Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

Dear Brother Kearley

Thank you for your brief response. I appreciate the time constraints that forbid you to answer my earlier letter at this time. I shall look forward to a detailed reply.

Brother Kearley, I do not believe that you “advocate gyms,” family life centers, parking lots, or filmstrips per se, but I believe you view all of those items as scriptural, legitimate extensions of the work of the church. Is that not correct?

The command to assemble authorizes a place of assembly (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 14:23; Acts 20:7). If there were no Bible authority for the church to “come together in one place,” buildings for assembly would be unscriptural. See my first letter to you for a list of similar items.

Since I do not find authority in the Bible for the church to provide recreation and entertainment, I do not believe gymnasiums or family life centers are scriptural. If God has so designed and purposed the church in these areas of activity, where is the Scripture?

You state, “I advocate the building of any kind of facility if it is to be used extensively for purposes God has designed for the church, including benevolence, edification, evangelization, worship and continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayers, in seeking and saving the lost, in visiting the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, in doing unto each of these as we should do unto Jesus in watching in behalf of the souls of men, women and children.”

Brother Kearley, under which of those designed purposes would you place a gym or family life center? Would you place it under “evangelization”? If so, should not the church construct and staff such facilities in the “inner city” where lost and lonely people can be given a Bible and a basketball?

Would you place gyms under “fellowship”? If so, how could you deny the church’s entrance into the business-industrial world, as per my first letter to you? If gyms are under the general heading of fellowship, that tends to do away with their use by non-Christians on a regular basis, since the lost are not in our fellowship (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Jn. 1:37).

Before your tenure as editor, the Gospel Advocate led the fight to put colleges and benevolent societies into the budget of the churches. It was argued that since the church is not a home, it must support a benevolent organization, such as Child-haven, which provides a home. Likewise, the church is not a gymnasium. It is not a health spa. Would it, therefore, be scriptural to form recreational organizations and institutions whose purpose is to provide “fellowship” facilities in which games, amusements and entertainment are conducted? It would be a sort of YMCA of the churches of Christ. Churches could fund it on a regular basis and the organization could provide the facilities for recreation and fellowship.

Based on the principles of contributions to David Lipscomb College and Schultz-Lewis Orphan Home from the treasury of the churches, could we form similar organizations for recreational fellowship facilities? Or would you prefer that each church which builds a gym simply handle such matters within their own local work, as it generally done today? Regardless of your personal preference, would a YMCA type organization, designed to provide recreational fellowship facilities for the churches, be scriptural? If not, on what scriptural basis would you deny its right to exist?

Brother Kearley, I am sure the Christian Church sees you as one who makes a constant hobby of harassing and disfellowshipping over their music and missionary societies. They, too, might argue for the best use of buildings, and for the teaching of brethren to move and live in a better way, but when it comes to their music and missions, you appear to them to be making a “constant hobby of harassing them about these things.” I do not believe that you do so, but that is how they perceive your opposition to their practices. The truth is that you simply want them to abandon those things for which they cannot cite book, chapter and verse.

The Christian Church preacher may say he does not advocate trumpets and missionary societies, but be believes they are scriptural. I suspect that our situation, yours and mine, is parallel to that above. I question neither your sincerity nor your desire to do only what God has authorized. Hence, if the Christian Church can show authority for their organizations, we will not oppose their buildings which are used to carry on the work of the missionary society. If they can show Scripture for playing on mechanical instruments of music, we will not oppose their provisions for such things. So, I will not question the existence of a gym if I can be shown that such items are tools to do what God has authorized the church to do.

I, too, pray that this letter has made my position clearer to you. Perhaps, when you have time, a more detailed response from you to my first letter will further clarify our issues of difference. Hopefully, with open minds, open hearts and open Bibles, we can achieve the unity of the Spirit and cherish it in the bond of peace.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 4, pp. 105, 119
February 15, 1990

By G. Archer Weniger

In these days of theological confusion and ecclesiastical compromise, what is the biblical position for a fundamentalist to assume toward heretics and false religious teachers? Are we to patronize them, associate with them, accept their sponsorship, increase their numbers, send them converts, add to their prestige, follow their leadership, identify our churches with them and obliterate important biblical distinctions with them? The Bible’s answer is clear.

1. Try them – 1 John 4: 1: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

2. Mark them – Romans 16:17: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Verkuyl says, “and to keep away from them.”

3. Rebuke them – Titus 1:13: “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” Verkuyl, “Correct them sternly.”

4. Have no fellowship – Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Verkuyl says, “Expose them.”

5. Withdraw thyself – 2 Thessalonians 3:6: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us.”

6. Receive them not – 2 John 10,11: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” Verkuyl says, “Do not extend him your greeting.” To our day false teachings are fostered by misplaced hospitality.

7. Have no company with him – 2 Thessalonians 3:14: “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” Berkeley Version says, “Do not get mixed up with him, so he may grow ashamed.”

8. Reject them – Titus 3:10: “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject.”

9. Be ye separate – 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 4, p. 111
February 15, 1990

By F. Furman Kearley, Ph.D., Editor of the Gospel Advocate

Dear Brother Hafley

Thank you for your letter. I am sorry but I do not have time to respond to this in detail. I hope to do so later.

Brother Willis called me sometime back in the summer and requested that I write an article dealing with some of these matters. I have intended to but simply have not had the time to do all of the things I need to do plus what I would like to do.

Briefly, I would say that I believe you must not have read my letter carefully. I do not advocate gymnasiums nor family life centers. I do not even advocate parking lots such as ours which cost $22,000, that are built merely for the convenience of the members. I do not advocate church buildings which cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars, yea, even millions, which are used only three to five percent of the hours in a week.

This does not mean that I disfellowship brethren who do these things nor do I make a constant hobby of harassing them about these things. I do not disfellowship brethren who smoke, but I teach them to move and live a better way, and I try to constantly urge all of my brethren to use the money given to the Lord in the wisest and best possible way and to the fullest possible extent, including the buildings that are built with this.

I advocate the building of any kind of a facility if it is to be used extensively for purposes God has designed for the church, including benevolence, edification, evangelization, worship and continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayers, in seeking and saving the lost, in visiting the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, in doing unto each of these as we should do unto Jesus in watching in behalf of the souls of men, women and children.

If you charge me with advocating gymnasiums and family life centers, then you are thereby admitting that these gymnasiums and family life centers are built for and are functioning to accomplish the above stated missions and purposes. I advocate no building anytime, anywhere that is not used, at least eight to ten hours per day in accomplishing one or more of the God-given purposes for the church. I believe it is a sin to spend any of the Lord’s money on items that sit idle and useless, including filmstrips that sit idle on the shelf, while members in their laziness watch TV.

I hope the above statement makes my position more clear. I may tolerate churches, brethren and situations that fall short of the ideals stated above, but I certainly do not advocate them nor am I satisfied with them.

May the Lord bless you abundantly in all of your great work.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 4, p. 104
February 15, 1990

By David J. Halter

I. Introduction:

A. Background of text.

1. Corinth was one of the most important commercial cities on the Mediterranean Sea.

2. However, sin and extravagant living were rampant there.

3. Located on an isthmus which connected northern Greece with southern Greece.

4. For this reason, it became an important commercial city.

5. The sailors would push their boats across the 6 mile isthmus instead of sailing the 200 miles around the peninsula.

6. Many different kinds of people lived and did business there.

7. The heathen goddess of bloom and beauty Venus was worshiped here.

8. The common bonds were business interests and sins engaged in.

9. Its tremendous wealth brought an intense desire for pleasure and entertainment.

B. Why did Paul write the letter?

1. He heard there was division in the church there (1 Cor. 1:11).

2. There was sin in the church and the church was tolerating it (1 Cor. 5:1).

3. Add all this to the fact that Corinth was a center of intellectual and cultural thought and we have an interesting lesson (1 Cor. 1:17-19).

II. Discussion: Notice Reactions, Ideas, Decision.

A. What is the foolishness of preaching?

1. Preaching: not the act of preaching, but the substance of the testimony; all that God has made known concerning the gospel.

2. Foolishness: tasteless nonsense.

3. The gospel is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16,17).

4. It saves those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21).

5. Its facts are the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:23; 15:3-4).

B. Reactions to it:

1. To the Jews, it was a stumbling block (1 Cor. 1:23).

a. Jesus was a Jew yet not welcomed by them (1 Cor. 1:23).

b. They would not accept Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 13:44-46).

c. They could not believe Jesus was the Messiah because of his death on the cross (Deut. 21:22-23).

d. They looked for a sign (1 Cor. 1:22).

2. To the Greeks, it was foolishness (1 Cor. 1:23).

a. A fool is a silly person, a simpleton, a person without good sense, unwise.

b. Foolishness then is a teaching or doctrine that is without good sense, it is believed by silly people or simpletons.

c. Why was the gospel foolish to the Greeks (1 Cor. 1:20-23)?

d. They were spoiled through the philosophy of the world (Col. 2:8).

e. The wise of then and now: the rich, powerful, etc. (1 Cor. 1:26).

3. To the saved, the gospel is the power of God to salvation (1 Cor. 1:21,24).

a. To the called, both Jews and Greeks (Rom. 1:16,17).

b. Called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14).

c. Abraham’s call (Gen. 12:1-3).

C. Ideas concerning foolishness:

1. Jews required a sign (1 Cor. 1:22).

a. Even Christ’s disciples wanted a sign (Matt. 24:3).

b. People today look for the same (Matt. 24:36,42).

2. The Greeks sought after wisdom (1:22).

a. In Athens they had an altar to the unknown God (Acts 17:16-23).

b. Many today are in idolatry (Acts 17:24,25).

3. Today, many religious groups teach many different doctrines (Matt. 15:8,9).

a. Faith only, sprinkling for baptism, etc.

b. Join the church of your choice.

D. God’s decision concerning this foolishness:

1. Compare the foolishness of God with the wisdom of men (1 Cor. 1:25).

a. What seems to be God’s foolishness is wiser than man’s wisdom.

b. What seems as God’s weakness is stronger than man’s strength.

2. God chose the foolish things to confound the wise (1 Cor. 1:27).

a. God’s plan for the overthrow of Canaan (Num. 13:25-14:3).

b. God’s plan to help Gideon defeat the Midianites (Judg. 7:2-3,6-7,12,16,21).

c. God’s instructions to Naaman to be healed of his leprosy (2 Kgs. 5:1-14).

d. God’s instructions on how to take Jericho (Josh. 6:1-5).

e. Jesus’ healing of the blind man (Jn. 9:1-7).

3. God’s decision concerning the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Cor. 1:18,11).

a. God chose to save the world by his Son, his grace (Rom. 5:7,8). God’s part is foolish to man.

b. Faith, repentance, confession and baptism all seem to be foolishness to men (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3,5; Matt. 10:32,33; Acts 8:37; Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3,4).

c. Man’s part is by faith, foolishness to him.

d. Man’s wisdom alone is insufficient, must have relation from God.

Conclusion

1. God chose the foolish things to save man (1 Cor. 1:27).

2. God’s ways are higher than man’s ways (Isa. 55:8,9).

3. We are drawn to God through’Christ (Jn. 6:44,45).

4. The true test of faith is obedience by faith of the gospel (2 Cor. 5:7).

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 4, pp. 106, 119
February 15, 1990