In this i ue is an article by brother James W. Adams concerning a new religious organization bthe "North Street Church of Christ" in Nacogdoches,Texas. This article will appear in the Preceptor, but brother Adams suggested that it might be well tpublish it also in this journal. We do not usuallypublish articles that appear in other papers (exceptfor news items, etc.), but I am in perfect accord with brother Adams that such ridiculous departures should be exposed as widely as possible. I am happyto publish this review by brother Adams. I suggest you read it carefully and try to figure out how some can get so far from the truth.

We are drawing near the close of 1967. One more i ue following this one and eight years of publication will come to a close. We are so grateful for so many who have helped us by sending subscriptions for relatives and friends. Several good men anwomen have been faithful to send this paper to several for nearly as long as we have been publishinthis paper. They are still willing to help to the extent of their ability. Without their help we would nothave been able to do as much as we have done. We ask others to help us by sending a club of subscriptions this month. You can send a club of five for only$10.00. This is a saving of 33 1/3% on the regular subscription price of $3.00 per year. Send your club today.

We believe we will have a better paper in 196than ever before. With the January, 1968 i ue wewill introduce several new features, together withthe old ones that have been so helpful to so many.We have asked some faithful and able brethren to write on general subjects with which they are especially acquainted and well qualified to discu . Some of these features are:

Marshall E. Patton, who has been so faithful towrite the Question and Answer section, will continueto do this difficult job. Brother Patton has been with us from the beginning and has been such a great help to us in every way. He is an able man.

Luther W. Martin will continue to do the fine work on dealing with Roman Catholic doctrines. BrotherMartin has been a help in many ways. His writing is clear and to the point. His subject matter has never been called in question since he has been writing this column.

Ward Hogland has done an excellent job in dealingwith denominational arguments made by denominational preachers and denominational practices within the church. I have received many good comments on his work. He has been an encouragement to me personally in many ways. He will continue his section in the paper.

Bob West has provided a very unique feature inteaching through his ability to picture le ons that stay in the mind. His section on "Our Religious World" has brought many favorable comments, andhis work has added much to this journal. He willcontinue his good work of sound teaching through art.

In addition to these, Dr. William McE lwain willwrite a monthly column on the Bible and Health — spiritual, physical and mental. Dr. McElwain is well qualified as a physician to deal with health problems and as a preacher of the gospel is able to view these matters in the light of God's word. We look forward to his articles.

Eugene Britnell, well known for his sound writings as editor of The Sower, will write a monthly column on using the Sword of the Spirit against spiritual wickedne . This will deal with sin in all forms within the church. Brother Britnell is not only a goodwriter, but a logical thinker. He has a good knowledge of the word and is not afraid to speak his convictions.

Thomas G. O'Neal will write a monthly column onthe Signs of Our Times, dealing with actual practices of some churches of Christ in departures from thefaith. Brother O'Neal has written articles for the paper almost from its beginning. He is an able youngman who is dedicated to the defense of the faith. We are happy to have him provide documented proof ofsome unbelievable practices of some brethren.

Paul Foutz, well known across the nation for his ability to discuss the theories of evolution with tomen who promote these theor ies, will wr ite amonthly column on Creation or Evolution? Brother Foutz is a very able man and will do a great service in this field. We look forward to his work on this

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subject.

E. V. Srygley, well qualified to discuss the NewT estament Gr eek, will continue his column of explaining Greek words in the New Testament. Brother Srygley has contributed much to the paper for several years, and will continue his section. His word studies has been a help to many in better understanding the wor d of God.

Harold Tabor will be added in a section of word studies in the Hebrew Old Testament. He is qualified in his field and will do a great service in explaining some misunderstood Hebrew words. We look forward to his Hebr ew studies.

Roy E . Cogdill, nationally known debater and preacher of the gospel, will write a monthly columnon Difficult and Perverted Passages. Brother Cogdill is well qualified for this task and will add much toour efforts to teach the pure word of God. I appreciate br other Cogdill's willingness to undertake this difficult task.

All these men are highly respected by me andnearly all are personal friends of mine for several years. I have appreciated their work in years past and asked them to accept the responsibility to write these various sections in the paper because I believe them to be able men. Their articles will not be editorially censored in any way. They are solely responsible for what they write.

In addition to this I have asked brother Hiram Hutto and brother James P. Needham to write an article on the question of the woman's covering of I Corinthians 11. I have known and loved both these good men for many years. I believe them both to becompletely honest and scholarly in their approach to the word of God. They will each prepare an article on this question — they hold opposite views on the subject — and both will appear in the same issue of the paper. The reader will then investigate for himself to determine the truth in his own mind. Other good men have wr itten on this subject and pr obably will write more as space permits.

Brother Jimmy Tuten, Jr. has written some articles on preparing to teach the word of God. Somehave already appeared and some others will follow.He is a good writer and his work is appreciated.

I am preparing a series of articles on the current question of the "church" as an organization and theelders of the church. These will review the articles of brother Charles A. Holt and brother J. D. Hall in the Sentinel of Truth. I am confident they are in error and teaching a foreign doctrine to that found in the New Testament.

James P. Miller, co-editor of this journal, willwrite various articles on subjects that arise and need discussing. Brother Miller is one of the best friends a man ever had. He has been a rock of strength tome in many ways. In the years we have worked together not one cr oss wor d has passed between us. He has worked in distributing the paper all over the country and will continue to do so. I am glad to have him as a co-worker in this effort to study the word of God with as many as will study with us. May God help us to serve Him faithfully all the days of ourlives.

H. E. P.

CAMPUS ADVANCE— A NEW ORGANIZATION WITH AN APPROPRIATE NAME

James W. Adams "HELLO WORLD!"

Students at Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas were favored (?) recently withan introduction to a brand new, religious organization. This within itself is not unusual. We live in a time of super-organizationalism. Americans are the most avid "joiners" of any people on the face of the earth. Even the birth of a new, r eligious or ganization is hardly shocking, for America has been thespawning ground for as many of these as any nation in histor y. T he startling thing about this or ganization is the source from which it emanated. The announcement of its beginning came from a local"Church of Christ" which publicly professes to beidentified with the so-called "Restoration Movement"

— an effort to restore original, apostolic Christianity to the world.

"CAMPUS ADVANCE"

T he name of this new "or ganization" is "Campus Advance." The announcement of its beginning inNacogdoches came from the "North Street Church of Christ." It is sponsored in Nacogdoches by thischurch. Its "leaders are members of this church." Its Director is a member of this church. He has been brought to Nacogdoches by this church for the purpose of heading up and popularizing this new "organization," and he is supported by and amenableto the "North Street Church of Christ." Throughout this article we shall be enclosing certain words and expressions in quotation marks. For the most part, this will indicate that they are direct quotations from

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a letter circulated recently among students at SFA by "Campus Advance" and the "North Street Church of Christ." The following is a reproduction of a portion of that letter :

September 20, 1967.

Welcome to SFA!

Remember all those information cards in your

IBM packet that you had to fill out during r egis

tration? Well, now you know what happened to

your religious information card. Because you

indicated the Church of Christ as your religious

preference, we wanted to say "hi" and offer two

things: some inf ormation and an invitation.

First, let us introduce you to Campus Ad

vance.

— Campus Advance is an off-campus student organization which is a part of a national Campus E vangelism Movement. — Its purpose is to mobilize and motivate Christian students to deepen their faith, and to share their faith with those about them. — Campus Advance is open to all SFA studentsand faculty members who are members of the Church of Christ; it is sponsored by theNorth Street Church of Christ, 3914 North Street. We urge you to become a member of Campus Advance.

This letter was signed by the "Director of Campus Advance, Gerald Gafford." It was printed onstationery with the letterhead: "Campus Advance,the campus today; the world tomorrow." A footnote on the stationery read, "sponsored by the north street church of Christ (sic JWA), 3914 north street, Nacogdoches, T exas 75061."

ANALYZING THE CHARACTER OF CAMPUS ADVANCE

Sometimes, when we r eceive mail of this kind, wetoss it car elessly into File 13 thinking, "T hat's just another abortive, religious, publicity stunt." We donot allow the full import of what it says to sink into our minds. Many students have told us this is exactly what they did. However, a careful analysis of the material contained in the letter from "Campus Advance" and the "North Street Church of Christ" will r eveal to one some challenging and shockingfacts. Let us note the character of "Campus Advance" as explained by the "North Street Church of Christ" itself. Surely, all will agree that these people know the character of that to which theyhave given birth and which they propose to sponsor, hence will admit that their explanation is eminently corr ect and r eliable.

FIRST: "Campus Advance" has organic entity. It is, the letter tells us, "an off-campus student organization." T his means that it is not a campus or ganization— that it has no official connection with Stephen F. Austin State College. Obviously it is not a local church — not the "North Street Church of Christ" — for she sponsors it. It is a "student organization" which is an integral "part of a national Campus E vangelism Movement."

SECOND: "Campus Advance" is a religious organization. Its functions are evangelistic and edificational. T he letter says it is "a part of a national Campus Evangelism Movement" — that its purpose is to "mobilize and motivate Christian students to deepen their faith," and to "share their faith with those about them." T he slogan, "the campus today;the world tomorrow," suggests that this organization proposes to implement the fulfilling of the"great commission" of our Lord Jesus Christ (even though the name of Christ is printed without capitalization on the bottom of the "Campus Advance"stationery).

T HIRD: "Campus Advance" is an open membership, religious organization. T he letter tells us that "Campus Advance" is open for membership "to all SFA students, regardless of religious preference or background." Students of diverse religious faith are "urged to become members of Campus Advance."Necessarily inferred from the letter is the fact that"Campus Advance" and its sponsor recognize as"Christians" persons of diverse religious faith andpractice and propose a "deepening and sharing" of faiths among the members of the "Campus Advance" or ganization. T her e is no indication whatsoever that, antecedent to membership in "Campus Advance," the student must change his religious faith and pr actice to conf orm to New T estament truth; the converse is rather indicated. We do noterr, therefore, in describing this new organization as an open membership, religious organization.

FOURTH: "Campus Advance is a "Church of Christ," open membership, religious organization. It is "sponsored" in Nacogdoches by the "North Street Church of Christ." Its "leaders are members of the North Street Church of Christ." Its "Director" is a member of, engaged by, supported by, and amenable to the "North Street Church of Christ." Since the letter describes "Campus Advance" as "a part of anational Campus Evangelism Movement (note the capital letters JWA)," we are logically compelled toconclude that like organizations will be formed by"Churches of Christ" in all the college communitiesof the nation. This gives the entire matter denominational identity with inter-denominational overtones and ecumenical thrust. We happen to know that this so-called "national Campus Evangelism Movement" is an outgr owth of "Campus E vangelism Seminars" spearheaded by the Broadway Church of Christ of Lubbock, Texas and participated in andpublicized by other so-called "Churches of Christ." We have material in our files to substantiate this statement.

"CAMPUS ADVANCE" APPROPRIATELY NAMED

Apostasy is not a Twentieth Century phenomenon.

It has characterized the people of God from the

earliest times. Hardly had the church of the Lord

begun in the world before many members of that

blood-purchased, spiritual body began to fall away.

John, the beloved disciple of the Lord, wrote late in

the apostolic period saying, "Whosoever goeth on

ward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath

not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same

hath both the Father and the Son" (II John 9 ASV).

T he expr ession, "goeth onwar d," in this passage

is a translation, according to the oldest and best

manuscripts, of the Greek word, "proago." According

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to Arndt & Gingrich's Greek-English Lexicon of theNew Testament, proago means "go before, go forward, anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching" (Pgs. 708, 709). Joseph Henry Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says,"Proago, to proceed, go forward: in a bad sense, togo farther than is right or proper . . . to transgress the limits of true doctrine (cf. our collog. 'advanced'

— views etc.)" (Pg. 537). Groves Greek-English Dictionary says, "Proago, to advance" (Pg. 484). The Confraternity Version of the New Testament (official Catholic Edition) renders proago, "Anyone who advances and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, has not God." Phillip's Modern English Translationr ender s the ver se: "T he man who is so 'advanced' that he is not content with what Christ taught has in f act no God."

The doctrine of Christ knows nothing of any religious organization except a local church (ekklesia) of Christ. The doctrine of Christ recognizes only "onefaith" (Eph. 4:5), not "our faith, your faith, their faith." Such is the language of Ashdod. T he doctrine of Christ requires an "uprooting of every plant not planted by the Father" (Matt. 15:13). Only plants which find their origin in the Divine seed, the word of God (Luke 8:11), have been "planted by theFather." T he doctrine of Christ knows nothing of a"sharing of faith" among his people and those of diverse "religious preferences and backgrounds." This is the dialogue of ecumeni-cism, not the doctrine of Christ. The idea of Christians being joined withmembers of religious bodies unknown to the New T estament in an evangelistic and edificational organization sponsored by a professed "Church of Christ" antagonizes every principle taught in the NewTestament relative to the relationship of Christians to the doctrine of Christ and the religious errors of men.

For these reasons, we affirm that "Campus Advance" is appropriately named. It represents one of the most flagrant and shocking examples which we have yet encountered among professed "Churches of Christ" of advancing beyond the teaching of Christ. In this regard, it is interesting and provocative to observe that a little more than one hundred years ago when our "digr essive" br ethr en (now known as Disciples of Christ or Christian Churches) gave birth to the missionary society and other extra organizations and thus split the so-called "Restoration Movement," they prided themselves in being known as, "Progressives." The word, "progress," means, as does the Greek, proago, "to go forward, advance." It is evenmor e significant to note that "advanced" Christian Churches of our day proudly practice openmembership and maintain the most intimate affinity with modern ecumenical movements.

If a "Church of Christ" may sponsor a religiousorganization which practices open membership, why in the name of reason, logic, and Scripture may she not do so herself at the same time? The North Street brethren are obligated to explain this contradiction, unless, of course, they practice open membership at North Street. Surely, these brethren should be ableto see that "Campus Advance" represents one of the most "far out, extreme left" practices among

"Churches of Christ" in our generation. There is absolutely no scr iptural way in which it can be defended. It constitutes a flagrant evidence of apostasy. However, should the North Street brethren feel they can offer scriptural evidence for the right of the "Campus Advance" organization to exist and function, we shall be most happy to give careful and sincere attention to whatever they have to say. Surely men of the intellectual stature and extensive Biblical training of Bill Sherrill (evangelist at North Street) and Gerald Gafford, "Campus Advance Director," canprovide adequate scriptural defense of their practice if such can be found. A paper from the pen of either or both of these brethren (and we respect them as menand love them as brethren) offering such a defense would be received with interest and read prayerfully. It is our conviction that, if these men will attempt such a defense, they may be led to see the pernicious error in which they have involved themselves and the NorthStreet congregation.

— Mound and Starr Church of Christ, P. 0. Box 35,Nacogdoches, Texas 75961

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THE FALLING TREE

Denominational arguments against Bible teachingcome in different packages. Most of them express acircumstance, which they feel offsets law. This is true of the old argument, which I call the falling tree. It goes something like this: "What will happen to the man who is on his way to the water hole (baptism) and a tree falls on him and kills him before he is baptized?" The emphasis is on the fact that hehas already confessed Christ and would have beenbaptized but was killed by the tree, before he wasimmersed. This is what one might call a "circumstantial" ar gument. T he law, at least to some degr ee, isgranted for the moment to present this unique circumstance. T he emphasis seems to be that in some cases the LAW must be thrown overboard in order to justify these rare cases.

First, the LAW is that all sinners, out of the body

of Christ, must be baptized for the remission of sins.

Scriptur es in abundance may be produced to uphold

this position. For example, in Acts 2:38, Peter said,

"Repent, and be baptized ever y one of you in the

name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and

ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Here

we have the second person plural and third person

singular joined together to accomplish the same re

sult— the r emission of sins. T hen in I Pet. 3:20,21,

Peter says, "When once the long-suffering of God

waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a pre

paring, wher ein f ew, that is, eight souls wer e saved

by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism

doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the

filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience

toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Notice that Peter did not say we ar e saved by bap

tism figuratively. T he "figur e" is in a compar ison of

the two affirmations and not in the things done. T hen

in Mar k 16:16, Jesus said, "He that believeth and is

baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not

shall be damned." T his shows beyond any doubt that

the L AW says a man must be baptized to be saved.

Therefore, the answer to the question is that a

responsible person who' is killed on the way to the

waters of baptism has waited too late! He will go to

hell like any other alien who has not come into the

family of God. I have never heard of a person being

killed on his way to be baptized. I do not say it could

not happen; but I believe the Bible gives us a clear

answer in case it should happen. If the grace of God

(as some claim) can reach down and offset the LAW

in this case; why not in hundreds of other cases all

over the land? For example, old Felix the governor, told Paul, "Go thy way for this time; when I have aconvenient season, I will call for thee." He, no doubt, had good intentions but as far as we know he never did obey the gospel of our Lord. There are thousands of people all over the world, who no doubt, plan some day to be baptized into Christ. Their intentions are good. What about these people? Will God save them on good intentions? Certainly not. Jesus said, "Not ever yone that saith unto me, L or d, L or d, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." T he emphasis must be placed on the ones who obey and not theones on their way or with good intentions.

The old argument of circumstances setting asideLAW is not only advocated by people in denominations, but also by members of the Lord's body. I recall an ar gument being made to me sever al year s ago. A person said, "Brother Hogland, I understand that a woman cannot teach over the man as revealed in I Tim. 2:11-12, but what about a small church made up of only women. Let us say a woman is upteaching the women and a man walks into the assembly; is she to sit down or go ahead and teach theman in the audience?" This problem is similar to the one above in many respects. People in the church usually admit that a woman cannot teach or preach publicly over the man. However, some feel that under certain circumstances the LAW might be setaside so that a woman could teach over the man. T his is another "cir cumstantial ar gument" which must be answer ed with the Bible just as the other question about the falling tr ee. T his woman wouldbe obligated to tell the man that according to thescriptures she could not publicly teach man. If she used the Bible I am sure he would understand. This man could be taught the truth in a private way ashundreds of others through the years.

May we come back to the Bible in all things. Ihave never heard of either of the above circumstances happening. But since they are often used asvalid arguments they must be met by the word of God.

"I am very glad to renew as I believe this to be one of the finest papers in the brotherhood." — N. P. Truby, Jr., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

"I hope you can keep the paper going. It is so badlyneeded today. The ignorance in so many congregations is astounding." — A. A. Stone, Miami, Fla.

"We enjoy reading Searching The Scriptures verymuch." — James E . Evans, Gr eenville, T exas."Searching The Scriptures is very good." — Albert F. Robinson, Bowling Green, Mo.

"Once again, let me take this opportunity to thank you for a fine job your paper has done and continues to do." — Charles F. House, San Luis, Ariz.

"We enjoy the paper so much; you ar e doing a good work."— Mrs. O. L. Troutman, Conway, Ark.

"We consider Searching The Scriptures one of the very best, and hope and pray that you will ever speak out courageously and boldly against every departure from a "Thus saith the Lord," both in teaching and

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practice as you ar e pr esently doing." — C. A. Cor nelius, La Porte, Texas.

"I am renewing my subscription to your goodpaper. Anyone can profit by reading it every month.May God bless both of you in your wor k and in preaching. I have heard both of you preach in Murfreesboro, Tenn." — Mrs. W. R. Trail, Woodbury, Tenn.

"Please renew my subscription. I especially enjoyed the article by H. E. Phillips 'Have We Totally Failed?' Keep up the good work." — Jack Goff, Pound, Va.

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"Sorry to be so late in our renewal. We do notwant to miss one issue for we enjoy your paper thoroughly."— Charles and June Lloyd, Milbourne, Florida.

"Please renew my subscription to Searching The Scriptures. I appreciate the efforts of the editors in presenting the truth of God's word. Keep up thegood work; there is much good being done by these publications. I especially appreciate your efforts in answering some articles that have appeared in The Sentinel Of Truth."— A. L. Luker, Beaumont, Texas.

"I am looking forward to receiving Searching The Scriptur es. T he copies which I have r eceived fr om friends were excellent. May the Lord continue tobless you in your endeavors to preach His word through the printed page."— Joe W. Pruett, Birmingham, Ala.

"I certainly appreciate the wonderful articles andnews information contained in each issue of Searching The Scriptures."— John A. Thurman, Lake City, Florida.

"Glad to see you dealing with 'More Letters To Editors.' The attitudes and arguments of these people need to be dealt with in a most candid, but kindly, way ! It may ver y well wake some people up to thetruth. Keep the swor d sharp and clean."— Mr. and Mrs. John A. Humphries, Chester, Va.

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B. B. McCormick, Orlando, Fla.

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"I enjoy Searching The Scriptures and am confident that in its sphere of influence it is doing agreat deal of good."— James W. Adams, Nacogdoches, T exas.

SALVATION OUTSIDE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH? YES OR NO!

The Roman Catholic writers blow both hot and cold on this subject. Catholicism can be said to be afountain that gives forth both bitter waters and sweet at the same opening .. . in other words, she CONTRADICTS HERSELF!

Pope Pius IX breathed both extremes when he wrote:

". . . We must hold as of faith, that out of theApostolic Roman Church there is no salvation;that she is the only ark of safety, and whosoever is not in her perishes in the deluge; we mustalso, on the other hand, r ecognize with certainty that those who are in invincible ignorance of the true religion are not guilty for this in the eyeof the Lord . . ." (Allocution, December 9, 1854.)

Concerning "invincible ignorance," A CatholicDictionar y, by Addis, Ar nold and Scannell, states:

"... A Protestant who thinks the Catholic religion idolatrous, and cannot reasonably be expected, considering his education, circumstances, etc., to think other wise, is guiltless sofar in the sight of God ..." (Page 420-421.)

If the above were true, then the Roman Church would have no r eason for attempting to teach her doctrines to those who were "invincibly ignorant." According to the above, they are not guilty in God'ssight, therefore why should she hope to in any way'improve' the welfare of their soul?

Actually, many Roman Catholic writers appar ently do not believe that "protestants" in "invincibleignorance" are SAFE in God's sight, or these Catholic writers would not have written as they have. We submit the following excerpts:

"Our faith urges us to believe and to hold fast to

the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church ;and We, too, firmly believe and unreservedly confess that outside this Church there is no salvation nor remission of sin . . ." * * * *

". . . Furthermore, We declare, say, define and pronounce, that it is wholly necessary for the salvation of ever y human cr eatur e to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam.)

Certainly, ther e ar e no "qualifying" clauses in the above assertions. Not only is every "human creatur e" to be subject to the Roman Pope, but HE even capitalizes the pronoun "We" when he uses it in reference to himself.

In the year 1215 A.D., the Fourth Lateran Coun

Page 7

cil of the Roman Church was concerned with a religious group known as the Albigenses. In the first Canon of this Council is contained the following statement:

"But there is only one universal Church of the faithful and outside it none at all can be saved."

That Christ established but ONE CHURCH anystudent of the New Testament will admit. However, that that ONE CHURCH is Roman Catholicism, wevehemently deny.

"(The Holy Roman Church) firmly believes, professes and teaches that none of those who are not within the Catholic Church, not only Pagans, but Jews, heretics and schismatics, can ever be partakers of eternal life, but are to go into theeternal fire 'prepared for the devil, and hisangels' (Mt. xxv, 41), unless before the close of their lives they have entered into that Church; ..." (Bull, Cantata Domino.)

"With our hearts we believe and with our lips we confess but one Church, not that of the heretics, but the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic, outside which we believe that none can be saved." (Contained in a Profession of Faith, prescribed for the Naldensians, by Pope Innocent III.)

"For we have to hold as of faith that no one can be saved outside the Apostolic RomanChurch, that she is the one Ark of Salvation, that whoso does not enter her will perish in the flood. But at the same time it is to be held equally certain that those who labor under ignorance of the true religion will never — provided their ignorance is invincible — be held guilty in the eyes of God of this fault." (Pope Pius IX, Singulari quadam.)

CONCLUSION

In any event, Catholic writers are far from united on the subject of the exclusivity of salvation withinthe Roman Catholic Church. In general, the position taken depends upon whether the article or publication was designed for general reading among Protestants and non-Catholics, or was limited in its circulation to seminarians and the Catholic faithful.

Our normal teaching and association with thepresent problems confronting the church today, commonly called "the issues," is generally limited to thefollowing:

1. Sermons at the home congregation by the localevangelist or some visiting pr eacher during a meeting.
2. A class study of the whole subject (thoughther e is a strong tendency among some to avoid this, as it is difficult and most unpopular).
3. Preaching we hear at other congregations, visited in support of their meetings or while on vacation.
4. By way of published papers such as this printed page, including to a very limited degree some chur ch bulletins.
5. Through mail addressed to the church where we get a constant stream of appeals for support for various projects. These come from all points of the compass and cover almost as many differ ent "good works" of the church. It must be noted here, however, that the majority of a congregation does notusually see or hear of all these requests.

This effort is in support of item two above. It is high time many congr egations now face up to thesituation that has encompassed us and would nowseduce Christians (either individually or in groups), to a perverted gospel. If some are shocked at this charge let them read and investigate some of the things that are now being taught as doctrine among us.

We have left off the list above the one of tracts, books and debates, but this is only another form ofpublishing and is covered by item four. These are not, however, to be overlooked for their great part in stemming the tide of digression. Ask yourself, Wher e would we be if some had not taken the time and effort to prepare such a defense of the gospel?They have earned our respect.

There is a tendency among brethren every timesuch a controversial subject as this comes up in aclass to think that it will become a talking point and not a studying point. All too often we hear statements that start with: "Well, if you ask me, Ithink . . ." We must leave the areas of human opinions, we have dwelt ther e long enough, and as Paulsaid in Galatians 4:30 we need to say: "Nevertheless what saith the scripture?" Herein are the answers we seek. The answer is not in any of us, elder, preacher, college president, teacher or what have you. The answer is before us in the gospel. "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed fromfaith to faith" (Rom 1:17). As the thought continues thr ough the Roman letter we come to the sadend of Isr ael in the beginning of the tenth chapter.Are we also, like Israel, trying to establish our ownrighteousness? And by our actions ar e we not submitting ourselves to the righteousness of men rather than to the righteousness of God ? Is this what weare bound for?

I am not alone in being filled with this fear for the Lord's body. We must return to the old paths, seek out the Bible way, use Bible terms to describe Bible conditions. If we are asked, "Are you a liberal?" we should answer, "Yes," for are not we all liberal in keeping with the term as used in II Corin

Page 8 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

thians 8:2? Are we not to be always liberal under the gospel but not with the gospel ? By the same r easoning fr om the scr iptur es, we ar e all to be "conser vatives" in the sense that this means "to keep."And for our learning Paul has outlined for Timothywhat he was to keep (I Tim. 6:20,21).

Since about 1948 we have read tract after tract, books and debates and many other forms of wordstudies as prepared by the various brethren on bothsides of the issues. Yes, and even some who wouldtry to remain neutral. Yet in all this, we have notseen an outline of the scriptures that could be followed like Isaiah 28:9-13 which teaches: "Precept upon precept" and "line upon line." Quite often Ihave wished for such an outline. I wanted it to begin with the teaching of Jesus and continue on through the examples of the early church. Not being satisfied with what I f ound, it was necessar y to pr epar e my own. T his study has helped me to a little better under standing of the pr oblems and to face falseteachers without fear. Perhaps it will help others also. T his is my intent her e.

It would do us well if each prepared an outline topreface any study of institutionalism with a studyof the authority of our Lord. It is only upon this Rock that we must train up those who will follow us in a manner set forth in II Timothy 2:2.

AN OUTLINE FOR STUDY

Basic Principles

Matt. 6:1-4 — To take heed about our alms.

Matt. 6:33 — To seek first the kingdom.

Luke 10:25-37 — What shall I do?

Mark 10:17-27 — What it means to trust in riches.

Mark 12:41-44 — The two mites.

Matt. 19:16-30 — Who then can be saved?

Matt. 25:32-46 — A question of direction.

Luke 14:12-14 — Resurrection of the just.

John 6:25-68 — Social gospel seeks long ago.

The example of the Jerusalem congregation

putting into practice the teaching of Christ

Acts 2:44-45 — Of possessions and goods — an

emergency.

Acts 4:34-47 — Distribution.

Acts 5:1-11 — T empt the Spirit?

Acts 6:1-7 — Congregational problems overcome

— a pattern is established by God for His children.

Miscellaneous problems of the church

Acts 11:27-30 — One congregation helps many ac

cording to ability.

Acts 20:33-45 — More basic teaching to the elders

on the subject of giving.

I Cor. 13:3 — The motivating factor.

Heb. 13:16 — What does communicate mean?

I Tim. 6:'9,10 — The snare of the rich — a per

sonal admonition.

I Tim. 5:3-15 — The problem of widows — whose

responsibility?

I Tim. 5:16 — The scripture that proves false the

doctrine that the church can do anything the

individual can do.

James 1:26,27 — A "man's" pur e r eligion. T his is not a congregational charge any more than ITim. 5:16. If it is a local church matter then where does the soul of a congregation (verse 21) enter the picture? What has a soul anyway?

Rev. 3:4 — Is salvation to a congregation or a person ?

James 1:1-25— Personal admonitions — count the singular personal pronouns; compare the terms that mean congr egation.

First century congregational cooperation

I Cor. 16:1-5 — Concerning the collection.II Cor. 8:1-15 — Liberality vs. non performance. II Cor. 9:1-15 — Professed subjection unto the

gospel — what does this include ?

Rom. 15:25-28 — A certain contribution — their duty. Does this establish a pattern for God'speople ?

Phil. 4:10-19 — Communication in giving and receiving — congregational support of preachers in the vineyards of the Lord at other places.

II Cor. 11:7-9 — Wages paid a preacher by other churches.

Eph. 4:1-4 — One body— the most neglected verse in our teaching in the past twenty years. There is only one body.

Eph. 4:11-16 — For the body of Christ — what was given and why? Ar e we to come to the unity of the Spirit by the incorporation of more bodies to do the task assigned to the L or d's body?T his is but a small beginning. If we seek the ap

proval of God for what we do and how we do it, we

had better rightly divide the wor d by constant study

(II Tim. 2:14,15).(This was written by an elder of the church —

editor.)

At the Continental Congr ess of 1774, San Adams said,

I should advise per sisting in our struggle f or liberty, though it was revealed from heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine, should perish, and only one of a thousand sur vive and r etain his liberty. One such freeman must possess more virtue and enjoy more happiness than athousand slaves; and let him pr opagate his like, and transmit to them what he hath so noblypreserved.

In effect, Adams (one of the original drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) was willing to die f or freedom because it allows one to "possess more virtue" and "enjoy more happiness." Christ and the early Christians lived under the fully-as-oppressive-as-the-England-of-Co

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9

lonial-times Roman government. Any number of avenues of rebellion were open to them: (1) the Zealots openly advocated it; (2) Christians more than anyothers are led by the Holy Spirit of God toward divine virtue and the truest, deepest, most fulfilling happiness, so that they might have been led by thesame Holy Spirit to band together for rebellion as a group in the interest of virtue and happiness; (3) they could have added great numbers to the rebellion of 69 A.D. in Judea and particularly in Jerusalem. If Sam be right, it would seem the Holy Spirit of God led Chr istians to be unr esistant to the er osion of virtue and happiness, for that Spirit spoke expr essly saying,

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher

powers. For there is no power but of God: the

power s that be ar e appointed — or dained —

ordered of God. Therefore he who resists and

sets himself up against the authorities resists

what God has appointed — arranged. And those

who resist will bring down judgment upon them

selves" (K.J. and Amplified Versions compared

and used).

T he faith (sum total of God's message to man)

was once f or all time and all men completed by the

end of the First Century A.D. (Jude 4, II Tim. 3:16

17). At what time and under what cir cumstances

may Romans 13 be excepted?

Does this line of thought (1) misunderstand

Adams' statement; (2) misunderstand the Holy

Spirit's statement? Did Adams misunderstand (1)

true virtue and happiness ; (2) the demands brought

about from the pursuit of virtue and happiness?

Other ------------?

Those of the New Testament church of the early centuries were not only "slaves" unto an increasingly oppressive civil government, but also various ones were literal slaves to certain individuals. Rather than encouraging Onesimus in his personal "struggle for liberty," Paul convinced him by the guidance of thever y Spirit of God to r etur n to an atmospher e wher e (in the mind of Sam Adams) he would possess far less virtue and happiness (book of Philemon).

Next to consider is Patrick Henry, who stirred Vir ginia to action on Mar ch 23, 1775, by saying atthe Provincial Convention in the House of Bur gesses :

Gentlemen may cr y peace, peace — but ther e is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery ? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know what course others may take; but as for me give me liberty, or give me death! T hese questions demand satisfaction for the in-quiring Christian: (1) Can the purpose of God and our destiny in Christ betruly served and fulfilled by preserving temporal life . . . even "at the price of chains and slavery" ... so that we may continue to serve spiritual interests in the temporal body OR shall we risk that temporal life and destroy the temporal bodies of others, thus sealing abruptly theireternal fate, in order that others (and ourselves if spared) might serve spiritual interests in an atmosphere of greater freedom? (2) Can we determine whether spiritual interests have greater potential for fulfillment according to the will of God in an atmosphere of "chains and slavery" or in an atmosphere of "liberty?" (3) Assuming "liberty" provides the greater potential, can true Christians bear arms to institute or protect such an atmosphere and thus bear arms for Christ?

In his The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. I, E dwar d Gibbon obser ves: That public virtue which among the ancientswas denominated patriotism, is derived from astrong sense of our own inter est in the pr eser

vation and prosperity of the free government

of which we ar e member s.

This great mind from the same time period asAdams and Henry thus suggests in concise terms what is obvious upon careful thought. Many are called from within to the battleground by a strong sense of interest in preservation of their government, and thus themselves . . . or, as they may seeit, a strong sense of interest in preservation of themselves without regard to any civil government. Whatof the desire to protect oneself and one's family, and therefore his belongings and surroundings andcountry or government? Is this desire vindicated,yea exalted and bound upon the Christian, by theSpirit's message through Paul in I Tim. 5:8: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own kindred-house-family, he hath denied thefaith, and is worse than the infidel"? Is the desire for self -preservation upon attack, whether boundinto the governmental unit or expressed on one'sdoorstep during a violent demonstration for non-violence, justifiable before God simply because it appears to be "instinctive?" May the desire for self-preservation be based on a desire to preserve self and family for service to be r ender ed to God in extended human life? . . . thus is one not bearing arms for Christ? Does scripture teach some concept of "human dignity" which necessarily implies, or implies at all, a divinely bestowed right to "a strong sense of our own interest in" self-preservation?

Prayer, not political fanfare, is needed in grappling with so serious principles. Careful thought and sincere interest in the Truth must reign above the inclinations to pre-judge, to have one's own way regardless of all, to rally around glittering generalities. General confusion clouds the mind when endless and meaningless questions are posed off one direction and then another. These questions are posed in an effort to get Christians to probe into the basics of whatthey believe and why, to dig for roots, principles, the balance of Truth. May God see in today's Christians a determination to genuinely aim for Truth. The Master has said:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye

shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto

you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and

he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh

it shall be opened.

Page 10___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

BINGHAM-HIGHERS DEBATE

T her e will be a public discussion at Corinth, Mississippi on the benevolent work of the church onNovember 20, 21, 23, and 24, 1967. T he debate will be conducted at the Strickland church of Christ, located 6 miles east of Corinth on Highway 72.

T he disputants will be Alan E . Higher s of Memphis, Tennessee, who has the endorsement of theJerusalem church, and W. Eural Bingham of Corinth, who has the endorsement of the Meeks Street church. T he discussion will begin each evening at 7:30. T he propositions are as follows: MONDAY AND TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AND21, 7:30 P.M.It is in harmony with the Scriptures for churches of Christ to contribute from their treasuries to benevolent institutions such as Childhaven, Southern Christian Home, and others of like character. AFFIRMS: Alan E. Highers DENIES: W. Eural Bingram THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, NOVE MBE R 23 AND 24, 7:30 P.M.

The Scriptures teach that in benevolence churches of Christ may relieve saints only.

AFFIRMS: W. Eural Bingram

DENIES: Alan E. Highers

Calvin Allen, Jasper, Ga.— A new congregation standing for the New Testament order of work andworship began meeting the first Sunday in October in Rome, Georgia. Their temporary meeting placeis the Maple Ave. Community Center at 914 Maple Ave., Rome, Ga. They have made a good start and the future looks bright. They meet at 2 o'clock for Bible study and 3 o'clock for the main service onSunday afternoon's. At the present time various preachers from the North Georgia area will bedoing the speaking. T hey ar e in need of a full time preacher but he would need complete outside support. Anyone interested or if you know of any people in that ar ea that need to be contacted, you may contact: Donald Holmes, 8 Kings Court, Rome, Georgia or call 235-0803.

I started my third year in Jasper in September. Things look a little better for the Lord's cause in North Georgia. I am looking forward to a good year.

SHEPHERDSVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST

P. O. Box 547 Shepherdsville, Ky. 40165

The church in Shepherdsville, Ky. is in need of afull time man to move there. Anyone interested write, P.O. Box 547 Shepherdsville, Ky. or call 543-7371. Will be needed Jan. 1st.

Bro. Ed. Walker who preaches there will be

moving to Flint, Michigan to wor k with the chur ch

at 12th and Fenton around Jan. 1st.

Elvis Bozarth, 3679 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, Illi-nois 60651 — Item 1: The church of Christ, 1702 Da-vitt St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is in need of a gospel preacher immediately. The church has asmall two-bedroom apartment joined to the meetinghouse but would rent a larger place if needed. Thus quarters and utilities would be furnished. Support would have to be raised but we believe this can be done.

T he chur ch is small in number but has a goodnucleus of young servicemen. However, the air base is being slowly closed and the ser vice per sonnel could leave at any time. T his is the ur gency.

In addition to the work at Soo, Michigan, there are four churches in Canada whose pulpits are open to the preaching of the truth. They are all within60 miles. Each church has some liberal thinkers and liberal preachers are also allowed to preach in meetings, etc.

I have been personally close to this work for three years and believe there are many fine opportunities in that area. George Pennock and Rolland Fritz, who were there two years and three years respec-tively,did good work. Herschel Davis, who was ther e last winter, did the cause much harm. No preacher has lived among them since March. Item 2: Carol Bates, 1034 S. Gar den Ct., Flint, Michigan 48503,wants to go back into full time work as an evangelist. The church at Gingelville, Michigan (near Pontiac) has invited him to move there the first of the year and can support him $50.00 monthly. He has been pr omised $100. mor e and will still need $500.00 more.

Car ol has been in secular wor k the past year and the year before that he did full time work with theCentral church in Flint, Michigan. Carol is a youngman with two children. He was trained in preaching by his father-in-law, the esteemed Ralph Givens,now of Susanville, California.

I have worked with Carol in meetings and haveobserved his work. I believe he is worthy of support and so commend him to brethren everywhere. Item

3: Ray Warren, who preaches for the Albion,Michigan church is in need of additional support. He has been receiving $550. monthly, of which $70. was paid by the local church. During this time the chur ch met in his home. T his house has been sold and he had to move to the country. The church willnow have to use its money to r ent a place to meet.In addition to the $70. I believe that Ray needs mor e support. Inflation affects preachers like everyone else and unless a man gets periodic raises to keep up with price increases, he actually is reduced inpay. If some chur ch could take up $100 monthly or any part of that, please write to Ray at 7710 231/2 Mile Rd., Homer, Michigan

Ray began preaching in 1963 while still in the Army at El Paso, T exas. He pr eached while engaged in secular work for the Solane Drive church of L as Cruces, N.M. for several months, full-time with thechurch at Helen, N.M. a few months, fifteen months

Page 11

with the church at Medina, Tenn., and has been inAlbion since September, 1966. He does good work and is worthy of support.

NEW RADIO PROGRAM

Millions of people in the United States and several other countries can now hear the gospel on a new radio program supported by the Arch Street church in Little Rock, Arkansas. The program is heard eachSunday at 8:00 p.m. on station KAAY, 1090 on thedial, a 50,000 watt clear channel station. T he station has been heard in every state, but its primary signal goes north and south of Arkansas and reaches from Cuba to Canada. If you can hear the program, weurge you to listen, announce it, and be sure to write us. This is another effort of the Arch Street church to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ.

Eugene Britnell

Joe W. Pruett, 3259 Greendale Rd., Birmingham, Alabama — During August and September 2 wer e baptized as a result of a Bible Class in their home, 1 was restored and 1 placed membership at CahabaHeights.

Joe W. Pruett, 3259 Greendale Rd., Birmingham, Ala. — The following -speakers spoke in a series of gospel meetings at Cahaba Heights church of Christ October 8 through October 13. A different speaker as featured at each of the services — Sunday, 9:30

a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; Monday thr ough Friday, 7:30

p.m. The speakers and their subjects were: Sunday

a.m. — CHARLES MAPLES, Serving GodAcceptably. Sunday, p.m. — DAVID HARKRIDER, JudgmentBegins At The House of God.Monday, p.m. — GENE FROST, Sources of Author

ity in Religion Now.T uesday, p.m. — BENNY LEE FUDGE, The Christian and the Modern Social Revolution. Wednesday,

p.m. — RICHARD WEAVER, Seek, Do

and Teach, Ezra 7:10. Thursday, p.m.— JIMMY THOMAS, The Holy Spirit.Friday, p.m. — CURTIS FLATT, The Christian and the Race Problem.

MORE LIBERAL THAN MOST LIBERALS John A. Thurman, Lake City, Fla.

The liberal congregation of the Church of Christ in Lake City has added one more, more liberal "innovation" or congregational support to an ever increasing list of unscriptural and "denominational"list of human innovations. The church in questionalr eady has a chur ch kitchen which on Sunday has been used as a classroom, the members had formerly provided other members of the church theL or d's Supper at their convenience in the Hunting Camp, the church regularly announced and supported a ball team for members and their children, the minister some time ago joined the ColumbiaCounty Ministerial Association and accepted position as Secretary of that body who control community activities (religious) as well as radio programs and such like, and the church is presently standing behind sister churches of Christ who endorse and support by philosophy or deed the congr egational support of human institutions.

Now the church has added one more "denominational" practice. This week the Columbia CountyMinisterial Association, which includes the liberal chur ch's minister s, sponsor ed a film by Billy Graham called "THE RESTLESS ONES", considered to be one of the more outstanding films in presenting the teenage crisis of today. Billy Graham talksintermittently throughout the film and at its end extends an invitation at its conclusion, as he alsodoes at his crusades. Before or after the film books and records are sold. These records are the musical score of the production; whereas the book emphasized is World Aflame. In addition to this a $1.00 admission charge is made to see the film, even though advertisements claimed it was free.

One of the most "denominational" aspects presented to the public at large is the support and participation of the liberal church. Not only was the film publicly announced at services but members, including an elder of the church, was seen taking up tickets at one of the showings.

How can our brethren have progressed so liberally and denominational in such a short period oftime? Who among us would allow Billy Graham toextend a "partial" gospel invitation to those outside the fold of Christ? Or how much less of the scriptures and wisdom of our liberal ministers wouldmembers allow a minister of the Gospel to join aministerial association? It is time for us to wake upand to let our erring brethren know of the error of these troubled times. Let us ever be sure that we in everything follow "IN HIS STEPS."

The above film referred to was shown in Lake City's City Hall Auditorium on September 24, 25, 26.

THE LORD'S WORK IN AUSTRALIA

By Robert Harkrider

In some ways the L or d's wor k is still in its infancy in Australia. Those who have obeyed the gospel are few in number, and no congregation is yet large enough to fully support an evangelist. Judging from the facts I have been able to gather, less than 800 faithful Christians are in the whole country. Theseare gathered into 40 local congregations (varying insize from 2 to 80 members) scattered across a country as large in land area as the mainland U.S.A. The total population of Australia is about 12,000,000people and most of these live along the coastal ar ea.

The Lord's work in Australia is unlike that exper

ienced in most American cities, for in Australia the

majority of people have never had the opportunity

to hear the pure gospel of Christ nor do they know

anything about the effort to restore the New Testa

ment chur ch. Hence, the aver age Aussia does not

have a "built-in" prejudice, and usually he is open

minded when investigating the truth.

The greatest problem in Australia seems to be

Page 12 _________________________________________________________________________________________________

that of stirring interest to study the Bible. Although official statistics show that about 90% of the population are Christians and profess membership in areligious body, the country is filled with spiritual apathy. The largest religious bodies are the Anglicans and Catholics, but the skeptics and "non-practicing member s" seem to be in the major ity in these churches. Several have expressed to us their owndisgust at the tradition-bound doctrines being taught and have the attitude that "if this is religion theywant no part of it."

THE NEED IS GREAT

Australia is in urgent need of devoted Christians to come and teach the simple gospel of Christ. I recognize this need exists in every part of the world and r ead with gr eat appr eciation the editor ial byYater Tant, "Can You Help Us Find A Preacher" which appeared in the Gospel Guardian, August 17,1967. T he ur gent demand f or faithful pr eacher s is perhaps no greater in Australia than in any other part of the world, but surely every man who is able to come to this land "down under " should give it serious consideration.

The Restoration Movement actually began in Australia in 1846, but the major portion of these advocates have now digressed to the point that they are no longer distinguished from denominationalism. The Associated Churches of Christ (Christian Churches) claimed 95,633 adherents in the 1961 religious census; however, these congregations are much like the Baptist churches in doctrine and practices. In fact, posters advertising the Billy Graham crusade can be observed at their buildings, and most of their preachers no longer believer baptism essential for remission of sins.

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

The few disciples who are attempting to stand for the old paths are again being tested in the faith bythe introduction of "area wide campaigns for Christ", "Herald of Truth radio programs", and inMarch, 1968, the proposed establishment of the "Australian Bible College" (for preachers) as "the work of the Northside church in Dallas, Texas with sister congregations in America and Australia."

Actually, the terms "liberal" and "conservative" mean little or nothing to the average Australian, for these chur ches have not been lar ge enough to support human organizations and are unaware of most of the promotional schemes among churches in America. However, most American preachers whohave come to Australia have been men who believe in the sponsoring church arrangement and church support of benevolent societies.

Roily McDowell, of Bundaberg, Queensland, is theonly native Australian preacher (perhaps one other in Tasmania) who is supported by conservative congregations in America. On May 24, 1967, Harold Comer (formerly of Brownsburg, Indiana) ; Jim Ever ett (4th and Gr oesbeck, Lufkin, T exas) ; and I(Hueytown, Alabama) arrived with our families andnow represent the only American preachers in Australia supported by conservative churches. The Comers have settled in Bundaberg at the invitation of the church there, but plan also to preach in surrounding cities in an effort to establish new congregations. Jim and I have settled in the southern part of Sydney and are attempting to establish another congregation (only the fifth) in this great city of Sydney (3,000,000 population).

Harris J. Dark preached for three months in Australia in 1959, and Sewell Hall came for three months in 1966. The work of both these men accomplished much good, and their efforts continue to bear fruit through opening doors of opportunity for us.

Much pressure has been exerted on the Australian brethren to have nothing to do with us because of our "anti" views. A letter written by one preacher in Perth was circulated to all the churches before we arrived which attempted to cut us off from Australian br ethr en even bef or e we wer e given a hear ing. It has had some effect. In fact, the only other preacher devoting full time to the work in Sydneyhas not met us and sent wor d that we NOT come to any of the ser vices wher e he pr eached.

Our views have been misrepresented and naturally these brethren are being cautious with us. However, we have been given sever al open door s and havefound the Australians basically rather conservative. After explaining what in truth we do believe andteach, they seem to grasp the principles involved. We believe time and further contact will erase the strained feelings that are now caused by the false charges made against us.

SUMMARY

Much work is before us in this country. The words of the Lord have particular meaning in describing the opportunities: "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few" (Luke 10:2). Many cities are without any known Chr istian living in them, and thefew Chr istians who ar e in the other cities need to be built up in the faith and encouraged to faint not. Ifyou know of any brother who may be interested incoming, please put him in contact with us. — P.O. Box 52

Caringbah, N.S.W. 2229Australia

CONGREGATIONAL COOPERATION

of the

CHURCHES OF CHRIST By H. E. WINKLER

A well arranged and documented book of 158 pages dealing with church sponsorships, centralized power and control, orphan homes and Herald of Truth. Diagrams and charts help emphasize the truth.

$1.00 per copy

order from

PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS

P. O. Box 77244Tampa, Florida 33612

Page 13

The following debates are available on new l 1/2 mil.

Mylar (polyester) tape, weather resistant, recorded on

both sides at 3 3/4 i.p.s. These tapes can be played on any

recorder using a 7" reel. Each reel contains one full

night's discussion. Recording at 1 7/8 i.p.s. can be obtained

on 3" or 5" reels. The price is $3.00 per reel — one reel

for each night. Any defective recording will be replaced

free of charge if the bad tape is returned.

Order from: PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS

P. O. Box 1 7244Tampa, Florida 33612

LITTLE ROCK DEBATE

Little Rock, Arkansas June 28, 29, 1966

1S T NIGHT: "Resolved that Genesis provides the most probable explanation for the origin and nature of the universe." AFFIRMATIVE: Dr. James D. Bales and Dr. Jack Wood Sears, Harding College, Searcy, Arkansas. NEGATIVE: Dr. Carl Sagan, Dept. of Astronomy, Harvard University and Dr. Ernan McMullin, Chairman of Dept. of Philosophy, Notre Dame University. One hour of questions from audience answered. 2ND NIGHT: "Resolved that the Theory of Evolution has been scientifically established." AFFIRMATIVE: Dr. R. C. Lewontin, Chairman of Dept. of Biology, University of Chicago and Dr. Thomas K. Shotwell, writer for Salsbury Laboratories. NEGATIVE: Dr. James D. Bales and Dr. Jack Wood Sears, Harding College, Searcy, Arkansas. One hour of questions from audience answered.

THREE REELS — $9.00

Tennessee June 13-17, 1966

FIRST TWO NIGHTS: "The scriptures teach thai baptism in water is for (in order to obtain) remission of sins." AFFIRMATIVE: Thomas G. O'Neal, Christian NEGATIVE: P. D. Bollard, Baptist LAST TWO NIGHTS: "The scriptures teach that a child of God (one washed in the blood of Christ) can not so sin as to be finally lost in hell." AFFIRMATIVE: P. D. Bollard, Baptist NEGATIVE: Thomas G. O'Neal, Christian

FOUR REELS — $12.00

MOSBY-TOTTY DEBATE

Frankfort, Kentucky December 12-16, 1966

1ST NIGHT: "It is scriptural for the church of Christ to take money from its treasury to give benevolent assistance to those who are not members of the church."

AFFIRMATIVE: W. L. Totty NEGATIVE: Ronald Mosby 2ND NIGHT: "I t is

not scriptural for the church of Christ to take money from its treasury to give benevolent assistance to those who are not members of the church."

AFFIRMATIVE: W. L. Totty NEGATIVE: Ronald Mosby 3RD NIGHT: "I t is scriptural for a local church of Christ to make contribution to a benevolent institution, such as Potter Orphan Home at Bowling

Green, Kentucky." AFFIRMATIVE: W. L. Totty NEGATIVE: Ronald Mosby 4TH NIGHT: "It is not scriptural for a local church of Christ to make contri

butions to benevolent institutions, such as Potter Orphan Home at Bowling Green, Kentucky." AFFIRMATIVE: Ronald Mosby NEGATIVE: W. L. Totty

FOUR REELS — $12.00

DODGE-WILSON DEBATE

Payette, Idaho January 30-February 2, 1967

FIRST TWO NIGHTS: "The Kingdom, which is God's government, was established in the year 1914 A.D." AFFIRMATIVE: Charles C. Dodge, Jehovah's Witness NEGATIVE: John W. Wilson, Christian LAST TWO NIGHTS: "The Scriptures teach that man has a soul or spirit which is immortal." AFFIRMATIVE: John W. Wilson, Christian NEGATIVE: Charles C. Dodge, Jehovah's Witness

FOUR REELS — $12.00

BRITNELL-STATEN DEBATE

Little Rock, Arkansas December 6-10, 1965

1ST NIGHT: "The scriptures teach that one is forgiven of alien sins, saved or born again, at the point of faith when he obeys the command, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, which takes place before and without water baptism."

AFFIRMATIVE: Ralph Staten, Free Will Baptist

NEGATIVE: Eugene Britnell, Christian

2ND NIGHT: "The scriptures teach that water baptism for a penitent believer is essential for the! forgiveness of alien sins or conversion."

AFFIRMATIVE: Eugene Britnell, Christian NEGATIVE: Ralph Staten, Free Will Baptist 3RD NIGHT: "The scriptures teach that the church or kingdom was established or set up before Pentecost in Acts two." AFFIRMATIVE: Ralph Staten, Free Will Baptist NEGATIVE: Eugene Britnell, Christian 4TH NIGHT: "The scriptures teach that the church of Christ (the kingdom) was established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ." AFFIRMATIVE: Eugene Britnell, Christian NEGATIVE: Ralph Staten, Free Will Baptist

FOUR REELS — $12.00

GRIDER-McCAGHREN DEBATE

Longview, Texas

October 17-20, 1966

FIRST TWO NIGHTS: "The scriptures are violated when one church sends funds to another church in order that the receiving church may preach the gospel over the radio, T.V. or conduct a meeting."

AFFIRMATIVE: A. C. Grider

NEGATIVE: H. C. McCaghren LAST TWO NIGHTS: "It is in Harmony with the scriptures for churches of

Christ to send funds to a home in order that an orphan child may be adequately cared for." AFFIRMATIVE: H. C. McCaghren NEGATIVE: A. C. Grider

FOUR REELS — $12.00

CROWE-SMITH DEBATE

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma May 20, 21, 1966

BOTH NIGHTS: "There is an exclusive and binding pattern in the New Testament for the work and worship of the church which is violated by taking money from the first day of the week contribution to build and maintain kitchens and fellowship halls for the purpose of providing facilities for the church to have social meals."

AFFIRMATIVE: J. T. Smith NEGATIVE: Glenn Crowe

TWO REELS — $6.00

BASIS FOR MORALITY

Billy Duncan, Trenton, Florida

We are constantly reminded that the world is suffering a decline in mor ality. In the April 14, 1967issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY there appeared a short article reporting where an Ontario Supreme Court justice was ruled unfit to judge. He stated that "I often lie on minor matters." We read of situational ethics and new morality. Humanism rejects the authority of God as a basis for morality, and professes to believe that man can develop his own code. T his is the bur den of Walter Lippmann's A Preface To Morals, published in 1929.

It is apparent that if society is to be preserved man must observe some code of morals. Huxley observed that "A man's worst difficulties begin whenhe is able to do as he pleases." Disorder is the result of unrestrained pursuit of money, power and excitement, that arises from greed, arrogance and uncontrolled sexual desir e. Any attempt to ethics must recognize the necessity of placing restraint upondesire. For happiness and serenity of soul requires a better or ganization of lif e than man can attainthr ough pursuing his own and immediate car nal ambitions.

Another short article from the May 12, 1967 issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY reports that Dr. Francis Braceland, former president of the American Psychatric Association and currently the editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry, has found that "Premarital sex relations growing out of the so-called new morality have significantly increased the number of young people in mental hospitals."

Lippmann considers the decline in morals to be the result of a loss of faith in God, and for which heseems to partly blame denominational division andthe preaching of modernism. Yet he seems to feel that unbelief is inevitable due to scientific advancement, and that it is impossible for modern man tobelieve. Yet he feels the necessity for a moral code,for to him "it is impossible to reconstruct an enduring orthodoxy, and impossible to live well withoutthe satisfactions which an orthodoxy would provide" (Ibid, pg. 20). Therefore, he turns to humanism for a code of morals.

However, he recognizes that as a basis for morality, humanism is weaker than faith in God. "A human mor ality has no such sanction as a divine.""It is evident that a morality of humanism presents far greater difficulties than a morality premised ontheism." For theism when it was credible "bound together the whole of experience upon a stately anddignified theme" (Ibid, pgs. 49, 137, 9). It is evident, then, that to one who feels that man can no longer believe in a supreme being so as to make life havemeaning, the only alternative is some system of religion based on humanism.

This religion Lippmann calls a high religion, thereligion of Aristotle, Buddha and Spinoza, wherein"these great teachers placed their emphasis uponthe conversion, the education, and the discipline ofthe human will. . .This alteration of the human will they conceived as good not because God commandsit, but because it is intrinsically good for man, because by the test of experience it yields happine

ss,serenity, whole-heartedness." He sees the disciplineas "an effort to overcome immaturity" so as "to beable to observe our own feelings as if they wereobjective facts, to detach ourselves from our fears,hates, and lusts, to examine them, name them,identify them, understand their origin, and finally tojudge them, is somehow to rob them of their imperiousness." "To have virtue is to respond to largersituations and to longer stretches of time and without much interest in their immediate result inconvenience and pleasure . . . which is maturity ofcharacter" (Ibid, pgs. 195, 191, 219, 225). Lippmannsees happiness as the result of following a systemof rules which experience has found to actually workto man's good.

There is a remarkable semblance in the requirements of a moral code as seen above and in the requirements of the divine moral code of the Bible.A conversion, education and discipline are requiredby both. Restraint of the carnal appetites is the discipline in both. But why shouldn't the semblanceexist? If the laws governing the universe may bediscovered and tested in the laboratory, why may notthe laws governing morals be discovered to some ex

-tent? Paul says that God's laws are capable of beingtested. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, thatye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, andperfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2).

Lippmann's excuse for turning to humanism is hisclaim that it is no longer possible for man to believe in God. While it is evident that many do not believe,even among churchmen, and many have lost faith,yet many do believe. There are many evidences ofthe existence of God. The universe cannot be ade

-

quately explained without recognizing God. "The

heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalms 19:1).

Kant believed that morality justified a belief in the

existence of God. I so believe, also, and feel that

Lippmann's admissions concerning morality and the

effect of faith in God upon morality argue in favor

of the existence of God.

No moral code can be established without recog

-nizing a connecting principle in life and that life isgoverned by laws such that what works best underone set of circumstances will also work best under similar circumstances. To the extent the code is in harmony with the laws governing life, to that extentthe code will work. But Lippmann recognizes that nohuman code will work as effectively as the divine,one involving faith in God. The code that reallyworks has faith in God as its underlying principle.The existence of God is in harmony with the principies and laws that govern life and morality. Unbelief, or lack of faith in God, is at odds with the lawsgoverning morality. Therefore, God exists! A morality that works demands it.

The Bible presents a code of morals that is thuscommended in the experience of man. Thus Paul saysof the fruits of the Spirit, "against such there is nolaw" (Gal. 5:23). The Beatitudes of the sermon onthe mount (Matthew 5) have the ring of authorityand truth, and the life of a Christian exemplifies the"stately and dignified theme" of the morals of theBible. But though man may to some extent discoverand verify in his experience the laws governing mo

-rality, there is a limit to such discovery. (There mayalso be some limit in the physical universe, for manstill searches and still constantly revises his esti

-mate of his discoveries.) For man deals only withhis findings that are related to this life, and that arerelated mostly to man. But in the Bible we have "thewisdom that is from above" (Jas. 3:17) and thatteaches what is best for man in time and eternitywith regard to his relationship with God and man.

That faith in God is basic to moral strength isobservable in man's experience. That this should beso is to be expected. For in divine morality the conversion, education and discipline are vitally united.Faith in God pervades them all, and is the strengthening power to His children (Heb. 11; John 12:32;Rom. 8:1-13; Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11). A lack of discipline indicates a lapse in education (II Pet. 1:8,9)and a deficiency in conversion (Gal. 5:24). We hearmuch about churches needing conversion. Attempt

-ing this through social activities will fail. For faithcomes from God's Word (Rom. 10:17). Faithfulpreaching of the truth is the remedy. For if man'sheart is filled with Bible truth so that he will "think on these things" (Phil. 4:8), his life will be molded in conformity (Prov. 23:7; II Cor. 3:18), and will"prove what is that good, and acceptable, and per

-fect, will of God."

THE PEOPLE'S NEW TESTAMENT WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES

B. W. Johnson

This new one-volume edition isthe product of many years of dedicated study, research and insight. It contains the entire NewTestament in both the King James and Revised Versions, inparallel columns for ready reference and comparison. A verse- by-verse study on the same page with thetext. A very popular commentary.

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