Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

The book of Judges records the cycles of apostasy which afflicted the people of God in the Old Testament. The New Testament is full of warnings about the working; of the leaven of error and the coming of a great spirit of apostasy, all of which has come to pass in the history of the church of our Lord. During the week of 6-12 March 1989 it was my privilege to labor in a gospel meeting with the fine Westview church of Christ in Hartselle, Alabama. Jeff Archer is a younger man devoted to preaching the gospel who is doing a steady and sound work with these good Christians. I stayed in the home of long-time friends, Kenny and Linda Mitchell, who gave me a book entitled A Light On a Hill. History of the Church of Christ, Hartselle, Alabama, 1920-1983 (privately published by Lista D. Martin, May 1984). This book contains much interesting historical information, including a section on the division over institutionalism from the viewpoint of the book’s liberal author. The book is reasonably objective for the most part, and reflects the cycles of apostasy which have afflicted the church of our Lord in America.

Planting the Church: Hard Work and Hard Times

In the 1920s there was an apostate group known as the Christian Church meeting in Hartselle. For four weeks during part of June and July 1920, J. Petty Ezell, John T. Lewis, and C.M. Pullias preached in a “protracted meeting” under a tent in Hartselle (p. 1). As a result the church of Christ began to meet on 17 July. After meeting in a house for several months, the church completed its own small building and met in it from October of 1920 through November of 1947. The author states concerning this simple structure:

The location was inconvenient, with little, if any parking space – even for wagons. The only heat in winter months came from a coal-burning stove. The lighting was provided by one ceiling light. There were no separate classrooms, no carpet, no water fountain, no modern bathrooms, and no PA system. They had no air-conditioning – the members had to bring their own hand fans! (p. 5)

During one difficult period in the early days of the church, the “two Pewter cups” were prepared for the Lord’s Supper but only one or two men were attending the services. “They were not members or would not serve the Lord’s table. The men would leave the building and Mrs. Shaw would serve the Lord’s Supper to the ladies” (p. 10). During the 1920s some men who worked as local evangelists with the church include J.C. Dixon, W.O. Norton, and B.F. Moody. Brother Robert Farrish held a gospel meeting in 1931. “5 added by confession and baptism” (p. 14; cf. p. 18).

The 1930s were overshadowed by the economic depression. When the bank failed in March 1933, each depositor received 5 percent of its account. “The church received $2.85” (p. 20). Many people walked from state to state searching for work from house to house begging food. The author recalls a beggar at her parents’ door being asked to cut wood for the cookstove in return for food. “He was asked to fill the box while Mother prepared his food. Hours following his departure, we discovered he cut only enough pieces to cover the top of the bin making it appear full. Mother said he would reap a just reward! ” (p. 16) Funerals were often held in the homes. “Friends would sit all night with the deceased” (p. 23). Lindsey Allen performed a wedding ceremony 16 December 1938 for Homer Sherrill and Bernice Walling. Curtains were hung to divide the meetinghouse into four classrooms. “They were hung by a cord that could be drawn open for worship services and closed for Sunday School” (p. 24).

Emphasis on the Bible Pattern

In July 1944, the church was charged one dollar to use the baptistry of the First Christian Church! Frank Andrews came to preach for the church in December of 1944. A new building was completed while brother Andrews was there in November of 1947. An excerpt from the deed for the land on Sparkman Street included the following statement.

That the congregation on worshiping in the house erected on said property tracts, or parcels of land herein described, shall in all work and worship adhere and conform strictly to New Testament pattern, rejecting and opposing all inventions, doctrines, and commandments of men, such as societies, conventions, associations, etc., fairs, shows, suppers, etc., for the purpose of raising money, or games or instruments of music (neither used or housed) in the worship, visionary, speculative, and division teaching or things not clearly revealed and that none of these things or other things like unto them shall be used or taught on or about said premises (p. 30).

On 16 November 1947 a gospel meeting began as the brethren moved into the new building. The following speakers and subjects were announced.

A Glorious Church, by O.S. Lanham

Christ and the Church, by R.L. Andrews

The Mission of the Church, by J. Hollis Robinson

Church Membership and its Responsibility, by E. Patton

The Purity of the Church, by Charles Chumley

Church Government, by T.A. Thompson

Topic to be Announced, by R.D. Underwood (p. 32).

These subjects speak for themselves as to the emphasis given to the importance of the New Testament pattern of teaching on the true church. The records of the church show that Frank Andrews was paid $225 for the month of November. The church treasury was $63.24 in the hole for that month. Times were still very hard.

Among the preachers who labored with this church in the 1950s was Roy Fudge (June 1957-August 1958). A new building was erected in August 1960 and a larger auditorium added in August 1972.

Apostasy, Division and Starting Over

On pages 63-69 the author includes a section entitled “Division in the Church.”

For years the harmony in congregations across the nation was disturbed by various controversial matters to include the support of orphan homes, fellowship suppers, support of the Herald of Truth Radio Program, Christian Colleges and various other picayune subjects. Those against this type support were called “antis”; those for were known as “liberals” (p. 63).

In April of 1963 the elders had a series of lessons presented for a week promoting and defending the liberal practices. The speakers were George Marshall, Charles Stidham, Winford Clark, Steril Watson, and most importantly Gus Nichols, who spoke on “The Work of Benevolence and Cooperation by the Church.”

When the elders refused a request to have speakers from the opposing viewpoint, three families submitted letters withdrawing their fellowship and began to conduct their worship as a new church. “As days passed, other families left to unite with the original three. The church lost a total of eight families” (p. 64). The elders wrote and read a letter to the church withdrawing from the original three on the charge of disturbing the peace of the church.

The author includes the texts of the three letters, omitting the names of the writers (whose names I learned while at Westview). The first letter was written by brother and sister Kenneth Swafford and included the following statements.

This congregation has allowed error to creep in so gradually (which has always been true of digression) that we are in a state of lethargy, where we can soothe our consciences into thinking that almost anything is alright if done in the right spirit. Such thinking for years past has produced good religious people in denominations.

History is repeating itself. About 100 years ago, and even fewer years here in the South, the Church was split asunder because people lost sight of the simple Word of God and wanted to build up for themselves institutions bigger and stronger than the local congregation. Please read church history and see that the same arguments put forth for digression in that day are used today by the liberal element to teach their digression. Brethren it is a fearful thing for which each one of us will have to give an accounting before God. None of these institutions is found in the Bible (pp. 65-66).

The other two letters were from brother Marlin Chapman and from brother and sister Jimmy Roberts.

Just as the church had begun in Hartselle in 1920, on 24 April 1963 twenty-two persons met in the home of brother and sister M.H. Chapman and formed the Westview church of Christ. They moved into their new building in December of 1963. A picture of the new building along with a brief article about the new church appeared in the Decatur Daily of 29 August 1964. These good brethren are continuing to contend earnestly for the faith and to spread the gospel in Hartselle.

Within forty years of the time the church first began in Hartselle, a new cycle of apostasy had occurred. It is striking that the innovations promoted in the late 50s and early 60s are explicitly condemned in the property deed of 1947. Within fifteen years of that statement, brethren had drifted to the point that they could not see they were violating the principles which they had stated so firmly and plainly a generation earlier. As the result of a lack of teaching or else a lack of hearing, “there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judg. 2:10). The experience of Hartselle was repeated all across America. Have we learned anything?

What Does the Future Hold?

If we do not teach the whole counsel of God in our time or if brethren fail to take heed to it, another cycle of compromise and apostasy will appear to afflict the people of God again. Congregations which began in the 1950s and 1960s in an effort to purify the church from false doctrine are approaching thirty and forty years of age. Not too long ago, a young couple admitted to the elders of the Lord’s church that they did not understand the real principles involved in the division over liberalism and asked if some sermons could be presented on the matter. The elders answered, “We had plenty of preaching on that subject twenty years ago and do not need to hear about it again now.” A faithful Christian in another large congregation recently said that nearly all of the younger couples wear shorts in public and go mixed swimming.

There is some healthy growth taking place in many churches but in others there is too much swelling and bloating in the name of growth. When preachers spout people pleasing platitudes rather than to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,” the church is soon filled with people who have “itching ears” and who “turn away their ears from the truth . . . unto fables” (2 Tim, 4:1-5). False, dangerous, and divisive theories are being taught on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Some are saying in effect, “I don’t believe such error but surely we can work out a formula of fellowship which will accommodate it.”

Brethren, if we are to avoid and avert apostasy, we must renew within us the spirit of the ancient prophets and apostles. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” (Isa. 58:1). “His word was in thine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jer. 20:9). May our fearless presentation of the gospel and our pressing the demands of truth without fear or favor for even our best friends cause those who hear to remember “that it was written, the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (Jn. 2:17). This must ever be our resolve, “I am set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 2:17). We must never forget the charge, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

Let us pray that God will help us to resist indifference and apathy. May we feed upon his Word and fill our hearts with it until we despise every form of sin and error (Psa. 119:104). When politicians and policy formulators try to intimidate us with lectures about our lack of love, may God help us to respond, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 Jn. 5:2). Trusting in God’s grace and in the power of his Word in the face of every trial and crisis, may we so labor that we can say with the apostle at the end of the way,

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 2, pp. 42-44
January 18, 1990

By Vernon Love

God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and lead Israel to the promised land. “Then Moses answered and said, ‘But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, “the Lord has not appeared to you.”‘ So the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ And he said, ‘A rod.'”

Moses was taught a lesson that day that when the rod was put into God’s service, it will accomplish what God wanted to be done. It was one of the signs to prove that God had appeared to Moses.

Let’s search the Bible and find what others had in-their hand that God was able to use for his glory.

We find David with a “sling” in his hand (1 Sam. 17). When it was used in the service of God, it was used to kill Goliath who had defied God and his army.

Jesus saw a great multitude coming and they found a “lad” with five loaves and two small fish. Jesus took them and blessed them and fed 5,000 men besides women and children. It seemed so little, but in Christ’s hand, it became more than enough to feed the multitude and have twelve full baskets left over (Matt. 14:13-21). Jesus saw a widow casting in “two mites.” She had given all she had, and Jesus used her to teach a lesson of how to give (Mk. 12:41-44).

Let’s ask some others, what is in their hand? “Alien sinner, what is that in your hand?” Is it things of this world that will perish (1 Jn. 2:15-17)? Is it “pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25)? Turn from the world and all its pleasures and turn to God. “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle” (Col. 2:21).

“Backsliding Christian, what is that in your hand?” “Is it sins of the past you used to do? Is it beer, wine or whiskey?”‘ “Is it cigarettes or tobacco of some form?” “Is it vulgar books or magazines?” “It is PG, R, or X-rated video movies?” Repent of all these worldly things and pray to God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; Jas. 5:16).

“Faithful Christian, what is that in your hand?” “Is it a Bible to read and study each day?” “Is it a Bible to teach a lost soul about their Savior?” “Is it some food or clothes to take to the poor?” “Is it a telephone to call the weak, discouraged or those who missed services?” “Is it a card or a letter to send to the visitors who came to services?”

There is so much work to do, and so few hands who are willing to do it. What would you be able to say if God asked you, “What is that in your hand?”

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 2, p. 44
January 18, 1990

By Harry R. Osborne

When brother Willis asked me to prepare this special issue, I understood the highly controversial nature of the subject. It is no secret that brethren across this country do not speak as one voice on this issue. At the age of sixteen, that fact became clear to me. As a teenager, I saw the horrible consequences of brethren teaching and practicing different doctrines on this subject in the local church of which I was a member. I saw with a broken heart the fruits of adultery and broken homes that came from false teaching on this subject. Years have passed since those sad days, but the tragic results of differences between brethren over divorce and remarriage have only become more evident and distressing. In almost every local congregation across this country, the issues in this realm of study are being discussed. Congregations are beginning to divide at an increasing rate.

Brethren, it should be obvious that we need to study the various facets of this subject diligently. This special issue has been designed to aid in that task. The topics are arranged into four major divisions so as to challenge us to think and study upon the subject as we seek unity on the basis of the truth.

(1) Introductory articles

(2) Exegetical studies

(3) Historical perspectives

(4) Refutation of errors

I believe the truth has been taught and hope it will be carefully and prayerfully considered. My thanks go to each writer for his time and effort expended in this task.

As brother Cavender so eloquently stated in his introduction, the responsibility for determining the truth on this issue and the application thereof to our fellowship rests with each local church and each individual Christian. Each local church will face decisions about the lawful bounds of their fellowship and they must apply the teaching of God’s word. Each of us will face situations in which we must determine whom we will receive as a brother or sister in Christ. Those decisions are our responsibility. No man, group of men, paper or school has the right to create a line of fellowship not drawn by the Scripture. Nor does any man, group of men, paper or school have the right to erase a line of fellowship which is drawn by the Scripture. We must “speak as the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent” on this and every other matter of faith, if we are to walk worthily of our calling and keep the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:1-3). If we go beyond Christ’s doctrine in our fellowship, we will forsake our fellowship with him (2 Jn. 9-11).

In recent months, some brethren who claim they believe the truth have taken exception to those who have tried to teach that truth and oppose error on this subject. Some objections have arisen from the identifying of well-known and respected gospel preachers who have taught errors regarding divorce and remarriage. Other objections have been based on the manner in which the errors were opposed. We must remember the example of Bible writers who named both the error and the teacher of the error in their attempts to counteract the soul-damning effects of false teaching. Let us never become so attached to any man that we sit in silence while the error taught leads souls to remain in a sinful practice and be lost eternally. There is no doubt that all of us make mistakes in our judgment as we uphold truth and oppose error. If the reader sees a better way to oppose and expose the errors reviewed in this issue, please correct our mistakes and do it right. May we all hear the words of our faithful brother, Connie W. Adams, in a recent article (Searching The Scriptures [Nov. 19891, Vol. 30, No. 11, pp. 539-540) exhorting us in this matter:

Whether we used good judgment in such identification is now a moot point. The fact is, the pernicious doctrine is being taught, souls are being encouraged to remain in adultery, the peace of local churches is being disrupted. When you fellows get your noses back in joint, would you please take up the sword of the Spirit and help to expose this doctrine for what it is and warn of the devastating moral consequences? Do you really believe that adultery is a matter of indifference with God? That one may, or may not, practice it without divine approval or disapproval? I know how you will answer it. And when you do, you will have to remove it from the realm of things considered in Romans 14. If you know a better way to approach the problem, then by all means do it, but please approach the problem. “Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:11).

To that I have but one comment, “Amen!”

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 1, p. 28
January 4, 1990

By Darrel Haub

The phrase quoted as a title of this article is taken from Nehemiah 8:5 which describes the people’s initial response to Ezra’s opening of the book of God’s law in their presence. This was not a fleeting response because, we read in Nehemiah 8:3, Ezra read from this book from morning till midday, and while the Levites helped them to understand what was read the people stood in their place (Neh. 8:7). Also we notice in this matter that they were able to maintain a worshipful attitude throughout (Neh. 8:6). This led to the restored observance of the Feast of Booths which lasted seven days (Neh. 8:13-18). Every day, for the seven days of this feast, Ezra read from the book and the people responded like the the first day. After this great time of worship conducted during the first eight days of the seventh month, the people of Israel returned for more reading and worship on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month (Neh. 9:1-3). This reading and worship led to confession of sins and reformation of lives. There are lessons for us in this example of those events.

The first lesson we can learn from this is the proper conduct while God’s word is being read and explained. Is this not what we do in our Bible study and sermon periods of service? In far too many cases today we have become lax in demeanor in our gatherings to the point that reverence is not apparent. It is not uncommon to see all sorts of activity going on among those assembled to consider God’s word. This is so much so that those of the world notice our lack of respect for the purpose of our gathering. Children may not act quietly all of the time and that is normal but, in some cases, it is other adults who make them this way, much to the dismay of their parents who are trying to teach them proper conduct in services. There is a time to play with children but not when we are assembled to consider God’s word. It is distractive to others and our own concentration to be passing children around like toys. How can we think about spiritual matters while we are amusing ourselves with how cute our children or grandchildren are? Brethren, I do not see this happening among those who stood to listen to Ezra and the Levites. Do you?

A second lesson to learn from this event is the fact that they participated in lengthy services each day for eight days and then, with but few weeks between, they returned for more. In my lifetime we have reduced our gospel meetings from two weeks length to, in some cases, a week-end. We can hardly tolerate six days of daily assembling. Saturday evening services are far too much! Sermons must be short today, some say. Even though school lectures normally run about 50 minutes, sermons which include reading from God’s word with explanation to help us understand the meaning must be no longer than 30 minutes with a rare exception of possibly 35 minutes on occasion. Brethren, we need to evaluate our attitudes in this matter. Even the TV news is so brief we often do not get the full picture from it. I am afraid that our restriction on sermon lengths is doing this to our Bible knowledge also. With our society becoming more depraved each day, do we not need more gatherings to consider God’s word? Let us encourage our elders to plan more and longer periods of study by our full attendance at all services of gospel meetings and Bible classes. In too many cases the last two or three days of a gospel meeting are mostly attended by visitors from area churches. This ought not be. Was it in Nehemiah’s day?

This event also teaches us something about the work we who stand before assembled Christians should be doing. Ezra and the Levites read from the Word of God and helped the people to understand its meaning. I doubt that this was entertaining. It was not designed to be. It was instructional. Are we not tempted in some cases to search for something new to preach? We dare not allow this search to take us to theologians for authority in our lessons. Quotes from scholars might be used well to help us understand what the Word says, but ought not be used in the place of God’s Word. Illustrations well used help make the lesson come alive and become implanted in our memories, but they ought not become our lesson instead of the reading and explanation of God’s word. Even men as great as Paul only taught the simple gospel to men who were accustomed to hearing and responding to great orators (1 Cor. 2). It is not our responsibility to be like Paul? Yes it is. Every Christian ought to demand this of our preachers. But alas, in far too many cases we see the desire for entertaining speeches which is evidenced in the fact that few come to hear Bible based preaching while crowds flock to hear lessons long on entertainment and short on substance.

The final lesson that I want to draw from this event is that it took this extended reading of God’s word with the explanation of its meaning to eventually lead Israel to repent of and confess their sins. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why are we not converting more people today?” In some cases we are not even saving our own children. Could it be because we have reduced our activities of reading God’s word and helping people to understand it so that the word is not able to work in their hearts? I have read from men who have conducted longer gospel meetings who have said that often the latter days of the meeting bring most of the responses. Today we end our meeting when the most fruit is yet to be harvested.

Let us close this article with an observation. The people in Nehemiah’s day were very ready for the reading of God’s word in order to know it. You see, they had just come out of seventy years of Babylonian captivity. This captivity was so impressive that they never returned to idolatry again. Today we who are Christians have been released from the bondage of sin and are traveling the road to heaven. How are we going to make it without the benefit of knowing God’s word? Knowledge of that word is gained by reading it, learning what it means.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 2, pp. 39-40
January 18, 1990