ills and find salvation from our sins. This is not the problem. Seventh, in a general sense, the problem is not even that churches sent money to other churches. There is scriptural precedent for this in Acts 11:28-30 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. However, in a specific sense, this is part of the problem. In the two biblical cases cited, churches sent to other churches to relieve needy saints. There is no scriptural precedent for churches sending to other churches to pay for evangelistic work being done.

If these things are not the problem, then what is? Why does Underwood Heights oppose the “One Nation Under God” campaign and not participate in it?

What the problem is. The problem of the “One Nation Under God” campaign can be summarized under the problems of the sponsoring church arrangement. The Sycamore church of Christ in Cookeville, Tennessee, is the sponsoring church for this effort. They have raised about $ 10 million to pay for it. Most of it has come from other congregations throughout the United States. This kind of scheme, no matter what the congregation and no matter what the specific work, violates the principles discussed earlier as being God’s plan. Such a scheme violates the divine principle of congregational autonomy and independence. No church has the right to take money from others in this way to pay for their work. Neither does a church have the right to relinquish its independence in this way. Also, the church in Cookeville has raised money in some other way than by the weekly contribution. This differs from the New Testament pattern for evangelism. The church at Thessalonica did it themselves (I Thess. 1:8). The church at Philippi did it by supporting Paul in his work (Phil. 4:15-16). There is no scriptural pattern of one church sending its money to another church to oversee the use of those funds in some evangelistic effort. This violates New Testament law.

Questions to consider. If the Sycamore church can oversee some funds of some churches, why not all funds of all churches? If they can do it for this one work, why can they not do it for all works? If they can do it temporarily, can they not do it permanently? If future generations want to establish a regional, national, or international headquarters for the church of Christ, with a board of overseers, and they point to Herald of Truth and One Nation Under God as justification, what passages will supporters of One Nation Under God use to oppose such a move? The truth is that any passage you would use then can be used right now to condemn One Nation Under God as unscriptural.

Finally, do the ends attained justify the means used to attain them? Is it all right to do it this way since there could be thousands baptized as a result? Samuel told Saul that the ends do not justify the means. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Uzzah’s desire to keep the ark of the covenant from falling and being destroyed did not keep God from killing him when he violated the law by touching a hallowed thing. The way to please God is to do the right thing in the right way. Nothing else will do. Brethren, let’s put all our might into saving souls, but let’s do it God’s way. God’s way cannot be improved upon. It works. Let us therewith be content.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 22, pp. 679-680
November 21, 1991

By Johnie Edwards

A number of churches of Christ in this area have sent money to the Sycamore Church of Christ in Cookeville, Tennessee to help pay for a ten million dollar evangelistic campaign throughout the United States. The projects was conceived and is overseen by the elders of the Tennessee church of Christ. The Ellettsville church of Christ did not and will not contribute to this project. The Herald Times recently singled out the Ellettsville Church of Christ as one who “abstained” (Herald Times [July 12, 1991]). Some have asked why we have not contributed to the promotional effort. Here are some reasons:

1. The Tennessee elders have planned a brotherhood work beyond their financial ability. Elders of the church of Christ have no scriptural right to plan a work of evangelism beyond the ability of the local church to pay for. When elders try to do a work larger than they can pay for, in evangelism, then the work becomes a brotherhood action, with the receiving church overseeing it. “The Sycamore elders . . . are overseeing the project” (July, 1991 update). Some argue that it is okay to send funds to the sponsoring church and that the sending of funds does not affect the autonomy of the sending church because they decide how much to send. This is also true of the Christian Missionary Society which divided the Lord’s people more than 130 years ago. Try telling the receiving church how to spend the funds!

2. The oversight of elders is limited. Peter said to elders, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight” (1 Pet. 5:2). The oversight of elders begins and ends in the local church where they have been appointed elders. For elders to oversee a brotherhood project like “One Nation Under God” is outside the scope of this page. It is easily seen that the $10 million project is not the work of a local church, but is a brotherhood work being overseen by a local eldership. And there is just no scriptural authority for such an arrangement!

3. No stopping place. Every church is to have its own elders (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5). If the elders of a local church can turn some of their funds over to a sponsoring church, what passage of Scripture would stop them from turning all of their funds and all of their work over to them? This arrangement carried out to its fullest would lead to the setting up of a central center through which all churches of Christ could function! If not, why not?

4. Funds sent directly to the preacher. In the New Testament, when a church did the work of evangelism, the church did not send to another church, but directly to the preacher in the field. A good example of this can be seen in these words: “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity” (Phil. 4:15-16). The church doing its work God’s way was able to teach the gospel to “all the world” in a few short years (Col. 1:16). And so can we!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 22, p. 678
November 21, 1991

By Doug Lancaster

Though the Persian Gulf war has officially ended, we are not quick to forget the events that literally unfolded before our eyes as they were broadcast on public television. The news media covered well those terrifying days, perhaps too well. One scene in particular continues to weigh heavily on my mind. As the allied soldiers were nearing the end of the war, Iraqi soldiers in great companies began to surrender. The scenes were flashed on our TV sets of how happy the Iraqis were as they finally got the food and water they needed. The problem was many were fighting for fear of their lives; not fear of the allies, but of their own commander. In debriefings, they told of their harsh treatment by Saddam Hussein. They said they were forced to be soldiers with life threats, and when they were on the front, they did not receive the food and water they needed, all these events taking place before the allied bombing actually started. The bottom line is they just did not believe in the cause for which they were fighting.

Psalm 19 shows us that David realized the way of the Lord is the perfect way. The one who would be a child of God must concede that he is not in authority, but must submit to the authority of the Almighty. Sometimes man must answer to other men but ultimately he will answer to God for how he has conducted his life.

The Bible word “faith” is used in more than just one way in the Scriptures. In one sense, it denotes the “system of belief, what is believed, the faith.” Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:4-13, shows that God has revealed to man his will. He is not dealing with the opinion of Paul but the revelation of God through the Spirit. 2 John 9-11 bears out that we must abide in the faith if we would be pleasing. The reference here is to the “system of belief.” Paul also told the Galatians not to heed any “other” gospel, stating they must abide in the truth.

In the primary use of the word, faith is “firm persuasion, conviction based on hearing.” This faith is personal where the system of faith is not. Romans 10:17 shows that faith can be produced in man only by hearing the Word of God. Neither the experiences nor observations on life are capable of producing one ounce of faith. Your personal faith is dependent upon your heart as you hear the Word. This personal faith is always used of conviction in God, Christ or otherwise spiritual things. It is never in the physical but always in the spiritual.

Personal faith is essential. The Hebrew writer shows that without faith one cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). Paul stated we are saved by faith (Rom 5:1-2). Faith is more than a simple acknowledgment of a thing. It is the “conviction of the truth of something; the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.” Faith is not a result of scientific proof because, scientifically, you cannot prove something unless it can be duplicated in an experiment. Faith is a result of examining the evidence God has provided for man, in hopes that man will seek after him and find him. (Acts 17:25-27)

Now to the point. Why do you do the things you do ? If the Bible teaches anything it teaches that a man is responsible for himself. Paul told of the judgment scene and shows that it will be an individual judging (2 Cor. 5:10). This means there will be no local church judgment or family judgment or judging of a group of friends. You will be individually judged on how you have handled your opportunities based on your abilities. All through the Bible there are instructions to the individual on how he can please God. If you are to please him, you must follow him (Matt. 16:24). There is no denying some things must be done collectively, but still, the individual will be judged.

Are you convicted? We “know” the authority principle. That is, we must not act without God’s authority to do so (Col. 3:17). We also “know” we will be judged individually, but do we know why we do the things we do? Could you show someone, without help, your authority for your actions ? The problem is that we are oftentimes just like the Iraqi soldiers. We are simply not convicted in the cause for which we are “fighting.”

The sad but true fact of the matter is that people act for various reasons, other than the correct ones. Some act because of tradition. Please do not misunderstand. Tradition is not always a bad thing, but some would bind tradition as God’s law. Note Matthew 15:7-9 and see what warranted the condemnation of Christ on the Pharisees. They too had a “form” of righteousness, but they tried to bind their own traditions as necessary elements of God’s law. Perhaps an example for today would be the time of worship services. Some would be unchangeably bent out of shape if the local church worship time were moved by as little as half an hour. There are literally hundreds of examples that are silly to some but are matters of “law” to others.

Some act because of influence. Just because my family or friends do a particular thing I will too, even though I really do not know why. Influence can be either a good or a bad thing. Paul taught of the danger of influence by alluding to leaven. Leaven was not a bad thing at that time. It was sour dough frequently used in making bread when time allowed. The adultery that existed in Corinth was to be taken care of quickly before it could influence others to sin (1 Cor. 5). Note also one of my personal favorites in Acts 19:28-32. As Paul finished his discourse to the Ephesians, a violent uproar occurred. Verse 32 shows that there were a variety of things being said, because the most of them did not even know why they were there. This sounds like us sometimes. Some say one thing and some another because we just do not know why we do the things we do.

The monkey is on your back and mine individually to study and know for ourselves how we must act and why. Peter informed his audience that they must be ready to make a defense for their hope. To be ready necessitates willingness and ability, for both of which I will give answer individually. We simply must take a stand for our convictions, but first make sure we are convicted. May the accusation never be made against you that you do not believe in the cause of Christ. The faith has been delivered (Jude 3), but you are responsible for your faith. Let us follow after God’s righteousness because we believe and not because someone else does. May God help us be pleasing to him.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 22, pp. 686-687
November 21, 1991

By Jimmy Tuten

Introduction:

A. Responsibility involves two things: ability and opportunity.

1. It carries the idea of obligation.

2. While not questioning the fact that man has abilities, our Lord in parables taught that men are not equal therein and that each has at least one (Matt. 25:14-30, “according to his several ability”).

3. Obligation is laid upon us in the care and use of our abilities (Tit. 2:11-12). To fail constitutes disobedience in that we have received “the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor. 6:1). That is, we have not acted in accordance with the conditions stated in the “word of his grace” (Acts 20:32).

B. We are to be ready unto every good work (Tit. 3:1).

1. The Scriptures furnish us completely for this (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

2. No step must be taken without heaven’s directives before us.

C. Christians are a part of the “one body” in Christ, joined in one communion and fellowship with each other, where competition for honors gives place to loving concern on the part of every member for every one of the others.

1.. The various gifts, abilities and “offices” should not become the occasion for jealousy, envy and deprecation on the part of the “have nots,” nor should pride, arrogance, conceit and self-importance mar the attitude of the “haves.”

2. In the parallel passage (1 Cor. 12) the writer shows that it would be just as logical for the foot to be jealous of the ear, as for Christians to corrupt their love of one another through pride, etc.

D. There is logical form to this section of Scripture evidenced by established thoughts from the previous verses, with the exhortation that the Roman brethren in their estimation of themselves should not be exalted above what each one ought to be.

1. Problems in this area have always existed (Mk. 9:33-41, “who is the greatest”).

2. Salome wanted places of honor for her sons James and John (Matt. 20:21).

3. Today many count degrees and positions as if God himself made these established rules of greatness (we have witnessed brethren who retire to our area from positions of prominence up North only to have problems just being one of the brethren).

E. Two of the basic elements of Christianity are humility and faithfulness. We should think of ourselves as useful in the body and discharge our responsibilities, however big or small, without seeking preeminence or thinking of ourselves more important than other honorable and necessary members in the body.

Body:

I. “All have not the same office:”

A. The force of the term “office” carries the idea of function or use; so when used concerning the Christian, it is to be understood as being purely functional. (Correctly understood, it stifles every impulse of thinking more highly than we should. If we look upon the term as if it denoted officialdom or authority, then the disposition to think improperly is encouraged.)

B. Up to this point three things are taught clearly in Romans 12:

1. No member of the body should consider himself of no importance. “In his own place he may be of as much consequence as the man of learning, wealth, and talent may be in his” (Barnes Notes).

2. God designed that there be differences of endowments in the Church just as there are differences in the members of the human body.

3. No one should despise or lightly esteem another.

4. “Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness” (1 Cor. 12:22-23).

C. Whatever our role or position in the body, “all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). There is not to be found, comparatively speaking, places of honor, but rather places of service.

1. In this we are mutually dependent upon one another as we have the same interest, i.e., to save ourselves and them who will listen to us (1 Tim. 4:16).

2. We cannot afford not to be interested in other members of the body. But at the same time we must at all times seek the best interest and welfare of the whole body.

3. In the brotherhood we must have the same concern that the Apostle Paul had when he spoke of the continual “care of the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

II. “In Christ.”

A. Members of the body perform their work as the motivation of the head gives strength and movement (Prov. 3:5-6).

1. The perfecting of the body demands that “speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15-16).

2. In the one body under one head we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1), and our relationship with Christ must be one of complete obedience (Rom. 6:16-18).

3. With other members under the same head and in the same body we endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

4. Harmonious living within the body is the evident result of submission to his divine will to the point that the smallest member bears its responsibility to make the body strong, healthy and united. Thus, Eph. 4:15-16 is talking about zeal for truth being tempered by a loving spirit (true doctrine is absolutely necessary, but we must not be harsh and repellent), i.e., true belief and conduct are under consideration in the passage, rather than true speech per se.

5. There are errors and false teachers to contend with and oppose, but holding truth in love demands that we make distinctions between those who are having problems, and need help, and those who are advocates of false doctrine, who lead the church astray and create factions in the church (Jude 22-23; Tit. 3:8,10-11). Threats and hindrances are seen in the church in the rise of the following:

a. The spirit of compromise.

b. The trend of young people’s lack of submission to older brethren.

c. The rise of the spirit of the feminist movement in the church (a definite rise of a critical spirit on the part of some Christian women toward the elders and the preacher, and an increase in general arrogance).

B. Members are to develop in such a way as to correspond with Christ, expressing perfectly the purposes and intents which have their origin in him who is the head.

1. Spiritual gifts were temporary and provisional (1 Cor. 12 gives a list of the gifts, while Eph. 4:8,11-12 mentions the various ones to whom the gifts were given and the functions they performed). The basic purpose was to co-ordinate the saints, with a view to the work of service in the building up of the body of Christ (supported by the fact that there is a change of preposition in verse 12 (for, Gr. eis – unto, Gr. pros) meaning that gifts were given in order to perfect or equip the church so that she could carry on the work of ministering and building up the body of Christ.

2. The text of Romans 12 stresses the perpetuation (work of ministering and growing) on the part of that which Christ fully equipped (fitted together), making an harmonious body out of many separate individuals, so that each member could perform his special task better because all work together (E.F. Scott, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians, pp. 210-211). James Bales rightfully concludes on the passage: “in both parts (perfect man and stature of the fulness of Christ, jt) there is the same metaphor of fitting separate stones into a single edifice, with the further suggestion that the work is to be solid and permanent” (Restoration, Reformation, or Revelation, p. 142).

3. Therefore, welded and compacted the body grows “according to the working in measure of each part” (each part has due activity and appointed function in the measure required).

C. The conclusion then is this: The faith delivered by the inspired men of the first century was given to perfect (equip) the church so that she could do the work of ministering and building.

1. Romans 12:4-8 deals with the responsibilities of those in the body of Christ toward the work of ministry and growth. The body has been fully prepared and equipped for this purpose.

2. Colossians 2:2-7; 1:22-12 – observe the connection with Romans 12.

3. Without the standard of the New Testament one cannot distinguish between healthy growth and cancerous growth (unscriptural). With the equipment the Lord has given we can fulfill our purpose as a member of the body of Christ.

Conclusion:

1. Let us recognize our role in the purpose of God for the salvation of the human race.

2. In humbleness let each member of the body function to the fullest extent and even as God hath placed us therein.

3. 2 Peter 1:3.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 22, pp. 680-681
November 21, 1991