Truth Magazine

By John Isaac Edwards

In France, there is an alternative to an invasive surgical procedure to terminate a pregnancy: abortion by medication. Mifepristone, commonly known as RU-486, has been available in France for 11 years and has gained regulatory approval in thirteen other countries. More than 300,000 women in Europe, and possibly more than three million in China, are estimated to have used mifepristone or another prostaglandin to end pregnancies.

Final talks are underway between the Food and Drug Administration and the Danco Group, the company sponsoring mifepristone in the United States, to clear approval for the American market. Called Mifeprex, the drug could be available sometime this year. One Kaiser Family Foundation survey of over 750 physicians and nurses found that over half said they were likely to incorporate mifepristone into their practice.

Colorado first legalized abortion in 1967 and the Supreme Court ruled abortion legal in all 50 states in 1973. According to the U.S. Abortion Index, 27% of pregnancies end in abortion and 93% of abortions are performed for social reasons. Nearly 1.25 million abortions are performed each year in the United States alone. That’s about 3 abortions every minute!

Abortion is the unlawful taking of human life! Under the Mosaic Law, God said, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exod. 21:22-25). The Psalmist David declared, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:13-16). Jeremiah 1:4-5 records, “Then the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Abortion is no less wrong when the means is medical rather than surgical!

By Bill Reeves

Many and varied are the perverted uses of Paul’s inspired teaching in what we call the 14th chapter of Romans. Here’s a new one, at least for me.

The Broadway church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, in their bulletin of January 30, 2000, received a message from the elders to the “diverse family of believers” that make up the congregation. Some in the congregation were wanting to actively participate in the “Franklin Graham Festival 2000.” (Franklin is the son of Billy Graham.) Others in the congregation were opposed to such participation. According to the bulletin article, they did “not believe members should participate.” The elders, considering that “the Festival has the potential to be a very divisive issue,” “in the spirit of unity and in Christ’s love” decided that the Broadway congregation could not “serve as an official sponsor of Festival 2000” (that would be using Max Lucado to “kick off” the events leading up to the Festival).

So, the elders made the following request of the “Broadway family”: Those who were “uncomfortable with any participation in Festival 2000” were to pray for and encourage those of the “family” who would attend or work for the crusade. After all, the elders said, the desire of those participating was solely that of souls being saved and doors being opened for the gospel of Christ. On the other hand, those who felt “called to attend or work for Festival 2000” were to pray for and understand those who were “uncomfortable” with any role in the Festival. Here’s the very epitome of compromise!

Seems like these elders were putting the issue on the plane of comfort. Were those opposed to participation in the Festival simply “uncomfortable” with doing so? If so, why didn’t the elders reprove them for hindering a good cause for no better reason than their personal comfort? The objectors had a larger reason than “comfort” for their opposition.   Their objection was based on what they believed!

But, this paragraph from the bulletin “takes the cake”! I quote: “We know that Broadway has people wanting to attend or serve in various capacities; and, out of the same desire for unity in Christ, we want them to know that they have the blessings of the Broadway eldership. In a paraphrase of what Paul says in Romans 14 what may be wrong for one brother is not necessarily wrong for another.”

Romans 14 is perverted again! How many errors and false doctrines are covered by Romans 14! Did the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul say in Romans 14 that in any and all situations “what may be wrong for one brother is not necessarily wrong for another”? Or, did he say that, in context, “nothing is unclean of itself” (v. 14), and that “all things indeed are clean” (v. 20)? According to Romans 14 a brother might consider a particular action to be wrong for him, but that particular action was right with God and therefore permissible. It was not wrong in and of itself; it was “clean.”

But in the Lubbock situation, some brethren believed that participation in, or fellowship of, a certain sectarian crusade to be unscriptural. Were they simply “uncomfortable” with it? No, surely they objected to the unscriptural arrangement of the Festival and the false teaching of salvation by faith only (which includes the rejection of baptism for the remission of sins) that would be taught in the Festival. But the compromising elders asked such to pray for and encourage those who would be fellowshipping error and false doctrine!

So, now we know what Paul meant in Romans 14: if some in the congregation believe that sprinkling babies, using instrumental music in worship to God, and installing women elders is wrong, that does not make these practices necessarily wrong for others in the congregation. Furthermore, it means that those opposed to such practices, considering them wrong, should pray for and encourage those innovators, who don’t consider them wrong, and who bring such practices into the congregation. In the meantime, the elders are not to officially endorse such practices, but neither are they to oppose them. Bible unity demands this, for after all, Romans 14 teaches that “what is wrong for one brother is not necessarily wrong for another.”
Romans 14 has become a magical wand in the hands of many brethren. Simply wave it, and suddenly what is unscriptural for some becomes scriptural for others, and everyone should be pray for each other and encourage the innovator, while the compromising elders refuse to take a stand since they must keep the unity!

Amazing, indeed, is the reasoning and perversion of Scriptures of those who give up their love for the Truth! When Truth is left, what is left to those who left it? Broadway’s bulletin article well illustrates the answer!

680 Winchester Dr., Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240  Blaitch@apex.net

By Connie W. Adams

Buy the Truth and Sell it Not

These words from Proverbs 23:23 are engraved on the stone at the grave of Roy E. Cogdill in Hobart, Oklahoma. No words could better describe his life than these. It was a memorable experience for Bobby and me to visit this grave site on a beautiful day in April while in a meeting at Duncan, Oklahoma. Our friend, C.R. Scroggins, preacher at Duncan, drove us to Hobart. As we stood at the grave, a flood of memories inundated my mind. I thought of numerous articles he had written and the effect they had on my thinking and my life. I remembered the Cogdill-Woods Debate at Newbern, Tennessee when I was the local preacher. I recalled having him in our home at Newbern during a meeting when our son, Martin, was a baby and the times he sat and rocked that tiny bundle. I thought of several occasions when I heard him preach and remembered that every sermon was a learning experience for me no matter what the subject. I thought about the influence his books, The New Testamant Church, Walking by Faith, and Faith and the Faith had on me and a host of others. When the institutional division came, he was one of the most respected preachers in the land and was invited to preach in meetings for the largest churches and at numerous college lectureships. But he took his stand and paid the price. He cast his lot with a minority of brethren. He truly bought the truth and sold it not.

He made his share of mistakes along the way. But you were never in doubt as to what he believed nor where he stood. He was not of the number who sought appeasement and compromise with error. His preaching featured clear exegesis of the text of Scripture forcefully argued with compelling logic. He believed the truth could be determined and that it ought to be defended. “Precious mem’ries, How they linger.” From what place will the next Cogdill, Puckett, Miller, Phillips, and other worthies who could be named, arise?

A Disappointing Book

The recent book, The Churches of Christ in The 20th Century (Homer Hailey’s Personal Journey of Faith) by David Edwin Harrell, Jr. makes interesting reading. He parallels the life and times of Homer Hailey with the issues which confronted brethren during the 20th century. Ed Harrell is an excellent writer. His treatment of Hailey’s life is both interesting and informative. Several glowing reviews of the work have already gone forth. But there were several disappointments about this work.

1. While it is clear that Foy E. Wallace, Jr. had his faults and foibles, I thought Harrell’s description of him as a warrior in constant battle mode  was inaccurate and unfair. Premillennialism was a battle that had to be fought, and whatever you may think of Wallace, we are indebted to him.

2. There were glaring omissions in dealing with influential voices especially during the last half of the 20th century. Scant notice is given to the influence of Truth Magazine on the work in the Ohio Valley and the north central states. The work of Cecil Willis, along with the efforts of Earl Robertson, William Wallace, James P. Needham, and others, was monumental. There are scores of congregations in that part of the country which exist today in large part through the efforts of these men and their writings in Truth Magazine were significant contributions.

In the southeastern states, the influence of Searching the Scriptures was heavily felt. While H.E. Phillips and James P. Miller worked together on that paper, the circulation reached 12,000 at one point, a far greater circulation than any of the papers published by conservative brethren during or since the institutional battle broke out. That paper was published for 33 years and even at the time it ceased publication, there were 5,000 on the mailing list. Harrell makes reference to a minor controversy between H.E. Phillips and James W. Adams while the latter edited the Gospel Guardian, but scant notice is given to the effect of the work of this influential paper nor the popular and influential book by H.E. Phillips, Scriptural Elders and Deacons.

3. Harmful inaccuracies occur. Mike Willis was misrepresented twice. In one instance criticisms of Robert Turner, Eugene Britnell, and Leslie Diestelkamp were attributed to Mike Willis when they were actually written by John Welch in Faith and Facts. A later apology to Mike Willis does not undo the harm done by the copies of the book already in circulation. It was careless handling of the matter. It is also a notable variation from the usual careful documentation which has characterized Harrell’s other historical works.

4. There is a bias reflected against militancy in preaching and writing. Paper editors are not treated with much kindness. Sometimes there is plenty of room for criticism and those of us who either have, or presently, occupy that role should be able to accept fair criticisms. But I can tell you that the publishing of papers is hard work, often unappreciated, and takes a heavy toll on finances and health. Comments about Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Roy E. Cogdill and others reflect a bias against debating and attacking error openly.

5. While it is hard for an author to be totally objective toward his own work and involvements, Harrell’s book does much to put into the limelight, in a favorable light at that, those who have been his fellow-travelers in the dispute of the past 12 years over the application of Romans 14 to the marriage, divorce, and remarriage issue, as well as the extended conflict over fellowship and how to identify a false teacher. Others may approve of this if they will, but I believe it is self-serving.

With all that said, the book deserves a careful reading. You will come away with new insights into the life and influence of Homer Hailey and you will better understand the personal attachment to him by his close friends and former colleagues at Florida College who have disavowed his position on marriage, divorce, and remarriage while at the same time going to great lengths to defend him and to justify fellowship with both Hailey and those who stand where he does.

There may be a more extended critique of this book later in this paper.
P.O. Box 69, Brooks, Kentucky 40109

By Mike Willis

Much of what the Christian believes runs counter to the culture in which he lives. That is true today and has always been true. First century Christians rejected the values of the world in such things as the following:

• Monotheism
• Idols
• Fornication
• Salvation through Jesus
• One way to be saved

These first century saints were faced with the dilemma of clinging to divine revelation or clinging to the predominating religious beliefs and philosophies of the age. The Lord assured them that final reality is revealed in his revelation. We need the faith to cling to that revelation.

Years ago, the Psalmist wrote:

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether (Psa. 19:7-9).

Consider the implications of the statement that “the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

The Lord’s Word Is His Testimony

There are several synonyms for the word of God used in Psalm 19:7-9:

• The Law
• The Testimony
• The Statutes
• Commandment
• Fear
• Judgment

The word of God is God’s testimony. The noun ÔÙdžt is derived from the verb Ôžd which means “bear witness.” The noun  ÔÙdžt refers to the testimony that is given by a witness. In the use of the word “testimony”  with reference to the word of God, the witness is God and his revelation is his testimony.

The text states that God’s testimony is “sure” (from the Niphil participle of ÕŒman, “confirm, support,” used in the Niphil with reference to the words of God to mean “verified, confirmed,” BDB 53). The point is that God’s word is reliable. It can be trusted to be the truth. Because God’s word is the truth, the “simple” (from pŽt», “simple, poss. as open-minded,” [BDB 834], probably included the inexperienced and easily misled) can become wise through adhering to the testimony.

That the simple can become wise through the study of God’s word is affirmed in other texts, such as the following:

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Ps. 119:130).

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me (Ps. 119:98).

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deut. 4:6-8).

The proverbs were written to give light to the simple (cf. Prov. 1:4; 2:6). Men should have confidence in the Lord’s testimony.

Areas in Which God’s Testimony Is Being Challenged

Creation (Gen. 1). Modern scientists reject the idea of the Lord’s creating the heaven and earth and his creating it in six days. Men who have been influenced by the thinking of the world are looking for ways to harmonize the creation account with existing philosophies about the origin of the world. Some of their solutions are: (a) Theistic evolution or progressive creation; (b) Gap theories; (c) Day/age theory; (d) Days are used as a pattern for revelation. All of these theories have one thing in common: they do not believe the Bible account that God created the world out of nothing in six literal days.

None of the scientists was present on the morning of creation. They have seen nothing about which to testify. The Lord from heaven was present (Gen. 1:1) and he has given his testimony about what happened.

What is a simple person to do? Does he fall in step with the modern wise men or does he adhere to the words of Scripture? The Scripture reminds us that the Lord’s testimony is “sure,” reliable. There are no errors in it.

Spanking children. The wise men of our day and the popular TV hosts (such as Oprah Winfrey) teach that spanking one’s children is child abuse and destructive to their personality.

The testimony of the Lord teaches that spanking one’s children is an act of love designed to give direction to their lives:

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (Prov. 13:24).

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him (Prov. 22:15).

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die (Prov. 23:13).

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Prov. 23:14).

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Prov. 29:15).

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul (Prov. 29:17).

A person with a newborn must decide whom he is going to believe. The Lord reminds us that his testimony is sure, making wise the simple. The child of God who has faith to follow God’s word knows more about rearing children than the educated psychologists who preach that spanking is harmful to children.

Homosexuality. The world is teaching that homosexuality is a morally acceptable form of sexual expression. Those who condemn homosexuality as sinful conduct are homophobic and responsible for speech that engenders hate crimes (and therefore should be suppressed).

In contrast to this, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. It was partially the cause of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). It is condemned in the Old Testament (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17). It is condemned in the New Testament (Rom. 1:27, 28; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10).

Our religious culture is debating, not whether or not homosexuality is sinful (which is already conceded), but whether or not a practicing homosexual can be a preacher.

The testimony of the Lord is sure. The child of God must have enough confidence in God’s revelation to reject the thoughts and teachings of men, knowing that God’s word is true.

Oneness of the church. The Scriptures clearly affirm the “oneness” of the church (Eph. 2:16; 4:4; cf. Matt. 16:18). Modern thought finds the doctrine that there is one church narrow-minded and bigoted. They preach that one should “join the church of his choice.” “One church is just as good as another.” The concept that one can be saved only through faith in Christ is contrary to modern belief (John 14:6). A person is faced with the decision of whether to listen to the educated theologians or the Bible.

Baptism. The theologians deny that water baptism has anything to do with one’s salvation. The Bible teaches that water baptism is essential to salvation (John 3:3, 5; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). A person is faced with a choice of whether to believe the educated theologians or to believe the divine revelation of God.

Conclusion

Christians need to be reminded that God’s “testimony”
6567 Kings Ct., Avon, Indiana 46123 mikewillis1@compuserve.com