PROVE ALL THINGS
H. E. Phillips
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thess. 5:21,22). These words call upon each of us to do three things: make a test of all things— prove them to determine what is good and what is bad; hold on to all things that are proved to be good; refuse and abstain from the very appearance of those things that are proved to be evil.
All men have motives for what they consciously do or say. Many times these motives are not right, and whether they do or say the right thing or not, they are wrong because the motive is wrong. It is also possible that the motive be right and the action or word is wrong. We must "prove all things," that is, put to a test every thing we do or say to determine if it is right or wrong. Now, the question arises, what shall be the standard or method of proving all things? The only answer is the word of God. The word of God will make us "throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:17). Every motive, action or word should be weighed in the light of God's word to determine whether it is good or evil. If good, do it; if evil, abstain from it completely.
Some men and women are much like buzzards: theylike to find something rotten, evil and dead to feed upon.They are not in the least interested in something good said or done, but they can "walk a mile" to get a little dirt to feedon and tell to others, making it just a little worse each time they tell it. We wonder just what motive people can havein such conduct? We can think of only two possible reasons:
(1) lack of spiritual thinking and (2) revenge. People witheither of these motives are not interested in "proving" anything; they care little whether a thing said is true or false.
I. LACK OF SPIRITUAL THINKING
Some who have professed to be spiritually minded people have failed to prove what is good and what is evil by thewords of the Spirit. Paul speaks of the contrast of the spiritually minded and the carnally minded in Romans 8. "Forthey that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spirituallyminded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God,neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:5-8). The things of the Spirit are the things the Spirit teaches in the word of God. Thethings of the flesh are those things that arise from humanwisdom and will. When men are governed by the appetites of the body rather than the doctrine of Christ, they arecarnally minded and lack spiritual thinking.
Peter spoke of some who were carnal in thinking andshowed how they speak and think of those who are righteous."But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they,self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" (II Peter 2:10). Continuing in verse 12: "But these, asnatural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterlyperish in their own corruption." Such men speak evil (theyhave not proved what is good and what is evil) of dignitiesand of right things which they do not understand because they are directed by the carnal nature and not the Spirit of God.
Jude also speaks of these who lack spiritual thinking."But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those thingsthey corrupt themselves" (Jude 10). They do not know thethings of God, yet they speak evil against them.
II. REVENGE
This is a very deadly motive even for the one who holdsenmity and seeks revenge. Many more in the church act withthis motive than those who absolutely lack spiritual knowledge, yet we must say in the light of God's word that theman who seeks vengeance is a carnal minded person. Envy, strife and division are classified as carnal (I Cor. 3:3).
Christ and the apostles had enemies who sought revengeagainst them for teaching against their evil doctrines. As it was then, so is it now. Men who do not get their way abouteverything frequently will resort to a campaign to destroythe character and reputation of the person who stands intheir way. It is a well known fact that one who seeks vengeance will resort to any means at his disposal to accomplishhis goal. Christ spoke of some who spoke against him inLuke 7:31-34: "And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?"
— He was speaking of religious Pharisees and lawyers who had rejected the message and baptism of John, and whosought to discredit both John and Christ. Now, what arethese men like? "They are like unto children sitting in themarketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mournedto you, and ye have not wept." Christ said these men were as children playing, and some did not get their way with others. Some in the church are like that. They say, "You do not play the game by our rules; you will not heed our directives." The Lord gave an example of the evil statements ofthese religious leaders in seeking revenge against both Johnthe Baptist and Christ. "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say,Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend ofpublicans and sinners!" Either way was condemned by thesepeople. They had an evil report no matter which Christ did.
The apostle Paul also had enemies who sought revenge.Paul wrote to Corinth to establish his apostleship among other things. False teachers had been following him and trying to counteract his teaching and influence. They did nothesitate to misrepresent him and belittle his doctrine and person. In the second letter to the Corinthians he refers to one thing these false teachers had been telling to destroy histeaching: "For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible" (II Cor. 10:10). Notice that these false teachershad their say in the absence of Paul. Usually men of thischaracter prefer to speak to the back of the man they charge.They are primarily cowards and would rather do their evilwork under cover as much as possible. They want revenge without indicting themselves. They would rather not havetheir charges contested and proved. But remember this, weunder command of God to "PROVE ALL THINGS" and though this applies to the word of God, it would also includean evil report about a brother (see verse 15). Paul hadenemies who said that he wrote letters as if they wereweighty and powerful— he wrote as a big man— but when he was present in person he did not speak so boldly, and even his speech was contemptible. This was said to the Corinthiansin the absence of Paul. In the next verse Paul states the fact: "Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word byletters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present." He goes on in the verses that followto show that he is not like these who measure and weighthemselves by themselves, but that he lives by the rule whichGod had given.
Stephen had some enemies who sought revenge whichended in his death. "Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, andCyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and ofAsia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able toresist the wisdom and the spirit by which he snake" (Acts6:9,10). Sometimes men will seek revenge against one because they cannot resist the truth which he teaches. Theirslogan seems to be: "We cannot defeat the truth, but wewill turn attention to the man and destroy him and people will forget what he was teaching." That is precisely whatthese Jews did to Stephen. They could not stand against thetruth he was teaching. "Then they suborned men, whichsaid, We have heard him speak blasphemous words againstMoses, and against God. And they stirred up the people,and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, andcaught him, and brought him to the council, and set upfalse witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speakblasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shalldestroy this place, and shall change the customs which Mosesdelivered us" (Acts 6:12-14).
This effort to distort facts, misapply statements, establish false reports against a man to discredit him did not die with Stephen. It has been the sad disgrace of many through the centuries to this very day. Any man of God who tries to stand for the truth will have enemies who oppose him withthis method of battle. This is further proof of the lengths towhich one will go to seek vengeance. We must "Prove allthings; hold fast that which is good." This applies also to evilreports of actions and statements made against one as in thecase of John the Baptist, Christ, Paul and Stephen.
Anger is a state of mind very fertile to making falsecharges. James says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, letevery man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: forthe wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:19.20). When one's sins are exposed he often inanger retaliates with evil charges and false reports that haveabsolutely no bearing on the sin exposed. If I am a thief,what help is it to me to charge the man who exposes mewith using poor judgment in buying his clothes, or something of that nature? If that man is proved to be a murderer, itdoes not keep me from being guilty of theft.
Jesus goes to the very heart of the trouble when he spoke of evil speaking coming from an evil heart. "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt. 12:34-37). An evil man will not speak good things, and a good man will not speak evil things, because it is out of the heart that man speaks. If the heart is good the speech will be good, but if the heart is evil the speech will be evil, We can therefore judge the condition of a man's heart by his words.
Peter gives the spiritual admonition to those who will serve the Lord in times of persecution for righteousness sake: "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" We must "prove all things; hold fast that which is GOOD." This comes before we can follow that
which is good, "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake,
happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be
troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be
ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of
you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse
your good conversation in Christ" (I Peter 3:13-16).
We must be ready always to give an answer for our
hope, and that must be done as the oracles of God (I Peter
4:11). This means that we must "prove all things" by the
word of God. The only way we can hold to that which is
good and abstain from all appearance of evil is to prove
everything by the standard of right and wrong. If one should
believe the charges of the Pharisees that Christ was a sinner
(John 9:24), and not of God (John 9:16), where would we
be today? We must prove by that which is truth whether
Christ is the Son of God or a sinner. Jesus warned his dis
ciples, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of
you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke
6:26). When a man has no enemies who seek his destruction,
it may be because he has compromised with evil and is tak
ing no stand against sin. Let us "prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil."
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
into the world" (I John 4:1). We cannot hope for eternal
life unless we prove every statement to be true and then
live by what is true and reject all that is evil.
DIVISION: ITS CAUSE AND CURE
L. A. Mott, Gainesville, Florida
Some time ago I talked with a lady who teaches Sunday School for the Baptist Church (or did then). As our conversation turned to things Biblical she remarked, "If I hadmy way, there would be just one church."
No one can give the scriptures a serious reading and deal with them honestly without realizing that this is God's desire also. God's attitude toward division was expressed by the wise man when he stated that Cod hates "he that soweth discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:19). The Roman Christians were instructed to "mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them" (Rom. 16:17). Paul classed factions, divisions, and parties among the works of the flesh and repeatedly warned "that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21).
THE UNITY OF APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY
In New Testament days, only one body, or one church, existed (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4). If God's will had been carried out through the years, this unity would have remained, for this was God's desire. Jesus, in his prayer for believers of all ages, petitioned the Father "that they may all be one" (John 17:21). To meet the "sect" problem in Corinth Paul wrote, "Now I beseech you, brethren, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10).
One individual told me he thought the Lord knew whathe was doing when he divided the church and let all of usgo our separate ways. Neighbor, such a remark comes littleshort of blasphemy! God did not cause the division. God hates division! If all men had subjected themselves to God'swill, all believers even to this day would have remainedunited in one body.
But unity was not to continue. The truth was taughtquite generally in the ancient church "that in later times someshall fall away from the faith" (I Tim. 4:1; cf. Acts 20:28-30; etc.).
Almost all of us are acquainted with the story of howthis predicted apostasy found its fulfillment (or at least one fulfillment) in the development of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Then, in the 16th and 17th centuries, many different groups arose and the foundations of modern protestantismwere laid in what history terms the protestant reformation, areform movement led by those who had become disgustedwith the doctrinal and moral abuses of the apostate church.Other groups arose later till today we have about 300 different religious societies, each with its own distinctive name,doctrine, and organization. The true church of God is divided,and is therefore, not able to speak to the needs of this situation. Personally, I am convinced that this generation is witnessing the emergence of a new denominational church ofChrist which has its roots in an apostasy from the faith.
But neighbor, mark it, and mark it well: God is not pleased with such division. Jesus' prayer is still on record. Paul's message has an application today.
The essential point of this article is: How to restore NewTestament unity.
A PREREQUISITE TO THE RESTORATION OF NEW TESTAMENT UNITY
Unity can never be established unless we can settleupon a common standard and agree to abide by this standard.The players of any game must agree to abide by a set ofrules. If they do not, confusion will result.
Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists are divided because they do not have a common standard. Baptists believethe doctrines of their Manual; Presbyterians, their Catechism; and Methodists, their Discipline. Baptists do not believe theDiscipline; Methodists do not believe the Manual; etc. This is why they are divided. But the three of them can be united if they could find a common standard. For instance, if they all decided to accept the Discipline as a common standard, they would be united. They would all be Methodists, true;but the point is: This would bring unity.
But no human creed will ever be accepted by all menas a common standard. Baptists and Presbyterians do notbelieve the Discipline. Any human creed must necessarilyfall far short of general acceptance. But there is a standardwhich all can accept: Cod's Word. Methodists, Baptists, andPresbyterians all can believe and accept it. If men will just throw away all human creeds and opinions and accept God'sWord as the final authority in all matters of religious faith and practice, we can be united. But this is the only plan thatwill bring New Testament unity.
The scriptures are all we need (II Tim. 3:16-17). Anadage often repeated and still true, states; If a creed book hasmore than the Bible, it has too much; if it has less than the Bible, it has too little; if it has the same thing as the Bible,there is no need for it for we have the Bible itself. The Bible and the Bible only is our plea. No place exists in God's planfor unity when we understand the cause of division.
THE RISE OF RELIGIOUS DIVISION
Organization
In New Testament days when the church was one,elders (Acts 14:23, etc.), deacons (Phil. 1:1, etc.), andevangelists (II Tim. 4:5, etc.) served as officers of the church.
But as men departed from God's plan, the offices ofbishop (distinct from elder), metropolitan, patriarch, andpope arose. Today we hear of arch-bishops, cardinals, etc.
Today division exists on this subject. Some use oneform of organization; some, another. Once there was unityon the point; now there is division. Where in history shallwe mark the beginning of the division?
Underscore this point and mark it well: In New Testament days under the inspired plan, true believers were unitedon this point. DIVISION CAME WHEN MEN LEFT THENEW TESTAMENT PLAN!
Action of Baptism
Apparently, any other action than immersion was unheard of in apostolic times (Rom. 6:4, etc.). Believers wereunited on the point.
Later, "clinical baptism" (see the various church histories) was practiced by sprinkling. Sprinkling was recognized by the apostate church only as late as 1311 A.D. atthe Council of Ravenna.
In Paul's day there was unity; today there is division.Again, mark the point: DIVISION CAME WHEN MENLEFT GOD'S PLAN!
Church Membership
With men of old, the important question was not "Whichchurch to join?" but "what must I do to be saved?" (Acts2:37). Upon their obedience to the gospel, God saved them and added them to the church (vv. 38, 47).
"But now it is different," says Edward T. Hiscox (Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, p. 22). Admitting that menwere added to the church by obedience to the gospel in theNew Testament, Hiscox goes on to say that now it is different, and, to make a long story short, the church membersmust vote on candidates for membership, and this vote admits them to membership.
Today, some receive church members in one way; some,in another way. The division came when men decided God's plan was imperfect and began following schemes of theirown devising.
The Church Today
Today there is division amongst us. Division cannotexist where all are strictly adhering to our common standard, the Bible. Clearly then, the division exists as the result of a departure from the truth. This cannot be successfullydenied. The division is caused by those making the departure,not by those who oppose it.
The Way to Unity
Division came when men departed from God's Word.Unity will be restored when we all go back to the Bible.
"The seed is the word of God" (Lk. 8:11). If all sowthe same seed, all will get the same product. Only whendifferent kinds of seed are sown do we get different plants.
Campbell's slogan is still the need of the hour (and only because it is scriptural). To be united and thus please andglorify God we must go back to the Bible, and speak where the Bible speaks and respect God's silence by remaining silentwhere the Bible is silent.
AN APPEAL FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW
1 . From My Point of View: The Issues Are Over Matters of Principle
Brethren, the only way unity could ever be establishedbetween the conservative wing of the Christian Church, forinstance, and God's church is for those brethren to give upwhatever they are doing that is not authorized by the scriptures, i.e., instrumental music, societies, etc., and take their stand upon God's Book alone. We can all see and understandthis. Why, then, cannot we understand that the only wayunity can be brought about in the Lord's church is for those brethren who promote unscriptural societies to give them up?The only basis for unity is God's Book. Our only hope forunity is to practice only that for which we can give a "Thussaith the Lord."
No one yet has produced the passage of scripture thatauthorizes the erection and maintenance of human institutions by the church. Some brethren have tried to justify these practices by arguing that the Bible authorizes the use of"methods" in carrying out the work of the church. But thisevades the issue just as a similar evasion was used by thosewho contended for the missionary society. The brethren whostand with me are not opposed to the use of "methods" bythe church. But we do oppose the human organizations which use the methods. Where is the authority for a human boardof directors to take over and control the work God gave thechurch to do? This is the issue!
Brethren, let me make a sincere appeal to you: Walkright up to this issue and deal with it. Either show the authority for such human arrangements, or admit that no authority exists, and give them up.
2. From the Point of View of Those Differing with Me:The Issues Are Over Matters of Expediency
Several years ago, brother N. B. Hardeman debated aChristian Church preacher by the name of Boswell. Hecharged that Boswell had rather have the organ than thefellowship of a large number of the Lord's churches. BrotherHardeman could not consistently say that to a ChristianChurch preacher today, for now the question would rebound to him: Would brother Hardeman and those who stand with him rather have their institutional idols than the fellowshipof a sizeable portion of their brethren?
I do not say these things to be unkind or hurtful tobrother Hardeman, or anyone else. Though I have seenbrother Hardeman only once, I know him through his printedsermons and debates, and love him for his work's sake. I earnestly desire to be able to stand and work together withsuch a stalwart and faithful soldier of the cross of days gone by. There are many other great and admirable men aboutwhom I would be pleased, yea, overjoyed, to say, "He and I are fellow-soldiers of Jesus Christ." But I cannot go against my conscience to have this. Nor can the many other faithful brethren who stand with me. We cannot compromise on aprinciple to have peace! "Peace at any price" is not NewTestament unity. Paul did not compromise on the "circumcision" issue for the sake of unity (Gal. 2).
Do you, brethren, consider your projects essentials? oraids and expedients? Surely the most you can say for themis that they are aids and expedients. Would it be wrong togive them up and to let the church do its own work. Wouldit be wrong for individuals only to support them (as one ortwo of the schools are maintained)? Then surely the way topeace and unity is clear for all those who love the Lord and their brethren in him more than these projects.
Page 5
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity!" But unity can only exist where
we practice only that which is clearly authorized by God's
Book.
Brother, whoever you are: Take your stand upon thatancient volume of truth. Be not moved from it though it costyour life! God help us all!
WATERING DOWN AN INFLAMED ARTICLE
James P. Needham, St. Petersburg, Florida
An article entitled "Under the Cover of Darkness" writ
ten by a prominent preacher of Mobile, Ala. has come to my
attention. Since it is so typical of the kind of writing being
done by our pro-institutional brethren, it was thought a
review of it would be advantageous.
Our brother begins his article with this sentence: "Any doctrine that man has to advocate under the cover of darkness to get converts could not be the doctrine of Christ." Hethen applies this statement to those of his brethren he delightsto call anti, meaning, of course, those of us who oppose hishuman institutions to do the work of the church. He tells a long, detailed story about how those mean old antis creep inand preach their doctrine "under the cover of darkness,"which according to him is sure proof that what they preach"could not be the doctrine of Christ." Of course, he assumes that those terrible antis are the only ones that do that. Idon't know of any of his so-called antis that work in the waydescribed, and wouldn't approve it if I did, but I certainly know of some of his brethren who promote their doctrines"under the cover of darkness." Hence, since he seems to know of some "antis" who work this way, and I know of some"pros" that work this way, we have to reach the conclusionthat neither is "the doctrine of Christ" because, according tohim, it couldn't be. That means then, that neither he nor his opposition has the truth on the present issues! Either ourbrother didn't think his statement through, or else he is unacquainted with the tactics of those who stand with him.
I found our brother's vocabulary quite colorful if contrary to the spirit of Christ. Here are a few of his terms:"undercover work," "gullible," (Sic) "hatchet men," "hobby," "fighting orphan homes and cooperation," "anti-orphan home," "anti-church cooperation," "weak-knee elders," "gullible (sic) church," "crack-pot ideals," etc.
Wonder which would be worse, to work undercover or to malign and vilify ones brethren? Since our brother seems to think he has the doctrine of Christ are we to conclude that the use of such language is necessary to its promotion?
Then our brother says, "The orphan home fighters willnever accomplish very much for the simple reason that it is a negative religion." He talks like he knows nothing about"negative religion," but I believe he does. Doesn't he have a "negative religion" when considering instrumental musicin the worship, dancing, drinking, denominationalism, Catholicism, etc.? We all know that he does, and according tohim he'll "never accomplish very much" in fighting thesethings because he has "a negative religion."
Next, we come to the most amusing statement of thewhole article. He says, "There is not one orphan home fighting church in the world that could go into a community andtell the people in the beginning of the meeting, what theybelieve and baptize one intelligent person. Let them announce at the first service, 'We don't believe the churches can cooperate, and we also believe that it is a great sin forthe church to help any person unless he is a member of the Lord's church!" Our Mobile brother thinks he has found a sweet morsel, but we shall see. Wonder how many intelligentpeople he could convert if at the first service of a meeting he should announce, "We speak where the Bible speaks andare silent where the Bible is silent, except when we talk about caring for the needy and how churches can cooperate, thenwe do many things for which we have no scriptures, nor do we need any, we then rely upon what has been done by ourbrethren for the last several years, and where there is nopattern we are governed by sanctified common sense." Doeshe think that would really appeal to intelligent people?
Next our brother says, "The only way the anti group can ever grow is to first deceive the people about what theybelieve, and after they join up with the anti group, some onehas to convert them to hobby (sic) of fighting orphan homes;as a result of this they will lose most of those baptized, for not many honest people could believe such a damnableheresy." If our brother has any point at all here it is this: ifhe and his brethren convert a man he will just automaticallybelieve in Gospel Press, the Herald of Truth, Orphan homes, etc. There won't be any need for anyone to try to persuadehim to accept them; an acceptance of them will be involvedin and apart of his conversion. Is this true? Certainly not! Ifour brother were to preach the guiding principles of the New Testament such as the autonomy, independence, sufficiency,and equality of the local church and converted a man tothese, orphan homes and all other human institutions to dothe work of the church would be repulsive to him. He wouldsay, "You converted me to one thing, now you want me topractice something else."
Next he says, "The church can build him (the preacherJPN) a house, pay his lights, water, telephone bills, but asin, a terrible sin, to build a house for orphans. This is whatthey are tearing up churches over." From this we can seethat our brother is quite adept either at mis-comprehension of the issue or at mis-representing his opposition. If our brother thinks the orphan homes which we oppose are parallel to a church's furnishing her preacher a place to live as a part of his salary, he would profit himself and others muchmore by studying present issues than by writing about them. If such irresponsible statements as this is any indication ofthe degree of knowledge he has of current problems, it would seem that he has not seriously studied the position of thosehe delights to call "antis" and "crack-pots". If a group ofbrethren should form a "Preacher's Home Service" corporation and receive monies from churches all over the nation for the purpose of furnishing houses for preachers, we wouldhave a parallel to the orphan home society set-up. But when a local church, under its own oversight, builds and furnishesa house for a preacher to live in we don't have a 42nd cousinto the orphan societies to which many congregations surrender their money plus its oversight. It is just such "reasoning" as this that keeps the real issues in our present difficulties hidden.
May we all think for ourselves and be not led away bytrumped-up side issues and mis-representations.
Every person converted to Christ in the New Testamentlearned that he was wrong and made a change. The manwho is "never wrong" will never be a Christian. Your estimateof your own self matters little; are you right in God's sight?
o o o
"Innovations are usually adopted on the plea of expediency— and afterwards defended as Scriptural. Societies,sprinkling, instrumental music, are illustrations."
THE WORD OF GOD:
POWERFUL AND SUFFICIENT - NO. I
(Read Isaiah 55:6-11) George
Lemasters, Barberton, Ohio
"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to thesower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, butit shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosperin the thing whereto I send it." Here in the inimitable language of inspiration the prophet states a very fundamental principle concerning the word of God, for in substance heaffirms of it that it is powerful and sufficient to accomplishall that God desires in His dealings with men. The natureof this and some two or three subsequent articles will be toconsider the implications of that principle.
A failure to abide in the sufficiency of the word of Godand to recognize its power has always characterized man.The nations of men described by Paul in Rom. 1:21-28 arepictured as gradually departing from God and finally beingregarded by Him as reprobate because they "exchanged thetruth of God for a lie" and "did not like to retain God in their knowledge". Israel did not enter Canaan because theyfailed to honor this principle; and their desire for a kingwhich ultimately resulted in their downfall was a direct result of their failing to abide in the power and sufficiency ofGod's word. The early church failed also in this matter andthe falling away which finally culminated in the rise of Roman Catholicism was the fruit of their folly.
This present generation follows in the same pattern asthose which have gone before. The problems which presentlyconfront us on every hand are but the symptoms of the realdisease, which is a failure to have the right attitude toward the word of God, and its power and sufficiency. Ours is themost modern age that the world has known; our cultureseems to demand that certain arbitrary standards be adheredunto; prosperity elevates the standard of living and the falsesecurity begotten of riches is engrafted in many, hence, there is an ever increasing emphasis on the materialistic aspect oflife. The church is effected by this for an emphasis on thematerial necessitates a moving away from the spiritual (Matt.6:31-38) and consequently a moving away from the wordand its power and sufficiency. We, thus, move toward a stateof conformity with the world and with worldly wisdom andideas. We see this manifested in many ways. For instance, many times money is wasted to no good purpose on elaborate buildings designed to attract the attention of theworldly minded rather than simply to expedite the work ofthe church. The influx of the elements of the "social gospel"into the budgets of the churches as well as the adopting ofworldly principles on moral issues (social drinking, etc.) arealso manifestations of this trend.
Since the disease producing these symptoms is a failureto abide in the power and sufficiency of the word of God,these articles shall be designed to call your attention to this all important point. We shall note the power and sufficiencyof the word in creation; in conversion; in the disciplining of the individual Christian, and finally its power to keep thechurch pure.
While this first point is more for illustrative purposes it is significant to note that the word of God was powerful and sufficient in the creation of the worlds. For the scripture says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framedby the word of God, so that things which are seen were notmade from things which do appear" (Heb. 11:3 cf. also John1:1-3). How long it was before the creative voice of Godbroke the silence of eternity and issued forth in the creationof the heavens and earth is not known, neither is it important. But there came that occasion, when, in the language of David, ".. . He spoke and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:9). And not only was that wordable to create this universe, but it is also the omnipotentcommand by reason of which all things are presently upheld (cf. Heb. 1:3). Moreover, we are instructed by Peter, that,".. . the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the sameword are kept in store, reserved into fire against the day ofjudgment and perdition of ungodly men" (cf. II Peter 3:17). Hence, the word of God was powerful and sufficient to create the worlds; to uphold them at this present time; and shallfinally bring them to naught, when God sees fit for time tobe no more. If the question is here asked as to why the word of God is so powerful in the physical realm; I answer that it is by reason of the nature of God who spoke it. For indeed, if God is all powerful, then certainly for Him to speakand thus accomplish His desires in the physical realm needpresent no problem.
BENEVOLENCE AND THE CHURCH
Harris J. Dark
PART I
(NOTE: Harris J. Dark delivered the followingsermon recently on Sunday evening at Perry Heightschurch in Nashville, Tennessee. We obtained his permission to publish this fine lesson in SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. It will be given in two parts.— Editor.)
The topic announced for this evening is "Benevolenceand the Church", or "The Benevolent Work of a Congregation." When we say "the church" in reference to any function, we mean the congregation. As was pointed out here recently, the church can function in no other capacity, because the Bible authorizes no organization for the church except that of a local congregation.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
When we talk about the church and its charity work, letus not forget the responsibility of the individual. The individual has responsibility in this matter also. And althoughthat's not our theme this evening, and we don't have time togive you all the scriptures on it, we do want to emphasizethat fact lest we appear to overlook it.
Particularly on that point, I call your attention to I Timothy, chapter 5, and certain verses in that chapter. Verse 4 says:
"But if any widow have children or nephews [and onetranslation says grandchildren], let them learn first toshow piety at home, and to requite their parents: forthat is good and acceptable before God."
The 8th verse of that same chapter says:
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
And the 16th verse says:
"If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let
them relieve them, and let not the church be charged;
that it may relieve them that are widows indeed."
Here the Bible makes a very clear distinction betweenthe responsibility of the individual and the responsibility of the congregation. Whereas they might overlap in someareas, there is certainly also a distinction. And on thevery face of it, the statement that the church does whateverthe individual does is false.
It is true that we are in the church, in the general senseof that term, 24 hours a day. But it is not true that we arefunctioning in our congregational capacity 24 hours of theday. There are some things that we do congregationally, and there are some things that we do separately. If the fact that one is a Christian 24 hours a day means that whateverhe does, the church is in fact doing, then when a mob commits an act of violence, the state commits the act, because the members of the mob are citizens of the state 24 hours a day. Likewise, if a Christian buys an automobile on the installmentplan, then the church has bought a car on the installmentplan. This is so obviously wrong that there's no need to argueit. It is not true that whatever is done by the individual is in fact done by the church, because an individual is not thechurch. On this point, common sense is confirmed by I Timothy 5:16:
"If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let
them relieve them, and let not the church be charged;
that it may relieve them who are widows indeed."
Now let us consider two or three other scriptures emphasizing our responsibility individually in these matters. Forinstance, a very well known passage, James 1:27.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father
is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflic
tion, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
Benevolence is a part of pure and undefiled religion. If wefail to do our duty in this respect, then we are just notmeasuring up to the standard of pure and undefiled religion. Then Galatians 6:10, with its context, also emphasizes individual, rather than collective or congregational responsibility:
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto
all men, especially unto them who are of the household
of faith."
Whenever the occasion arises, whenever we have the opportunity, let us do good unto all men, not merely those whoare saints, but especially to those who are saints. Jesus teachesin Matthew 10:42, that if we give even a cup of cold water to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, we shall in no wiselose our reward.
It is not necessary then that all charity work be donethrough the congregation. You not only have a right, but you also have a responsibility, to do good directly unto those who are in need, as you have opportunity. The Bible does not say,"Whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do all in the nameof the church." On the contrary, it says in Colossians 3:17:
"And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus [by the authority of Jesus Christ]
giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
While this work does not have to be done through the church, let me emphasize that it does have to be done. We must help the poor if we expect to be saved when we die.Among the many scriptures emphasizing this point is thejudgment scene in Matthew 25, where the separation takesplace on the basis of whether one has ministered unto thosein need.
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION
With those things before us now, we come directly to the question, "What does the Bible say about the charitywork of a congregation, and what is the pattern to be followed by a local congregation in its work of helping thepoor?" I'm going to read to you the scriptures that bear uponthis subject. When I do that I know that I'm preaching thetruth. I know that no one can find fault with it, and youwho are here tonight would not want to do so, because youbelieve the Bible just like I do. When I call your attentionto these things in the Bible, I believe that that's what you want to hear. I believe that that's what you want to follow.I shall refer to every passage in the New Testament that hasanything at all to say about the charity work of a local congregation. I don't believe I shall omit any. If I do, it's not on purpose, and if you'll call my attention to it later, I'll be gladto add it to the list. When I read to you every scripture uponthis subject, then I know that I'm preaching the truth on this matter.
The very first reference to anything of this nature isfound in the second chapter of the book of Acts— a verygeneral statement concerning what took place in this firstchurch of Christ on earth. After about 3,000 had gladly received the word and had been baptized, the Bible says:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrineand fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wondersand signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; andsold their possessions and goods, and parted them to allmen, as every man had need."
You are aware, I am sure, that this was an unusual situation. When people had come from all over the world to the Pentecost feast at Jerusalem, they were delayed or detained therelonger than expected by the great events then occurring.Notice that they "sold their possessions and goods, and partedthem to all men, as every man had need." I call your attention to the fact that the existing need was the basis of the distribution.
BASIS OF DISTRIBUTION
This very general statement is enlarged upon in the 4thchapter of this same book and beginning with the 33rd verse:
"And with great power gave the apostles witness of theresurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them thatlacked."
There may have been some other folk in town who were hungry; there may have been some people at Jerusalem who were in need, but there were none in this church that lacked.
"For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that weresold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: anddistribution was made unto every man according as hehad need."
I call your attention again to the fact that the existing need was the basis of the distribution. They distributed to every man according to his need. If a congregation follows that pattern today, it may be taking care of one type of poorperson one time and another type the next. One year thechurch may find itself engaged in helping orphans; next yearit may find itself taking care of an invalid man who is notable to support his family, or contributing to their needs.Then again it may find itself taking care of a widow indeed. What the church does according to this principle, will be determined by the existing need. There's a big difference between starting with the existing need and starting at theother end of the line by establishing an institution and settingup a policy providing to care for a certain type of personand looking around for someone to patronize the program.Now there's a big difference between these two approaches.According to this Bible example, they began with the caseof need.
The next verses tell us about what Barnabas did in this matter, and then the 5th chapter, of course, tells about thecase of Ananias and Sapphira. They pretended that theywere giving all, but they were keeping back some and were punished for their hypocrisy. There is one verse perhaps weshould read in this connection. Peter, in rebuking Ananias,said:
"Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the HolyGhost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hastthou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast notlied unto men, but unto God."
This indicates to me that Ananias was not punished becausehe had failed to give everything he had. Peter virtually said,"Couldn't you have kept it if you had wanted to?" But he was punished because he lied about the matter; because hepretended to give all when he was not giving all.
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION
The next reference to the charity work of a congregation is found in the 6th chapter of this book:
"And in those days, when the number of the discipleswas multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Greciansagainst the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration."
I'd like for you to notice the word "daily" here. They weremaking a daily distribution. Also note how the apostleshandled this case of murmuring. They called the multitude ofthe disciples unto them and said, "It is not reason that weshould leave the word of God, and serve tables." In other words, it's not proper for us to give up our work of teaching and praying and spend our time ministering to physicalneeds.
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you sevenmen of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to theministry of the word. And the saying pleased the wholemultitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faithand of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, andNicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles:and when they had prayed, they laid their hands onthem. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to thefaith."
I read that last verse that you might note the effect ofthis plan the Jerusalem church followed. The effect was thatthe church grew very rapidly; at least this statement concerning its growth immediately follows the statement of whatthey did.
But I want you to notice this plan. They appointedseven deacons. Although the word deacon is not in this English translation, a related word, diakonia, is in the original.They appointed seven deacons, seven men whom we calldeacons, to make this daily distribution to the members ofthat congregation who were in need. So my friends here isthe plan followed by the Jerusalem church in its charity work.Members contributed into a common fund, referred to in this case as laying it at the apostles' feet, and then seven menwere appointed to distribute these goods day by day untothose who were in need among the membership of that congregation.
(Continued Next Month)
HAMARTANO, "I SIN"-NO. 4
In previous articles of this series, studies on the etymology and classical usages of hamartano were presented.Progressing historically in Greek literature, attention is nowdirected to usages of hamartano in the LXX (Septuagint).
In the canonical books of the LXX the verb hamartano is found about 170 times, and in all but 21 of these placesit is a translation of the Hebrew hatd. In the LXX the verb is used in non-ethical senses and even in the literal sense. An excellent example of the literal sense occurs in Judges 20:16:"every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss (ouk examartanontes)." Another literal usage occurs in Prov.
19:2: "also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is notgood; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth (hamartanei)."Other versions render this, "misseth his way," the apparentsignification of the verb. See also Prov. 8:35, 36; Psa. 25:8;Job 5:24.
Situation 1— You are a gospel preacher. A friend intendsto do you honor by calling you "Reverend" in the presenceof several people. Would you rebuke him before those whoheard him make the statement? try to teach him privately?or ignore the incident?
Situation 2— You attend worship on the Lord's day in a strange town as you are passing through. A woman arisesto direct the song service. Would you arise at once to object and teach? stay and participate without objection? or leaveat once and not worship that day?
PAUL'S WARNING APPLIED TODAY
In the year 60 A.D., nineteen centuries ago, Paul calledone of the ablest groups of men in the church to the sea-coast town of Miletus to give them warning. They were, of course,the elders of the church at Ephesus. I say they were ableelders for many reasons, but one verse will sustain the point.In verse 20, the apostle tells them, "and how I kept backnothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you,and have taught you publicly, and from house to house."It is little wonder that the Ephesian church had already come"into the unity of the faith" when the Ephesian letter waswritten. The purpose of the warning from he mouth of thegreat apostle to the Gentiles is known to every Bible scholar. It is different in the sense of dealing directly with the workand responsibility of elders and the relation they sustain tothe church of the Lord.
I marvel, that after 1900 years we have not learned more from this warning. Let us read the warning itself and then draw some lessons.
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock, Also of your own selves shall
men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away dis
ciples after them." Lesson number one: the scope of the warning of Paul was the scope of the authority of the elders of Ephesus. Manyother congregations in Asia needed the same warning, butit was not given to the elders at Ephesus to pass on to them.They were told to see to the "flock over the which the HolyGhost has made you overseers," no more and no less. The Elders of the church at Ephesus were not planning work andcarrying on a program that involved many congregations.I tremble to think of the scope of the warning Paul wouldneed to have given to some of the promotional mindedchurches of our time who are spending hundreds of thousandsof dollars for other churches. Just think of the things hewould need to have said. His stay at Miletus would have been extended, and one chapter would not have containedthe exhortation. It was not a case of the elders of the church at Ephesus not having the ability to see to giant programson a national and worldwide basis. The elders had been taught by Paul himself. It could not have been that Ephesus was not well located from which to launch such a program.Nor could it have been that the world was not crying forthe gospel and thousands were dying every day withouthope. Then why was the warning limited to the church, and to that alone, over which they served as elders. Just this, Godnever intended for his work to be carried on as it is beingdone by some of the large liberal congregations in the brotherhood today. The scope of the warning was the scope of the authority of the elders warned.
Lesson number two: The scope of the authority of elders is the scope of the activity of the church. If the Ephesianelders had no authority over any other congregation, thenthere is no basis for locking churches together in such organizations as the Herald of Truth and etc. It will standwithout controversy that where there is no authority, therecan be no activity.
Lesson number three: Just a few short months had passed since the greatest preacher on earth had left Ephesus but the church was already in danger. Paul declared his positive knowledge of this danger when he said, "after mydeparting shall grievous wolves enter in among you notsparing the flock." The church was in danger from the outside, and the wolves were just waiting to spoil the flock.How careful we ought to be of outside influences today. Ourpattern is not in the denominational thinking of the day, norin the human wisdom and urgency of the twentieth century,nor is it found in a headlong race to outdo the sects. Elders need to watch and remember. All of the danger to the flockis not from the outside. The church of the Lord stands in constant danger from within. The false teacher has to hisadvantage the confidence of the sheep, and who because of this, is in position to draw away disciples. Brethren "try thespirits" and test the teaching with the word of God. Toomany brethren have the idea that brethren can do no wrong;that if the church is right then anything the church does isright; that papers and colleges that have been sound in thepast are sound now regardless of what is taught and practiced. The college today that looks to the blood boughtchurch for monetary support out of its treasury is wrong. Thepaper today that seeks to mark brethren and carry on a hatecampaign against all who do not agree with its teaching andprints only one side of any controversy in which good brethren differ is wrong. When it practices such matters, it is no longer "the Old Reliable" but endangers the church of theLord. Yes, I marvel that we have not learned more from Paul's warning. Let us resolve to watch and remember.
I used to think that the idea that monkeys had changedinto man was silly. I have always hooted at the idea that onespecies could change into another. But seeing how so many"Christians" can become "Night Owls" on Saturday nightand then become "Bedbugs" on Sunday morning, I'm beginning to wonder.
o o o
"Worry is like a rocking chair: it will give you something to do— but it will not get you anywhere."
ooo
"Quitters in the church are like motors: they startsputtering before they miss, and start missing before theyquit."
ooo
It has been said that there were FIVE reasons for the fall of Rome:
- Rapid increase of divorce, undermining the home.
- Higher and higher taxes and unwise public spending
- Mad craze for pleasure— sports exciting and brutal.
4. Building gigantic armaments, when the greatestenemy was within, the decadence of the people.
5. Decay of religion, faith fading into mere form, losing
touch with life, impotent as a guiding force.(Is America following this same road?)
". . . THEY REHEARSED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM . . ."— Acts 14:27
A. C. GRIDER of Louisville, Kentucky will do thepreaching in a meeting in Palmetto, Florida, April 17-26. LESLIE E. SLOAN is the regular preacher. . . . ROBERT
C. WELCH of Nacogdoches, Texas preached in a meetingat West Hollywood, Florida church February 5-14 . . .JIMMY YOPP will begin a meeting at Academy Street church in Dixon, Tennessee, February 23 .. . FERRELL JENKINS was in a gospel meeting with the church meeting on WhitneyAvenue in Memphis, Tennessee, January 27-February 5 ... HARRY PICKUP, JR. will speak in a gospel meeting at EastHill church in Pensacola, Florida the first week in March. . . . One was baptized recently at MacDill Avenue church inTampa, Florida. COLIN WILLIAMSON is the preacher. Hewas united in marriage to Martha Jackson of Dade City,Florida, January 15.
E. L. FLANNERY and CLIFTON INMAN discussed propositions on church support of orphan homes and thechurch working through similar human institutions, and theHerald of Truth, January 16-20 at Columbus, Ohio. Goodorder prevailed and certainly much good was done for a free study of human wisdom versus Divine wisdom.
HUGH DAVIS of Lake Wales will speak at North Streetchurch in Tampa, Florida in April. PAUL ANDREWS is thelocal preacher . . . JOHN O. DILLINGHAM will soon moveto Murfreesboro, Tennessee to teach at Middle Tennessee State College, but will continue to preach for the Lanton congregation near Spring Hill, Tennessee. . . . BROOKS WEBBrecently moved from Indianapolis, Indiana to HickoryHeights church in Lewisburg, Tennessee. . . . PAUL ANDREWS of Tampa, Florida was in a meeting, singing school and teacher's training school in Arab, Alabama in January.. . . After about four years at Main Street in Shelbyville, Tennessee, HERSCHEL E. PATTON has moved to Lufkin, Texas. . . . HARRIS J. DARK is doing the preaching with the new congregation meeting in Donelson, Tennessee,known as Perry Heights. Good progress and growth is reported since its beginning. . . . CHARLES A. HOLT hasdone a fine work in the Florence, Alabama area and has recently moved to Wichita Falls, Texas. He is a staff writer for the Gospel Guardian.
The Westvue church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee is providing a radio program over WMTS in that city in which
W. H. LEWIS is preaching on New Testament passagesdealing with benevolence. . . . HAROLD HOWARD ofAcademy Street church in Dickson, Tennessee was in a gospel meeting February 16-19 at Westside church in Ken-nett, Missouri. . . . GLENN SHUEMAKER preached inJanuary in a meeting at Havendale church in Winter Haven,Florida. . . . B. G. HOPE of the 12th Street church in Bowling Green, Kentucky will be the speaker in a gospelmeeting at Tenth Avenue church in Bradenton, FloridaMarch 5-15. . . . EARL FLY of Belmont Heights church inTampa, Florida closed a meeting at Ninth Avenue church inSt . Petersburg, Florida, January 22. JAMES NEEDHAM is the regular preacher with this church. .. . A new congregation began meeting in Fairdale, Kentucky, January 1. JosephCox is working with this new church. . . . J. P. MILLER will begin a meeting March 19 at the Downtown church inLawrenceburg, Tennessee. E. L. FLANNERY is the regularpreacher.
James P. Miller, Tampa, Fla.— The meeting the first ofFebruary with the Diston Avenue congregation in St. Petersburg resulted in 5 additions with enthusiastic audiences. James R. Cope has been working with this fine old congregation for the last five years. He followed the beloved W. A.Cameron in the work. Sister Cameron still meets with the church and is greatly respected by the entire membership. Inthe last year the building has been completely redone with a large annex added to the auditorium. This was used every night of the meeting with the exception of Friday nightwhen a rain kept some away from the services. Brother Copehas become the object of the affection that had to be given up at the death of Brother Cameron about a year ago. Thelast two nights of the meeting were devoted to a discussionof the dangers that face the church in our time. These twoservices drew some of the largest crowds of the meeting.
NEW AUDITORIUM AT F.C.C.
Those attending the lecture series at FCC this year willbe edified in the new auditorium finished this fall on the campus. New opera seats of the most comfortable kind arebeing installed as this is being written. This pleasant and commodious setting will be a far cry from the lectures ofpast years. Some years the speakers gave their instructionunder a large tent. One or two of the years this worked outin a wonderful way and the Florida weather lived up to itsreputation, but in other years it was a different story. Cold and rain would cut the attendance. Chamberlain High School granted the use of its auditorium for the lectures, but thiswas off the campus and not convenient for the night sessions.Last year the lobby and reception rooms of the girls dormatory were used and although this seated several hundred, itwas not very desirable. How happy all will be, therefore, thisyear to find a beautiful auditorium with comfortable seats inwhich to enjoy the fine lessons that will be given.
JPM
ROBERT PRESSNELL is preaching for the East Florence, Alabama church. In June BARNEY KEITH, now with the University Heights church in Lexington, Kentucky, will move to Florence to preach for the East Florence church.CURTIS FLATT is now preaching for a new congregationmeeting in Florence, Alabama. Those composing the newcongregation are from Poplar Street church where brotherFlatt has been for several years. They are off to a fine startand have some of the finest Christians in the Florence area. HORACE HARTSELL is the preacher for the new congregation in Gainesville, Florida, known as North East church. This is a fine congregation of willing workers and standingfirm for the truth. This church is composed largely of formermembers of University Avenue church in Gainesville. Theyare temporarily meeting on South Main Street. . . . EARL DOWDY is doing a fine work with the Melrose, Floridachurch. . . . HARRY PICKUP, SR. of Tampa, Florida begana meeting in Floral City February 19. Pickup is Public Relations Director at Florida Christian College.
EARL FLY of the Belmont Heights church in Tampa,Florida is leaving that work to begin with the Holden Heights church in Orlando, Florida, February 20. ROY NEAL willpreach for the Belmont Heights church from that date.MARSHALL PATTON has been the fine preacher for theHolden Heights church for several years and is now withthe Par Avenue church of Orlando. He is the Question-Answer man for SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. . . . HERBERT THORNTON is now with the small church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His address is 4270 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge,La. .. . FRANKLIN T. PUCKETT is soon to move to Dyers-burg, Tennessee. He has been with the Thayer Street churchin Akron, Ohio for several years. . . . THOMAS KICKEY is now preaching for the Central church in Owensboro, Kentucky. . . . EVERETT MANN preaches for Henderson Blvd.in Tampa, Florida and JAMES WALKER is the song director. This congregation is breaking records in attendanceand reports 1 baptized, 5 placed membership and 1 restoredrecently.
We would appreciate your sending us bulletins from your area that we may report the news from your section.
MILLER-VAUGHN DEBATE
James P. Miller of Tampa and Ray Vaughn of Orlandowill meet in public debate February 27, 28 and March 1, 2 at the Howard Junior High School auditorium in Orlando,Florida. The propositions to be discussed in this four nightdiscussion will be the Oneness of the Godhead, Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Divine Miracles in This Age. Mr. Vaughnis highly respected by his own people and is consideredamong their best debaters. He has met our brethren insimilar discussions before. He is a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Orlando. James P. Miller is a nationally known debater and has had discussions with almostevery kind of religious preacher. A few years ago he metMorris B. Book of the Christian Church in Orlando on the subject of Instrumental Music in Worship. This debate is inprinted form and may be obtained from Phillips Publications,
P. O. Box 9095, Tampa 4, Fla.
In considering the theory of organic evolution two wordsalways find their way into the discussion. They are very different yet at times are not made so by those who use them. The words are: mutation and transmutation. Let us define each of them. Mutation may be defined as a sudden changeor variation in which the offspring will differ from its parentsin one or more well marked characters. Transmutation is defined as the converting or changing of one element into another. These words are more fully defined in any standarddictionary.
Mutation has been studied in many animals. Probablythe most widely used in such investigations has been thefruit fly. It can be easily demonstrated that mutations dooccur and that they can and do produce various changes incharacteristics of the animal. The genes which are the factors of inheritance are the parts affected. Some of these genes willbe altered or destroyed in some way and the offsprings willdiffer from the parents in eye color, wing form and numbers of other variations. Even though these changes in characteroccur and are passed on the fruit fly still remains a fruit fly.
It is true that these mutations are likely to encourage earlydeath in the offsprings rather than to benefit them. Now, if these offsprings of fruit flies were not fruit flies but common house flies, grasshoppers or honey bees this would betransmutation. I know this is silly by any kind of reasoning,but in order for transmutation to occur something like thiswould have to take place since the word means to change from one thing into another. As far as any records show sucha thing has never occurred.
This presents a problem for the organic evolutionist.According to theory life came about when, in some way, a single simple cell was formed. Over millions of years thiscell gave rise to a more complex organism and eventuallythrough these changes man was produced. All of this froma single cell! This would require transmutation. Thesechanges from one organism to another different one could not be brought about by mere mutation and as far as manhas been able to observe and/or demonstrate a transmutationhas never occurred.
Beware lest you be mislead by those who have their"facts" based upon an impossibility in an effort to explainaway the God who created all things.
COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR
"You have done an excellent job with the paper. I rejoicethat you are willing to do such a work and that I can have asmall part."— Rufus R. Clifford, Nashville, Tenn.
"Continue to enjoy your articles"— Thomas G. O'Neal, Jasper, Ala.
"I just received the November issue of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES and am enjoying it very much. I have receivedevery copy of it. I think definitely it is filling a place in helping brethren think and arrive at the truth. I wish for you andbrother Miller much success in this endeavor."— Earl Robertson, Indianapolis, Ind.
"I also want to let you know we enjoy very much reading SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. Nothing can take the place of the TRUTH."-Morris W. Ford, Miami, Fla.
".. . I have been delighted with the paper thus far andfeel that it must surely have done a great deal of good."—Hugh Davis, Lake Wales, Fla.
"We enjoy our copy of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES everymonth and we are glad to see another first-class periodicalbloom in the ranks of men who oppose departures from thetruth as is characteristic of many churches of Christ today.I am trying to interest brethren in this area in SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES SO maybe we can help a bit more in expanding the subscribers list. Be strong in the Lord and in the strengthof his might."— Charles Boshart, Rogers, Ark.
"I continue to read with a great deal of interest SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. I think you are doing an excellent job with the publication."— Jimmy Tuten, Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
"We enjoy your paper and think it is doing good."—Harris J. Dark, Nashville, Tenn.
"Allow me to take this opportunity to commend yourpublication, SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. .. . It is not difficult to determine that the paper will be an asset to the cause of truth, just from reading the one copy. And, knowing thereputation of those connected with the paper, I believe every issue will fulfill our expectations."— P. J. Casebolt, Akron, Ohio.
"I have enjoyed SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES SO verymuch. The attitude is wonderful, and the truth is taught.Thanks so very much."— Mrs. Justus Shull, Louisville, Ky.
"Please accept my sincere thanks for the January issue ofSEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. Naturally I have received many good things from previous issues, but the January issue to me
was like a hearty meal for a hungry soul."— J. F. Farley,Tampa, Fla. "I enjoy the paper very much and I believe it will dogood."— Gene E. Watson, Lynn Grove, Ky.
BOOKS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN
PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS
P. O. Box 9095 Tampa 4, Florida
BOOKS FOR SALE
Scriptural Elders & Deacons (Phillips) ____________ $ 4.00 Book-Miller Debate (Instrumental Music) .. . 2.50 Identity Of The Church (Cook-Miller Debate) ... 2.00 More Than Conquerors (Hendriksen on Revelation) 3.50 Peloubet's Bible Dictionary ------------------------------------4.00 What Is Wrong With Modern Marriage? (Phillips) .75 What Is The Church Of Christ? (Phillips) .... . .25 Sermons By Pickup (Harry Pickup, Sr.) _______________ 3.00 Johnson's New Testament Notes (2 vols.) ----------------------6.00 Attitudes & Consequences (Homer Hailey) 2.75 Let's Go Fishing For Men (Homer Hailey) ... 2.50 Restoration Readings (O. J. Swinney) ___________ . 2.00
FRANKLIN ROAD LECTURE SERIES
Delivered in Nashville, Tenn., October, 1959 Vol. I Give Us A King (Harris J. Dark) _____________ $ .20 Vol. II Contending For The Faith and The Organization of The Church (Charles M. Campbell) _______________ ... .20 Vol. Ill Speaking As The Oracles Of God (Irven Lee) ________ .-.. .20 Vol. IV The All-Sufficiency Of The Bible
(E. L. Flannery) _________________________ .20 Vol. V Divisions, Who Is Responsible? (James P. Miller) ..... .... __________ .20 Vol. VI According To The Pattern (Stanley J. Lovett) _______________________ .20 Vol. VII Church Cooperation (Cecil B. Douthitt) ______________________ ____ .20 Vol. VIII The Glorious Church And Its Purpose (Curtis Porter) ________ ..... _______ .20 Vol. IX The Care Of The Needy (Herschel Patton) ________________________ ______ .20
Vol. X The Individual Christian's Responsibility (Bennie Lee Fudge) .... .20 Vol. XI When Should One Change? (James A. Allen)________ _____ ________ .20
Only a few copies of the bound volume of South-eastern News Letter are left. This volume contains every issue of Southeastern News Letter— March, 1958 to December, 1959— which is a news record of churches, elders and preachers generally in the Southeast. The price is $1.00. We will send one copy free to all who send us three (3) subscriptions to SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. If you just want a copy of the News Letter send us your name and $1.00 now. There are not many left.
$83,000 ORPHAN HOME HAS NO CHILDREN
We give below the most of an article whichappeared as here quoted in the Houston Post on January 14th under a date line of Palestine, Texas. An abbreviated report of the same article appeared in the
Lubbock Avalanche Journal. The reason we give the article from the Houston Post is because it states the cause of the lack of applications for entrance into the home, whereas the one from Lubbock Ava-lanche does not give the wholestatement. There is some information here that is not generally known and we think it is deliberatelysuppressed. "PALESTINE— Two months after opening forbusi-ness, the Cartmell Home for Children here is still awaiting the arrival of its first orphanresident. "In fact, there have been no applications orin-quiries received regarding admission since thehome's board of directors announced Nov. 8th that it had been licensed to operate a home fororphans. "The new $83,000 brick cottage, with facilities for caring for 15 youngsters, has been lockedalmost from the day it was completed in thesouthwest section of Palestine. A house mother was on the payroll for three months, but becamediscouraged and resigned when weeks passedwithout an inquiry from prospective resi-dents. "The home for children was provided in the will of the late Miss Sara E. J. Cartmell, Palestine philanthro-pist, who left the bulk of an oil-rich estate to the people of Texas when she died in1949. ". . . The wording of Miss Cartmell's will ispointed out by Royce Thompson, former FBIagent who man-ages the homes and estate, as thechief reason for the absence of applications to the children's home. "The will stipulated that admissions must beneg-lected and destitute orphans. Thompson saida check with other children's institutions revealed that 95 per cent of their residents come frombroken homes. Only about 5 per cent are orphans in the true sense of the word, he said. "Our board has not given up, although we are yet to receive an inquiry concerning admission, the at-torney said. We are proud of the facilitieswe have to offer. Maybe the word we're ready to operate hasn't gotten to the right people yet."
— From The Defender
taken from A. Hugh Clark, in Caprock Bulletin, Lubbock, Texas
One reason so many children are seen on thestreets at night is that they are afraid to stay home alone.
BOOK-MILLER DEBATE
"Instrumental Music In Worship"
Morris Butler Book, Christian Church and James
P. Miller, church of Christ, discussinginstrumental music in worship. As many as 1500 people heard some ses-sions of this debate.Many competent observers say it is the bestdiscussion of music in worship available.
Price -$2.50