THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH - No. 1

Leslie E . Sloan, Jasper, Ga.

In Ephesians 5:25-27 Paul said: "Husbands, loveyour wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and withoutblemish."

Here Paul emphasizes the responsibility of members of the body of Christ is establishing and maintaining this required state of purity. Jesus Christ is coming back to receive a church that is pure, not only in conduct, but also in every aspect of its operations and functions. If Christ does not return during this generation, then we should consider our responsibility in this matter with regard to ourpresentation of the church to the next generation.

THE CHURCH MUST BE KEPT PURE IN WORSHIP

Man was created a worshipful being. This nature in man has caused him to worship something inevery age. However, the fact that man worships something is a far cry from what God demands. Jesus said, "it is written, Thou shalt worship theLord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." So this passage establishes the object of our worship

— God. But God must be worshipped in the right way. Jesus said, "God is a Spir it, and they thatworship him must do so in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This expression establishes authority for what we can do in worship. The New Testament, the truth, or the gospel must be accepted as the divine document that governs our worship. Listen to Paul: "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son" (Rom. 1:9). Thus to worship in truth is to worship according to thedirections of the gospel. Anything else constitutes vain worship (Matt. 15:8-9). Many impurities could be mentioned that characterize worship in manyplaces today, such as: instrumental music beingplayed, women speaking in the public assembly, omitting the Lord's supper on Lord's day, burning incense, counting beads, etc. Any or all of these things corrupt the worship and make it vain.

THE CHURCH MUST BE KEPT PURE IN NAME

The church is the Bride of Christ (Rom. 7:1-4).

The church belongs to Him. Why call it after another? Someone said, "why call it the church ofChrist?" Simply because that is what it is, and weshould call things what they are. Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18).T hus, it is His. Why call it something else if it is His? Nobody would be guilty of calling his businesssome other name. Jesus built the church; He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28); He is the foundation of it (Eph. 1:22-23), and He gave Himself for it. Now, in light of all these things, why inthe name of all that is decent and r ight will menrefer to the church by some human, unscriptural name that has no reference to Christ? It is nothingshort of religious profanity and shows a lack of respect for God's word. John the baptist never built any church and John was already dead when Jesus promised to build His chur ch ( Matt. 16:18). Solet us not be guilty of calling the church that it is not.

THE CHURCH MUST BE KEPT PURE IN DOCTRINE

Some speak as if the church had authority todecide what it will or will not teach. T he question is asked: "What does your church teach?" They are more interested in what some church teaches than what the Bible teaches. The doctrine of the church must be the teaching of the Bible. But in manychurches, the Bible cannot be taught, the words of Jesus are out of place. When the preacher decides that he is going to teach the gospel as it is without addition or subtraction, he is no longer useful tothe denominational cause. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). T his is the Commission that He gave tobe pr eached in all the wor ld, and is to last untilthe end of the world. But many churches refuse to teach it because they (for one reason or another) do not believe it. Yet they expect honest people tobelieve they are following the Bible. How absurd! Churches corrupt their worship by unscriptural innovations; they glorify men and not God bywearing unscriptural names; they lead thousands of people down the road to hell all because they do not believe the doctrine of Christ. The only way to have a pure church is to preach the pure doctrine. No denomination preaches the doctrine of Christ. You give the name of the denomination and I willtell you what error it teaches.

The only way the church can be kept pure is for it to respect and obey the pur e word of God.

CHURCHES SHOULD NOT BE BOUND TOGETHER

(The following article appeared in the GospelAdvocate of December 3, 1931, page 1500, by F.

B. Srygley under the above heading. Liberalists tell us today that such was never taught untiabout 15 years ago.)

* * *

Every New Testament church was a completebody within itself and was independent of all other churches. No church had any authority over anyother. The work of the elders stopped at the church in which they lived and labored. These elders had no authority to take charge of the missionary moneyor any other money or means of any church exceptthe one over which they were "overseers." Each church was complete within and of itself. The Baptists talk much about church independence and thebind churches together in a ociations, conventions,and other denominational organizations unknown tothe New-Testament. It will be remembered that some time ago Mr. Freeman, of the Baptist and Reflector, made a great ado over the fact that hethought he had found a restaurant in the Central church of Christ here in Nashville — while it turned out to be a restaurant in the church property, run by an individual without profit, for the benefit ofthe poor and needy. But if it had been, as he claimed, run by the Central Church and entirely unscriptural, it could have injured no church except the Central Church that was running it. This shows the wisdom of God in making every local church independent of all other local churches. I told Mr. Freeman at the time he had better be looking after his Baptist denomination. I knew then that if itwas an unscr iptural thing the Baptist denomination needed his attention worse than the Central church of Christ, even if it was wrong in the matter of feeding the hungry. Mr. Freeman made thepoint that the restaurant at the Central Church paid no taxes, and yet it competed with men in therestaurant business who had to pay taxes. I toldhim the Baptist denominational printing house here in Nashville paid no taxes, and yet it competed withother printing companies that paid taxes; but, evenafter all my effort to correct him, he made no apology to the Central Church or to the public for his religious prejudice. Now, I want to call Mr. Freeman's attention to the fact that the Central church of Chr ist has never had a public swimming poowhere men and women go in the water with little on except their birthday suits. T he following recently

appeared in the Daily News-Journal, a secular paper in Murfreesboro, Tenn.:

New Pool Grows in Popularity; Is Social Center

The Tennessee College swimming pool is rapidlybecoming one of the most popular places in the cityand each day and night crowdsthrong the new pool

It is sanitary in every respect, this being a ured by the water drained out and the pool thoroughlycleaned twice weekly. A disinfectant is used when the pool is cleaned, making it doubly certain that it will be absolutely sanitary. A Nashville inspector, after a recent inspection of the pool, declared his highest approval of it.

Many persons, who formerly went to the river,now seek relief from the hot weather at the college,pool — not only from a standpoint of conveniencand sanitation, but persons may enter the pool foabout the same money that is used for gas in transporting them to the river.The pool is also becoming the center of many social activities, as almost daily swimming parties are held there. Excellent protection at all times is assured children and those who do not know how to swim, as lifeguards remain on duty every minutthe pool is open. The new swimming place is a real asset to the recreational life in Murfreesboro, and deserves and is receiving the heartiest of support,

* * *

This pool is owned by the Tennessee College, Baptist school for women. This puts Mr. Freeman in the awkward position of condemning a restaurant to feed the poor because he thought it belonged to thCentral church of Christ, while being part owner of a college that operates a swimming pool for mixebathers. If this college is owned by the Baptists of Tennessee, then Mr. Freeman is part owner of it,for he is a Baptist of Tennessee. As far as I know he has offered no objections to it; but if he did, he could not escape ownership if he belongs to the Baptist denomination and it owns it. This shows the danger and troublesof denominationalism. Surely Mr. Free

man will not undertake the defense of public swim

ming pools. He cannot defend them on the question

of modesty. "In like manner also, that women adorn

themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness

and sobriety" (I Tim. 2:9). This does not say the

should adorn themselves "in modest apparel" at all

times except when they are patronizing a Baptist

swimming pool. "Oh," but they say, "times have

changed," and so they have; but the word of God is

the same. Immodest, unadorned men and women to

gether in the same hole of water are the same in

some respects as they were in Paul's day. Wil

Brother Freeman speak out against this crying evi

that has even broken out in one of his Baptist schools? This condition should show my brethren who are

trying to be only Christians the evils of denomina

tionalism. Churches should never be tied together,

even in as good a work as preaching the gospel to

the heathens. Elders of one church should not try to

get hold of the money that has been contributed b

others to direct for them in foreign fields or other

places. No mi ionary society should be started b

elders of a church or by any individual. We should

have no one-man missionary society. Churches

should not be tied together to support schools or

homes for the aged or for any other purpose. * * *

(Not only have liberal brethren tied churches together to support schools, homes for the aged,

and other purposes, but they have also provided

the swimming pools and party halls that

brother Srygley spoke of as practiced by th

Baptist college in T ennessee. Yet they say,

"We have not changed!")

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Persecution has always been a bitter trial for the saints of the Lord. We are told in the New Testament that the Godly would be persecuted and historyis filled with the truth of this prophesy. When the persecution and oppression comes from one's own brethren it causes me to marvel. I can not understand why brethren would use the very harassments that they and their fathers have been subject to andhave cried out against. In places where the liberal brethren are in great number they are using every means they know to keep brethren from hearing thetruth. Following the same course the Roman Catholics follow where they have the power and the Baptist in certain states of the south, our own brethren threaten their people and even spy on them to keepthe truth on the all-sufficiency of the church, thdanger of youth camps, colleges, play halls and other digressive practices from reaching their ears. Look at some of their methods.

THE THREAT OF WITHDRAWAL

This affliction is now being used in Western Kentucky to keep brethren from attending sound congregations. Churches that have not withdrawn from any one in a generation now send a spy to see if oneof the members attend a sound congregation's meeting and promptly withdraw from him. As is to beexpected the preacher is usually the spy. Just thinkabout it for a moment, some in these churches attend the services of a denomination every other time with a wife or husband and they have never withdrawn from them, but if they go to hear the pure gospel, out they go. Not only is this true, but thehave closed their eyes to every kind of sin, to fornication, adultery, theft, drunkenness and reviling andhave not as much as suggested that such brethren should be marked, but with the zeal as Saul of oldthey are ready to put the mark of Cain on a brother who believes the church is the fullness of God. They use the first half of Romans 16:17 as a pretext and never read the last half of the verse at all. The last half of the 17th verse says the ones that are causingdivision are teaching and practicing things contraryof the doctrine of the apostles. They need to use the verse all right but to apply it to themselves or findwhere the church of the Lord was ever taught by the apostles to do its work through human institutions. The oldest orphan home among us was started in1908 and this is too late for it to be the doctrine of the apostles of Christ. Brethren of another decade stood like a wall against putting the colleges in thebudget of the churches and taking the money thabelonged to the Lord and buy footballs. T he thingthat is contrary to the doctrine the Roman brethren had received is the very thing that has been added in the last few years. Just a few short years ago brethren would have thrown up their hands at thethought of the churches operating a youth camand calling it the obligation and work of the church that is designed to save souls. Some one has left the doctrine that the brethren in the New Testament had received but it is not the one who calls for the safe course to be followed. These brethren need to read and study, the last half of Romans 16:17.

THE THREAT OF LOSS OF JOB

It is almost unbelievable that any man who evenremotely knows the teaching of Chr ist wouldthreaten his brother with the loss of his job if hinsisted on scriptural authority for all of these digressive practices. How little he knows of the practice of pure religion. Is it any wonder that the bloodbought church of Christ is being pulled away from the old Jerusalem gospel. I marvel that such a thingcan happen in America. We have come to expectsuch persecution in Russia and Italy but not in free land. Sound brethren faced with such a situation had just as well decide, here and now that they are going to put the truth before ever ything else on this earth. If standing for the truth means the loss of my job then I will look for another position. We have many a urances in the word of God. Jesus told us to put the Kingdom before everything else and promised it would be worthwhile and Paul assures us in Romans 8:28 that all things work forour good. Brethren, stand for what you believe regardless of the cost. Pray for those who under the guise of Christ seek to destroy you. Your job is not worth your soul.

THE THREAT OF EARTHLY TIES

The third type of persecution is to threaten theChristian who teaches our need for scriptural authority with the loss of the love and fellowship oloved ones. In most families this means so much. Yet,if we will just stop a moment and think the Lord warned us of this very thing. Christ through his teaching sometimes sets son against father and mother against daughter and we are told plainly talways put Jesus first regardless of the ties of this earth. How hot the fires of hell for those who work their evil in causing an aged mother to turn against her daughter or a father against his son simply because they wanted to be safe and right in matters religious. Guilty of no greater crime than to insist on chapter and verse for orphan homes, colleges and hospitals built and supported by the church built by

Christ. Guilty of no greater crime than to insist that

we follow the safe and sure way in all things. How

tied they must be to the institutions built by men

and unknown to the word of God.

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QUESTION — Why did Jesus tell his disciples not

to tell the vision of the transfiguration to any man ?

(Matt. 17:9). What was in this vision that should

not be proclaimed to anyone?— J.L. ANSWER — The prohibition against telling whathey saw was limited to a point in time, hence, thqualifying phrase: "until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." The time limit involved theaccomplishment of a fact that would afford all theworld conclusive proof of His deity, namely, His resurrection. The fact of His deity — that He was

the Christ, the Messiah — is the what in the vision they were not to proclaim — that is, not yet! When Peter confessed "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the

living God" in Caesarea Philippi, our Lord "chargedhis disciples that they should tell no man that hewas Jesus the Christ" (Matt. 16:20). The time was not yet full for the public proclamation of this fact. Furthermore, the time would not be full for such aproclamation until the very foundation fact upowhich Christianity depends, in its final analysis, was accomplished — namely, the resurrection.

Paul declares that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are the cardinal facts of the gospel(I Cor. 15:1-4). Again, in the Roman letter Paul shows that the resurrection is the very pivot owhich everything in the realm of Christianity turns. Of Christ he said that He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit ofholine , by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:4). It all depends upon it! Did He arise, or did He not arise ? this is the question! "But if there be noresurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preachingvain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead r ise not. For if thedead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope iChrist, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that sleep" (I Cor. 15:13-20)

His resurrection was a matter of prophecy (Psm.

16:8; Acts 2:27). Had they proclaimed Him as the

Christ before the resurrection became an accom

plished fact, they could have been challenged i

these words: "Has He died?" No! "Has He been

buried?" No! "Has He been raised from the grave?"

No! "Then what conclusive proof have ye?" They

simply had to wait until all the evidence was in.

It matters not that He lived without sin, if He

arose not from the grave. It matters not that He

performed miracles, if He had not power over hades.

It matters little that He died and shed His blood, ifHe did not triumph over the tomb. But thanks beunto God, He arose a victor from the dark domainand planted the sweet rose of immortality on thegrave. He arose! He arose! And thereby He proved conclusively that He is the Christ. Now, it can beproclaimed to all the world and established beyondall doubt. All the evidence is in. Peter preached it as a fact on Pentecost (Acts 2:24-36).

Those who hold that the New Testament order of things — that the church was established; that remi ion of sins in the name of Christ was preached and received; that New Testament ble ings were enjoyed during the personal ministry of Jesus would do well to ponder the above facts. That hour was the time of preparation (Matt. 3:1-3; 10:5-7); atime for gathering and piling up evidence (John 20:30,31). The New Testament order was not inaugurated until Pentecost (Heb. 9:16,17; Acts 2).Until then they could not even preach Him as the Christ!

CATHOLIC ADMISSIONS ... COPIED FROM A CATHOLIC HISTORY BOOK

The following excerpts are taken from a two volume work entitled: "The Public and Private History of the Popes of Rome, From the Earliest Period to the Present Time," by Louis Marie de Cormenin. It was translated from the French and published inthe United States in the year 1846. T he copy twhich I have access was formerly in the convent library of the Sisters of St. John the Divine, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Although the author was a Roman Catholic, hdid not allow his religious profession to blind him to some of her failings. In fact, the author even accepted as factual the legend of the 'Popess Joan' as if she had actually existed .. . a fable which we ourselves do not believe to be true. Although we donot, therefore, accept all his statements, neverthele , we feel that considerable credence may be placedin his writings wherein legends, myths, and traditions are not primary factors to be weighed

We copy as follows:

"During the reign of Tiberius appeared a man, the son of Mary, called Christ. The nations were plungedin ignorance; the law of Moses was obscured by human traditions; the morals of the Israelites, and othose of other people, were in a like degree of corruption. This man, all extraordinary, all divine, dinot content himself with mourning over the humanrace. He preached, he dogmatized, he taught a code of severe morality, opposed to the corrupt maximsof the age.

* * * *

"The disciples of Christ did not employ force to cause men to receive their precepts; on the contrary,they were persecuted in all ways, and their preaching, aided by their example, made the most rapid progress.

"They persecuted the man of God. They pursued him with a fury equal to the seal with which he bore witness against vice; and he terminated his divine mission by an infamous punishment.

"The first Christians were distinguished by thenames of brethren, — holy, faithful; they were humble, obscure, and poor, working with their own hands for their subsistence. They spread themselves secretly in peace; some went to Rome, mixed uamong the Jews, to whom the Romans permitted the exercise of their worship in their synagogue

"It was towards the year 60 of our era, that thChristians commenced separating themselves from the Jewish communion . . . Many churches were formed, and the separation became complete between the Jews and Christians.

"In the first age the apostles and their successors concealed themselves in the catacombs of Rome, wandering about in the villages and caverns. The popeshad not yet an episcopal throne; they did not stepupon the heads of kings; they did not yet overthrowempires.

"The alms of the Neophytes (new converts,L.W.M.), rendered the place of the bishops in thegreat cities very lucrative; their credit extended itself, because of their wealth; their insolence and audacity increased in a like proportion, and their formidable power raised itself by a deception of thepeople (Pages 5-6.)

** * * 'There is nothing positive in the first ages concerning the pontifical see. The chronology of authors is full of astonishing variations, and there is no uniformity among them in relation to the order of succession of the first bishops of Rome. The wisest partis to follow the opinions which make St. Linus the successor of the apostle Peter, in the government of the church. (Please note: 'nothing positive,' 'full ofastonishing variations,' 'no uniformity' as to succession of bishops of Rome. Author admits they follo'OPINIONS'. L.W.M.) (Page 19.)

** * *

"If we can believe the pontifical books, St. Linus was of Tuscan origin, and his father was named Hereulan. He was invested with the apostolical ministryin the same period as St. Peter, which is an irrefutable truth, that the apostle was not the sole bishopof Rome, and COULD NOT PRETEND TO THETITLE OF UNIVERSAL BISHOP." (Emphasis mine, L.W.M., pp. 19).

** * *

"The succession of St. Clet or Anaclet (the "3rd Pope") is very uncertain . . . The actions of this bishop are concealed in profound obscurity .. . St. Luke, the author of an evangelical book and the Acts of the Apostles, lived at this epoch, and his writings teach us, was married. But the bishops of Rome have falsified the text of Scripture, in order to destroy anauthority so imposing, in favor of the marriage of priests . . . Seven hundred years after the death of this bishop, a knave advised them to attribute to him the decretals which we yet possess." (Page 20.)

** * *

"T he life of Clement (the "4th Pope") is found in the so-called constitutions of the apostles; but these works are not authentic, although they contain some truths which are imbibed from the traditions of the first ages . .

"The great reputation of Saint Clement has caused them to attribute to him all the wr itings which are esteemed the most ancient, after the canonical Scriptures, and which have no certain author. They still produce in his name five pontifical letters . . . But all are apocryphal, as well as the canons of the apostles and the apostolic constitutions, whichare a collection of all the discipline of the church . .." (Page 21.)

* * * *

"Many authors suppose St. Chet and St. Anaclet to have been two different popes who have found aplace in the calendar as martyrs. They rest this uponthe opinion of the Greeks, who have always preserved the name of Anaclet or Anenclet, whilst theLatins have kept that of Clet. Other historians, onthe contrary, give two names to one and the same pope. But as it is impo ible to arrive at the truth with positive certainty, in this case, we will shun discu ion, and follow the usually received opinion ..

"Three decretals are produced in the name of St.Anaclet, which are evidently supposititious, as are all those attributed to his successors up to the timeof Siricus. Different writers have demonstrated this falsity, and Father Pagi has supported their reasoning with much force and ability. The author of this hypothesis, who is concealed under the name of Isidore Mercator, or Le Marchand, remains unknown ... " (Siricus was the 40th 'pope.' He allegedlyreigned beginning in 384 A.D. L.W.M.) (Page 24.

Concerning St. Evaristus, the '6th pope' who allegedly became bishop of Rome in the year 112 A.D., we quote: "Very uncertain traditions attribute to himthe establishment of new institutions, which were not, however, introduced into the church until succeeding ages" (Page 25).

KANON, "Rule": No. 2

In cla ical literature the noun kanon denotes, literally, "a straight rod," "a bar"; especially, one used to keep a thing straight. Some of these literal uses have been seen; others may now be noted.

"CARPENTER'S LINE"

Kanon is used in passages where the meaning is a ruddled line used by masons or carpenters. A striking example of this occurs in Xenophon. We have, "If line and rule (kanon) are a noble discovery of manas aids to the production of good work, I think thatthe virtue of Agesilaus may well stand as a noble example for those to follow who wish to make moral goodness a habit." Agesilaus, x. 2. In this same sense the noun occurs simply to mean "ruler." Aristotle speaks of a flexible rule (kanon) that cannot be de

pended upon for measurement. Ethica Nicomachea 1137b 31.

VARIOUS LITERAL USES

It would become rather tedious to cite lengthquotations containing further literal uses of kanon in cla ical literature. Suffice it to say that one mayfind the word in passages where the following meanings are intended :"curtain-rod," "reeds of a wind-organ," "poles on which to suspend shields," "amonochord, an ancient musical instrument," "the cro -bar of a lyre."

FIGURATIVE USES

Turning from the strictly literal meaning of kanon,we may observe the metaphorical meaning, which is, generally, "a rule," "a standard."

Kanon frequently occurs in passages where it denotes a rule or standard of law. It is often so used in Aristotle.

In Plinius kanon is used in reference to a statue by Polyclitus which furnished a model of proportions. Hist. Nat. 34.55.

"GENERAL RULE"

In the language of the grammarians kanon denoted a general rule. Sometimes the term was used to denote a metrical scheme showing all po ible forms of a verse.

"TABLE OF DATES"

In astronomy and chronology kanon was used to denote a table of dates. This use occurs in Plutarch's

Solon 27. In the same connection the term sometimes

denotes a system, of chronology, and "an astrologicaltable."

NURTURE AND ADMONITION

Children need food, clothing, and shelter, and they are unable to provide these things themselves. It is at this point that a place of importance can bfound for a father. He is to provide for his own, especially for those of his own house. It is a very satisfying feeling one has when he feels needed. There are those that need him. He is important. He is needed (I Timothy 5:8)

It is difficult to pay all the bills, but there are

other difficult and important tasks for fathers. Each

child has a soul. E ach child is capable of becoming

a saint in the true and scriptural sense, and eac

child is also capable of becoming a reprobate. Train

ing makes the difference. "Ye fathers, provoke not

your children to wrath: but bring them up in the

nurture and admonition of the Lord." Souls live on

after the body has gone back to the dust, so this

training (nurture and admonition) is more precious

than body care. Money buys things that children

need, but children also have needs that money can

not supply. Parents who lack faith, character, love and patience cannot adequately supply these needseither. Do you feel pangs of distress in learning thatmany children suffer from lack of spiritual food?They need the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby. Why, do you suppose, are there so many careless parents in the matter of spiritual training? Some who "seem to be religious" neglecttheir children's spiritual welfare (Ephesians 6:4)

There is no substitute for Bible knowledge and noway to gain it without using time. Study, teaching, and learning are good words. There are adults who have known the sacred writings since the earlydays of childhood. Repetition, early efforts, regularity of study, simplicity, patience, and more andmore repetition are words that may be used to describe the efforts of successful parents and grandparents. Eunice and Lois started early in the lifof Timothy, and they often repeated the same stories. They reminded him of the things he forgot. In their sight their task was important. We say these things because they succeeded. T hey may have had nmoney to leave T imothy, but they left him an unfeigned faith. T hey saw to it that he was well informed in the most important of all information—that which could make him wise unto salvation (II Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15).

Some say that they love their little ones too much to punish them. Such parents find it a grievous task to discipline, so they allow the children to grow uwithout learning the great and wonderful lesson ofobedience. If we would see the children be partakers of His holiness and bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness, we should chasten them while there ishope. The task may not be joyous, but love anunderstanding demand it. A man qualified as anelder in the Lord's church is an example we can follow. He is to have his children in subjection withall gravity. His children are not to be unruly. Hemust learn how "know how" to rule his house. He is what all Chr istian men should determine to be as fathers (Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; I Timothy 3:4,5; Titus 1:6)

Unholy environment may destroy the good influ

ence of worthy efforts at training. Evil companion

ships, filthy communication, and other thorns of evil

in wayside soil can prevent a harvest of good things.

If we are determined as we should be to see the

children nurtured and admonished in the way of the

Lord, we will take special interest in the compan

they keep. Unguided children fall in with the un

godly and sinners and ultimately find themselves

sitting in the seat of the scornful. Birds of a

feather flock together. Do you want your son to be

like his present associates ? Then get him into better company (I Corinthians 15:33)

Homes can be a gathering place for fine companions. Those who entertain the public as a way of earning money tend to build and maintain gathering places for the unguided loafers. Beware! Let us teach our children to go out for quality rather than for popularity with the big numbers. Purity, character, or good behavior count in friends. Look forthe best for your children and not for the greatest number. All of us should take heed what we hear. Of course, we should hear much about the word oftruth (Mark 4:23,24)

Children all need teaching, discipline, and a gooenvironment. We may work and pray that they be delivered from evil, and that they be rooted andgrounded in truth by the time of adult responsibilities. Children need love, too. Older women are toteach the younger women to love their children. Many little people may almost starve for affection. It takes time and undivided attention to the child to prove that you love him and that you are glad hcame to live with you. Give him an ear. Listen tohim. He wants to talk to someone who is interested in him and his world. Parents that are always deaf to children's efforts for attention may see their children reach a point when they do not listen to theparents' requests. Parents and children should be on the same team and interested in one another. Parents, we should cultivate their friendship. We dowant their friendship and love, do we not? (Titus

2:3-5).

(This poem was sent to us by B. G. Hope of BowlingGreen, Ky. It was written by a lady of that city.

— Editor)

THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

Goin' down the highway totin' my load,Travelin' right down THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. When I first started out on the road that's wide,I could choose the middle or either side.

So I toed the mark — started off like a breeze But, now— I'm wonderin', "Must I defend all these?" There's MfM and CfC, Cows for Korea and HoT,I lot of colleges and Gospel press,Homes for the orphans and all the rest. Plus a whole lot more I can't recall But now I'm expected to support them all. Thought I'd travel the center, shy away from ex

tremes'Cause many folks told me "E nds justify means." My load's become heavier than I can tote. I'm tempted to discard it and give up hope.I would rather do only what God says do,In the way He has told us, a pattern that's true. I would like to go back if it's not too late,To the way that is narrow and the gate is strait,If I need defense, I'll wield the sword,It's a sharp two-edged one, it is God's own Word. So now as I travel on this narrow way,I find it's lots simpler for me to say"If it's not authorized then I know it's not right." So I'll leave it alone with all of my might.

I find as I jour ney with a lighter load.It's less dangerous to travel on the right of this road.For if you go travelin' on the way that's wideYou'll get in trouble on either side.You can't stay in the middle of this broad wayYou'll travel on the right side or have nothing to say.If you take a wrong turn, better run for coverIf you don't watch out you'll get run over.

— JB

RICH BEGGARS

L. A. Mott, Jr., Wayne, Mich.

A paper known as "Herald of Truth" is mailed to me each month. It is published by the HighlanAvenue Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, the same

church that sponsors the Herald of Truth radio and

television operation. The September i ue carried

an article about the work of the Highland church.

The two paragraphs below are copied from this

article. "In 1964, this church, led by 12 elders andassisted by 50 deacons, is working under a $356,649 budget. The total evangelism portion is over $73,000. In addition, noting that therapidly growing congregation is needing nefacilities, early this year authorized a fund drive among members to finance new construction valued at $360,000. The drive was successful." "Highland's total budget for 1964 is $6,858.66 every Lord's day." * * *

In the New Testament we read about churches

sending funds to other churches. The brethren of

Judea received relief from the brethren in Antioch

when the former were in a condition of destitution

due to a famine (Acts 11:27-30). Later various

churches sent to Jerusalem when the saints there

were in a similar condition of indigence (Rom. 15:

25,26; I Cor. 16:1,2; 2 C6r. 8:13-15). But never in

the entire New Testament do we ever find a rich

church soliciting and/or receiving funds from other

churches. There is no scriptural authority fo

churches to send funds to a church which is not an

object of charityBut when we consider the Highland operation we

have a strange situation. Here is a church with over

1,000 members (as stated in the article), a church

so wealthy that $360,000 can be raised among its

members in less than a year, a church that has a

1964 budget of nearly $7,000 per Sunday, a church

that notwithstanding all of this still finds it neces

sary to beg funds from thousands of other churches.

Does this not seem strange to you?

Not only is this a situation that seems devoid of

basis in common sense, but it is also a situation that

does not remotely resemble anything in the Bible

Those who support this promotion are rapidly

getting completely away from the position that one

must have divine authority for every item of faith

and practice. What about you, friend? Will you be

carried along with this tidal wave of apostasy' or,

will you have the courage to be an "anti" and stand

against such departures?

W. W. OTEY, CONTENDER FOR THE FAITH

A history of controversies in the church ofChrist from 1860-1960

by Cecil Willis

A biography of one of the greatest gospel preachers of this century — William Wesley Otey. A well documented book with some of the most pertinent and important information bearing on the present issue in the church today and its development through the years.

425 pages $4.00

As we continue to study some of the dangers fac

ing the Lord's church, the one that we want to note

in this article is the lack of love often shown toward

other members. Often situations that have lon

and lasting implications for evil could be overcome

if members had the real, genuine, and abiding love

mentioned in the Bible.

Love as used in the Bible is not some kind of weak, say nothing, mushy sort of thing. The Book tells us what love is, how we can know if we walk in love and what will be our eternal destiny if we do nohave love toward our brother. Our love is to be real and genuine if we are to please God. Peter said ofchildren of God that we were born again "unto unfeigned love of the brethren." Our love is to be with a "pure heart" and it is to be a "fervent" love (I Pet. 1:22). In the context of chapter four Peter said "above all things have fervent charity among yourselves : for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (I Pet. 4:8). Love will not excuse sin but when present it will cover our short comings in such a waythat the peace of the church will be maintained.

The new commandment that John wrote unto the children of God in I John 2:8 was that they love tothe EXTENT that God loved us. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Bythis shall all men know that ye are my disciples, ifye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). "We know that we have passed from death unto life,because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us;And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compa ion from him, how dwelleth the love ofGod in him? My little children, let us not love inword, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (I John 3:14-18). Is the kind of love that exist among us ? It was the kind that was found among the earlyChr istians. ".. . neither said any of them that oughtof the things which he possessed was his own;...Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Acts 4:32, 34, 35. If our brethren were in need, the brother that sits by you on Sundaymorning, would you and I be willing to do as wasdone in Jerusalem in order that they might be supplied with their needs ? If we are not, "how dwelleththe love of God in" US?

If we do not love our brethren we can not make the claim that we love God. How could we love God if we do not love one of his children ? "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,how can he love God whom he hath not seen?' I John

4:20 "...he who loveth God" loves "his brothers

also." I John 4:21.

Paul described the nature of love when he said,"Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth

not; char ity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her

own, is not easily provoked, thinketh not evil; Re

joiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth al

things, endureth all things." I Cor. 13:4-7.

If love abides in us we will "Let be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not ever y man on his own image, but ever y man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in youwhich was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in theform of God, thought it not robber y to be equawith God: But made himself of no reputation, antook upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:3-8)

A sharp rebuke shows love. In order that some might be sound in the faith and that they mighbe saved, Paul told Titus, "Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (T it. 1:13). Gospel preachers show love, not the lack of it,when they preach the truth in order that those in sin, be they brethren or alien sinners, that themight see the error of their way and be saved. Years ago when I was too young to remember the preacher or his subject, I remember a story that has lingered with me through the years that I believe describes love. The story was of a father and his small son on their way home on a dark, cold, snowy evening.The snow was so deep that the little boy could just walk. Often he asked his father to pick him up andcarry him, to which the father refused as often asasked. Finally the son sat down and refused to walk another step, upon which the father picked him uand gave him probably the hardest spanking he had ever given his son. Upon setting him down he toldhim to walk home. When they arrived home and after supper, the father took his son in his arms and explained that as cold as it was out in the snow and as tired as the son was, had the father picked him up he would have fallen asleep in his father's arms never to awaken again.

NEW TESTAMENTS

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THEY REHEARSED ALL THAT COD HAD DONE WITH THEM . . ."— Acts 14:27

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA Andy de Klerk It will be with mixed emotions that we will leave the States this time. Having a desire to get home and

into the battle for Christ, and yet there will be sad

ness having to leave so many fine friends, who have

done so much for us. As Christians, however, we

are not like the rest of the world who have no hope,

we can look forward, if we continue in his way, to

spend a never-ending day in fellowship, worship,

and in the presence of our God. What a glorious day

that will be. Should we not be privileged to meet this

side of eternity, may our lives have been, in such

complete harmony with His Will that the gate will

be opened to all of us to enter into the joys of our

Lord. We'll be praying for you and will be pleased

if you will remember us when you speak to our Father.

Since our special bulletin giving you a picture of the developments in Port Elizabeth we have received many other letters in favor of our return tothat place. The faithful men are demanding that the rest give us a hearing. Many have done what wesuggested they do, and that is, ask for scripture for everything taught. The attitude manifested by those who "voted us out" is basically the same as that of so many institutional brethren in the States. Their answer, when pressed for Scripture is: "It is a Phar

asiac attitude to ask for Scripture for everything

we do," or "T he Bible does not say not to do it

this way"— so the age old denominational doge is em

ployed to justify a practice for which there is no au

thorization from God. How sad to hear men, wh

once demanded Scripture themselves, now make the

same arguments they scoffed at when these argu

ments were made by denominational preachers and

teachers.

We cannot exactly say just what will take place in

Port Elizabeth, but this I know, that there will be no

compromising with error even if we have to stand

alone, but we will stand with the help of God. This

is not the easy way, but this is the only way that

we can conscientiously follow. God's way, and God's

will is always the best way regardless how many are

following it, whether one or one million.

God has really blessed us these past few months.

Our monthly support is secured and our travel fund

lacks only $1750. As we are scheduled to leave New

York on April 7, we are hoping and praying that this

travel fund will soon be raised. Having to send this

payment to our agent in South Africa a month ahead

of our sailing time, we are really going to be pushed

for time in trying to raise this amount, unless you

can be of some a istance to us. Should you be able

to help, no matter how small the contribution, we will

appreciate it immensely. Please indicate when yo

send your check that it is for our travel fund. I have

also completed a sermon outline book, "What the

Gospel Can Do" which sells for $2. All of the money

received from it will go into our travel fund. T ime is limited, so may we hear from you real soon? This is an urgent appeal

In our last bulletin we listed several items needed for the work in Port Elizabeth. I am pleased to saythat the response to this was good. We received the following: 50 song-books and communion set; 24 Bibles ; and a promise of a used typewriter. Tracts, Bible School materials, a duplicating machine, etc. are still needed. Can YOU help?

We can be reached in Bowling Green until the mid

dle of March. My address is on the front of this bulletin and our telephone number is 843-3990. Please make a note of our NEW address in Port Elizabeth:

Andy de Klerk P. O. Box 925

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

WAYNE SULLIVAN PLANNING TO COME

TO AFRICA IN JUNE

Plans are underway for Wayne Sullivan to cometo Port Elizabeth to assist us at that place. Waynestill lacks much of his travel fund and support. We are praying for his success. We need him in that work. You can contact Wayne at:

Wayne Sullivan 403 College St. Waycro ,Georgia

SUMMER MEETING AT MURRAY, KY.

J. P. Miller, Tampa, Fla.

I have accepted an invitation to preach in a summer meeting with the new West Murray congregation in Murray, Kentucky. Brother Irven Lee started this congregation with a gospel meeting in February.Present plans call for the preaching to be done under a tent. The dates have been set for July 11th throughJuly 21st. We are advertising the effort well in advance in the hope that sound brethren all over America that came from that section will make their plans to be with us. Scores of brethren in the cities of both the north and south have roots deep in CallowayMarshall, Graves and McCracken counties in Western Kentucky and in Henry county, Tenn. These brethren have been taught the truth on the digression that threatens to sweep the churches in Western Kentucky

The brethren in that section have not heard the truth on these great problems. They are supporting a great many if not all of the liberal movements among us. It is only fair that they have an opportunity to hear sermons on the dangers that confront the church. I am calling therefore on all brethren,elders, preachers and teachers over the brotherhood to make your plans to be in Western Kentucky thesecond and third weeks in July. By bringing your kin to the meeting and helping to teach while you are there we will be able to break through the barrier of fear that the liberals have erected. If you are interested in seeing the truth on institutionalism, youthcamps, colleges, hospitals, kitchens and play rooms in the meeting house, giant enterprises that involve thousands of churches in unscriptural arrangements preached make your plans to support this meeting inMurray. The church is meeting at present in theLuther Robertson Elementary School

Write today and encourage those you know in that section to meet with these brethren. Contact can be made by writing to L. O. Duke, Route 1, Murray, Ky.

SOUTHSIDE CHURCH IN OWENSB0R0, KY. J.

P. Miller, Tampa, Fla.

The Southside congregation in Owensboro, Kentucky is a sound aggressive group of God's people.They have a new building that will meet the needs of the church for years to come on the south side of the city on the Hartford Highway. Bobby Witheringtonhas worked in Owensboro for the last four years and is now going to Louisville to labor with the Haldeman Avenue church. He leaves Owensboro with the respect and love of all of the brethren. It has been my pleasure through the years to preach in gospel meetings with these brethren. They do not know who at this time will take brother Witherington's placebut a sound preacher will be secured. I am glad to recommend that brethren worship with the Southside church at 2920 New Hartford Road when you are in that part of Kentucky.

NEW FAITHFUL CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE J. Wiley Adams, Newport, N. C.

We are pleased to announce the beginning of a new congregation in Charlotte, N.C. This church is nowmeeting at 2651 Rozel's Ferry Road. They beganmeeting in February and our information is that "the whole is progressing just fine. Our largest attendance has been 38, largest contribution $424.00." It is believed by these good brethren that there are others in the Charlotte area who are fed up witthe hocus-pocus, sectarian-flavored antics of the liberal churches there. The time has come there as in many places to "come out from among them and be ye separate." We commend these brethren for their courage and willingness to take a stand in an area where the cause of Christ has been made top-heavywith pet projects and institutional machinery reminiscent of my days in the Christian Church back inVirginia.

As usual when a stand for Truth is taken any

where, the Devil rears his head from many quarters.

Therefore, we do not think it strange that the liberal

preachers of that area have taken it upon themselves

to cast reflection on this new work. Because these

brethren seek to do all things (including the goa

and mission of the church in all its phases) by

"thus saith the Lord," they have been labeled b

Johnny Sewell of Westside in Charlotte as an "anti"

church and he stands in great fear that someone will

not fully understand that the building occupied b

these brethren is now the "former" location of the

West sid e church. He urges that "the Westside

church is not to be confused with the group which

now meets in our former location." (Via Carolina

Christian, March, 1965). He is running scared as

most liberals do who know that they must now stand

toe to toe with sound brethren and give scripture

for their practice.

The preacher at the Plaza church (Paul Kidwell)likewise is in a dither these days. He has already written two articles in the church bulletin. He uses the usual-type proof (?) for his practice. Notice, itis not scripture. He labels these brethren as lawmakers, and as being opposed to feeding hungryorphans (I should think that by now the liberals would be ashamed to use such a lie as their prootext). He accuses them of devilish "fit-pitching" and of being a "competitive, factious, hate-mongeringclan." This type of journalism no doubt reflects that these liberal preachers have the "spirit of Christ." The strange thing about it is that he regards them as a "splinter group" that will not be content to sit in their little corner. My, oh, my! How afraid he must be of splinters! He is so afraid of them that he feels called upon to preach a special series of studies to refute the "extreme views being propagated bysome." It would be interesting to know what passages are being used to refute the Truth.

Also, via Carolina Christian (March, 1965) the Gastonia preacher (Paul Gray) feels called upon tocastigate the conservative brethren on the subjectof benevolence. He, too, feels that he knows some despicable brethren somewhere (I know not where nor does he) who would not lift a finger to help astarving baby. This sounds strange from a manwho is having a great deal of trouble in his own congregation getting the brethren to "cooperate" to get a package of clothes ready for an orphan girl atTennessee Orphan Home. Oh, yes, and they are doingit on the side! Wonder why they don't just take the money out of the church treasury and do it that waylike they claim they believe ? Verily, "the legs of the lame are not equal" (Proverbs 26:7a).

We commend the brethren in the faithful church and give them our moral support and our prayers in the flight for Truth. Also, this preacher stands ready at any time to be of any a istance to these brethren,"on call." We, too, are set for the defense of the gospel here at Newport and are determined that "theyshall not pa ."

NEWS.......................................

H. Robert Williams, Clarksville, Ind.— We at Clarksville Church of Christ are happy to inform you that we are now worshipping in our new meeting house and have planned some special events for which wesolicit your prayers and attendance.

A SPECIAL "Open House" Service is scheduled for April 4th at 3:30 p.m. with an EVANGELISTIC MEETING April 4 thru April 11, Nightly at 7:4(EST) Sundays: Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Worship

10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m

T he meeting is being planned with folks in thelocal community in mind and will be unique in some of its features. The writer has been invited to do the preaching and other parts of each service will betaken car e of by faithful members of the localchurch. Often a church will invite a preacher fromone state, a song leader from another area and then call upon preachers and elders who visit forthe prayers. This, of course, is fine and good, but inthis effort we are hoping to introduce the church here to our neighbors and friends in the community

The church at Clarksville is only six years old and is a fulfillment of a long cherished ambition. Mrs.

Williams and I had sought opportunity through theyears, to assist with just such an undertaking. Our fondest hopes have been gratified in the fine church at Clarksville and we anticipate even greater things in the years to come. There is no regularly "constituted" church of any denomination closer than 7/8of a mile and there are hundreds of "unchurched" people in the area.

The Clarksville church did not grow out of a split or division in any other congregation and the wonderful peace and harmony which have prevailed,from the beginning, have been a constant source of joy and encouragement.

J. T. Smith, Wauchula, Florida— After being withthe church in Wauchula, Florida for fifteen months, we are moving to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma thefirst of June to begin work with the Rockwell Avenue (formerly the West Avenue) congregation, meeting at 920 North Rockwell Avenue. This congregation is located just South of Tenth Avenue N.W.near the Westoaks shopping center. There is muchwork needed there since there are only two sound congregations in that city

The elders have indicated a willingness for me to hold several meetings each year for congregations that would not be able to afford a meeting, so, if any congregation is in need of a preached for a meetingof this type, if you are able to bear my expenses, Iwill be happy to hold you a meeting. If you are not able to do this, write the elders at 920 North Rock-well Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and perhaps other arrangements can be made. When you are in Oklahoma City, come worship with us.

James Hahn, Miami, Fla.— After three years of work with the church at Oak Grove near Louisville,Ky., I will begin work with the church in Perrine,Fla. on April 4, 1965.

W. D. M edlin, Houston, Texas— Paul Foutz will preach in a special series of gospel meetings April 12 through 18, 7:30 nightly in Cypress-Fairbanks highschool, just west of the church building. The subjectwill be Christian Evidences and Evolution. This meeting is supported by the church in Cypress-Fairbanks, 21000 Hampstead Highway (Houston, Tex.).James E. Wilson is the local evangelist.

Edwin Hayes, Palmetto, Fla.— The Lord willing, I will be with the Willow Glen church in MuhlenburgCounty, Kentucky, near Greenville and Central City,April 18 through 25. April 26 through May 2, I am to be with the Central church in Wayne, Michigan.I desire that brethren and friends in these areas will note these dates and attend. Bobby K. Thompson of North Miami congregation in Miami, Fla. was with the Palmetto church in a good meeting March 21-28.

Tom Wheeler, DeLand, Fla.— There will be a series of gospel meetings at the meeting place of th

DeLand church of Christ, April 19 through 25, wit

Henry Gilbert from the 7th Avenue church in Miami

doing the preaching.

John Bullock, 13231 Emily Rd., Dallas, Texas-After 5 years with the church in Dike, Texas on part time basis, we begin full time work with the church in Allen, Texas on April 4. Allen is about 11 miles north of the city limits of Dallas on highway 75, andabout the same distance from our home, therefore we can continue to live in our home at the above address while we labor in this new field. Brethren are invited to worship with us.

Ken Murphy, Tampa, Fla.— E. W. Britt was the speaker in a gospel meeting with the Habana Avenuechurch of Christ in Tampa, Florida, April 4-11.

CHARLES LARRY BRANNAN

Charles Larry Brannan of Eufaula, Alabama was killed instantly about 4 a.m., February 7, 1965 near Englewood, Tennessee in a devastating crash of two huge trailer trucks. Larry was the son of Brother and Sister C. A. Brannan of Andalusia, AlabamaLarry had lived in Huntsville, Alabama; AndalusiaAlabama; Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee; Russellville andHopkinsville, Ky.; Akron, Ohio and Columbus, Georgia where his father preached for churches in these cities.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, are his wife

and two children, one brother and one sister.

Larry was a member of the Rose Hill Church of

Christ, Columbus, Ga. Funeral services were con

ducted from the Colonial Funeral home at Phoenix

City, Alabama with burial in the Parkhill Cemetery,

Columbus, Georgia. Charles G. Caldwell, minister of

the Rose Hill church and Curtis Flatt conducted the

funeral.

Larry Bunch, Louisville, Ky.— We have scheduled a meeting here for April 26 through May 2 with1 Grover Stevens doing the preaching. Services will be daily at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., except Sunday whenthe services will be as usual— 9:30 a.m. Bible study,

10:30 a.m. worship, and the evening worship at 7 p.m.

Dorris V. Rader, Cambellsville, Ky.— I am moving

from Campbellsville in June to work with the new

church established in Tullahoma, Tenn. I have been

here a little over four years, and my decision was a

most difficult one to make. But now that I have made

it, I want to do all po ible to help the brethren here

locate someone for the work here. This is a very dif

ficult field and truly a "mission field" as you know.

Write to 719 Lebanon Ave., Campbellsville, Ky.

Eugene Britnell, Little Rock, Ark.— Marshall E. Patton of Orlando, Fla. will be in a gospel meeting atArch Street church April 14-21.

L. L. Applegate, Cottondale, Fla.— The church in Vernon, Fla. is progressing. Gerald W orthington,was baptized into Christ Sunday, April 11, in Pate Lake. His mother and sister say they will followWe rejoice and take courage.

H. Ernest Shoaf, Charlotte, N.C.— After two and a half years with the church in Concord, N.C, we are living in Charlotte, N.C. and working with a new congregation. There are 28 members that are sound in the faith, and are very zealous. We are meeting a2651 Rozzells Ferry Road. This is the largest city inthe state. We are anticipating a successful work, and a strong church. If you plan to move here, or anytime you are in Charlotte, visit with us. We are standingfor the truth.

Ralph R. Givens, 1595 West, St., Susanville, Calif.

— After 9 years with the church in Oceanside, Calif.,

I began work with the church in Susanville April 1.

H. E. Phillips, Tampa, Fla.— Harris J. Dark of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was in a gospel meeting withthe Forest Hills church in Tampa, Fla., from April12 to 18. At the same time John Iverson of Port Arthur, Texas was in a gospel meeting with the Nebraska Avenue church in Tampa. C. L. Overturf is the local preacher at Nebraska Avenue.

John H. Gibbert, Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C. — The Southside church of Christ in Myrtle Beach, S.C. is having a meeting May 24-30 of this year. Alton Elliott of Perry, Florida is to be the speaker. The church in Perry is paying his expenses during this meeting. The congregation here thanks them fortheir willingness to send him.

Floyd Thompson is the speaker in a series of gospel meetings at the church in Culver City Calif., May2-8. Brent Lewis is the local evangelist... Earl Kimbrough of Dothan, Ala. will be the speaker in a gospel meeting at Jonesboro, Tenn., May 16-23. Colin Williamson is the local preacher. Sam Binkley, Jr.will be in a gospel meeting for 10 days at Blue Ash church of Christ, Blue Ash, Ohio, beginning thesecond Sunday in May. Frank Ingram is the local evangelist... Paul Andrews of Tampa, Florida will be with Glenn R. Shewmaker and the Northside church in Lakeland, Florida, May 2-7.

Lee Gunter, Merritt Island, Fla. — Jack Hobby of Tampa, Florida was with us during our spring meeting, April 12-18. Four were baptized into Christ.

DEBATE

Eugene Persell, Pasacagoula, Miss. — a four nightdiscu ion between Carrol R. Sutton, gospel preacher,and M r. E. F. Cannon of the Pentecostal faith was held at 514 Market St., a union hall, April 27-30,1965. The propositions discussed were: "The Scriptures teach that there is but one person in the Godhead, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ," and "The use of mechanical instruments of music in the worshipof God today is unscriptural, hence, sinful."

Tom Brashears, Holly, Colo. — I am planning tmove from Holly, Colo, as soon as we can find a congregation needing a preacher. If you have needfor an evangelist, please contact me at Box 463Holly, Colo. 81047.

CLEVELAND OHIO MEETING

J.P.M.

T he second week in Apr il found me with theLoraine Avenue church in Cleveland, Ohio. This is one of the fine congregations of the north. Brother

E. A. Dicus is the preacher. Brother Dicus is one of the most useful men of our time. He not onlypreaches for the Loraine Avenue congregation butalso serves the church as a faithful elder. He is also a business leader in the greater Cleveland area well known as the vice president in charge of production for a large manufacturing firm. The church is sound in the faith and will soon begin the construction of a new building at the present location. Ten were baptized and one restored during the meeting anbrother Dicus baptized five more the Lord's Dayafter the series closed on Friday night.

EDITOR IN JUNE MEETING

I will be with the College View Church in Florence,Alabama for a June meeting. The series starts the second Lord's Day in June and continues over the third. T his makes the dates June 13th through 20Curtis Flatt is the energetic preacher for this fine church. In the history of the work there with brother Flatt the work has never failed to grow. My relation with these good brethren reaches through the years. All readers of the paper are invited to attend the meeting.

O'NEAL-FORD DEBATEConnie W. Adams, Orlando, Florida

The debate between Thomas G. O'Neal of the Azalea Park church and Mr. E. G. Ford of the Lake Barton Rd. Assembly of God was conducted March 15, 16 in the Assembly of God building and March 18 and 19 in the meeting house of the Azalea Park church. The subject all four nights concerned miraculous divine healing. The debate came about as a result of a special service in a gospel meeting at AzaleaPark church in which Brother O'Neal preached onthis subject, advertised the service in the paper and in the form of leaflets handed out in the communityand offered an opportunity for anyone to reply whwished to do so. Mr. Ford came and when the opportunity was given, arose to take i ue. He invited adebate on the matter and the arrangements were made. Mr. Ford seemed to have very little understanding of how a debate should be carried on. In their building the first two nights, he refused to permit the platform to be used from which to speak. The second night he refused to allow more than onespeech apiece. He did consent to two speeches apiecethe first night and the last two nights.

The crowd at both places was made up mostly ofour brethren. The first night some 20-25 of Ford's brethren came, but after that no more than 6 or 8were present a single night. Our brethren supported the discu ion well. The conduct of the speakers was good, though Mr. Ford mistook Brother O'Neal'spressing of points and answering of each argumentas a bad spirit. Aside from some rather ugly insinuations made by Mr. Ford the second night, all proceeded in fine spirit.

Brother O'Neal prepared mimeographed charts

which were passed out to the audience each night on

which he clarified the i ue and presented the proof.

These were very effective. He pointed out that we

believe in divine healing today but not in miraculous

divine healing today. He showed that the spiritual

gifts of the early church had served their purpose

when divin e revelation was completed and thus

passed away. He also showed that the miraculous

gifts were imparted by the laying on of the apostles'

hands and challenged Mr. Ford to find a passage which taught that they were imparted any other

way. Ford finally cited I Cor. 12:11 which teaches

that the gifts came from God, but Brother O'Neal

showed that this passage did not state how they

came from God and that other passages revealed that they came by the laying on of apostolic hands.

Ford made the usual arguments from Mk. 16:1718; Heb. 13:8. He did his best to avoid taking up the arguments made by Brother O'Neal. He would notanswer questions. When he ran out of arguments he resorted to personal testimony to sustain his case. Brother O'Neal pointed out that the Catholics try to prove their claimed miracles by the same kind oftestimony, as do the Mormons, Christian Scientists, and others and stressed that they had signed propositions to discuss what the Bible says. Ford said

there were false miracle workers and that the exis

tence of false ones did not discount the genuine.

Brother O'Neal asked him if Oral Roberts, A. A. Al

len and Leroy Jenkins were genuine or fakes. He

said he could not judge and that we had no right to

do so either. Yet he told of some people up in Michi

gan who foretold the end of the world and hid them

selves in caves. He branded these as false prophets

and fakes. Brother O'Neal asked him if he was judg

ing when he said that, and if we could not in the

same way determine whether Roberts, Allen and

Jenkins were fakes or genuine. Ford claimed to have

the baptism of the Spirit like the apostles had it but

declined to produce any signs of an apostle like Paul

did in Corinth when he was pressed to do so.

We commend Brother O'Neal for his fine work in

exposing error and defending the truth. We were

made stronger by his able defense of the gospel.

HUMILITYBy C. M. Hendrix, Orlando, Fla.

Humility, one of the dominant attributes of a true Christian, is in many instances being supplanted by arrogance. Today there are many professed Christians who are divided into warring factions; eachgroup trying in devious ways to gain advantage over the other.

Under such conditions, professed followers of the Lord, are critical, and vindictive, having lost most all sense of both integrity or veracity. While manyhave coined a variety of phrases, which are used inderision; while misrepresenting those who differ with them.

I believe that one of the greatest contributing factors to the confusion that exists today, is the result of undue emphasis placed on human wisdom: Oftimes nothing more than psuedo intellectualsuperiority of some who crave recognition as an authoritative source for Bible truth. They have for the most part, left the simplicity of the ancient order, and have drifted into an attitude of mind conducive to arrogance.

T his situation is summed up ver y well by thewriter, Robert Milligan, in these words, "Fullness of knowledge always and necessarily means some understanding of the depth of our ignorance, and that is always conducive to humility and reverence."

The Apostle Paul said, "T hat our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power ofGod." Which is his word (I Cor. 2:5).

It is a sad reality, that there are those today, assuming an air of infallability, and the tragic truth is that many members of the body of Christ, are accepting them as such; blindly following their concepts without question.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning such matters, in I Cor. 4:6, and this is what he said, "These things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes! that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, and that no one of you be puffed up for one against the other."

Paul also admonished the Corinthians in these words, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commendthemselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise." "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth" (II Cor. 10:12,18).

That such conditions as are under consideration, exists today, is an undeniable fact: Brethren, these things ought not so to be.

We were warned by the Prophet Isaiah, in the long ago, "That the lofty looks of men shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be boweddown, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day" (Isaiah 2:11).

Lest that I may be misunderstood, I hasten to say that I am not in any way opposed to institutions of higher education or scholastic attainment. Nor do I advocate inhibition of intellectual ability or freedom, so long as it is subordinate to divine teaching.

Jesus said, "For whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself1 shall be exalted" (Matt. 23:12). And the writer ofProverbs said, "The fear of the Lord is instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility" (Prov, 15:33).

And now as a closing thought, a word of both admonition and consolation, from 1st Pet. 5:6, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,that he may exalt you in due time."

WHY I LEFT THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DENOMINATION

Leo Rogol, Hopewell, Virginia

(Continued fr om Last Month)

THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT What is the work of Christ during this "investigative judgment?" Let Mrs. White speak her ownviews: "This work of examination of character, ofdetermining who are prepared for the kingdom ofGod, is that of the investigative judgment" (G. C,

p. 428 — emph. mine — L.R.).

So God has to investigate the records of men or examine their character to determine whether they are good or evil! Hence, when God destroyed thungodly in the flood he didn't really know their character until their records were investigated since 1844. How could he then be certain that at least one righteous was not found among those that perished ? When God assured Abram (Abraham) that he would spare Sodom from destruction "peradventure ten shall be found there" (righteous) we know God was capable of determining the character of each soul because he destroyed the city for the lack of the ten righteous souls. AND HE DID NOT WAIT TIL AFTER 1844 to destroy them — after the "examination of character" of the Sodomites.

Does God have to investigate or examine records written in a book to determine whether they were good or evil? Such a doctrine denies the very claimof. omniscience of God. Paul informs us that all the world became guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). WitGod so limited in his knowledge of man, it wouldseem unreasonable for Jesus to say that if a manlook at a woman to lust after her in his heart he had already committed adultery. Because of thedoctrine of the "investigative judgment" it wouldmake it appear impo ible for God to know immediately what was in the heart of man because no case could be judged until investigated. But the truth is,God is all-knowing; and being all knowing, is capableof judging man from his motives in the ver y acitself. God "knoweth the hearts" (Acts 15:8) ; anthus "the foundation of God standeth sure, havingthis seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his" (II Tim. 2:19). Thus a man's judgment is sealed atdeath, his destiny decided, and not that his judgment has to be delayed until 1844.

Notice these statements which prove Adventists false in their views on the "investigative judgment." "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world . . . Having predestinated us..." (Eph. 1:4-5). God already chose us in him,predestinated us. THIS DOES NOT TEACH THE CALVINISTIC DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION, but it does teach us that God already knewsome would be saved and some lost. By the same token, though he did not deliberately subject some to destruction and some to life, nevertheless being all-knowing, he already knew beforehand the life of. ever y individual from the beginning to the end ohis life.

In Rom. 8:29 it says: "For whom he did foreknow,he also did predestinate to be conformed to theimage of his Son ..." The reason some were predestinated is because God foreknew them. This is in relation to "his purpose" ( vs. 28), which is an"eternal purpose" (Eph. 3:11), and which was already established "before the foundation of theworld (Eph. 1:4). So from eternal ages God foresaw that some would be predestinated. Again, this predestination is not an arbitrary act of God, for: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him andworketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35). But this predestination is the result ofhis foreknowledge of the class of people who wouldbe called. It only stands to reason that if God predestinated certain ones "to be conformed to the image of his Son" that by the same token he foresaw that all others would be lost. This is all in relation to the eternal purpose of God "which from thebeginning of the world hath been hid in God ..." (Eph. 3:9).

God therefore does not need to set up a judgment or a "work of examination of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God." To "Determine'' means to come to a decision, to settle. Hence the work of the "investigative judgment" denies God's power to foreknow by which he predestinates from before the beginning of time, before hecreated man on this earth. Why then all this "investigation" when the righteous are already predestinated by his foreknowledge? By a process of elimination we may conclude that all others are lost. Thus the entire Adventist position on Christ's priestly ministry in heaven, and on the investigativejudgment is without support from the Bible, hencanother false foundation.

Finally, this last observation concerning the statement, "For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. We have already observed that if Christ ministered in the first apartment, then he made noatonement, for as in the days of Israel, the work of atonement was only accomplished when the priest entered into the "second apartment," the holy oholies. Briefly, the Bible teaches just opposite toAdventist claims. In Hebrews 6:19-20 we read of our hope '. . . which entereth into that within thevail, whither our forerunner is for us entered, eveJesus made a high priest. . ." Again in Hebrews

10:19: "Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Chr ist. . . throughthe veil. . ." Even Adventist cannot deny that the"holiest" is the Holy of Holies. In the earthly sanctuary, "within the veil (vail) always meant in themost holy. ". . . bring thither within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark . . ." (Lev. 16:2). T he ark of covenant was "within the veil" or in the "holiest." Many more such passages could bequoted, but these are sufficient to prove that "within the veil" was in the most holy place. Therefore, as Jesus entered into the holiest, or "within the veil,"we may safely conclude that Adventists are wrongin their teachings that "For eighteen centuries this work of ministration (Christ's) continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary," or that ". . . in 1844 Christ then entered the most holy place of thheavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work ofatonement." Let the lesson Paul gave the Romans concerning the Jews ring clearly in our minds in determining the truth in this matter we have just discussed: "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged" (Rom. 3:3-4).

(Continued Next Month)

BOUND

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

A companion volume to the 1960-1961 bound volume of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. Bound in beautiful Fabricord covering, navy blue, durably bound, printed in gold. This volume is indexed. Order your copy now.

— $5.00 —

THE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY

by William Hendriksen

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, 505 pages ................ $ 6.95PHILLIPIANS, 21 8 pages .................................... 5.95I & II THESSALONIANS, 21 4 pages ................ 4.50I & II TIMOTHY & TITUS, 404 pages ................... 6.00REVELATION — MORE THAN CONQUERORS,

285 pages ......................................................... 3.50

All five volumes — $25.00

DEBATE TAPES

Dr. Albert Garner, president of Florida Baptist Institute and Seminary, and brother A. C. Grider of Meridian, Mississippi engaged in a discussion on the conditions of salvation and the apostasy questions in Wauchula, Florida city auditorium, January 18, 19, 21, 22, 1965.

Very clear and complete tapes are available of the entirefour nights of the debate. New 1 1/2 mil polyester "Mylar" basestrong tape that will not stretch will be used, recorded at 3 1/2speed, and may be played on any tape recorder. One 7" reel will contain the entire discussion of one night.

Proposition: "The Scriptures Teach That Water Baptism is Essential To The Salvation Of The Alien Sinner." A. C. Grider affirms — Albert Garner denies

Proposition: "T he Scriptures T each T hat The Alien Sinner Is Saved At T he Point of Faith in Christ Before And Without Water Baptism." Albert Garner affirms — A. C. Grider denies

Proposition: "The Scriptures Teach That a Child of God Cannot So Sin As Finally To Be Lost In Hell." Albert Garner affirms

— A. C. Grider denies Proposition: "T he Scriptures T each T hat, a Child of God May So

Sin As To Be Finally Lost In Hell." A. C. Grider affirms — Albert Garner denies

Tape for one night .................$ 3.00All four tapes .........................$12.00

PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS

P. O. Box 17244

Tampa, Florida 33612

W. W. OTEY, CONTENDER FOR THE FAITH

A history of controversies in the church of Christ from 1860-1960

by Cecil Willis

A biography of one of the greatest gospel preachers of this century — William Wesley Otey. A well documented book with some of the most pertinent and important information bearing on the present issue in the church today and its development through the years.

425 pages........................... $4.00

TAPES OF EVERY SPEECH OF THE

1965 FLORIDA COLLEGE LECTURE PROGRAM

Clear and complete tapes are available of theentire Florida College Lecture Program — January 2528, 1965. New 1 1/2 mil polyester "Mylar" base strong tape that will not stretch will be used, recorded at 3 1/2 speed and may be played on any tape recorder. One 7" reel will contain any two speeches desired. There wer e 20 lectur es and 10 tapes will contain the entir electure program.

** *

SPEAKERS AND THEIR SUBJECTS

Harris Dark — Relativism and Absolutism."Jim Ward — "Moral Revolution In America."Ronald Mosby — "Conscience Struggle Of The Organization Man."Art Ogden — "Works Of The Flesh."Homer Hailey — "Moral Implications In The Fall Of Nations."Foy Vinson — "Love Not The World."Stanley Lovett — Immoral Dispositions."Harry Pickup, Jr. — "Basic Causes of Divorce."Bill Fling — "Moral Responsibility of Communication Media."Howard See — "Let it be Corban."Jim Rury — "Morality And Spiritual Mindedness."

C. D. Hamilton — "Moral Implications of Capital Punishment."Gene Frost — "Moral Implications of Gambling."Ray Ferris — "Bribery And Perversion of Justice."James R. Cope — "Moral Implications of America's Public Health

Enemy #4." Steve Hudgins — "Fruit Of The Spirit." David Tant— "Morality and Judgment to Come." Melvin Curry — "Moral Implications of Organized Benevolence." A. C. Grider — "Why Florida College." Robert Jackson — Technique of the Big Lie."

** *

Any one tape (two speeches) ..........$ 3.00 The entire program (10 tapes) .....$27.00 * ? *

order from:

PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS

P.O.BOX 17244 TAMPA, FLORIDA 33612