THE URGENT NEED OF THE DAY
H.E. Phillips
Somehow we seem unable to get people to serious
ly consider their true relationship to God. There is
the tendency to procrastinate: continually delay do
ing what ought to be done. Everybody thinks he has
plenty of time to get things right before the judg
ment, but it is never done in most cases. The need to
preach the word is urgent because the time is short
and so much needs to be done.
Paul's charge to Timothy was to "preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Tim.
4:2 ASV). "And that, knowing the time, that now itis high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is farspent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off theworks of darkness, and let us put on the armour oflight" (Rom. 13:11,12).
The urgency is obvious in many areas. There is anurgent need to awaken parents to the need for teaching their children the word of God at an early age,and to continue this teaching as long as they havethem under their influence. It is so easy to neglectthose early years and then lament in later years because their children "lost interest and belief in the Bible." Strong teaching must be done along this line.
There is an urgent need to improve the moral concept of most "church members" who wink at the common sins of society, and even engage in many ofthem without even so much as a blush. They are among those who "after their own lusts shall theyheap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; andthey shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:3,4). "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise ofGod" (John 12:43). They have become "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4). Itis high time that some strong, plain preaching andteaching be done to build a better moral standard forthe people of God.
There is an urgent need for training teachers and en
couraging men to become elders and deacons that
meet God's standard. Far too many churches have no
elders at all or a weak leadership in the elders, who
have little or no conviction of right and wrong, and
have less courage to stand for the truth against the
swelling tide of digression. We have an urgent need
for informed deacons who know and practice the
difference between the work of deacons and the over
sight of the elders. In some churches the deacons out
number the elders and in their meetings out-vote
them. This becomes a perverted arrangement of both
elders and deacons, "taking the oversight" with the
emphasis on the deacons.
There is an urgent need for preachers to be contentwith preaching the pure gospel and to get out of theconstant wrangle for recognition in some specializedfield. It seems to me that the "specialized" preacherstalk more about the Bible and related subjects, (andoften unrelated subjects), but very little talk from theBible. We need to emphasize the old time sound,plain preaching that is able to save those who hearand believe it. The urgent need is to be plain andsimple in proclaiming the power of God to save, thegospel of Christ.
There is an urgent need for voices to cry aloud in
this day of compromise and ecumenicalism with the
false religions of the age. Both by vocal preaching and
by the written page we need men who are not asham
ed to speak the truth in exposing error. Since God is
no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and if we have
respect of persons, we commit sin, it behooves us to
speak against sin wherever and whenever it appears,
even if it be our best friends who are guilty.
There is an urgent need for deeper spiritual minded
worshippers of God. The forms through which most
of us go weekly (and also weakly) make us miserable
as religious devotees.
There are two extremes to which most churches gotoday in their work. They either build an entire program of work consisting of four periods of publicmeeting each week, a bulletin and a meeting once ayear, or they go into all sorts of businesses and become involved in unscriptural works and social activities to build attendance and "convert" (?) new
members. The urgent need is to involve each member
of each congregation in teaching and living the word
every day. Make heaven a real goal for every Christian.
Let us work the works of God while it is day, the
night comes when no man can work (John 9:4). We
must get busy and be completely sincere at this all
important matter of preparing to meet our God.
MY PLEDGE TO YOU FOR SEVENTY-TWO
As we close twelve years of publishing Searching The Scriptures and look forward to the thirteenth year, by the grace of God I am resolved to do the bestjob possible to me as editor in providing a wellbalanced, Bible centered, thought provoking, impartial magazine that will cause the readers to searchthe scriptures for a better understanding of God'sword. During the twelve years past I have fully enjoyed the pleasant fellowship of all those wonderful menwho have contributed in various ways to the worth ofthis paper. The staff writers who have contributed somuch to the good accomplished through this mediumover the years are: James P. Miller in the earlier years,Marshall E. Patton, E.V. Srygley Jr., Thomas G.O'Neal, Luther W. Martin, Ward Hogland, Paul Foutz,Harold Sharp, Connie W. Adams, Dr. W.P. McElwain,Eugene Britnell, Harold Tabor, Bob West, Melvin D.
Curry, J.T. Smith, Kenneth Green, and many others
who have written from time to time. Many faithful
men and women have sent regular lists of names and
paid for them each month. Many others have obtain
ed subscriptions wherever they went and sent them
regularly. Without all these interested fellow-workers
the joys of this work would not have been possible.
I have also felt pressures of meeting deadlinesand experienced the lonely hours when importantdecisions must be made in the area of editing materialto be published, and the difficult times of findingfunds to meet the financial obligations of publishingthis paper. All in all these twelve years have enrichedmy life and provided me a means to better serve myMaster. If it be his will, I pray that I may be able tocontinue this work of reaching far more each month than I could in person.
I pledge myself to you, the reader, to do a betterjob in every area than I have done before, God beingmy strength. First, I am determined to get the publication date back to the first of the month and keep itthere. This means that articles and news reports mustbe in the office by the 10th of the previous month ofthe issue to be published.
I pledge to you in '72 to provide a wide variety ofmaterial from some of the best writers among thebrethren today. I will do my best to try to selectthose articles that will give the most insight intodivine truth and stimulate a sincere search in the Book of Books for God's will.
I promise to try to be prompt in filling orders forBibles, reference books, literature and tapes. This isimportant to us because by your purchases you help us support the publication of this magazine. I apologize for all the delays in the past, but I hasten toadd that most of them were beyond my ability to doanything about at the time. We need your businessand we will try to provide the best service possible.
I plan to publish several studies on controversialissues during the coming year. Fellowship, speakingin tongues and miracles, baptism of the Holy Spirit,the accuracy of some new modern translations, thefunction of the local church and the rule of elders are some of the subjects we hope to study. I assureyou that we will do our beet to provide thought provoking material for you to examine in the light ofGod's word.
It is not possible to produce a magazine like Searching The Scriptures without the aid of many people.I have already mentioned the names of good men who have contributed valuable material for the paper.Some are eager to help in every way possible. Othersare interested, but too busy to do much by way ofcontribution of written material. Others are indifferent, almost apathetic, toward the efforts in such apublication as this. Most of the regular writers willcontinue to write under their column heading. Somehave quit writing because they were too busy to domuch; others have joined the staff of writers for other magazines. Perhaps a few quit because of disagreement on some matter of teaching which appeared inthe paper and we never knew what the matter was all
about.
TWO NEW STAFF WRITERS
Two new writers will join the staff next year. Jere
E. Frost, who preaches with the Pine Hills church in
Orlando, Florida, will write the front page article
each month. Brother Frost has been known by me
for many years and is one of the finest and most able
preachers of this generation. He is an excellent writer
and able to present thought provoking, meaty lessons
in a relatively short space. He is able to hold attention
in what he writes. We welcome him to the staff of
good writers of this paper.
Dr. Wayne Mitchell of Tampa, Florida will submit
articles as time permits on questions that have to do
with the relationship of spiritual health to physical
health. My personal regard for Dr. Mitchell was ex
pressed in the editorial of the August issue. He is a
devout Christian, an excellent physician in internal
medicine, a close personal friend and my own doctor.
If you have some matter or question you would liketo have him discuss, please let us hear from you.
Other faithful brethren will submit articles from
time to time and we will give them space as can. My
pledge to you for seventy-two is to render a better
service to Him by whose grace I live and have been
redeemed, and to do my best day and night to get
you to go to heaven with me. It all has to do with the
greatest story ever told: the love of God, the sacrifice
of Christ, and the perfect will of God by which I can
be saved. May God be with you as you strive to serve
Him in '72.
The title does not refer to the amount of support to
be given to preachers, but is intended to raise the
question whether some preachers ought to be sup
ported at all.
I am continually amazed at the generosity of my
brethren. Wayne Payne's report that almost $60,000
was contributed by those "do-nothing anti churches"
for the needy in Nigeria leaves one almost breathless.
I love my brethren and highly esteem them for theirgenerosity and their devotion to our Lord.Another recent case has caused me to be amazed
for a different reason—a case in which brethren rais
ed many thousands of dollars to send to a foreign
country a preacher who has shown himself to be un
worthy of the confidence and support of brethren in
every work he has so far undertaken.
I do not want to say anything to hinder any gospel
effort in the world. I have been interested in foreign
evangelism since I began preaching. I have given the
last seven years of my life to a state that is as much a
"mission field" as any foreign country. I greatly es
teem and appreciate the many faithful men laboring
and sacrificing in strange lands far from home.
But when all that has been said, I then want to say
as strongly as possible that it is not enough for a
preacher to make an emotional speech about the pop
ulation of a foreign country, about how ignorant and
lost so many people are, about how no one is preach
ing to those people, and about how he is willing to go
and sacrifice and preach. Churches being solicited for
their support should want to know more than that.
Even while hearts are aroused with sympathy for lost
souls, heads must demand some solid answers to hard
headed questions about the man doing the soliciting
his character, even his general ability and particular
qualifications to do the work in that country, and the
prospects for success in that land if he is sent there.
Let us learn, my good brethren, that a preacher
who is lazy here will be lazy there; that a man who
has troubled churches in this country will almost cer
tainly wreck the often fragile churches in a foreign
land.
Let us learn, also, that it is not even enough for a preacher to be a good man; he must also be an ableman. Consider 2 Tim. 2:2 "faithful men, who shall beable." If a man cannot do a successful work here, healmost certainly will not be able to plant and build upchurches under the more trying circumstances of a foreign country. If he has so little judgement as to tryto Americanize instead of evangelize and Christianize,he has no business in foreign evangelism.
Let us ask, my faithful brethren, when one suggests
that a preacher is needed in this or that country. "But
why should we send you?"
The demonstrable fact that millions of souls are
lost, dying, and going to hell does not argue that we
should send a man who does not have both character
and ability to preach to them. An unqualified man
will leave undone the job he was sent to do. The souls
will still be lost; they will still be dying; and they will
still be going to hell—and we will have accomplished
only the misspending of thousands of dollars for
nothing. (Some recent cases make me hope the Lord
gives credit for good intentions.)
Nor should a preacher be supported in this countryif he is not both faithful and able. The "preachershortage" so bemoaned by so many has brought withit the consequence that about any low down rascalcan get a job preaching somewhere. Churches often get desperate for preachers and sometimes seemafraid to check on a prospect too closely for fear theywill find out something about him that will discredithim and make him unemployable. Many churcheshave found out to their sorrow that they were a thousand times better off without a preacher at all thanwith an immoral rascal who would flirt with their women but not pay his debts, or a shiftless loafer, oran ignoramus who did not know his Bible and couldnot preach two weeks past his trial sermon.
I hope this article will cause brethren to be more
cautious, but without making it one bit harder for
good men to get the support they need. I wish some
body more qualified had written this article. But no
one did. So I did.
Which is perhaps to say that I wish good and ex
perienced men like Connie Adams, Sewell Hall, Bob
Harkrider, et al. would tell us lesser lights what they
think on this subject. Box 155 Romulus, Michigan 48174
As I ponder the thoughts I wish to put into per
manent form, memories race back and forth through
my mind, ranging from my earliest remembrance to
the last time I looked into her beautiful blue eyes and
kissed her goodbye for the last time in this life. My
grandmother, Mrs. Charlie (Ella Martin) Phillips, was
born December 5, 1873 near Bowling Green, Ken
tucky. She passed from this life on Saturday, Nov
ember 6, 1971, just four weeks and two days short of
her 98th birthday. She had been ill for several months
and had endured much suffering the last few weeks of
her life. Her funeral services were at 10:30 Tuesday
morning, November 9, 1971 at the Arch L. Heady-
Johnson Funeral Home in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
James P. Miller, for many years my co-editor of this
paper and a close friend to the family, spoke from the
word of God to a large gathering of friends and neigh
bors. His comforting lesson and instructive words to
prepare to serve God were appreciated by all the fam
ily and friends present.
Her daughter, Mrs. Blanche Richards and her son-in-law, S.B. Richards, tenderly cared for her through her illness. She had lived with them for over twenty years. She leaves one daughter and son-in-law, onedaughter-in-law (my mother), five grandsons, ninegreat grandchildren, and ten great, great grandchildren.
A thousand precious moments passed in review of
my life as it related to her while I stood and looked
upon her cold, still body which had given so much
warmth to me all through my life. I pictured my four
brothers and myself in her home enjoying the tasty
food prepared just for us. I relived those days in win
ter when she would provide a place in her home and
took the time to play with my brothers and me. I felt
the sharp rebuke and piercing eyes, and even the
spankings well administered when needed. Afterward
she gave the full assurance of true love in the chasten
ing.
I recalled the motherly talks of caution about our companions and playmates and their influences uponus. I remembered the Saturday sessions in helping usprepare for Bible study the next day. I recapturedsome of those summer days when we were out ofschool, and "grandma" would gather the boys in the community into her living room or on the front porch and tell us Bible stories and read to us from theNew Testament. These were thrilling moments neverto be lived again. I saw again that concerned butpleased expression when I first came to her about obeying the Lord in baptism. With a loving embrace she suggested that I read the book of Matthew and come and talk with her again. Each time I came backshe wisely suggested that I carefully read the nextbook, until I had finished the book of Acts. She thentold me to talk with my father and mother, who encouraged me to become a Christian. The power ofthis influence still lives in me and my children and mygrand children.
I remembered that moment in 1939 that I stood beside her and looked upon the still form of my grandfather and heard her give God thanks for allowing herto have him for the number of years they had beenmarried. I thrilled as I heard her teach my young wifeof but a few months some of the skills of being awife, a mother and home keeper. I cherish the manytimes she held me tight and told me how thankful shewas to hear me preach the gospel of Christ, and assured me that she prayed for me every day. I gazed indeep meditation at the folded hands that had rendered so much service to so many for so long, especiallyfor husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. I lookedupon the closed mouth that had spoken so many kindand loving words to so many. I thought of the wordsof the apostle Paul: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesswhich the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me atthat day: and not to me only but unto all them alsothat love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7,8)
I felt the piercing pains deep within myself as I hadto go into her room on that sad Saturday afternoon and tell her of my father's instant death in an automobile accident as he was on the way from Florida tosee her. After a moment's shock and weeping at theloss, she said in comforting tones: "God's will be done." This was her only son. Her only other son haddied at the age of two.
My mother was as a daughter to her. Most of what
she is as a mother, wife, and home keeper she learn
ed from my grandmother.
From an editorial in the December, 1966 issue ofSearching The Scriptures I wrote the following of mygrandmother on her 93rd birthday, a part of whichwas read by brother Miller at her funeral services.
"In the rolling hills of south central Kentucky, inthe city of Bowling Green, my grandmother, Mrs.Charlie Phillips, still lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Richards. On December 5,1966 she will be 93 years of age. As long as I can remember, her first love was the Lord, His word, andthe church. Her husband was an elder at 12th Street church in Bowling Green until his death in 1939. Brother B.G. Hope now preaches for this fine church.
"As far back as I can remember one of the out
standing things of my boyhood days is my grandmother reading the Bible to my brothers and me, and telling us about the outstanding characters in theword of God. To her we owe much for our faith in God and interest in His will. I salute her on her 93rd birthday as a real mother in Israel. The influence ofher teaching and example in life has reached to herchildren (including my father, who left this life in1951), her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and her great, great grandchildren. When one stops tothink of the impact of his personal influence upon future generations, he is made humble before God and sober in his view of his own life. Fathers and mothers need to be busy in guiding their children inthe way of the Lord. Nothing is more important."
Is it an accident that all of her children who reached an accountable age became Christians, and all ofher grandchildren and their wives are Christians, and all nine of her great grandchildren have been baptizedinto Christ, and three of her great, great grandchildren are Christians? This came from right teaching andthe proper example in life.
Now she has passed from this life to rest from herlabors. (Rev. 14:13). My great hope for her eternaldestiny makes my heart rejoice. Not many years andI will join her in eternity. I thank my heavenly Fatherfor a woman like my grandmother to help set myface toward heaven and to give so much encouragement as I tried to preach the word.
H.E. Phillips
PRAISE GOD IN SONG
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves inpsalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Fatherin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Eph. 5:18-21) "Let the word of Christ dwell in yourichly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing oneanother in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."(Col. 3:16)
UNTO THE LORD
Observe that our worship is directed toward theLord. To praise God, we must offer to him that
which he has authorized. We learn the will of God is
"sing" (Mt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:
9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:15;
Jas. 5:13); God's will is not to add instrumental
music to the worship of the New Testament Church.
SPECIFIC SONGS
The kind of songs rendered unto God has beenspecified by him. They are (1) psalms, (2) hymns, and(3) spiritual songs. Each of these are 'spiritual' in nature. Vine says, "the ode (Eng., ode) was thegeneric term for a song; hence the accompanying adjective 'spiritual.'" (Vol. 2, page 241) Singing expresses the spiritual thoughts of the heart to God. Ofado Thayer says, "Eph. v. 19; Col. 3:16, (in bothpassages of the lyrical emotion of a devout and grateful soul.") (Page 13) Of psallo he says, "in the N.T. tosing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song,Jas. v. 13 (R.V. sing praise)..., in honor of God, Eph.
v. 19 (here A.V. making melody); Rom. 15:9; I Cor.
14:15" (Page 675) Of humneo he says, "a song in
praise of gods, heroes, conquerors...but in Scriptures
of God; a sacred song, hymn." (Page 637) Singing
expresses the spiritual thoughts of the heart to God.
"Worldly" songs have their place but not in worship
to God. For example, "America The Beautiful" or
"Wabash Cannonball" would not fit the purpose of
our singing unto God.
What we sing must be scriptural. Someone has said,"It is as bad to sing error as it is to preach error." Weneed to examine what we sing to be sure it expresses scriptural sentiments. At the same time we must permit the song writer to exercise "poetic license" in using figurative language. His use of such does not permit him the right of teaching error even in figurativelanguage. While we make certain that our singing isscriptural, we should be knowledgeable enough offigurative language and the Scriptures so that throughour ignorance of such we do not disturb brethrenover such matters.
DEPENDENCE UPON GOD
We are to "give thanks always for all things unto
God." Our singing to God is not only that of praise to
Him, but it is also of thanksgiving for his blessings.
Some songs are prayers sung to God. In these we ex
press our gratitude to God in praise; we show our de
pendence upon God as we ask his blessings in song
and praise Him for his wonderful works unto us the
children of God. When we are "merry" we should
sing unto the Lord (Jas. 5:13) in thanksgiving for his
blessings to us.
SINGING IS TEACHING
While it is true that we sing "unto God" this is notthe only purpose of our singing. I have known ofthose who did not understand that we taught God's word by singing scriptural songs just like we teach God's word when we preach scriptural sermons. Paulsaid, "Speaking to yourselves" and "teaching and admonishing one another" are some of the thingsaccomplished by singing. Often brethren meet together and have a service entirely of songs. Each songteaches a lesson just like each sermon does. Each istaught and admonished in song to do God's will.Truth taught in song is truth as much as truth preached. He who denies that we teach each other in song isin conflict with Paul.
BABES IN CHRIST
One of the great problems at Corinth and today is an untaught membership. When one obeys the gospel, he comes into the church or family of God asa "new creature." This "new creature" is called in the scripture a "babe" in Christ. He has been born again or born anew. For a while he has to drink milk,spiritual milk, that is suitable for a baby. After a while he grows in the truth and eats stronger food.Paul tells them, in the church at Corinth, they arestill "babes in Christ." In I Cor. 3:2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye werenot able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." Oneof the greatest tragedies of life is to see a boy orgirl fail to develop physically or mentally. To remainan undeveloped baby all its life is heartbreaking. Itis just as great a tragedy to see a Christian whonever grows up in Christ Jesus. The trouble in the church that causes discord and division is usuallycaused by the untaught. The member who can neverbe counted upon to take his place and do his job is,far more often than not, the one who has not grownin the gospel.
Babies act like babies and not as grown men and
women. Envy and strife are signs of a carnal mind
and the actions of a child. Every congregation should
have the very best teaching plan possible and the
best material it can find both for teachers and as
subject matter. Nothing should be left to chance
but careful thought should go into preparing the
overall program and into every class and sermon.
One of the duties of the elder is to "feed the flock,"
and it is of the utmost importance that every one of
the sheep have the very food best suited to their
state of development. This runs from the "sincere
milk of the word" to what the New Testament calls
"strong meat." This automatically calls for different
classes and different levels of material from the word
of God.
Special classes and courses of study for those whohave just obeyed the gospel are in order. They should be made to realize that there is work to be done and study is necessary to do the work. EVERY CHRISTIAN YOUNG AND OLD SHOULD READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY.
"HARD QUESTIONS ---NO. 4"
We continue our series on "Hard Questions." These
questions have been asked on the polemic platform.
It is a reasonable assumption that most of these ques
tions have been asked to embarrass one's opponent
and place him in an unenviable position. However, it
must be remembered that some questions backfire
and cause humiliation to the querist rather than theone questioned.
Our question for this month was asked by Robert
Gordon Clements in a debate at Ft. Smith," Arkansas
in 1957. Robert, at that time was preaching for the
Midland Boulevard congregation of that city. The de
bate itself was over church support of orphan homes,
Herald of Truth, etc. The question read as follows:
"Is it scriptural for one church to send Bibles to
another church?" On the surface this appears to be a
very simple question, which should be answered in
the affirmative. However, on closer observation a con
clusion will be drawn from an affirmative answer
which will give temporary satisfaction to the inquirer.In response to this question I said that a churchcould indeed send Bibles to another church. My opponent smiled, thinking he had won a great victoryand replied, "Ward has now surrendered his positionbecause if one church may under any circumstancesend Bibles to another church, then it could send themoney to purchase the Bibles and that means thatone church may send to another church for evangelism or the preaching of the gospel." Like many falseteachers Robert changed horses in the middle of the stream. Is sending Bibles to a church the same as
sending money to buy the Bibles? Certainly not! One
might as well argue that sending a preacher to a
church is. the same as sending the money to the
church. This is what the debate was all about in the
first place.
In answering his question, I went to the scripture
found in Col. 4:16. Paul said, "And when this epistle
is read among you, cause that it be read also in the
church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read
the epistle from Laodicea." It can be readily seen
that Paul tells the brethren at Colosse to send this
epistle over to Laodicea and they in turn were to send
their epistle back to Colosse. That was sending Bibles
both directions but not one dime of money was sent!
I went ahead to emphasize that Teach was a generic
term. One church could send teaching to another
church in the form of a preacher, Bibles or literature
but never money to buy the teaching. I then went to
II Cor. 11:8 and pointed out that other churches
sent Paul (teaching in the form of a preacher) to
Corinth but never did they send money to Corinth sothey could buy their teaching (pay their preacher). Ibacked this example up with Col. 4:16 where epistleswere sent from one congregation to another but never money to buy those epistles! Thus, in bothexamples the teaching was sent but not the moneyto buy the teaching. Did the Holy Spirit reveal this byaccident? Were these approved examples placed in theBible to fill up space? Indeed not. As a matter of factno man has ever found where one church ever sent one dime to another church to preach the gospel. Wecan find plenty of examples where the teaching was
sent but never the money.
Gentle reader, remember the Bible has an antidote
for all false ways if we will study its sacred pages.
WAS JESUS A HIPPIE?
The following letter and reply appeared in the "Dear Abby" column on July 15, 1971:
"Dear Abby: My father and brother are having a
go-around about my brother's hair. Sam is 18 and
wears his hair below his collar. My father says he is
going to buy him some ribbons and curlers if he
doesn't get it cut. He's not kidding. (Yesterday he
gave him a hairbrush with jewels on it.)
"They've always gotten along so well until this
hair business came up. My brother works after
school and weekends, so I told Dad to lay off and
pretty soon Sam's boss will tell him to cut it, and in
the meantime let Sam go through this stage and get
it out of his system. When I was my brother's age
I teased my hair into a beehive until I realized how
ridiculous I looked. "What can you advise fathers who have sons who
like long hair?"
SAM'S SISTER
"DEAR SISTER: To paraphrase a columnist who
said it beautifully: 'If Jesus returned today, He
would probably be stopped, searched and carted off
to the precinct station by the first cop who spotted
Him. Shoulder length hair, bearded, with sandals,
a dropout from school, hanging around with dubious
characters and a notorious frequenter of low places,
what chance would He have today? Even less than
the Romans gave Him.'
'I am convinced that our antihair phobia is in some
mysterious, but deeply fixed way connected with the
Bible and religion; that it serves as an unconscious
reminder of the way we have lost, the message we
have ignored. Nothing less than this can explain
the ugly and irrational rejection and contempt for
the ancient tresses.' "
When people make such ridiculous and blasphemous statements about the Lord, it is time to unsheathe the sword of the Spirit and get busy!
Where did Abby and her columnist friend get
such a description of Christ? Certainly not from
the Bible, for there is nothing there to indicate
such, nor the implications in the statement. Per
haps they have received such an impression from
tradition, the hippies, sectarian Sunday school liter
ature, or Billy Graham. Graham has said that the
hippies want to wear their hair long like Jesus did.
His own hair is down to his collar, to make him look,
he said, "like a prophet." Even if he looked like
Jesus, he certainly doesn't preach like him!
With but few possible exceptions, I view this
"Jesus People" movement with skepticism and cyni
cism. Instead of living up to the example and true
teaching of Jesus Christ, it seems that they are try
ing to make a glorified hippie of him. They would
have us believe that, after all, he was just one of
them. I deny it! I don't think that he had the charac
ter, attitude, appearance, smell or hair of the mod
ern hippie.
To get a brief view of the unscriptural positionsand erroneous conceptions of the "Jesus People,"consider the following statements:
"Singer Pat Boone, who has given up on institu
tionalized religion to join the Jesus people says popu
lar music also reflects another belief among the
young converts: that Christ is coming soon. He cites
Mama Cass' song 'New World Comin' and the line
'you better pack your bags' in Creedence Clearwater
Revival's 'Bad Moon Risin'." (Instead of citing
Mama Cass, why didn't Pat check with Jesus (Matt.
24:36)? And if he understood what will happen
when Christ returns, he would know that peoplewill not need their bags. EB).
"I was into drugs and trying all kinds of things.I was dying, you know. I don't even know when I accepted Jesus. I just started praying to him, youknow, and then I got baptized in the Holy Spirit,and I felt the Lord in my life." (Martha Rosner,New York Times, June 15, 1971)
"Of course they're real. This is not a fad. It's a true, spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit. Theprophet Joel spoke of this in the Old Testament.'And it shall come to pass afterward, that I willpour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sonsand daughters (these are the street people) shallprophesy. And also upon the servants and upon thehandmaids in those days (that's today) will I pour out my Spirit (Joel 2:28,29)." — Duane Pederson. (Such ignorance! That prophesy was fulfilled on Pentecost, Acts 2:16-18. EB.)
The October 1971 Reader's Digest quoted an Episcopal theologian who said, "according to the gospels,Jesus was not a non-conformist, not just a protester.He was a criminal revolutionary." The same article quoted a Harvard professor of divinity as sayingthat "Jesus died the death reserved for those guiltyof insurrection."
But back to the long hair on men. I may be judged"ugly and irrational" but I oppose it. And I agree with the columnist that my feeling is in a "deeply fixed way connected with the Bible and religion."
The apostle Paul wrote, "Doth not even nature it
self teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
shame unto him?" (I Cor. 11:14). In commenting onthis verse, Adam Clarke said:
"Nature certainly teaches us by bestowing it, that
it is proper for women to have long hair; and it is
not so with men. The hair of the male rarely grows
like that of the female, unless art is used, and even
then it bears but a scanty proportion to the former.
Hence it is truly womanish to have long hair, and
it is a shame to the man who affects it... after all it
is possible that St. Paul may refer to dressed, frizzled
and curled hair, which shallow and effeminate men
might have affected in that time, as they do in this.
Perhaps there is not a sight more ridiculous in the
eye of common sense than a high-dressed, curled,
cued, and powdered head, with which the operator
must have taken considerable pains, and the silly
patient lost time and comfort in submitting to what
all but senseless custom must call an indignity and
degradation. Hear nature, common sense, and rea
son, and they will inform you, that if a man have
long hair, it is a shame unto him" (Vol. VI, p. 253).
The apostle Paul made another statement which is certainly pertinent to this issue. In First Corinthians 6:9,10, he gave a list of people who shall not"inherit the kingdom of God." In this list we find the "effeminate." That means, "having marked womanlike traits of character" (Webster). It meansto affect a womanish look, and when men wear theirhair so that they cannot be distinguished fromwomen, they are guilty of this sin.
There is also guilt by association. (See Deut.
14:1,2; I Cor. 11:6; 15:33.) I have studied, heard
and observed hundreds of long-haired men and boys
of our time, and I have yet to see one who has the
right attitude toward God, the Bible, life, morals,
self or other people. No decent, upright young man
should wear his hair so that he will be misjudged
by good people.
Abby mentioned the "ancient tresses," but it
seems to me that people who wear tresses should
also wear dresses!
TRUTH DIVIDES PEOPLE
The word of the Lord divides people. Jesus said in Matt. 10:34-36, "Do not think that I came to bringpeace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace,but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household." Of course, the point of this is that the truth will cause people to be divided — even relatives.When one person is willing to obey the truth andanother is not, there will be division in that family.For, Jesus continued, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (v. 37).
RAY BRYAN ACCUSES ME
Brother Ray Bryan (one of the institutional American "missionaries" in the Philippine Islands)recently wrote and distributed several articles in thePhilippine Islands inditing a tract that I wrote entitled "Institutionalism — Why I Changed." BrotherBryan was one of the ones you recently read aboutin this paper who was able to be in M'Lang one weekBEFORE the Smith-Lacuata debate, and one week AFTER the debate, but did not have the courage toattend the debate.
Brother Bryan in the article he wrote (after Connie Adams and I left the Philippine Islands) inditesbrother Romulo B. Agduma and me with dividingchurches over James 1:27 and Gal. 6:10. I deny that"I" divide or that "brother Agduma" divides churches. I do not deny that "truth" divides brethren. I do not deny that the truth divides family and friends. The reason — because many are not willingto accept the truth on these matters and are thus separated, not by a man, but by the truth.
A "SWITCH" ON JAMES 1:27
On the above mentioned article brother Bryan gives his attention primarily to James 1:27. However, he also does "a switch" in this article. On pagetwo of his article on James 1, brother Bryan notes,"If a person is practicing ceremony or ritual thenhis religion is empty and vain. But how does one show that his religion is pure and more than an empty ceremony." (Underlining mine for emphasis,JTS.) Brother Bryan tells us how to show that ourreligion is not vain. How? By a person practicing the two principles that are set forth in James 1:27
— visiting the fatherless and widows, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Then on pagethree, brother Bryan says, "From the meaning ofthis word (visit) we can establish definitely that this passage commands that Christians are to visit widows and orphans.. ."
Now here is where brother Bryan, along with thousands of brethren "make the switch." Brother Bryan admits that the passage gives instruction to "a person." However, because he has doctrine toprove, he is not satisfied to let the TRUTH stand on its own merits in this passage. He tries to involvethe church (assembly from its treasury) to becomeinvolved in this matter. If his argument is valid,then we can not only use this passage and apply theinstruction given here to the church; but we could also apply every other part of the passages in Jamesthat were directed to individuals and their work to the church and its treasury.
Note the list of characteristics we could attribute to the church from just the first chapter. (Read therest of the chapters and just note the ridiculousnessof this interpretation.) (1) Trials (2) Testing theirFaith (3) ask God for Wisdom (4) Doubting (5)Receive a crown of life (6) Tempted (7) Lust (8) Sin (9) Slow to speak (10) Slow to Anger (11) Putaside all filthiness (12) Beholds face in the mirror.I am sure that there is not a single person who readsthese things that could not see at a glance that theyare characteristics and responsibilities of an individual Christian and not the local congregation. But, since "necessity is the mother of invention," and since no passage can be found to get the "church" (local congregation from its treasury) involved in taking care of the orphans and widows who are notfaithful Christians, brethren have invented a new rule of interpretation to get their way. However, asI said in my tract, to any honest person it is an insultto his intelligence to try to prove the doctrine of thechurch from its treasury doing anything based on James 1.
One other point that I want to raise just here thatI believe is one of the most telling points that ispresented in a discussion of this kind. Most of the brethren who hold to James 1:27 and try to involvethe church with this passage do not believe that itis right for the church to become involved in business enterprises. Yet, a letter that was written tothe church in Galatia instructs individuals to become involved in honest labor to help those in need. "Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let himlabor, performing with his own hands what is good,in order that he may have something to share withhim who has need" (Eph. 4:28). Now, here is a passage directed to an individual in a letter that was written to the church. If the rule of taking a passagethat was addressed to an individual and his responsibility in James can be applied to the church, why can't the passage in Ephesians also be applied tothe church?
WIDOW INDEED
Brother Bryan turns his attention to I Timothy 5and the "widow indeed." Now no one denies that the church is responsible for "widows indeed." But she is not an alien or unbeliever. Paul said of her, "nowshe who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone has fixed her hope on God, and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day" (I Tim. 5:5)
— hence, she is a Christian. But, neither James 1:27nor any other passage suggests that the person tobe helped by the individual is to be a believer. We,as Christians, are responsible for helping Christiansand non-Christians. But, we are to be partial to Christians according to Gal. 6:10. No one, that Iknow anything about, denies that the church has aresponsibility to its own members. In fact, that waswhat I contended for in my debate with Lacuata in the Philippines.
Yes, the truth divides. But as always, those who do not want the truth blames the one who is teaching the truth with the division. But as we noted in our debate in the Philippines, anyone who is willingto affirm the following proposition is welcome to meet with me in open discussion in the congregation where I am preaching; including brother Bryan or any of his cohorts.
RESOLVE: "James 1:27 applies to the church and its treasury; and those who teach otherwise are church-splitters."
Affirm____________________________________
Deny_____________________________________
J. T. Smith
The Christ made it clear to the apostles that theywere to go into all the world and preach. They wereto teach all nations. This teaching was to continueuntil it led to faith, repentance, and baptism. Even after that they were to teach them to observe allthings He had commanded. This, then, would includeteaching them to teach (II Tim. 2:2). The churchis to be the pillar and ground of the truth or it failsto fulfill its mission.
A perverted gospel is to the soul what poison isto the body. Any man, or even an angel, who would preach any doctrine except the gospel of Christwould stand accursed (Gal. 1:6-9). All who professto be members of the Lord's church should surely accept this. People who teach the doctrines of men worship in vain, and need help. What kind of personis it who knows the right way of the Lord and will not tell the man who is lost? Have we stopped to think that these neighbors, relatives, and friends who have not entered the narrow way of truth arelost? Awake to the danger they are in and rescuethe perishing. When we have time to learn we oughtto be teachers (Heb. 5:12-14). We need to exerciseour senses to discern, and having discerned, we needto point the way.
We live in a confused and frustrated world, butthe Rock of Ages still stands. There is somethingdefinite to which we can tie. There is something firmon which we may stand. The New Testament is still NEW, and as practical and useful as before the many accomplishments of men of science. Science bringsthings to use in this life, but Christ brings life. Welearn how to live by looking to the example and message of Christ. The golden rule is no more out ofdate than is the sun. The great scheme of redemption is still the way to the unsearchable riches ofChrist. We have no reason to be ashamed of the gos-Del or of those who adorn the doctrine by putting itinto practice.
The word is able to save the soul since it is the seed of the kingdom. Faith comes by hearing this word. It is through this inspired revelation that welearn of the love and goodness of God that leads to repentance. In this word we may find the answer tothe question as to what one must do to be saved.Man can know the will of God only as God revealsHis will. The Bible is this revelation. It is not a book to be kept as a charm on the table. Its messageis to be laid up in our hearts.
We are to teach every creature. Every one willnot accept it, but our obligation is to scatter theseed over the whole face of the earth. The children about our feet are our best prospects. We have manyopportunities to teach them because they are so constantly around us. Their hearts are young and tender, and they like attention and are eager to learn. A failure to teach these children is a crime against our own flesh and blood. This job can bedone, and we sin if we do not teach them (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6; Deut. 29:29). If there were more like Eunice and Lois there would be more like Timothy (II Tim. 1:5; 3:14,15). It is just that simple. Manyof the sons and daughters of church people are lostas a direct result of failure on the part of parents toteach.
Children may learn much from sermons they hear,and much from Bible classes they attend, but if the typical four hours per week in the meeting housecan be good, why not teach much in the other 164 hours of the week? Indifference to Bible study onthe part of parents is a destructive influence on the young. There is no good excuse, and certainly no good reason, for Christians not teaching their children.
Neighbors need to be taught, too. The church hassolid growth as a result of a good teaching program.In the day when the Lord was adding to the churchdaily it could be said that "daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preachJesus Christ" (Acts 5:42). Some churches graduallydie. Others go digressive. Some grow and serve well in fulfilling their mission. These differing results grow out of much teaching, a lack of teaching, orthe wrong teaching. Let evangelists teach publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20). Let elders feed the flock. Let teachers take their work seriously that they may be workmen that need not beashamed. Let all see and measure up to their responsibility in teaching. If this is done, growth in numbers and in strength may be expected. Digression will be avoided.
What should we teach? We- should preach the word (II Tim. 4:2; Mark 16:15). The way to bepure from the blood of all men is to shun not to declare all the counsel of God. We are to keep back nothing that is profitable (Acts 20:20,26,27). Paul asked that his brethren pray that he might open hismouth boldly to make known the mystery. Theywere to pray that he might speak as he ought tospeak (Eph. 6:19,20). We are to speak the word ofGod with boldness (Acts 4:31). This boldness growsout of the confidence we have in the gospel as thepower of God unto salvation.
Teachers are to warn, reprove, rebuke, instruct,encourage, and point the way by their own example.This would apply to preachers, elders, and teachersin meeting houses, but it also applies to parents who are teaching their children, and to brethren whoare teaching their neighbors.
The church is in distress today because many areteaching that we may set up many forms of institutions through which churches may do their work,and that the church may spend much in providing aplace for recreation. These teachers are wrong sincethey have no scriptures for these practices, and many faithful servants of the word are using theword for correction and instruction in righteousness.There is a large group taking the line of least resistance by avoiding the issue. They do not promotethe digression, nor do they warn of the danger.They seem to assume that if you close your eyes the storm will go away. That destructive force that has brought digression and division to thousands of churches is not an innocent little thing that should be ignored. Those who reprove, rebuke, instruct, and warn of the errors in the unscriptural practices arenot the ones who cause the division. Apostasy ischecked only where men fight a good fight. Men whowill not teach concerning the greatest danger of ourtime should be ashamed.
---------------o---------------
LET'S VISIT THE BIBLE LANDS
Arranged by Royce Chandler, preacherDanville church of Christ
VISIT
JOPPA -JERUSALEM — JERICHO -GALILEE NAZARETH - BETHLEHEM — ROME
11 Days -$749.00
May 11 - 25, 1972
Convenient Time-Payment Plan Write for Brochures and Details to:
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INDEX FOR
Answers For Our Hope — Marshall E. PattonClothing For Men And Women, Does Deut. 22:5 Apply Now? ...... 292Contribution Of I Cor. 16:1,2, The............................................ 100Elder's Children Be Faithful? Must The ..................................... 52Elders, The Office Of ................................................................ 148Fast Today? Should We ............................................................. 84House For Preacher, Church BuyingAnd Maintaining A............... 181Lord's Supper Served In Hospitals And Worship WithDenominations...................................................................... 19One Congregation Start Another? How Can ............................. 260Picnics And Refreshments, Church Paying For .......................... 6Prophecy Fulfilled And The Statements In Matthew .................. 357Women Teachers....................................................................... 215
Arrows Of Truth For Denominational Error — Ward HoglandAbraham Works Problems.......................................................... 277Baptist Temple-Church Agreement, The .................................... 169Bride And The Bridegroom, The ............................................... 268Denominational Mind, The, Drinking Concept, The ................... 118Denominational Mind, One Church Concept, The ...................... 90Denominational Mind, The, Works, Concept, The ....................... 104Example, The Demonstrating .................................................... 323Hard Questions ........................................................................ 309Hard Questions (No. 2) ........................................................... 340Hard Questions (No. 3) ........................................................... 360Hard Questions (No. 4)............................................................. 375I Was Once A Member.............................................................. 70Instrumental Music—Aid Approach ........................................... 22Instrumental Music—The Home Approach ................................ 35Instrumental Music—The Psallo Approach................................. 53Instrumental Music—The Psalms Approach................................ 5Pendulum Swings, The.............................................................. 136Regeneration, The Washing Of ................................................... 229Tell It To The Church............................................................... 195Tragedy Of Twenty, The .......................................................... 292Water, Stay Out Of The ........................................................... 217Your Glorying Is Not Good ...................................................... 151
Bible Lands And Customs— Melvin CurryThe Central Highlands .............................................................. 87Jordan Valley, The................................................................... 116Judah ....................................................................................... 108Philistia ................................................................................... 36The Plain Of Sharon ................................................................ 13Trans Jordan............................................................................ 134
Catholicism, Reviewing The Doctrines Of — Luther W. Martin
Book Of Kells, The .................................................................. 4
McNamara's New Testament - Published 1818 A.D ..................... 25
Editorial — H. E. PhillipsArticles And News Reports, A Word To Those Who Write .......... 258Christian Colleges In The Church Budgets ................................. 99Confession, C.C. Chelf's Track On The ...................................... 130Editorial Policy, Our ................................................................ 165Future Of Searching The Scriptures............................................ 338Growth, True Church ................................................................ 82Heart Attack, A Report On My ................................................. 306Ignorance Without Excuse ........................................................ 274My Pledge to You for Seventy-Two .......................................... 370
Opportunities For Preaching The Gospel.................................... 147Reading Material, The Importance Of Good ............................... 50Searching The Scriptures Continue To Grow .............................. 226
Evolution Or Creation — Paul Foutz
Arguments Advanced In Proof Of Evolution ............................ 10
Arguments Advanced In Proof Of Evolution (No. 2) ......................... 21Arguments Advanced In Proof Of Evolution (No. 3) ......................... 38Arguments Advanced In Proof Of Evolution (No. 4).......................... 55Arguments Advanced In Proof Of Evolution (No. 5) ...................... 68
Examine Yourselves, Whether Ye Be In The Faith — Ken Green Are We True Worshippers? ...................................................................... 341 Pat Boone's "New Song" ........................................................................... 231 Righteousness, Fulfilling All ................................................................... 294 What Do Ye More Than Others? ............................................................ 263
I Marvel — James P. MillerBabes in Christ ........................................................................................... 374Catholics See The Light ............................................................................ 180Church Cooperation .................................................................................. 195Dummy? Who Now Is The .................................................................... 227How Ear Can We Go? ................................................................................ 167Wet And Dry Years ............................................................................... 275Year's End, The .......................................................................................... 3
Lessons From Young PreachersAdvice To Remember — Mike Rogacs ................................................. 136Christian And Militancy, The — Michael Grushon............................... 216Concerned, We Need To Be - K. Lynn Wade ................................... 40God, The Existence Of -J.D. Pickens & Gary Batson ...................... 104Just A Mile In His Shoes — David Kenneth Lewis ............................. 281Selling Your Love — Douglas Kanatzar.................................................. 12We Are Losing A Source Of Strength —James Lovell, Jr.................... 317
Prescriptions From The Great Physician-Jesus Christ — Dr.W.P. McElwain
Drugs ............................................................................................................ 60Sex And Youth ........................................................................................ 18Sex Behavior, The Bible And ................................................................... 86Sex Behavior, The Bible (No. 2) ............................................................. 115Sex, The Normal Use Of............................................................................ 11
Sowing The Seed Of The Kingdom — J.T. SmithBaptism For The Dead ............................................................................ 149Baptism, The Action Of ............................................................................ 119Baptism, The Purpose Of .......................................................................... 133Baptism, Things That Baptism Will Not Do ......................................... 167Baptism---What It Does .......................................................................... 180Christ, What It Means To Be In .............................................................. 211Different Kinds Of Hearers....................................................................... 39Faith, Different Uses Of The Word ....................................................... 57Hearing The Word ....................................................................................... 20Holy Spirit Baptism, A Review Of Leslie E. Sloan's .......................... 228Holy Spirit Baptism, Again ....................................................................... 309In Christ(No. 2) ........................................................................................ 269In Christ (No. 3) ......................................................................................... 278Lord's Supper, Wine And The.................................................................. 197Repentance................................................................................................... 84Repentance—A Prerequisite To Salvation ........................................... 69Salvation, Baptism Necessary To .......................................................... 105Sowing The Seed ......................................................................................... 11Truth Divides People ................................................................................. 377
Sword Of The Spirit, Using The — Eugene BritnellAttending Gospel Meetings ...................................................................... 296Bible, Inspiration Of The ..................................................................... 230Death And The State Of The Dead ........................................................ 8Hippie? Was Jesus a.................................................................................... 375
Issue? Does He Still Not Understand The ........................................... 213Lost And Found Department .................................................................. 23Preacher And The Druggist, The ............................................................. 133Prejudice, The Problem Of....................................................................... 54Short Sword Swipes .................................................................................. 88Short Sword Swipes ................................................................................... 182Short Sword Swipes ................................................................................... 196
Short Sword Swipes .................................................................................. 262Short Sword Swipes .................................................................................. 361Short Sword Swipes .................................................................................. 324United Fund Campaign, The ................................................................... 117Which Sword Shall We Use? .................................................................. 37You've Come Along Way, Baby .......................................................... 101
Word Studies In Hebrew — Harold Tabor Hebrew Words Of Creation, Part 1 ..................................................... 34 Hebrew Words Of Creation, Part 2 ..................................................... 57 Selah ........................................................................................................ 4
Word Studies In The New Testament Greek — E.V. Srygley
Apostolic Unity, Is It For Our Twentieth Century .......................... 236By Grace Through Faith ....................................................................... 245Christian, Are All Churches ................................................................. 199Eis, "For" In Acts 2:38 ...................................................................... 182Heauton, "Himself" James 1:27 ...................................................... 150Heauton, "Himself" I Cor. 11:28 ....................................................... 168Is The Church Indespensable To Christianity? .............................. 219James 1:27, More Thoughts On ..................................................... 212Regarding Church Membership .......................................................... 261What Is The Standard? ........................................................................... 276
Worship In Spirit And In Truth — T.G. O'Neal Attitude In Worship, The Heart's .................................................... 24 Praise God is Song...................................................................................... 373
Worship, Improper Acts Of .................................................................. 198Worship "In Truth" ................................................................................ 71Worship Is Prescribed By God............................................................... 85Worship, Proper Action Of ................................................................. 326Worship, Proper Object Of .................................................................. 103Worship, The Proper Place Of .............................................................. 170Worship Through Teaching .................................................................. 343Worship, What Is .................................................................................. 7
Adams, Connie W.
The Smith-Lacuata Debate..................................................................... 344
Ballard, Voyd N. Baptism, Holy Spirit Or Water? ........................................................... 220
Caldwell, Colly
Arminianism Among The Restorers .................................................... 333British Restoration Movements .......................................................... 362
Davis, Doris (Mrs. Hugh W.)
Lord's Table, Preparation For The ................................................... 152
Dennison, James
General Benevolence Proof Texts ........................................................ 45
DeVore, Larry R. Spirit, The Law Of The .......................................................................... 154
Eldridge, George T.
Licentious................................................................................................... 61
Ernest, Wayne
Christianity In Today's World .............................................................. 148
Finley, Ernest A.Is It Authorized? ....................................................................................... 310Did You Know? ...................................................................................... 184There Must Be Conflict ........................................................................... 297We Should Be Concerned ..................................................................... 204
Flatt, Jerry
The Great Commission ........................................................................... 307
Foster, Shelby A. "Heauton" In James 1:27 ..................................................................... 184
Fudge, Edward Does Life Have Meaning? .................................................................... 322 Evidences, New Paper On ..................................................................... 155 Jesus, Son Of Man, The ........................................................................ 41
Spirit, What Kind Do You Have? ..............................................Temptation, Of Jesus, The .......................................................What Is Your Response? ........................................................When Grace Cannot Help .........................................................
Givens, Donald R.Abominations, Abominable ..................................................... How Jesus Used The Scriptures ...............................................Spiritual Heartburn..................................................................Time, Talent, And Treasure .....................................................
Graham, Bobby Christ And The Church .......................................................... Modest Apparel ...................................................................... Pauls Charge To Timothy ......................................................
Grider, A.C. Why Have They Quit Defending It? ........................................
Hafley, Larry RayDavid, Be A Modern Day .........................................................Emotionalism..........................................................................Lullaby Or Battle Cry ..............................................................Relationship, Similarity Of .....................................................Science Worship, The Blight Of ..............................................Self-Ambition..........................................................................
Halbrook, Ron About That Old Pot And Kettle .............................................. Faith, Discussing A Defence Of The ......................................... Fight Of Our Lives, The ..........................................................
Harrell, David Edwin, Jr. The New Freedom ................................................................... The New Freedom (No. 2) .....................................................
Harris, Earl E. Ami Too Narrow? ................................................................
Hinton, Pryde E. Grace Of God, The ................................................................ Preachers, Beware Of .............................................................
Holderby, Olen
As I Understand It ..............................................................
Baptist Debate........................................................................
Lee, IrvenChristians Ought to Teach........................................................Groups, Those Isolated ..........................................................Overcome Evil With Good ..................................................... Preachers, Beware Of ............................................................ Protestantism ......................................................................... Prude, Are You A ...............................................................Revolutionist, Was Jesus A ......................................................TheyCeased Not To Teach......................................................
Lewis, Ralph W. A Review of J.T. Smith's. "The Covering of I Cor. 11" ............
Martin, Don Indifference. The Sin Of ....................................................... Say, Have You Heard? .......................................................... What! Me Teach Others? ....................................................... When Was The Last Time You Checked Your Eyes, Ears And
Heart? ............................................................................. Mott, L.A. Jr.
140 Liberty Corrected And Fornication Condemned, A Misunder
92 standing Of Christian ................ ...................................... 120218 Support of Preachers, A Word of Caution About the................... 371186 Suffering, Servant, The............................................................ 250
Miller, John J. Jr.
156 Sleep, Let Us Awake Out Of ................................................. 257 72
249 Nowlin, J. Edward
321 Brother, Words About ........................................................... 325
Majority Vote In The Church.................................................. 364
Missionary Society Expires..................................................... 97 337 Preacher, As A Salesman, The ............................................... 273 123 Ten Commandments, And The Gospel, The ............................ 305 205
Ozment, Harry E.
Money, Results Of Love For .................................................. 75245 Spiritual Adoption................................................................. 34
Phillips, H.E.
72 81 129 173 188 289
248 279 124
49 65
185
249 183
311 202
378 246 113 141 349 33 73 331
327
76 204 279
360
Christ-Like Spirit, The ............................................................ 17Competition, Congregational ................................................ 161Confess Your Faults ............................................................... 312Impossible Apostasy ............................................................... 177Impossible Apostasy ............................................................... 193Impossible Apostasy ............................................................... 209Impossible Apostasy .............................................................. 225Impossible Apostasy ............................................................... 241Phillips, Ella Martin.................................................................. 372Urgent Need of the Day, The.................................................... 369What Do You Read? ............................................................... 353What Does The Future Hold? ................................................ 1Work, Prove Your Own ......................................................... 145You Can Afford To Send Searching The Scriptures To Many .... 356
Others
Sloan, Leslie E. Baptism, Holy Spirit ................................................................ 131 Holy Spirit Baptism, A Review ............................................... 264 Holy Spirit Baptism, A Review ............................................... 328
Smith, J.T.Bible Class Arrangement, The ................................................. 343Covering Of I Cor. 11, The ...................................................... 291I Believe In Searching The Scriptures ..................................... 357Preaching And Debating In The Philippines ............................. 233Review, A Brief Review Of A ................................................. 328
Smith, Shelby
Deadwood And Liberals Need Cutting Out .............................. 295
Spears, Dudley Ross
It Is Thanksgiving Time .......................................................... 358
Waldron, Robert E.
Certainty ............................................................................... 55
Word, Preaching The ............................................................ 109
OUTLINES OF FLORIDA
COLLEGE LECTURES 1968
Detailed outlines of each speech delivered at the1968 Florida College Lectures, including 3 lectures onThe Holy Spirit by Franklin T. Puckett, 3 lectures onthe Problem of Human Responsibility and Organization by James W. Adams, 3 lectures on The Church
— Its Nature and Structure by Roy E. Cogdill, and2 lectures on Contemporary Prophetic Cults by HomerHailey.
Price $2.00
Baptism, Negative Arguments On, Baptism Not A Part ............. 71
Of The Gospel Baptism, Negative Arguments On, Cornelius ............................ 20 Baptism. Negative Arguments On, Not Necessary To The New ..108 Birth Baptism, Negative Arguments On, Paul Not Sent To Baptize ..... 56 Child Untimely Born, The ...................................................... 214 Conversions In Acts, Baptism And The ................................... 365