Truth Magazine

By Bill Crews

Some churches have been in the news lately. These are those who take the position that to treat our physical illnesses by any other way than faith in God and prayer to God is wrong and sinful. They think it a sin, they think it an indication of a lack of faith in God, to consult a doctor and to take medication or to receive medical treatment. Their honesty or sincerity is not in question here, but their handling of the Scriptures is!

The New Testament does not teach that miracles of healing are available to all believers throughout time. Such miracle-working was of a temporal duration and designed to confirm the truth being taught and to produce faith in that truth. On the miracles of Christ and their purpose read John 2:11,23; 3:2; 5:36; 6:26-27; 10:24-25,37-38; 20:30-31; Acts 2:24. On the miracles of the twelve and others read Matthew 10:1,5-8; Luke 10:1,8-9; Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4; Acts 8:5-6,13; 9:33-35, 40-42; 13:11-12; 14:3; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. The word of the Lord was revealed and confirmed; it does not need to be, and it will not be, revealed again or confirmed again.

If the purpose of miracles of healing was to alleviate the physical suffering of believers and was available to any believer who had sufficient faith, we would not read about such as the following: Paul had some kind of infirmity that caused him great suffering; three times he earnestly prayed that it might be removed, but it wasn’t! (2 Cor. 12:7-9) Epaphroditus came to Paul at Rome and became gravely ill, but Paul who had miraculously healed so many did not miraculously heal him (Phil. 2:25-30). And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (2 Tim. 4:20).

Certainly we are taught to have faith in God, to trust in God, and to pray diligently. We are even to pray for those who are sick (1 Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6; 3 Jn. 2).

The New Testament does not teach that it is wrong to seek or receive medical attention. Healing herbs and medicines are a part of God’s creation – remedies that he made available to man. Medical practitioners are but drawing upon the knowledge and wisdom that God made available and but cooperating with and using the great laws of nature that God authored. God has given us bodies that have remarkable defenses against diseases and wonderful resources that attack diseases and work to heal injuries. He has provided a host of elements and procedures that can be discovered and properly used to prevent, alleviate or cure human suffering of all kinds. It is not a lack of faith or trust for man to utilize these. Consider the following:

1. No condemnation of medical remedies can be found in the Bible (this is not an endorsement of “quack” doctors or “quack” remedies; nobody is ready to defend any but ethical practioners and proven remedies).

2. If surgery on the human body is inherently wrong, why did God require circumcision of the male descendants of Abraham (Gen. 17), and why did he choose what we now know from a medical standpoint to be the best time (the 8th day)?

3. Many of the laws that God gave to the Israelite nation, besides being tests of their faith, have proven to be the wise thing to do for the protection of man’s physical health. Dr. R. V. Bingham authored the book, The Bible and the Body, in which he “enumerates six laws designed and instituted of God to insure Israel’s national health”: “Sanitation, preventing infection (Deut. 23:14); Sterilization, guarding against contagion (Lev. 11:32,39,40); Quarantine, isolating infectious disease (Num. 5:4; 31:22-23); Hygiene and Dietetics (Lev. 11; 19:7; Num. 11:19-20); Physical Culture; each Israelite, even the priest, worked his own lot (Deut. 16:16); Recuperation, the seventh day and the seventh month reserved for rest.”

4. The Bible mentions a number of plant products that were used by the people for medicinal reasons, and such use was not labelled sinful: aloe, anise, balm of Gilead, caperberry, cummin, figs, fitches, gall, mandrake, myrrh, ointment, olive oil, rue, saffron, and wine.

5. To alleviate his affliction with boils Job sat in ashes and scraped his boils with a potsherd (Job. 2:7-8).

6. Isaiah prescribed a cake of figs to be laid upon Hezekiah’s boil (2 Kgs. 20:7).

7. Physicians are referred to in such places as Job 13:4; 2 Chronicles 16:12; and Jeremiah 8:22. Employing the services of such physicians is not condemned. When Jeremiah wrote: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” we can be sure that God was not drawing upon a figure that he regarded as sinful. It was not wrong to use balm. It was not wrong to employ the services of a physician.

8. If the use of medicine for the healing of the body was sinful, God would not use such a figure in a good sense as he does in Proverbs 17:22. “A cheerful heart is a good medicine. ” Compare also Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:2.

9. Jesus said, “They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick” (Lk. 5:31). Again, this was an illustration of a point (see v. 32), but Jesus would not use as an illustration of an important spiritual point a practice that was sinful.

10. Jesus taught a parable in which he depicted a man rendering medical aid to a victim of robbery (the “good Samaritan” poured oil and wine on the wounds of the injured man and bound up those wounds). He also said to the innkeeper, “Take care of him.” See Luke 10:29-37.

11. Paul commanded Timothy to resort to a medical remedy (to stop using water and to use a little wine) for his stomach’s sake and for his frequent infirmities (1 Tim. 5:23).

12. Paul refers to Luke as “the beloved physician,” (Col. 4:14) about 10 years after he is first referred to in the inspired record (Acts 16:10). It could not have been a sin for a man to work as a physician. Luke was a sometime companion of Paul and wrote two New Testament books, Luke and Acts.

To be sure, both medicines and physicians are limited in what they can accomplish (yet, it stands to reason that there are still many undiscovered remedies and many unknown procedures – the science of medicine is always in a state of growth and improvement), but it is not sinful for a Christian to either consult a physician or to take medication. Yes, he should pray unto God and trust in God. And no, he should not exalt men above God. (Reprinted form church bulletin).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 11, pp. 321, 343-344
June 6, 1991

By Jim McDonald

The Broad Street church of Christ here in Mineola, Texas has just conducted a “Seminar” on “Managing Your Money.” Four more seminars are planned by the church for the rest of 1991: “Helping Our Parents as They Grow Older”; “Self-Esteem for Children and Parents”; “Drugs and Alcohol Abuse” and “Coping with Teens/Parenting Skills.”

The social gospel is a concept that emphasizes the “whole man” and caters to his “social needs.” Such is concerned with the “now world” and while denominations for nearly three-quarters of a century have occupied themselves with such; churches of Christ for years past regarded such to be wholly without the scope of the mission of the Lord’s church. Great changes have occurred in “brotherhood” thinking in the past three or four decades, however. An epidemic of the “social gospel fever” has a affected most congregations and brethren.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves if Peter on Pentecost, or Paul in Antioch, Corinth or Ephesus would have conducted a two or three day seminar teaching folk in their day on subjects like: “Biblical Basics for Financial Management”; “Your Checkbook Speaks”; “How to Make a Million”; “I Owe, I Owe, So Off to Work I Go”; “Successful Financial Planning”; “Mom, Dad, the Kids and Their Money.” The only reference to Christ in the complete brochure appears in the term: “church of Christ.” Not one reference is made either to the gospel of Christ, his death, his resurrection, nor the salvation he offers to a troubled world. Nothing! And yet, money that was supposedly given to further the cause of Christ and the work of his blessed church will be spent for such seminars as these.

We grieve that men, who of all men ought to know better, have turned aside from emphasizing the gospel and are rushing headlong into the preaching and practicing of the social gospel. It pleases me not to publicly call attention to the apostasy that is present among us, but we want all to know that although simple Bible preaching and strict adherence to the work of Christ’s church is not popular with the world nor even with the bulk of our brethren, we neither endorse nor wish to be mistakenly identified with churches of Christ who have abandoned the plea, “let us speak where the Bible speaks, let us be silent where it is silent. Let us call Bible things by Bible names and let us do Bible things in Bible ways.” We are fully committed to the principle that we will speak as the oracles of God, persuaded that faithfulness to Christ allows us to pursue no other course.

It does not disturb me that we are in the minority. So were Noah, Abraham, Enoch, Daniel, the Hebrew children Gideon and the apostles. What matters is that we abide in the doctrine of Christ knowing that if we do that we can confidently say: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 10, p. 303
May 16, 1991

By Bobby Holmes

Not long ago I was talking with one of the elders of the large, “liberal” church of Christ in the city of Duncanville, Texas where I live. I was inviting him to be in attendance at the “Dallas, Texas” meeting, in July of last year. (This was a meeting that was made up of several speakers from “both sides” of the “liberal” churches and the “conservative” churches and conducted July 12-14, 1990. This elder acknowledged that the church where he served did indeed have a gym and that they used it. In fact, he said, “We use it a lot. ” He went on to say that he could not understand why people referred to them as “liberals.” I believe that he was honest in his statement and thus the purpose of this article. I intend to try to set up some studies with him personally on the subject, but for now I would like to address the subject that the title of this article suggests.

According to Webster, the definition of “liberal” is as follows: 4. Not restricted to the literal meaning; not strict (i.e. a liberal interpretation of the Bible). 5. Tolerant of views differing from one’s own; broad-meaning; specify, not orthodox or conventional. 7. Favoring reform or progress, as in religion, education, etc. ” With these thoughts in mind, let us look into the word of God and notice some examples of some that were, indeed, liberal according to the true definition.

The first one we take note of is King Saul as recorded in 1 Samuel 15. God had directed him to “utterly destroy all that they have. . . ” including old and young of both animal and human alike (v. 3). It is obvious that Saul fell into the category of the definition of “liberal” when we look again at it as given by Webster. Saul did not restrict himself to “the literal meaning” of what God had said or restrict himself to “the literal meaning” of what God had said. He was “broad-minded” in his views concerning God’s directive. He stated in verse 13, “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed (be) thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord. ” Saul did not feel compelled to do exactly as God had directed. After all, would not the animals he brought back be used as sacrifices unto God? (Read the entire account 1 Sam. 15:1-35.) Samuel’s bottom line reply to Saul is noted in verses 22-23. “And Samuelsaid, Hath the Lord (as great) delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey (is) better than sacrifice, (and) to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion (is as) the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness (is as) iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from (being) king.” It is clear to see that Saul had become “liberal” and the curse that came on him as the result of his actions.

The next one we note is the example of Nadab and Abilm, recorded in Leviticus 10:1-7. They had clear instructions concerning the source of the fire (Lev. 16:12). They became “liberal” in their thinking. They “reasoned” that as long as they got the job done, what difference did it make where they got the fire. They didn’t take the word of the Lord to be “literal” in its meaning. (Note again the full definition of “liberal” according to the dictionary and you will see that it fits them perfectly. There are many, many more we could give as examples, but space does not permit.)

Let us notice some avenues into “liberalism.”

A. A wrong attitude toward the Bible. Evidence of this is seen in the expression of some that say, “We don’t need Scripture for everything we do. ” However, if we really believe God’s word to be just that, God’s word, we will take heed to the things he tells us. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, (do) all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17). (Note also 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Matt. 17:-15; 28:18; Lk. 6:46; Jn. 12:48). These Scriptures prove we must have a “thus saith the Lord” for everything we do in religion. To be otherwise, one becomes “liberal” in the real meaning of the word.

B. A wrong attitude toward the church. Many cry for the church to provide recreation for the youth (and older people too), but, the Lord’s church is not social in nature. Jesus did not die on the cruel cross of calvary so that people might be provided recreation and all manner of social activities, but that souls can be saved (1 Tim. 3:14-15). “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Christians need to learn this valuable lesson. The church is to be the “pillar and ground of the truth.” That is spiritual in nature. If you are a member of a church that has within its budget, the funding of social activities out of the treasury, you need to ask the leaders of that church where is the Bible authority for it. I’ll state again what I have preached for some thirty-seven years now. With what one is converted, that is what he is converted to. If one is converted with the social gospel (fun, food, and frolic), then that is what he is converted to. Take that away and you lose him. On the other hand, if one is converted with the gospel, he is converted to the gospel and to the Lord and nothing will change that fact. People that are converted with a “soda pop and sandwich ” have to be kept with “candy bars and ice cream. ” (Read also Eph. 3:8-11,21.) The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a divine institution, purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and those who try to turn it into a social thing have a materialistic view of that which is spiritual and are “liberal.”

C. A wrong attitude toward worship. Some churches have “children’s church” in which they “practice” taking the Lord’s supper. This is supposed to have them educated so that when they become “Christians, ” they will “know how it is done.” Many times I hear of churches celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc. in their worship services. Where does this fit into God’s plan for spiritual things in worship? Some are bringing in their choirs that are simply forms of entertainment in song. Again I ask, where is the authority? These are but a few things that answer the question, “Liberal, What Does That Mean?” Let us take heed to 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove our own selves. . .

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 10, pp. 302-303
May 16, 1991

By Ricky Floyd

“The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10). “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Jas. 4:14).

These quotations from the Old Testament and the New bring sharply into focus the brevity of human life. No man can read such words with any degree of comprehension without realizing how swift and how certain is the approach of death for everyone of us. All our earthly hopes and ambitions, our plans, our dreams, and fondest expectations will finally come to rest beneath a little mound of dirt over which the green grass will grow for centuries after we have returned to the elements. How futile and how silly to think we can build anything that will endure on this earth!

I found the above paragraph in an article written several years ago, and yet as I read it I could not help but notice how it characterized my friend and brother in the Lord who was taken from this life. Wayne Francis was, in every sense of the word, a plain man, a man who was down-to-earth and who knew of the futility of life. Wayne Francis was a man of faith. I would like to dedicate this article to Wayne and his family.

I met Wayne in 1983 after relocating from Columbia to Murfreesboro. We attended church services together and although I had met him I did not really get acquainted with him until 1985 when I had an aneurysm that would allow Wayne and me to become the best of friends. After my surgery this man spent hours of time calling me on the phone and giving words of encouragement. While recovering from my illness I would go visit him at work or go on an errand with him, the whole time talking of things of spiritual value. Our lives, those of my family and me, was made more bearable the next several months mainly by this man’s concern for others. I would like to tell of some of the things that made Wayne Francis what he was.

Faith and love for God. Wayne was a man who had an unfeigned love and zeal for the Lord and was a faithful member of the body of Christ for many years. He served as a deacon for the University Heights church and always participated in Bible classes and every phase and function of the local church. Wayne spent much time and used his talents in preparation of Bible class materials that still are used by the brethren in Murfreesboro. This writer has several of the study texts that were put together on a number of the Old Testament books that meant a great deal to me then, and will mean even more to me now than ever since my brother is gone.

Love for his family. Wayne was a devoted husband and father. One of the first comments I heard about him was how he loved his wife, Janette. I visited with this family many times and was always welcomed and knew that I was among friends. Wayne and Janette were blessed with two children, Rebekah and Terry, who are in the Lord’s church because of the influence that surrounded them all their lives. I recall sitting at home one evening when the phone began to ring. Terry wanted to be baptized into Christ and Wayne wanted me and another friend to be with them at this special time in their lives and in the life of Terry. Rebekah is today attending Florida College and is a very fine Christian lady. Wayne was devoted to his wife and children but he continued to remember his mother, a widow, and Janette’s parents. Their activities for the day included checking on all of the family. When Wayne and Janette found out that they were going to relocate, Mrs. Francis and the Ralphs (Janette’s parents), sold their respective houses and moved to Elizabethton also. Thus we see how our brother was committed to his family.

His love for his fellow man. This world has lost a friend in that Wayne was always interested in people. I recall his attitude in wanting to set the proper example. He always was concerned that he was not doing enough and realized the influence he had on those about him. We had many conversations of concern over those who were outside the body of Christ, or those within the church who were not living as they should. Thus, we see this man of God, who had his shortcomings and peculiarities, but a man who stood by his convictions, and had a trusting confidence in the Savior. He loved God, his family and his fellow man.

When I arrived at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon I saw brethren from so many different congregations. They had services on Saturday in the town where Wayne was living and I am confident that the same love and concern was expressed to the family there. In the Revelation letter John writes, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13). Wayne was fifty-one years old, a man with much life left to live. His works are following him today as so many feel the sadness and loneliness without him. We pray for his family and hope that as Wayne reached out to others, we will incorporate into our lives that same compassion. A large crowd attended the memorial service in Elizabethton, TN the afternoon of February 9. Congregational singing was led by Greg Nelson, and Tom Wheeler spoke words of comfort and encouragement. Bob Buchanon spoke beautiful comforting words at the short graveside service February 11. Wayne’s body was laid to rest near Gamaliel, Kentucky, approximately 40 miles from Dixon Springs. I rode to the funeral home reminiscing about all of the good times and bad that we struggled through. It has been some time since I had talked to Wayne. Sheila and I had planned many times to call them and see how things were going for them. Let us live everyday upon this earth in the realization that today could be the last here for us, or those that we love. If we would do so, I am confident that we would all spend more time encouraging one another and expressing to one another our love that we have.

To you who are not a Christian we urge you to recognize the shortness of this life and the promise of the judgment day. I close with Paul’s words to the Thessalonians, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which have died, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them which die in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thess. 4:13-14).

Wayne and Janette knew Christians everywhere. Their home was a great example of what a hospitable home should be. Wayne was killed instantly in a car wreck. Janette and the children can still use words of friendship and encouragement. You may contact Janette at Rt. 11, Box 430, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Phone 615-543-7661.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 10, pp. 308-309
May 16, 1991