Truth Magazine

By Bobby Witherington

With regard to the husband-wife relationship, Jesus said, “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6). In Romans 7:2 the apostle Paul said “the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as she lives.” Many are the Scriptures which speak of the divine origin of the marriage relationship, the sanctity of the home, and the God-intended permanence of the marriage bond.

There was a time in our nation when God’s law regarding the permanence of marriage was generally respected and obeyed – so much so that there was a stigma attached to divorce. But time that has passed. Divorce now is often treated as a joke. It is a common occurrence, and the expected end of many marriages. In fact, a single, young and famous movie star recently said that some day she plans to get married, and she expects that marriage to end in divorce! If that does indeed happen, she will find the divorce easy to obtain, for divorce laws have been liberalized, restrictions have been removed and, legally speaking, it has become common. Domestically speaking, society has sown to the wind and is now reaping the whirlwind. There are some grave problems modern society now faces because of the spiraling divorce rate. What are they?

One problem is the increase of promiscuousness. Among many married people, fidelity is considered unnecessary, “old fashioned,” and out-dated. Hebrews 13:4 says that “marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” However, that verse, as well as the book from which it was taken, is regarded as a relic from an unenlightened, puritanical age. Legion are the husbands and wives who are untrue to each other, and some even practice such promiscuousness with their spouse’s knowledge and permission!

A second problem generated by our high divorce rate is an increased disrespect for marriage itself. Some consider marriage out-dated, so they seek to satisfy their fleshly passion in a live together arrangement that has little more permanency than that which characterizes animals of the field and forests. Of course, this is in character for those who ignore and reject the Bible and reduce themselves to living on an animal level.

A third problem that stems from our modern divorce rate affects children. They are often treated like pawns of a chess board, and are made the unwilling objects of parental barter and trade. They are denied a secure family life that is so vital to emotional maturity. Instead they are victimized by fear and frustration, being treated like cattle in a feed lot, in which they are given shelter and food – provided they help themselves to it. Not all children are so victimized when their parents get a divorce, but who would deny that such is the case a large percentage of the time?

When the family circle is broken there is no circle left. Divorce ought to be avoided at all cost. And at the same time let it be remembered that many parents live under the same roof, but are poles apart in their goals, purposes, and aspirations – all of which leave the inside of the circle torn and splintered. Hence, the goal of husbands and wives is not merely to avoid a divorce, but to make their marriage all that God intends for it to be.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 486
August 15, 1991

By R.J. Stevens

According to Ephesians 6:4 they are. “Fathers provoke not our children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (KJV). “But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (NAS). “Children” doesn’t always mean preschoolers. It is obvious from these passages that the children under discussion are old enough to receive instructions from the Lord’s teachings. I believe we must conclude that parents have the responsibility of teaching sons and daughters principles of truth which come from the Lord, especially the things Paul mentions in Ephesians 5:22 through Ephesians 6:4 regarding the family relationships. This must be done whether the children are Christians or not Christians. The words spoken by Jesus will judge sons and daughters of accountable age as it will judge their fathers and mothers. John 12:48 says, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Not long ago my wife and I were guests of a fine family during a gospel meeting. One of their sons is a faithful child of God, but their other son is not. It appears that he has no intention of becoming one. I pray that he will have a change of heart some day. Both sons had the same father and mother and were brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It seems to me that both of them were responsible to God’s teaching when they reached an accountable age.

What I am getting ready to point out happens many times. However, I hope this doesn’t happen to either of my friend’s sons. Suppose the faithful son who is married commits fornication and leaves his wife and marries another. He knows this is contrary to Christ’s teachings. Can he expect to have fellowship with God by walking in the darkness of an unlawful adulterous relationship? According to 1 John 1:6, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 5:8-11 he is to be withdrawn from and God’s people are not supposed to even eat a common meal with him. This was done in Corinth to keep the leaven of wickedness out of the church and cause the fornicator to repent of sin and save his soul. It is implied in 2 Corinthians 2:4-11 and 7:8-12 that the man who had his father’s wife repented and severed the unlawful relationship. Therefore if the once faithful son of my friend wants to come back into fellowship with God and his people, he would have to repent and sever his unlawful adulterous relationship.

Now let’s suppose that the other son who never obeyed the gospel while he was at home marries and later commits fornication and marries again. Having been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord he also knows that what he has done is contrary to the Lord’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage. Now let’s suppose he decides he wants to be baptized for the remission of his sins, especially the sins of fornication and adultery. He desires to have fellowship with God and God’s people. In order for the older son to have fellowship with God, he would have to repent and sever his relationship with his adulterous spouse. Thanks be to God for some who have severed relationships that were adulterous. According to some brethren, the second son could continue in his unlawful adulterous marriage because he never had been in covenant relationship with the Lord and was not accountable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage, even though he had the same dad and mother who taught him the same principles his older brother had been taught.

James says there is only one lawgiver (Jas. 4:12). It is hard for me to understand that there is more than one law given to govern the morals of these two sons we have talked about. If they both commit the same immoral acts of fornication and adultery, I believe they both must repent in the same way. Our problem is not so much which law they are under but what is involved in repentance. We seem to have a double standard for repentance, one for children of God and one for aliens.

Now, if an unbelieving son or daughter of parents who are faithful to God is amenable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage, wouldn’t their unbelieving neighbors be amenable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage? All unbelievers will answer to Christ in the day of judgment (Jn. 8:24; 12:48).

There are many good brethren who are just as conscientious as I am who hold a view different than what this article teaches. But one thing for sure we both can’t be right if we teach conflicting views. Let’s keep on studying because we love one another and want to be united here and in heaven. (Reprinted from Gospel Truths, June 1991.)

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, pp. 483-484
August 15, 1991

By Dan King

Unity and harmony in human relationships is one of the most pleasant things in the world. David emphasized how basic it is in Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (v. 1) Life can be viewed as good or pleasant, happy or sad, depending upon our surroundings and circumstances, and how we see them.

Pity the poor family, whether blessed with this world’s goods or not, that spends most of their time together in disagreeable arguments and fits of temper. Life could be so much more enjoyable if all parties would make a serious effort to be happy together and make their home a “good and pleasant” place to be. The result would be that the family circle would represent to all members of the household, a veritable “shelter in the time of storm” from all the vicissitudes of this world, a place to which each family member would flee to find repose from the turmoils of modern life in the city.

Likewise, God intended that the church be such a bastion of relief to distraught and distressed souls of this world. It was his intention that it be seen as a relationship filled with comfort and consolation for sin-sick men and women, a place to which they might flee from the ugliness and evil of the carnal side of life.

Imagine, then, how God must see it from his heaven, when the church is filled with unkind and hostile feelings and words, when brethren are hateful to one another, and lies and animosities abound. The Word of God has plenty to say of this in a score of New Testament passages (1 Cor. 1:10; 3:3, 17; Gal. 5:15, 20; etc.). But none is so heartfelt and sincere, as the prayer of the Savior, uttered on the night of his betrayal:

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn. 17:21).

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Not only is it the will of God for us so to dwell, but it is indeed “good and pleasant.” As members of the body of Jesus Christ, let’s all work hard to make our families what they should be in the sight of the Lord. And, let’s try hard to see to it that our church relationships are full of the harmony and friendliness that can make it the closest thing to “heaven on earth.”

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 484
August 15, 1991

By Michael R. Baggett

One of the most fascinating miracles of Jesus is his turning the water into wine. Only the Son of God could transform 120 gallons of water into wine.

The point I wish to discuss does not concern so much the miracle as it does the confidence of Mary in her first-born, Jesus. When the wedding guests wanted wine, Mary turned to Jesus for the answer. Mary did not instruct Jesus “how” to or where to get the wine, she simply told him the problem (Jn. 4:3). Further, what she said to the servants indicates her trust and faith in the ability of Jesus: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (Jn. 4:5). O how the religious world needs to abide by this principle!

Why should men do whatsoever he saith? We should do whatsoever Jesus saith because he has “all power.” In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says that “. . . All power is given me in heaven and in earth.” This “power” is authority. God has given Jesus authority over all things to the church. Jesus, therefore, has the right to tell men what to do.

Not only did God give to Christ this power, it was God’s plan from the beginning. From eternity past, God planned that Jesus would die for man’s sins and be given dominion over all things (Eph. 1:9,10;3:9-12).

Christ’s power over Satan is foretold in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Moses foretold the coming authority of Jesus in Deuteronomy 18:18,19: “1 will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

Peter, the Apostle, tells us plainly who this prophet is in Acts 3:18-23. Peter tells us this prophet is Jesus Christ. When the time was right, God sent Jesus to suffer, to die, to be resurrected, and to tell men what to do. To reject his words is to bring destruction to the soul!

On the holy mount, God taught Peter, James, and John who it is they need to “hear.” Moses and Elijah appeared in the presence of the three. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter thought it would be a good idea to build a tabernacle for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter seemed to think Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were equal in greatness and authority. However, God corrected this leaping conclusion saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. ” It is not Moses, who represented the Old Testament Law, or Elijah, who represented the Old Testament prophets, we are to hear: but Jesus, the giver of the New Testament (Matt. 17:5).

The Hebrew writer tells us who it is who speaks to us in these last days (the Christian dispensation): “God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Heb. 1: 1,2).

Paul tells us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Whatsoever we do in word is what we say or teach in serving God. Whatsoever we do in deed is what we practice in service to God. To do in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do by his authority. Authority comes from his word (Jn. 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Today, men need to be like Mary who proclaimed: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Don’t question it. Don’t doubt it. Just trust and obey what Jesus says. In the judgment, only those who have obeyed his word will be saved (Heb. 5:8, 9).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 485
August 15, 1991