Truth Magazine

By Max E. Tice

Since the late 60’s, the Crossroads heresy which was hatched by Chuck Lucas in Gainesville, Florida has aroused concerns, protests, and intense controversy among brethren of the “institutional” persuasion. While some who investigate the movement concluded that all the clamor was a false alarm, others found serious violations of the Scriptures. Objections to the system included: legislating precise conduct for Christians in matters where the Bible is silent, developing a prayer-partner system in which junior prayer-partners are placed in subjection to senior prayer partners, the inflicting of guilt for any infraction of Crossroads’ rules, the whipping of members with information received from confessionals, etc. In spite of any good intentions that some may have had in promoting this discipling plan, it had clearly altered God’s organization of the local church and bound traditions of men as commandments of God. In fact, some of the tactics were similar to those found in popular cults, such as Hare Krishna and the Moonies.

All of this brings us to recent developments in the Crossroads controversy. A few weeks ago at one of the workshops held by our institutional brethren, the elders of the Crossroads church issued a public statement renouncing their past conduct and asking for forgiveness. A transcript of this repentance is duplicated below:

Transcript of statement made by Crossroads church of Christ elders:

Our hearts are really full. The elders of the Concord Street Church have been so gracious and so helpful. Brother Bill and I really appreciate that and want to thank them, and from the bottom of our heart.

Most people who know me understand that I don’t do many things without referring to God’s word. So that’s where I want to begin.

God’s word teaches that we are to have a sincere love for our brothers, that we are to love one another deeply, with all our hearts (1 Pet. 1:22). This love is not only to individuals, but also must extend to the brotherhood of believers (1 Pet. 2:17). If we do not love our brothers, we cannot love God. The elders of the Crossroads congregation have a statement on their hearts which we want to share with everyone in this conference.

The elders of the Concord Street congregation support our making this statement. We all hope that this will bring about the love, and restore the fellowship and the unity for which Christ prayed in John 17.

Over the years many things have been attributed to the Crossroads congregation as a body, which grew out of the abuse by some Christians which caused others to hurt. And though we did not approve of these abuses, we are sorry they occurred and ask your forgiveness for these sins. Some examples of these abuses involved one Christian trying to control another Christian, or one congregation exercising control over another congregation. We do not believe that any Christian has the right to control another Christian (Eph. 5:21). We do not believe that . . . excuse me, we do believe that every Christian should practice all the one-another relationships passages in the Scriptures. We do not believe that any congregation has the right to control another congregation. We do believe that the elders of each congregation are to direct the affairs of their congregation (1 Tim. 5:17; and 1 Pet. 5:2). We hope these examples will illustrate our hearts and our desire to repent of every abuse. We are sorry for them and pray for your forgiveness. This is signed by my bishop, brother Hogle, and myself. God bless you. Richard Whitehead, Elder Bill Hogle, Elder

Naturally, we receive this news with mixed emotions. How far back these brethren intend to step is not specified. We do know that other brethren in institutional churches are calling for a restoration of fellowship with these brethren. This certainly implies that Crossroads is not renouncing sponsoring church arrangements, church-supported recreation, etc. Therefore, it will not be coming back as far as it needs to come. At the same time, it is always somewhat encouraging to hear of any retreat from error. What effort this reversal will have upon “daughter churches” of the movement remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 20, p. 620
October 18, 1990

By Harry Pickup, Jr.

It is not easy for me to write about Dad – for a number of reasons. Some of them are too personal to mention. A main reason is that a public writing extolling his virtues is something that he honestly would not have preferred. Such would be out of character of the man. Therefore, what I hope to do is to concentrate on a few things about him that are interesting and, hopefully, encouraging to others.

He passed away June 4, 1990. If he had lived until August 9, 1990 he would have been 90 years old. He began life in Brooklyn, New York, a fact that was always amusing to him since he considered himself essentially a “good southern boy.” He spent most of his life in cities; but, contrastingly, some of his fondest memories were of preaching in remote, rural areas during depression days in middle Tennessee and in the villages of North Carolina in World War II days.

While not a retiring personality Dad was never the “first,” “chief” or “president” of anything. He was a partner to all who were engaged in doing right. When volunteers were needed from the rank and file one could always “count him in.” He was a helper to all brethren who were seeking to please God. His aim was to glorify God; his ambition was to help the people. He was a “partner” to all truth preaching preachers. He was a “helper” of L.R. Wilson, James R. Cope and Bob Owen, all presidents of Florida College, in their work of establishing and maintaining the College.

Dad was a “common” man among many “common” people. The word “common” here is used in the New Testament sense of the word. Remember: it was the “common people who heard Jesus gladly.” Dad preached to the “common” people – and they both enjoyed and benefitted from his preaching. He viewed himself as “made like unto his brethren in all things.” And, he was viewed by the people in this manner. He experienced life in the manner of the “common” man. Folks from all walks of life felt comfortable with him. In his early adulthood he supported himself and his family by working with his hands; his latter working days were spent in the same manner. He could preach with his brain but he could also build with his hands. He preached and lived the “common faith.” He understood the needs of ordinary people because he lived as they did sharing in the anxieties and difficulties, as well as the joys from life’s common ventures. He never viewed himself as unique or different in the secular sense and the “common” people respected and loved him greatly. Perhaps the moral in this point is that it is good to be as fine an “average man” as one can be.

Dad was experience oriented – things happened to him. He generated reaction. Dogs and other animals couldn’t leave him alone. Children turned to him. Ordinary folks responded to him. Successful people took note of him. He made things happen by his natural interest in people and their affairs.

Life was interesting to him. He was never bored; he was never boring. His early preaching days at the Tennessee State Penitentiary furnished him with many entertaining and instructive stories. He helped quell public unrests in LaGrange, Georgia in the early ’30s due to the cotton mill strike. The entire church was composed of Calloway Mill workers. The church building had been purchased inexpensively from the Mill; his family lived in a house furnished by the Mill. Of the three elders, two were supervisors and remained loyal to the company; the other was the president of the union, the man who called the strike. The “Park Avenue church of Christ had its greatest growth,” he said, during those trying days and was the only religious group in the Mill section not suffering extreme adverse effects from the strike. He liked to tell the story of the Ministerial Alliance inviting him to address them to explain why the church of Christ was not divided as were the denominations. His explanation was to preach a sermon from Ephesians 4 and thoroughly explain “the unity of the Spirit.” When he moved from the town, the community was almost as sorry to see him go as the church.

While preaching in Gainesville, Florida he held many meetings in Alachua, Levy and Gilchrist counties. The meetings were mostly with brethren who were few in number and limited in strength. He preached the longest meeting of which I know in modern times. The tent meeting lasted one day short of seven weeks. He baptized more than 50 people. The meeting ended because the Gainesville church could no longer spare him.

The University church in Gainesville, Florida was thrilled that their preacher was invited by the University of Florida to give the baccalaureate sermon to the prestigious University of Florida Development Junior High School. He amused the academic audience by stories which poked harmless fun at superficial culture and stuffy formality. This embarrassed the brethren but the “common folks” enjoyed it. Most importantly, he got everyone’s attention by preaching plainly and distinctly the saving gospel, including a critique of denominationalism.

I never heard a more pointed preacher than Dad – including the few times he had opportunity to preach to his own mother. Strangely to many, few folks were offended by him; everyone understood that they had heard what the preacher believed was the truth of Almighty God in clear and understandable language. He was impartial in wielding the “sword of the Spirit” against what he thought was untrue, unrighteous or unwise. I felt his impartial handling of the truth when in Phoenix, Arizona he publicly rebuked me for playing the card game, Canasta. What made it worse to me was that he was so convincing in his interpretation that he convinced my card partners who also became my critics! That was my Dad.

He was among a group of preachers who arranged to present a Bible to President Harry S. Truman when he lived in Arlington, Virginia. The children of a famous Georgia black preacher grew up calling him “the milk man” because each Monday, after he deposited his check and had seen to his own family’s needs, he brought that family their weekly milk supply. He purchased a lot and a house on a handshake; neither person ever had a reason to regret the sale. He could discuss finances with a banker friend, medicine with a physician friend or the need to be saved from sins with a hitchhiker, many of whom he gave rides.

Throughout his life he had one overriding “aim”; “we make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing unto Him.” There are three shades of meaning to the Greek word translated by “aim”: (1) Goal, (2) Ambition, (3) Point of honor. His eyes were set straight for the target of obeying God’s will. For him personal success was measured according to whether or not he fulfilled God’s purpose and helped the people. It was a point of honor with him to carry out his duty toward God.

It gave him great pleasure to know that he served God as a partner among such “common people” as Paul, Peter, John, Dorcas, Hardeman, Wallace, Hailey, Puckett, Evans, Cravens and a host of Christians with whom most of the church are not familiar.

I have not intended to give a personal evaluation of the character of the man whom I called “Father” but in closing I would like to suggest this: like Abraham he was totally unconcerned about the carnal world and thoroughly concerned with seeking “the heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.” The honor of being a Christian was the only honor he cared about. The riches of the grace of Christ Jesus was the only wealth he sought – the only acclaim he ever sought was the approval of God, the trust of his brethren, and the good will of his fellow man. He was absolutely void of personal pride and human ambition; he was completely indifferent to human achievement. He was the friend of God, a son of Abraham, the child of the king, completely happy to wear the clothes of a servant.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 20, pp. 626-627
October 18, 1990

By Stan Adams

Death has come as an unwelcome intruder into our lives, and snatched away a vital part of our existence. I do not suppose there is any more empty feelings than losing the one who helped mold you and shape you and who carried you for nine months, and endured emotional, physical, and social pain for your well-being. It sure does deeply hurt to lose your Momma. I lost mine and 1 feel so lonely, empty, and yes, a little angry (not at God, or at anyone), simply angry that one so much a part of happy life could fall prey to the terrible unexplained, maladies of this life. We are all assured that she is in that much better place and that she is waiting on the other side for her children, husband, grandchildren, other relatives and friends to come home and join her.

I knew her as Momma, others knew her as Wilma Adams, or Wiley’s lovely wife. But, by whatever name anyone knew her, the outcome was still the same. They loved her and respected her quite demeanor. I do not wish for this article to simply be an obituary. Others have lost their mothers and they hurt just as I do. When my momma died, a big empty hole was left, not only in our lives but also in the lives of hundreds of Christians who looked up to, respected, and loved her. Just as Dorcas, in Acts 9:36, she was “full of good works.” Countless people have written or spoken to us about the many kind things she did for them. Godly women everywhere should heed the things she did for them. Godly women everywhere should heed the example of Wilma Adams and be about the business of serving God and helping their families and husbands be all they can be in service to God.

Momma trained her children well. I cannot ever remember my momma raising her voice in anger to any of her children. Oh yes, she corrected us, but not by throwing tantrums and yelling. She had a unique snap to her fingers that made you know when she was serious. She had the ability to appeal to the best in all of us. She could get us to answer our own dilemma, by saying, “You don’t want to do that, do you?” She firmly believed that the raising that she and Dad gave to us would win out over the obstacles of this life, if we lived long enough. This had been borne out in all of our lives. Her four children and nine grandchildren truly do rise up and call her blessed. One of the first things that Momma taught all of us children was how to pray. She had embroidered the “Now I Lay Me Prayer” for us, and hung it over our bed. This prayer was more than mere words to her. One phrase sticks out even more to me now, in light of the reality of the suddenness of her death. It is the phrase: “If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.”

Momma taught us kindness. She loved us fervently and protected us, but was never unkind or cutting. She had an aristocratic Virginian dignity that, when aroused, could quietly remind you of what you were doing, and your need to “back off,” if you were wrong. Momma told us in later years, repeatedly, to not let ourselves stoop to the level of those who would abuse us and say all manner of evil against us, without cause. She taught us to hate the evil but love the soul of the one in sin. She told us, “You don’t want that person to help send you to the bad place, do you?” She taught us to pity the evil doer and get about the business of going to heaven. Her kindness was demonstrated in the care she took to make things by knitting, embroidery, and cross-stitch. Her love for the beautiful shows in the legacy of her glass collection. She was gentle, loving and kind and such a classy lady.

Momma taught us what being a godly wife was all about. She and Daddy were married for 45 years. What a love story! He truly found is “million dollar baby, in the five and ten cent store,” as the old song goes. She worked at the candy counter and he worked at the plant. She was from an Episcopal background, he from a Christian Church background. They dated and much of that dating centered around going to meetings and church services. He taught her to obey the truth, and she did. She told her parents that she was going to be baptized and become a Christian, and they were very upset. She stated, that if she loved them more than she did Christ, she was not worthy to be a Christian, and she must do what was right. They strongly disapproved, but she obeyed Christ, and never looked back in regret. My dad later realized his baptism was not right and obeyed Christ. From the beginning of their married life, Wiley and Wilma Adams had deep spiritual roots. Momma recognized early that the young man she loved so much deeply wanted to serve God by preaching the gospel. She watched his pride and pain, when his younger brother went off to learn about the Bible at Florida Christian College. He didn’t see how he would ever be able to be a full-time preacher. After all, he was older, had two children and a promising career going for him in research at the plant. But his sweet wife knew where his heart was and wanted to help him to do what they both wanted him to do. Others thought them frivoulous but they knew what they wanted to do and they were going to do it. So they both worked to pay off everything and save to go to college with two children. After two years at college they had another child (me). Many times during their time at FCC, they would discuss whether they should continue. She would say: “Wiley, we haven’t missed a meal yet, have we? The kids and I will be alright. Let’s not quit now, we will always regret it.” So they stayed and finished and she was so proud of her “preacher man.”

She was the ultimate preacher’s wife and more preachers’ wives would do well to stop hindering their talented husbands from preaching the message, and start helping and encouraging them.

Momma taught us how to be happy when abased. Momma never whined about not having things. She would do without so we could have nice things. There were times when things were very scarce, but she sheltered us from her concern. She firmly believed that if we put the kingdom first, we would make it and, you know, we always did. She was Daddy’s best ally. They were a team, and in a different way now, always will be, even though she is at rest. When a congregation asked Dad to come preach for them, they got the best. Momma was an excellent teacher of young children and young ladies, but never sought the spotlight. She was a confidante to many, and carried the secrets of many people to her grave. She was honorable and trustworthy and the heart of her husband trusted in her. They walked with one another often and in the last few years had developed a system of filing problems, which helped them to cope with the stresses of life among brethren.

When I got the call, from my brother-in-law, to come to Tupelo, Mississippi, because my momma had suffered a severe stroke, my heart felt as if it would burst. Before we left Texas, I paused alone and prayed that Momma would not have to suffer pain or be in a vegetative state. As we drove 12 hours to be with her and Daddy, I felt as if my world was coming apart. It was unbelievable that the lady we had vacationed with two weeks earlier, and who had been so full of life and fun, could now be at death’s door. Not knowing whether she would be alive or not, we arrived to hear that she was alive, but unresponsive. I went in to see her and tried to get her to respond. I tickled her foot, and squeezed her hand and told her I was there with her. She showed some response, but it was obvious that the stroke had taken a tremendous toll. Even through all of this she was able to respond with tears. Her heart rate raced when she heard that all of her children were there, even her oldest son. I spoke to her and told her how much I loved her as did, my sister Paige, brother Keith, and brother Art. The in-laws Jim and Carla also had time to speak with her. My three sons spoke to Mamaw and told her they loved her and later came and told her good-bye. When her pressure suddenly dropped, the family was quickly summoned and told by the doctor that her time was short. So we all gathered around her and held hands, and as a family, waited on our momma. Her family was together, as she had raised us to be, and we were facing things head-on, as she had trained us to do. Finally, Daddy leaned over and kissed her and told her she could stop fighting if she wanted to go wait on the other side for us. Within a few minutes, she had done just that. She slipped peacefully and painlessly away to the only one she loved more than us. One of my sons, stated it like this, “Mamaw is helping Jesus get things ready for the family to come ever.” I do not know if that is the way it happens, son, but I like the thought.

At the funeral, the song, “Send the Light,” was sung congregationally. Even the family sang, just as she would want us to do. The song was one she cherished, and will continue to be an anthem for our family, as we go out to preach the gospel, with a firmer resolve than ever. Her favorite song was the “New Song”; it was sung superbly by all. The funeral director stated that Momma’s funeral was uplifting to him. He didn’t even know her well, but she had the same effect on him as she had on others. She could lift you up, when you felt your lowest.

Momma’s death shows the urgency of being prepared every day. She walked with her Savior in a daily way. She was prayerful and penitent. She studied and read all of the time. She enjoyed life, especially family times. Oh, how she loved to see her kids and grandkids. We knew we were loved because she expressed it to us so well. Each of us carried our special pouch of cherished memories. These will keep us going. Her wit and sense of humor and beautiful smile will be cherished by us all. We will never eat a Christmas dinner without thinking of her. That is as it should be. As brother Andy DeKlerk said at the funeral, “Go to your garden of memories and visit with her a while.” We will certainly do that often.

But, she would want all of us to know, as she stated many times, when she was among us, “Your race is not over until it is finished.” We are not finished, and God being our helper, we will wear ourselves out, as she did, serving God and helping bring lost souls to Christ. Send the light and let is shine. In doing this we will honor God first, and Momma and others we love second.

Young ladies who may be reading this: Please, if you are a preacher’s wife, encourage him to preach and stand beside him in his efforts. You may not get a degree, and you may not go down in earthly history, as some great woman, but you will go down in the spiritual hall of fame, as a virtuous woman, just as Dorcas, and my momma, Wilma Adams.

It is my birthday. Thirty-eight years ago through much pain, and waiting, my sweet momma brought me into this world. For the first time she will not be there to wish me happy birthday. It hurts and I feel empty, but through it all, Momma has given me a gift. The assurance and hope that she is in the better land, and that we, her family, can also be there too, if we live and act as we were raised to do. Thank you Momma, and until we meet at his feet and sing the “New Song” together, we will continue to “send the light.”

You loving son,

Stanley, August 26, 1990

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 20, pp. 622-623
October 18, 1990

By Mark Mayberry

In our first article we provided an introduction to astrology. After having defined the subject, we examined the history, prevalence, and appeal of astrology. In our second article, we saw that astrology cannot pass the test of science. It has failed repeated attempts at validation. Its claim to analyze character is deceptive. Furthermore, it fails to accurately predict the future. In this final article we will see how astrology fails the test of Scripture.

It is Idolatrous

The danger in astrology is that people look to the stars for guidance in making important decisions. This becomes a substitute for true religion. Anyone who trusts in the stars, rather than in God, is engaging in idolatry. Anything that turns man away from God as the ruling force in his life is evil and sinful (cf. Col. 3:5).

Astrology was very common in ancient times, but it was strictly forbidden for God’s people. The Bible treats astrology as it does sorcery and other heathen traditions that are spiritual counterfeits. “Divination,” the general term for occult practices used in the Old Testament, included astrology. All such idolatrous practices were condemned (Deut. 18:914; 2 Kgs. 23:5, ASV Footnote; Isa. 47:11-14; Jer. 10: 1-2; Dan. 1: 19-20; 2: 10-11; 4:7; 5:7-8; Acts 19:19).

The heavens point to the power and majesty of God (Psa. 19:1-4; Rom. 1:20), but they do not offer us spiritual guidance. Man cannot discover the mind of God by gazing up into the heavens. God has given us the inspired Scriptures for guidance from day to day (Psa. 119:97-105; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). We must learn to trust in him.

It Is Fatalistic

Astrology also stands at odds with the biblical doctrine of human accountability. Man is personally responsible for his conduct (Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:12; Gal. 6:7). Nonetheless, we have a disturbing tendency to shift the blame for our mistakes (Gen. 3:12; 1 Sam. 15:14-15).

It is tempting to believe that cosmic forces beyond our control determine our lives. Shakespeare said, “We make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars; as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves and treachers by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence.”(1)

James Randi is right in saying that astrology “serves to release man from having to take the blame for his own stupidities. A bad conjunction of planets can always be blamed for unfortunate occurrences. Whatever its function, astrology is an irrationality that serves mankind poorly.”(2) The danger of astrology is that it becomes a way to escape responsibility for one’s behavior. Nothing that goes wrong is ever really our fault if our fates are determined by the stars. We end up saying, “Yes I did it, but that’s the way Leos act. It’s not my fault because that’s just the way I am.” However, Shakespeare put it best centuries ago when he said, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves.”

It Is False

By their very calling, Christians love truth rather than falsehood (Prov. 23:23; Jn. 8:32; 17:17). Astrology simply isn’t true. It fails the tests of both science and Scripture. It is utterly wrong and wholly untrustworthy. Its prophecies consistently fail. Thus, we should not countenance it (Deut. 18:18-22). True prophets did not play the numbers game. They did not expect a certain percentage of their utterances to fail (Cf. Matt. 5:17-18).

Conclusion

Astrology is pure fiction. Its claims are fraudulent and deceitful. Yet, people continue to believe this claptrap philosophy, despite evidence to the contrary. Why is this so? Modern man faces a deep-seated spiritual crisis. We live in a spiritual vacuum, in a world devoid of values. Religion has lost its meaning and influence in the lives of many. Humanism has proclaimed the dawning of a new day for man, and yet it has left man without any spiritual foundation. As G.K. Chesterton once said, “When a man ceases to believe in God, he doesn’t believe in nothing, he believes in anything! ” It is imperative that we turn back to God and his word for guidance. Genuine faith gives us strength to face the trials of life. Christian hope is an anchor for the soul. Why trust in the deceitful message of astrology? Only the gospel offers a sure foundation.

Endnotes

1. Shakespeare, King Lear, Acts 1, Scene 2.

2. James Randi, Flim-Flam, (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1982), p. 56.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 20, p. 612
October 18, 1990