Truth Magazine

By Foy E. Wallace, Jr. (1896-1979)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psa. 133:1)

The book of Psalms has been appropriately called “the hymn book of the Bible.” There are more than twenty-five hundred verses in its one hundred and fifty chapters, and doubtless that many songs have been composed from them through the centuries and millenniums since their sentiments swelled in the bosom of Israel’s sweet singer.

Many of these verses were chanted in the worship of early Christians, and they will be sung in every generation wherever people are found worshiping God until we learn the “new song” in heaven, “when all the redeemed singers get home.”

To rob our modern productions of the sentiments and psalms of David would be, indeed, to impoverish our worship of praise.

A Song of Unity

Psalm 133 is a song of unity. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” There is nothing more stifling and stultifying to the emotions of the soul than strife and division. There is nothing more soothing and benefactions to the spirit than peace and unity.

Unity among brethren is like “the precious ointment upon the head,” in the psalmist’s refrain: The Easterns perfumed with fragrant oil. Unity perfumes the church and sweetens the atmosphere like the precious oil “that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”

Unity among brethren is like “the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion.” Lofty Hermon was far to the north, yet its fragrant dews descended upon the lesser hills of Zion, spreading over hillside and vale. So unity, as an emblem of grace and benediction, will make the church a center of fragrance and a fount of blessing.

The Unity of the Spirit

Exhorting the brethren to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” Paul outlines, in Ephesians 4:4-6, the basis of unity. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The “unity of the Spirit” is the unity the Spirit teaches, or that results when the Spirit’s word is obeyed.

There is one God – unity in worship. A divided worship cannot be rendered “in spirit and in truth.” Wherever and whenever rendered, true worship must have the two elements – the right spirit and the right act; for God is one, and “seeketh such to be his worshipers.”

There is one Lord – unity in authority. Human authority in religion is wrong. Christ is Lord, and his word only is authority.

There is one faith – unity in message. The Spirit, which guides “into all truth,” does not impart conflicting messages. The gospel promotes unity; and where there is division, something else has been preached.

There is one baptism – unity in practice. Modes of baptism! As well talk about shades of white. There is no such thing.

There is one body – unity in organization. The church is one body. It is impossible to have “spiritual unity” and “organic” division. Unity is both spiritual and organic.

There is one Spirit and one hope – unity in life, in desire and expectation.

Thus Paul outlines the only basis of unity. Let the world cease their efforts toward amalgamations, federations, alliances, and unions, and adopt the divine standard and basis of unity – oneness in Christ.

The Prayer for Unity

The Lord’s prayer in John 17:1-21 was an ardent petition for unity. “May they all be one.” Jesus praying for the unity of believers! Yet it has not touched the heart of those who are promoting denominationalism in the world, nor even of brethren who sow discord and stir factions in the church.

Denominationalism is the misrepresentation of Christianity – a horrid caricature – and the authors of perversions in religion are enemies of Christ professing and even honestly thinking themselves to be his friends.

But “charity begins at home.” We cannot with good grace preach unity and practice division. “I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). Paul’s beseechment should not only be our preachment, but also our practice. The unity of Christians is the only hope of bringing the world to Christ. Jesus knew it, and therefore prayed that “they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (Gospel Advocate LXXII, 42 [11 Oct. 1930], p. 985).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 3, pp. 65, 79
February 7, 1991

By Lester A. Doyle, Jr.

What Manner of Man

As we commemorate this memorial to our Savior, we need to keep in mind what manner of man he was that gave his life that we might have a new and never-ending life. Consider that Jesus never showed the slightest qualities of character that should have provoked hatred against him. He was meek, modest, humble, and affectionate. He had every quality that all souls should love and esteem. Yet he could not escape the jealousy of his own people or their hostility toward him.

Ephesians 2:15-18 says: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

This is the manner of the man that gave his life in our place.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 1, p. 17
January 3, 1991

By Randy Blackaby

Reading the prophet Nahum’s poetic “burden” is shocking to the sensibilities, unsettling if you don’t “know” Jehovah and yet consoling to the righteous who grasp the apocalyptic message.

Nahum the “consoler,” writing at the peak of Assyrian power as God’s people were oppressed by the world power headquartered in Nineveh, paints God as few today see him.

Nahum’s poem opens averring God’s jealousy, vengeance, furor and slow, but powerful, wrath on his enemies. Nahum says God will not acquit (find guiltless) the wicked. The prophet peels back walls of ignorance to reveal a Supreme Being who is the “stronghold” of his trusting, righteous people, but an “overwhelming flood” of destruction to his enemies.

Nineveh stands in history as a figure of the world. An ancient city founded by Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah, it was strong, had stood for centuries, and was the ruling power of the day. A bloody city, full of lies, robbery, brutality, cruelty and idolatry, Nineveh struck pure terror into the hearts of its enemies through torture and atrocity.

But Nahum’s message is an artfully crafted psychological terror itself. He preaches that Nineveh will reap what it has sown in “the day of the Lord.”

He gives insight into the real “terror of the Lord.” The brutal Ninevites, who piled the corpses of their enemies in heaps, are promised a judgment of parallel but dramatically greater proportions.

At the approach of judgment the faces of Ninevites will drain of color, their hearts melt and their knees shake as they finally acknowledge the power of Almighty God.

Terror is a relative thing. To the righteous it is one physio-emotional reaction – but to the terrorist himself it is magnified by the mental images of his own past terrorism and sin.

God, through Nahum, calls Nineveh a great whore and vows that in punishment her “skirts will be lifted over her head” to expose her nakedness and her shame.

History confirms the dramatic fall of Assyria and its capital, just as Nahum had predicted.

The picture Nahum paints of Jehovah coming in judgment, terrorizing the wicked, devouring his enemies like stubble, humiliating evil men like whores caught in the act, destroying in raging, jealous vengeance, is hard for most to accept.

Is the God of the Old Testament a different God than the one we read about in the New Testament? Just read the book of Revelation – after you’ve read the book of Nahum – and decide.

Our God of love is not destroyed by knowledge of his terrible anger over sin. In fact, for the righteous, this knowledge adds to our admiration of his love. You see, we read of God’s fury over sin before we read about his love in sending his Son to die for sinners. Can you imagine the degree of love that must be involved to sacrifice a Son for people involved in something you hate so bitterly?

And, the book of Nahum, like the book of Revelation, consoles the righteous. As those martyrs under the altar cried out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”, so the faithful today wait in anticipation of justice.

And the message of Nahum still rings in the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”

Nahum instructed the Ninevites about the terror of Jehovah when the time for change was gone. Let us pray we learn the lesson before that great and mighty Day of the Lord.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 2, pp. 35-36
January 17, 1991

By Ron Halbrook

I claim no expert qualifications in raising children, just some training in the school of life. I have not even graduated yet, neither from life nor from raising children. My wife and I are getting our training with three children: ages 18 (Jonathan), 14 (David), and 11 (Deborah). In addition, I taught junior high school for six years, and have been working with families while preaching the gospel of Christ for about 25 years (the six and 25 overlap). Experience and the counsel of successful parents are helpful to us all, but the Bible contains the wisdom of God to guide and direct parents in raising their children. God wrote the ultimate textbook on the subject.

The 12 points listed below are beginning points for study and thought. Another list of ” 12 Steps to Raising a Drug Addict” by an unknown author is provided. Parents who wish to see which way they are leading their children may wish to put a check mark by each step they are taking in each list. Do we need to change the direction of our steps?

1. Pray with the child and teach him to pray at home (Matt. 6:5-15).

2. Teach him the stories and lessons recorded in the Bible at home (2 Tim. 3:15).

3. Take him (don’t just send him) to worship God, assembling with the people of God where the truth of God’s word is publicly taught (Heb. 10:25).

4. Teach him honesty by your example. Be honest in every word and deed, in both family and business matters. Do not steal even small things or lie about work or school absences (Col. 3:9).

5. Work to provide your family’s needs and teach your children that work is a blessing, not a curse. Give him jobs and chores within his ability (Eph. 4:28).

6. Spend time with your wife and children. Do not think that money and material things can substitute for your personal attention and love. Do not spend all extra time on the job, with friends, or in hobbies (Eph. 5:22-6:4).

7. Exercise balanced discipline. Balance firmness with patience. Spank when necessary but without excess or abuse (Prov. 23:13; Col. 3:21).

8. Teach the child respect for authority by praying for civil leaders and by obeying the laws of the land. When he complains of school problems, speak respectfully of school personnel; contact them if needed to seek information and solutions (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

9. Teach your child to love his fellow man by your conduct at home, controlling your temper and weighing your words. Never address the mate who shares your name or the children you brought into the world as dogs or dirt under your feet (Col. 3:18-21).

10. Let your children learn appreciation from your example. Let him learn to say, “Thank you,” and mean it, by hearing you say, “Thank you,” sincerely (Rom. 16:3-4).

11. Be courteous, kind, and considerate as you teach him to be courteous, kind, and considerate. Show him that we have friends by being friendly, being genuinely interested in the welfare of others (Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:31-32).

12. Teach your child that the Bible is our God-given standard of right and wrong. Immorality, foul speech, dishonesty, temper fits, intoxication (whether by illegal drugs or alcohol), violence, malice, pornography, and any form of irreverence toward God are always wrong. No exceptions! The Bible teaches what is right, good, and true (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). All the principles stated above are rooted in a knowledge of God and the Word of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” and it is our job as parents to provide our children this solid foundation for life (Prov. 1:7). When the child is grown, he may,’ choose to turn from truth and right in spite of the best training, as Adam and Eve sinned after being perfectly taught by God. The book of Proverbs is a veritable handbook for raising wise and godly children, and reminds us that the task is not impossible. In fact, it inspires our efforts by stating a general rule which observation and experience confirm, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

1. From his infancy give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him; this will make him think vulgarity is cute. It will also encourage him to pick up cuter phrases, that will blow off the top of your head later.

3. Never give him any spiritual training, wait until he is 21 and then let him decide for himself.

4. Avoid use of the word wrong. He may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him, and he is being persecuted.

5. Pick up everything he leaves laying around, such as books, shoes, clothing. Do everything for him so he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility onto others.

6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.

8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own way. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?

9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, and policemen. They all are prejudiced against your child.

11. When he gets into real trouble apologize for yourself by saying, “I never could do anything with him.”

12. Prepare for a life of grief, you will be apt to have it.

If these 12 steps do not produce a drug addict, at least it cannot be said that we did not try. On the whole, these 12 steps are proving to be abundantly successful in producing drop-outs, dead-beats, leeches, and assorted criminals in addition to drug addicts. Because of the provisions of God’s grace, a few have “fallen away” from their evil beginnings and risen above their training. This is in spite of their parents, not because of them.

May we all – parents and children alike – open our hearts to the Word of God.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 1, pp. 16-17
January 3, 1991